【气味】
苦微寒无毒。入厥阴经。
【主治】
滋养肝木。除寒热。安五脏。疗久咳肺痿。其体轻虚专补肺气因而益脾与肾。补阴
制阳。
反（漏芦） 恶（防己）
【气味】
苦微寒无毒（勿犯铜器。饵之能噎人喉。丧人目。）入足少阴肾经。
【主治】
心中懊 烦不得眠。心神颠倒欲绝。血滞。小便不利。凡肾水受伤。真阴失守。孤
阳无根。发为火病。法宜壮水以制火。玄参治胸中氤氲之火。真圣剂也。
恶（黄 山萸肉 干姜 大枣） 反（藜芦）
【气味】
苦寒无毒。平而降。阴中之阳也。入手少阴厥阴之经。心与胞胳血分之药也。
【主治】
破宿血。生新血。安生胎。下死胎。止血崩带下。调经脉不匀。排疮疡脓。止痛生
肌长肉。定疝痛。
畏（盐水） 反（藜芦）
【气味】
辛苦微温无毒。浮而升。阳也。入手太阴足少阴经。（去芦净米泔水浸一宿。焙干
用。）
【主治】
肺热气奔促咳逆肺痈。排脓。开提气血。咽中痛。非此不能除。清利头目。破滞及
积块。诸药有此不能下沉。谓之舟楫。
【气味】
苦酸咸寒无毒。阳中之阴也。入阳明经。（凡用磨汁服之。忌盐。妊娠勿服。能消
胎气。）
【主治】
吐血衄血下血。及伤寒蓄血。发狂谵语。发黄。发斑。痘疮稠密。内热黑陷。或不
结痂。泻肝凉心。清胃解毒。盖胃为水谷之海。饮食药物。必先受用。故犀角能解一切诸毒
。又五脏六腑皆禀气于胃。风邪热毒必先干之。故犀角能疗诸血及惊狂斑痘之症。
[Flavor and Nature]
Bitter, slightly cold, non-toxic. Enters the Jueyin Meridian (Liver and Pericardium).
[Indications]
Nourishes the Liver Wood. Eliminates alternating chills and fever. Calms the Five Zang Organs. Treats chronic cough and Fei Wei (Lung Abscess/Atrophy). Its body is light and void, specifically tonifying Lung Qi, thereby benefiting the Spleen and Kidney. Tonifies Yin to control Yang.
Incompatible: Loulu (Euphorbiae Humifusae Herba).
Disliked: Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix).
[Flavor and Nature]
Bitter, slightly cold, non-toxic (Do not contact copper vessels; ingestion can cause throat obstruction and loss of vision). Enters the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian.
[Indications]
Restlessness and oppression in the chest, insomnia. Mental confusion bordering on despair. Blood stasis. Difficult urination. In cases where Kidney Water is injured, True Yin is lost, and Lone Yang has no root, leading to Fire diseases, the method should be to strengthen Water to control Fire. Xuan Shen treats the diffuse fire in the chest; it is a truly sacred agent.
Disliked: Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), Shanyurou (Corni Fructus), Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), Dazao (Jujubae Fructus).
Incompatible: Lilu (Veratri Radix).
[Flavor and Nature]
Bitter, cold, non-toxic. Neutral and descending; it is Yang within Yin. Enters the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian and Jueyin Pericardium Meridian. It is a herb acting on the Blood aspect of the Heart and Pericardium.
[Indications]
Breaks old blood, generates new blood. Calms the fetus during pregnancy, expels dead fetus. Stops metrorrhagia and leukorrhea. Regulates irregular menstruation. Drains pus from sores and ulcers. Relieves pain, generates flesh, and promotes tissue growth. Settles hernia pain.
Feared: Salt water.
Incompatible: Lilu (Veratri Radix).
[Flavor and Nature]
Acrid, bitter, slightly warm, non-toxic. Floating and ascending; it is Yang. Enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. (Remove the rhizome head, soak in rice washing water overnight, dry by baking before use.)
[Indications]
Heat in the Lung causing rapid breathing, coughing, and rebellious Qi; Lung Yong (Lung Abscess). Drains pus. Raises and lifts Qi and Blood. Treats sore throat; without this herb, it cannot be eliminated. Clears and benefits the head and eyes. Breaks stagnation and accumulations. Other herbs with similar properties cannot sink, hence it is called the "boat and oar" (carrier for floating drugs).
[Flavor and Nature]
Bitter, sour, salty, cold, non-toxic. It is Yin within Yang. Enters the Yangming Meridian. (When used, grind into juice and take orally. Avoid salt. Pregnant women should not take it as it can dissipate fetal Qi.)
[Indications]
Hematemesis (vomiting blood), epistaxis (nosebleed), hematochezia (blood in stool). Also for Shaoyang accumulation of blood. Mania, delirium. Jaundice. Eruption of macules. Dense smallpox/rash. Internal heat causing dark depression of lesions or failure to form scabs. Purges Liver Fire, cools Heart Heat, clears Stomach Heat, and resolves toxicity. Since the Stomach is the Sea of Water and Grain, food and drugs must first be received by it, therefore Xijiao (Rhinoceros Horn) can resolve all kinds of toxins. Furthermore, since all Five Zang and Six Fu Organs receive Qi from the Stomach, wind pathogens and heat toxins must first invade it; thus, Xijiao can treat various blood disorders as well as conditions like mania, macules, and pox.