Pinyin: Feng Xian Hua  Chinese: 鳳仙花
Pharmaceutical: Flos Impatientis
Taxonomy: Impatiens balsamina
English: Garden Balsam Flower

Tastes: Sweet, warm, slightly bitter

Actions & Indications:

1. Expels Wind and invigorates the Blood
   Traumatic injury, arthritis, lumbago
   Amenorrhoea, incomplete elimination of static blood after delivery
2. Resolves swelling and alleviates pain
   Sores and boils
   Fungal infection of the hand, discoloration of the nails

Standard Dosage: 3-9g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated to pregnant women.

Pinyin: Hong Hua  Chinese: 红花
Pharmaceutical: Flos Carthami
English: Safflower

Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Heart and Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Invigorates the Blood, dispels Blood Stasis, opens the channels, unblocks menstruation and alleviates pain
   Blood Stasis, especially in women for gynecological problems such as abdominal pain, amenorrhea, postpartum dizziness, retained lochia and abdominal masses
   Trauma, non suppurative sores, carbuncles and dark, purplish erythema
   Incomplete expression of rash of measles
   Chest Bi due to Blood Stasis

Standard Dosage: 3-10g 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: Jiu  Chinese: 酒
Pharmaceutical: Alcohol
English: Rice Wine

Tastes: Hot, pungent, sweet, bitter, toxic
Meridians Entered: Stomach, Heart, Lung and Liver, but reaches every part of the body

Actions & Indications:

1. Nourishes and moves Blood and Qi, opens the Meridians
   Taken internally or applied topically as the medium for liniments in Blood stasis, especially from trauma or Bi syndromes in the elderly
2. Warms Yang and Expels Cold
   All Cold syndromes including Cold Bi, Interior Cold and Yang deficiency
   Often serves as the basis for longevity "elixirs" by soaking Yang tonifying herbs
3. Strengthens the Shen, dispels sorrow and promotes happiness
   Temporary low mood, celebration

Standard Dosage: 10-60ml, two to three times per day. Often combined with other herbs to bring out their Blood moving or warming aspects by washing them, or adding to a decoction, or soaking herbs in alcohol to make medicinal wines.
Cautions: Caution with Damp-Heat syndromes or long term consumption in the young and middle aged.

The Materia Dietetica (Shiwu Bencao 食物本草) by Lu He 卢和 from the Ming Dynasty says that excess drinking can hurt the spirit and consume blood, damage the stomach and deplete the body fluid, produce phlegm and induce fire.