（本经下品）
虚中者，转能善开茅塞；茅塞者，当号毒鱼。
【气味】辛温，有小毒。
【主治】主咳逆上气，喉鸣喘，咽肿，短气，蛊毒，鬼疟，疝瘕，痈肿，杀虫鱼。
【核】曰∶出邯郸，及绛州，所在亦有。茎干不全类木，亦非草本，草中木，木中草也。
本高二三尺，正二月旧枝抽苗作花，有紫、赤、黄、白四种。紫赤者多，白色者时有，黄色
者，绛州所产也。三月花落尽，叶乃生，叶似白前，及柳叶而青，渐加浓，则转黑矣。根似
桑，三月采花，五月采叶，八、九月采根。有争斗者，以叶 擦皮肤，辄作赤肿，和盐擦卵，
则染外若赭色也。修事，取陈久者佳，用米醋煮十余沸，去醋，水浸一宿。晒干，则毒减。
决明为之使。反甘草。
【 】曰∶芫谐元，元，首也。山海经云∶首山多芫，亦苗首出，萼即随之，花落尽，
叶乃茁也。形色气味，具火大虚中之体，从内而外，以张横遍之用者也。是主蛊毒、鬼疟、
疝瘕，为阴凝之属，满实在中，致令气短，用失横遍，遂上逆而咳气喉鸣喘，及咽肿者，对
待治之。若痈肿，亦中气不达，不能横遍肉理故也。若杀虫鱼，以功能彻水，则鱼失所夫矣。
故一名去水，一名毒鱼，行水之功，于此可见。
（本经下品）
【气味】苦寒，无毒。
【主治】主下瘀血，血闭，寒热，破症瘕积聚，留饮宿食，荡涤肠胃，推陈致新，通利
水谷
【核】曰∶出河西山谷，及陇西者为胜。益州北部汶山、西山者次之。二月卷生黄赤，
放叶时，四四相当，宛似羊蹄叶，粗长而浓。茎高三尺许，味酸而脆，颇堪啖也。三月花黄，
五月实黑，八月采根。根形亦似羊蹄根，大者如碗，长二尺许。切片阴干，理文如锦，质色
深紫。修事，切作薄片，以文如 纹，紧浓者佳。锉细蒸之从巳至未，取出晒干，又以腊水
润透，蒸之从未至亥，凡七遍。晒干，更以淡蜜水拌蒸一伏时，色如乌膏为度，乃晒干收用
。黄芩为之使。
先人云∶大黄称将军，将军者，所以行君令，戡祸乱，拓土地者也。味大苦，气大寒，
似得寒水正化，而炎上作苦，苦性走下，不与炎上者反乎。 同云∶五行相克，更为父母，
素问云∶承乃制，制则生化，是故五行之体以克为用，其润下者正炎上之用乎。则凡心用有
所不行，变生 难者，舍同类之苦巽以入之，不能彰其用矣。盖心主夏，主热火，主神，主
血脉，主病在五脏，主心腹部位，若肠胃之间，心腹之分，夏气热火之郁，神情血脉之结，
瘀闭宿留，致成症瘕积聚，变生寒热胀满者，皆心用不行。大黄能荡涤之，是谓推陈；推陈
者，正所以行君之令，辟土地，安民众，阜生物，是谓致新。致新者，即所以调中化食，安
和五脏者也。客曰∶开土地，涤肠胃，利水谷，皆脾所司。何为行火用也？曰∶火有用而灵，
正
【 】曰∶大黄称将军，转危为安，亡为存故也。具地体用，大其用，黄其体，故其动
也辟，应地无疆，含弘光大也。其为方也，为大方，为急方；其为剂也，为通剂，为泻剂。
积着留碍者，极物之情，通乎理而已。
(Ben Jing, Lower Category)
For those with deficiency in the middle (Jiao), it can effectively open up blockages; for those who are already blocked, it should be called "Poisonous Fish."
[Flavor and Properties] Acrid, Warm, Slightly Toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats cough with rebellious Qi, wheezing sounds in the throat, swelling of the throat, shortness of breath, Gu poison (parasitic disease), Gui Nue (a type of malaria), hernia and abdominal masses, carbuncles and swellings, and kills insects and fish.
[Verification] Lu Zhiyi states: Yuan Hua (Genkwa Flos) is produced in Handan and Jiangzhou, and is also found elsewhere. Its stem and trunk do not fully resemble trees, nor are they ordinary herbs; it is a "wood within grass, grass within wood." The plant is about two to three chi tall. In the second lunar month, old branches sprout new shoots that flower. There are four colors: purple, red, yellow, and white. Purple and red varieties are common, while white ones appear occasionally; yellow ones are produced in Jiangzhou. After the flowers fall completely in the third month, leaves emerge. The leaves resemble those of Qian Hu (Peucedani Radix) and willow leaves, initially green, gradually becoming darker until turning black. The root resembles mulberry roots. Flowers are harvested in the third month, leaves in the fifth month, and roots in the eighth and ninth months. If one rubs the skin with its leaves during conflicts, red swelling occurs; if rubbed on the scrotum with salt, the external dye turns ochre-like. For processing, aged material is preferred. Boil in rice vinegar for more than ten boils, discard the vinegar, soak in water overnight, and dry in the sun to reduce toxicity. Jue Ming Zi (Cassiae Semen) serves as its guiding herb. It is incompatible with Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma).
