古名通草
〔害〕苦降淡渗利窍。凡精滑不固，梦遗及阳虚气弱，内无湿热者均忌，妊娠尤忌。
〔利〕辛甘淡平，入心肺小肠膀胱，泻湿热，降心火，清肺热，化津液，下通大小肠，
导诸
湿热由小便出。通血脉，下乳行经，催生坠胎。防己苦寒，泻血分湿热；木通甘淡，泻气分
湿热。君火为邪，宜用木通；相火为邪，宜用泽泻；利水虽同，所用各别。又治胸中烦热，
大渴引饮，淋沥不通，脾热好眠。
〔修治〕正二月采枝阴干，洗切片用，又与琥珀同功，但能泄热，不能通瘀。
〔害〕镇养心神，但宜生使，若经伏火，及一切烹炼，则毒等砒 ，服之必毙，戒之。
独用
多用，令人呆闷。畏盐水，恶磁石，忌一切血。若火炼，则有毒，服饵常杀人。须细水飞三
次。
〔利〕甘凉、体阳性阴，泻心经热邪，镇心定惊，辟邪，清肝明目，祛风，解毒。胎毒
痘毒
宜之，色赤属火，性反凉者，离中虚有阴也。味甘者，火中有土也。
〔修治〕辰产明如箭镞者良，研末。
〔害〕大寒之性，非大热者不可滥用。凡痘疮气虚，无火热者，不宜用。伤寒斑疹，阴
症发
躁，因阴寒在内，逼其浮阳外越，失守之火，聚于胸中，上冲咽嗌，故面赤、手温、烦呕，
喜饮凉物，下食良久后出；惟脉沉细、足冷，虽渴而饮水不多，且复吐出，为异于阳症耳，
不宜误用。犀角凉剂，孕妇服之，能消胎气。忌盐，升麻为使。
〔利〕苦酸咸寒凉心、泻肝、清胃中大热，祛风、利痰，凉血、辟邪解毒、明目、定惊，
治吐血下血畜血，发狂发斑，痘疮黑陷，消痈化脓。又云∶犀食百草之毒，故能解毒。
〔修治〕犀角有黑白二种，以西番生犀黑者，锉屑绵包，或磨汁，用入丸散，乌而光润
者良
。角尖尤胜。鹿取茸，犀取角尖，现成器物，多已被蒸煮，不堪入药。入汤剂当以绵薄纸裹
，于怀中蒸燥乘热捣之，应手如粉，又云∶人气粉犀。
[Mutong (Akebiae Caulis)]
In ancient times, it was called Tongcao.
[Harm] Its nature is bitter in descending and bland in percolating, benefiting the orifices. It is contraindicated for anyone with seminal emission due to insecurity, nocturnal emission, yang deficiency with qi weakness, or those lacking damp-heat internally; pregnant women are especially cautioned against its use.
[Benefits] Its nature is pungent, sweet, bland, and neutral. It enters the Heart, Lung, Small Intestine, and Bladder meridians. It drains damp-heat, descends Heart fire, clears Lung heat, transforms body fluids, and unblocks the Large and Small Intestines downwards. It guides various damp-heat pathogens out through urination. It unblocks blood vessels, promotes lactation, regulates menstruation, induces labor, and aborts fetuses. Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Rhizoma) is bitter and cold, draining damp-heat from the Blood level; Mutong is sweet and bland, draining damp-heat from the Qi level. If the Ministerial Fire (Xianghuo) is pathogenic, Ze Xie (Alismatis Rhizoma) is appropriate; if the Sovereign Fire (Junhuo) is pathogenic, Mutong is appropriate. Although both promote diuresis, their applications differ. Additionally, it treats vexing heat in the chest, extreme thirst with desire to drink, dribbling dysuria, and somnolence due to Spleen heat.
[Processing] Branches are harvested in the first and second lunar months, dried in the shade, washed, sliced, and used. It shares similar functions with Hupo (Succinum), but can only drain heat and cannot resolve stasis.
[Chensha (Cinnabaris)]
[Harm] It calms and nourishes the Shen (Spirit). It should only be used raw. If calcined by "hidden fire" or subjected to any cooking/refining processes, its toxicity becomes equivalent to Pishuang (Arsenic Trioxide); ingestion will cause death. Caution is advised. Independent use in large doses causes mental dullness and oppression. It fears saline water, clashes with Cishi (Magnetitum), and is incompatible with all blood products. Calcination renders it toxic, and ingestion often leads to death. It must be levigated three times with fine water.
[Benefits] Its taste is sweet and cool. Its substance is Yang in nature but Yin in function. It drains Heat pathogens from the Heart meridian, calms the Heart, settles fright, expels evil influences, clears the Liver, brightens the eyes, dispels wind, and resolves toxicity. It is suitable for fetal toxins and smallpox toxins. Its red color belongs to Fire, yet its nature is cool, indicating Yin within the Li trigram (Fire). Its sweet taste indicates Earth within Fire.
[Processing] Those produced in Chenzhou that are bright like arrowheads are superior; they are ground into powder.
[Xijiao (Rhinocerotis Cornu)]
[Harm] Its nature is extremely cold; it must not be used indiscriminately unless there is severe Heat. It is unsuitable for cases of chickenpox/smallpox with Qi deficiency and no signs of Fire/Heat. In Shanghan (Cold Damage) with macules and papules, irritability arising from Yin syndromes occurs because internal Yin-Cold forces floating Yang outward. The unanchored Fire gathers in the chest, rushes up to the throat, causing red face, warm hands, vexation, vomiting, and a preference for cold drinks, with food remaining undigested for a long time before being vomited. Only when the pulse is deep and thin, feet are cold, thirst is present but drinking is limited, and vomitus follows shortly after drinking—indicating a deviation from Yang syndromes—should one avoid misusing this herb. As a cooling agent, Xijiao consumed by pregnant women can dissipate fetal Qi. Salt is contraindicated; Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) acts as an guiding drug.
[Benefits] Its taste is bitter, sour, salty, and cold. It cools the Heart, drains the Liver, clears excessive Heat in the Stomach, dispels wind, benefits phlegm resolution, cools blood, expels evil influences, resolves toxicity, brightens the eyes, and settles fright. It treats hematemesis, hematochezia, blood stasis, mania, rash eruption, blackening and involution of smallpox lesions, and reduces carbuncles while resolving pus. It is also said: Rhinoceros consumes the toxins of hundreds of herbs, thus it can resolve toxicity.
[Processing] There are two types: black and white. Black rhino horn from Western Regions (Xifan) is best. It is shaved into flakes, wrapped in silk, or ground into juice for use in pills and powders. Those that are black and lustrous are preferred. The tip of the horn is particularly effective. Deer antlers are taken for their velvet, while rhino horns take the tip. Ready-made artifacts are mostly steamed or boiled and are unsuitable for medicinal use. When decocting, wrap the horn in thin silk paper, steam it dry in one's bosom, and crush it while hot until it turns to powder easily. It is also said: Human breath/qi can turn rhino horn into powder.