通，行血
色赤入营，气温行滞，味酸走肝，而咸走血（《本经》苦寒），入厥阴（心包、肝）血分。
能行血止血（能行故能止。消瘀通经，又能止吐崩尿血），消瘀通经（酒煎一两，通经甚效）。
治风痹黄胆（疸有五∶黄胆、谷疸、酒疸、黄汗疸、女劳疸。此盖蓄血发黄，不专于温
热者也。女劳疸必属肾虚，亦不可以湿热例治。当用四物、知、柏壮其水，参、术培其气，
随证而加利湿清热药），崩运扑损，痔 疮疖。血少者忌用。根可染绛，忌铁。
泻血热，滑肠
甘咸气寒。入厥阴（心包、肝）血分。凉血活血，利九窍，通二便（咸寒性滑）。
治心腹邪气（即热也），水肿五痘， 癣恶疮（血热所致）及痘疮血热毒盛、二便闭涩
者（血热则毒闭，得紫草凉之，则血行而毒出。大便利者忌之。《活幼心书》云∶紫草性寒，
小儿脾实者可用，脾虚者反能作泻。古方惟用茸，取其初得阳气，以类触类，用发痘疮。今
人不达此理，一概用之误矣）。泻者忌用。
去头须，酒洗。
一名紫葳
泻血热
甘酸而寒。入厥阴（心包、肝）血分。能去血中伏火，破血去瘀。
生产乳余疾，崩带症瘕，肠结（不大便）血闭，淋 风痒，血热生风之证。女科多用，
孕妇忌之（《本经》云∶养胎。《经疏》云∶破血之药，非所宜也。肺痈有用之为君药者。凌
霄花为末，和密陀僧唾调，敷酒 甚验）。
藤生，花开五瓣，黄赤有点，不可近鼻，嗅之伤脑。
Qiancao (Radix Rubiae): Possesses the function of promoting blood circulation. Its red color enters the Ying level; its warm temperature moves Qi stagnation; its sour taste enters the Liver meridian, and its salty taste enters the Blood level (*Shennong Bencao Jing* records it as bitter and cold). It enters the Jueyin level (pericardium and liver) blood aspect. It can promote blood circulation and stop bleeding (because it can move stasis, it achieves hemostasis; eliminates blood stasis, regulates menstruation, and also treats hematemesis, metrorrhagia, and hematuria), eliminates blood stasis, and regulates menstruation (decocted with wine, one tael is very effective for regulating menstruation). Treats wind-bi, jaundice (there are five types of jaundice: Huangdan, Gu dan, Jiu dan, Huanghan dan, Nulao dan. This refers to yellowing caused by blood accumulation, not solely due to heat. Nulao dan must belong to Kidney deficiency and cannot be treated as damp-heat. One should use Siwu Tang, Zhimu, and Huangbai to nourish Yin, Renshen and Baizhu to tonify Qi, and add damp-draining and heat-clearing herbs according to symptoms), metrorrhagia, traumatic injuries, hemorrhoids, and sores. Contraindicated in cases of blood deficiency. The root can be used to dye crimson; avoid contact with iron.
Zicao (Radix Arnebiae/Lithospermi): Has the functions of purging blood heat and lubricating the intestines. Sweet and salty, cold in nature. Enters the Jueyin level (pericardium and liver) blood aspect. Cools blood and invigorates blood, unblocks the nine orifices, and promotes urination and defecation (due to its salty-cold and slippery nature). Treats pathogenic factors in the heart and abdomen (i.e., heat), edema, five types of pox, tinea, and malignant sores (caused by blood heat), as well as cases where pox has severe blood heat and toxicity with constipation and urinary retention (blood heat causes toxin blockage; with Zicao's cooling effect, blood circulates and toxins exit. Contraindicated if stools are loose. *Huoyou Xinshu* states: Zicao is cold in nature; it can be used for children with excess Spleen condition, but may cause diarrhea in those with deficient Spleen. Ancient formulas only used the root tips, leveraging their initial acquisition of Yang Qi to induce the eruption of pox. Modern practitioners who do not understand this principle and use it indiscriminately are mistaken.) Contraindicated in diarrhea. Before use, remove the root tip and wash with wine.
Lingxiaohua (Flos Campsis): Also known as Ziwei. Has the function of purging blood heat. Sweet and sour, cold in nature. Enters the Jueyin level (pericardium and liver) blood aspect. Can eliminate latent fire in the blood, break blood stasis, and remove瘀血. Treats postpartum residual disorders, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, mass formations (zhengjia), intestinal obstruction (constipation), blood closure, strangury, wind-induced itching, and conditions where blood heat generates wind. Frequently used in gynecology; contraindicated for pregnant women (*Shennong Bencao Jing* says it nourishes the fetus. *Jingshu* argues: it is a blood-breaking herb, unsuitable for pregnancy. There are cases where it is used as the chief herb for lung abscess. Lingxiaohua powder mixed with Miduoseng and saliva, applied topically, is very effective.) It is a vine; flowers have five petals, yellow and red with spots. Do not bring close to the nose; inhaling it harms the brain.