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[List of Suitable Medicinal Ingredients]

1. Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix). Sweet, cold, cool in qi, enters the Heart and Kidney meridians. Nourishes yin and eliminates heat; it is an essential herb for throat disorders. However, its nature also involves breaking blood stasis, so it should be used in small doses.

2. Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmanniae Radix). Sweet, warm, slightly bitter, with particularly grand efficacy. Tonifies qi and blood, nourishes and cultivates Kidney water, fills the marrow, benefits true yin, and specifically tonifies the primordial qi of the Kidney. For any deficiency of true yin manifesting as fever, headache, throat obstruction (bi syndrome of the throat), asthma, phlegm-cough, or false fire forcing blood to flow into the mouth and nose, or floating yang causing mania and restlessness, or yin deficiency causing rising fire, none can replace Shu Di Huang. When combined with Gan Cao (Licorice Root), it opens the stomach and promotes appetite; it is truly a superior grade among herbs and a divine elixir for treating throat ailments. *Qun Fang Pu* also records its ability to treat lung damage, loose teeth, exposed gums, and traumatic injuries. Alas! The merits of Shu Di Huang have long been unrecognized in contemporary practice. It is especially feared and avoided by many physicians today; they neither know how to use it properly nor refrain from slandering it based on this prejudice, which is truly regrettable. Commentary: Mr. Zheng's remarks are overcorrecting and show excessive bias in favor of Shu Di Huang. Do people today not already use it heavily? Those who cause harm do so by indiscriminately adding Shu Di Huang to formulas for convalescence without considering the patient's constitution, resulting in more harm than benefit. I have witnessed such failures frequently. For instance, between the Xinmao and Renchen years of the Guangxu era, this trend was rampant. I recall a sister-in-law who suffered excessive blood loss after childbirth in early spring, appearing extremely depleted. An old physician failed to recognize that although she was deficient, she also had an external pathogenic factor, and hastily administered a large dose of blood-nourishing medicine, including 5-6 qian of Shu Di Huang. After ingestion, she experienced fullness and loss of appetite; after two additional doses, she died from phlegm obstruction and qi closure. Another case involved a man under fifty from the Shi family in Wangshan, who worked hard in agriculture. In early summer, he contracted damp malaria. Because the pathogen was not cleared, another physician forcibly arrested the malaria with medication, leading to fatigue, reduced appetite, and fever in the shoulder. A doctor attributed this to the hardship of farming and suspected deficiency heat, prescribing Jin Shui Liu Jun Tang and advising prolonged use for longevity. After just two doses, abdominal distension, rebellious qi, poor appetite, and loose stools appeared. Upon urgent consultation, the doctor claimed this was a favorable sign of the disease retreating and advised continued use. After three or four more doses, the condition worsened progressively, eventually developing into water distension (ascites). Within half a month, fluid leaked from the abdomen and legs, and he died. Towards the end of the Guangxu reign, an elderly aunt occasionally contracted an external pathogen, but the illness was not severe. An old physician from a neighboring village diagnosed that righteousness should be supported first before expelling the pathogen, prescribing Ba Zhen Tang combined with Xiao Yao San, using heavy doses of Shu Di Huang. After ingestion, she suddenly fell into coma with qi closure, and the heat sank inward. Emergency rescue by Dr. Ke was futile. Alas! These three individuals lost their lives due to Shu Di Huang. Each herb has specific indications; one cannot rigidly adhere to preconceived notions that one is good and another bad. One must carefully examine the symptoms to prescribe accurately. Even Wuhui (Aconitum carmichaelii deaux side root) can cure diseases, and why do not Renshen (Ginseng) and Huangqi (Astragalus) kill people? Moreover, Shu Di Huang is cloying and greasy; can it truly have no drawbacks? However, for the specific condition of "white rot" (likely referring to diphtheria-like throat conditions), it indeed serves as a life-saving divine elixir. Mr. Zheng's statement is correct for this context but cannot be generalized to other diseases.

3. Xuan Shen (Scrophulariae Radix). Bitter, sweet, slightly salty, cold in qi. Nourishes yin and clears fire. It enters not only the Kidney meridian but also travels to the Lung organ. Thus, it can extinguish rootless floating fire, dissipate phlegm nodules and hot carbuncles throughout the body, drive away bi-pain of the head, neck, and throat, resolve macules and rashes, regulate internal cardiac palpitations and irritability, and has numerous primary uses.

