（芳草）破肝经血分之气
三棱（专入肝）。味苦气平。皮黑肉白。大破肝经血分之气。故凡一切血瘀气结。疮硬
食停。
老块坚积。靡不借此味苦。入以血分。行其气滞。俾血自气而下。但此若以血药同投。则于
血可通。以气药同入。则于气可治。仍须和以补气健脾之味方良。（汪昂曰。昔有人患症癖
死。遗言开腹取之。得病块如石。文理五色。削成刀柄。因刈三棱。柄消成水。绣按其人患
癖。腹内血块虽有。但云削成刀柄。不无诳诞。）若使专用克伐。则胃气愈虚。气反不行。
而积增大矣。出荆地。色黄体重。若鲫鱼而小者良。今世所用皆草三棱。醋浸炒。或面裹煨
。
（隰草）下肺气消痰结
旋复花（专入肺大肠）。即本经所名金沸草者是也。其性虽兼辛温。凡阴虚劳嗽。风热
燥咳。
不可误用。用之其嗽必甚。究之味苦而咸。性主下降。凡心脾伏饮。胁下胀满。胸上痰结。
唾如胶漆。风气湿痹。皮间死肉。服之即能有效。更能续筋敷伤。（筋断。捣汁滴伤处。以
滓敷上。半月即愈。时珍曰。凡藤蔓之属。象人之筋。所以多治筋病。旋复花藤细如筋。可
啖。故能续筋敷伤。）是以仲景之治伤寒汗下后。心下痞坚。噫气不除。有旋复代赭石汤。（
噫气即嗳气也。经曰。五气所病。心为噫。又曰。寒气客于胃。厥逆从下上散。复出于胃。
故为噫。噫气多属胃气虚弱。三焦失职。清无所归。浊无所降。然亦有痰有火有食。仲景立
此方以治伤寒汗下后胃虚。内用人参甘草以扶正。姜枣以和中。旋复花旋转阴中阻格之阳升
而上达。赭石使恋阳留滞之阴降而下行。然后参甘大枣。可收补虚之功。生姜半夏。可奏开
痞
之效。）并金匮半产漏下。有旋复花汤。胡洽治痰饮在两胁胀满。有旋复花汤。皆取苦能下
气故耳。惟其性专主下。故书皆载病衰弱大肠虚寒者切忌。以其不禁再下故也。五月五日采
花晒干。去皮蒂蕊壳用。
(Fragrant Herbs) Breaking Qi Stagnation in the Blood Aspect of the Liver Meridian
Sanleng (Rhizoma Sparganii) [Sanleng (Sparganium Rhizome)] (Specifically enters the Liver). Bitter in taste, neutral in nature. The skin is black, and the flesh is white. It powerfully breaks Qi stagnation within the blood aspect of the Liver meridian. Therefore, for all conditions involving blood stasis and Qi knotting, hard sores, food retention, old masses, and firm accumulations, none fail to benefit from the bitter taste of this herb entering the blood aspect to move Qi stagnation, allowing blood to flow downward with the Qi. However, if administered together with blood-nourishing herbs, it facilitates the unblocking of blood; if entered together with Qi-regulating herbs, it treats Qi disorders. It is still necessary to harmonize it with Qi-tonifying and Spleen-strengthening herbs for optimal results. (Wang Ang stated: In the past, a person died suffering from Zheng Pi [abdominal masses], leaving instructions to open the abdomen to remove the lesion. A mass like stone was obtained, with five-colored textures, which was carved into a knife handle. Later, when Sanleng was cut, the handle dissolved into water. My commentary notes: Although this person suffered from Pi disease and had blood masses in the abdomen, claiming it was carved into a knife handle is undoubtedly absurd.) If one uses such herbs exclusively for harsh purging and attacking, the Stomach Qi will become even more deficient, Qi movement will reverse and cease, and the accumulation will increase. Sanleng originates from Jing region, is yellow in color and heavy in weight; those resembling small crucian carp are considered superior. What is used in the world today is mostly Cao Sanleng [Herbal Sparganium Rhizome], soaked in vinegar and stir-fried, or wrapped in flour and baked.
(Wetland Herbs) Descending Lung Qi and Dissolving Phlegm Knots
Xuanfuhua [Flos Inulae] (Specifically enters the Lung and Large Intestine meridians). This is what is named Jinfeicao [Golden Boiling Grass] in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* [Classic of Materia Medica]. Although its nature combines Pungent and Warm properties, it must not be mistakenly used for Yin deficiency with chronic cough or Wind-Heat dry cough. Misuse will inevitably worsen the cough. Upon investigation, it is Bitter and Salty in taste, and its nature primarily directs downward. For latent fluid retention in the Heart and Spleen, distension and fullness under the ribs, phlegm knots in the chest, saliva as sticky as glue and lacquer, Bi syndrome caused by Wind-Qi-Dampness, and dead flesh in the skin, taking it yields effective results. It can also knit sinews and treat injuries. (When sinews are severed, crush the herb, drip the juice onto the wound, and apply the dregs on top; it heals in half a month. Li Shizhen said: Vines generally resemble human sinews in shape, thus they often treat tendon diseases. Xuanfuhua vines are thin like sinews and edible, hence they can knit sinews and treat injuries.) Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing, in treating post-sweat or post-purge Taiyang disease presenting with epigastric hardness and persistent belching, utilized Xuanshu Daizheshi Tang [Inula and Hematite Decoction]. (Belching, also known as Yi Qi, refers to eructation. The *Jing* [Neijing] states: Among diseases caused by the Five Qi, the Heart manifests as Yi Qi. It also says: When Cold pathogen lodges in the Stomach, Jue Qi reverses and scatters upward, then exits from the Stomach, thus causing Yi Qi. Yi Qi mostly belongs to Stomach Qi deficiency, dysfunction of the Triple Burner, where Clear Qi has no place to reside and Turbid Qi cannot descend. However, it can also be due to Phlegm, Fire, or Food retention. Zhang Zhongjing established this formula to treat Stomach deficiency after sweat/purge in Taiyang disease. Inside, Ginseng and Licorice support the Righteous Qi, Ginger and Jujube harmonize the Middle, Xuanfuhua rotates the Yang obstructed in the Yin to ascend and reach upwards, and Hematite makes the Yin lingering in the Yang descend and go downwards. Then, Ginseng, Licorice, and Jujube can achieve tonification of deficiency, while Ginger and Pinellia can effect the opening of epigastric stuffiness.) Also, in *Jin Gui Yao Lue* [Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet], for post-miscarriage leakage, Xuanfuhua Tang [Inula Decoction] is used. Hu Qia treated Phlegm-Fluids causing distension and fullness in both hypochondria with Xuanfuhua Tang. All these utilize the principle that Bitterness can descend Qi. Precisely because its nature specializes in descending, medical texts record that it is strictly contraindicated for patients with weak constitution and cold-deficiency of the Large Intestine, as their bowels cannot withstand further downward purging. Collect the flowers on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, sun-dry them, and use them after removing the skin, pedicel, pistil, and calyx.