气味苦温，无毒。主治咳逆上气，胸中寒热结气，去蛊毒，痿 ，安五脏。
（紫菀之根紫色，而其质柔宛，故名紫菀。近道处处有之，三四月布地生苗，本有白毛，
其叶二四相连，五六月开黄白紫花，结黑子。其根细而白者，白菀，即女菀也。）
紫，黑赤之间色也。黑赤，水火之色也。紫菀气味苦温，禀火气也。其质阴柔，禀水气
也。
主治咳逆上气者，启太阳寒水之气，从皮毛而合肺也。治胸中寒热结气者，助少阴火热之气
，通利三焦而上达也。蛊毒在腹属土，火能生土，故去蛊毒。痿 在筋，属木，水能生木，
故去痿 。水火者，阴阳之征兆也。水火交，则阴阳合，故安五脏。
气味苦寒，无毒。主治消渴热中，除邪气，肢体浮肿，下水，补不足，益气。
（知母《本经》名连母，又名 母，又名地参，又名水参。出频河、怀卫、彰德、解州、
滁州、彭城诸处。形似菖蒲而柔润，其根皮黄，肉白，而外毛，以肥大质润者为佳。）
知母质性滋润，得寒水之精，故气味苦寒，有地参，水参之名。又名连母、 母者，皮
有毛
而肉白色，禀秋金清肃之气，得寒水之精，而禀秋金之气，须知水之有母也。禀寒水之精，
故主治消渴热中。皮外有毛，故除皮毛之邪气。肉浓皮黄，兼得土气，故治肢体浮肿，下水
。补不足者，补肾水之不足。益气者，益肺气之内虚。夫金生其水，故补肾水之不足。土生
其金，故益肺气也。
[Shiowen / Asteris Radix]
Taste and nature: Bitter, warm. Non-toxic.
Indications: Cough with rebellious Qi (Ke Ni Shang Qi), stagnation of cold and heat in the chest, removal of Gu poison (Gu Du), treatment of Wei syndrome (Wei Zheng), and stabilization of the Five Zang Organs.
(Note: The root of Shiowen is purple, and its texture is soft and pliant, hence the name "Purple Pliant". It grows everywhere in nearby regions. In the third and fourth lunar months, it sprouts from the ground; the base has white hairs. The leaves grow in pairs or quaternary clusters. In the fifth and sixth months, it blooms with yellow, white, or purple flowers and bears black seeds. The variety with fine, white roots is called Baiwan, which is also known as Nuwan.)
Purple is an intermediate color between black and red. Black and red are the colors of Water and Fire, respectively. Shiowen possesses a bitter and warm taste/nature, inheriting the Qi of Fire. Its texture is Yin and soft, inheriting the Qi of Water.
The indication for cough with rebellious Qi stems from its ability to initiate the Cold Water Qi of the Taiyang channel, allowing it to merge with the Lung from the skin and hair. The treatment of stagnation of cold and heat in the chest is achieved by assisting the Hot Fire Qi of the Shaoyin channel, unblocking the Sanjiao, and allowing it to ascend. Gu poison located in the abdomen belongs to Earth; since Fire generates Earth, it can remove Gu poison. Wei syndrome affects the sinews and belongs to Wood; since Water generates Wood, it can treat Wei syndrome. Water and Fire are the manifestations of Yin and Yang. When Water and Fire interact, Yin and Yang harmonize, thus stabilizing the Five Zang Organs.
[Zhimu / Anemarrhenae Rhizoma]
Taste and nature: Bitter, cold. Non-toxic.
Indications: Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst) and Re Zhong (Heat in the Middle Jiao), elimination of pathogenic factors, treatment of edema of the limbs, promotion of urination (Xia Shui), tonification of insufficiency, and supplementation of Qi.
(Note: Zhimu was named Lianmu in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*, also known as Ermu, Dican, and Shuishen. It is produced in Pinhe, Huaiwei, Zhangde, Jiezhou, Chuzhou, Pengcheng, and other places. It resembles Calamus but is soft and moist. The root bark is yellow, the flesh is white, and it has external hairs. Those that are plump and moist are considered superior.)
Zhimu has a moistening nature and obtains the essence of Cold Water; therefore, its taste and nature are bitter and cold, earning it the names Dican and Shuishen. It is also called Lianmu and Ermu because the bark has hairs and the flesh is white, inheriting the clear and肃 (solemn/descending) Qi of Autumn Metal, obtaining the essence of Cold Water, and inheriting the Qi of Autumn Metal. This indicates that Water is the mother of Metal. Since it inherits the essence of Cold Water, it treats Xiao Ke and Re Zhong. Because the outer bark has hairs, it eliminates pathogenic factors from the skin and hair. Because the flesh is thick and the bark is yellow, it simultaneously obtains the Qi of Earth; thus, it treats edema of the limbs and promotes urination. "Tonifying insufficiency" refers to tonifying the insufficiency of Kidney Water. "Supplementing Qi" refers to supplementing the internal deficiency of Lung Qi. Since Metal generates Water, it tonifies the insufficiency of Kidney Water. Since Earth generates Metal, it supplements Lung Qi.