气味苦寒，无毒。主治热气，目痛， 伤泣出，明目，肠 ，腹痛下痢，妇人阴中肿
痛。久服令人不忘。
（黄连始出巫阳山谷，及蜀郡太山之阳，今以雅州者为胜。苗高尺许，似茶丛生，一茎
三叶
，凌冬不凋，四月开花黄色，六月结实如芹子，色亦黄，根如连珠，形如鸡距，外刺内空。
）
黄连生于西蜀，味苦气寒，禀少阴水阴之精气。主治热气者，水滋其火，阴济其阳也。
目痛
、伤泣出者，火热上炎于目，则目痛而 肉伤， 肉伤则泣出。又曰∶明目者，申明治目
痛， 伤泣出，以其能明目也。肠 者，火热内乘于阴，夫热淫于内，薄为肠 ，此热伤阴
分也。腹痛下痢者，风寒暑湿之邪伤其经脉，不能从肌腠而外出，则下行肠胃，致有肠痛下
痢
之证。黄连泻火热而养阴，故治肠 腹痛下痢。妇人阴中肿痛者，心火协相火而交炽也。黄
连苦寒，内清火热，故治妇人阴中肿痛。久服令人不忘者，水精上滋，泻心火而养神，则不
忘也。大凡苦寒之药，多在中品下品，唯黄连列于上品者，阴中有阳，能济君火而养神也。
少阴主水而君火在上，起冬不落叶。
凡物性有寒热温清燥润，及五色五味。五色五味以应五运，寒热温清燥润以应六气，是
以上
古司岁备物。如少阴君火，少阳相火司岁，则备温热之药。太阳寒水司岁，则备阴寒之药。
厥阴风木司岁，则备清凉之药。太阴湿土司岁，则备甘润之药。阳明燥金司岁，则备辛燥之
药。岐伯曰∶司岁备物得天地之专精，非司岁备物则气散也。后世不能效上古之预备，因加
炮制以助其力。如黄连水浸，附子火炮，即助寒水君火之火。后人不体经义，反以火炒黄连
，尿煮附子。
寒者热之，热者寒之，是制也，非制也。譬之鹰犬之力，在于爪牙。今束其爪，缚其牙，
亦
Taste and nature: Bitter, cold. Non-toxic. Indications: Heat pathogen, eye pain, damage to the canthus with tearing, improving vision, intestinal dysentery (Changpi), abdominal pain with diarrhea, swelling and pain in the female genitalia. Long-term use prevents forgetfulness.
(Huanglian first appeared in the valleys of Wuyang and on the south side of Mount Tai in Shu Commandery. Currently, those from Yazhou are considered superior. The plant is about a chi tall, growing in clusters like tea, with three leaves per stem. It does not shed its leaves in winter. It blooms yellow flowers in April and bears fruit resembling celery seeds in June, which are also yellow. The root resembles linked pearls, shaped like a rooster's spur, with a prickly exterior and hollow interior.)
Huanglian grows in Western Shu. Its taste is bitter and its nature is cold, inheriting the yin essence and qi of Shaoyin Water. Regarding its indication for heat pathogen: water nourishes fire, and yin supplements yang.
Regarding eye pain and damage to the canthus with tearing: when fire-heat flares upward to the eyes, it causes eye pain and damages the canthus flesh; damaged canthus flesh leads to tearing. Furthermore, "improving vision" clarifies that by treating eye pain and canthus damage with tearing, it improves vision.
Regarding intestinal dysentery (Changpi): fire-heat internally attacks the yin. When heat excessively resides within, it condenses into intestinal dysentery; this is heat injuring the yin division.
Regarding abdominal pain and diarrhea: pathogens such as wind, cold, summer-heat, and dampness injure the meridians. Unable to exit outward through the muscle-coupling layer, they descend into the intestines and stomach, causing symptoms of abdominal pain and diarrhea. Huanglian drains fire-heat and nourishes yin, thus treating intestinal dysentery, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Regarding swelling and pain in the female genitalia: heart-fire assists ministerial-fire, causing them to blaze together. Huanglian is bitter and cold, clearing internal fire-heat, thus treating swelling and pain in the female genitalia.
Regarding long-term use preventing forgetfulness: the essence of water nourishes upward, draining heart-fire and nourishing the spirit (Shen), thereby preventing forgetfulness. Generally, bitter-cold herbs are mostly classified in the Middle or Lower categories. Only Huanglian is listed in the Upper category because it contains yang within yin, able to supplement monarch-fire and nourish the spirit.
Shaoyin governs water, while monarch-fire is above; it does not drop leaves even in winter.
All substances possess properties of cold, heat, warm, cool, dry, and moist, as well as five colors and five tastes. The five colors and five tastes correspond to the Five Movements (Wu Yun); the properties of cold, heat, warm, cool, dry, and moist correspond to the Six Qi (Liu Qi). Therefore, in ancient times, preparations were made according to the governing year (Si Sui). For example, if Shaoyin Monarch-Fire or Shaoyang Ministerial-Fire governed the year, warm and hot herbs were prepared. If Taiyang Cold-Water governed the year, yin-cold herbs were prepared. If Jueyin Wind-Wood governed the year, cool and clear herbs were prepared. If Taiyin Damp-Earth governed the year, sweet and moist herbs were prepared. If Yangming Dry-Metal governed the year, pungent and dry herbs were prepared. Qibo said: Preparing substances according to the governing year obtains the exclusive essence of heaven and earth; failing to do so results in scattered qi. Later generations could not emulate the ancient preparations, so they added processing methods to enhance their power. For instance, soaking Huanglian in water and firing Fuzi with fire aids the fire of cold-water and monarch-fire. Later generations, misunderstanding the classic principles, instead stir-fried Huanglian with fire and boiled Fuzi in urine.
"Cold is treated with heat, heat is treated with cold" is regulation, not [true] preparation. It is like the strength of an eagle or dog lying in its claws and teeth. Now, binding its claws and tying its teeth...