【气味】
苦咸寒无毒。纯阴而沉。
【主治】
瘿瘤马刀诸疮坚而不溃。凡营气不调。外为浮肿。海藻咸能软坚。随各引经之药治
之。可反夺以成其功。
【气味】
咸平微寒无毒。入足少阴经。
【主治】
化痰 坚。清热除湿。止心脾气痛。痢下赤白浊。消疝瘕积块瘿疾结核。以柴胡引
之能去胁下硬。以茶引之能去顶上结核。以大黄引之能消股间肿。以地黄引之能益精收涩止
小便多。乃肾经血分之药也。故成无已云。牡蛎之咸。以消胸膈之满。以泄水气。又云壮水
之主。以制阳光。则渴饮不思。故牡蛎又能止渴也。
【气味】
辛平无毒。乃肺金气分中药也。
【主治】
腹中结实。心下痞满。疗时疾黄胆。和砂糖丸含止嗽。烧灰油调敷人畜恶疮敛疮口
。作末酒服。治产难及胞衣不出。与连翘同服主项下瘿瘤。故伤寒寒实结胸。外无热症者。
三物小陷胸汤主之。白散亦可。以其内有贝母也。俗以半夏有毒用贝母代之。不知贝母乃太
阴肺经之药。半夏乃太阴脾经阳明胃经之药。若虚劳咳嗽吐血咯血。肺痿肺痈。妇人乳痈痈
疽。及诸郁之症。半夏乃所禁忌。贝母可为向导也。至于脾胃湿热。涎化为痰。久则生火。
痰火上攻。昏愦僵仆蹇涩诸症。贝母切不可代。必用半夏。古人治人面疮须用贝母。其入气
分灼然可见。
畏（秦艽）
[Flavor and Nature]
Bitter, salty, cold in nature, non-toxic. It is purely Yin and heavy/sinking in property.
[Indications]
Treats goiter (thyroid enlargement), scrofula (cervical lymph node tuberculosis), and various other sores that are hard and do not ulcerate. Whenever Ying Qi circulation is disordered, manifesting externally as edema, the saltiness of Sargassum Herba can soften hardness. By combining it with herbs that guide action to specific meridians, it can achieve its therapeutic effect through antagonistic synergy.
[Flavor and Nature]
Salty, neutral and slightly cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian.
[Indications]
Transforms phlegm, softens hardness, clears heat and removes dampness, stops pain in the heart and spleen regions, treats dysentery with passage of red and white pus/blood and turbid discharge, eliminates hernia, zheng jia (masses and accumulations), goiter, and tubercles. Guided by Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix), it can eliminate hardness under the hypochondrium; guided by tea, it can eliminate tubercles on the vertex; guided by Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), it can eliminate swelling in the thigh region; guided by Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), it can nourish essence and astringe to stop polyuria. It is a herb acting on the blood level of the Kidney Meridian. Therefore, Cheng Wuji stated: The saltiness of Ostrea Concha eliminates fullness in the chest and diaphragm and drains water qi. He also said: It strengthens the master of Water (nourishes Kidney Yin) to control Yang fire (deficient heat); thus, thirst and desire for drinking cease. Hence, Ostrea Concha can also stop thirst.
[Flavor and Nature]
Pungent, neutral in nature, non-toxic. It is a herb acting on the Qi level of the Lung Metal.
[Indications]
Treats solid masses in the abdomen, epigastric stuffiness and fullness, treats epidemic jaundice, mixed with rock sugar into pills for sucking to stop cough, burnt to ash and applied with oil to treat malignant sores in humans and animals to promote healing, taken as powder with wine to treat difficult labor and retained placenta. Taken together with Lian Qiao (Forsythiae Fructus), it treats goiters below the neck. Therefore, for Cold-Excess Jie Xiong (chest binding) in Shang Han disease without external heat symptoms, San Wu Xiao Xian Xiong Tang is primarily indicated, and Bai San may also be used because it contains Bei Mu. Folk medicine replaces Ban Xia due to its toxicity, unaware that Bei Mu is a herb of the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, whereas Ban Xia is a herb of the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. In cases of deficiency-consumption cough, hemoptysis, hematemesis, lung萎 (lung atrophy/empyema), lung abscess, women's mastitis, carbuncles and sores, and various stagnation syndromes, Ban Xia is contraindicated, while Bei Mu can serve as a guiding herb. However, in cases of damp-heat in the Spleen and Stomach where saliva transforms into phlegm, which over time generates fire, leading to phlegm-fire attacking upward causing dizziness, sudden collapse, and speech impediment, Bei Mu must absolutely not replace Ban Xia; Ban Xia must be used. Ancient texts state that treating "human-faced sores" requires Bei Mu, clearly showing its entry into the Qi level.
Incompatible with (Qin Jiao / Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix)