古名通草。古方所用，即今之木通；而俗间所谓
甘，淡，无毒。入心、肝、膀胱诸经。利水通淋，止渴退热，安心除烦，通经下乳。耳
聋鼻
塞之滞，喉痹咽肿之疾。通草治同。
生石城山谷及阳城。正二月采干。泽、潞、汉中、江淮、湖南亦有之。藤生，蔓大如指，
其
茎干大者径三寸。一枝五叶，颇类石苇，又似芍药，三叶相对。夏秋紫花，亦有白花者。结
实如木瓜，食之甘美。
导赤散\x 木通 生地 炙草 竹叶
治心热尿赤。（诸方第一。）
甘，苦，微寒，无毒。手足厥阴药也。除心热，平肝风。治大人头旋目眩，疗小儿惊痫
寒热。发斑疹而止内钓，除
客忤而息胎风。
出建平、秦中兴元等处。三月采。两湖两江山中皆有之。状如葡萄藤而有钩，紫色。古
方多
用皮，后者多用钩，取其力锐耳。
小儿惊热，同滑石、炙草末服。（验方第一。）
猝得痫疾，同炙草煎服，日五夜三。（第二。）
斑疹不快，同紫草末酒下。（第三。）
忍冬。俗名净花，叶名毛花。
辛，甘，微苦，无毒。退热解毒，养血止渴，疗风除湿，补虚祛胀。治热毒血痢肠癖，
疗肿
毒痈疽疥癣。
在处有之。附树延蔓，茎微紫色，对节生叶。叶似薜荔而青，有涩毛。三四月花开长寸
许，
一蒂两花二瓣，一大一小，俱色白，经二三日则色黄。新旧相参，黄白相映，故呼金银花。
四月采花，藤叶不拘时采。
一切肿毒，初起发热，已溃未溃，连茎叶煎服，以渣敷之。（验方第一。）
疔疮便毒。同上。（第二。）
喉痹乳蛾。同上。（第三。）
敷肿拔毒，同大黄焙末，酒水合敷四周。茎叶亦可。（第四。）
痈疽，内托一切，已成未成，同黄 、当归、甘草末服，以渣敷之。叶亦可。（第五。）
恶疮不愈，一两，雄黄五分，瓦器煎之，纸封七重，穿一孔熏疮，大出黄水，再用生肌
药取效。（第六。）
轻粉毒痈。同上。（第七。）
疮久成漏，浸酒常服。（第八。）
热毒血痢，浓煎服。（第九。）
鬼打身青，水煎服。（第十。）
香港脚疼痛，或煎或末常服。（十一。）
忍冬膏 净花（四两） 磁石（三钱） 香油（一斤） 熬枯去渣，入黄丹八两，
熬至滴水成珠，
摊用。治诸般肿痛，金刀伤恶疮。（诸方第一。）
忍冬酒 净花（五两） 甘草（一两）
水煎成，再入酒稍煎，分服。治痈疽发背，一切恶疮初起。（第二。）
活命饮 穿山甲（一钱五分） 皂刺（五分） 甘草（一钱） 净花（三钱） 赤
芍（一钱） 乳香（一
钱） 没药（一钱） 花粉（二钱） 防风（一钱） 贝母（一钱五分） 白芷（一钱五分）
陈皮（二
钱）
一切痈疽初起，未成即消，已成即溃。（第三。）
又∶当归（五钱） 生 （五钱） 净花（五钱） 甘草（三钱）
治同上第三。尤宜于妇人。（第四。）
Tongcao (Akebiae Caulis) was known in ancient times. The material used in ancient prescriptions is what is now called Mutong (Akebiae Caulis); whereas the term "Gan" (Sweet) mentioned in folk contexts here appears to be a textual anomaly or refers to a different entity not clearly defined as a separate herb in this specific context, but the text proceeds to describe Mutong. It tastes sweet and bland, and is non-toxic. It enters the Heart, Liver, and Bladder meridians. It promotes urination and relieves strangury, quenches thirst, reduces fever, calms the mind and eliminates irritability, unblocks meridians, and promotes lactation. It treats obstructions such as deafness and nasal congestion, and diseases like throat obstruction (Hou Bi) and pharyngeal swelling. Tongcao has the same therapeutic effects as Mutong.
Mutong grows in the valleys of Shicheng and Yangcheng. It is harvested and dried in the first and second lunar months. It is also found in Zezhou, Luzhou, Hanzhong, Jianghuai, and Hunan. It is a vine; the vines are as thick as a finger, and the thicker stems have a diameter of up to three inches. One branch bears five leaves, resembling Shiwei (Pyrrosiae Folium), and somewhat like Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix), with three leaves growing opposite each other. In summer and autumn, it bears purple flowers, though white ones also exist. The fruit resembles a papaya and is sweet and delicious when eaten.
Daochi San (Guide Out the Red Powder): Mutong, Shengdi Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Recens), Zhi Gan Cao (Prepared Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Zhuye (Bambusae Folium).
Treats red urine caused by Heart heat. (First among various formulas.)
