（山草）温利下焦血分瘀滞
鸡苏（专入肠胃）。即龙脑薄荷也。又名水苏。（生于水旁。）系野生之物。味辛微温。
功有
类于苏薄。但苏薄其性稍凉。水苏其性稍温。苏薄其性主升。水苏其性主降。苏薄多于气分
疏散。水苏多于血分温利。故凡肺气上逆。而见头风目眩。与血瘀血热。而见肺痿血痢。吐
衄崩淋。喉腥口臭邪热等病者。皆当用此宣泄。（太平和剂局方有龙脑薄荷丸。）俾热除血止
。而病自可以愈矣。但表疏汗出。其切忌焉。方茎中虚。似苏叶而微长。齿面皱。气甚辛烈
。
（芳草）兰草入气利水除痰 泽兰入肝脾行水和血
泽兰（专入肝脾）。苦甘而辛。即今妇人采置发中除垢者是也。玩书所论泽兰。与本经
兰草同
为一类。其生泽旁。紫茎素枝。赤节绿叶。对节生有细齿。但兰草则茎圆节长。叶光有岐。
泽兰则茎微节方。短叶有毛之为异耳。二物并于嫩时皆可刈佩。以其花叶皆香。置于发中
。能以辟垢省头。故虽呼为香草。俗则呼为孩儿菊。与于山兰。其花虽香。而叶绝无气者。
迥不相同。（时珍曰。兰草泽兰。一类二种。虽生水旁下湿处。但以茎圆节长。而叶光有岐
者。为兰草。茎微方节短。而叶有毛者为泽兰。朱文公离骚辨证云。必花叶俱香。燥湿不变
。方可刈佩。今之兰蕙花虽香。而叶无气。质弱易萎。不可刈佩。汪昂曰。本经既言泽兰。
则非山兰明矣。是离骚之秋兰。当属本经之泽兰无疑也。吴草芦曰。兰为医经上品之药。有
枝有茎。今所谓兰无枝无茎。因黄山谷称之。遂谬指为《离骚》之兰耳。）兰草茎圆叶光。
其性
专主入气。虽书载有久服益气。轻身不老肤语。然究止属利水除痰。杀蛊辟恶。而为消渴良
药。即内经所谓数食肥甘。传为消渴。治之以兰。以除陈气是也。（东垣治消渴生津饮。用
兰叶。盖本于此。又此草浸油涂发。去风垢。令香润。史记所谓罗襦襟解。微闻香泽者是也
。）泽兰茎方叶毛。虽书载有和血舒脾。长养肌肉之妙。然究皆属入脾行水。入肝治血之味
。是以九窍能通。关节能利。宿食能破。月经能调。症瘕能消。水肿能散。产后血淋腰痛能
止。吐血衄血。目痛风瘫。痈毒扑损能治。（时珍曰。兰草泽兰。气香而温。味辛而散。阴
中之阳。足太阴厥阴经药也。脾喜芳香。肝宜辛散。脾气舒。则三焦通利而正气和。肝郁散
。则营卫流行而病邪解。兰草走气道。泽兰走血分。正如赤白茯苓芍药。补泻皆不同也。）
观此则书所云舒脾和血。不过因其水消血除之意。岂真舒脾和血之味也乎？入补气补血之味
同投。则消中有补。不致损真。诚佳品也。防己为使。（根名地笋。）
(Mountain Herbs) Warming and unifying blood stasis in the lower jiao (Lower Burner)
Jisu (Columbae Heterophyllae Herba) (Specifically enters the Stomach and Intestines). It is also known as Longnao Bohe (Mentha longifolia var. piperascens) or Shuisu (Hyssopus officinalis, though traditionally identified as Elsholtzia splendens or similar species in this context). (Grows near water.) It is a wild plant. Its taste is pungent, and its nature is slightly warm.
Its efficacy
is similar to that of Zisu (Perilla Fructus/Leaf) and Bohen (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba). However, while Zisu and Bohen are slightly cool in nature, Shuisu is slightly warm. While Zisu and Bohen have an ascending nature, Shuisu has a descending nature. Zisu and Bohen are mostly used for dispersing qi stagnation, whereas Shuisu is mostly used for warming and promoting circulation in the blood level. Therefore, for conditions where Lung Qi rebels upward, presenting with Toufeng (Head Wind) and Muxuan (Dizziness), or due to Blood Stasis and Blood Heat, leading to Feiwei (Lung Abscess/Withered Lung), Xueli (Bloody Dysentery), Toutong (Hematemesis), Xueyun (Epistaxis), Benglin (Metrorrhagia and Leukorrhea), Houxing (Foul odor in throat), Kouxiu (Halitosis), and Xiere (Evil Heat), this herb should be used to vent and dissipate. (The Taiping Heji Jufang contains Longnao Bohe Wan.) This allows heat to be eliminated and bleeding to stop, so the disease can naturally heal. However, it is strictly contraindicated in cases of exterior deficiency with spontaneous sweating. The stem is square and hollow, resembling Perilla leaf but slightly longer; the leaf margins are serrated and wrinkled; the aroma is very pungent and strong.
