气平温，味辛甘，气味俱薄，降也，阴也，无毒。补中强志，益肾添精。腰痛不能屈者，
同芡实枣肉丸之神方，足疼不能践者，入黄 苍术煎之灵丹。除阴囊湿痒，止失精梦遗，故
大造丸补阴丸皆用之也。
气平，味苦酸，无毒。调补一身虚羸，能助十二经脉。主手足寒湿痿痹，大筋拘挛。理
膀胱气化迟难，小便短少。补中续绝，益阴壮阳。填髓，除腰膝酸疼，活血，滋须发乌黑。
竹木刺入肉，嚼烂浓罨。老疟久弗痊，单煎连服。卒中不识恶毒，捣生根敷上即瘥。尿管涩
痛几危，煮浓酒饮下立愈。治妇人血症血瘕，月水行迟。疗产妇血晕血虚，儿枕痛甚。同麝
香堕胎甚捷，引诸药下走如奔。故凡病在腰腿 踝之间，必兼用之而勿缺也。故凡咽喉肿闭，
痰涎封结者，用明矾少许，同牛膝捣烂取汁，令病者仰卧，滴入鼻中，须臾痰涎涌出，效莫
如之。孕妇深忌。若欲取胎，用雄土牛膝一两，真麝香一钱捣匀，溶蜡搓成长条插入阴户，
即能堕胎。
气平，味咸甘，无毒，阴之阴也。此剂禀北方阴气而生，为阴中至阴之物，大能补阴，
而治阴血不足，是以下焦滋补丸药多用为君。虽曰补阴，又能补心。其阴虚发热，骨蒸骨痿，
皆当用之。东垣以为强阴治崩，补遗以为去瘀血，何哉？盖由阴强而气血调和，则瘀血自去
也，总是一意。又能理小儿囟门不合，又治女子湿痒阴疮。
杜仲：药性气平温，味辛甘，气味都很淡薄，作用趋势是下降的，属性属阴，没有毒性。能补益中焦、增强意志，益肾并增添精液。对于腰痛导致身体无法弯曲的人，配合芡实和枣肉制成的丸剂，是神奇的名方；对于足痛导致脚无法着地的人，加入黄柏和苍术煎煮服用，是灵验的丹药。能去除阴囊潮湿瘙痒，止住遗精和梦遗，所以大造丸和补阴丸都使用它。
牛膝：药性气平，味苦酸，没有毒性。能调理补益全身虚弱的身体，能够辅助十二经脉。主治手足寒湿引起的痿痹（肢体萎软无力、麻木疼痛），以及大筋拘挛。能调理膀胱气化功能迟缓困难，改善小便短少。能补益中焦、接续断绝之脉，益阴并壮阳。能填补骨髓，去除腰膝酸痛，活血，使胡须头发变得乌黑。若有竹木刺扎入肉中，将其嚼烂厚敷在患处。对于老疟疾长久不愈的情况，单味煎煮连续服用。对于突然中毒昏迷不识人事的情况，捣碎新鲜根茎敷在伤口上即可痊愈。对于尿道涩痛几乎危及生命的情况，煮浓汁用酒送服，立即痊愈。治疗妇女血症和血瘕（腹内结块），月经行经迟滞。疗治产妇血晕和血虚，以及严重的儿枕痛（产后腹痛）。与麝香同用堕胎非常快捷，能引导其他药物向下行走，势如奔马。所以凡是病位在腰、腿、踝之间的疾病，必须兼用它而不能缺少。凡是咽喉肿胀闭塞，痰涎封结堵塞的情况，取少许明矾，与牛膝一起捣烂取汁，让病人仰卧，滴入鼻中，片刻后痰涎涌出，效果没有比这更好的了。孕妇深为禁忌。如果想要堕胎，用雄土牛膝一两，真麝香一钱，捣匀，溶化蜡搓成长条插入阴道，就能堕胎。
败龟板：药性气平，味咸甘，没有毒性，属于阴中之阴。此药材禀受北方阴气而生，是阴中至阴的物品，大能补阴，并且治疗阴血不足，所以下焦滋补类的丸药多将其作为主药。虽然说是补阴，又能补心。对于阴虚发热、骨蒸潮热、骨骼痿弱，都应当使用它。李东垣认为它能强阴治疗崩漏，陈实功《外科正宗》（补遗）认为它能去除瘀血，为什么呢？大概是因为阴气强盛则气血调和，瘀血自然就会去除，总归是一个意思。又能调理小儿囟门不合（囟门迟闭），又治疗女子外阴湿痒和阴疮。
Duzhong (Eucommiae Cortex): The qi is neutral and warm, the taste is pungent and sweet. The qi and flavor are both thin; its action descends, and its nature is yin. It is non-toxic. It tonifies the middle jiao, strengthens the will, benefits the kidneys, and replenishes essence. For those with lower back pain unable to bend, combined with Qianshi (Euryale Seed) and jujube flesh pills, it is a miraculous prescription. For those with foot pain unable to stand, decocted with Huangbo (Phellodendri Cortex) and Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), it is a spiritual elixir. It eliminates dampness and itching of the scrotum, stops seminal emission and nocturnal spermatorrhea; therefore, it is used in Dazao Wan (Great Creation Pill) and Buyin Wan (Nourish Yin Pill).
Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix): The qi is neutral, the taste is bitter and sour. It is non-toxic. It regulates and tonifies the entire body's deficiency and emaciation, and can assist the twelve meridians. It governs cold-dampness-induced flaccidity and bi-syndrome (painful obstruction) of the hands and feet, and spasms of the large tendons. It regulates the delayed or difficult qi transformation