4. Bei Mu (Fritillariae Bulbus). Bitter, cold, neutral in qi. Only Sichuan-produced varieties are considered excellent. Its taste is sweet and slightly bitter, qi is neutral, and it is not cold. Clears lung heat, descends heat accumulation in the chest, removes lung abscesses, lung萎 (withering lung), purulent phlegm, and wheezing coughs, cleanses the throat, and moistens lung dryness. As for Tu Bei Mu and Zhe Bei Mu, they are highly bitter and cold with strong aromas and flavors, making them unsuitable for white rot conditions.

5. Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma). Bitter, cold, with strong aroma and flavor. It is a principal herb for the Kidney meridian. It also clears the lungs and stops thirst, removes foul odor from the throat, reduces yin fire, regulates dragon-lei fire (hyperactive liver-kidney fire), and drains damp-heat from the bladder, liver, and kidneys.

6. Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis Tuber). Sweet and slightly cold; a Lung meridian herb. With more sweetness and less bitterness, it ascends to the Heart and Lungs, replenishes fluids in the upper jiao, clears latent fire in the lungs, benefits essence and nourishes yin, moistens skin and resolves stagnation, drains fierce fire while benefiting primordial qi, moistens dry metal (Lung) and clears the water source (Kidney). It treats dry lung cough, resolves phlegm, and strengthens deficiency; it is indeed an important herb. It is also effective for intestinal dryness and constipation because the Lung and Large Intestine are exterior-interior partners.

7. Tian Men Dong (Asparagi Tuber). Sweet, bitter, cold; a Lung and Kidney herb. Clears metal (Lung) and descends fire, benefits the source of water (Kidney); thus, it is used in San Cai Dan.

8. Wei Rui (Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma, i.e., Yu Zhu). Sweet and neutral, enters the Spleen; soft and moistening, enters the Kidney. Thus, it tonifies the middle and benefits qi, dispels heat and eliminates steaming bone disorder, treats wind-damp toxicity, stops headache, lower back pain, and painful/ulcerated eyes, demonstrating remarkable efficacy.

9. Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex). Pungent, bitter, slightly cool, with light aroma and flavor. Enters the Foot Shaoyin and Hand Jueyin meridians. Clears deficiency heat of the Liver and Kidney. Due to its slight coolness and pungency, it is also quite suitable for treating white rot.

10. Huo Ma Ren (Cannabis Fructus, i.e., Huang Ma). Sweet, neutral, slippery in nature. Moistens the Heart and Lungs, nourishes the five zang organs, and relieves wind-heat and dryness obstruction in the Large Intestine. For cases requiring lubricating purgation, this is the best choice. Hu Ma Ren, resembling chestnut color, is called Bie Shi. Its therapeutic actions are similar.

11. Nu Zhen Zi (Ligustri Lucidi Fructus). Bitter, cool, and neutral. Nourishes yin qi, balances yin fire, clears Liver fire, brightens the eyes, and treats yin-deficiency throat pain. It is also suitable for white rot.

12. Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba). Sour and slightly bitter, quite cold in nature. Qi is thinner than flavor; it has more descending/astringent action and less ascending/dispersing action. It is a herb for the Lung and Spleen meridians, entering the Blood aspect of the Liver and Spleen. It drains Liver fire, secures the interstices, reduces deficiency heat, eliminates carbuncles and swelling, and closes ulcer openings. For initial stages of throat disorders, use cautiously to avoid its sour astringency.

13. Sha Shen (Glehniae Radix or Adenophorae Radix). Slightly sweet, slightly bitter, with light aroma and flavor. Slightly cold; nourishes yin and clears the lungs, discharges pus and reduces swelling, eliminates pathogenic heat, cools the Liver, and nourishes the yin of the five zang organs. Nan Sha Shen (Adenophorae Radix) has clearing and dispersing properties and should not be used here.

14. Fu Ling (Poria). Sweet, bland, and neutral. Tonifies the middle and opens the stomach, promotes urination and transforms phlegm. Bland and permeating, it ascends, generates fluids, opens the interstices, nourishes the source of water (Kidney) and causes descent. Mixing with human milk, steaming, drying, and stir-frying enhances its effect.

15. Ba Da Xing Ren (Pruni Semen). Taste is sweet, with flavor stronger than aroma. Non-toxic. Enters the Lung, Stomach, and Large Intestine meridians. Calms cough and moistens the lungs, also moistens the intestines and transforms phlegm, and resolves throat obstruction.

16. Hei Dou (Sojae Semen Nigrum, i.e., Ma Liao Dou). Sweet, cold, black in color, associated with Water, resembling the Kidney. It is the grain of the Kidney. Tonifies the Heart and Kidney, dissipates heat and dispels wind, detoxifies, and reduces swelling.

