通，行水，泻热，凉血
甘寒。凉血去热，止吐衄，消瘕瘀，明目通淋（凡利水之剂，多损于目。惟此能解肝与
小肠之热，湿热退而目清矣。雷 曰∶使叶，勿使茎、蕊）。
子，甘寒。清肺、肝风热，渗膀胱湿热，利小便而不走气，与茯苓同功，强阴益精，令
人有子（肾有二窍，车前子能利水窍而固精窍。精盛则有子，五子衍宗丸用之，枸杞、菟丝
各八两，五味、复盆各四两，车前二两，蜜丸。惯遗泄者，车前易莲子。时珍曰∶人服食，
须佐他药，如六味丸之用泽泻可也，若单用则过泻）。治湿痹五淋，暑湿泻痢（欧阳文忠患
暴下，国医不能愈。夫人云∶市有药，三文一贴甚效。公不肯服，夫人杂他药进之，一服而
愈。问其方，乃车前子为末，米饮下二钱。一云此药利水而不动气，水道利则清浊分，谷脏
自止矣），目赤障翳（能除肝热），催生下胎。
酒蒸捣饼，焙研（酒蒸捣饼，入滋补药。炒研，入利水泄泻药）。
轻，通，利水，清热
甘淡而寒。降心火（心能入心），清肺热，利小肠（心与小肠相表里，心火清则肺热小
肠亦清，而热从小便出矣），通气止血。
治五淋水肿，烧灰吹喉痹，涂乳止夜啼，擦癣最良（缚成把，擦摩极痒时，虫从草出，
浮水可见，十余次则能断也）。
车前草：性味通利，能行水、泻热、凉血。味甘、性寒。具有凉血清热、止吐血和鼻衄、消除癥瘕瘀血、明目及通淋的功效（凡利水之剂，多损伤眼睛。唯独此药能解除肝与小肠的热邪，湿热退去后眼睛自然清明。雷敩说：只用叶片，不要用茎和蕊）。
车前子：味甘、性寒。能清肺、肝的风热，渗利膀胱的湿热，利小便而不耗气，功效与茯苓相同，能强阴益精，使人易得子嗣（肾有二窍，车前子能利水窍而固精窍。精气盛则能生育，五子衍宗丸中用此药，配方为枸杞、菟丝子各八两，五味子、覆盆子各四两，车前子二两，炼蜜为丸。习惯遗精滑泄者，用车前子替换莲子。李时珍说：人服用此药，必须佐以其他药物，如六味地黄丸中使用泽泻那样，若单用则泻下太过）。治疗湿痹、五种淋证、暑湿引起的腹泻痢疾（欧阳修患急性腹泻，国医无法治愈。其夫人说：市上有种药，三文钱一贴非常有效。欧阳修不肯服，夫人将其混在其他药中进服，一次服药即愈。询问其方，原来是车前子研末，米汤送服二钱。另一说法认为此药利水而不伤气，水道通畅则清浊分明，肠胃自止泻），治疗目赤障翳（能除肝热），催产下胎。
炮制方法：酒蒸后捣成饼状，焙干研粉（酒蒸捣饼，用于滋补药；炒后研粉，用于利水泄泻药）。
灯心草：质地轻，性通利，能利水、清热。味甘、淡，性寒。能降心火（心经之火），清肺热，利小肠（心与小肠相表里，心火清则肺热和小肠热亦清，热邪从小便排出），通气止血。
治疗五种淋证、水肿，烧灰吹入喉部治疗喉痹，涂抹乳房停止夜啼，擦拭癣症效果最佳（捆成把，在极痒时摩擦，可见虫从草中爬出浮于水面，十余次即可断根）。
Plantago Leaf (Cheqiancao): Properties are penetrating and promoting, capable of moving water, draining heat, and cooling blood. Sweet and cold in nature. It cools blood, removes heat, stops hematemesis and epistaxis, eliminates masses and stasis, brightens the eyes, and promotes urination (Most diuretic agents damage the eyes. Only this herb can resolve heat in the Liver and Small Intestine; as damp-heat recedes, vision clears. Lei Xiao stated: Use only the leaves, do not use the stems or pistils).
Plantago Seed (Cheqianzi): Sweet and cold in nature. It clears wind-heat from the Lungs and Liver, leaches out damp-heat from the Bladder, promotes urination without depleting Qi, and has effects similar to Poria (Fuling), strengthening Yin, benefiting essence, and facilitating conception (The Kidneys have two orifices; Plantago Seed benefits the water orifice while securing the essence orifice. Abundant essence leads to fertility; it is used in Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan [Five Seeds for Procreation Pill], formulated with Goji Berry (Gouqi) and Dodder Seed (Tusizi) each at 8 liang, Schisandra (Wuweizi) and Raspberry (Fupenzi) each at 4 liang, and Plantago Seed at 2 liang, made into honey pills. For those prone to seminal emission, replace Plantago Seed with Lotus Seed (Lianzi). Li Shizhen stated: When humans consume this herb, it must be combined with other medicines, such as using Alisma (Zexie) in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan [Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia]; if used alone, it causes excessive purging). It treats damp-bi syndrome, five types of strangury, and dysentery caused by summer-heat dampness (Ouyang Xiu suffered from acute diarrhea that imperial physicians could not cure. His wife said: There is a medicine in the market costing three wen per patch, very effective. Ouyang refused to take it, so his wife mixed it with other herbs and administered it; one dose cured him. Inquiring about the prescription, it was found to be Plantago Seed powder taken with rice decoction, two qian per dose. Another view holds that this herb promotes urination without disturbing Qi; when the water passages are clear, turbidity and clarity separate, and the grain organ naturally stops diarrhea). It treats red eyes and cataracts (can remove Liver heat) and induces labor to expel the fetus.
Processing method: Steamed with wine, pounded into cakes, dried and ground (Steamed with wine and pounded into cakes for tonifying formulas; stir-fried and ground for diuretic and anti-diarrheal formulas).
Juncus Effusus (Dengcao): Light in texture, penetrating and promoting, capable of promoting urination and clearing heat. Sweet, bland, and cold in nature. It descends Heart Fire (Heart channel fire), clears Lung heat, benefits the Small Intestine (The Heart and Small Intestine are exterior-interior related; clearing Heart fire clears Lung heat and Small Intestine heat, allowing heat to exit via urination), promotes Qi movement, and stops bleeding.
It treats five types of strangury and edema; ash from burning is blown into the throat to treat throat obstruction (hou bi); applied to breasts to stop night crying; rubbing it on tinea is most effective (Tied into bundles, rubbed vigorously when itching is extreme; worms can be seen crawling out from the grass floating on water; after more than ten times, the root cause is eliminated).