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Mabiancao (Verbena officinalis): Bitter and sweet in flavor, cold in nature, slightly toxic. Enters the Liver and Spleen meridians. Primarily activates blood and unblocks menstruation; treats metal wounds (trauma caused by sharp instruments) and various sores/boils. Extract juice and mix with wine for oral administration.
Commentary: The Liver stores blood; the Spleen manages blood. Mabiancao specifically governs the blood aspect, hence it enters these two meridians.

Lugen (Reed Rhizome): Sweet in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Lung and Stomach meridians. Primarily eliminates residual heat in polydipsia (wasting-thirst syndrome), stops frequent urination, treats five types of dysphagia with qi stagnation, irritability, and vomiting/regurgitation. Usage: Decoct 5 liang of Lugen in 3 cups of water until 1 cup remains, then take orally; highly effective.
Commentary: Lugen primarily addresses vomiting and hiccups due to rebellious qi, hence it enters the Taiyin (Lung) and Yangming (Stomach) meridians. The pathology of polydipsia also arises because qi transformation fails to reach the lower jiao. By using Lugen to descend Taiyin lung qi, the generation of body fluids is thereby ensured.

Shechuangzi (Cnidium Fruit): Bitter, pungent, and sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, slightly toxic. Enters the Lung and Kidney meridians. Primarily treats wind-cold-damp bi obstruction, various malignant sores and tinea, swelling and pain in the female vulva, male impotence with damp-itching in the genital area. Long-term use preserves youthfulness and lightens the body, facilitating conception. Usage: Soak in wine overnight, mix with Rehmanniae Radix (Shengdi Huang) juice, steam, and dry in shade. Avoid using with Moutan Cortex (Mu Dan Pi), Crotonis Fructus (Ba Dou), and Fritillariae Bulbus (Bei Mu).
Commentary: Shechuangzi regulates wind-dampness, suitable for entering the Taiyin meridian; tonifies deficiency and treats flaccidity, suitable for entering the Shaoyin meridian.

Jinyinhua (Honeysuckle Flower): Bitter and sweet in flavor, neutral and slightly cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Lung meridian. Primarily treats bloody dysentery due to heat-toxin, dissipates carbuncles and disperses toxins, tonifies deficiency and dispels wind. Long-term use promotes longevity.
Commentary: Jinyinhua resolves toxins in the skin and muscles, hence it enters the Lung meridian and is a crucial herb for dermatological conditions. Tao Hongjing stated: Regular consumption benefits longevity, yet people often overlook it, seeking instead rare herbs. This reflects the common tendency to value distant things over nearby ones.

Shandougen (Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma): Sweet in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Heart and Lung meridians. Primarily detoxifies various medicinal poisons, relieves sore throat, reduces fever and dissipates carbuncles.
Commentary: Shandougen is cold in nature and specifically purges Heart fire. Once Heart fire is eliminated, Metal (Lung) is not damaged; with Metal protected, the risk of heat injury is avoided.

Aiye (Mugwort Leaf): Bitter in flavor, slightly warm in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Liver and Spleen meridians. Primarily used for moxibustion to treat myriad diseases, warms the middle and regulates qi, opens depression and regulates menstruation, calms the fetus and facilitates conception, stops metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, cures chronic dysentery, expels evil influences, stabilizes cholera-like symptoms (acute gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhea). Freshly crushed juice treats hematemesis and epistaxis.
Commentary: The warming property of Aiye allows the Liver and Spleen to flow smoothly, preventing stagnation and blood stasis. In the human body, only Qi and Blood are paramount. Now that Wood (Liver) and Earth (Spleen) are harmonized, Ying and Wei (nutritive and defensive qi) become balanced, and myriad diseases naturally recede. As for its efficacy in treating dampness, this merely highlights its specific strengths. For decoction, fresh leaves are preferred; for moxibustion, aged leaves are preferred. Raw use implies cold nature; cooked/roasted use implies warm nature.