原名通草
平淡，无毒。色淡黄细香者佳。
《本经》除脾胃寒热，通利九窍血脉关节，令人不忘，去恶虫。
发明 木通， 根也，入手足太阳、手少阴、厥阴。泻气分湿热，防己泻血分湿热。
脾胃不和则水道不利，乃致郁，为寒热，为肿胀，为淋秘，为痹瘅，俱宜木通淡渗之剂，分
利阴阳，则水行火降，脾胃和，而心肾平矣。《本经》除脾胃寒热者，以其通利湿热也。曰
通利九窍、血脉、关节者，以其味淡渗也。曰令人不忘及去恶虫者，窍利则神识清，湿散则
恶虫去。以其通达九窍，行十二经，故又能催生下乳，散痈肿结热。惟胃虚肾冷，及伤寒大
便结燥，表虚多汗者禁服。恐重伤津液耗散胃汁也。时珍曰，木通上能通心清肺达九窍，下
能泄湿祛热，岂止利小便而已哉。盖能泄丙丁则肺不受邪。能通水道，水源即清，而诸经之
湿热皆从小便泄去，故导赤散用之。
原名通脱木
平淡，无毒。
发明 通草轻虚色白，专入太阴肺经。引热下降而利小便，入阳明胃经，通气上达而下
乳汁。东垣言，泻肺利小便，治五淋水肿癃闭，取气寒降味淡而升。仲景当归四逆汤，用以
通在里之湿热也。妊妇勿服，以其通窍也。
一名钓藤
甘微苦寒，无毒。取钩用良。
发明 钩藤手足厥阴药也。足厥阴主风，手厥阴主火。小儿急慢惊痫螈 ，内钩腹痛，
客忤胎风，大人肝风，头旋目眩，妇人带下赤白，皆肝风相火之病，肝木风静火息，则诸证
自除矣。
[Original Name: Tongcao]
Nature and flavor are neutral and plain, non-toxic. The best quality is characterized by a pale yellow color and a fine fragrance.
*Shennong Bencao Jing* records that it eliminates cold and heat in the spleen and stomach, unblocks the nine orifices, blood vessels, and joints, prevents forgetfulness, and expels harmful parasites.
[Innovation (Mutong)]
Mutong is the root of the plant, entering the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian, Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian, and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. It drains damp-heat from the Qi level, whereas Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix) drains damp-heat from the Blood level.
When the harmony between the spleen and stomach is disrupted, the water passages become obstructed, leading to stagnation. This can manifest as alternating chills and fever, swelling, strangury with urinary retention, bi-syndrome (painful obstruction), and jaundice. All these conditions are suitable for treatment with Mutong, a bland-draining agent. By separately promoting the flow of Yin and Yang, water metabolism normalizes, fire descends, the spleen and stomach harmonize, and the heart and kidney reach equilibrium. *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it eliminates spleen and stomach cold and heat because it unblocks and drains damp-heat. It unblocks the nine orifices, blood vessels, and joints due to its bland taste which promotes seepage and diuresis. It prevents forgetfulness and expels harmful parasites because clear orifices lead to clarity of consciousness, and dispersed dampness leads to the expulsion of parasites. Because it penetrates the nine orifices and circulates through the twelve meridians, it can also induce labor, promote lactation, and dissipate heat accumulation in carbuncles and swellings. It is contraindicated in cases of stomach deficiency and kidney cold, as well as in typhoid disease presenting with dry, hard stools, surface deficiency with profuse sweating. Use is prohibited to avoid further damaging body fluids and depleting gastric juices. Li Shizhen stated that Mutong reaches upward to communicate with the heart, clear lung heat, and open the nine orifices; downward, it drains dampness and removes heat. Its function extends far beyond merely promoting urination. Generally, by draining Bing-Ding fire (Heart Fire and Lung Heat), it protects the lungs from pathogenic invasion. By unblocking the water pathways, the source of water becomes clear, and damp-heat from all meridians is excreted via urine; therefore, it is used in Daochi San (Guide Out Red Powder).
[Original Name: Tongtuomu (Tongcao)]
Nature and flavor are neutral and plain, non-toxic.
[Innovation (Tongcao)]
Tongcao is light, void, and white in color, specifically entering the Taiyin Lung Meridian. It guides heat downward to promote urination. Entering the Yangming Stomach Meridian, it promotes Qi circulation upward and facilitates the descent of milk. Li Dongyuan stated that it clears lung heat and promotes urination, treating the five types of strangury, edema, and urinary retention, utilizing its cold nature that descends and its bland taste that ascends. Zhang Zhongjing used it in Danggui Sini Tang (Angelica Sinensis Decoction for Extremity Cold) to unblock internal damp-heat. Pregnant women should avoid taking it due to its penetrating and opening properties.
[Also Known As: Gouteng]
Flavor is sweet, slightly bitter, nature is cold, non-toxic. The hooked parts are preferred for use.
[Innovation (Gouteng)]
Gouteng acts upon the Hand-Jueyin and Foot-Jueyin meridians. The Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian governs wind, while the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian governs fire. Conditions such as acute and chronic infantile convulsions, epilepsy, spasmodic abdominal pain, external fright (Ke Wu), fetal wind, adult liver wind causing dizziness and vertigo, and leukorrhea (red and white discharge) in women are all diseases caused by liver wind and ministerial fire. If the wind of liver wood calms and ministerial fire extinguishes, these symptoms will naturally resolve.