甘，平。入手足太阴经气分。补养中气，调和脾胃。得黄 ，实卫。配石莲，止痢。君
当归，活血。佐枣仁，补心。
补肺，蜜拌蒸熟。补脾，恐其气滞，加桑皮数分，或加广皮亦可。气滞怒火盛者禁用。
上党参膏
清肺金，补元气，开声音，助筋力。
制膏法∶用党参软甜者一斤切片，沙参半斤切片，桂圆肉四两，水煎浓汁，滴水成珠，
用瓷器盛贮。每用一酒杯，
空心滚水冲服，冲入煎药亦可。
一名白参，一名铃儿参。
恶防己。反藜芦。
甘，平，微苦，微寒。入手太阴经。补阴以制阳，清金以滋水。治久咳肺痿，皮热瘙痒，
惊烦，嘈杂，多眠，疝痛，
长肌肉，消痈肿。得糯米，助脾阴。配生地，凉血热。佐柴葛，去邪火。合玄参，止干嗽。
气味清薄，宜加倍用。肺气寒，虚气上浮者，禁用。
一名甜桔梗，一名杏参。
甘，寒。入手太阴经。解上焦热邪，利肺气，解百药毒。治咳嗽、消渴、强中，疮毒疔
肿。
节皮为之使。畏白芨、龙胆草。忌猪肉。伏砒。
辛、苦、平。入手太阴经气分。行表达窍，开提气血，能载诸药上浮，以消郁结。治痰
壅喘促，鼻塞，肺痈，干咳，
目赤，喉痹咽痛，齿痛口疮，胸膈刺痛，腹痛肠鸣。配栀子、大黄，治目赤肿痛。配大力子、
大黄，治疫毒。配阿胶，
治肺痿。配诃子，治失音。配茴香，烧研敷牙疳臭烂。配枳壳，利胸膈。君甘草，治少阴咽
痛，及肺痈咳嗽吐脓如粳米
粥者。入凉膈散，则不峻下。入补血药，清理咽喉。入治痢药，开肺气之郁于大肠。入治嗽
药，散火邪之郁于肺中。
刮去浮皮，米泔浸，微炒。若欲专用降剂，此物不宜同用。诸气上浮，血病火炎，二者
禁用。
味甘，性平。归手太阴肺经和足太阴脾经的气分。能补益中气，调和脾胃。与黄芪（Huangqi, 黄芪）同用，可固护卫气；与石莲子（Shilianzi, 石莲子）配伍，可止泻痢；作为君药配合当归（Danggui, 当归），可活血；佐以酸枣仁（Suanzaoren, 酸枣仁），可补心。
用于补肺时，用蜂蜜拌蒸熟后使用。用于补脾时，因担心其导致气机阻滞，可加入少量桑白皮（Sangbaipi, 桑白皮），或加入广陈皮（Guangchenpi, 广陈皮）亦可。对于气机阻滞且怒火旺盛者禁用。
上党参膏：清肃肺金，补益元气，开音利喉，增强筋力。
制膏方法：选用质地软糯甜美的党参一斤切片，沙参半斤切片，桂圆肉四两，加水煎煮成浓汁，熬至滴水成珠状，用瓷器盛装储存。每次服用一酒杯量，空腹时用滚开水冲服，也可冲入其他煎好的药液中服用。
党参又名白参，又名铃儿参。
畏恶防己（Fangji, 防己）。反藜芦（Lilu, 藜芦）。
味甘，性平，味微苦，性微寒。归手太阴肺经。能滋阴以制约阳亢，清润肺金以滋养肾水。治疗久咳、肺痿、皮肤发热瘙痒、惊悸烦躁、胃中嘈杂、嗜睡、疝痛，能长肌肉、消痈肿。与糯米同用，可助脾阴；与生地黄（Shengdihuang, 生地黄）配伍，可凉血清热；与柴胡（Chaihu, 柴胡）、葛根（Gegen, 葛根）佐使，可清除邪火；与玄参（Xuanshen, 玄参）合用，可止干咳。
因其气味清薄，宜加倍用量。肺气寒、虚气上浮者禁用。
桔梗又名甜桔梗，又名杏参。
味甘，性寒。归手太阴肺经。能解除上焦热邪，宣利肺气，解百药毒。治疗咳嗽、消渴、强中（阴茎异常勃起）、疮毒疔肿。
桔梗的皮为其引经使药。畏白芨（Baiji, 白及）、龙胆草（Longdancao, 龙胆草）。忌食猪肉。能伏制砒霜毒性。
味辛、苦，性平。归手太阴肺经气分。能行散表邪、开通窍道，升提气血，能载诸药上浮，以消除郁结。治疗痰壅喘促、鼻塞、肺痈、干咳、目赤、喉痹咽痛、齿痛口疮、胸膈刺痛、腹痛肠鸣。与栀子（Zhizi, 栀子）、大黄（Dahuang, 大黄）配伍，治疗目赤肿痛。与牛蒡子（Niubangzi, 牛蒡子）、大黄配伍，治疗疫毒。与阿胶（Ejiao, 阿胶）配伍，治疗肺痿。与诃子（Hezi, 诃子）配伍，治疗失音。与小茴香（Huixiang, 小茴香）配伍，烧研后敷治牙疳臭烂。与枳壳（Zhiqiao, 枳壳）配伍，利胸膈。作为君药配合甘草（Gancao, 甘草），治疗少阴咽痛，以及肺痈咳嗽吐脓如米粥者。加入凉膈散中，则泻下作用不峻猛。加入补血药中，可清理咽喉。加入治痢药中，可开泄大肠中郁滞的肺气。加入治嗽药中，可疏散肺中郁滞的火邪。
刮去浮皮，用米泔水浸泡，微炒。若欲专用降气之剂，此物不宜同用。凡诸气上浮、血病火炎者，二者均禁用。
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Neutral. Enters the Qi level of the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. Tonifies Middle Qi (Middle Jiao Qi), harmonizes the Spleen and Stomach. Combined with Huangqi (Astragali Radix), it secures the Wei (Defensive) Qi. Paired with Shilianzi (Nelumbinis Plumula), it stops dysentery. As the Sovereign herb combined with Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), it invigorates Blood. Assisted by Suanzaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen), it tonifies the Heart.
