味辛，性温无毒，入十二经。主风湿瘾疹盈肌，咽喉风热不利，诸肿疮疡之证，腰膝凝
滞之气，润肺止嗽，散气消痰。酒拌蒸，待有白霜出，拭去，干焙捣用，一名恶实，一名鼠
粘子。
按∶《主治秘诀》及东垣皆云，牛蒡子辛温，故能入十二经而通散也。洁古云∶吞一枚
可出
味苦，性寒无毒，入心小肠二经。主心腹邪气，胀满作痛，痈肿诸毒，除五疽，利九窍，
通水道，小儿无热痘疮，尤为要剂，取嫩茸，去髭用。
按∶紫草主血热，本入心经。而小肠者，受盛而与心应者也，故并入之。邪气诸证咸本
于热，今清其心而自愈矣。
雷公云∶凡使须用蜡水蒸之，待水干，取去头并髭，锉用，每治紫草一斤，用蜡二两熔
化用。
味苦，性温有小毒，入心肾二经。主温疟发狂，症瘕积聚，瘿瘤瘰 ，金疮鼻衄，齿痛
腹痛骨痛，赤毒痢下，男子阴疝偏肿，小儿头秃膻腥。豚实为使，得酒良。
按∶白头翁味苦，本入心经。经曰∶肾欲坚，急入苦以坚之，故又入肾。温疟等证，无
非水衰火旺，故治之。
味甘辛，性微温无毒，入肺经。主下气，除嗽气，寒呃上冲，不得睡卧，气逆冲喉，呼
吸欲绝，腹中时时作水鸡声。甘草水浸一宿，去头须子，焙干用，忌羊肉。
按∶白前色白味辛，故入肺经，专主一切气证。
[Niubangzi (Arctii Fructus)]
Pungent in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic. Enters the twelve meridians. Primarily treats wind-dampness urticaria covering the skin, pharyngeal and laryngeal wind-heat obstruction, various conditions of swelling, sores, and ulcers, qi stagnation in the lower back and knees, moistens the lungs to stop coughing, disperses qi and eliminates phlegm. Steeped with wine and steamed; when a white frost appears on the surface, wipe it off, dry-roast, and crush for use. Also known as Eshi (Evil Seed) or Shunanzhi (Mouse Adhesive Seed).
Commentary: *Zhuzhi Mijue* and Li Dongyuan both state that Niubangzi is pungent and warm, thus able to enter the twelve meridians and promote circulation and dispersion. Jiegu states: Swallowing one fruit can expel [pathogens].
[Zicao (Arnebiae Radix et Rhizoma / Lithospermi Radix)]
Bitter in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Heart and Small Intestine meridians. Primarily treats pathogenic factors in the heart and abdomen, distension and fullness with pain, carbuncles and sores from various toxins, eliminates five types of jaundice, unblocks the nine orifices, promotes water passages. For pediatric measles without fever, it is a particularly important agent. Use the tender root hairs, removing the rhizome head and whiskers.
Commentary: Zicao primarily treats blood heat and originally enters the Heart meridian. The Small Intestine is the organ of reception and transformation, corresponding to the Heart, hence it is included here. All conditions caused by pathogenic factors originate from heat; now, by clearing the Heart fire, self-healing occurs.
Leigong states: When using, it must be steamed with wax water until the water dries up. Remove the head and whiskers, and slice for use. For every jin (500g) of Zicao treated, use two liang (approx. 60g) of melted wax.
[Baitouweng (Pulsatillae Radix)]
Bitter in flavor, warm in nature, slightly toxic. Enters the Heart and Kidney meridians. Primarily treats warm malaria with mania, mass formations (zheng jia), accumulations, goiter, scrofula, traumatic injuries, epistaxis, toothache, abdominal pain, bone pain, dysentery with bloody discharge, male yin hernia with unilateral swelling, and pediatric alopecia with seborrheic odor. Uses Tunshi (likely referring to a specific preparation or herb, contextually ambiguous but kept as is) as an guiding herb; benefits from wine.
Commentary: Baitouweng is bitter and originally enters the Heart meridian. The Classics state: "The Kidney desires firmness; urgently use bitter flavors to firm it," hence it also enters the Kidney. Conditions such as warm malaria are essentially due to Water deficiency and Fire hyperactivity, thus they are treated accordingly.
[Baiqian (Cynanchi Stauntonii Radix et Rhizoma)]
Sweet and pungent in flavor, slightly warm in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Lung meridian. Primarily directs qi downward, eliminates coughing qi, counterflow of cold belching, inability to sleep, rebellious qi rushing to the throat, suffocating breathing, and intermittent sounds in the abdomen resembling a water frog. Soak in Licorice water overnight, remove the rhizome head and whiskers, dry-roast for use. Avoid mutton.
Commentary: Baiqian is white in color and pungent in flavor, thus entering the Lung meridian. It specifically treats all types of qi disorders.