Library

[Foer Cao] (Earlobe Grass)
Taste: Sour. Nature: Hot. Toxicity: Slightly toxic. Meridian Tropism: Lung Meridian. Indications: Cold in the lungs, as well as cough with phlegm and consumptive cough. Guiding herb: Kuandonghua (Adenophora Root).
Commentary: Foer Cao specifically enters the Taiyin (Lung) meridian and greatly raises Lung Qi. It should be used in small doses; excessive consumption damages the eyes due to its hot nature and slight toxicity.

[Canger Zi] (Cocklebur Fruit)
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Warm. Toxicity: Slightly toxic. Meridian Tropism: Lung Meridian. Indications: Wind-cold-damp bi syndrome, head wind and nasal discharge, carbuncles with heaviness, scabies and tinea pruritus, metrorrhagia, leprosy and epilepsy, effectively induces sweating. Process by stir-frying until fragrant, pound to remove spines before use. Combined with pork meat, it resolves dog poison.
Commentary: Canger Zi is sweet and warm, thus it can travel to the exterior. The Lung governs the skin and hair, so the herb enters this meridian; the Lung governs wind pathogens, hence it treats the aforementioned conditions.

[Yin Chen] (Artemisia Capillaris Herb)
Taste: Bitter. Nature: Slightly cold. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Meridian Tropism: Bladder Meridian. Indications: High fever from cold damage, jaundice, red urine. Treats eye disorders, moves stagnant Qi, induces sweating, dispels wind-dampness. Use without roots; processing over fire renders it ineffective.
Commentary: Yin Chen specifically regulates urination and is primarily a Bladder Meridian agent. Why does it treat jaundice? Jaundice arises from Spleen injury, and the Spleen dislikes dampness invading Earth. By using Yin Chen to promote diuresis, dampness is removed, the Spleen stabilizes, and jaundice heals spontaneously. Jaundice is divided into Yin-Jaundice and Yang-Jaundice. Yang-Jaundice involves more heat, with either dampness or dryness; combined with Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus), it treats Damp-Jaundice. Combined with Zhizi and Jupi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), it treats Dry-Jaundice. Yin-Jaundice involves more cold and has only one presentation; it is treated with Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata).

[Shijunzi] (Quisqualis Indica Seed)
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Warm. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Meridian Tropism: Spleen and Stomach Meridians. Indications: Five types of childhood malnutrition (Gan syndrome), promotes urination, stops leukorrhea/prostatic fluid, relieves diarrhea and dysentery, kills parasites. Use with the shell.
Commentary: Shijunzi is sweet and warm, suitable for treating Spleen and Stomach conditions. However, excessive consumption causes hiccups due to stomach injury.

[Liangjiang] (Galangal Rhizome)
Taste: Pungent. Nature: Very warm. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Meridian Tropism: Spleen and Stomach Meridians. Indications: Cold rebellion in the stomach, cholera with abdominal pain, dispels cold qi, removes cold-bi, stops vomiting and diarrhea, treats inverted stomach, digests retained food, resolves alcohol toxicity.
Commentary: Liangjiang is pungent and warm, pleasing to the Spleen and Stomach. It is highly effective for patients with true cold syndromes. If administered mistakenly to patients with heat diseases, the condition will worsen.

[Shilian Zi] (Nelumbinis Semen)
Taste: Bitter. Nature: Cold. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Meridian Tropism: Heart, Stomach, and Bladder Meridians. Indications: Anorectic dysentery, white turbid urinary discharge caused by damp-heat infiltrating the Bladder, clears the Heart and relieves irritability, opens the appetite. Use without the shell.
Commentary: Shilian Zi is bitter and cold, suitable for draining Fire from the Shaoyin (Heart/Kidney) channel. Once Heart Fire is cleared, the Stomach and Bladder cannot remain independently heated, hence the herb enters these meridians. This is a distinct variety, not comparable to ordinary Lotus Seeds.