味苦，温，有毒。入脾。肺、肾三经。性反甘草，同大戟、甘遂，能直达水饮窠囊
隐癖之处。然毒性至紧，外达皮毛，内泄肠胃，取效极捷，虚人误用，用多至夭折。
芫花，有小毒，反甘草。散皮肤水肿发浮，消胸膈痰冰，善唾咳逆上气，能止咽
肿，短气可安。驱疝瘕痈疽，除鬼疟虫毒，汁渍丝线系痔易落，久服不易，令人虚损。
根名蜀桑尤毒，止可毒鱼敷疥。
荛花猛力行水，破积聚大坚，瘕 顽痰，咳逆上气，更治咽喉内肿痛，消脐腹下
癖气块。
凫茨俗名荸荠。主产后血闷攻心，理产难子胞不下，压丹石，除胸膈痞气，下石
淋，退面目黄胆，风肿能消，痹热堪却，开胃进食，益气温中，性善毁铜，着之即碎，
为消坚削积要药。孕妇食动胎，小儿食脐痛。
专得水气之清阴，故味辛酸气寒无毒。其体清浮，其性清燥，故能散皮肤之湿热而
下水胜酒。消渴发汗之需也。
水萍背面俱青而小者名藻，面青背紫而大者为萍。入药用萍，七月半采，置筛架水
晒干研末，蜜丸弹大，一切摊风中风，空心酒服三丸，发汗聚来，驱风速退，仍治时行
热病，堪浴遍身疮痒，消水肿，利小便，发汗力比麻黄，下水功同通草，苟非大实大
热，表虚自汗者勿用。歌云∶天生灵草无根干，不在山间不在岸，始因飞絮逐东风，紫
背青皮飘水面，神仙一味去沉 ，采时须在七月半，怕甚瘫风与大风，些小微风都不
算，豆淋酒内服三丸，铁钋头上也出汗。
芫花：味道苦，性温，有毒。归脾、肺、肾三经。其药性与甘草相反，与大戟、甘遂同用，能够直达水饮积聚的隐蔽之处（窠囊）。然而其毒性极为猛烈，外可透达皮毛，内能通泄肠胃，见效极快；若体虚之人误用，或用量过大，甚至会导致死亡。
芫花有小毒，与甘草相反。它能消散皮肤水肿引起的浮肿，消除胸膈间的痰浊凝结，善于治疗咳嗽气喘、气逆上冲，能缓解咽喉肿痛和呼吸短促。它能驱除疝气、癥瘕、痈疽，去除鬼疟及虫毒；将其汁液浸泡丝线系于痔疮上，可使痔疮容易脱落，但长期服用会导致人体虚弱受损。其根部名为蜀桑，毒性更大，仅可用于毒杀鱼类或外敷治疗疥疮。
荛花：药力猛烈，善于行水，破除体内积聚的大块硬结、顽固痰浊，治疗咳嗽气喘、气逆上冲，还能治疗咽喉内部肿痛，消除脐腹部的癖气肿块。
凫茨（俗名荸荠）：主治产后血瘀攻心，调理难产及胎盘不下，压制丹石类药物引发的燥热，消除胸膈痞闷之气，引导下焦结石排出，退去面目黄疸，消散风肿，清除痹症热邪，开胃增进食欲，益气温中。其性质善于腐蚀铜器，接触即碎，是消除坚硬积滞的重要药物。孕妇食用会动胎气，小儿食用会引起脐部疼痛。
水萍：专门汲取水气的清阴之气，所以味道辛、酸，气寒，无毒。其体质清轻上浮，性质清燥，因此能发散皮肤上的湿热，并促进排尿以胜酒湿。它是治疗消渴病发汗所需的药物。
水萍背面均为青色且体型小者称为藻，正面青色背面紫色且体型大者称为萍。入药使用萍，在七月半采集，放置在筛子上架起用水洗净后晒干，研成粉末，用蜂蜜制成如弹子大小的丸剂。一切中风病症，空腹时以酒送服三丸，能使汗液聚集排出，驱散风邪迅速消退。同时也能治疗流行性热病，全身疮痒可用其洗浴，消除水肿，利小便。其发汗之力比麻黄更强，利水之功同通草相似。如果不是实证、热证，而是表虚自汗者，切勿使用。歌诀云：“天生灵草无根干，不在山间不在岸，始因飞絮逐东风，紫背青皮飘水面，神仙一味去沉疴，采时须在七月半，怕甚瘫风与大风，些小微风都不算，豆淋酒内服三丸，铁钋头上也出汗。”
Yuanhua (Genkwa Flos): Bitter in taste, warm in nature, toxic. Enters the Spleen, Lung, and Kidney meridians. Its properties are incompatible with Gancao (Licorice Root), and when used together with Daji (Kansui Root) and Gansui (Euphorbia Lathyris Root), it can directly reach hidden pockets of fluid retention. However, its toxicity is extremely potent; it reaches outward to the skin and hair follicles and inward to drain the intestines and stomach. It acts very swiftly. If misused by persons with deficiency, or if the dosage is excessive, it may lead to premature death.
