气味辛平，有毒。主治伤寒寒热，心下坚，胸胀咳逆，头眩，咽喉肿痛，肠鸣，下气
，止汗。
（半夏青齐江浙在处有之。二月生苗，一茎高八九寸，茎端三叶，三三相偶，略似竹叶，
其
根圆白，五月八月采根晒干，不厌陈久。）
《月令》∶五月半夏生，盖当夏之半也。《脉解篇》云∶阳明者，午也。五月盛阳之阴也，
半夏生当夏半，白色味辛，禀阳明燥金之气化。主治伤寒寒热者，辛以散之也。阳明胃络上
通于心，胃络不通于心，则心下坚。胸者，肺之部，阳明金气上合于肺。金气不和于肺，
则
胸胀咳逆。半夏色白属金，主宣达阳明之气，故皆治之。金能制风，故治头眩，以及咽喉肿
痛。燥能胜湿，故治肠鸣之下气而止汗也。
气味苦平，无毒。主治寒热鼠 瘰 ，痈肿恶疮，瘿瘤结热，蛊毒。
（连翘出汴京及河中、江宁、润淄、泽兖、鼎岳、南康诸州皆有之，而以蜀中者为胜。
有大
翘、小翘二种。大翘生下湿地，叶如榆叶，独茎赤色，稍间开花黄色可爱，秋结实，形如莲
，内作房瓣，气甚芳馥，根黄如蒿根。小翘生岗原之上，叶茎花实皆似大翘，但细小耳。实
房黄黑，内含黑子，根名连轺，须知大翘用实不用根，小翘用根不用实。）
连翘味苦性寒，形象心肾，禀少阴之气化。主治寒热鼠 瘰 者，治鼠 瘰 之寒热也。
夫
有内外二因，内因曰鼠 ，外因曰瘰 ，其本在脏，其末在脉。此内因而为水毒之 ，故
曰鼠 也。陷脉为 ，留连肉腠，此外因而寒邪薄于肉腠之 ，故曰瘰 也。是鼠 起于肾
脏之毒，留于心主之血脉。瘰 因天气之寒，伤人身之经脉。连翘形象心肾，故治鼠 瘰
也。痈肿恶疮，肌肉不和。瘿瘤结热，经脉不和。连翘味苦，其气芳香，能通经脉而利肌肉
，故治痈肿恶疮，瘿瘤结热也。受蛊毒者在腹，造毒者在心。苦寒泄心，治造毒之原。芳香
醒脾，治受毒之腹，故又治蛊毒。
《灵枢·寒热论》岐伯曰∶鼠 寒热之毒瓦斯也，留于脉而不去者也。其本在于水脏，故
曰鼠
。上通于心主之脉，颈腋溃烂，故曰 。鼠 寒热之毒瓦斯者，言鼠 水毒而为寒，上合心包
而为热也。主治寒热鼠 者，治鼠 之寒热也。今人不解《本经》，祗事剿袭，以寒热二字
句逗，谓连翘主治寒热，出于神农之言。凡伤寒中风之寒热，一概用之，岂知风寒之寒热起
于皮肤，鼠 之寒热起于血脉，风马牛不相及也。嗟嗟，为医者可不知《内经》乎。《灵枢
》论营卫血气之生始，出入脏腑经脉之交合贯通，乃医家根本之学，浅人视为针经而忽之，
良可惜也。
（李时珍曰∶连翘状似人心，两片合成，其中有仁甚香，乃少阴心经，厥阴包络气分主
药。
诸痛痒疮疡皆属心火，故为十二经疮家圣药，而兼注手足少阳、手阳明之经气分之热也。）
The flavor is pungent and neutral, and it is toxic. It mainly treats chills and fever caused by Shanghan (Cold Damage), hardness below the heart, chest distension, cough with rebellious qi, dizziness, swelling and pain of the throat, borborygmus, descending qi, and stopping sweating.
(Banxia [Pinelliae Rhizoma] grows everywhere in Qingzhou, Qizhou, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. Seedlings emerge in the second lunar month; each stem is eight or nine cun high, with three leaves at the tip, grouped in threes, resembling bamboo leaves. The root is round and white. Roots are harvested in the fifth or eighth lunar months, dried, and stored for a long time to improve efficacy.)
According to *Yueling* (*Monthly Ordinances*), Banxia grows in the fifth lunar month, which corresponds to the middle of summer. The *Maijie Pian* chapter of *Suwen* states: Yangming corresponds to Wu (noon). The fifth lunar month contains Yin within flourishing Yang. Banxia grows at mid-summer; its color is white and flavor is pungent, inheriting the Qi transformation of Yangming Dryness-Metal. Its ability to treat chills and fever from Shanghan is due to the dispersing action of the pungent flavor. The Yangming stomach meridian connects upward to the Heart. If the stomach meridian fails to connect to the Heart, hardness below the heart occurs. The chest is the domain of the Lung, and Yangming Metal Qi combines upward with the Lung. If Metal Qi is disharmonious with the Lung, chest distension and cough with rebellious qi occur. Banxia is white and belongs to Metal; it primarily disseminates and unblocks Yangming Qi, thus treating these conditions. Metal can restrain Wind, so it treats dizziness and swelling/pain of the throat. Dryness can overcome Dampness, so it treats borborygmus, descends Qi, and stops sweating.
