Lifting and lowering, floating and sinking medicinal properties are the two couples whose direction of actions is opposite. Lifting and floating are similar in their actions, so are sinking and lowering. Therefore lifting and floating may be called concurrently, so may sinking and lowering. The lifting and floating medicinal herbs moving in ascending and outward directions generally exert the effects of invigorating splenic yang, relieving superficies, dispelling wind and cold, and resuscitation, etc.; the lowering and sinking medicinal herbs moving in descending and inward directions generally have the effects of clearing away heat, lowering the adverse flow of qi, purging, promoting diuresis, tranquilizing the mind, suppressing the hyperactive yang and stopping wind, and astringing, etc..
