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Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shanyao, 山药): Sweet in taste, warm in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Spleen, Lung, and Kidney meridians. It tonifies Yin deficiency, reduces swelling and induration, strengthens Spleen Qi, promotes muscle growth, strengthens sinews and bones, treats dry cough, stops seminal emission and diarrhea, calms palpitations, and eliminates dysentery. Use after processing with milk. Purple Ganoderma (Zizhi, 紫芝) serves as a guiding herb; it harmonizes well with Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong, 麦冬), but is incompatible with Kansui Root (Gansui, 甘遂).

Commentary: Zhu Danxi stated: Dioscorea belongs to Earth but possesses characteristics of Metal and Water, making it suitable for entering the Spleen, Lung, and Kidney meridians to tonify deficiency. The Classic states: Wherever there is deficiency, pathogenic factors inevitably gather; swelling can also obstruct Qi mechanism.

Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu, 白术): Bitter and sweet in taste, warm in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Spleen meridian. It dispels dampness and promotes water passage, enhances appetite, and strengthens the Spleen and Stomach. When assisted by Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin, 黄芩), it calms the fetus; when used as the chief ingredient with Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhishi, 枳实), it resolves fullness. It stops diarrhea and vomiting; it arrests sweating when present, and induces sweating when absent. Use after stir-frying with soil. Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fangfeng, 防风) and Sanguisorbae Radix (Diyu, 地榆) serve as guiding herbs. Avoid using with peach flesh, plum flesh, sparrow meat, blue fish, and Chinese cabbage.

Commentary: Baizhu is sweet and dispels dampness, thus serving as a crucial herb for the Spleen. Fetal restlessness, abdominal fullness, vomiting, and diarrhea are all due to Spleen weakness. By assisting the Spleen, various ailments naturally resolve. Sweating occurs due to Spleen deficiency, so it can stop it; absence of sweating occurs because Earth (Spleen) fails to generate Metal (Lung), leading to Metal being overcome by Fire, causing scorching heat in the skin and hair. By tonifying the Spleen and utilizing its sweet-warm nature, sweating can be induced. In the Treatise on Cold Damage, patients with "moving Qi" should not use this herb.

Atractylodis Rhizoma (Cangzhu, 苍术): Pungent and sweet in taste, warm in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians. It primarily regulates the Stomach, strengthens the Spleen, expands the middle jiao, dissipates nodules, induces sweating, dispels dampness, suppresses mountain miasma, and disperses warm malaria. Soak in rice washing water overnight, change the water and soak again, then stir-fry before use. Its contraindications regarding guiding herbs are the same as those of Baizhu.

Commentary: Cangzhu is pungent and sweet, dispelling dampness, which the Spleen and Stomach favor, hence it enters these meridians. Its general efficacy is similar to Baizhu, but pharmacological properties state that its ability to expand the middle and induce sweating exceeds that of Baizhu, which is indeed true. However, stating that its power to tonify the middle and dispel dampness is inferior to Baizhu is logically incorrect. The method of dispelling dampness is nothing more effective than inducing sweating; how could dampness remain if sweat is profusely discharged? Once dampness is removed, the Spleen benefits. If one argues that because it induces sweating, it cannot tonify the middle, why did ancients call it "Mountain Essence," claiming refined consumption grants longevity? This is because it condenses the essence of Yin and Yang. Empirical physicians often avoid it due to its dryness, unaware that the Spleen is the master of the Zang organs and prefers dryness; there is no case where robust Spleen Qi harms other organs. It is only contraindicated in cases of blazing Fire and dry Earth with Spleen deficiency causing stuffiness, lest it exacerbate the Fire.