味甘，性寒，无毒。入肾经。
治在表无定之风邪，主传尸有汗之骨蒸。清血热，退低烧。
热淫于内，泻以甘寒，退热除蒸，目宜尔也。又去风邪者，肝肾同治也。肝有热则风自
内生
，热退则风息，此与外感之风不同耳。春日饮其汤，可防皮肤病。
地骨皮乃除热之剂，中寒者勿服。
味辛，性微寒，无毒。入心、心胞、肝、肾四经。畏贝母、大黄、菟丝子。忌蒜、胡荽
与铁
器。红花单瓣者佳。
酒拌蒸，晒用。
去血中之伏火，退无汗之骨蒸，消瘀通经，排脓生血，更散诸痛，能疗诸风。
洁古云∶牡丹为群花之首，其色赤而其性寒，故能去血中之伏火，因入手厥阴与足少阴，
故
能退无汗之骨蒸。消瘀通经，乃其辛散之用，排脓生血，皆其去热之功，且能入厥阴风木，
而善消瘀滞、又何诸风诸痛之患哉。李濒湖云∶“血中伏火，即阴火也，阴火即相火也。古
方以此治相火，故仲景肾气丸用之。后人乃专尚黄柏。不知牡丹皮之功更胜也。此乃千载秘
奥，特为拈出。”
牡丹皮性寒而辛散，若久病血虚发热、及产妇虚热而无瘀者，宜斟酌用之。
红牡丹花瓣，另列专条，见咽喉用药。
味苦、咸，性寒，无毒。入肝、胃二经。
清热，凉血。阴虚发热，血虚昏厥，产后烦乱，冲任须协。低烧难退，断续不绝。丹皮、
地
骨、青蒿、竹叶。分别配伍、随症而设。用之得宜，收效尚捷。
白薇凉降，能清血热。既为女科药，又为温热证邪入血分之药，更为种种低烧如喉蛾、
久咳
、浮肿、腰酸、溲浑等之有效药，配伍得宜，颇有良效。因与白前易混淆，故处方多书“软
白薇”、以之与“硬白前”相对比也。
Sweet in taste, cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Kidney Meridian.
Treats wind pathogens wandering on the exterior without fixed location; primarily governs bone-steaming (fever sensation deep in the bones) with sweating associated with consumption diseases (chronic wasting conditions). Clears blood heat, reduces low-grade fever.
When excessive heat invades internally, it should be purged with sweet-cold herbs to reduce fever and eliminate steaming-bone sensations; thus, this herb is suitable. Furthermore, its ability to dispel wind pathogens lies in treating both the Liver and Kidney simultaneously. When the Liver has heat, internal wind arises spontaneously; when heat recedes, wind subsides. This differs from externally contracted wind. Drinking its decoction in spring can prevent skin diseases.
Dihuangpi (Cortex Lycii) is a heat-dispelling agent; those with middle-jiao cold deficiency should not take it.
Pungent in taste, slightly cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Heart, Pericardium, Liver, and Kidney meridians. Incompatible with Fritillariae Bulbus (Beimu), Rheum Radix et Rhizoma (Dahuang), and Cuscutae Semen (Tusizi). Avoid garlic, Coriandrum Sativum (Huisu), and iron vessels. Single-petaled Safflower (Honghua) is superior.
Steamed with wine, then sun-dried for use.
Removes latent fire in the blood, reduces bone-steaming without sweating, resolves stasis and unblocks menstruation, discharges pus and generates blood, disperses various pains, and treats various wind disorders.
Jiegu (Zhang Yuansu) stated: "Peony is the head of all flowers; its color is red and its nature is cold, therefore it can remove latent fire in the blood. Because it enters the Hand Jueyin (Pericardium) and Foot Shaoyin (Kidney) meridians, it can reduce bone-steaming without sweating. Resolving stasis and unblocking menstruation utilizes its pungent dispersion; discharging pus and generating blood are results of its heat-clearing power. Moreover, it enters the Jueyin Wind-Wood meridian, excelling at resolving stasis; how could it fail to treat various wind disorders and pains?" Li Shizhen said: "Latent fire in the blood is Yin Fire, which is Ministerial Fire. Ancient formulas used this herb to treat Ministerial Fire, hence Zhang Zhongjing's Shenqi Wan uses it. Later generations exclusively favored Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai), unaware that the efficacy of Moutan Cortex is superior. This is a millennium-old secret, specifically brought forth here."
Moutan Cortex is cold in nature and possesses pungent dispersion properties. For patients with prolonged illness causing blood deficiency and fever, or postpartum women with deficiency heat but no stasis, it should be used with caution.
Red Peony petals are listed separately under specific entries, see medications for throat conditions.
Bitter and salty in taste, cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Liver and Stomach meridians.
Clears heat, cools blood. Suitable for yin-deficiency fever, fainting due to blood deficiency, postpartum restlessness, and disharmony of the Chong and Ren meridians. Low-grade fever difficult to resolve, intermittent and unceasing. Moutan Cortex, Dihuangpi, Artemisiae Annuae Herba (Qinghao), and Bambusa Leaves (Zhuye) are combined respectively according to symptoms. When used appropriately, effects are swift.
Weilong has a cooling and descending nature, capable of clearing blood heat. It is both a gynecological herb and a medication for warm-heat pathogens entering the blood level. It is also an effective remedy for various low-grade fevers such as tonsillitis (throat polyps), chronic cough, edema, sore lower back, and turbid urine. With proper combination, it yields excellent results. Due to confusion with Baiqian, prescriptions often specify "Soft Weilong" to contrast with "Hard Baiqian".