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(Floating Duckweed) Its nature is warm, its taste is pungent, and it is non-toxic. It treats epidemic febrile diseases; bathing with it can treat generalized pruritic sores. It reduces edema and promotes urination, removes sudden dryness-heat, and stops polydipsia. When combined with Artemisia argyi (Mugwort), it induces sweating rapidly and expels wind quickly. Prepared as honey pills, sized like a bullet, those with a green surface and purple back are authentic. The song for harvesting floating duckweed says: "Heaven-born spiritual herb without roots or stems, neither on mountain slopes nor on banks, harvested at the midpoint of the seventh month, small purple ones are not considered [inferior], three pills in bean-lei wine will cause sweat even on an iron head."

(Pharbitidis Semen) Its nature is cold, its taste is bitter, it belongs to Fire and is good at moving freely. It has the efficacy of treating edema, breaking masses (Zheng Jia) and phlegm-stagnation, removing obstruction causing shortness of breath, and unblocking the twelve water passages. There are two types: black and white. The black type belongs to Water and acts swiftly; the white type belongs to Metal and acts slowly. It should not be used unless both the pathogenic factor and the patient's constitution are excess patterns. If guided by Qi-regulating herbs, it enters the Qi level; if guided by Blood-regulating herbs, it enters the Blood level. For entering the Qi level, use Zhiqiao (Aurantii Fructus); for entering the Blood level, use Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma). This is the method. When used in Qi-level formulas, it must be combined primarily with Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Fuling (Poria), and Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), followed by Pharbitidis Semen for optimal effect. Since Poria and Atractylodes are essentially Qi-tonifying herbs but possess mild diuretic properties, combined with the sour nature of Paeonia to consolidate true Qi, the purging action only eliminates pathogens in the Qi level, causing no harm to true Qi. When used in Blood-level formulas, it must be combined primarily with Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma), and Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), followed by Pharbitidis Semen for best results. Since Chuanxiong and Angelica are essentially Blood-nourishing herbs with excellent nourishing virtues, combined with the astringent nature of Paeonia to secure true Blood, the purging action only eliminates pathogens in the Blood level, causing no injury to true Blood. It is incompatible with Crotonis Fructus (Badou).

(Corylus Pollen / Typhae Pollen - Puhuang) Its nature is neutral, its taste is sweet, and it is non-toxic. It treats contusions and injuries, and manages wind-swelling and carbuncles. For women with irregular menstruation, no other herb can regulate it as effectively. For postpartum uterine masses (Erzhen), no other herb can dispel them as effectively. Stir-fried, it tonifies Blood and stops bleeding; raw, it breaks Blood and dissipates stasis. Assisted by Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai) and with Psoraleae Fructus (Guzhi) as the sovereign herb, it achieves remarkable results in metrorrhagia and metrostaxis. Combined with Sophorae Flavescentis Flos (Huaihua) and Scutellariae Radix (Tiaohuangqin), it produces immediate effects in intestinal wind bleeding. For hematemesis, epistaxis, spitting blood, or coughing up blood caused by reckless movement due to Blood-heat, its use yields immediate verification. For coagulated masses and tumors caused by chaotic aggregation of Blood-stasis, administering it leads to their elimination.