气味苦寒，无毒。主治五脏肠胃结热，黄胆，肠痔，止泄痢，女子漏下赤白，阴伤蚀
疮。（柏，音百，俗作黄柏，省笔之讹。）
（黄柏木出汉中山谷及永昌、邵陵、房商、山东诸处皆有。今以蜀中出者，皮浓色深为
佳，
树高数丈，叶似紫椿，经冬不凋，皮外白里深黄色，入药用其根结块，如松下茯苓。）
黄柏气味苦寒，冬不落叶，禀太阳寒水之精。皮浓色黄，质润稠粘，得太阴中土之化。
盖水
在地之下，水由地中行，故主治五脏肠胃中之结热，黄胆，肠痔。治结热者，寒能清热也。
治黄胆、肠痔者，苦能胜湿也。止泄痢者，先热泄而后下痢，黄柏苦寒，能止之也。女子漏
下赤白，阴伤蚀疮，皆湿热下注之病。苦胜湿而寒清热，故黄柏皆能治之也。以上主治，
皆正气无亏，热毒内盛，所谓下者举之，结者散之，热者寒之，强者泻之，各安其气，必清
必静，则病气衰气，归其所
宗，此黄柏之治皆有余之病也。如正气稍虚，饮食不强，盒饭禁用。
愚按∶黄柏禀寒水之精，得中土之化，有交济阴阳，调和水火之功，所治至广。而《珍
珠囊药性》云∶黄柏疮用，
一言蔽之。后人徒事歌括者，信为疮药而已。其曰珍珠，殆以鱼目欺世尔。
气味苦寒，无毒。主治五内邪气，胃中热气，面赤，酒 渣鼻，白癞，赤癞，疮疡。
（卮，酒器也，卮子象之，故名，俗作栀。《本经》谓之木丹，《别录》谓之越桃，今南
方
及西蜀州郡皆有之。木高七八尺，叶如李，浓而深绿，春荣夏茂，凌冬不凋，五月花开，花
皆六出，洁白芬芳，交秋结实，如诃子状，生青，熟则黄赤，其中仁穣亦红赤，入药宜用山
栀子，皮薄而圆小，刻房七棱至九棱者为佳。李时珍曰∶蜀中有红栀子，花烂红色，其实染
物亦赭红色。）
栀子气味苦寒，其色黄赤，春荣夏茂，凌冬不凋，盖禀少阴之气化。少阴寒水在下，而
君火
在上也。花多五瓣，而栀花六出。六者水之成数也。稍秒结实，味苦色赤，房刻七棱九棱，
是下禀寒水之精，而上结君火之实。主治五内邪气，胃中热气者，禀寒水之精，而治热之在
内也。面赤，酒 鼻，白癞，赤癞，疮疡者，结君火之实，而治热之在外也。栀子能启寒水
之精，清在上之火热，复能导火热之气以下降者，如此。
栀子生用能起水阴之气上滋，复导火热以下行，若炒黑则但从上而下，不能起水阴以上
滋，
故仲祖栀子豉汤生用不炒，有交 水火，调和心肾之功。而后人委言栀子生用则吐，炒黑则
不吐，且以栀子豉汤为吐剂。愚每用生栀及栀子豉汤，并未曾吐。夫不参经旨，而以讹传讹
者，不独一栀子为然矣。
[Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai)]
Flavor and nature: Bitter, cold. Non-toxic.
Indications: Treats stagnant heat in the five zang organs and intestines/stomach, jaundice, intestinal hemorrhoids, stops diarrhea and dysentery, treats leukorrhea with red and white discharge or metrorrhagia in women, and sores/ulcers caused by erosion of the yin region. ("Bai" is pronounced bǎi; "Huangbai" is a common variant, an error resulting from omitting strokes.)
(Phellodendron trees grow in valleys of Hanzhong, as well as Yongchang, Shaoling, Fangshang, Shandong, etc. Currently, those from Sichuan are considered best, characterized by thick bark and deep color. The tree can be several zhang high, leaves resemble those of the purple toon, evergreen through winter. The outer bark is white, inner bark deep yellow. The medicinal part used is the knotted root mass, resembling Poria cocos growing under pine trees.)
