气味苦寒，有毒。主治伤寒温疟，下十二水，破积聚，大坚症瘕，荡涤胸中留 饮食
，寒热邪气，利水道。（荛音饶。）
（荛花始出咸阳、河南、中牟，今所在有之，以雍州者为胜，苗似胡荽，茎无刺，花细
黄色
《诊要经终论》云∶五月六月，天气高，地气盛，人气在头。荛花气味苦寒，花开炎夏，
禀
阳之标阳，故苦寒有毒。伤寒者，寒伤太阳。荛花气合标阳，故治伤寒。温疟者，病藏于肾，
荛花气禀寒水，故治温疟。
膀胱水气藉太阳阳热而营运于周身，则外濡皮毛，内通经脉。水气不行，则为十二经脉之水。
荛花合太阳之阳，故下十
二水，且破
类也。不但荡涤胸中留 ，
且除饮食内停之寒热邪气。水气得阳热以营运，故利水道。
按∶《伤寒论》云∶伤寒表不解，心下有水气，干呕，发热而咳。若微利者，小青龙汤
加荛
花，如鸡子大，熬令赤色。大如鸡子，形圆象心也。熬令赤色，取意象火也。是荛花气味虽
属苦寒，而有太阳之标阳，恐后世不能司岁备物，故加炮制如是尔。
气味辛温，有小毒。主治咳逆上气，喉鸣喘，咽肿，短气，蛊毒鬼疟，疝瘕痈肿，杀
虫鱼。
（芫花《本经》名去水，言其功也。《别录》名毒鱼，言其性也。根名黄大戟，言其似
也。
俗人因其气恶，又名头痛花。近道处处有之。春生苗，茎紫色，长一二尺，叶色青，浓则黑
。二月开花，有紫、赤、黄、碧、白数种，根色黄白如桑根，小人争斗者，取其叶挪擦皮肤
，辄作赤肿，如被伤以诬人。和盐擦卵，能染其壳，若赭色。）
草木根 之在下者，性欲上行，花实之在上者，性复下降，此物理之自然也。芫花气味
辛温
，花开赤白，禀金火之气化，主行心肺之气下降，故治咳逆上气，喉鸣而喘，以及咽肿而短
气。禀火气，故治虫毒鬼疟。禀金气，故治疝瘕痈肿。辛温有毒，故杀虫鱼。
[Rao Hua (Adonis amurensis Flower)]
Flavor and Nature: Bitter, cold, toxic.
Indications: Treats Shanghan (Cold Damage), Wen Nue (Warm Malaria); drains water accumulation in the twelve meridians; breaks up accumulations and hard masses (Zheng Jia - abdominal masses); purges retained food and drink from the chest; eliminates pathogenic cold and heat qi; promotes urination. ("Rao" is pronounced as "Rao".)
Rao Hua originally grew in Xianyang, Henan, and Zhongmu, and is now found everywhere, with those from Yongzhou being superior. The seedling resembles Coriandrum sativum (Hu Sui/Cilantro), the stem has no thorns, and the flowers are small and yellowish. *Suwen: Zhenyao Jingzhong Lun* states: "In the fifth and sixth months, heavenly qi is high, earthly qi is abundant, and human qi resides in the head." Rao Hua has a bitter-cold flavor and blooms in the hot summer, inheriting the nature of Yang's marked aspect (Biao Yang), hence its bitter-cold and toxic properties. Shanghan refers to cold damaging the Taiyang meridian. Since Rao Hua's qi harmonizes with the Biao Yang of Taiyang, it treats Shanghan. Wen Nue involves pathogens hiding in the Kidney; since Rao Hua inherits the nature of Cold Water, it treats Wen Nue.
Bladder water qi relies on the Yang heat of the Taiyang meridian to circulate throughout the body, thereby moistening the skin and hair externally and connecting with the meridians internally. If water qi fails to circulate, it becomes water retention in the twelve meridians. Rao Hua aligns with the Yang of Taiyang, thus draining water from the twelve meridians and breaking up accumulation-type diseases. It not only purges retained food residue in the chest but also eliminates cold and heat pathogenic qi generated by stagnant food and drink. When water qi receives Yang heat to facilitate circulation, it promotes the flow of water passages (urination).
Commentary: *Shanghan Lun* states: "When the exterior syndrome of Shanghan is unresolved, there is water qi under the heart, causing dry heaving, fever, and cough. If accompanied by mild diarrhea, Xiao Qing Long Tang (Minor Blue Dragon Decoction) should be used with Rao Hua, in an amount the size of a chicken egg, cooked until reddish." The size of a chicken egg, round in shape, symbolizes the Heart; cooking until reddish takes imagery from Fire. This indicates that although Rao Hua's flavor is bitter-cold, it possesses the Biao Yang characteristic of the Taiyang meridian. Perhaps fearing that later generations cannot gather materials according to seasonal appropriateness, such processing methods were added.
[Yuan Hua (Genkwa Flower)]
Flavor and Nature: Acrid, warm, slightly toxic.
Indications: Treats rebellious Qi rising with coughing, wheezing sounds in the throat, sore throat, shortness of breath, Gu Du (worm poison), Gui Nue (ghost malaria), Shan (hernia), Zheng Jia (masses), and abscesses; kills insects and fish.
(Note: Yuan Hua was named "Qu Shui" (Remove Water) in *Shennong Bencao Jing*, describing its efficacy; named "Du Yu" (Poisonous to Fish) in *Mingyi Bielu*, describing its nature; its root is named "Huang Da Ji" (Yellow Large Spurge), describing its similarity [to Da Ji]. Common people, due to its foul odor, also call it "Tou Tong Hua" (Headache Flower). It grows everywhere nearby. In spring, shoots emerge; stems are purple, one or two chi long; leaves are green, turning dark black when dense. Flowers bloom in the second lunar month, coming in purple, red, yellow, blue-green, and white varieties. Roots are yellowish-white like mulberry roots. Petty individuals, during disputes, take its leaves to rub on the skin, causing immediate redness and swelling, resembling injury, to frame others. Rubbing Yuan Hua mixed with salt on eggshells dyes them ochre-red.)
For herbs, roots located lower tend to have an ascending nature, while flowers and fruits located upper tend to have a descending nature; this is the natural law of things. Yuan Hua has an acrid-warm flavor and blooms in red and white, inheriting the Qi transformation of Metal and Fire. It primarily directs the Qi of the Heart and Lungs downward, thus treating rebellious Qi with coughing, wheezing sounds, sore throat, and shortness of breath. Inheriting Fire Qi, it treats insect poisons and Gui Nue. Inheriting Metal Qi, it treats Shan, Zheng Jia, and abscesses. Being acrid, warm, and toxic, it kills insects and fish.