【气味】
苦寒无毒。阴中微阳。入手太阴经。
【主治】
体轻而虚。熟则悬而四开有肺之象。故能入肺。味寒能清肺热。苦辛能降肺气。钱
氏补肺阿胶散用之。非取其补肺。乃取其清热降气。邪去则肺自安也。其中佐以阿胶糯米。
则正补肺之药也。汤剂中多用。亦能作吐。
【气味】
苦平无毒。阳中阴也。（凡用采其叶之极大者、其气乃足、用粗布拭去毛、以甘草
汤洗一遍、用绵再拭干、以蜜涂炙过方用。）
【主治】
呕哕不止。妇人产后口干。治肺气热嗽。及肺风疮。胸面上疮。和胃降气。清热解
暑。大都枇杷叶气薄味浓。专入肺胃二经。而治病者取其功能下气。气下则火降痰顺。而逆
者不逆。呕者不呕。渴者不渴。咳者不咳也。
【气味】
辛平无毒。乃太阳本经药也。治风用木防己。治水用汉防己。大概通可去滞。通草
防己之属是也。性大苦寒。能泻而中实热。亦能泻大肠补阴泻阳。凡十二经有湿热壅塞不通
。及下注香港脚。除膀胱积热而庇其根本。非此不能治。然饮食劳倦阴虚生内热。元气谷食已
亏。若以防己泄大便则重亡其血。如人大渴引饮。是热在上焦肺经气分。只宜淡以渗泄。若
用防己。则以下焦血分之药。逆疗其上。必为乱阶。又外伤风寒。邪传肺经。气分湿热。而
小便黄赤乃至不通。此上焦气病。禁用血药。若以防己为能散结而误用之。必令人身心烦
乱。饮食短少。
[Flavor and Nature]
Bitter, cold, non-toxic. Yin with slight Yang. Enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian.
[Indications]
Light in texture and hollow inside. When cooked, it hangs and opens into four lobes, resembling the lung; thus, it can enter the Lung. Its cold flavor clears Lung heat, while its bitter and acrid flavors descend Lung Qi. It is used in Qian's Bufe Ejiao San (Supplementing Lung Donkey-Hide Gelatin Decoction). This use does not aim to tonify the Lung, but rather to clear heat and descend Qi. Once the pathogenic factor is eliminated, the Lung naturally becomes tranquil. The addition of Ejiao (Donkey-Hide Gelatin) and Nuomi (Glutinous Rice) serves as the true Lung-tonifying agents. It is frequently used in decoctions, but it can also induce vomiting.
[Flavor and Nature]
Bitter, neutral, non-toxic. Yang with Yin. (When used, select the largest leaves, as their medicinal energy is sufficient. Wipe off the hairs with coarse cloth, wash once in Licorice Root Decoction, dry with cotton cloth, coat with honey, and roast before use.)
[Indications]
Treats persistent hiccups or belching, and dry mouth in women after childbirth. Treats cough due to Lung heat, as well as Lung wind sores and sores on the chest and face. Harmonizes the Stomach, descends Qi, clears heat, and resolves summerheat. Generally, Pi Pa Ye (Loquat Leaf) has a thin Qi and strong flavor, specifically entering the Lung and Stomach meridians. In treating disease, its function of descending Qi is utilized. When Qi descends, Fire descends and Phlegm flows smoothly; thus, rebellious Qi ceases to rebel, vomiting ceases, thirst ceases, and coughing ceases.
[Flavor and Nature]
Acrid, neutral, non-toxic. It is a primary herb of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. For treating Wind, Mu Fang Ji (Stephania Tetrandra) is used; for treating Water retention, Han Fang Ji (Stephania Tetrandra var. glabra) is used. Broadly speaking, the "unblocking" method removes stagnation; herbs like Tong Cao (Tetrapanax Pith) and Fang Ji belong to this category. Its nature is greatly bitter and cold. It can purge excess heat in the middle Jiao, and also purge the Large Intestine, tonify Yin, and drain Yang. Whenever there is damp-heat congestion and blockage in any of the twelve meridians, or damp-heat pouring downward causing podagra (Hongjiaojiao), one must clear accumulated heat in the Bladder to protect the root; without this herb, the condition cannot be cured. However, if internal heat arises from Yin deficiency due to dietary irregularities and overwork, and Yuan Qi (Original Qi) and grain food have already been depleted, using Fang Ji to purge the bowels will cause severe loss of blood and Yin. For instance, when a person is extremely thirsty and drinks copiously, this indicates heat in the Qi aspect of the Upper Jiao Lung Meridian. Only bland herbs that promote leaching and draining should be used. If Fang Ji is used, it applies an herb targeting the Blood aspect of the Lower Jiao to treat the Upper Jiao inversely, inevitably becoming a source of chaos. Furthermore, if external Wind-Cold pathogens transmit to the Lung Meridian, causing damp-heat in the Qi aspect, leading to yellow-red or obstructed urination, this is a Qi disorder of the Upper Jiao. Blood-targeting herbs are strictly contraindicated. If Fang Ji is mistakenly used under the assumption that it can dissipate nodules, it will certainly cause mental and physical restlessness and reduced appetite.