生地黄 木通（去粗皮） 甘草梢（等分） 为末。
心热，小便黄赤，此方主之。
心与小肠为表里，故心热则小肠亦热，而令便赤。是方也，生地黄可以凉心；甘草梢可
以泻热；佐之以木通，则直走小肠、膀胱矣。名曰导赤者，导其丙丁之赤，由溺而泄也。
黄芩 黄连 大黄（酒润，各等分）
心膈实热，狂躁面赤者，此方主之。
味之苦者，皆能降火。黄芩味苦而质枯，黄连味夺而气燥，大黄苦寒而味浓。质枯则上
浮，故能泻火于膈；气燥则就火，故能泻火于心；味浓则喜降，故能荡邪攻实。此天地亲
上
柴胡（一钱） 黄芩（七分，炒） 五味子（九粒） 生甘草 山栀（炒黑） 知母（去
毛，炒）
天门冬（去心）麦门冬（去心） 黄连（炒） 人参 龙胆草（各五分）
谋虑不决，肝热胆溢，口苦热盛者，此方主之。
肝主谋虑，胆主决断，谋虑则火起于肝，不决则火起于胆。柴胡性温味苦而气薄，故入
厥阴、少阳；黄芩、黄连、龙胆草、山栀子得柴胡以君之，则入肝胆而平之矣。制肝者惟金，
黄连（六两，炒） 吴茱萸（一两，汤泡）
二共为末作丸。
肝脏火实，左胁作痛者，此方主之。
左，肝也。左金者，谓金令行左而肝平也。黄连乃泻心之物，泻去心火，不得乘其肺金
，则清肃之令左行，而肝有所制矣。吴茱萸味辛热而气臊，臊则入肝，辛热则疏利，乃用之
以为反佐。经曰∶佐以所利，和以所宜。此之谓也。
Shengdi Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Mutong (Akebiae Caulis, with coarse bark removed), and Gancao Shao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma tip) in equal parts. Grind into powder.
For Heart heat with yellowish-red urine, this formula is indicated.
The Heart and Small Intestine are exterior-interior related; thus, Heart heat causes Small Intestine heat, resulting in red urine. In this formula, Shengdi Huang cools the Heart; Gancao Shao clears heat; assisted by Mutong, the medicinal action travels directly to the Small Intestine and Bladder. It is named "Dao Chi San" (Guide Out Red Powder), meaning to guide the redness of Bing-Ding (Fire/Heart) out through urination.
Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), and Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, moistened with wine) in equal parts.
For excess-heat in the Heart and Diaphragm manifesting as mania, restlessness, and flushed face, this formula is indicated.
Bitter substances all have the ability to descend fire. Huangqin is bitter and light/dry in texture, so it floats upward, thus clearing fire from the Diaphragm; Huanglian has a drying qi, so it follows fire, thus clearing fire from the Heart; Dahuang is bitter-cold and heavy in flavor, so it prefers descending, thus sweeping away pathogens and attacking excess. This reflects the heaven-earth principle of favoring the upper...
Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix, 1 qian), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix, 7 fen, stir-fried), Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus, 9 grains), Sheng Gancao (Raw Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Shanzhi (Gardeniae Fructus, stir-fried until black), Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, hairs removed, stir-fried), Tianmendong (Asparagi Radix, heart removed), Maimendong (Ophiopogonis Radix, heart removed), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma, stir-fried), Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Longdancao (Gentianae Radix) each at 5 fen.
For indecisiveness due to Liver heat and Gallbladder overflow, with bitter taste and intense heat, this formula is indicated.
The Liver governs planning; the Gallbladder governs decision-making. Planning generates fire in the Liver; indecision generates fire in the Gallbladder. Chaihu is warm, bitter, and thin in qi, thus entering the Jueyin and Shaoyang meridians; Huangqin, Huanglian, Longdancao, and Shanzhi, guided by Chaihu as the Sovereign herb, enter the Liver and Gallbladder to pacify them. The element that controls Wood (Liver) is Metal (Lung)...
Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma, 6 liang, stir-fried), Wuzhuyu (Evodiae Fructus, 1 liang, soaked in decoction).
Grind both into powder and make pills.
For Liver fire excess causing pain in the left hypochondrium, this formula is indicated.
Left corresponds to the Liver. "Zuo Jin" means allowing the command of Metal to operate on the left to calm the Liver. Huanglian is used to drain Heart fire; by draining Heart fire, it prevents the Heart from overacting upon Lung Metal, allowing the clear and descending command of Metal to move to the left, thereby restraining the Liver. Wuzhuyu is acrid-hot and fishy-smelling; the fishy smell enters the Liver, and acrid-hot properties promote free flow, so it is used as an inverse assistant (Fan Zuo). The Classic says: Assist with what is beneficial, harmonize with what is appropriate. This is what is meant.