气味苦平，无毒。主心腹肠胃中结气，饮食积聚，寒热邪气，推陈致新。久服轻身明
目益精。
（柴胡一名地薰，叶名芸蒿，始出宏农川谷及冤句，今长安及河内近道皆有。二月生苗
甚香
，七月开黄花，根淡赤色，苗之香气直上云间，有鹤飞翔于上，过往闻者，皆神气清爽。柴
胡有硬软二种，硬者名大柴胡，软者名小柴胡。小柴胡生于银州者为胜，故又有银柴胡之名
。今市肆中另觅草根白色而大，不知何种，名银柴胡，此伪充也，不可用。古茈从草，今柴
从木，其义相通。）
柴胡春生白 ，香美可食，香从地出，直上云霄。其根苦平，禀太阴坤土之气，而达于
太阳
之药也。主治心腹肠胃中结气者。心为阳中之太阳而居上，腹为至阴之太阴而居下，肠胃居
心腹之中，柴胡从坤土而治肠胃之结气，则心腹之正气自和矣。治饮食积聚，土气调和也。
治寒热邪气，从阴出阳也。从阴出阳，故推陈 而致新谷。土地调和，故久服轻身。阴气上
出于阳，故明目。阳气下交于阴，故益精。
愚按∶柴胡乃从太阴地土、阳明中土而外达于太阳之药也。故仲祖《卒病论》言∶伤寒
中风，不从表解，太阳之气逆于中土，不能枢转外出，则用小柴胡汤达太阳之气于肌表，是
柴胡并非少阳主药，后人有病在太阳，而用柴胡，则引邪入于少阳之说，此庸愚无稽之言，
后人宗
The flavor is bitter and the nature is neutral, non-toxic. It primarily treats constrained Qi in the heart, abdomen, stomach, and intestines; food stagnation; pathogenic cold and heat; it pushes out the old and brings forth the new. Long-term use lightens the body, brightens the eyes, and benefits the essence.
(Chai Hu [Bupleuri Radix], also known as Di Xun [Ground Smudge], has leaves named Yun Hao [Artemisia芸蒿]. It originally grew in Hongnong Chuan Gu [Hongnong River Valleys] and Yuanju [Yuanju County]; nowadays it is found near Chang'an [Chang'an] and Henei [Henei]. In the second lunar month, seedlings emerge with a strong fragrance; in the seventh lunar month, yellow flowers bloom, and the roots are pale reddish. The fragrance of the seedlings rises straight to the clouds, where cranes fly; passersby who smell it feel refreshed and clear-minded. Chai Hu has two types: hard and soft. The hard type is called Da Chai Hu [Greater Bupleuri Radix], and the soft type is called Xiao Chai Hu [Lesser Bupleuri Radix]. Xiao Chai Hu produced in Yinzhou [Yinzhou] is superior, hence the name Yin Chai Hu [Silver Bupleuri Radix]. Currently, markets sell another type of white, thick root, whose species is unknown, also named Yin Chai Hu; this is a counterfeit and should not be used. The ancient character "Zi" [Purple] uses the grass radical, while the modern character "Chai" [Firewood] uses the wood radical; their meanings are consistent.)
Chai Hu sprouts in spring, bears white flowers, has a fragrant and edible quality, with its aroma rising from the earth straight into the clouds. Its root is bitter and neutral, inheriting the Qi of Taiyin Kun Earth [Taiyin Spleen/Earth element], and is a herb that reaches the Taiyang [Greater Yang] channel. It treats constrained Qi in the heart, abdomen, stomach, and intestines. The Heart belongs to Yang within Yang (Taiyang) and resides in the upper jiao; the abdomen belongs to Zhiyin [Ultimate Yin] (Taiyin) and resides in the lower jiao; the stomach and intestines lie between them. By treating intestinal constriction via Kun Earth Qi, the righteous Qi of the heart and abdomen naturally harmonizes. It treats food stagnation because Earth Qi becomes harmonized. It treats pathogenic cold and heat because it moves from Yin to Yang. Moving from Yin to Yang allows it to push out the old and bring forth new grain. Because Earth Qi is harmonized, long-term use lightens the body. Because Yin Qi emerges from the Yang position, it brightens the eyes. Because Yang Qi descends to interact with Yin, it benefits the essence.
My commentary: Chai Hu is a herb that extends outward from Taiyin Earth and Yangming Central Earth to reach Taiyang. Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing [Master Zhang] stated in *Zhu Bing Yuan Lun* [Treatise on the Origin and Manifestations of Various Diseases]: For Shanghan [Cold Damage] or Zhongfeng [Wind Strike], if the exterior does not resolve, and Taiyang Qi rebels in the central Earth without pivoting outward, one should use Xiao Chai Hu Tang [Lesser Bupleuri Decoction] to extend Taiyang Qi to the muscle layer. This indicates that Chai Hu is not the primary herb for Shaoyang [Lesser Yang]. Later scholars claimed that using Chai Hu when the disease is in Taiyang would draw pathogens into Shaoyang; this is vulgar, foolish, and baseless talk, which later generations followed...