宣、散风寒、温行水气、润肾燥。
辛温。散风寒。故诸风痹痛。咳嗽上气。头痛脊强者宜之。（颛治少阴之头痛。）辛散浮
热。
故口疮喉痹。（少阴火。）鼻渊齿 者宜之。（虫蚀脓烂。）水停心下则肾燥。细辛之辛。能行
水气以润之。（肾燥者、心亦躁、火屈于水、故躁也、经曰∶肾苦燥、急食辛以润之。）虽手
少阴引经。（心、）乃足少阴本药。（肾、）能通精气。利九窍。故惊痫耳聋鼻 。（鼻塞不闻
香臭、风寒湿热入于脑、故气不宣通、寒宜表、湿热宜清、有 肉者、为末吹鼻。）风眼泪
下倒睫。大便燥结者宜之。温经发汗。（能发少阴之汗、仲景治少阴证、反发热者、麻黄附
子细辛汤、乃治邪在少阴之表剂。）行血下乳。散结破痰。味浓性烈。不可多用。北产者细
而香。（华阴出者最佳。）南产者。稍大而不香。名土辛。又名马辛。（以其叶似马蹄也。）拣
去双叶者用。恶黄 、山茱萸。畏硝石、滑石。反藜芦。危亦村得效方、暗风卒倒、不省人
事
宣、散郁、通心肾。
苦泄热。温行气。辛散郁。主手少阴。（心、）能通肾气。上达于心。强志益智。聪耳明
目。
利九窍。治迷惑善忘。惊悸不寐。（诸证皆因心肾不交所致。）皮肤中热。肾积奔豚。一切痈
疽。敷服皆效。（缪希雍本草经疏曰∶痈疽皆从七情忧郁恼怒而得、远志辛能散郁。）并善豁
痰。远志交通心肾。并无补性。虚而挟滞者。同养血补气药用。资其宣导。臻于太和。不可
多用独用。纯虚无滞者忌。山西白皮者佳。（山东黑皮者、次之。）去心。甘草水浸一宿用。
畏珍珠、藜芦。得茯苓、龙骨良。叶（名小草）益精补阴气。治虚损梦泄。（可于统柴胡内
拣
出用之。）
To promote circulation, disperse wind-cold, warm and move fluid retention, and moisten Kidney dryness.
Pungent and warm. Disperses wind-cold. Therefore, it is suitable for various wind-bi pain, cough with qi rebellion, headache, and stiffness of the spine and neck. (Specifically treats headaches of the Shaoyin channel.) Its pungency disperses floating heat.
Therefore, it is suitable for mouth ulcers and throat obstruction (Shaoyin fire), nasal sinusitis, and rotting teeth (caused by worms, pus, and decay). When water stagnates under the heart, it leads to Kidney dryness. The pungency of Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma) can move fluid qi to moisten it. (When the Kidney is dry, the Heart is also restless; this is because Fire is constrained by Water, leading to restlessness. The Classic says: "The Kidney suffers from dryness; urgently eat pungent foods to moisten it.") Although it serves as a guiding herb for the Hand-Shaoyin (Heart), it is fundamentally a herb for the Foot-Shaoyin (Kidney). It can unblock essence and qi, benefit the nine orifices. Therefore, it is suitable for fright epilepsy, deafness, nasal congestion (nasal blockage where one cannot smell fragrances or odors, caused by wind-cold-damp-heat entering the brain, leading to blocked qi transmission; cold should be treated with exterior-releasing methods, damp-heat with clearing methods; for polyps, grind into powder and insufflate into the nose), tearing in wind, inverted eyelashes, and dry constipation. It warms the meridians and induces sweating. (It can induce sweating of the Shaoyin channel. Zhang Zhongjing used Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang (Ephedra, Aconite, and Asari Decoction) to treat Shaoyin syndrome with fever, which is an exterior-releasing formula for pathogens in the Shaoyin exterior.) It promotes blood circulation and lactation, dissipates nodules, and breaks down phlegm. Its flavor is rich and nature fierce; it should not be used in large doses. Northern Asari is thin and fragrant. (Those from Huayin are the best.) Southern Asari is slightly larger but not fragrant, known as Tuxin (Earth Asari) or Maxin (Horse Asari) (because its leaves resemble horse hooves). Use those from which double leaves have been removed. It is incompatible with Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) and Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus). It fears Xiaoshi (Natrii Sulfas) and Huashi (Talcum). It is inversely compatible with Lilu (Veratri Radix). Wei Yilin's *Defang* records that for sudden collapse due to hidden wind, loss of consciousness...
To promote circulation, dissipate depression, and connect Heart and Kidney.
Bitter flavor drains heat, warm nature moves qi, pungent flavor dissipates depression. It governs the Hand-Shaoyin (Heart). It can unblock Kidney qi and reach up to the Heart. It strengthens willpower, benefits intelligence, clarifies ears and eyes, and benefits the nine orifices.
It treats confusion and forgetfulness, palpitations, and insomnia. (All these conditions are caused by the failure of communication between Heart and Kidney.) It treats heat in the skin, Renji Ben tun (abdominal mass rising like a bull), and all types of carbuncles and sores; both external application and internal administration are effective. (Miao Xiyong stated in *Bencao Jing Shulou*: "Carbuncles and sores often arise from emotional depression, frustration, and anger; Yuanzhi's pungency can dissipate depression.") It is also good at resolving thick phlegm. Yuanzhi (Polygalae Radix) connects Heart and Kidney but has no tonifying properties. For deficiency patterns accompanied by stagnation, it should be used together with blood-nourishing and qi-tonifying herbs to leverage its promoting and guiding action, achieving supreme harmony. It should not be used in large doses or exclusively. It is contraindicated for pure deficiency without stagnation. White-barked Yuanzhi from Shanxi is superior. (Black-barked Yuanzhi from Shandong is inferior.) Remove the core, soak in Licorice water overnight before use.
It fears Zhenzhu (Pearl) and Lilu (Veratri Radix). It works well with Fuling (Poria) and Longgu (Fossilized Bones). The leaves (named Xiaocao) nourish essence and tonify Yin qi. They treat deficiency damage and nocturnal emissions. (They can be selected from Tong Chaihu [Total Bupleuri Radix] for use.)