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Tinglizi (Fructus Lepidii): Qi is cold, flavor is pungent, non-toxic. Nature is sinking, belonging to Yin within Yang. [Li Gao] Tinglizi significantly descends Qi and is commonly used with pungent and sour herbs to guide out swelling Qi. *Bencao Shiji* states: "Draining methods can remove obstruction." Tinglizi belongs to the category of Da Huang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei). Both these two herbs are greatly bitter and cold; one drains Blood leading to increased obstruction, the other drains Qi leading to obstruction. Generally, because the bitter-cold flavor and Qi of Tinglizi are dense, not inferior to Da Huang, and its nature is excessive among other herbs, it can drain the obstruction in the Lung within the Yang portion, and also promote bowel movements. This is because its body is light and resembles Yang. [Zhang Yuansu] The bitter and sweet varieties of Tinglizi have different indications. Zhang Zhongjing's Xie Fei Tang uses bitter Tinglizi, while other formulas sometimes use sweet Tinglizi, or do not specify. Generally, bitter implies strong downward draining, while sweet implies a milder effect. It should be used according to the deficiency or excess of the patient, which must be carefully examined. Use by roasting with glutinous rice until cooked, removing the rice, and grinding into fine powder.

Shanglu (Radix Phytolaccae): Qi is neutral, flavor is pungent, toxic. White variety is bitter and cold, compatible with garlic; red variety has great toxicity, avoid dog meat. Mainly treats edema, hernia, mass, bi-syndrome, unblocks five Zang organs, disperses water Qi. [Li Shizhen] Bitter, cold, sinking, descending, Yin. Its nature moves downward, specifically for moving water, differing from Gan Sui (Radix Euphorbiae Kansui) and Da Ji (Radix Euphorbiae Lathyri) but sharing the same function. Not suitable for those with weak Stomach Qi. Take the white root, scrape off the skin with a copper knife, slice thinly, soak in flowing water from the east for two nights, drain, place in a steamer alternating layers of black soybean leaves and Shanglu, steam from Wu hour to Hai hour, remove, discard bean leaves, dry in sun, and cut into small pieces. If no black soybean leaves are available, substitute with beans.

Gan Sui (Radix Euphorbiae Kansui): Qi is cold, flavor is bitter, toxic, incompatible with Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis). Mainly treats five types of water retention, drives out lingering fluid and old food, breaks hardness and accumulations, promotes urination and defecation. [Jie Gu] Bitter flavor, cold Qi. Bitter nature drains, cold nature overcomes heat, reaching directly to where water Qi is knotted; it is the sage herb for draining water. Water knotted in the chest cannot be removed without this herb. Zhang Zhongjing uses it in Da Xian Xiong Tang, but it is toxic and should not be used lightly. [Li Shizhen] The Kidney governs water; condensation forms phlegm-fluid, overflow causes swelling. Gan Sui can drain dampness from the Kidney meridian, treating the root of phlegm. Do not overdose; stop when the disease is cured. Zhang Zhongjing uses it with Gan Cao for lingering fluid under the heart, utilizing their contrary interaction to achieve efficacy. Remove stems, finely chop on a locust wood block, soak for three days in raw Gan Cao decoction and natural juice of Shepherd's Purse (Herba Capellae), until the liquid turns like ink. Drain, wash six to seven times with flowing water from the east until clear, wrap in dough, roast, and use.

Yuan Hua (Flos Genkwa): Qi is warm, flavor is pungent, toxic. [Li Shizhen] Zhang Zhongjing treats Taiyang syndrome of Shang Han with unresolved exterior, fluid retention in the epigastrium, causing dry heaving, fever, cough, or diarrhea, using Xiao Qing Long Tang. If the exterior is resolved, with occasional headache, sweating, aversion to cold, fluid retention in the epigastrium, dry heaving, pain radiating to both hypochondria, or cough/asthma, use Shi Zao Tang. Xiao Qing Long Tang disperses exterior pathogenic factors, allowing fluid Qi to exit via hair pores, following the Nei Jing's method of "opening the ghost gate" (diaphoresis). Shi Zao Tang drives out interior pathogens, allowing fluid Qi to excrete via urine and feces, following the Nei Jing's methods of "cleaning the bladder" and "removing stale matter." There are five types of fluid retention caused by internal consumption of fluids and external dampness. Flowing to the Lung becomes Zhi Yin (branch fluid), causing asthma, cough, chills/fever, frothy sputum, back cold. Flowing to the chest/hypochondria becomes Xuan Yin (hanging fluid), causing cough/saliva, pain radiating to the clavicle and hypochondria. Flowing to the epigastrium becomes Fu Yin (hidden fluid), causing chest fullness, vomiting, chills/fever, dizziness. Flowing to the intestines/stomach becomes Tan Yin (phlegm fluid), causing abdominal borborygmus, vomiting water, chest/hypochondrial distension, diarrhea, fluctuating weight. Flowing to meridians becomes Yi Yin (overflow fluid), causing heaviness, fixed pain, or edema. Yuan Hua, Da Ji, and Gan Sui purge water and drain dampness, reaching hidden reservoirs of fluid. Use gradually for rapid effect; do not overdose to avoid depleting true Yuan Qi. Chen Yan's *San Yin Fang* makes pills from Shi Zao Tang ingredients with jujube flesh for water-induced asthma and edema, showing adaptability. Yang Shaying's *Zhi Zhi Fang* states: To break masses, Yuan Hua is necessary; nourish the Stomach after purging water. Aged material is better. Boil in good vinegar for ten boils, discard vinegar, soak in water overnight, dry, and use.

