Pinyin: Bi Xie  Chinese: 萆薢
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae
Taxonomy: Dioscorea Hypoglauca
English: Fish Poison Yam Rhizome / Tokoro / Long Yam Root / Seven-Lobed Yam (Mian Bei Xie)

Tastes: Bitter, bland
Meridians Entered: Kidney and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Separates the pure from the turbid (resolves turbid Dampness in the Lower Jiao)
   Turbid Dampness in the Lower Jiao with cloudy urine, vaginal discharge
   Deficiency Heat or Damp-Heat
2. Expels Wind-Dampness, relaxes the sinews and unblocks the Luo channels
   Wind-Damp Bi or Damp-Heat Bi with low back pain, numbness or stiffness of the lower extremities, muscle aches (mild effect)
3. Clears Damp-Heat from the skin
   Damp-Heat skin lesions (eczema, pustular sores)

Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Yi Zhi Ren  Chinese: 益智仁
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Alpiniae Oxyphyllae
Taxonomy: Alpinia Oxyphylla
English: Sharp-leaf Galangal Pod

Tastes: Sweet, pungent, astringent, warm
Meridians Entered: Kidney and Spleen

Actions & Indications:

1. Warms the Kidneys and astringes Jing and urine
   Frequent and copious urination, urinary incontinence and spermatorrhea or dribbling of urine due to Kidney Yang Deficiency
   Kidney Jing not Consolidated
   Irregular uterine bleeding
2. Warms the Spleen, increases the appetite and stops diarrhoea and salivation
   Spleen and Stomach Yang Deficiency with diarrhoea, Cold abdominal pain, excessive salivation and a thick, unpleasant taste in the mouth
   Abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea from Cold entering the Spleen and Kidneys

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Wu Yao  Chinese: 烏藥
Pharmaceutical: Radix Linderae
English: Lindera Root

Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Lung, Spleen, Liver, Kidney and Gallbladder

Actions & Indications:

1. Promotes the movement of Qi and alleviates pain
   Cold and Qi Stagnation with a stifling sensation in the chest, flank pain, epigastric and abdominal pain.
2. Warms the Kidneys and disperses Cold
   Urinary frequency or incontinence due to Kidney Yang Deficiency or Urinary Bladder Deficiency Cold

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Shi Chang Pu  Chinese: 石菖蒲
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Acori tatarinowii seu graminei
Taxonomy: Acorus tatarinowii seu gramineus
English: Grass-leaf Sweet Flag Rhizome

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Heart, Spleen and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Opens the Orifices, vaporizes Phlegm, removes filth, calms the Spirit and disperses Wind
   Phlegm-Dampness Veiling and Blocking the Sensory Orifices with deafness, dizziness, forgetfulness, dulled senses, and seizures or stupor
   Wind-Phlegm with seizures or stupor
2. Transforms turbid Dampness, harmonizes the Middle Jiao, awakens the Spleen and promotes the movement of Qi
   Dampness Distressing the Spleen and Stomach with chest and epigastric fullness and abdominal fullness and pain due to Dampness and Turbidity Obstructing the Middle Jiao
3. Promotes Blood flow, reduces swelling and alleviates Wind-Damp Bi and sores (internally and topically)
   Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Sores (internally and topically)
   Trauma
4. Benefits the throat
   Hoarse voice due to laryngitis or inflammation of the vocal cords
5. Kills Parasites and expels Demons
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
6. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, make the body light, improve memory, prevent confusion and prolong life. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).

Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Avoid high doses for long periods due to β-asarone content (see below).