Pinyin: She Chuang Zi  Chinese: 蛇床子
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Cnidii
Taxonomy: Cnidium monnieri
English: Cnidium Seed

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, warm, slight toxic
Meridians Entered: Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Dries Dampness, kills parasites and stops itching topically
   Topically as a powder or ointment for weeping, itchy skin lesions (especially genital)
   Scabies and tinea
2. Kills Parasites and expels Demons internally
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
3. Disperses Cold, dispels Wind and dries Dampness
   Vaginal discharge due to Cold-Dampness
   Wind-Cold-Dampness affecting the Kidneys and Du channel with lower back pain
4. Warms and tonifies the Kidneys and strengthens Yang
   Impotence or infertility due to Kidney Yang Deficiency or Cold Womb
5. 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. 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: 3-9g in decoction. Usually prepared as a wash or steam bath.

Pinyin: Hua Jiao / Chuan Jiao  Chinese: 花椒 / 川椒
Pharmaceutical: Pericarpium Zanthoxyli
Taxonomy: Zanthoxylum bungeanum seu schinifolium
English: Sichuan Pepper

Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Stomach and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Warms the Middle Jiao, disperses Cold, dispels Dampness, relieves diarrhoea and alleviates pain
   Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold with Cold and pain in the abdomen, vomiting and diarrhoea
2. Kills Parasites and alleviates abdominal pain
   Abdominal pain due to roundworms
   Moist dermal ulcers
   Gu Parasites / chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)

Standard Dosage: 3-6g in decoction.

Pinyin: Bai Fan  Chinese: 白礬
Pharmaceutical: Alumen
Taxonomy: KAl(SO₄)₂·12H₂O
English: Alum

Tastes: Sour, astringent, cold
Meridians Entered: Lung, Spleen, Liver and Large Intestine

Actions & Indications:

1. Relieves toxicity (Purges Fire), dries Dampness, kills parasites and alleviates itching
   External wash for Damp-Heat rashes (scabies, tinea)
   Swollen, painful throat or eyes
   Jaundice
2. Restrains and inhibits sores, generates flesh and transforms putrefication
   Topically for problems where toxins and pathogens have collected and clogged the channels, collaterals and muscles leading to blockage and Stagnation
   Topically for toxic sores (Chuang Yung)
3. Stops bleeding and alleviates diarrhoea
   Chronic diarrhoea, hemafecia, uterine bleeding and vaginal discharge
   Topically for epistaxis, hemorrhoidal bleeding, bleeding gums and bleeding due to external trauma
4. Clears Heat and expels Phlegm
   Wind-Phlegm (Heat) disorders with irritability, delirium, and convulsions
   Cough with sputum that is difficult to expectorate
5. Aids fasting
   The ore (Fan Shi) is mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of minerals which can, after sublimation, make the body light, prevent senility and lengthen life. This may suggest this was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生). However, it is not recommended for prolonged taking like most other superior minerals which is unusual since it is one of the least toxic minerals, often used in ancient times to purify drinking water.

Standard Dosage: 0.6-1g internally as powder or pills but more commonly used externally in washes.
Cautions: Do not use in large doses, or in kidney disease where the ability to excrete may be impaired resulting in aluminium toxicity. Symptoms include bone pain, muscle weakness, cognitive impairment, seizures, anaemia, and in severe cases, dementia.

Pinyin: Bai Bu  Chinese: 百部
Pharmaceutical: Radix Stemonae
English: Stemona Root

Tastes: Bitter, sweet, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Lung

Actions & Indications:

1. Moistens the Lungs and stops coughing
   Acute and chronic cough (especially due to Deficiency including Yin Deficiency)
2. Expel parasites and kills lice
   Head and body lice or fleas (topically)
   As a wash for bacterial vaginosis
   As a wash or soak for fungal infections
   As a nightly retained enema for pinworms

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Ku Shen  Chinese: 苦參
Pharmaceutical: Radix Sophorae
Taxonomy: Sophorae flavescentis
English: Shrubby Sophora Root

Tastes: Bitter and cold
Meridians Entered: Liver, Gallbladder, Stomach, Large Intestine and Bladder

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat and dries Dampness
   Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao with jaundice, diarrhoea, dysenteric disorders, vaginal discharge and sores, viral hepatitis
2. Disperses Wind, kills parasites and stops itching
   Damp-toxin skin lesions or infestations with chronic itching, scabies, seepage and bleeding (internal and topical)
   Genital itching and vaginal discharge (internal and topical)
   Bronchial asthma
3. Clears Heat and promotes urination
   Damp-Heat in the Small Intestine
   Painful urinary dysfunction
   Hot oedema
4. Tonifies the Middle Jiao
   Said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing to be among the middle class of herbs which can tonify the Middle Jiao to treat abdominal distension.
5. Improves eyesight
   Also said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing to improve eyesight and stop tearing
6. Expels Gu Parasites
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)

Standard Dosage: 3-6g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for deficiency cold syndrome. Overdose will weaken appetite and consume fluids, and may produce salivation, abnormal gait, dyspnpoea and tachycardia. In larger doses, nervous system stimulation with muscle spasm and seizures can occur.

This herb can not be used together with Li Lu being listed in the eighteen antagonisms.