Pinyin: Xue Li  Chinese: 雪梨
Pharmaceutical: Pyrus pyrifolia
English: Asian Pear

Tastes: Sweet, slightly sour, cool
Meridians Entered: Lung and Stomach

Actions:
Clear heat and resolve phlegm, promote the secretion of body fluid and relieve thrist.

Indications:
Cough due to lung dryness, diabetes, sores and boils, scalds and burns, fever, hot eyes, dry mouth

Standard Dosage: 15-30g in decoction.

Pinyin: Bi Qi  Chinese: 荸薺
Pharmaceutical: Eleocharis dulcis
English: Water Chestnut

Tastes: Sweet, cold
Meridians Entered: Lung and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Transforms Phlegm and reduces accumulations
   Coughing from Phlegm-Heat
   Phlegm nodules such as scrofula
2. Clears Lung and Stomach Heat, generates Fluids and stops thirst
   Thirst and constipation from Heat in the Lungs and Stomach with diabetes, jaundice, painful urinary dysfunction, red eyes, throat pain and swelling
   Commonly used for Warm Pathogen diseases
3. Cools the Blood, removes toxins, promotes bowel movement and improves the appetite
   Constipation, conjunctivitis, corneal opacity, hard masses and indigestion

Standard Dosage: 60-120g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in case of deficiency cold and blood deficiency.

Pinyin: Lu Gen  Chinese: 芦根
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Phragmitis
Taxonomy: Phragmites australis
English: Reed Rhizome

Tastes: Sweet and cold
Meridians Entered: Lung and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat and irritability from the Lungs and Stomach and generates fluids
   Internal Heat patterns with high fever, irritability and thirst, dry mouth and throat.
   Lung Heat (especially when acute) , Lung carbuncle, Lung abscess
2. Clears Stomach Heat, regulates Stomach Qi, relieves thirst and stops vomiting
   Stomach Heat (especially when accompanied by rebellious Qi)
3. Clears Heat and promotes urination
   Dark, scanty urine and hematuria especially when accompanied by irritability and thirst
4. Vents rashes
   Wind-Heat rashes that are not completely expressed
5. Relieves food poisoning
   Relieves food poisoning due to ingestion of fish and crabs
   Alcohol poisoning

Standard Dosage: 15-30g in decoction.

Pinyin: Mai Men Dong  Chinese: 麥門冬
Pharmaceutical: Radix Ophiopogonis
English: Dwarf Lilyturf Root

Tastes: Sweet, slightly bitter, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Stomach, Lung and Heart

Actions & Indications:

1. Moistens the Lungs, nourishes Yin and stops coughing
   Lung Yin Deficiency with a hacking, dry cough or a cough with thick, difficult to expectorate sputum, or hemoptysis
   Pathogenic Warm-Dryness Dryness that has transformed into Fire
2. Nourishes Stomach Yin and generates Fluids
   Stomach Yin Deficiency with dry mouth and tongue
3. Moistens the Intestines
   Constipation, dry mouth and irritability as a result of febrile disease or Yin Deficiency
4. Clears the Heart and eliminates irritability
   Ying Stage Heat with fever and irritability which is worse at night
   Yin Deficiency with fever and irritability which is worse at night
5. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the middle class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, make the body light, prevent senility and make one free from hunger. 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: 10-15g in decoction.

Pinyin: Ou  Chinese: 藕
Pharmaceutical: Radix nelumbinis
English: Lotus Root

Tastes: Sweet, cold
Meridians Entered: Heart, Spleen and Stomach

Actions:
Raw: Clears heat and cools the blood, dissipating blood stasis.
Boiled: Strengthens the spleen, stimulates the appetite, tonifies blood and promotes tissue regeneration.

Standard Dosage: Eaten directly, raw or cooked.