To tonify the Lung, steam it with honey until cooked. To tonify the Spleen, fearing it may cause Qi stagnation, add a few fen of Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex) or Guangchenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium). It is contraindicated for those with Qi stagnation and excessive Fire from anger.
Shangdangshen Gao (Paste of Codonopsis): Clears Metal (Lung), tonifies Yuan Qi (Original Qi), opens the voice, assists muscle strength.
Preparation method: Take one jin (approx. 500g) of soft and sweet Codonopsis slices, half a jin of Shashen (Adenophorae Radix) slices, and four liang (approx. 125g) of Longyanrou (Longan Aril). Decoct in water to obtain a thick juice, boil until it forms beads when dropped into water. Store in porcelain vessels. Take one wine cup per dose, taken on an empty stomach with boiling water, or can be mixed into other decoctions.
Also known as Baishen (White Ginseng) and Ling'er Shen (Bell-shaped Ginseng).
It is antagonistic to Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix). It is incompatible with Lilu (Veratri Radix).
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Neutral. Sub-taste: Slightly bitter. Sub-nature: Slightly Cold. Enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Nourishes Yin to control Yang hyperactivity; clears Lung Metal to nourish Kidney Water. Treats chronic cough, Lung萎 (Lung Atrophy/Emphysema), skin heat and itching, palpitations with irritability, gastric嘈杂 (discomfort/hunger without desire to eat), somnolence, hernia pain. Promotes flesh growth, resolves carbuncles and swellings. Combined with Nuomi (Oryza Sativa Glutinosa), it assists Spleen Yin. Paired with Shengdihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), it cools Blood Heat. Assisted by Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) and Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), it eliminates pathogenic Fire. Combined with Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), it stops dry cough.
Due to its light and thin aroma, the dosage should be doubled. Contraindicated for those with Lung Cold and floating Deficient Qi.
Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix) is also known as Tian Jiegeng (Sweet Platycodon) and Xing Shen (Apricot Root).
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Cold. Enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Resolves pathogenic Heat in the Upper Jiao, benefits Lung Qi, resolves toxicity of all herbs. Treats cough, Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst/Diabetes), Qiang Zhong (priapism), sores, toxins, and Ding Zhong (carbuncles/furuncles).
The root bark serves as the guiding agent. It fears Baiji (Bletillae Rhizoma) and Longdancao (Gentianae Radix). Pork is taboo. It can suppress the toxicity of arsenic (Pi).
Taste: Pungent, Bitter. Nature: Neutral. Enters the Qi level of the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Moves exterior pathogens, opens orifices, lifts and raises Qi and Blood, carries other herbs upward to dissipate stagnation. Treats phlegm obstruction with wheezing and shortness of breath, nasal congestion, Lung Abscess, dry cough, red eyes, throat obstruction with pain, toothache, mouth ulcers, stabbing pain in the chest and diaphragm, abdominal pain with borborygmus. Paired with Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus) and Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), treats red and swollen eyes. Paired with Niubangzi (Arctii Fructus) and Dahuang, treats epidemic toxins. Paired with Ejiao (Asini Corii Colla), treats Lung Atrophy. Paired with Hezi (Chebulae Fructus), treats aphonia. Paired with Huixiang (Foeniculi Fructus), roasted and ground, applied to treat foul-smelling gum rot. Paired with Zhiqiao (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), benefits the chest and diaphragm. As the Sovereign herb paired with Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), treats Shaoyin throat pain, and Lung Abscess cough with pus expectoration resembling rice porridge. Added to Liangge San (Cool the Diaphragm Powder), the purgative action becomes less harsh. Added to blood-tonifying formulas, it clears the throat. Added to dysentery treatments, it opens the Lung Qi stagnation in the Large Intestine. Added to cough treatments, it disperses Fire pathogen stagnation in the Lung.
Scrape off the floating bark, soak in rice washing water, stir-fry slightly. If the intention is to use purely descending agents, this herb is not suitable for combination. Contraindicated for conditions of floating Qi and Blood disorders with flaming Fire.