Phellodendri Cortex has a bitter and cold flavor. It remains evergreen in winter, inheriting the essence of Taiyang Cold Water. Its bark is thick and yellow, with a moist and viscous texture, obtaining the transformation of Taiyin Central Earth. Since water lies beneath the earth and flows through it, it effectively treats stagnant heat within the five zang organs and intestines/stomach, jaundice, and intestinal hemorrhoids. To treat stagnant heat, its cold nature clears heat. To treat jaundice and intestinal hemorrhoids, its bitter nature overcomes dampness. To stop diarrhea and dysentery: since hot diarrhea precedes bloody dysentery, the bitter-cold nature of Phellodendri Cortex can arrest this progression. Leukorrhea with red and white discharge and erosive sores of the yin region are all diseases caused by damp-heat sinking downward. Bitterness overcomes dampness and cold clears heat; thus, Phellodendri Cortex treats these conditions. The aforementioned indications apply to cases where righteous qi is not deficient but internal heat-toxin is abundant. This aligns with the principles: "raise what sinks, scatter what stagnates, cool what is hot, drain what is excess." By ensuring each qi rests in its proper place and maintaining clarity and stillness, pathogenic qi declines, and righteous qi returns to its source. Therefore, the treatments provided by Phellodendri Cortex are for excess syndromes. If righteous qi is slightly deficient or dietary intake is weak, it should be strictly contraindicated.
My commentary: Phellodendri Cortex inherits the essence of Cold Water and obtains the transformation of Central Earth, possessing the function of harmonizing yin and yang, and balancing fire and water. Its scope of treatment is extensive. However, *Zhenzhu Nang Yaoxing* states: "Phellodendron is used for sores," summarizing its use in one phrase. Later generations, merely memorizing rhymed prescriptions, believe it is solely a medicine for sores. Calling it "Pearl" is likely akin to passing off fish eyes as pearls to deceive the world.
[Gardenia Fruit (Zhizi)]
Flavor and nature: Bitter, cold. Non-toxic.
Indications: Treats evil qi within the five internal organs, heat qi in the stomach, facial flushing, rhinophyma (alcoholic nose), vitiligo (white leprosy), erythema (red leprosy), and sores/ulcers.
("Zhi" refers to a wine vessel; the fruit resembles this vessel, hence the name, commonly written as "Zhi". *Shennong Bencao Jing* calls it "Mudan", *Bencao Jing Jiu Yi* calls it "Yuetao". It grows in southern regions and western Sichuan prefectures. The tree is 7-8 chi high, leaves resemble plum leaves, dense and dark green, flourishing in spring and summer, evergreen through winter. Flowers bloom in May, typically six-petaled, white, fragrant. Fruits form in autumn, resembling Chebula terminalia fruits; green when raw, turning yellow-red when ripe. The aril inside is also red. For medicinal use, wild Gardenia fruits are preferred: thin-skinned, round and small, with 7 to 9 ridges are best. Li Shizhen noted: In Sichuan, there is red Gardenia with reddish flowers; its dye yields a ochre-red color.)
Gardenia Fruit has a bitter and cold flavor, with yellow-red color. It flourishes in spring and summer and remains evergreen through winter, inheriting the Qi transformation of Shaoyin. Shaoyin Cold Water is below, while Sovereign Fire is above. Flowers usually have five petals, whereas Gardenia flowers have six. Six is the completion number of Water. The fruit forms later, bitter in taste and red in color, with 7-9 ridges on the capsule. This indicates it inherits the essence of Cold Water from below and forms the fruit of Sovereign Fire from above. Treating evil qi in the five internal organs and heat qi in the stomach utilizes its inheritance of Cold Water essence to treat heat located internally. Facial flushing, rhinophyma, vitiligo, erythema, and sores utilize its formation of Sovereign Fire fruit to treat heat located externally. Gardenia can inspire the essence of Cold Water to ascend and nourish, and simultaneously guide fire-heat qi to descend.
When used raw, Gardenia can raise the qi of Water-Yin to nourish upward, while guiding fire-heat downward. If stir-fried until black, it only acts from top to bottom and cannot raise Water-Yin to nourish upward. Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing's Gardenia and Fermented Soybean Decoction (Zhizi Chi Tang) uses raw, unroasted Gardenia, possessing the function of interacting with water and fire, and harmonizing Heart and Kidney. Later generations erroneously claimed that raw Gardenia causes vomiting, while roasted black does not, and classified Zhizi Chi Tang as an emetic. I have never observed vomiting when using raw Gardenia or Zhizi Chi Tang. Those who do not investigate the canonical principles but spread errors are not limited to just Gardenia.