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Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, it clears heat and resolves blood stasis; it stops hematemesis (vomiting of blood) and epistaxis (nosebleed). Lotus leaf slice: applied externally to treat Tianpao wet sores (a type of skin blistering condition).

Bitter in flavor, neutral in nature, green in color, upward-facing shape, hollow inside resembling the Zhen trigram; it inherits the Qi of the Shaoyang Gallbladder (Jia Dan), capable of ascending the clear Qi in the Stomach. When roasted with rice, it aids Spleen and Stomach digestion; when charred black, it treats metrorrhagia (uterine bleeding) and lower body bleeding. Lotus leaf stalk: maintains middle harmony to harmonize the Stomach. Lotus leaf margin: awakens Yang Qi to reach the four extremities. Lotus leaf vein: opens stagnation to promote urination.

Sweet and cold in nature, it clears summerheat and relieves thirst. Excessive consumption damages Yang Qi; even when cooked, it can cause Qi stagnation.

Also known as Jidou (Chicken Bean). Its flavor is sweet and neutral, slightly warm and astringent; it strengthens the Spleen and benefits the Kidney, consolidates Qi and astringes Essence. Children who consume too much may experience difficulty in digestion.

Also known as Wuyu, or Dili (Water Chestnut). Sweet and cold, slippery in nature; it drains heat and transforms accumulation, opens dysphagia (food sticking), and can corrode copper. Children should not eat it in excess, and pregnant women are especially contraindicated. It promotes diuresis.

Bitter and sweet, slightly cold; it disperses blood stasis and detoxifies, clears the throat and cools the Heart, thus treating pharyngeal swelling and sore throat. Leaf juice: mixed with Concha Tridacninae (Clam Powder) for external application, effective for treating pruritic miliaria (heat rash).

(Strongly aromatic, soft and smooth, vegetable, aquatic vegetable, Zhixi)

Pungent and warm, slightly sour; it invigorates blood and assists Yang, disperses stasis and stops bleeding, serving as a specific medicine for blood-stasis-induced dysphagia. Use the extracted juice. Allium tuberosum seed (Jiu Zi): pungent and sweet, warm in nature; enters the Liver, Kidney, and Mingmen channels; it stimulates Yang and consolidates Essence, serving as a specific medicine for nocturnal emission and enuresis. Use after stir-frying and grinding.

Pungent and dispersing, neutral in nature; it releases the muscle layer and induces sweating, unblocks Yang and calms the fetus. Use the white part with roots. Scallion green (Cong Qing): pungent and dispersing, warm in nature; can treat edema of the feet caused by water retention. Scallion white: applied externally to stop bleeding from traumatic wounds.

Also known as [Suan]zi. Bitter and pungent, slippery and warm; it disperses stagnation and drains fullness; it is a specific medicine for chest bi (obstruction syndrome) and dysentery (Zhixia). Commonly known as small garlic. The stem mainly disperses stagnation and unblocks the middle jiao; use the white part.

Pungent and warm in nature; it opens orifices and dispels turbidity, guides out stagnation and removes fishy odors, serving as a specific medicine for opening orifices in cases of sudden syncope due to summerheat. Excessive consumption blurs vision and damages Shen (Spirit). Garlic stem: can treat hernia involving the Zongjin (converging sinews).

Also known as Youcai (Rapeseed). Pungent and warm in nature; it disperses blood and reduces swelling. Seed: treats difficult labor, taken as a ground juice. Oil: kills insects and lice; contraindicated for those with loose bowels.

Pungent and warm in nature; enters the Lung channel and circulates through the meridians; it regulates Qi and resolves phlegm, capable of penetrating the space between the skin and fascia. Mustard vegetable (Jie Cai): pungent and hot, dispersing in nature; long-term consumption depletes...