忌巴豆。
甘，寒。入足阳明经。退邪热，下逆气，止呕哕，除烦渴，（甘能益胃，寒能降火。）疗
便数
劳复。解鱼鳖肉毒。配竹茹、麦冬，治霍乱烦闷。（热除呕自止。）配地骨皮、麦冬、橘皮、
生姜，治肺痿骨蒸。
逆水生，黄泡肥浓者良。去须节黄皮，捣汁用。出泥浮水中者，不可用。
即芭蕉
甘，大寒。入足阳明经。治天行热狂，除烦闷消渴，解结热痈痛，疗产后血胀。（血热
而胀
。）得旱莲草，治血淋涩痛。捣敷丹毒。
霜降后尤佳，取汁用。多服动冷气。胃弱脾弱，肿毒系阴分者，禁用。
浓朴、白薇为之使。恶辛夷、石苇。
辛、微苦、温。入足太阳，兼手太阴经气分。气味轻扬，善通腠理，宣达皮毛，大能发
汗，
去营中寒邪，泄卫中风热。治伤寒头项痛，腰脊强，发热恶寒，体痛无汗，及咳逆斑毒，风
水肿胀，是其所宜。余当审症施治。如妄用误汗，为害不浅。得肉桂，治风痹冷痛。佐半夏
，治心下悸病。（寒气泄也。）佐射干，治肺痿上气。（寒气外包，火气不能达，故痿。）使石
膏，出至阴之邪火。（为石膏之使。）
铁甲痘极硬不灌浆者，酒煮炒黑煎服，痘即烂，便有生肌。
发汗用茎，折去根节，先煎十余沸，以竹片掠去浮沫。沫能令人烦，根节能止汗，故去
之。
或蜜拌炒用亦可。惟冬月在表真有寒邪者宜之。凡服麻黄药，须避风一日，不尔，病复
作难
疗。用麻黄汗不止，冷水浸头发，用牡蛎、糯米粉扑之。寒邪在里，脉不浮紧有力，伤风有
汗，
素有血症，真阴内虚，卫气不足，春时瘟疫，发热恶寒，无头疼身痛拘急等症，皆禁用。（
时症亦有头疼身痛拘急者，宜细察之。）
根、节。甘，平。引补气之药外至卫分而止汗。得黄 、牡蛎、小麦，治诸虚自
汗。配黄
摩之。夏月
止汗，杂粉扑之。折去茎，不可和入同用。茎能发汗，故去之。麻黄，惟身首拘急而痛，六
脉浮紧有力，可用。盖北地
霜降后，受严寒之正气，为真正伤寒，初起邪在太阳经，用此升散寒气，是其所宜。若但感
冒寒湿，或时邪疫症，恶寒
发热者，
用之则卫气大伤，津液干燥，立毙而不可救。况骁悍之药，过汗则心血动，吐衄不止。过表
则真气伤，汗出无了，猝成大患。惟寒水溢于肌肤，遍身肿胀，用此发汗，使水气外泄，亦
劫夺之一法也。
Contraindicated with *Crotonis Fructus* (Baidu, 巴豆).
Sweet in taste, cold in nature. Enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. (Sweet flavor tonifies the Stomach Qi, while cold nature descends Fire.) It clears pathogenic heat, directs rebellious Qi downward, stops vomiting and hiccups, relieves irritability and thirst, treats frequent defecation and recurrence of illness after exertion (*Laofu*, 劳复). It resolves toxicity from fish and turtle meat. Combined with *Zhusu* (Bamboo Shavings, 竹茹) and *Maidong* (Ophiopogon Root, 麦冬), it treats cholera-like disorder with irritability and oppression. (When heat is cleared, vomiting naturally ceases.) Combined with *Digupi* (Groundcherry Root Bark, 地骨皮), *Maidong* (Ophiopogon Root, 麦冬), *Jupi* (Tangerine Peel, 橘皮), and *Shengjiang* (Fresh Ginger, 生姜), it treats Lung萎 (Lung Atrophy/Withering, 肺痿) and bone-steaming tidal fever.
Those growing in water with thick, yellow foam are of good quality. Remove the roots, nodes, and yellow skin, crush to extract juice for use. Those emerging from mud and floating on water should not be used.
This refers to *Moujiao Gen* (Banana Root, 甘蕉根/芭蕉根).
Sweet in taste, very cold in nature. Enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. It treats epidemic febrile diseases causing mania, relieves irritability and thirst, resolves clustered heat and carbuncles/pain, and treats postpartum blood distension. (Distension caused by blood-heat.) Combined with *Hanliancao* (Eclipta Herb, 旱莲草), it treats bloody strangury with astringent pain. Crushed and applied externally, it treats erysipelas.