Da Ji (Radix Euphorbiae Lathyri): Qi is cold, flavors are bitter and pungent, toxic, Yin with slight Yang. Drains Lung, damages true Qi, compatible with Jujube. Treats twelve types of water diseases, abdominal fullness/pain, accumulations, headache, induces sweating, promotes urination/defecation. [Zhang Yuansu] Da Ji and Gan Sui are both water-draining herbs; Da Ji's bitter-dry nature clears excess dampness. Boil in sour mash until soft, remove woody core, dry, and use.

Shu Qi (Herba Dendranthemi Indici, bud of Chang Shan): Qi is cold and slightly warm, flavors are bitter and pungent, pure Yang, toxic. Mainly treats Shang Han chills/fever, Wen Nue (warm malaria), expectorates phlegm-fluid from chest, breaks Blood. [Cheng Wuji] For rebellious Fire Evil, add the pungency of Shu Qi to disperse it. Cooking reduces toxicity but may induce vomiting.

Hai Zao (Thallus Sargassum): Qi is cold, flavor is salty, slightly toxic, incompatible with Gan Cao. [Jie Gu] Dense flavor and Qi, pure Yin and sinking. Treats Ying Liu (goiter), Ma Dao (scrofula), and other hard, non-ulcerated sores. Classics state: "Salty softens hardness." When Ying Qi does not flow outward, causing edema, treat with guiding herbs; swelling will subside. [Cheng Wuji] Salty flavor induces vomiting/draining, so Hai Zao's salinity drains water Qi. [Li Shizhen] Hai Zao is salty to moisten and descend, cold to drain heat, guiding water downward, thus eliminating goiters, tubercles, hard Yin accumulations, edema, podagra, lingering fluid, and damp-heat from phlegm-Qi, expelling pathogens via urine.

Long Gu (Os Draconis): Qi is neutral, flavor is sweet, non-toxic. Enters Hand-Foot Shaoyin and Jueyin meridians. Astringent nature removes collapse; Cheng Wuji says Long Gu converges floating/Yang Zheng Qi, secures Large Intestine, and calms fright. In Shang Han formulas, only used in decoctions; crush and use raw. Avoid fish and ironware.

Mu Li (Concha Ostreae): Qi is neutral and slightly cold, flavor is salty, non-toxic. Mainly treats Shang Han excess-heat, dysentery, diarrhea, stops sliding/collapse, stops heart pain, astringes urination/defecation, removes hypochondrial hardness/fullness. [Li Gao] Transforms stagnant Qi痞 (pi-masses). Classics state: "Salty softens hardness." Enters Foot Shaoyin; salty acts as a softening agent. Guided by Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri), it removes hypochondrial hardness; guided by tea, it eliminates tubercles; guided by Da Huang, it removes thigh swelling; guided by Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae), it benefits essence, astringes, and stops urination. It is a Kidney meridian herb. Quench calcined Mu Li in child's urine, grind, and sieve.

Chi Shi Zhi (Lapis Kaolinis Ruber): Qi is greatly warm, flavors are sweet, sour, and pungent, non-toxic, Yang within Yin. Secures collapse. [Zhang Yuansu] Astringent nature removes collapse. Shi Zhi is an astringent herb; red enters Bing (Fire), white enters Geng (Metal). [Li Shizhen] The Five Shi Zhis belong to Hand-Foot Yangming meridians. Sweet flavor, warm Qi, heavy body, astringent nature. Heavy and astringent, so it collects dampness, stops bleeding, and secures the lower burner. Sweet and warm, so it benefits Qi, generates flesh, and regulates the middle burner (intestines/stomach/muscles, e.g., palpitations, jaundice). Lower burner refers to intestinal diarrhea, uterine bleeding, seminal emission. The five types have similar indications; *Ben Jing* groups them by color/nourishing five Zang. *Bie Lu* separates them but properties/flavors are similar, merely distinguishing by Five Flavors/Five Colors. Red and white enter Qi and Blood respectively; red is preferred. Zhang Zhongjing uses Tao Hua Tang with Chi Shi Zhi for bloody diarrhea, using its heaviness/astringency to secure lower burner Blood, Gan Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens) to warm lower burner Qi, and Jing Mi (Semen Oryzae Sativum) to moisten intestines. Grind fine, wrap in silk, and decoct.

