气味辛平，无毒。主除脾胃寒热，通利九窍血脉关节，令人不忘，去恶虫。
（木通《本经》名通草，茎中有细孔，吹之两头皆通，故名通草。除士良撰《食性本草》
改为木通，今药中复有所谓通草，乃是古之通脱木也，与此不同。始出石城山谷及山阳，今
泽潞、汉中、江淮、湖南州郡皆有，绕树藤生，伤之有白汁出，一枝五叶，茎色黄白，干有
小大，伤水则黑，黑者勿用。）
木通藤蔓空通，其色黄白，气味辛平，禀土金相生之气化，而通关利窍之药也。禀土气，
故
除脾胃之寒热。藤蔓空通，故通利九窍、血脉、关节。血脉通而关窍利，则令人不忘。禀金
气，故去恶虫。
防己、木通皆属空通蔓草。防己取用在下之根，则其性自下而上，从内而外。木通取用
在上
之茎，则其性自上而下，自外而内，此根升梢降，一定不易之理。后人用之，主利小便，须
知小便不利，亦必上而后下，外而后内也。
气味甘辛平，无毒。主治消渴，身大热，呕吐，诸痹，起阴气，解诸毒。
（葛处处有之，江浙尤多，春生苗，延引藤蔓，其根大如手臂，外色紫黑，内色洁白，
可作粉食，其花红紫，结实如黄豆荚，其仁如梅核，生嚼腥气。《本经》所谓葛谷者是也。）
葛根延引藤蔓，则主经脉，甘辛粉白，则入阳明，皮黑花红，则合太阳，故葛根为宣达
阳明中土之气，而外合于太阳经脉之药也。主治消渴身大热者，从胃府而宣达水谷之津，则
消渴自
止，从经脉而调和肌表之气，则大热自除。治呕吐者，和阳明之胃气也，治诸痹者，和太阳
之经脉也。起阴气者，藤引蔓延，从下而上也，解诸毒者，气味甘辛，和于中而散于外也。
元人张元素曰∶葛根为阳明仙药，若太阳初病，未入阳明，而头痛者，不可便用升麻、
葛根
，用之反引邪入阳明，为引贼破家也。愚按∶仲祖《伤寒论》方有葛根汤，治太阳病，项背
强几几，无汗，恶风。又治太阳与阳明合病。若阳明本病，只有白虎、承气诸汤，并无葛根
汤证，况葛根主宣通经脉之正气以散邪，岂反引邪内入耶。前人学不明经，屡为异说。李时
珍一概收录，不加辩证，学人看本草发明，当合经论参究，庶不为前人所误。
（卢子由曰∶《本经》痹字与风寒湿相合之痹不同，如消渴、身热、呕吐及阴气不起，
与诸毒皆痹也，故云诸痹。）
The flavor is pungent and neutral, non-toxic. It primarily eliminates cold and heat in the Spleen and Stomach, unblocks the nine orifices, blood vessels, and joints, enhances memory, and expels harmful parasites.
(Mutong [Akebiae Caulis], known as Tongcao [Tetrapanacis Medulla] in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*, has stems with fine pores that allow air to pass through both ends when blown into, hence the name "Tongcao." Later, Shiliang changed the name to Mutong in his *Shixing Bencao*. The current medicinal material also referred to as Tongcao is actually the ancient Tongtuomu [Tetrapanacis Cortex], which is different from this Mutong. It originally grew in the valleys of Shicheng and Shanyang. Now it is found in Zelu, Hanzhong, Jianghuai, and various prefectures in Hunan. It grows as a vine winding around trees; when injured, white juice exudes. Each branch has five leaves, the stem is yellowish-white, varying in thickness. If exposed to water dampness, it turns black; those that are black should not be used.)
Mutong's vines are hollow and patent, its color is yellowish-white, and its flavor is pungent and neutral. It inherits the generative qi transformation of Earth generating Metal, making it a herb that opens passages and benefits orifices. Inheriting Earth qi, it eliminates cold and heat in the Spleen and Stomach. Because the vines are hollow and patent, it unblocks the nine orifices, blood vessels, and joints. When blood vessels are unblocked and orifices are free, one does not forget. Inheriting Metal qi, it expels harmful parasites.
Fangji [Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix] and Mutong both belong to hollow, patent creeping herbs. Fangji uses the lower root, so its nature moves upward from below and outward from within. Mutong uses the upper stem, so its nature moves downward from above and inward from outside. This principle of roots ascending and tips descending is fixed and unchangeable. Later practitioners use it mainly to promote urination. One must understand that difficulty in urination also follows the pattern of moving from upper to lower and from outside to inside.
The flavor is sweet, pungent, and neutral, non-toxic. It treats thirst (Xiaoke), severe body heat, vomiting, various Bi syndromes, raises Yin qi, and resolves various toxins.
(Gegen [Puerariae Lobatae Radix] is found everywhere, especially abundant in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Sprouts emerge in spring, extending vines. The root is as thick as an arm, with purple-black outer skin and pure white interior, which can be made into powder for food. The flowers are red-purple, the fruits resemble soybean pods, and the kernels resemble plum pits. Chewing raw yields a fishy smell. This is what the *Shennong Bencao Jing* refers to as Gegu [Puerariae Semen].)
Gegen extends vines, thus governing the meridians. Sweet and pungent with powdery white flesh, it enters the Yangming channel. Black skin and red flowers correspond to the Taiyang channel. Therefore, Gegen is a herb that disseminates the Qi of the Central Earth of the Yangming and externally harmonizes with the Taiyang meridian. It treats thirst and severe heat by disseminating the fluids of food and drink from the Stomach Fu, stopping thirst naturally; and by harmonizing the Qi of the muscle surface from the meridians, eliminating severe heat naturally. It treats vomiting by harmonizing the Stomach Qi of the Yangming; it treats various Bi syndromes by harmonizing the meridians of the Taiyang. "Raising Yin qi" refers to the vine's spreading nature, moving Qi from below upward. "Resolving various toxins" refers to the sweet and pungent flavor, harmonizing the Middle Jiao and dispersing externally.
Zhang Yuansu of the Yuan Dynasty said: Gegen is the divine herb of the Yangming channel. If Taiyang disease is in its initial stage, without entering Yangming, but presenting with headache, Shengma [Cimicifugae Rhizoma] and Gegen should not be used immediately. Using them would instead draw pathogenic factors into Yangming, akin to "inviting thieves to break up the family." I argue: Zhang Zhongjing's *Shanghan Lun* contains the Gegen Tang (Kudzu Decoction) to treat Taiyang disease with stiffness and discomfort in the neck and back, absence of sweating, and aversion to wind. It also treats concurrent Taiyang and Yangming diseases. For primary Yangming diseases, there are only Baibu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) and Chengqi Tang (Alvin Decoction) formulas; there is no indication for Gegen Tang. Moreover, Gegen primarily promotes the righteous Qi of the meridians to disperse pathogens; how could it reverse and draw pathogens inward? Predecessors lacked clarity in classic studies and were frequently misled by heterodox theories. Li Shizhen included everything without differentiation. Students studying Bencao should investigate alongside the Classics to avoid being misled by predecessors.
(Lu Ziyousaid: The term "Bi" in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* differs from Bi caused by Wind-Cold-Dampness. Conditions such as thirst, body heat, vomiting, failure of Yin qi to rise, and various toxins are all considered "Bi," hence the phrase "various Bi.")