苦平，无毒。根名连轺，甘寒平，小毒。
《本经》主寒热鼠 ，瘰 痈肿，恶疮瘿瘤，结热蛊毒。
发明 连翘轻清而浮，本手少阴、厥阴气分药。泻心经客热，破血结，散气聚，消肿毒
，利小便。诸痛痒疮，皆属心火。连翘泻心为疮家之圣药；十二经疮药中不可无此，乃结者
散之之义。《本经》专主寒热鼠 ， 瘰瘿瘤、结热等病，皆由足少阳胆经气郁而成，此药
正清胆经郁热。痈疽恶疮，无非营卫壅遏，得清凉以散之。蛊毒所结，得辛香以解之。然苦
寒之性仅可以治热肿，故痈疽溃后脓清色淡及胃弱食少者禁用。根寒降，专下热气，治湿热
发黄，湿热去而面悦好，眼目明矣。仲景治瘀热在里发黄，麻黄连翘赤小豆汤主之。奈何世
鲜知此，如无根，以实代之。
一名蒴 ，又名接骨草
苦寒，无毒。
《本经》主骨间诸痹，四肢拘挛，疼酸膝寒痛，阴痿短气不足，脚肿。
发明 陶苏《本草》，甄权《药性》皆言陆英即蒴 ，田野村墟甚多。人家所植高硕
色赤者是陆英，田野所出不红，叶上有粉者是蒴 ，二味所主大率相类，《外台》、《千金
方》多用之，世以其贱而全置不讲也。
大青、小青
苦寒，无毒。有二种，大者曰大青，苗高如蓼。小者曰小青，叶光
如景天。（向编在麻后，今并此。）
《本经》解诸毒，杀蛊 疰鬼螫毒。
发明 《本经》取用蓝实，乃大青之子，是即所谓蓼蓝也。性禀至阴，其味苦寒，故能
入肝。《本经》取治蛊疰诸毒，专于清解温热诸邪也，阳毒发斑咽痛必用之药。而茎叶
性味
不异，主治皆同。《日华子》治天行热狂，疔肿风疹。朱肱治发斑咽痛，有犀角大青汤、大
青四物汤，皆取其叶，以治温热毒盛发斑之药，非正伤寒药也。盖大青泻肝胆之实火，正以
祛心胃之邪热，所以小儿疳热、丹毒为要药。小青捣敷肿疖甚效，治血痢腹痛，杀百药毒，
解野狼毒、射罔、斑蝥、砒石等毒。《千金》以蓝叶捣汁治腹中鳖瘕。夏子益《奇疾方》用板
蓝汁治腹内应声虫。陈实功以蓝同贝母捣敷人面疮，皆取苦寒以散蕴结之热毒也。蓝淀以蓝
浸地坑一宿，入锻石搅，澄去水为淀，其解诸毒，敷热疮之用则一；而杀虫之功更效，虫为
下膈非此不除。今人以染缸水治噎膈，皆取其杀虫也。
[Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus)]
Bitter, neutral in nature, non-toxic. The root is named Lianyao (Glechomae Rhizoma et Radix), sweet, cold, neutral in nature, with slight toxicity.
*Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) indicates it treats chills and fever, scrofula (tuberculous lymphadenitis of the neck), scrofulous abscesses, malignant sores, goiters (thyroid enlargement), accumulated heat toxins, and gu poison (parasitic or toxic diseases).
[Commentary]
Lianqiao is light, clear, and ascending; it primarily enters the Qi level of the Hand-Shaoyin (Heart) and Hand-Jueyin (Pericardium) meridians. It clears exogenous heat from the Heart meridian, breaks blood stasis, disperses Qi stagnation, reduces swelling and detoxifies, and promotes urination. All pain, itching, and sores belong to Heart fire. By clearing Heart fire, Lianqiao becomes a sacred medicine for treating sores; it is indispensable among medicines for sores across the twelve meridians, embodying the principle of "scattering what is knotted." *Shennong Bencao Jing* specifically treats chills and fever, scrofula, goiters, and accumulated heat, which are conditions caused by Qi stagnation in the Foot-Shaoyang (Gallbladder) meridian. This herb precisely clears the stagnant heat of the Gallbladder meridian. Carbuncles, ulcers, and malignant sores are essentially due to the obstruction of Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi; they are dispersed by cooling properties. Gu poison accumulations are resolved by acrid and aromatic properties. However, due to its bitter-cold nature, it can only treat heat-type swellings. Therefore, it is contraindicated in cases where carbuncles have ulcerated with thin, pale pus, or in patients with weak stomachs and poor appetite. The root is cold and descending, specializing in directing heat downward, treating jaundice caused by damp-heat. Once damp-heat is eliminated, the complexion becomes rosy and healthy, and vision clarifies. Zhang Zhongjing treated yellowing caused by stagnant heat in the interior using Mahuang Lianqiao Xiaodou Tang (Ephedra, Forsythia, and Adzuki Bean Decoction) as the primary formula. Regrettably, few people in later generations know this; if the root is unavailable, the fruit is used as a substitute.
