Pinyin: Luo Bo  Chinese: 萝卜
Pharmaceutical: Raphanus sativus
English: Daikon Radish

Tastes: Pungent, sweet, cool
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Lung, Stomach and Large Intestine

Actions:
Promote digestion, direct qi downward, resolve phlegm, stop bleeding, relieve thrist and induce diuresis.

Indications:
Indigestion, abdominal distention, diarrhea, sore throat, hematemesis, hemoptysis, nose bleeding, hematochezia, diabetes, cough due to phlegm-heat, acid regurgitation, stranguria with turbid discharge for oral administration; sores and boils, bruising, scalds and chiblain for external application

Standard Dosage: 30-100g eaten directly or in decoction.
Cautions: Avoid taking Di Huang and He Shou Wu when using the drug. It is contraindicated in case of deficiency cold in spleen and stomach.

Pinyin: Cha Ye  Chinese: 茶叶
Pharmaceutical: Camelliae sinensis folium
Taxonomy: Camilla sinensis
English: Tea Leaves

Tastes: Bitter, sweet, cold
Meridians Entered: Stomach, Heart and Lung

Actions & Indications:

1. Dispels Wind-Heat and clears the head and refreshes the mind
   Dizziness and vertigo
   Headache
2. Alleviates Thirst and promotes urination
   Agitation and thirst
   Prevents the drying, dispersing and ascending nature of diaphoretic herbs from harming the body
3. Resolves Food Stagnation and alleviates diarrhoea
   Nausea, vomiting, indigestion and diarrhoea
   Damp-Heat dysentery
   Greasy Food Stagnation
   Obesity
4. Resolves Toxicity
   Sores and boils
   Topically on inflammation or hot swelling injuries (tannins are also astringent and so can stop bleeding)

Standard Dosage: 3-12g in decoction, but usually infused or added near the end.
Cautions: Avoid in insomnia. Leave 1 hour between taking iron supplements.

Pinyin: Yan  Chinese: 鹽
Pharmaceutical: Sodium Chloride
Taxonomy: NaCl
English: Salt

Tastes: Salty, cold
Meridians Entered: Stomach, Kidney, Small Intestine and Large Intestine

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat, cools the Blood and resolves Toxicity
   Toothache, bleeding gums, sore throat
   Nebula
   Sores and boils, insect bites
   (Internally) Constipation, difficult urination
2. Induces vomiting
   Indigestion, abdominal distention

Standard Dosage: 1 tsp (3g) melted in 300ml hot water to make approx 1% solution and used as a wash for the skin, mouth or eyes. 5% solution drunk on an empty stomach induces vomiting.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in case of oedema. Do not take too much, especially when inducing vomiting as the high sodium intake can lead to hypernatremia causing seizures and death. Inducing vomiting to eject poisoning is not recommended today as research shows no clinical effect and considerable potential harm.