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(Wu Jiu) tastes sweet and is cold in nature. It primarily treats alternating chills and fever on the skin, and promotes the flow of Qi in the Small Intestine and Bladder. It grows on stones in mountain valleys.
Commentary: The Guangya states: Xi Xie is Wu Jiu; when growing on roofs, it is called Xi Xie; when growing on walls, it is called Yuan Yi. The Classic of the Western Mountains states: Bi Li resembles Wu Jiu in shape. The Annotation to the Tang Materia Medica states: It is Shi Yi, also known as Shi Tai, and also known as Shi Fa. Note: The Guangya further states: Shi Fa is Shi Yi.

(Lu Huo) tastes bitter and is neutral in nature. It primarily treats Gu Du (poisonous pathogens causing abdominal distension and emaciation), lower back and abdominal pain in women, melancholy, intestinal abscesses, scrofula (lymphatic tuberculosis of the neck), and sores caused by pathogenic Qi. It grows in mountain valleys.
The Mingyi Bielu states: It grows in Wen Mountain.
Commentary: The Shuowen Jiezi states: Biao is Lu Huo, pronounced similarly to "Piao". The Guangya states: Biao is Lu Huo. The Erya states: Biao is Lu Huo. Its fruit is called Lei. Guo Pu states: It is the current Lu Dou (Deer Bean). The leaves resemble those of the soybean, the roots are yellow and aromatic, and it grows in a creeping manner.

(Zhong Lou / Zao Xiu) tastes bitter and is slightly cold in nature. It primarily treats Jing Xian (convulsions and epilepsy), head shaking and tongue protrusion, heat accumulation in the abdomen, severe diseases and carbuncles/sores, Yin Shi (ulceration of the genitalia), expels the Three Worms (various parasites), and neutralizes snake venom. Another name is Chi Xiu. It grows in river valleys.
The Mingyi Bielu states: It grows in mountains and in Yuanju County.
Commentary: Zheng Qiao states: Zao Xiu is called Zhe Xiu, Chong Lou Jin Mian, Chong Tai, or Cao Gansui. People today call it Zi He Che. It is used by practitioners of dietary cultivation for immortality or health preservation, and its stems and leaves are also aesthetically pleasing. It is often planted in courtyards.

(Dan Shen / Shi Chang Sheng) tastes salty and is slightly cold in nature. It primarily treats chills and fever, malignant sores, and heat-fire syndromes, and wards off Gui Qi (ghostly pathogenic factors) and inauspicious influences (The Taiping Yulan records it as warding off evil Qi, inauspiciousness, and ghostly poison). Another name is Dan Cao (The Taiping Yulan cites it as Dan Sha Cao). It grows in mountain valleys.
The Wu Pu Bencao states: Regarding Shi Chang Sheng, Shen Nong considers it bitter; Lei Gong considers it pungent; one classic considers it sweet. It grows in Xianyang (recorded in the Taiping Yulan).
The Mingyi Bielu states: It grows in Xianyang.

(Lu Ying / Shuo Diao) tastes bitter and is cold in nature. It primarily treats various Bi syndromes (obstruction syndromes) between the bones, spasms, pain, and soreness of the four limbs, cold pain in the knees, Yin Wei (impotence), shortness of breath and deficiency, and swelling of the feet. It grows in river valleys.
The Mingyi Bielu states: It grows in Xiong'er Mountain and Yuanju County. It is harvested at the Start of Autumn (Li Qiu). It further states: Shuo Diao tastes sour, is warm in nature, and is toxic. Another name is Jin (current editions mistakenly write as Jin); another name is Ji. It grows in fields. Leaves are harvested in spring and summer; stems and roots are harvested in autumn and winter.
Commentary: The Shuowen Jiezi states: It is Jin Cao. Pronounced similarly to "Li". Ji is Biao Cao. Pronounced similarly to "Ji". Biao is Li Cao. The Guangya states: Pen is Lu Ying Mei. The Erya states: Ji is Biao Cao. The Annotation to the Tang Materia Medica regarding Lu Ying states: This substance is Shuo Diao. Later generations, not recognizing this, arbitrarily created an entry for Shuo Diao. The current annotation states: Lu Ying tastes bitter, is cold, and is non-toxic; Shuo Diao tastes sour, is warm, and is toxic. Since these two are different, it is difficult to claim they are the same species; they are likely of the same category.