Varying diseases often appear to bear a tendency to move upward, downward, towards the exterior or the interior. And for the state of a disease, they are distinguished into those due to adverse ascending of pathogenic factors and those due to invasion of pathogenic factors sinking deeply into the interior and lowering down to the lower energizer. Corresponding to the above, the directions of actions of medicinal herbs on human body also have the lifting, lowering, floating and sinking distinction. While treating a disease, according to its different causes, a doctor should select corresponding medicinal herbs and make the best use of their lifting, lowering, floating or sinking actions to help dispel pathogenic factors, correct the disorder of the body's functions and restore them to the normal.

By "lifting" of Chinese medicinal herbs we mean that the direction of Chinese herbal action is toward the upper parts. Those that possess the lifting action are indicated for a disease in a lower and deeper parts. For example, Huangqi (Radix Astragali) and Shengma (Rhizoma Cimicifugae) can raise splenic qi and are indicated for syndrome of visceroptosis with hyposplenic qi such as chronic diarrhea and lingering dysentery, prolapse of the rectum, prolapse of uterus and gastroptosis. By "lowering" of Chinese medicinal herbs we mean that they function toward the lower parts and possess the action of descending adverse qi and are indicated for the disease due to adverse ascending of pathogenic factors.

For example, Daizheshi ( Haematitum ), Chenxiang ( Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum ) and Shijueming ( Concha Haliotidis ) can descend adverse flow of qi and fire, subdue exuberant yang of the liver and descend adverse qi of the lung and stomach and are indicated for bleeding, painful swollen gum and aphthae due to ascendancy of rebellious qi and fire; dizziness due to exuberance of liver-yang, cough and dyspnea due to abnormal rising of lung-qi, nausea and vomiting and eructation due to abnormal rising of stomach-qi. By "floating" of Chinese medicinal herbs we mean that they function toward the upper and outward parts, generally exert the effects of sweating and dispersing and are indicated for the disease in the upper and superficial parts. For instance, Mahuang (Herba Ephedrae ), Zisu ( Folium Perillae ), Fangfeng ( Radix Saposhnikoviae ) and Duhuo ( Radix Angelicae Pubescentis ) can dispel wind-cold and dampness from the exterior and are indicated for wind and cold exterior-syndrome, wind-damp type of Bi-syndrome, etc.. By "sinking" of Chinese medicinal herbs we mean that they function toward the lower and inward parts, have the effects of lowering the adverse flow of qi and relaxing bowels and are indicated for the disease in the lower and interior. For instance, Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei ) and Mutong ( Caulis Akebiae ) separately have the effects of relaxing the bowels and promoting diuresis and are used to treat constipation, abdominal distention and pain, and dysuria, etc..