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(Radix Rehmanniae Preparata) Sweet and slightly warm, enters the three Yin meridians of the foot. It nourishes Kidney Water (Jin-Ye), fills the marrow, nourishes blood, and tonifies True Yin (Zhen-Yin). It is the specific herb for tonifying Yin and strengthening Water. It is most suitable for cases of Yin deficiency without heat. However, its nature is cloying and may obstruct the diaphragm; thus, it should be used with caution in patients with excessive phlegm or Qi stagnation. Some are stir-fried with prepared Amomum fruit powder to make them loose and easier to digest. Iron vessels should be avoided during processing.

(Ecliptae Herba) Also known as Li Chang or Jinling Cao. Sweet, salty, and slightly cold. Its black juice enters the Kidney. It excels in benefiting Yin and cooling blood. It is contraindicated in cases of Spleen deficiency with diarrhea or Kidney deficiency with abdominal pain.

(Ophiopogonis Radix) Sweet, cold, and slightly bitter. It clears the Heart and moistens the Lung, drains heat, and relieves irritability. It is the specific herb for generating fluids and stopping cough. The heart should be removed before use. Its nature is cold, congealing, and lubricating. It is contraindicated when Lung heat has just resolved or in cases of Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold with diarrhea. However, it can be stir-fried with glutinous rice flour to reduce its slippery nature. Processing with Cinnabar (Zhusha) calms the Heart.

(Chrysanthemi Flos) Sweet, bitter, and slightly cold. It clears depressed heat and benefits Metal and Water (Lung and Kidney), soothes Liver Wood, resolves heat, and extinguishes wind. It is the specific herb for brightening the eyes, clearing the head, and resolving depressed heat. The juice of Chrysanthemum can rescue critical cases of Ding poison (carbuncle toxin).

(Bupleuri Radix) Pungent, warm, and light/floating. It opens the Stomach and disperses Yang. It excels at dispersing the clear Qi of Shaoyang and Yangming. Its function is specifically to brighten the eyes and remove nebula. It is the specific herb for "emitting light" in ophthalmology.

(Cassiae Semen) Also known as Matijue Ming or Juemingzi. Sweet, bitter, salty, and neutral. Enters the Liver. It dispels wind-heat and removes eye nebula. It is the specific herb for making vision clear and bright. Eaten as a vegetable, it promotes the smooth functioning of the Five Zang organs to brighten the eyes.

(Abius Concha) Also known as Shaojue Ming. Bitter and slightly cold. Enters the Jueyin Liver meridian to dispel wind and drain heat. It specializes in treating eye diseases. Contraindicated in cases where the pupil is dilated.

(Cicadae Periostracum) Sweet, bitter, and neutral. Treats sudden onset of eye diseases and removes nebula obscuring vision. Removing the joints allows for sweating. Overuse damages the Liver and harms the eyes, hence the name (implying damage/diminution).

(Ephedrae Herba) Pungent, warm, and slightly bitter. Enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder meridian, and also connects to the Hand-Shaoyin Heart meridian and Yangming Stomach meridian. It is the specific herb for the Lung. It induces sweating to disperse pathogens and opens orifices. It is suitable for Wind-Cold exterior excess patterns. Remove the joints before use; do not overdose. Honey-fried, it treats phlegm-wheezing and asthma due to persistent pathogenic excess. The root and joints alone can stop sweating.

(Tribuli Fructus) Also known as Baijili. Pungent, bitter, and slightly warm. Enters the Liver to soothe the Liver and brighten the eyes, and disperses wind pathogens. Lightly stir-fried, or steamed with human milk before use.