（蔓草）入胃升阳解肌退热生津
葛根（专入胃。兼入脾）。辛甘性平。轻扬升发。能入足扬明胃经鼓其胃气上行。生津
止渴。
（汪昂曰。风药多燥。葛根独能止渴者。以其能升胃气入肺而生津耳。）兼入脾经开腠发汗。
（脾主肌肉。）解肌退热。缘伤寒太阳病罢。传入阳明。则头循经而痛。胃被寒蔽。而气不
得
上升。入肺则渴。胃主肌肉。气不宣通则热。故当用此以治。俾其气升津生。肌解热退。（
因其体轻故解肌。因其气升故生津。）而无复传之势矣！（时珍曰。本草十剂云。轻可去实
。麻黄葛根之属。盖麻黄乃太阳经药。兼入肺经。肺主皮毛。葛根乃阳明经药。兼入脾经。
脾主肌肉。所以二味药皆轻扬发散。而所入迥然不同也。绣曰。麻黄入肺而不入脾。因其中
空象肺之故。葛根入脾而不入肺。因其体轻蔓延。周身通达象肌之故。）但葛根一味。必
其于头额侠之处（阳明经行于面额）。痛如刀劈。方谓邪传阳明。其药可用。（张元素曰。头
颅痛如刀破。乃阳明中风。可用葛根葱白汤。）若使未入阳明。又是引邪内入。不可用也。
即邪在于太阳而略见于阳明。则以方来之阳明为重。故必用葛根以绝其路。（仲景治太阳阳
明合病桂枝汤加葛根麻黄。又有葛根黄芩黄连解肌汤。是用以断太阳阳明之路。非太阳药也
。）若使阳明症备。而止兼有太阳。则又以未罢之太阳为重。故又不用葛根。且阳明主肌肉
者也。而用干葛大开肌肉。则津液尽从外泄。恐胃愈燥而阴立亡。至于疹痘未发。则可用此
升提。酒醉则可用此解酲。火郁则可用此升散。但亦须审中病辄止。（如丹溪云。治疟无汗
要有汗。散邪为主带补。有汗要无汗。扶正为主带散。若阳疟有汗。加参耆以敛之。无汗加
芩
葛苍术以发之。）不可过用。以致胃气有伤也。（如丹溪云。斑疹已见红点。不可更服升葛
汤。恐表虚反增斑烂。）
(Manscao) enters the Stomach channel, raises Yang Qi, resolves the muscle layer, reduces fever, and generates body fluids.
Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix) (specifically enters the Stomach channel, and concurrently enters the Spleen channel). Pungent, sweet, and neutral in nature. It is light and ascending, capable of entering the Foot-Yangming Stomach channel to stimulate Stomach Qi to ascend, thereby generating body fluids and relieving thirst. (Wang Ang stated: Wind-dispelling herbs are mostly drying; Gegen alone can relieve thirst because it can raise Stomach Qi to the Lung to generate body fluids.) It concurrently enters the Spleen channel, opens the interstices (Cou Li), and induces sweating. (The Spleen governs the muscles.) It resolves the muscle layer and reduces fever. This is because when a Cold Damage Taiyang disease pattern concludes and transmits to the Yangming channel, pain follows the channel pathway in the head. The Stomach is obstructed by cold, preventing Qi from ascending; if it affects the Lung, thirst occurs. The Stomach governs the muscles; when Qi is not freely circulating, heat arises. Therefore, this herb should be used to treat such conditions, allowing Qi to ascend and fluids to generate, resolving the muscle layer and reducing fever, thus preventing further transmission of the pathogen! (Because its substance is light, it resolves the muscle layer; because its energetic action is ascending, it generates body fluids.) (Li Shizhen stated: *Bencao Shiji* says, "Light substances can remove excess," belonging to herbs like Mahuang and Gegen. Generally, Mahuang is a Taiyang channel herb that also enters the Lung channel, and the Lung governs the skin and hair; Gegen is a Yangming channel herb that also enters the Spleen channel, and the Spleen governs the muscles. Thus, both herbs possess light and dispersing properties, yet they enter completely different channels. I (Huang Gongxiu) say: Mahuang enters the Lung but not the Spleen because its hollow structure resembles the Lung; Gegen enters the Spleen but not the Lung because its light, spreading nature permeates the whole body, resembling the muscles.) However, Gegen should only be used when there is severe pain in the forehead and temples (areas where the Yangming channel traverses the face and forehead) as if split by a knife, indicating that the pathogen has transmitted to the Yangming channel. Only then can Gegen be applied. (Zhang Yuansu stated: Headache feeling like the skull is splitting indicates Yangming wind-stroke, for which Gegen Congbai Tang may be used.) If the pathogen has not yet entered the Yangming channel, using Gegen would instead draw the pathogen inward, and it must not be used. Even if the pathogen remains in the Taiyang channel but shows slight signs of involving the Yangming channel, priority is given to the impending Yangming involvement; therefore, Gegen must be used to block the path of transmission. (Zhang Zhongjing treated concurrent Taiyang and Yangming diseases by adding Gegen and Mahuang to Guizhi Tang; he also formulated Gegen Huangqin Huanglian Tang for resolving the muscle layer. These are used to cut off the path of transmission between Taiyang and Yangming, and are not merely Taiyang channel drugs.) Conversely, if Yangming symptoms are complete while only slightly involving the Taiyang channel, priority is given to the unresolved Taiyang condition, so Gegen is not used. Furthermore, since the Yangming channel governs the muscles, using raw Gegen to excessively open the muscles would cause all body fluids to leak out through the exterior, potentially leading to greater stomach dryness and immediate depletion of Yin. Regarding rashes and smallpox that have not yet erupted, this herb can be used to lift and vent them; for alcohol intoxication, it can be used to resolve hangovers; for fire stagnation, it can be used to lift and disperse. However, one must carefully assess the condition and stop once the disease is addressed. (As Zhu Danxi said: To treat malaria without sweat, induce sweating with an emphasis on dispelling pathogens while supporting deficiency; to treat malaria with sweat, stop sweating with an emphasis on supporting righteousness while dispelling pathogens. For Yang-type malaria with sweat, add Renshen and Huangqi to consolidate; for no sweat, add Huangqin, Gegen, and Cangzhu to induce sweating.) Do not overuse it to avoid damaging Stomach Qi. (As Zhu Danxi said: Once macules and papules appear as red spots, do not continue administering Shengge Tang, as exterior deficiency may worsen the ulceration of the rash.)