of the bladder and short urine output. It tonifies the middle, reconnects severed tissues, nourishes yin, and strengthens yang. It fills the marrow, eliminates soreness and pain of the waist and knees, invigorates blood, and darkens beard and hair. If bamboo or wood splinters enter the flesh, chew thoroughly and apply thickly. For chronic malaria that does not heal for a long time, decoct alone and take continuously. For sudden poisoning causing unconsciousness, crush fresh roots and apply as a poultice to recover immediately. For severe urethral涩痛 (astringent pain) nearing critical danger, boil concentrated juice and drink with wine for immediate recovery. It treats women's blood disorders and blood masses (fixed abdominal masses), and delayed menstruation. It cures postpartum blood syncope and blood deficiency, and severe "child pillow" pain (postpartum abdominal pain). Combined with Shexiang (Musk), it induces abortion very quickly and guides other herbs downward like a galloping horse. Therefore, for any disease located between the waist, legs, and ankles, it must be used concurrently and cannot be omitted. For swelling and closure of the throat with phlegm-saliva sealing and knotting, use a small amount of Mingfan (Alumen) crushed with Niuxi to extract juice. Have the patient lie supine and drip into the nostrils; within moments, phlegm-saliva will surge out, with no effect surpassing this. Pregnant women should strictly avoid it. To induce abortion, use 1 liang of Xiong Tu Niuxi (Male Wild Achyranthes Root) and 1 qian of Zhen Shexiang (Real Musk), crush evenly, melt wax, roll into long strips, and insert into the vagina to induce abortion.
Baiguiban (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum): The qi is neutral, the taste is salty and sweet. It is non-toxic, representing yin within yin. This agent is born from the yin qi of the north, being the most yin substance among yin substances. It greatly tonifies yin and treats insufficiency of yin-blood; thus, it is often used as the sovereign herb in tonifying lower jiao pills. Although said to tonify yin, it also tonifies the heart. For yin-deficiency fever, bone-steaming sensation, and skeletal flaccidity, it should be used. Li Dongyuan believed it strengthens yin and treats metrorrhagia; Chen Shigong's Supplement believed it removes blood stasis. Why? Because when yin is strong, qi and blood harmonize, and blood stasis naturally resolves; ultimately, the intent is consistent. It also regulates unclosed fontanelles in children and treats women's damp-itching and yin sores.