气平，味甘淡，无毒，阳也。泻小肠火郁不散，利膀胱水闭不行。消痈疽作肿，疗脾疸
嗜眠。解烦哕。开耳聋，出音声，通鼻塞。行经出乳，催产堕胎。孕妇所忌。
气寒，味甘咸，无毒，气味俱浓，降也，阳中阴也。主分利小水之捷药也。又能除湿，
通淋止渴。又治水肿，止泻痢，佐以猪苓。真有此症者用之，否则令人目病，盖以眼中真水
下通于肾，若过于分利，则肾水涸而火生矣，故下虚之人，宜禁服之。仲景八味丸用之，亦
不过接引诸药归于肾经耳。其曰止阴汗、生新水，止泄精、补阴不足者，皆非也。又淋渴水
肿，因肾虚所致者，皆不可用。
气微温，味甘淡，无毒，气味俱薄，降也，阳中阴也。一于淡渗利水而已。其曰止遗精
者，盖以脾家有湿热流入膀胱，因而用制于渗湿药中，遂能中病，岂可为止遗精之常法哉。
其曰消渴利水除肿，固矣，然亦不可用为主剂，宜少用之，以佐泽泻也。又渴与肿，若肾虚
所致者，皆不可用。反乌头乌喙。
气寒，味苦，气味俱浓，阳中阴也。主滋阴降火，或肾虚火动，而消渴烦渴者，皆当用
之。补肾水，泻无根火邪。消浮肿，为利水佐使。初痢脐下痛者能却，久疟烦热甚者堪除。
又治骨蒸劳热，及虚火干肺而咳嗽者。或肺中停痰而咳嗽者。此足少阴本药，而又入足阳明
手太阴也。若肾气虚脱，无火症而尺脉微弱者，不宜用之。引下盐炒，引上酒浸。忌铁。
【通草】
药性平和，味甘、淡，无毒，属阳。能泻除小肠中郁结不散的火邪，通利膀胱中闭塞不通的水液。消除痈疽引起的肿胀，治疗脾疸（因湿热蕴结于脾所致，表现为嗜睡的黄疸病）。解除烦闷和呃逆。开通耳聋，恢复声音，通利鼻塞。促进月经下行及乳汁排出，催产并导致堕胎。孕妇忌用。
【知母】
药性寒，味甘、咸，无毒，气味浓厚，主降，属于阳中之阴。是分清利湿、通利小便的快捷药物。又能祛除湿气，通淋止渴。又用于治疗水肿，止住腹泻和痢疾，常与猪苓配伍使用。确实患有此类病症的人服用它，否则会导致眼病，因为眼中真水向下通达于肾，如果过度分利水液，则肾水枯竭而虚火内生，所以下元虚弱之人，应当禁止服用。张仲景在八味丸中使用它，也不过是为了引导其他药物归于肾经罢了。那些说它能止住阴汗、滋生新水、止住泄精、补益阴不足的说法，都是不正确的。另外，淋证、口渴、水肿如果是由于肾虚导致的，都不可使用。
【防己】
药性微温，味甘、淡，无毒，气味淡薄，主降，属于阳中之阴。仅仅具有淡渗利水的作用罢了。那些说它能止住遗精的说法，大概是因为脾家有湿热流入膀胱，因此在使用渗湿药进行制约时，恰好对症，这怎么能作为止遗精的常规方法呢？那些说它能消渴、利水、除肿，固然正确，但也不宜作为主药使用，应该少量使用，以辅助泽泻。另外，口渴与水肿，如果是由于肾虚导致的，都不可使用。反乌头、乌喙。
【黄柏】
药性寒，味苦，气味浓厚，属于阳中之阴。主要功效为滋阴降火，如果是肾虚火动，出现消渴、烦渴等症状，都应当使用它。补益肾水，泻除无根之火邪。消除浮肿，作为利水的佐使药。初患痢疾且脐下疼痛者能够缓解，久疟疾且烦热严重者可以去除。又治疗骨蒸劳热，以及虚火灼伤肺脏引起的咳嗽。或者是肺中有停痰引起的咳嗽。这是足少阴肾经的本药，同时又入足阳明胃经和手太阴肺经。如果肾气虚脱，没有火症表现且尺脉微弱者，不宜使用。用盐炒可引药下行，用酒浸可引药上行。忌铁器。
[Tongcao]
The nature is neutral, the taste is sweet and bland, non-toxic, belonging to Yang. It clears fire stagnation in the Small Intestine that does not disperse, and promotes urination for water retention in the Bladder that does not flow. It resolves swelling caused by carbuncles and sores, and treats Pi Dan (jaundice with spleen involvement characterized by drowsiness). It relieves restlessness and hiccups. It opens deafness, restores voice, and unblocks nasal congestion. It promotes menstruation and lactation, induces labor, and causes abortion. Pregnant women should avoid it.
[Zhimu]
The nature is cold, the taste is sweet and salty, non-toxic, with strong aroma and flavor, descending in action, belonging to Yin within Yang. It is a swift herb for separating turbidity and promoting diuresis. It can also remove dampness, unblock strangury, and relieve thirst. It is used to treat edema, stop diarrhea and dysentery, often combined with Zhu Ling (Polyporus). For those truly suffering from these conditions, it is effective; otherwise, it may cause eye diseases. This is because the true water of the eyes connects downward to the Kidney; excessive diuresis depletes Kidney Water, generating fire. Therefore, individuals with lower deficiency should be prohibited from taking it. Zhang Zhongjing uses it in Ba Wei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia) merely to guide other herbs into the Kidney Meridian. Claims that it stops yin sweating, generates new fluids, stops seminal emission, and tonifies Yin insufficiency are incorrect. Furthermore, strangury, thirst, and edema caused by Kidney deficiency should not use it.
[Fangji]
The nature is slightly warm, the taste is sweet and bland, non-toxic, with weak aroma and flavor, descending in action, belonging to Yin within Yang. It solely performs light渗 (percolating) and diuretic actions. The claim that it stops seminal emission arises because damp-heat in the Spleen flows into the Bladder; thus, when controlled by damp-percolating herbs, it hits the target. How can this be considered a standard method for stopping seminal emission? The claims that it relieves thirst, promotes diuresis, and reduces swelling are indeed correct, but it should not be used as the principal agent. It should be used in small amounts to assist Ze Xie (Alisma). Moreover, thirst and swelling caused by Kidney deficiency should not use it. Incompatible with Wu Tou (Aconite Root) and Wu Hui (Aconite Lateral Root).
[Huangbo]
The nature is cold, the taste is bitter, with strong aroma and flavor, belonging to Yin within Yang. Its main function is to nourish Yin and descend Fire. If Kidney deficiency causes Fire agitation, leading to Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst) and vexatious thirst, it should be used. It tonifies Kidney Water and drains rootless pathogenic Fire. It reduces edema and serves as an assistant herb for diuresis. It can alleviate pain below the umbilicus in early-stage dysentery and remove severe vexatious heat in chronic malaria. It also treats bone-steaming consumptive fever and coughs caused by deficient Fire harassing the Lung, or coughs due to retained phlegm in the Lung. This is the primary herb for the Foot-Shaoyin (Kidney) Meridian, but it also enters the Foot-Yangming (Stomach) and Hand-Taiyin (Lung) Meridians. If Kidney Qi is depleted and there are no Fire symptoms, but the Chi pulse is weak and faint, it should not be used. Stir-fried with salt to guide downward; soaked in wine to guide upward. Avoid iron.