Dai Zhe Shi (Limonitis Haematites): Qi is cold, flavors are bitter and sweet, non-toxic. [Zhang Yuansu] Enters Hand Shaoyin and Foot Jueyin meridians. Timidity causes floating Qi; heavy agents settle it. Dai Zhe Shi's weight settles deficient rebellion. Zhang Zhongjing uses Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang for post-Sang Han sweat/vomit/purge cases with epigastric hardness and persistent belching. [Li Shizhen] Dai Zhe Shi is a blood-level herb for Liver and Pericardium meridians, treating blood disorders of these meridians. Grind raw, sieve, and use.

Yu Yu Liang (Lapis Kaolinis): Qi is cold, flavors are sweet and salty, non-toxic. [Li Shizhen] Yu Yu Liang is a heavy agent for Hand-Foot Yangming blood level. Astringent nature, so it treats lower burner anterior/posterior diseases. Grind raw, sieve, and use.

Qian Dan (Lapis Martis): Qi is slightly cold, flavors are pungent and slightly salty, non-toxic. Mainly treats retching, gastric reversal, convulsions, epilepsy, clears heat, directs Qi downward. Zhang Zhongjing uses Qian Dan in Long Gu Mu Li Tang to converge Shen Qi and calm fright. Astringent nature removes collapse and secures Qi; heavy and sinking, red color enters Blood level.

Wen Ge (Concha Meretricis): Qi is neutral, flavor is salty, non-toxic. Mainly treats malignant sores, erodes five hemorrhoids. In Shang Han Yang stage, sweating is indicated; if cold water is poured/rubbed instead, trapping heat and worsening symptoms, use Wen Ge San. Clams are aquatic, cold nature, so they promote diuresis and overcome heat, surpassing herbal liquids. *Mengxi Bitan* identifies it as the flower clam eaten in Wu region.

Shui Zhi (Hirudo): Qi is neutral, flavors are salty and bitter, toxic. Feared by Duan Shi (Calx Fuliginis) and salt. Mainly drives evil Blood, breaks stasis, resolves accumulations, promotes water pathways. Shui Zhi feeds on blood, so it drives dead blood; biological agents are needed to activate dead blood. Same logic applies to Meng Chong (Tabanus). Collect, store in bamboo tube to dry, soak in rice wash overnight, dry, spread body, remove eggs from abdomen, fry in pig lard until yellow-brown, and use.

Meng Chong (Tabanus): Qi is neutral, flavor is bitter, toxic. Mainly drives stasis, breaks blood accumulations, hard pi-masses, jia-masses, chills/fever, unblocks meridians and nine orifices. Liu Hejian says: Tabanus eats blood to treat blood, using its nature. Cheng Wuji says: Bitter enters Blood; bitter attacks blood stagnation. Thus, Meng Chong is a Liver meridian blood-level herb for blood accumulation. Remove wings/legs, roast, and use.

Zhu Fu (Cutis et Corium Porcinum): Qi is cold, flavor is sweet, non-toxic. Enters Foot Shaoyin meridian. Pig is aquatic; Qi enters Kidney first. Shaoyin guest-heat is resolved by Zhu Fu. Add Bai Mi (Mel) to moisten dryness and remove irritability, Bai Fen (Amylum Triticum) to benefit Qi and stop dysentery.

Zhu Dan Huang (Bile Suilla): Qi is cold, flavor is bitter, non-toxic. Added to Bai Tong Tang by Zhang Zhongjing with Ren Niao (Urina Humana). Salty-cold combined with hot agents to overcome rejection. Combined with vinegar for rectal administration, sour/bitter nourishes Yin, moistens dryness, and promotes defecation. *Ben Jing* treats Shang Han heat-thirst. Pig trotters (purple-green) can be used. Do not use for dietary therapy or mix with urine. Nourishes Liver, harmonizes Yin, guides Yang to prevent rejection, enters Heart, unblocks vessels.

Fu Ren Dang (Pannus Intestinale Mulieris): Mainly treats Yin Yi syndrome. Cut from genital area, burn to ash, take 1 cun cube dose. If female has Yang Yi, use male pannus. Yin-Yi syndrome occurs after epidemic disease recovery through intercourse, transmitting pathogen, worse than original disease. Symptoms: red/scanty urine, severe chills/fever. Taking this promotes free flow. Wondrous in restoring Qi.

Ren Niao (Urina Humana): Qi is cold, flavor is salty, non-toxic. [Tao Hongjing] For initial headache, drink several sheng of urine; often heals. Better with Cong Chi Tang. [Li Shizhen] Urine is warm, not cold. Entering stomach, follows Spleen Qi to Lung, then to Bladder via water pathways. Thus treats Lung disease, guides fire downward. Clear essence is Blood, turbid is Qi; clarified turbid is Jin Ye, clarified further is Urine. Urine resembles Blood, salty flavor enters Blood, treats blood diseases. Cheng Wuji says: For Shaoyin syndrome with persistent diarrhea, cold limbs, pulseless, dry heaving, thirst, add Ren Niao and Zhu Dan Huang (salty/bitter/cold) to Bai Tong Tang with Ginger/Aconite. Qi matches, overcoming rejection.