Gouteng (Uncariae Ramulus cum Uncis) tastes sweet and bitter, is slightly cold, and is non-toxic. It is a herb for the Jueyin meridians of the Hand and Foot. It clears Heart heat and pacifies Liver wind. It treats dizziness and vertigo in adults, and convulsions, epilepsy, and alternating chills and fever in children. It helps erupt macules and rashes and stops internal drawing pain (Nei Diao); it dispels external pathogenic influences (Ke Wu) and extinguishes fetal wind (Tai Feng, infantile convulsions).
Gouteng originates from Jianping, Qinzhong, Xingyuan, etc. It is harvested in the third lunar month. It is found in the mountains of Lianghu and Liangjiang. Its shape resembles grapevine tendrils and possesses hooks; it is purple in color. Ancient prescriptions often used its bark, while later prescriptions preferred its hooks, considering them to have sharper efficacy.
For infantile convulsive heat, take with Huashi (Talcum) and Zhi Gan Cao powdered. (First verified formula.)
For sudden onset of epilepsy, decoct with Zhi Gan Cao and take, five times during the day and three times at night. (Second formula.)
For slow eruption of macules and rashes, take with Zicao (Arnebiae Radix) powdered, using wine to swallow. (Third formula.)
Ren Dong (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos), commonly known as Jing Hua, and its leaves are commonly known as Mao Hua.
It tastes pungent, sweet, and slightly bitter, and is non-toxic. It reduces fever, detoxifies, nourishes blood, quenches thirst, dispels wind and dampness, tonifies deficiency, and removes distension. It treats bloody dysentery due to heat-toxin, intestinal disorders, swellings, toxic sores, carbuncles, scabies, and tinea.
It grows everywhere. It climbs trees and spreads via vines; the stems are slightly purple, with leaves growing opposite at the nodes. The leaves resemble those of Ficus pumila (Bili) and are green, with coarse hairs. Flowers bloom in the third and fourth lunar months, about one inch long. Each flower stalk bears two flowers with two petals, one large and one small, both initially white. After two or three days, they turn yellow. The presence of old and new flowers together, with yellow and white reflecting each other, gives it the name Jinyin Hua (Gold and Silver Flower). Flowers are harvested in April; vines and leaves can be harvested at any time.
For all kinds of toxic swellings, whether in the initial stage with fever, or already ulcerated/not yet ulcerated, decoct the stems and leaves together and take orally; apply the dregs externally. (First verified formula.)
For Ding Chuang (carbuncle) and Bi Du (perianal abscess). Same as above. (Second formula.)
For Hou Bi (throat obstruction) and Ru E (tonsillitis). Same as above. (Third formula.)
To reduce swelling and draw out toxins, mix with Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) baked and powdered, apply around the area with wine and water mixture. Stems and leaves may also be used. (Fourth formula.)
For carbuncles and sores, for internal support regardless of whether pus has formed or not, take with Huang Qi (Astragali Radix), Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), and Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) powdered; apply dregs externally. Leaves may also be used. (Fifth formula.)
For malignant ulcers that do not heal, use one qian of Ren Dong and five fen of Xiong Huang (Realgar), decoct in a clay vessel, seal with seven layers of paper, make a small hole, and fumigate the sore until copious yellow fluid discharges; then use flesh-regenerating medicines for effect. (Sixth formula.)
For carbuncles caused by Qing Fen (Calomel) toxicity. Same as above. (Seventh formula.)
For chronic sores forming fistulas, soak in wine and take regularly. (Eighth formula.)
For bloody dysentery due to heat-toxin, decoct strongly and take. (Ninth formula.)
For "Ghost Strike" (skin bruising/pain), decoct in water and take. (Tenth formula.)
For Hong Kong Foot (gouty arthritis/foot pain), decoct or powder and take regularly. (Eleventh formula.)
Rendong Gao (Honeysuckle Ointment): Jing Hua four liang, Cishi (Magnetitum) three qian, Xiang You (Sesame Oil) one jin. Boil until charred, remove dregs, add Huang Dan (Lithargyrum) eight liang, boil until it forms beads when dropped in water. Spread and apply. Treats various swellings and pains, knife injuries, and malignant sores. (First among various formulas.)
Rendong Jiu (Honeysuckle Wine): Jing Hua five liang, Gan Cao one liang.
Decoct in water, add wine and simmer slightly, divide into doses. Treats carbuncles on the back (Fa Bei) and various malignant sores in the early stage. (Second formula.)
Huoming Yin (Life-Saving Decoction): Chuan Shan Jia (Manis Squama) one qian five fen, Zao Ci (Gleditsiae Spina) five fen, Gan Cao one qian, Jing Hua three qian, Chi Shao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra) one qian, Ru Xiang (Olibanum) one qian, Mo Yao (Myrrha) one qian, Hua Fen (Trichosanthis Radix) two qian, Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) one qian, Bei Mu (Fritillariae Bulbus) one qian five fen, Bai Zhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix) one qian five fen, Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) two qian.
Treats all early-stage carbuncles and sores; if not yet formed, it dissipates; if already formed, it ulcerates. (Third formula.)
Additionally: Dang Gui five qian, Huang Qi five qian, Jing Hua five qian, Gan Cao three qian.
Indications same as Third formula above. Especially suitable for women. (Fourth formula.)