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Areca Nut (Binglang): Flavor is pungent, sweet, and astringent; nature is warm, non-toxic. Enters the Stomach and Large Intestine meridians. Primarily resolves food stagnation, expels water retention, promotes the free flow of zang-fu organs, attacks hard accumulations, moves qi and relieves stagnation, eliminates phlegm-rheum, kills three types of parasites (roundworms, pinworms, tapeworms), treats latent corpse disease (chronic debilitating conditions), cures Taenia solium (tapeworm), attacks Hong Kong foot (podagra or gangrene of the foot), and resolves various gu poisons. Its medicinal property is heavy like iron and stone, its action is swift like a galloping horse, and it loses efficacy when exposed to fire.

Commentary: Areca nut is sweet and warm, suitable for the stomach; its sinking-yin nature is suitable for the large intestine. Examining its efficacy, one utilizes its descending property rather than its qi-breaking property. In Guangfu regions, people take it frequently, likely because the low-lying terrain and humid heat cause human qi to rise excessively, so this herb is taken to descend the qi. Those that are pointed and long act swiftly and sharply.

Lei Gong states: When using areca nut, select those that are upright, solid, and not hollow; those with a hard center and brocade-like patterns are excellent. Those that are half-white and half-black, or have a hollow center, are not used medicinally. During processing, those with a round, short head are called "Lang," while those with a pointed body and purple stripes are called "Bing." Lang has weak potency, while Bing has strong potency. To prepare Bing, scrape off the bottom with a knife, slice thinly, and do not expose to fire.

Betel Nut Husk (Dafupi): Flavor is bitter and pungent; nature is slightly warm, non-toxic. Enters the Lung and Spleen meridians. Primarily treats cold and hot qi attacking the heart and abdomen, unblocks Guan Ge (obstruction characterized by vomiting and inability to urinate), removes distension, dispels congestion, reduces edema. Wash with wine to remove sand, then wash again with soybean juice before use.

Commentary: Dafupi's pungency benefits the Lung by draining, and its warmth benefits the Spleen by strengthening. However, if the draining effect is excessive, it should not be used by those with Qi deficiency. The trees often harbor venomous birds (Zhenwu), contaminating them with fecal toxins, which causes harm; therefore, thorough washing is required before use.

Clove (Dingxiang): Flavor is sweet and pungent; nature is warm, non-toxic. Enters the Lung, Spleen, Stomach, and Kidney meridians. Primarily treats bad breath, abdominal pain, cholera with regurgitation, Gui Zhu Gu Du (ghostly infections and poisons), as well as Kidney Qi Ben Tun Qi (Qi rushing upward like a galloping horse), strengthens yang, warms waist and knees, treats cold qi, detoxifies alcohol, eliminates Pi masses (accumulations), and removes cold exhaustion. Those as large as Cornus officinalis fruit are named Mother Clove (Mu Dingxiang), with particularly fine aroma.

Commentary: Clove's pungent-warm nature travels to the Lung meridian, and its sweet-warm nature travels to the Spleen and Stomach meridians. The Kidney is controlled by Earth and generated by Metal, so salty flavor enters it. If caused by cold pathogen, administration yields immediate results; however, if caused by fire syndromes, the disaster is not light. Chen Cangqi states: Remove the white stamens, mix ginger juice, apply to the hole; newly grown ones will be black.

Lei Gong states: There are male and female cloves. Male capsules are small, female capsules are large, resembling jujube pits. Female cloves are mostly used in prescriptions. Female cloves have stronger potency, while male cloves are used in paste decoctions. If using clove buds (Ru Zi), they must be removed, as they can induce back carbuncles in humans.