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Temperature: Warm. Flavor: Bitter, Acrid. Toxic: Yes. Qi is thin, flavor is strong; can ascend and descend; Yang within Yin. It sinks to eliminate phlegm-toxin causing unconsciousness from various wind disorders, and primarily treats body stiffness resembling a corpse due to broken-skin injuries (Po Shang Ru Shi). It breaks down hard accumulations, dissipates carbuncles and swellings, benefits the chest and diaphragm, disperses blood, and induces abortion. It is the principal herb of the Lung Meridian. To direct its action downward, use Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) as a guiding drug. To direct its action upward, use Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix) as a carrier. In Baolong Wan, it is used to calm fright; in Huotan Wan, it is used to open confusion. Generally, processing with ginger is acceptable, but processing with bile is superior. Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Temperature: Neutral. Flavor: Sour, Acrid, Neutral. Toxic: No. Both Qi and flavor are thin; it ascends; Yang within Yin. It removes skin sensations of wind moving like insects crawling, and primarily treats black spots on the face resembling lacquer dots. It also assists Lung Qi, preserving the source of clear transformation and water generation. It treats Ministerial Fire, dissipating turbid, counterflowing, stagnant phlegm. It must be used for trismus and aphonia, and urgently administered when swelling protrudes dangerously. It primarily treats pediatric convulsions, epilepsy, and night crying; treats women's metrorrhagia with red and white discharge. It is effective in dispelling wind-dampness and extremely effective in extracting toxin from carbuncles. Dermatologists include it in detoxifying formulas; practitioners treating throat obstruction (Hou Bi) include it in Ganjie Tang.

Temperature: Warm. Flavor: Sweet, Acrid. Toxic: Yes. It primarily treats pediatric wind-epilepsy with twitching of hands and feet, and drives away facial deviation and mouth distortion in adults suffering from stroke. It eliminates wind-phlegm deafness and resolves wind-toxin urticaria. In cases where pustules first appear densely like silkworm eggs, Ku Shen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix) should be urgently used as the main drug, combined with Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Jingjie (Schizonepetae Spica), Jiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus), Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis), Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba), Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), and Chantui (Cicadae Periostracum); one dose will disperse them immediately.

Temperature: Neutral. Flavor: Bitter, Acrid. Toxic: No. It treats pediatric wind-epilepsy and palpitations, and cures adult wind-heat dizziness. It drives out damp-bi spasms and contractures, and primarily treats paralysis and sluggishness. It unites the blood vessels, opens orifices, benefits the waist and knees, and strengthens tendons. Pustule toxins can be resolved, and carbuncles and ulcers can be healed. Why? Because pustule toxins and carbuncles/ulcers all reach the exterior from the Zang-Fu organs; this formula has the principle of reaching outward from the interior. Bitterness controls heat, which is certain, but where does the heat exit? There is also acridity to disperse the hair follicles, allowing wind-heat toxins to exit completely through the pores.

Temperature: Hot. Flavor: Acrid. Toxic: Yes. It breaks up masses, dissipates carbuncle toxins, and treats malignant sores. It unblocks the nine orifices, induces foul sweat, and drives all toxins out through the pores. Therefore, dermatologists use Chan Su (Toad Venom) 5 fen, Da Chen Sha (Cinnabar) 2 qian, Meihua (Prunus Mume Flower) and Taohua (Prunus Persica Flower) 1.5 qian each, and Ku Shen 5 qian, ground into fine powder, formed into pills with concentrated decoction of Mahuang Tang (Ephedra Decoction). During fever or when pustules are emerging, take 1 qian ground in Gegen Tang (Puerariae Decoction); foul sweat will cover the body, naturally reducing fever and cooling the body, turning critical danger into manageable risk, and difficult cases into smooth progress. For good pustules that do not emerge quickly, use Niuxi (not listed, likely referring to Niu Bang Zi based on context "Da Li Zi") and Jiegeng added to Gange Tang (Puerariae Decoction) for grinding and consumption, which becomes Toudou Dan (Pustule-Releasing Pill). If pustules emerge densely and blood fails to return to its root, use Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) added to Gange Tang for grinding and consumption, which becomes Liandou Dan (Pustule-Astringing Pill). If pustules are purple-black and blood is inactive, use Zibei Tiankui (Dysosma Versipellis Rhizoma) added to Gange Tang for grinding and consumption, which becomes Huoxue Dan (Blood-Activating Pill).