〔害〕其性冷而滑利，痘家惟宜血热便闭之症，若气虚色白，大便自利，或泄泻者，切
勿妄
投。痧疹不忌，泄泻用之不妨，痈疽已溃，非便闭亦不宜服。
〔利〕辛苦而寒，泻热散结除风，宣肺气，清咽喉，理痰嗽，通行诸经，开毛窍除热毒，
散
诸肿疮疡为痘疹要药。
〔修治〕七月采子，十月采根。凡用子，拣净以酒拌蒸，待有白霜重出，以布拭去，焙
干
捣粉。用根，以竹刀刮去土，生布拭了，捣绞取汁用。
〔害〕性温有毒，而沉坠降止，散肺经风寒滞气殊效，第有湿痰者勿服，以其性润，阴
虚咳
嗽便闭，肺家虚有热痰者忌。风寒外邪，非壅逆肺分，咳嗽气急者不得用。双仁者有毒杀人
。
〔利〕苦甘辛温，泻肺气之逆，而平喘咳，润大肠之燥，面通气秘，散肺经风寒滞气，
故能
解肌涤烦热，而降气行痰。余功消积，消狗肉，制锡毒。
巴旦杏仁（即甜杏仁）甘平温，止咳下气，消心腹逆闷。
〔修治〕南苦杏，北甜杏，皆五月采之。凡用汤浸去皮尖炒黄，或用面麸炒过研，治风
寒肺
病药中，亦有连皮尖用者，取其发散也。千金云∶杏仁作汤，如白沫不解者，食之令气壅身
热，汤浸隔宿者，动冷气。
〔害〕此散有余邪热实痰之药，不可施之少血气虚之病。凡阴虚火炽，煎熬真阴，凝结
为痰
，而发咳嗽，真虚而气不归元，以致胸胁逆满，头疼不因于痰，而由阴血虚，内热心烦，外
现寒热，而非实热，与外感者均忌。
〔利〕苦甘辛寒，入肺、脾、肝、膀胱四经。宣散风寒而解表，下气降火以消痰。前胡
主降
，柴胡上升，性有不同。前胡治风痰，与半夏治湿痰，贝母治燥痰者各别。
[Niubangzi (Arctii Fructus)]
[Harm] Its nature is cold and slippery. For patients with smallpox (variola), it is only suitable for symptoms of blood heat accompanied by fecal impaction. If the patient has Qi deficiency with a pale complexion, normal bowel movements, or diarrhea, it must not be administered recklessly. It is not contraindicated for exanthematous diseases (such as measles); however, if diarrhea is present, its use is permissible. For carbuncles and sores that have already ulcerated, it should not be taken unless there is fecal impaction.
[Benefit] Niubangzi is pungent, bitter, and cold. It purges heat, dissipates nodules, dispels wind, diffuses Lung Qi, clears the throat, regulates phlegm-cough, circulates through all meridians, opens the hair follicles to remove heat-toxin, and dissipates various swellings and sores. It is an essential herb for treating smallpox.
[Processing] Collect the fruits in July and the roots in October. When using the fruits, select them clean, mix with wine, steam until white frost reappears on the surface, wipe off with cloth, dry by baking, and grind into powder. When using the roots, scrape off the soil with a bamboo knife, wipe clean with raw cloth, crush, and extract the juice for use.
[Xingren (Prunus Armeniacae Semen)]
[Harm] Xingren is warm and slightly toxic. Its nature is heavy and descending, effectively stopping asthma and dispersing Wind-Cold stagnant Qi in the Lung meridian. However, it should not be used by patients with damp-phlegm due to its moistening nature. It is contraindicated for Yin deficiency cough with constipation and for those with Lung deficiency involving hot-phlegm. It should not be used for external Wind-Cold pathogens unless there is Lung Qi obstruction leading to cough and rapid breathing. Almonds with two kernels are toxic and can cause death.
[Benefit] Xingren is bitter, sweet, pungent, and warm. It descends rebellious Lung Qi, calms wheezing and cough, moistens intestinal dryness, alleviates facial edema and Qi stagnation, and disperses Wind-Cold stagnant Qi in the Lung meridian. Thus, it can release the muscle layer, clear vexatious heat, descend Qi, and move phlegm. Other functions include resolving accumulation, digesting dog meat, and neutralizing tin toxicity. Badam Xingren (i.e., Sweet Almond) is sweet, neutral, and warm; it stops cough, directs Qi downward, and resolves chest and abdominal fullness/rebellion.
[Processing] Bitter almonds come from the South, and sweet almonds from the North; both are harvested in May. Generally, they are soaked in water, skin and tips removed, stir-fried until yellow, or stir-fried with bran and then ground. In formulas treating Wind-Cold Lung diseases, some use the skin and tips together to enhance their dispersing action. *Qianjin Fang* states: If almond decoction does not dissolve into a white foam, consuming it will cause Qi stagnation and body heat. If soaked in water overnight, it may induce cold Qi.
[Qianhu (Peucedani Radix)]
[Harm] Qianhu is an herb that disperses excess pathogenic heat and solid phlegm. It should not be applied to conditions characterized by scanty blood and Qi deficiency. It is contraindicated in cases of Yin deficiency with blazing fire that consumes true Yin, condensing into phlegm and causing cough; or when true Qi is deficient and fails to return to its origin, resulting in rebellion and fullness in the chest and hypochondrium. Headaches not caused by phlegm but by Yin-blood deficiency, internal heat, vexation, and exterior manifestations of alternating chills and fever (non-solid heat or unrelated to external contraction) are also contraindications.
[Benefit] Qianhu is bitter, sweet, pungent, and cold. It enters the Lung, Spleen, Liver, and Bladder meridians. It diffuses and disperses Wind-Cold to release the exterior, descends Qi, and reduces fire to eliminate phlegm. Qianhu primarily directs Qi downward, whereas Chaihu ascends; their natures differ. Qianhu treats Wind-phlegm, distinct from Banxia which treats Damp-phlegm, and Bei Mu which treats Dry-phlegm.