Harvested after the Frost Descent solar term, it is especially effective; extract the juice for use. Excessive consumption induces cold qi. Contraindicated in cases of weak Spleen and Stomach, and when swelling/toxins belong to the Yin aspect.
*Bouphei Cortex* (Magnolia Bark, 浓朴/厚朴) and *Baizhi* (White Peony Root, 白薇 - Note: Text says Baizhi but context implies Baizhi or similar, strictly translating as named) serve as guiding herbs. It is adverse to *Xinyi* (Magnolia Flower Bud, 辛夷) and *Shiyi* (Alisma Rhizome, 石苇).
Pungent, slightly bitter, warm in nature. Enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian and concurrently the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian Qi level. Its aroma is light and ascending, excellent at opening the interstices (*Coulí*, 腠理), venting through the skin and hair, inducing profuse sweating, expelling cold pathogens from the Ying (Nutritive) level, and venting wind-heat from the Wei (Defensive) level. It treats headache and neck stiffness, back and spine rigidity, fever and aversion to cold, body pain without sweat, coughing and wheezing, toxic eruptions, wind-water edema and distension, which are its appropriate indications. For other conditions, treatment must be based on syndrome differentiation. If misused leading to erroneous sweating, the harm is profound. Combined with *Rougui* (Cinnamon Bark, 肉桂), it treats wind-bi cold pain. Assisted by *Banxia* (Pinellia Tuber, 半夏), it treats palpitations below the heart. (Caused by leakage of cold qi.) Assisted by *Shegan* (Belamcanda Rhizome, 射干), it treats Lung萎 with upward Qi rebellion. (Cold qi envelops externally, preventing fire qi from reaching, thus causing萎.) Guided by *Shigao* (Gypsum Fibrosum, 石膏), it extracts evil fire from the deepest Yin. (Acts as a guide for Gypsum.)
For severe smallpox (*Tiejia Dou*, 铁甲痘) that is extremely hard and does not fill with pus, boil in wine, stir-fry until black, decoct and drink; the pustules will then ulcerate and subsequently generate flesh.
For inducing sweating, use the stems. Break off the root nodes, decoct first for about ten boils, and skim off the floating foam with a bamboo strip. The foam causes irritability, while the nodes stop sweating, hence they are removed.
Alternatively, it may be used after honey-roasting. It is suitable only for those with true exterior cold pathogens in winter. After taking Ephedra preparations, one must avoid wind for one day; otherwise, the disease may recur and become difficult to treat. If sweating induced by Ephedra does not stop, soak the hair in cold water and apply Oyster Shell powder and glutinous rice flour. Contraindications include: cold pathogens in the interior with pulses that are not floating, tight, and forceful; wind-strike with sweating; pre-existing blood disorders; deficiency of True Yin internally; insufficiency of Defensive Qi; spring epidemics presenting with fever and aversion to cold but without headache, body pain, or stiffness/tension. (Seasonal illnesses may also present with headache, body pain, and stiffness; careful examination is required.)
Roots and Nodes: Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. They guide Qi-tonifying herbs to the exterior Wei level to stop sweating. Combined with *Huangqi* (Astragalus Root, 黄芪), *Muli* (Oyster Shell, 牡蛎), and *Xiaomai* (Wheat Grain, 小麦), they treat spontaneous sweating due to various deficiencies. Paired with Huangqi... [Text fragment] ...apply mixed powder in summer to stop sweating. Break off the stems; do not use them together with the roots/nodes. The stems induce sweating, hence they are removed. Ephedra is usable only when there is stiffness and pain in the body and head, and all six pulse positions are floating, tight, and forceful. This is because in northern regions, after Frost Descent, exposure to severe cold constitutes true Cold Damage (*Shanghan*, 伤寒). In the initial stage, when the pathogen is in the Taiyang Meridian, using this herb to ascend and disperse cold qi is appropriate. However, if one merely contracts cold-dampness or seasonal epidemic pathogens presenting with aversion to cold and fever, using it will severely damage the Defensive Qi, dry up Body Fluids, leading to immediate death that cannot be rescued. Moreover, Ephedra is a fierce herb; excessive sweating agitates Heart Blood, causing persistent hematemesis and epistaxis. Over-releasing the exterior damages True Qi, leading to unceasing sweating and sudden major calamity. Only when cold water overflows into the skin and muscles, causing generalized swelling, can this herb be used to induce sweating and allow water qi to escape externally; this is also a method of "plundering" (draining excess).