味苦辛。入足厥阴经。功专治头疮瘰 。得香附、甘草治目珠疼痛。得香附、贝
母治马刀。独用治目珠夜痛。
味咸寒。入足太阳经。功专软坚破结。得海藻治瘿气结核。多服令人瘦。
味辛苦微温。入足厥阴经。功专通关逐痹。发表散寒。得细辛治少阴伏风头痛头晕
目眩。得地黄治风热齿痛。
味辛苦。性温气雄。入足太阳兼入足少阴厥阴经。功专泄湿除风。得当归利劳伤骨
节
酸痛。得葱头、生姜、黄酒脚、白凤仙根。不拘多少。不加水。煨热熏洗。日两次。治手臂
酸麻痛不可动神效。予曾臂麻不仁。熏洗半年而愈。并不服药。血虚者禁用。
味甘辛。入手太阳足太阳足厥阴经。功专驱风。其性柔淫。无所不入。随主药而走
经络。得葱白能通行周身。得泽泻、 本疗风湿。得当归芍药、阳起石、禹余粮、疗妇人子
脏风冷。若虚痉头痛不因风寒。泄泻不因寒湿。火升发嗽。阴虚盗汗。阳虚自汗。并忌。然
同黄 芍药。又能实表止汗。合黄 、白术名玉屏风散。为固表圣药。畏萆 。恶干姜、白
蔹、芫花。杀附子毒。
味辛温。入手太阴足太阳经。功专治头风脊强。阴寒肿痛。腹中急痛。胃风泄泻。
妇人疝瘕。得木香治雾露之邪中于上焦。得白芷疗风湿。可作面脂独用。煎汤浴疥癣良。恶
茹。
Bitter and pungent. Enters the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. Its function is specifically to treat head sores and scrofula (tuberculosis of cervical lymph nodes). When combined with Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu) and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), it treats eyeball pain. When combined with Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu) and Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus (Beimu), it treats "Madao" (a type of scrofula occurring in the axilla or lateral neck). Used alone, it treats nighttime eyeball pain.
Salty and cold. Enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. Its function is specifically to soften hardness, dissipate nodules, and break accumulations. When combined with Sargassum Herba (Haizao), it treats goiter (thyroid enlargement) and tuberculous masses. Long-term use causes emaciation.
Pungent and bitter, slightly warm. Enters the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. Its function is specifically to unblock orifices, expel bi-syndrome, release the exterior, and disperse cold. When combined with Asari Radix et Rhizoma (Xixin), it treats headache, dizziness, and vertigo caused by latent wind in the Shaoyin meridian. When combined with Rehmanniae Radix (Dihuang), it treats toothache due to wind-heat.
Pungent and bitter, warm in nature, with a vigorous aroma. Enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, and also the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. Its function is specifically to drain dampness and dispel wind. When combined with Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui), it treats soreness and pain of bones and joints due to labor injury. When combined with Allii Cepae Bulbus (Congtou), Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Shengjiang), residue of yellow wine (Huangjiujiao), and root of Impatiens balsamina (Baifengxian gen), in unspecified quantities without adding water, heated by simmering for fumigation and washing twice daily, it effectively treats arm numbness, soreness, and pain preventing movement. I once suffered from arm numbness and insensitivity; after half a year of fumigation and washing, I recovered without taking any oral medicine. It is contraindicated in cases of blood deficiency.
Sweet and pungent. Enters the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian, Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. Its function is specifically to dispel wind. Its nature is soft and permeating, entering everywhere. It follows the principal herb to travel through the meridians. When combined with Allii Porri Bulbus (Congbai), it can circulate throughout the body. When combined with Alismatis Rhizoma (Zexie) and Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Gaoben), it treats wind-dampness. When combined with Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui), Paeoniae Radix Alba (Shaoyao), Psoraleae Fructus (Yangqishi), and Haematitum (Yuyuliang), it treats wind-cold affecting the uterus in women. However, if spasm-type headache is not caused by wind-cold, diarrhea is not caused by cold-dampness, fire rising with cough, yin-deficiency night sweats, or yang-deficiency spontaneous sweating, it is contraindicated. Nevertheless, when used together with Astragali Radix (Huangqi) and Paeoniae Radix Alba (Shaoyao), it can consolidate the exterior and stop sweating. Combined with Astragali Radix (Huangqi) and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu), it forms Yupingfeng San (Jade Windscreen Powder), a sacred medicine for consolidating the exterior. It fears Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma (Bixie). It dislikes Zingiberis Rhizoma (Ganjiang), Ampelopsis Radix (Bailian), and Genkwa Flos (Yuanhua). It neutralizes the toxicity of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi).
Pungent and warm. Enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. Its function is specifically to treat head wind, stiffness of the spine, swelling and pain due to yin-cold, acute abdominal pain, diarrhea due to stomach wind, and hernia and masses in women. When combined with Aquitecti Rhizoma (Muxiang), it treats pathogenic fog and dew invading the upper jiao. When combined with Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (Baizhi), it treats wind-dampness. It can be used alone to make facial ointment. Decocted in water for bathing, it is effective for scabies and tinea. It is incompatible with Rucao (Ruc grass/herb).