【气味】
苦平无毒。阴中之阳。入手足少阳以黄芩为佐。入手足厥阴以黄连为佐。在脏主血
。在经主气。
【主治】
除心下烦热。诸痰热结实。治热痨骨蒸。骨节烦痛。时疾内外热不解。胸胁气满。
能引清气而行阳道。又能引胃气上升而行春令。十二经疮疽中须用之以散诸经之血结气聚。
妇人经水适来适断。伤寒杂病表寒肌热。寒热往来如疟状。劳乏羸瘦有实热。非此项俱不能
为功也。欲上升则用根以酒浸。欲中及下降则用梢。
恶（皂荚） 畏（女芫藜芦）
【气味】
苦微寒无毒。阳中之阴。降也。（凡用以刀刮去苍黑皮。甜竹沥浸令润。日中晒干
用。）
入手足太阳阳明经。
【主治】
痰热喘嗽。痞膈呕逆。伤寒寒热。小儿疳气。有推旧致新之绩。降痰下气之功。
恶（与柴胡同） 畏（亦同）
【气味】
甘平无毒。可升可降。阴中阳也。入足太阴足厥阴足少阴三经。又甘能入脾。归其
所喜。
【主治】
五脏六腑寒热邪气。温中下气。烦满短气。伤脏咳嗽。止渴通经脉。解百药毒。生
用则气平。补脾胃不足而大泻内火。炙之则气温。补三焦元气而散表寒。除邪热。去咽痛。
养阴血。大约热药得之缓其热。寒药得之缓其寒。寒热相杂者用之得其平。故附子理中汤用
甘草。恐其僭上也。调胃承气汤用甘草。恐其速下也。小柴胡汤用之以和柴胡黄芩之寒。人
参半夏之温。建中汤用之以补中而缓脾急。凤髓丹用之以生元气而缓肾急。若中满而用生甘
草为之泻。能引诸药直至满所。
反（大戟 芫花 海藻 甘遂） 恶（远志） 忌（猪肉）
[Properties and Flavors]
Bitter, neutral in nature, non-toxic. It is Yang within Yin. When entering the Hand-Shaoyang (Triple Burner) and Foot-Shaoyang (Gallbladder) meridians, Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) serves as an assistant herb; when entering the Hand-Jueyin (Pericardium) and Foot-Jueyin (Liver) meridians, Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) serves as an assistant herb. In the Zang-Fu organs, it primarily governs blood; in the meridians, it primarily governs Qi.
[Indications]
It eliminates vexatious heat in the epigastrium, treats various conditions of phlegm-heat accumulation and solidification, cures bone-steaming fever due to consumptive disease, painful and vexed joints, unresolved internal and external heat from epidemic diseases, and fullness of Qi in the chest and hypochondrium. It can guide clear Qi to circulate along the Yang pathways, and can also guide Stomach Qi to ascend and execute the Spring-like function. In sores and carbuncles of the twelve meridians, it must be used to dissipate blood stasis and Qi stagnation in various meridians. For women whose menstruation has just begun or just ceased, for exterior cold with interior muscle heat in Shanghan (Cold Damage) and miscellaneous diseases, for alternating chills and fever resembling malaria, and for fatigue, emaciation accompanied by excess heat, these are the conditions where it cannot fail to achieve its effect. To direct the action upward, use the root soaked in wine; to direct the action to the middle or downward, use the tips.
Aversion: (Saponis Fructus [Zaojia])
Dislike: (Nüwan Li Lu [Veratri Nigrum Rhizoma et Radix])
[Properties and Flavors]
Bitter, slightly cold, non-toxic. It is Yin within Yang, possessing a descending nature. (When used, scrape off the dark grayish-black skin with a knife, soak in sweet bamboo sap until moist, and dry in the sun.)
Enters the Hand-Taiyang (Small Intestine), Foot-Taiyang (Bladder), Hand-Yangming (Large Intestine), and Foot-Yangming (Stomach) meridians.
[Indications]
Treats wheezing and coughing due to phlegm-heat, oppression and diaphragmatic obstruction, vomiting and regurgitation, chills and fever due to Shanghan (Cold Damage), and infantile malnutrition (Gan syndrome). It has the merit of pushing out the old and generating the new, and possesses the function of descending phlegm and lowering Qi.
Aversion: (Same as Chaihu)
Dislike: (Also same)
[Properties and Flavors]
Sweet, neutral in nature, non-toxic. It can ascend and descend, belonging to Yang within Yin. Enters the Foot-Taiyin (Spleen), Foot-Jueyin (Liver), and Foot-Shaoyin (Kidney) meridians. Furthermore, the sweet flavor enters the Spleen, returning to what it prefers.
[Indications]
Treats cold and heat pathogens in the five Zang and six Fu organs. Warms the middle and lowers Qi, treats vexation and fullness, shortness of breath, cough caused by damaged organs, stops thirst, unblocks meridians, and resolves the toxicity of hundred herbs. Raw usage results in a level Qi, tonifying deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach while strongly purging internal fire; honey-fried usage results in warm Qi, tonifying Yuan Qi of the Triple Burner and dispersing exterior cold. Clears pathogenic heat, removes throat pain, and nourishes Yin blood. Generally speaking, hot herbs become milder when combined with it; cold herbs become less cold when combined with it; for mixed cold and heat conditions, it brings balance. Therefore, Gancao (Licorice Root) is used in Fuzi Lizhong Tang because it is feared that the harsh nature might rebel upwards; it is used in Tiaowei Chengqi Tang because it is feared that purgation might be too rapid; it is used in Xiaochaihu Tang to harmonize the cold of Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) and Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) with the warmth of Renshen (Ginseng Radix) and Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma); it is used in Jianzhong Tang to tonify the middle and relieve Spleen urgency; it is used in Fengsui Dan to generate Yuan Qi and relieve Kidney urgency. If there is fullness in the middle jiao and raw Gancao is used to purge, it can guide other herbs directly to the site of fullness.
Incompatible with: (Daji [Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix], Yuanhua [Genkwa Flos], Haizao [Sargassum], Gansui [Kansui Radix])
Dislikes: (Yuanzhi [Polygalae Radix])
Avoid: (Pork)