17. Ye Liao Dou (Wild Soybean). Better quality. Contraindicated with Wu Shen (five types of Ginseng/Glehnia/etc.), Long Dan (Gentian Root), and pork; synergistic with Xing Ren (Apricot Seed) and Mu Li (Oyster Shell).

18. Sang Ye (Mori Folium). Sweet, cold; a herb for the Hand and Foot Yangming meridians. Cools blood and clears heat. Leaves that have undergone frost treat cough. Do not use if hoarseness is present.

19. Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix). Sweet, pungent, and warm. Enters the Heart, Liver, and Spleen meridians; a Blood-acting herb. For throat disorders due to blood deficiency, combining with Bai Shao is effective. However, it is not very suitable for white rot due to its pungent, warm, and dispersing nature.

20. Bai He (Lilii Bulbus). Sweet, bland, neutral in qi, with slow-acting efficacy. Benefits qi and moistens the lungs, stops cough, resolves throat obstruction and breast abscesses, and moistens the large and small intestines. A variety with bitter taste should not be used.

21. Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma, originally named Shu Yu). Sweet, neutral, bland, slightly astringent. Tonifies Spleen and Lung, benefits Kidney and secures essence, nourishes Heart spirit and eliminates irritability, treats various deficiencies and hundred damages. Select plump and white Huai Shan Yao for best results. Jian Shan Yao is bitter and potent in qi, unsuitable for use, especially contraindicated for white rot.

22. Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma). Neutral in qi, sweet in taste, harmonizing with the virtue of Earth, thus entering only the Spleen and Stomach. "Sowing and reaping produce sweetness," the true flavor of Earth. Earth resides in the center and governs the Five Phases; it can ascend and descend, act internally and externally, harmonize and relax, generate and control, receive and restrain, tonify and drain. It excels at resolving various toxins, dispelling heat pathogens, strengthening sinews and bones, establishing Spleen and Stomach, and growing flesh/muscle. It follows Qi herbs to enter Qi and Blood herbs to enter Blood, being versatile in all applications, hence called "Guo Lao" (State Elder). Raw use is cooling; honey-fried use is warming. It particularly assists Shu Di Huang in treating critical yin deficiency.

23. Jin Cha Hu (Dendrobii Caulis). Sweet, bland, weak in potency, light, clear, gentle, and slow-acting, possessing the subtlety of gradual resolution. Nourishes yin and reduces fire, eliminates irritability and clears the lungs, expels pathogenic heat, balances Stomach and Spleen fire, and relieves epigastric discomfort and hunger pangs.

24. Sha Yuan Ji Li (Astragali Complanati Semen). Sweet, warm. Enters the Liver and Kidney meridians. Benefits essence and tonifies Kidney, stops leg pain and seminal emission. Excellent for adjunctive regulation after throat disorders.

25. Hei Zhi Ma (Sesami Fructus, i.e., Ju Sheng Zi). Sweet, neutral. Tonifies the middle and benefits qi, nourishes the lungs and moistens the intestines, dispels wind-damp, fills brain marrow, prolongs life with long-term use, and is most effective for treating white-wrapped throat (diphtheria).

All the above ingredients are purely yin and extremely tranquil herbs, essential for throat disorders. Used appropriately, how could they differ from divine elixirs refined nine times? However, most people today suffer from Kidney yin deficiency, so throat disorders presenting as deficiency are common. Therefore, treatment methods must simultaneously nourish yin. If one adheres to vulgar practices, focusing solely on exterior-releasing and cold-cooling measures, few will avoid error.

Appendix:
Tong Lv (Chloropyrum, i.e., Tong Qing). Sour, neutral, slightly toxic. Treats wind-ulcerated tearful eyes, malignant sores, gan sores, women's blood-qiy heart pain, vomiting of wind-phlegm, setting broken bones, stopping bleeding, killing parasites. Prepared with vinegar and scraped for use. Zi Ran Tong (Pyritum). Pungent, neutral. Mainly for fractures to knit sinews and bones, disperses stasis and stops pain. Calcined seven times, quenched in vinegar, ground fine for use. Commentary: These two items are not herbs for treating throat disorders and should not even be included in insufflation powders. It is unknown why they were mixed into the end of the compilation. Perhaps the copyist mistakenly extracted them here? Or did they fail to notice that sixty-eight contraindicated herbs were listed previously, and these two were misplaced to fill the count, belonging to the previous section but appended later? Nevertheless, this does not affect the intent of the book. We retain them as recorded.