[Luying (Euphorbiae Humifusae Herba)]
Also known as Shuobi (Euphorbiae Humifusae Herba), and further called Jiegu Cao (Bone-setting Grass).
Bitter, cold in nature, non-toxic.
*Shennong Bencao Jing* indicates it treats various bi-syndromes (obstruction syndromes) between bones, limb contracture and spasms, soreness and acid sensation, cold pain in the knees, impotence, shortness of breath and insufficiency, and foot swelling.
[Commentary]
Tao Hongjing's *Bencao Jing Ji Zhu* (Collected Commentaries on the Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) and Zhen Quan's *Yaoxing Lun* (Discussion on Drug Properties) both state that Luying is Shuobi, which is abundant in fields and villages. The variety planted by households, which is tall, robust, and reddish in color, is Luying; the wild variety found in fields, which is not red and has powdery leaves, is Shuobi. Their therapeutic indications are largely similar. They are frequently used in *Waitai Miyao* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) and *Qianjin Fang* (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold). Because they are cheap, people in later generations have largely neglected them.
[Daqing (Indigo Naturalis) & Xiaoqing (Indigo Naturalis)]
Bitter, cold in nature, non-toxic. There are two types: the larger one is called Daqing, with stems and leaves resembling Polygonum (knotweed). The smaller one is called Xiaoqing, with smooth leaves resembling Sedum. (Previously compiled after Mahuang, now merged here.)
*Shennong Bencao Jing* indicates it resolves various toxins and kills gu poison, zhu-gui (wandering pestilence ghosts), and stinging toxins.
[Commentary]
The Lanshi (seeds of Isatis leaf) taken in *Shennong Bencao Jing* is the seed of Daqing, which is what is referred to as Liaolan (Isatis tinctoria). It possesses extreme Yin nature and a bitter-cold taste, thus entering the Liver meridian. *Shennong Bencao Jing* uses it to treat gu-zhu and various toxins, specifically for clearing and resolving warm-heat pathogens. It is an essential medicine for yang-du (yang toxin) presenting with macules and sore throat. The stems and leaves have identical properties and tastes, and their main indications are the same. *Rihuazi Bencao* treats epidemic heat mania, carbuncles, and wind-rashes. Zhu Gong treated macules and sore throat with Xijiao Daqing Tang (Rhino Horn and Indigo Decoction) and Daqing Siwu Tang (Four Substances with Indigo Decoction), utilizing the leaves as medicines for heat-toxin excess causing macules; these are not orthodox medicines for Shanghan (Cold Damage). Generally, Daqing drains excess fire of the Liver and Gallbladder, thereby dispelling evil heat from the Heart and Stomach, making it a crucial medicine for pediatric gan-re (accumulation heat) and erysipelas. Xiaoqing, when crushed and applied externally, is very effective for treating swollen boils; internally, it treats bloody dysentery and abdominal pain, kills poisoning from hundreds of drugs, and resolves toxicity from Yelangdu, She-wang, Mylabris, and Arsenic. *Qianjin Fang* uses crushed blue leaves and juice to treat abdominal biema (abdominal masses). Xia Zi Yi's *Qiji Fang* (Formulas for Strange Diseases) uses Banlan Gen juice to treat yingshengchong (echoing worm in the abdomen). Chen Shigong used blue leaves combined with Fritillaria, crushed and applied externally, to treat renmianchuang (human-faced sore), all taking advantage of the bitter-cold nature to dissipate accumulated heat-toxins. Landian (Indigo precipitate) is made by soaking blue plants in a pit overnight, adding calcined gypsum, stirring, letting it settle, and removing the water. Its function in resolving various toxins and applying externally to heat-sores is the same; however, its vermifuge effect is more potent. For lower esophageal parasites, nothing else can remove them but this. Nowadays, people use dye vat water to treat yige (dysphagia/esophageal obstruction), relying on its vermifuge property.