泻肝胆火，下焦湿热
大苦大寒，沉阴下行。益肝胆而泻火（相火寄于肝胆，有泻无补，泻其邪热，即所以补
火也），兼入膀胱、肾经。除下焦之湿热，与防己同功。酒浸亦能外行、上行。
治骨间寒热（肾主骨），惊痫邪气（肝经风火），时气温热，热痢疸黄、寒湿香港脚（足伤
湿热，则成香港脚。肿而痛者，为湿香港脚，宜清热利湿搜风。又有挛缩枯细，痛而不肿者，名
干香港脚，宜养血润燥），咽喉风热，赤睛 肉（泻肝胆火，能明目。元素曰∶柴胡为主，龙
胆为使，目疾要药。昂按∶若目疾初起，宜发散，忌用寒凉），痈疽疮疥。过服损胃。
甘草水浸一宿，曝用。小豆、贯众为使。忌地黄。
泻肝，散郁火
咸寒，色青泻肝。散五脏郁火，解中、下焦蓄蕴风热（《衍义》曰∶一妇患脐、腹、二
阴遍生湿疮，热痒而痛，出黄汁，二便涩。用鳗鲡、松脂、黄丹之类涂之，热痛愈甚。其妇
嗜酒，喜食鱼、虾发风之物。乃用马齿苋四两研烂，入青黛一两和涂，热痛皆去，仍服八正
散而愈。此中、下焦蓄蕴风热。毒瓦斯若不出，当作肠风、内痔。妇不能禁酒物，果仍发痔）
。
治伤寒发斑，吐咯血痢（阴虚火炎者忌用。合杏仁研，置柿饼中煨食，名圣饼子，治咯
血）。小儿惊痫，疳热丹热，敷痈疮、蛇犬毒。
即靛花。取娇碧者，水飞净用（内多锻石，故须淘净）。
[Longdancao (Gentianae Radix)]
Purges Liver and Gallbladder fire, drains damp-heat from the Lower Jiao.
Extremely bitter and extremely cold in nature, heavy and sinking, moving downward. It benefits the Liver and Gallbladder while purging fire (Xianghuo [Ministerial Fire] resides in the Liver and Gallbladder; this organ system is treated by purging rather than tonifying; purging its pathogenic heat is equivalent to tonifying the fire), and also enters the Bladder and Kidney meridians. It eliminates damp-heat in the Lower Jiao, with effects similar to Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix). When soaked in wine, it can also move outward and upward.
Treats chills and fever between the bones (the Kidneys govern the bones), convulsions, epilepsy, and pathogenic influences (due to Wind-Fire in the Liver meridian), seasonal warm-heat diseases, heat-toxin dysentery, jaundice, and Hongjiaojiao [Hongjiaojiao refers to gout or rheumatic arthritis of the foot caused by damp-heat] (injury of the feet by damp-heat leads to Hongjiaojiao. Those that are swollen and painful are called Wet Hongjiaojiao, suitable for clearing heat, promoting urination to drain dampness, and searching out wind; those that are contracted, shriveled, thin, painful but not swollen are called Dry Hongjiaojiao, suitable for nourishing blood and moistening dryness), wind-heat in the throat, red eyes with nebula (purging Liver and Gallbladder fire can brighten the eyes. Li Dongyuan stated: Chaihu [Bupleuri Radix] as the chief herb, Longdancao as the assistant herb, is a key medicine for eye diseases. Wang Ang notes: If eye disease is in its initial stage, dispersal is indicated, and cold-cooling herbs should be avoided), carbuncles, ulcers, sores, and scabies. Overconsumption damages the Stomach Qi.
Soak in Licorice water (Gancao Shui) overnight, then dry in the sun. Use with Adzuki Bean (Xiaodou) and Zhuguanzhong (Zhuguanzhong Herba) as guiding herbs. Avoid using with Rehmannia Root (Dihuang).
[Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis)]
Purges the Liver, dissipates stagnant fire.
Salty and cold in nature, green in color, enters the Liver to purge it. It dissipates stagnant fire in the Five Viscera, and resolves Wind-Heat accumulated and harbored in the Middle and Lower Jiao (Bencao Yanyi records: A woman suffered from wet sores all over her umbilicus, abdomen, and both yin organs, with heat, itching, pain, and discharge of yellow fluid, along with difficult urination and defecation. She applied Eel [Manli], Pine Resin [Songzhi], and Red Lead [Huandan], but the heat and pain worsened. The woman was fond of alcohol and liked to eat fish and shrimp, which are wind-inducing foods. Therefore, four taels of Purslane [Machixian] were mashed, mixed with one tael of Qingdai, and applied topically. The heat and pain disappeared completely, and she recovered after taking Baze San [Eight-Positive Powder]. This indicates Wind-Heat accumulated in the Middle and Lower Jiao. If the toxic qi does not exit, it may develop into Changfeng [Intestinal Wind] or internal hemorrhoids. The woman could not abstain from alcohol and food, and indeed her hemorrhoids recurred).
Treats macules caused by Cold Damage (Shanghan), hematemesis, hemoptysis, and bloody dysentery (Contraindicated in cases of Yin deficiency with flaming fire. Mix with Almond [Xingren], place inside a persimmon cake, bake, and eat; named Shengbingzi [Holy Cake], treats hemoptysis). Treats pediatric convulsions and epilepsy, malnutrition fever, erysipelas fever; apply topically for carbuncles, sores, snake bites, and dog bite toxins.
Qingdai is the flower of Indigofera tinctoria. Select those with a delicate blue-green color, wash cleanly using the water-flying method (it contains much calcined stone, so it must be washed clean).