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Tea (Camellia Sinensis): The taste is sweet and slightly bitter, the nature is slightly cold, non-toxic. It enters the Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung, and Kidney meridians. Its main functions are to descend Qi and refresh the mind, eliminate Phlegm, resolve sores, promote urination and generate fluids, break down accumulated heat, clear the head and eyes, effectively dissolve greasy substances, and detoxify foods prepared by frying or roasting.
Commentary: Tea is a clearing and draining substance, thus its qi enters all five Zang organs. However, excessive consumption damages the Spleen, leading to sallow complexion and emaciation; its ability to "refresh the mind" is actually due to its depletion of Spleen Qi.

Asafoetida (Ferula Assa-foetida): The taste is acrid, the nature is slightly hot, non-toxic. It enters the Stomach meridian. Its main functions are to break up masses and accumulations, direct rebellious Qi downward, treat Cholera-like disease, relieve abdominal pain, prevent epidemic fevers and Malaria, dispel evil influences, resolve Gu toxicity, and eradicate Transmitted Corpse disease (consumption).
Commentary: Asafoetida's acrid and hot nature is suitable for the Stomach organ, hence it enters only this meridian. It is the resin produced inside the Ferula assa-foetida tree in Persia. The *Tang Bencao* states: "Its nature is extremely foul-smelling, yet it can stop foul odors; truly a wondrous substance." Currently, merchants often boil garlic whites to pass them off as genuine, which must be carefully distinguished. Genuine asafoetida placed in a hot copper vessel for one day and night will leave a residue that is white as silver where it adheres.
Lei Gong said: There are many counterfeits when using asafoetida; there are three tests. First test: Place half a zhu of asafoetida in a hot copper vessel overnight until morning; the area where it adheres should be white like mercury without any redness. Second test: Place one zhu of asafoetida in the natural juice of Wu Fang Cao (Five Directions Grass) and soak overnight until morning; it should turn blood-red. Third test: Place one zhu of asafoetida on a tree; if the tree trunk dries out, it is genuine. When preparing, first grind it into powder in a clean mortar, then steam it over hot wine before storing for medicinal use.

Dried Lacquer (Lacca): The taste is acrid, the nature is warm, toxic. It enters the Stomach, Large Intestine, and Small Intestine meridians. Its main functions are to treat long-standing hard accumulations, resolve blood stasis from chronic constipation, kill three types of parasites, cut off Transmitted Corpse disease, alleviate coughing, stop metrorrhagia and leukorrhea, eliminate nine types of heart pain, and treat Bi syndrome caused by Wind-Cold-Dampness. It should be stir-fried until smoke ceases. Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) is used as an guiding herb. It is incompatible with egg white, animal fat, iron sulfate solution, Rhus verniciflua juice, and crab.
Commentary: Dried lacquer specializes in promoting circulation and resolving stagnation, making it suitable for entering the Stomach and the two intestines. However, formulas that break hardness and dissipate accumulations ultimately damage Yuan Qi (Primordial Qi) and should not be used excessively. For poisoning, antidotes are substances it fears.