The flavor is bitter and neutral, and it is non-toxic. It mainly treats chills and fever, Shuluo (scrofula/lymphatic tuberculosis), carbuncles and malignant sores, Yingliu (goiter) with accumulated heat, and Gu poison (parasitic poisoning).
(Lianqiao [Forsythiae Fructum] is produced in Bianjing, Hezhong, Jiangning, Runzhou, Zizhou, Zezhou, Yanzhou, Dingzhou, Yuezhou, and Nankang. The best quality comes from Shu. There are two types: Daqiao (Large Forsythia) and Xiaoqiao (Small Forsythia). Daqiao grows in low, damp places; its leaves resemble elm leaves, with a single reddish stem. It blooms yellow flowers in between, which are lovely. In autumn, it bears fruit shaped like lotus seeds, with internal chambers/separations, having a very fragrant aroma. The root is yellow like Artemisia roots. Xiaoqiao grows on hills and plains; its leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits resemble Daqiao but are smaller. The fruit chambers are yellow-black, containing black seeds. The root is called Lianyao. Note that Daqiao uses the fruit, not the root; Xiaoqiao uses the root, not the fruit.)
Lianqiao has a bitter flavor and cold nature. Its form resembles the Heart and Kidney, inheriting the Qi transformation of Shaoyin. Its treatment of chills/fever and Shuluo addresses the chills and fever associated with Shuluo.
This condition has internal and external causes. The internal cause is called "Shu" (rat-like abscess/nodule), and the external cause is called "Luo" (scrofula/knot). The root lies in the Zang organs, while the branch lies in the meridians. This internal cause arises from water toxicity, hence called "Shu". Pathogenic factors sinking into meridians become "Luo", lingering in muscle interstices; this external cause involves cold pathogens pressing upon muscle interstices, hence called "Luo". Thus, "Shu" originates from toxicity in the Kidney and remains in the Heart's governing blood vessels. "Luo" results from heavenly cold damaging the body's meridians. Since Lianqiao's form corresponds to the Heart and Kidney, it treats Shuluo. Carbuncles and malignant sores indicate disharmony of muscles. Yingliu with accumulated heat indicates disharmony of meridians. Lianqiao is bitter and aromatic, capable of unblocking meridians and benefiting muscles, thus treating carbuncles, malignant sores, Yingliu, and accumulated heat. Gu poison affecting the abdomen involves toxicity originating in the Heart. Bitter-cold properties drain Heart Fire, treating the source of toxicity. Aromatic properties awaken the Spleen, treating the abdomen affected by poison, thus also treating Gu poison.
In *Lingshu · Hanre Lun*, Qibo stated: Shuluo chills and fever are toxic vapors remaining in the meridians without dissipating. Their root is in the Water Zang (Kidney), hence called "Shu". They connect upward to the Heart Master's meridians, causing ulceration in the neck and axilla, hence called "Luo". "Shuluo chills and fever toxic vapors" refers to the water toxicity of Shuluo being cold, which transforms into heat when combining upward with the Pericardium. Treating chills and fever Shuluo means treating the chills and fever of Shuluo. Modern people do not understand the *Benjing* (*Shennong Bencao Jing*), merely copying others. They punctuate "chills and fever" as separate terms, claiming Lianqiao treats general chills and fever based on Shennong's words. Using it indiscriminately for chills and fever from Shanghan or Zhongfeng ignores that chills/fever from wind-cold arise from the skin, whereas chills/fever from Shuluo arise from blood vessels; they are unrelated. Alas, how can physicians fail to know the *Neijing*? The *Lingshu* discusses the origin of Ying and Wei Qi and Blood/Qi, their entry/exit, and the intersection of Zang-Fu and meridians—this is the fundamental study of medicine. Superficial persons dismiss it as merely an acupuncture classic, which is truly regrettable.
(Li Shizhen said: Lianqiao resembles the human heart, formed by two halves joined together, with a fragrant kernel inside. It is the chief herb for the Qi aspect of the Shaoyin Heart Meridian and Jueyin Pericardium Meridian. All pain, itching, carbuncles, and sores belong to Heart Fire; therefore, it is the sage medicine for carbuncles across the twelve meridians, and additionally clears heat from the Qi aspect of the Hand-Shaoyang, Foot-Shaoyang, and Hand-Yangming meridians.)