柴胡苦平微寒 专入少阴之经，引清气而行阳道，去内外脏腑俱乏。
小柴胡退寒热；
四逆散发表热；
大柴胡除里热；加芒硝退潮热，故干姜汤用之复津液而助阳。
凡六方同用。
黄芩苦寒 养阴退阳，滋源撤热，中枯而飘，入太阴泄肺中火；细实而坚，
入少阴除心中热。佐柴胡除往来寒热，同半夏退表里之邪。
黄连汤主下利；
泻心汤去痞热，以至宣泄五淋，通利关节者用之。
凡十方同用。
半夏辛平 生微寒，熟温有毒，润无形有形则燥，同柴胡主表虚恶寒，共黄
芩退里实发热，入足阳明止吐，行手太阴除痰，表里之中用此，故有半夏之称。
小青龙行水气；
大柴胡散逆气，以至祛痰止咳，下气消食者用之。
凡十三方同用。
五味子皮肉甘酸，核中辛苦总有咸 故云五味，强阴涤热，逐冷止嗽。
小青龙收逆气安肺；
真武汤理咳逆散水。
杏仁甘苦性温有毒 润大肠风闭便难，解肌表时行头痛，利胸中气逆心下烦热。
麻黄汤散寒；
陷胸丸泄满；
大青龙发荣卫寒邪；
麻仁丸润津液不足。
凡六方同用。
桃仁苦平 破瘀血血闭，逐瘀血血结。
桃核承气汤下小腹结硬；
抵当汤丸破下焦蓄血。
水蛭咸苦有毒 苦走血，咸胜血，破蓄血之证，逐恶血，消瘀血，通月经之闭。
虻虫苦平有毒 专破瘀血。抵当汤治下焦蓄血，其人如狂者用之，或小腹满
因小便不利，而利者为有血也，以抵当丸小可药攻之。
Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri), bitter, neutral, slightly cold, specifically enters the Shaoyin meridian, guides clear Qi to circulate in the Yang pathways, and resolves deficiencies in both interior and exterior organs.
Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) relieves alternating chills and fever;
Si Ni San (Frigid Extremities Powder) releases exterior heat;
Da Chai Hu Tang (Major Bupleurum Decoction) clears interior heat; adding Mang Xiao (Natrii Sulfas) relieves tidal fever, thus it is used in Gan Jiang Tang (Dried Ginger Decoction) to restore body fluids and assist Yang Qi.
The above six formulas commonly use this herb.
Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae), bitter, cold, nourishes Yin, subdues Yang, nourishes the source to withdraw heat. The withered and loose texture enters the Taiyin meridian to drain fire from the Lungs; the fine and solid texture enters the Shaoyin meridian to remove heat from the Heart. It assists Chai Hu to relieve alternating chills and fever, and together with Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae), it resolves pathogenic factors in both the exterior and interior.
Huang Lian Tang (Coptis Decoction) primarily treats diarrhea;
Xie Xin Tang (Drain the Epigastrium Decoction) removes epigastric fullness and heat, and is even used to vent the five types of strangury and unblock joints.
The above ten formulas commonly use this herb.
Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae), pungent, neutral. Raw form is slightly cold; cooked form is warm and slightly toxic. It moistens dryness whether formless or formed. Together with Chai Hu, it governs exterior deficiency with aversion to cold; together with Huang Qin, it resolves interior excess heat. It enters the Foot-Yangming meridian to stop vomiting, and moves the Hand-Taiyin meridian to resolve phlegm. Used between the exterior and interior, hence its name "Ban Xia".
Xiao Qing Long Tang (Minor Blue Dragon Decoction) promotes water Qi movement;
Da Chai Hu Tang (Major Bupleurum Decoction) disperses rebellious Qi, and is even used for resolving phlegm, stopping cough, descending Qi, and digesting food.
The above thirteen formulas commonly use this herb.
Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae): the skin and flesh are sweet and sour, the core is pungent and bitter, collectively possessing a salty taste, hence called "Five Flavors." It strengthens Yin, eliminates heat, drives out cold, and stops cough.
Xiao Qing Long Tang (Minor Blue Dragon Decoction) collects rebellious Qi and calms the Lungs;
Zhen Wu Tang (True Warrior Decoction) regulates cough and rebellion, dissipates water Qi.
Xing Ren (Semen Armeniacae Amarum), sweet, bitter, warm, slightly toxic. It moistens the Large Intestine for wind-closure constipation, releases exterior muscle layer headaches caused by epidemic pathogens, and benefits rebellious Qi in the chest causing vexation and heat below the heart.
Ma Huang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) disperses cold;
Xian Xiong Wan (Trap the Chest Pill) drains fullness;
Da Qing Long Tang (Major Blue Dragon Decoction) induces sweating to release Cold pathogens of Ying and Wei;
Ma Ren Wan (Hemp Seed Pill) moistens insufficiency of body fluids.
The above six formulas commonly use this herb.
Tao Ren (Semen Persicae), bitter, neutral. It breaks blood stasis and blood closure, and expels blood stasis and blood accumulation.
Tao He Cheng Qi Tang (Peach Kernel Decocting Qi Formula) purges hard accumulations in the lower abdomen;
Di Dang Tang/Wan (Di Dang Decoction/Pill) breaks down blood retention in the Lower Jiao.
Shui Zhi (Hirudo), salty, bitter, toxic. Bitter enters the Blood level, Salt overcomes Blood. It breaks blood retention syndromes, expels evil blood, eliminates blood stasis, and unblocks menstrual closure.
Meng Chong (Tabanus), bitter, neutral, toxic. It specifically breaks blood stasis. Di Dang Tang treats blood retention in the Lower Jiao where the patient acts like a madman; or if there is lower abdominal fullness due to difficult urination, but urination becomes free, indicating the presence of blood, Di Dang Wan is used with mild medicinal force to attack it.