宣、散结清火、润肺、化燥痰。
甘微寒。泻心火。辛散肺郁。（入肺经气分、心火降则肺气宁、诗曰∶言采其虻、虻、
即
贝母也、取其解郁。）润心肺。化燥痰。治虚劳烦热。咳嗽上气。吐血咯血。肺痿肺痈。喉
痹
（小肠邪热、心与小肠相为表里、肺为气化之源。）瘿瘤。（化痰
。）乳闭。产难。功专散结除热。敷恶疮。敛疮口。（火降邪散、疮口自敛、非贝母性敛也。
）能入肺治燥。非脾家所喜。汪机曰∶俗以半夏燥毒、代以贝母、不知贝母寒润、主肺家燥
痰、半夏温燥、主脾家湿痰、何可代也、故凡风寒湿热诸痰、贝母非所宜也、宜用半夏南星
。）川产最佳。圆正底平。开瓣味甘。象山贝母。体坚味苦。去时感风痰。土贝母。形大味
苦。治外科证痰毒。俱去心捣用。浓朴、白薇为使。畏秦艽。反乌头。
泻热凉血。
苦坚肾。寒凉血。入阳明血分。（胃、大肠。）治热毒下痢。（仲景治热痢、有白头翁汤、
合
黄连黄柏秦皮、东垣曰∶肾欲坚、急食苦以坚之、痢则下焦虚、故以纯苦之剂坚之。）温疟
寒
热。齿痛骨痛。（肾主齿骨、龈属阳明。）鼻衄秃疮。瘰 疝瘕。血痔偏坠。（捣敷患处。）明
目消疣。血分无热者忌。药肆中多于统柴胡内拣出用之。然必头上有白毛者方真。得酒良。
Promote diffusion, dissipate nodules, clear heat, moisten the lungs, and resolve dry phlegm.
Sweet and slightly cold. Purges Heart Fire. Acrid nature disperses Lung Qi stagnation. (Enters the Qi level of the Lung Meridian; when Heart Fire descends, Lung Qi becomes tranquil. The *Classic of Poetry* states: "Gathering its bumblebees," where 'bumblebee' refers to Fritillariae Bulbus [Beimu], utilizing its ability to relieve stagnation.) Moistens the Heart and Lungs. Resolves dry phlegm. Treats deficiency-type labor with vexatious heat. Cough with rebellious Qi. Hematemesis and hemoptysis. Fei Wei [Lung Atrophy] and Fei Yong [Lung Abscess]. Hou Bi [Sore Throat] (Small Intestine pathogenic heat; Heart and Small Intestine are exterior-interior partners; Lung is the source of Qi transformation.) Ying Liu [Goiter]. (Resolves phlegm.) Ru Bi [Breast Obstruction/Agalactia]. Chan Nan [Difficult Labor]. Its efficacy specializes in dissipating nodules and removing heat. Applied externally for E Chuang [Malignant Sores]. Heals wound openings. (When fire descends and pathogens disperse, wounds heal naturally; this is not due to Beimu possessing astringent properties itself.) It enters the Lung to treat dryness but is not favored by the Spleen system. Wang Ji stated: Common practice substitutes the drying toxicity of Banxia [Pinelliae Rhizoma] with Beimu [Fritillariae Bulbus], unaware that Beimu is cold and moistening, primarily treating Lung dry-phlegm, whereas Banxia is warm and drying, primarily treating Spleen damp-phlegm. How can they be substituted? Therefore, for all types of phlegm caused by wind-cold, damp-heat, etc., Beimu is unsuitable; Banxia [Pinelliae Rhizoma] and Tian Nan Xing [Arisaematis Rhizoma] should be used.) Sichuan-produced varieties are best. Round and regular with a flat base, opening into lobes with a sweet taste. Xiangshan Beimu [Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus] is hard in texture and bitter in taste, used for wind-phlegm contracted during harvest. Tu Beimu [Bolbostemmae Rhizoma] is large in shape and bitter in taste, used for external surgical conditions involving phlegm-toxins. All require removal of the heart core and pounding before use. Mulan [Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex] and Baiwei [Clehorneae Radix] act as guiding herbs. Incompatible with Qin Jiao [Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix]. Counteractive with Wu Tou [Aconiti Radix].
Purges heat, cools blood.
Bitter flavor solidifies the Kidney. Cold nature cools blood. Enters the Blood level of the Yangming system. (Stomach, Large Intestine.) Treats dysentery caused by heat toxins. (Zhang Zhongjing treated heat dysentery with Baitouweng Tang [Pulsatillae Decoction], combined with Huanglian [Coptidis Rhizoma], Huangbai [Phellodendri Cortex], and Qinpi [Fraxini Cortex]. Li Dongyuan stated: The Kidney desires firmness; urgently eat bitter substances to solidify it. Dysentery involves deficiency in the Lower Jiao, thus pure bitter agents are used to solidify it.) Wen Nue [Warm Malaria] with alternating chills and fever. Chi Tong [Toothache] and Gu Tong [Bone Pain]. (Kidney governs teeth and bones; gums belong to Yangming.) Bi Nu [Epistaxis] and Tu Chuang [Scalp Ringworm/Tinea Capitis]. Luo Li [Scrofula], Shan Xia [Hernia and Masses]. Xue Zhi [Blood Hemorrhoids] and Pian Zhui [Inguinal Hernia/Ptosis]. (Pound and apply locally.) Brightens eyes and eliminates warts. Contraindicated for those without heat in the Blood level. In medicine shops, it is often picked out from Tong Chaihu [Bupleuri Radix mixtures] for use. However, only those with white hairs on the head are genuine. Best when processed with wine.