[Interpretation] Lu Zhiyi explains: "Yuan" harmonizes with "Yuan," meaning head or origin. The Shan Hai Jing states: Shou Mountain has much Yuan Hua; the seedling emerges first, followed by the calyx, and after the flowers fall, the leaves sprout. Its color, shape, and properties embody the nature of Fire with a hollow/vacuous center, acting from the inside out to exert a horizontal, pervasive influence. Therefore, it treats Yin coagulation conditions such as Gu poison, Gui Nue, and hernia/abdominal masses, which cause fullness and excess in the middle, leading to shortness of breath. When the horizontal pervasiveness fails, Qi rebels upward, causing cough, wheezing, and throat swelling; Yuan Hua treats these specifically. For carbuncles and swellings, it addresses the failure of Middle Qi to pervade the muscle layers. Regarding killing insects and fish, it works by penetrating water systems, depriving fish of their habitat. Hence, it is also named "Qu Shui" (Removing Water) and "Du Yu" (Poisonous Fish), demonstrating its power to promote water metabolism.
(Ben Jing, Lower Category)
[Flavor and Properties] Bitter, Cold, Non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats downward expulsion of blood stasis, blood obstruction, alternating chills and fever, breaking of masses and accumulations, clearing retained fluid and undigested food, purging the intestines and stomach, pushing out the old to bring forth the new, and promoting the free flow of water and grain.
[Verification] Lu Zhiyi states: Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) produced in the valleys of Hexi and Longxi is superior. Those from Wenshan and West Mountain in northern Yizhou are secondary. In the second lunar month, it emerges curled with yellow-red hues. When leaves expand, four leaflets correspond oppositely, resembling sheep's foot leaves, thick and long. Stems are about three chi high, sour and crisp, quite edible. Yellow flowers appear in the third month, black seeds in the fifth, and roots are harvested in the eighth month. Roots resemble sheep's foot roots, large ones bowl-sized, about two chi long. Sliced and dried in shade, the texture resembles brocade, with deep purple color. For processing, cut into thin slices; those with clear patterns and dense quality are best. Finely chop and steam from Si hour (9-11 AM) to Wei hour (1-3 PM), then dry. Moisten thoroughly with winter water, steam again from Wei hour (1-3 PM) to Hai hour (9-11 PM), repeating seven times. Dry, then mix with light honey water and steam for one shichen (2 hours) until the color resembles dark paste. Finally, dry and store. Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix) serves as its guiding herb.
Ancestors said: Da Huang is called the General. A General executes the ruler's orders, quells chaos, and expands territory. Its flavor is extremely bitter, and its qi is extremely cold, seemingly obtaining the true transformation of Cold Water. However, fire rises and manifests as bitterness; bitterness tends to descend, which seems contrary to rising fire. [Missing Name] stated: Five Elements overcome each other, serving as parents to one another. Su Wen says: "Inheritance leads to control; control leads to generation." Thus, the essence of the Five Elements lies in overcoming; the property of descending (like water) is actually the application of rising (fire). Therefore, whenever Heart Fire function fails and difficult diseases arise, without using similar bitter flavors to enter smoothly, its efficacy cannot be manifested. The Heart governs Summer, Hot-Fire, Spirit, Blood Vessels, diseases of the Five Zang Organs, and the Heart-Abdomen region. In the intestines and stomach, or between heart and abdomen, depression of Summer Hot-Fire Qi, knotting of spirit and blood vessels, and retention of blood stasis lead to masses, accumulations, and alternating chills, fever, distension, and fullness. These are all failures of Heart Fire function. Da Huang can purge them, which is called "Pushing Out the Old." Pushing out the old is precisely executing the ruler's order, opening land, pacifying people, and enriching life, which is called "Bringing Forth the New." Bringing forth the new means regulating the middle, transforming food, and harmonizing the Five Zang Organs. A guest asked: Opening land, purging intestines, and benefiting water/grain are governed by the Spleen. Why is this considered exercising Heart Fire function? The answer is: Fire has utility and spirituality...
[Interpretation] Lu Zhiyi states: Da Huang is called the General because it turns danger into safety and death into life. It possesses the substance and function of Earth, expanding its use, with Yellow as its substance. Thus, its movement is pioneering, corresponding to the boundless earth, containing greatness and brilliance. As a formula, it is a Large Formula or Urgent Formula; as a preparation, it is a Unblocking Agent or Purgative. For conditions of accumulation, attachment, stagnation, and obstruction, it exhausts the nature of matter to unblock the physiological pathways.