味苦气寒。入手太阴少阴少阳太阳阳明经。功专泻火。得白术安胎。得柴胡退寒热
。得芍药治痢。得浓朴、黄连止腹痛身热如火燎。
烦燥引饮而昼盛者。宜一味黄芩汤。以泻肺经气分之火。
黄芩一两煎服。本事方治崩中暴下。惟血虚中寒者禁用。泻大肠火用子芩。泻肺火用片芩。
上行酒炒。泻肝胆火猪胆汁炒。山茱、龙骨为使。畏丹皮、丹砂。
味苦大寒。入手少阴经。性燥。功专胜热。得枳实泻痞满。得乌梅、川椒安蛔。得
木香治滞下。得吴茱名左金丸。
治肝胆郁火左胁作痛。得猪藏名藏连丸。治便血血痢。得羊肝名羊肝丸。
治目疾。得大蒜治下血。得肉桂能交心肾于片刻。腹大四肢
瘦细如柴无力。大小便闭。名火鼓。得之烧火。为火所逼而成。以黄连、大黄、黄芩加木通
、车前子神效。治心火生用。虚火醋炒。肝胆火猪胆汁炒。上焦火酒炒。中焦火姜汁炒。下
焦火盐水或童便炒。食火黄土炒。湿热在气分吴茱汤炒。在血分干漆水炒。点赤眼乳浸。去
胎毒合甘草末蜜涂乳头。令小儿吮之。黄芩、龙骨为使。恶菊花、元参、蚕、白藓皮。畏款
冬、牛膝。忌猪肉。杀乌头、巴豆毒。热郁欲吐。服黄连数分神效。
味苦寒。入手少阳经。功专去心热。益肝胆。浓肠胃。治骨蒸劳热。五心烦热。
三消五痔。温疟渴痢。胎蒸果子积。小儿惊疳。初起可用。日久胃虚者均忌。合茶服之解吃
烟毒。禁忌畏恶俱同黄连。
Bitter in taste, cold in nature. Enters the Lung (Taiyin), Heart (Shaoyin), Sanjiao (Shaoyang), Bladder (Taiyang), and Stomach (Yangming) meridians. Its function is specifically to purge fire. When combined with Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu), it calms the fetus. When combined with Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu), it resolves alternating chills and fever. When combined with Paeoniae Radix Alba (Shaoyao), it treats dysentery. When combined with Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (Houpo) and Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian), it stops abdominal pain; for those with body heat burning like a blaze, restlessness, excessive thirst, and symptoms worsening during the day, a decoction of single-ingredient Scutellariae Radix (Yiwei Huangqin Tang) should be used to purge fire from the Qi level of the Lung meridian. Use one qian of Scutellariae Radix, decocted and taken orally. *Ben Shi Fang* treats sudden heavy uterine bleeding (Bengzhong Baoxia); it is strictly contraindicated for those with blood deficiency and middle jiao cold. To purge Large Intestine fire, use Ziqing (withered Scutellariae Radix); to purge Lung fire, use Pianqing (striped Scutellariae Radix). For upward movement, stir-fry with wine; to purge Liver and Gallbladder fire, stir-fry with Porcine Bile. Cornus Officinalis Fruit (Shanzhuyu) and Dragon Bone (Longgu) serve as guiding herbs. It is incompatible with Moutan Cortex (Danpi) and Cinnabar (Dansha).
Bitter in taste, extremely cold in nature. Enters the Heart (Shaoyin) meridian. Nature is drying. Its function is specifically to overcome heat. When combined with Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhishi), it purges fullness and stagnation. When combined with Mume Fructus (Wumei) and Zanthoxyli Pericarpium (Chuanjiao), it calms roundworms. When combined with Aucklandiae Radix (Muxiang), it treats dysentery (Zhixia). When combined with Evodiae Fructus (Wuzhuyu), it forms Zuojin Wan. It treats left hypochondriac pain caused by stagnant fire in the Liver and Gallbladder. When combined with Porcine Stomach (Zangzang), it forms Zanglian Wan. It treats hematochezia and bloody dysentery. When combined with Ovis Hepatic (Yanggan), it forms Yanggan Wan. It treats eye diseases. When combined with Allii Sativi Bulbus (Dasuan), it treats lower bleeding. When combined with Cinnamomi Cortex (Rougui), it can connect Heart and Kidney momentarily. Abdominal distension with emaciated limbs like firewood, weakness, and closure of urination and defecation is named Huogu. Caused by being forced by fire after exposure to heat/fire. Using Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian), Rheum Palmatum Radix et Rhizoma (Dahuang), Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin) added with Akebiae Caulis (Mutong) and Plantaginis Semen (Cheqianzi) is miraculous. For treating Heart fire, use raw. For deficient fire, stir-fry with vinegar. For Liver and Gallbladder fire, stir-fry with Porcine Bile. For Upper Jiao fire, stir-fry with wine. For Middle Jiao fire, stir-fry with Ginger Juice (Jiangzhi). For Lower Jiao fire, stir-fry with saline water or child's urine. For food-fire, stir-fry with yellow earth. For damp-heat in the Qi level, stir-fry with Wuzhuyu Decoction. In the Blood level, stir-fry with Dry Lacquer Water (Ganqi Shui). For red eyes, soak in milk. To remove fetal toxicity, mix with Licorice Root powder and honey, apply to nipples, and let the infant suckle. Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin) and Dragon Bone (Longgu) serve as guiding herbs. It is aversive to Chrysanthemi Flos (Juhua), Scrophulariae Radix (Yuanshen), Silkworm (Can), and Dictamni Cortex (Baixianpi). It fears Dendranthemi Flos (Kuandong) and Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix (Niuxi). Pork is contraindicated. It neutralizes the toxicity of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata (Wutou) and Crotonis Fructus (Badou). For heat stagnation with desire to vomit, taking a few fen of Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian) is miraculous.
Bitter and cold in nature. Enters the Sanjiao (Shaoyang) meridian. Its function is specifically to remove Heart heat. It benefits the Liver and Gallbladder. It thickens the intestines and stomach. It treats bone-steaming tidal fever. Five-palm heat. Sanxiao (Three Wasting-Thirst) and Wuzhi (Five Hemorrhoids). Warm malaria with thirst and dysentery. Taizheng and fruit accumulation. Pediatric convulsive malnutrition (Jing Gan). Can be used in the early stage. Contraindicated for those with long-standing disease and Spleen/Stomach deficiency. Taken with tea, it resolves smoking toxicity. Contraindications and incompatibilities are the same as Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian).