Compendium of Materia Medica

Volume Two

Subdues Arsenic original: "Fu Pi"; refers to the ability of certain substances to stabilize or neutralize the toxicity of arsenic in alchemical preparations.

King Solomon's Seal

Incompatible with plums
Refers to the fruit/rhizome original: "Huangjing"; a vital longevity tonic used to nourish the "Essence" of the body.

Anemarrhena

Enhanced by Phellodendron bark and wine
Subdues borax and salts

Fragrant Solomon’s Seal

Fears brine
Fears salt

Atractylodes

Siler and Burnet serve as its messengers In Chinese pharmacy, a "messenger" or "envoy" (Shi) herb guides the primary medicine to a specific organ or meridian.
Avoid peaches, plums, sparrow meat, bok choy, and herring

Cibotium Fern

Dioscorea serves as its messenger
Abhors Cyperus and Patrinia original: "Gouji"; known as "Dog's Spine" due to the golden hair on its rhizome, used for back pain.

Male Fern

Fungus and small red beans serve as its messengers
Subdues stalactite

Morinda Root

Raspberry serves as its messenger
Abhors Pinellia, Red Sage, and Morning Glory

Polygala

Enhanced by Poria, Dragon Bone, and Mallow Seed
Fears pearl and thistle
Abhors Ligusticum, Wild Ginger, and clams original: "Yuanzhi"; literally "Far-Reaching Will," used to sharpen memory and calm the spirit.

Epimedium

Yam and Purple Reishi mushroom serve as its messengers
Enhanced by wine Also known as "Horny Goat Weed," used to warm the kidneys and strengthen vitality.

Scrophularia

Abhors Astragalus, Dried Ginger, Jujube, and Cornelian Cherry original: "Xuanshen"; literally "Dark Root," used for cooling the blood and clearing toxins.

Burnet

Enhanced by charred hair
Subdues cinnabar, realgar, and sulfur
Abhors Ophiopogon root

Red Sage

Fears salt
Fears water

Purple Salvia

Fears Magnolia flower

Pulsatilla

Iris seed serves as its messenger
Enhanced by wine original: "Baitouweng"; literally "White-Haired Old Man," named for the fuzzy appearance of the flower; used to treat dysentery.