微甘微温，入足三阴经，滋肾水，封填骨髓，养血液，补益真阴，为补阴壮水之专
阴虚无热最宜之。但性能腻膈，痰多气郁之人宜酌用。亦有熟砂仁末拌炒松用者。修制
铁器。
一名鳢肠，又名金陵草。甘咸微寒，汁黑入肾，益阴凉血功胜。脾虚作泻、肾虚腹
忌。
甘寒微苦，清心润肺，泻热除烦，为生津止嗽之专药。去心用。其性寒凝润滑。肺
热初解、脾胃虚寒泄泻，均忌。然亦可糯粉炒用，勿滑。朱砂拌用，镇心。
甘苦微寒，清郁热兼益金水，平肝木解热熄风。为明目清头，善解郁热之专药。菊
汁，能拯疔毒垂危。
辛温轻浮，启胃舒阳，善发少阳、阳明清气，功专明目退翳，为眼科发光专药。
即马蹄决明，一名决明子。甘苦咸平，入肝，除风热，退目翳，为明目粹光专药。
作菜食，利五脏以明目。
亦名草决明。味苦微寒，入厥阴而除风泄热，专治目疾。瞳子散大者忌。
甘苦性平，治目疾暴发，除翳膜遮睛。去节，能发汗。多服，损肝贼目，故名。
辛温微苦，入足太阳，兼入手少阴、阳明，而为肺家专药。为发汗散邪，通关利窍，风
寒表实者宜之。去节用，不可过剂。蜜炙，痰哮气喘，属邪实病痼者。根节，独能止汗。
（熟地黄）味甘微温，归足三阴经，能滋补肾水，填精益髓，滋养血液，补益真阴，是补阴壮水的专用药。对于阴虚而无内热者最为适宜。但其性质黏腻，容易阻碍脾胃运化，痰多气郁之人应酌情使用。也有用熟砂仁末拌炒使其疏松易用的方法。修制时忌用铁器。
（旱莲草）一名鳢肠，又名金陵草。味甘咸，性微寒，其汁液呈黑色入肾，在益阴凉血方面的功效胜过其他药物。脾虚导致腹泻、肾虚引起的腹痛者忌用。
（麦冬）味甘寒，微苦，能清心润肺，泻热除烦，是生津止嗽的专用药。使用时需去心。其性质寒凉凝滞且润滑。肺热初解、脾胃虚寒导致的泄泻者均忌用。然而也可用糯米粉炒制以减轻其滑利之性。用朱砂拌用，可起到镇心安神的作用。
（菊花）味甘苦，性微寒，能清解郁热兼益金水（肺肾），平抑肝木，解除热邪，熄风止痉。是明目清头、善于解郁热的专用药。菊花的汁液，能拯救疔毒危重之症。
（柴胡）味辛温，质地轻浮，能开启胃气，舒展阳气，善于发散少阳、阳明经的清气，功效专于明目退翳，是眼科中用于发光的专用药。
（决明子）即马蹄决明，一名决明子。味甘苦咸，性平，入肝经，能除风热，退目翳，是明目粹光（使目光清澈明亮）的专用药。作为蔬菜食用，能通利五脏以明目。
（石决明）亦名草决明。味苦，性微寒，入厥阴肝经而除风泄热，专治眼疾。瞳仁散大者忌用。
（蝉蜕）味甘苦，性平，治疗眼疾突发，去除遮蔽视线的翳膜。去掉节段部分，能发汗。多服会损伤肝脏，损害视力，因此得名“蝉”（谐音“残”，意指损目）。
（麻黄）味辛温，微苦，入足太阳膀胱经，兼入手少阴心经、阳明胃经，是肺家的专用药。用于发汗散邪，开通鼻窍，风寒表实证者适宜使用。使用时需去节，不可过量。蜜炙后，可用于治疗痰哮气喘，属于邪实病久者。根和节段，唯独能止汗。
(Radix Rehmanniae Preparata) Sweet and slightly warm, enters the three Yin meridians of the foot. It nourishes Kidney Water (Jin-Ye), fills the marrow, nourishes blood, and tonifies True Yin (Zhen-Yin). It is the specific herb for tonifying Yin and strengthening Water. It is most suitable for cases of Yin deficiency without heat. However, its nature is cloying and may obstruct the diaphragm; thus, it should be used with caution in patients with excessive phlegm or Qi stagnation. Some are stir-fried with prepared Amomum fruit powder to make them loose and easier to digest. Iron vessels should be avoided during processing.
(Ecliptae Herba) Also known as Li Chang or Jinling Cao. Sweet, salty, and slightly cold. Its black juice enters the Kidney. It excels in benefiting Yin and cooling blood. It is contraindicated in cases of Spleen deficiency with diarrhea or Kidney deficiency with abdominal pain.
(Ophiopogonis Radix) Sweet, cold, and slightly bitter. It clears the Heart and moistens the Lung, drains heat, and relieves irritability. It is the specific herb for generating fluids and stopping cough. The heart should be removed before use. Its nature is cold, congealing, and lubricating. It is contraindicated when Lung heat has just resolved or in cases of Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold with diarrhea. However, it can be stir-fried with glutinous rice flour to reduce its slippery nature. Processing with Cinnabar (Zhusha) calms the Heart.
(Chrysanthemi Flos) Sweet, bitter, and slightly cold. It clears depressed heat and benefits Metal and Water (Lung and Kidney), soothes Liver Wood, resolves heat, and extinguishes wind. It is the specific herb for brightening the eyes, clearing the head, and resolving depressed heat. The juice of Chrysanthemum can rescue critical cases of Ding poison (carbuncle toxin).
(Bupleuri Radix) Pungent, warm, and light/floating. It opens the Stomach and disperses Yang. It excels at dispersing the clear Qi of Shaoyang and Yangming. Its function is specifically to brighten the eyes and remove nebula. It is the specific herb for "emitting light" in ophthalmology.
(Cassiae Semen) Also known as Matijue Ming or Juemingzi. Sweet, bitter, salty, and neutral. Enters the Liver. It dispels wind-heat and removes eye nebula. It is the specific herb for making vision clear and bright. Eaten as a vegetable, it promotes the smooth functioning of the Five Zang organs to brighten the eyes.
(Abius Concha) Also known as Shaojue Ming. Bitter and slightly cold. Enters the Jueyin Liver meridian to dispel wind and drain heat. It specializes in treating eye diseases. Contraindicated in cases where the pupil is dilated.
(Cicadae Periostracum) Sweet, bitter, and neutral. Treats sudden onset of eye diseases and removes nebula obscuring vision. Removing the joints allows for sweating. Overuse damages the Liver and harms the eyes, hence the name (implying damage/diminution).
(Ephedrae Herba) Pungent, warm, and slightly bitter. Enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder meridian, and also connects to the Hand-Shaoyin Heart meridian and Yangming Stomach meridian. It is the specific herb for the Lung. It induces sweating to disperse pathogens and opens orifices. It is suitable for Wind-Cold exterior excess patterns. Remove the joints before use; do not overdose. Honey-fried, it treats phlegm-wheezing and asthma due to persistent pathogenic excess. The root and joints alone can stop sweating.
(Tribuli Fructus) Also known as Baijili. Pungent, bitter, and slightly warm. Enters the Liver to soothe the Liver and brighten the eyes, and disperses wind pathogens. Lightly stir-fried, or steamed with human milk before use.