(Fragrant Herbs) Lancao (Agastache rugosa) enters the Qi level to promote urination and eliminate phlegm; Zelan (Leonurus japonicus) enters the Liver and Spleen to move water and harmonize blood.
Zelan (Leonurus japonicus) (Specifically enters the Liver and Spleen). Its taste is bitter, sweet, and pungent. It is the herb currently gathered by women and placed in their hair to remove dirt. Examining the discussions in books, Zelan belongs to the same category as Lancao (Agastache rugosa) in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*. They grow beside marshes, featuring purple stems, white branches, red nodes, and green leaves, with fine teeth on opposite nodes. However, Lancao has round stems, long nodes, smooth leaves with lobes, whereas Zelan has slightly square stems, short nodes, and hairy leaves; these are the differences. Both herbs can be harvested and worn when tender because their flowers and leaves are fragrant, and placing them in the hair can repel dirt and clean the head. Thus, although called fragrant herbs, they are colloquially known as Haier Ju (Child's Chrysanthemum). This is distinctly different from Shanlan (Mountain Orchid); although Shanlan flowers are fragrant, its leaves have absolutely no scent. (Li Shizhen said: Lancao and Zelan are one type, two species. Although both grow in wet places near water, the one with round stems, long nodes, and smooth lobed leaves is Lancao; the one with slightly square stems, short nodes, and hairy leaves is Zelan. Zhu Xi, in his *Lisao Bianzheng*, stated: Only those whose flowers and leaves are both fragrant and remain unchanged whether dry or wet can be harvested and worn. The current Lanhui (Orchids) may be fragrant, but their leaves lack scent, their texture is weak and easily withered, so they cannot be harvested and worn. Wang Ang said: Since the *Bencao Jing* records Zelan, it is clearly not Shanlan. Therefore, the Qiulan (Autumn Orchid) in *Lisao* undoubtedly refers to the Zelan in the *Bencao Jing*. Wu Kun said: Lan is a top-grade medicine in medical classics, having branches and stems. The so-called 'Lan' today has no branches or stems; this misconception arose because Huang Tingjian called it Lan, leading to the erroneous identification with the Lan in *Lisao*.) Lancao has round stems and smooth leaves; its nature specifically enters the Qi level. Although books record that long-term use benefits Qi, lightens the body, prevents aging, and nourishes the skin, fundamentally, it only promotes urination, eliminates phlegm, kills parasites, expels evil, and serves as an excellent medicine for Xiaoke (Wasting-Thirst Diabetes). This corresponds to what the *Neijing* says: "Frequent consumption of rich and sweet foods leads to Xiaoke," treated with Lan to remove stale Qi. (Li Dongyuan's Shengjin Yin for treating Xiaoke uses Lan Ye [Lancao Leaf], likely based on this. Additionally, soaking this herb in oil and applying it to hair removes wind-dirt and makes it fragrant and moist, as described in the *Shiji*: "With silk robes unfastened, a faint fragrance of incense and musk is perceived.") Zelan has square stems and hairy leaves. Although books record its wonders in harmonizing blood, soothing the Spleen, and nourishing muscles, fundamentally, it belongs to herbs that enter the Spleen to move water and enter the Liver to treat blood. Therefore, it can open the nine orifices, benefit joints, break down retained food, regulate menstruation, dissipate Zhengjia (masses), scatter edema, stop Chanhou Xuelin Yaotong (postpartum bloody strangury and lower back pain), and treat Toutong Xueyun (hematemesis and epistaxis), Mu Feng Tong Tan (eye wind, paralysis), Yongdu Pusun (carbuncles, sores, and trauma). (Li Shizhen said: Lancao and Zelan have a fragrant and warm aroma, and a pungent and dispersing taste. They belong to Yang within Yin and are herbs for the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. The Spleen delights in aromatic scents, and the Liver suits pungent dispersion. When Spleen Qi is relaxed, the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) becomes unobstructed and righteous Qi harmonizes; when Liver depression is scattered, Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi) circulate freely and pathogenic evils are resolved. Lancao travels through the Qi level, while Zelan travels through the Blood level, just as Chi Fuling (Red Poria) and Bai Fuling (White Poria), or Shaoyao (Peony Root), differ in tonification and purgation.) From this, we see that the book's mention of "soothing the Spleen and harmonizing blood" merely implies the removal of water dampness and blood stasis; is it truly an herb that soothes the Spleen and harmonizes blood? If administered together with Qi-tonifying and Blood-nourishing herbs, there will be tonification amidst reduction, preventing damage to true Qi. It is indeed a fine product. Use Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix) as the guiding herb. (The root is named Dissen.)