味甘，微寒，无毒。入心、肺二经。地黄、车前为使。
恶款冬花。忌鲫鱼。肥白者佳，去心用。
退肺中伏火，止渴益精，清心气惊烦，定血疗咳。燥咳痰稠宜用，咽干津少频尝。
麦门冬，禀秋金之微寒，得西方之正色，故清肺多功。心火焦烦，正如盛暑，秋气一至，
炎
蒸若失矣。心主血，心既清宁，妄行者息。脾受湿热、则肌肉肿而肠胃满，热去即湿除，肿
满者自愈。金不燥，则不渴。金水生，则益精。
麦门冬与天门冬，功用相当，寒性稍减，虚寒泄泻，仍宜忌之。
一名臭橘、臭枳，味辛、苦，性温。
其臭导毒，其宣解郁。疗咽喉怪症生 ，治后重下痢脓血。
夏子益奇病方云∶“咽喉生疮，层层如叠。不痛，日久出臭气，废饮食，用臭橘叶煎汤，
连
服必愈。”李时珍谓此叶“治喉 消肿导毒”。其果实亦能治喉蛾。
味甘、微酸，性平，无毒。入心、脾、胃、肾四经。
消咽肿，利关节，喉舌肿闭，水浆不入，可消流注，能坚筋骨。
此药以开芳香小白花者为良，喉蛾与关节肿痛并发者宜用。
味苦，性平，无毒。入心包、肝二经。
活血行气止痛，消肿散结解毒。痈疽未成，酿脓未熟、速破宿血、未固先逐。喉痈初起、
用
之煎服。往往能消、免生危笃。外敷疡肿，其势可束。
此药用之宜早、能消痈肿于血气刚凝之际。外消之力亦大。如意金黄散中即用之。
Taste is sweet, nature is slightly cold, non-toxic. Enters the Heart and Lung meridians. Acts as an guiding herb with Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix) and Che Qian Zi (Plantaginis Semen).
Adverse to Kuan Dong Hua (Stellariae Herba). Avoid consuming crucian carp. Those that are plump, white, and clean are of superior quality; remove the heart before use.
Clears latent fire in the Lungs, relieves thirst and benefits essence, clears Heart Qi to settle palpitations and irritability, stops bleeding and treats cough. Suitable for dry cough with thick sputum; those with dry throat and scanty fluids may consume it frequently.
Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix), endowed with the slight coldness of Autumn Metal and the correct color of the West, thus possesses multiple functions in clearing the Lungs. When Heart Fire causes scorching irritability, it is like the intense heat of midsummer; once the Qi of Autumn arrives, the feeling of hot steaming vanishes. The Heart governs Blood; once the Heart is clear and tranquil, reckless movement of blood ceases. When the Spleen is affected by Damp-Heat, muscles swell and the intestines and stomach become full; when Heat is removed, Dampness is eliminated, and swelling and fullness heal themselves. When Metal (Lung) is not dry, there is no thirst. When Metal generates Water (Kidney), Essence is benefited.
Mai Men Dong and Tian Men Dong (Asparagi Radix) have comparable functions, but Mai Men Dong has a slightly reduced cold nature. For deficiency-cold diarrhea, it should still be contraindicated.
Also known as Chou Ju or Chou Zhi, taste is pungent and bitter, nature is warm.
Its odor guides out toxins, its dispersing action resolves stagnation. Treats strange conditions of the throat (such as sores), treats tenesmus and dysentery with pus and blood.
Xia Zi Yi's "Strange Disease Formula" states: "Sores growing in the throat, layered like stacked plates. Not painful, emitting foul odor after a long time, unable to eat or drink. Decoct leaves of Chou Ju and take continuously; it will surely cure." Li Shi Zhen stated that this leaf "treats throat obstruction, reduces swelling and guides out toxins." Its fruit can also treat Hou E (tonsillitis).
Taste is sweet and slightly sour, nature is neutral, non-toxic. Enters the Heart, Spleen, Stomach, and Kidney meridians.
Eliminates throat swelling, benefits joints. For swelling and closure of the throat and tongue where even water cannot enter, it can eliminate deep-seated abscesses (Liuzhu) and strengthen sinews and bones.
This herb is best when it produces fragrant small white flowers; suitable for cases where Hou E (tonsillitis) occurs simultaneously with joint swelling and pain.
Taste is bitter, nature is neutral, non-toxic. Enters the Pericardium and Liver meridians.
Invigorates Blood, moves Qi, and alleviates pain; reduces swelling, dissipates nodules, and detoxifies. For carbuncles and ulcers that have not yet formed pus or where pus is not mature, quickly break old blood and expel pathogens before they solidify. In the early stage of throat carbuncle, decoct and take orally; often it can resolve the swelling and prevent critical deterioration. Applied externally to sores and swellings, it can contain the pathogenic force.
This herb should be used early, capable of resolving carbuncles and swellings when Qi and Blood just begin to coagulate. Its external resolving power is also significant. It is included in Ru Yi Jin Huang San.