通，利水，破血
苦寒。降心火，利小肠，逐膀胱邪热，为治淋要药（故八正散用之。五淋大抵皆属湿热
，热淋宜八正及山栀、滑石之类；血淋宜小蓟、牛膝；膏肾虚淋宜补肾，不可独泻；老人气
虚者，宜参、术兼木通、山栀；亦有痰滞中焦作淋者，宜行痰兼通利药，最忌发汗，汗之必
便血）。破血利窍，决痈消肿，明目去翳，通经堕胎。性利善下，虚者慎用（寇宗 曰∶心
经虽有热，而小肠虚者服之，则心热未清，而小肠别作病矣）。
花大如钱，红白斑斓，色甚斌媚，俗呼洛阳花。用蕊、壳。丹皮为使。恶螵蛸（产后淋
当去血，瞿麦、蒲黄皆为要药）。
一名扁竹
通淋
苦平。杀虫疥，利小便。治黄胆热淋，蛔咬腹痛，虫蚀下部（煮服）。
叶细如竹，弱茎蔓引，促节有粉，三月开红花。
通，活血，消肿
苦温。疏气活血。治风劳腹痛，妊娠水肿（有天仙藤散，专治水肿）。
叶似葛，圆而小，有白毛，根有须，四时不凋（一云即青木香藤）。
通，利水，补阴
甘苦气寒。益精强阴，入膀胱，除虚热，利小便而通淋（时珍曰∶无阴则阳无以化，亦
犹东垣治小便不通，用知、柏滋肾之意。王节斋曰∶小便不禁或频数，古方多以为寒，而用
温涩之药。殊不知属热者多，盖膀胱火邪妄动，水不得宁，故不能禁而频数也。故老人多频
数，是膀胱血少，阳火偏旺也。治法当补膀胱阴血，泻火邪为主，而佐以收涩之剂，如牡蛎
、山茱、五味之类，不可独用。病本属热，故宜泻火。因水不足，故火动而致便数，小便既
多，水益虚矣，故宜补血。补血泻火，治其本也。收之涩之，治其标也）。
治 疝，散恶疮（煎汤，洗疮疥良）。叶作浴汤，去皮肤风热丹肿，洗眼除雀盲涩痛。
叶如蒿，茎赤，子类蚕砂。恶螵蛸。
Qu Mai (Dianthus superbus): Possesses the effects of promoting unobstructed flow, promoting urination, and breaking blood stasis.
Bitter in flavor, cold in nature. It descends Heart Fire, benefits the Small Intestine, expels pathogenic heat from the Bladder, and is a crucial herb for treating Lin syndrome (dysuria). Therefore, it is used in Bazen San (Eight-Right Decoction). The five types of Lin syndrome generally belong to damp-heat. For Re Lin (Heat Dysuria), Bazhen San along with Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus) and Huashi (Talcum) are suitable; for Xue Lin (Blood Dysuria), Xiaojishao (Cirsii Herba) and Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) are suitable; for Gao Lin (Chylous Dysuria) and Shenxu Lin (Kidney Deficiency Dysuria), tonifying the Kidney is suitable, and purgatives should not be used alone; for elderly patients with Qi deficiency, Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) combined with Mutong (Akebiae Caulis) and Zhizi are suitable; there are also cases where Phlegm stagnation in the Middle Jiao causes Lin syndrome, which requires phlegm-resolving and diuretic herbs. Sweating is strictly contraindicated; inducing sweating will inevitably lead to hematuria. It breaks blood stasis, opens orifices, resolves carbuncles and reduces swelling, brightens the eyes and removes nebula, promotes menstruation, and induces abortion. Its nature is slippery and tends to descend downward; those with deficiency should use it with caution. (Kou Zongsu stated: Although the Heart Meridian may have heat, if taken by those with Small Intestine deficiency, the Heart heat will not clear, and the Small Intestine will develop other diseases.)
The flower is as large as a coin, with red and white spots, very beautiful in color, commonly called Luoyang Hua. The stamen and calyx are used. Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex) is used as an guiding herb. Contraindicated with Piaoxiao (Sepiae Endoconcha). (For postpartum Lin syndrome, blood stasis should be removed; Qu Mai and Puhuang (Lygodii Spora) are both important herbs.)
Di Fu Zi (Kochiae Fructus): Also known as Bian Zhu. Possesses the effect of promoting unobstructed flow in dysuria.
Bitter in flavor, neutral in nature. It kills parasites and treats scabies, promotes urination. It treats jaundice, heat dysuria, abdominal pain caused by roundworm biting, and lower body erosion by parasites (taken boiled).
Leaves are thin like bamboo, stems are weak and climbing, nodes are short and powdery, flowers open red in March.
Bian Xu (Polygoni Avicularis Herba): Possesses the effects of promoting unobstructed flow, invigorating blood, and reducing swelling.
Bitter in flavor, warm in nature. It soothes Qi circulation and invigorates blood. It treats wind-lao abdominal pain and edema during pregnancy (there is Tianxian Teng San, specifically for treating edema).
Leaves resemble Kudzu leaves, round and small, with white hairs, roots have tendrils, evergreen throughout the year (some say it is Qingmuxiang Teng).
Che Qian Zi (Plantaginis Semen): Possesses the effects of promoting unobstructed flow, promoting urination, and nourishing Yin.
Sweet and bitter in flavor, cold in nature. It benefits essence and strengthens Yin, enters the Bladder meridian, clears deficient heat, promotes urination, and relieves dysuria. (Li Shizhen said: Without Yin, Yang cannot transform; this is similar to Dongyuan's treatment of urinary retention using Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) and Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) to nourish the Kidney. Wang Jiezhai said: Incontinence or frequency of urination was often considered cold in ancient formulas, treated with warming and astringent herbs. However, it is unknown that most cases belong to heat. This is because Bladder fire evil moves recklessly, water cannot remain peaceful, thus it cannot be retained and becomes frequent. Therefore, the elderly often have frequency, which is due to Bladder blood deficiency and hyperactive Yang fire. The treatment method should focus on tonifying Bladder Yin and blood, clearing fire evil, assisted by astringent agents such as Muli (Concha Ostreae), Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus), and Wuweizi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus), and should not be used alone. Since the disease root belongs to heat, clearing fire is appropriate. Due to water insufficiency, fire moves causing frequency; since urine is abundant, water becomes more deficient, thus tonifying blood is appropriate. Tonifying blood and clearing fire treats the root. Astringing treats the branch.)
It treats hernia and disperses malignant sores (decocted soup washes sores and scabies effectively). Leaves made into bath water remove skin wind-heat and erysipelas swelling; washing eyes removes bird blindness and astringent pain.
Leaves resemble Mugwort, stems are reddish, seeds resemble silkworm feces. Contraindicated with Piaoxiao.