辛苦寒滑，泻阳明有余之热，滋少阴不足之阴，润燥止咳，除烦安胎。酒浸炒清上
水炒滋下。便滑者均忌之。
味甘微寒，凉心散郁，清肺而化热痰。象贝∶形坚味苦，泻热功胜，不能解郁也。
形大味苦，泻热解毒，外科专药。俱去心用之。
苦坚肾，寒凉血，入阳明血分，兼入厥阴，除热痢下重。血分无热者忌之。
味甘性燥，气寒散行，入脾胃而除湿热，兼入小肠、膀胱。行水道利窍通关，为诸
痹专药。下部虚寒，虽有湿症，勿用。
辛苦性温，入手足厥阴、太阴，能行血中气滞、气中血滞。生用破血，炒用调血，
活血，醋炒止血，必须炒黑。若经事先期，血虚崩中均忌。
性味甘平，治跌打损伤，金疮出血，并用其根煎汤洗之。酒炒行血，醋炒止血，捣
粘，可涂伤肿。
性味苦辛，善祛风湿；治手足不遂，筋骨疼痛。与苍术、当归同用，甚效。
性味甘平，滋肾保肺，功专止血化痰，能已劳嗽。冬在土中，身活如老蚕，有毛
至夏则毛出土上，连身俱化为草，若不取，则至冬复化为虫。
【肥知母】味辛苦，性寒且滑利，能泻除阳明经中过盛的实热，滋养少阴经中不足的阴液，润泽干燥并止咳，消除烦闷并安胎。用酒浸泡后炒制可清上焦之热，用水炒制可滋下焦之阴。大便滑泄者均忌用。
【川贝母】味甘，性微寒，能清心火、散郁结，清肺热并化解热痰。象贝（浙贝母）：形状坚实，味苦，清热功效更强，但不能解郁结。大贝（珠贝）：形体较大，味苦，能泻热解毒，是外科专用药物。使用时均需去除心部。
【黄柏】味苦，能坚肾，性寒能凉血，入阳明经血分，兼入厥阴经，能清除热痢及里急后重症状。血分无热者忌用。
【苏子】味辛甘，性微寒，入肺经能消痰降气，能解除肺实证引起的气机壅滞。肺虚者忌用。
【丹皮】味苦咸，性微寒，是调理阳明经和冲任脉的药物，能退热益阴，适宜于血热证。血虚者忌用。
【白茅根】性味甘寒，入肺经能凉血、止血。其针状根茎可溃脓；花朵能止鼻出血。
【萆薢】味甘，性燥，气寒而善行，入脾胃经能除湿热，兼入小肠、膀胱经。能通利水道、开通窍道，是治疗各种痹证的专用药。下部虚寒者，即使有湿症，也不可用。
【延胡索】味辛苦，性温，入手足厥阴肝经和太阴脾经，能行血中之气滞、气中之血滞。生用可破血，炒用可调血、活血，醋炒可止血，必须炒至黑色。若月经先期而至，或血虚崩漏者均忌用。
【三七】性味甘平，治疗跌打损伤和金刃创伤出血，均用其根部煎汤清洗患处。酒炒可行血，醋炒可止血，捣烂成粘状，可涂抹于伤肿处。
【威灵仙】味苦辛，善于祛除风湿；治疗手足麻木不遂、筋骨疼痛。与苍术、当归同用，效果显著。
【冬虫夏草】性味甘平，滋肾保肺，功效专于止血化痰，能治愈劳嗽（虚劳咳嗽）。冬季在土中时，菌核存活如老蚕，长有毛发；到了夏季，毛长出地面，连同身体一起化为草。若不采收，则到冬季又化为虫。
[Fei Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizoma)] Bitter and pungent, cold in nature and slippery in texture. It drains the excess heat of the Yangming channel, nourishes the deficient yin of the Shaoyin channel, moistens dryness and stops coughing, relieves irritability and calms the fetus. Wine-soaked and stir-fried, it clears heat from the Upper Jiao; water-stir-fried, it nourishes the Lower Jiao. Contraindicated for those with loose stools.
[Chuan Bei Mu (Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus)] Sweet, slightly cold. Cools the Heart, disperses stagnation, clears the Lungs and transforms phlegm-heat. Xiang Bei (Zhe Bei Mu / Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus): Firm in shape, bitter in taste, stronger in clearing heat but cannot resolve stagnation. Da Bei (Zhu Bei / Fritillariae Bulbus): Large in size, bitter in taste, drains heat and resolves toxicity, a specialized herb for external diseases. The heart/core must be removed before use.
[Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex)] Bitter, strengthens the Kidney; cold, cools blood. Enters the Blood aspect of the Yangming channel and concurrently enters the Jueyin channel. Clears heat-dysentery and tenesmus. Contraindicated when there is no heat in the Blood aspect.
[Su Zi (Perillae Fructus)] Pungent and sweet, slightly cold. Enters the Lung channel to eliminate phlegm and direct Qi downward. Can relieve Qi obstruction due to Lung excess. Contraindicated for Lung deficiency.
[Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex)] Bitter and salty, slightly cold. A herb for the Yangming and Chong-Ren channels. Reduces fever and benefits Yin, suitable for Blood-heat patterns. Contraindicated for Blood deficiency.
[Bai Mao Gen (Imperatae Rhizoma)] Sweet and cold. Enters the Lung channel to cool blood and stop bleeding. The needle-like rootstock can suppurate pus; the flower can stop epistaxis.
[Bi Xie (Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma)] Sweet, drying in nature, cold in Qi and moving in action. Enters the Spleen and Stomach channels to drain damp-heat, and concurrently enters the Small Intestine and Bladder channels. Promotes water pathways, opens orifices, and unblocks passages. It is a specialized herb for various Bi syndromes. Contraindicated for deficiency-cold in the lower body, even if dampness symptoms are present.
[Yan Hu Suo (Corydalis Rhizoma)] Bitter and pungent, warm in nature. Enters the Foot-Shaoyin/Liver and Hand-Taiyin/Spleen channels. Moves Qi stagnation within Blood and Blood stagnation within Qi. Raw use breaks Blood; stir-fried use regulates Blood; promotes Blood circulation; vinegar-stir-fried stops bleeding, must be charred black. Contraindicated for early menstruation and uterine bleeding due to Blood deficiency.
[San Qi (Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma)] Sweet and neutral in nature. Treats traumatic injuries and metallic wound bleeding; decoct the roots and wash the affected area. Wine-stir-fried moves Blood; vinegar-stir-fried stops bleeding. Mashed into a paste, it can be applied to swollen injuries.
[Wei Ling Xian (Clematidis Radix et Rhizoma)] Bitter and pungent. Excellent at dispelling wind-dampness. Treats paralysis of hands and feet, and pain in bones and tendons. Highly effective when used together with Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma) and Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix).
[Dong Chong Xia Cao (Cordyceps)] Sweet and neutral. Nourishes the Kidney and protects the Lungs. Its efficacy specializes in stopping bleeding and transforming phlegm, capable of curing consumptive cough. In winter, while underground, the sclerotium remains alive like an old silkworm with hairs; in summer, the hairs emerge above ground, and the entire body transforms into grass. If not harvested, it transforms back into an insect by winter.
[Lei Gong Teng (Tripterygii Root)] Neutral and slightly bitter. Treats mountain miasma and pestilential toxins, as well as various poisonings and sores/toxins. Crush the roots to extract juice, take one qian with wine to detoxify immediately.