Yuanhua has slight toxicity and is incompatible with Gancao (Licorice Root). It disperses edematous swelling of the skin, eliminates phlegm-ice in the chest and diaphragm, is good at treating cough with counterflow qi (asthma), can stop throat swelling, and calm shortness of breath. It drives out hernia, zhajia (masses), and carbuncles, removes ghost malaria and insect toxins; soaking silk thread in its juice and tying it around hemorrhoids makes them fall off easily. Long-term use causes deficiency and damage. The root is named Shusang (Shu Mulberry), which is even more toxic, and can only be used to poison fish or apply externally for scabies.
Raohua (Adenophora Radix): Potent in action, promotes water metabolism, breaks up large accumulations and hard masses, treats stubborn phlegm and counterflow qi (cough and asthma), further treats internal swelling and pain in the throat, and eliminates mass-like qi blocks in the umbilical and abdominal regions.
Fuji (Dioscorea opposita / Water Chestnut, common name: Qiezi): Primarily treats postpartum blood stagnation attacking the heart, regulates difficult labor and retained placenta, suppresses heat from cinnabar and stone minerals, eliminates stifling sensation in the chest and diaphragm, directs downward urinary calculi,退s jaundice of the face and eyes, dissipates wind-induced swelling, clears bi-syndrome heat, opens the stomach and promotes appetite, benefits qi and warms the middle. Its nature is capable of destroying copper; upon contact, it shatters immediately. It is an essential herb for eliminating hardness and reducing accumulation. Consumption by pregnant women disturbs the fetus; consumption by children causes umbilical pain.
Shuiping (Spirodela Polyrrhiza / Duckweed): Exclusively obtains the clear yin of water energy, hence its taste is acrid and sour, its nature is cold, and it is non-toxic. Its body is light and floating, its nature is clear and drying, thus it can disperse damp-heat in the skin and promote urination to overcome alcohol dampness. It is needed for sweating in cases of xiaoke (wasting-thirst syndrome).
Those Shuiping that are green on both sides and small are called Zao (Algae); those that are green on top, purple underneath, and large are called Ping (Duckweed). For medicinal use, Ping is harvested around the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, placed on a sieve, washed with water, dried, and ground into powder. Honey pills the size of bullets are made. For all types of wind-stroke, take three pills with wine on an empty stomach; this induces sweating to gather and expel wind, causing the pathogen to retreat rapidly. It also treats epidemic febrile diseases, can be used for bathing to relieve whole-body itching from sores, reduces edema, and promotes urination. Its sweating power is stronger than Mahuang (Ephedra Herba), and its water-draining efficacy is similar to Tongcao (Tetrapanacis Medulla). Unless there is excess and heat, it should not be used for those with exterior deficiency and spontaneous sweating. The song says: "Heaven-born spiritual grass has no roots or stems, neither in mountains nor on shores; initially driven by flying catkins chasing the east wind, purple-backed and green-skinned, it floats on the water surface. One dose from immortals removes deep ailments; harvest must be on the 15th of July. Fear not severe paralysis or strong winds, even slight breezes are insignificant. Take three pills in bean-dripping wine, and sweat will flow even from the head of an iron pestle."