（见外治）
（见外治）
味辛、甘、淡，性平，无毒。入心、小肠二经。色白而梗细者佳。
降心火出于小肠。治五淋并宣九窍。通血脉，利关节。清肺泄湿，行经下乳。
功用虽多，不出宣通气血四字。若君火为邪，宜用木通。相火为邪，宜用泽泻，利水虽
同，
用各有别。
木通，性通利，精滑气弱。内无湿热，妊娠者均忌。
味淡，性平，无毒。入心、小肠二经。
清心必用，利水偏宜。烧灰吹喉症，涂乳治夜啼。
中寒，小便不禁者忌之。
味淡，性寒，无毒。入小肠经。
专通小便，兼解心烦。
淡味五脏无归，但入太阳利小便，小便利，则心火因之而清也。
淡竹叶，有走无守，不能益人，孕妇禁服。
味苦，性微寒，无毒。入肺、脾、胃、大肠四经。半夏为使。恶皂荚，畏藜芦。
散结而消痰定喘。下气以消食安胎。
李时珍曰∶“前胡主降，与柴胡上升者不同。气降则痰亦降矣”。安胎化食，无非下气之
力耳。前胡去风痰，与半夏
治湿痰、贝母治燥痰者各别也。
前胡治气实风痰，凡阴虚火动之痰，及不因外感而有痰者，法当禁之。前胡又为散
风之品，
故多用于感冒之初。
味苦、甘，性温，有毒。入肺、大肠二经。恶黄芩、黄 、葛根。泡去皮尖，焙。双仁
者勿
用。
散上焦之风，除心下之热，利胸中气逆而喘嗽，润大肠气闭而难通。解锡毒有效，消狗
肉如
神。
杏仁性温，散肺经风寒滞气，殊效。
阴虚咳嗽者忌之。双仁者，能杀人，有毒盖指此耳。
(See External Treatment)
(See External Treatment)
Tongcao (Akebia Caulis): Pungent, sweet, and bland in flavor; neutral in nature; non-toxic. Enters the Heart and Small Intestine meridians. Those that are white in color with fine stems are superior.
It descends Heart Fire (Heart Fire), directing it out through the Small Intestine. It treats the five types of strangury (Wu Lin, referring to painful urinary disorders) and unblocks the nine orifices. It unblocks blood vessels and benefits joints. It clears Lung heat and drains dampness, promotes meridian circulation, and facilitates lactation.
Although its functions are numerous, they do not go beyond the four characters "unblocking Qi and Blood." If the Sovereign Fire (Sovereign Fire, referring to Heart Fire) is pathogenic, Mutong (Akebia Caulis) should be used. If the Minister Fire (Minister Fire, referring to Kidney/Life Gate Fire) is pathogenic, Ze Xie (Alisma Rhizome) should be used. Although both promote urination, their clinical applications differ.
Mutong has a penetrating and draining nature; it may cause seminal emission and Qi deficiency. It is contraindicated for those without damp-heat internally and for pregnant women.
Tongcao (Tetrapanacis Medulla): Bland in flavor; neutral in nature; non-toxic. Enters the Heart and Small Intestine meridians.
It is essential for clearing Heart Fire and is particularly suitable for promoting urination. Burned to ash and insufflated into the throat, it treats throat conditions; applied to the breast, it treats infant night crying.
It is contraindicated for those with Middle Jiao Cold and involuntary urination.
Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatheri Herba): Bland in flavor; cold in nature; non-toxic. Enters the Small Intestine meridian.
It specializes in promoting urination and additionally relieves mental restlessness.
The bland flavor does not specifically target any of the five Zang organs but enters the Taiyang meridian to promote urination. When urination is promoted, Heart Fire is thereby cleared.
Dan Zhu Ye moves without retaining; it cannot tonify the human body and is forbidden for pregnant women.
Qian Hu (Peucedani Radix): Bitter in flavor; slightly cold in nature; non-toxic. Enters the Lung, Spleen, Stomach, and Large Intestine meridians. Used with Ban Xia (Pinellia Rhizome) as an assistant drug. It clashes with Zao Jia (Gleditsiae Fructus) and fears Li Lu (Veratri Radix).
It disperses nodules, eliminates phlegm, and calms wheezing. It directs Qi downward to digest food and calm the fetus.
Li Shizhen stated: "Qian Hu primarily directs Qi downward, which differs from Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix) that raises Qi. When Qi descends, phlegm also descends." Calming the fetus and aiding digestion are merely the result of its Qi-directing-downward power. Qian Hu treats Wind-Phlegm, which is distinct from Ban Xia treating Damp-Phlegm and Bei Mu (Fritillariae Bulbus) treating Dry-Phlegm.
Qian Hu is indicated for Phlegm due to Excess Qi and Wind. For phlegm caused by Yin Deficiency with Fire Hyperactivity, and for phlegm not arising from external contraction, it is legally contraindicated. As a wind-dispersing herb, it is mostly used in the early stages of common colds.
Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum): Bitter and sweet in flavor; warm in nature; toxic. Enters the Lung and Large Intestine meridens. It clashes with Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex), and Ge Gen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix). It should be soaked, skin and tip removed, and baked. Do not use seeds with two kernels.
It disperses Wind in the Upper Jiao, removes heat in the epigastrium, benefits rebellious Qi in the chest to treat wheezing and cough, and moistens the Large Intestine to treat constipation due to Qi stagnation. It is effective in resolving Tin toxicity and miraculous in digesting dog meat accumulation.
Xing Ren is warm; it disperses Wind-Cold and stagnant Qi in the Lung meridian with remarkable efficacy.
It is contraindicated for cough due to Yin Deficiency. Seeds with two kernels can cause death; the term "toxic" mainly refers to this.