气平。味苦。无毒。主寒热邪气。寒湿风痹。肢节痛。下水利小便。（便浸晒）
秦艽气平。禀天秋降之金气。入手太阴肺经。味苦无毒。得地南方之火味。入手少阴心
经。
气味俱降。阴也。皮毛属肺。外感之邪气。从皮毛而入者。或寒或热。感则肺先受邪。秦艽
入肺。味苦能泄。所以主之。风寒湿三者合而成痹。痹则血涩不行矣。味苦入心。心生血。
苦能散结。血行痹自愈也。肢节痛。湿流关节而痛也。秦艽气平降肺。肺气行则水道通。水
道通则湿下逐矣。其下水利小便者。皆通水道之功也。左文者良。
制 方:
秦艽酒煎。治黄胆。专一两。治小便难腹满。同柴胡、甘草。治急劳烦热。同干葛、茵
陈、
五味、川莲、扁豆、木通、苡仁。治酒疸。同苡仁、木瓜、五加皮、黄柏、苍术、牛膝。治
下
部湿热作痛。及湿疮。
气平。味甘。无毒。主伤中。除痹。下气。补五脏虚劳羸瘦。强阴益精。久服浓肠
胃。（酒浸晒）
石斛气平。禀天秋降之金气。入手太阴肺经。味甘无毒。得地中正之土味。入足太阴脾
经。
甘平为金土之气味。入足阳明胃、手阳明大肠经。气降味和。阴也。阴者中之守也。阴虚则
伤中。甘平益阴。故主伤中。痹者闭也。血枯而涩。则麻木而痹。甘平益血。故又除痹。肺
主气。肺热则气上。气平清肺。所以下气。五脏藏阴者也。阴虚则五藏俱虚。而不胜作劳。
劳则愈伤其真气矣。五脏之阴。脾为之原。脾主肌肉。故五藏虚劳。则肌肉消瘦也。甘平益
阴。所以主虚劳而生肌肉也。阴者宗筋也。太阴阳明之所合也。石斛味甘益脾胃。所以强阴
。精者阴气之英华也。甘平滋阴。所以益精。肠者手阳明大肠也。胃者足阳明胃也。手足阳
明属燥金。燥则肠胃薄矣。久服甘平清润。则阳明不燥。而肠胃浓矣。
制 方:
石斛同麦冬、五味、人参、白芍、甘草、杞子、牛膝、杜仲。理伤中。补虚劳。强阴益
精。
同麦冬、白茯、陈皮、甘草。治胃热四肢软弱。专一味。夏月代茶。健足力。
[Qin Jiao]
Nature is neutral (Ping). Flavor is bitter. Non-toxic. Mainly treats cold-heat pathogenic factors, wind-damp-bi syndrome caused by cold-dampness, pain in limbs and joints, diarrhea, and difficult urination. (Processing method: Soak in wine and dry.)
Qin Jiao has a neutral nature, inheriting the metal energy of autumn that descends from heaven, entering the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Its flavor is bitter and non-toxic, obtaining the fire flavor of the south from earth, entering the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian.
Both its nature and flavor descend, belonging to Yin. The skin and hair belong to the Lung. Pathogenic factors from external contraction enter through the skin and hair; whether cold or heat, upon infection, the Lung is first affected. Qin Jiao enters the Lung, and its bitter flavor can drain and descend, thus treating these conditions. Wind, cold, and dampness combine to form Bi syndrome (obstruction), causing blood stasis and poor circulation. Bitter flavor enters the Heart, which generates blood; bitterness can dissipate nodules, so when blood circulation flows smoothly, Bi syndrome heals itself. Pain in limbs and joints is due to dampness flowing into the joints. Qin Jiao's neutral nature descends Lung Qi; when Lung Qi moves, the water passages become unobstructed, and when water passages are clear, dampness is expelled downward. Its effects in treating diarrhea and facilitating urination are all due to the function of unblocking water passages. Those growing on the left side are superior.
Prescription Methods:
Qin Jiao decocted in wine treats Jaundice (Huang Dan).
Used alone at 1 liang, it treats difficult urination with abdominal fullness.
Combined with Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix) and Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix), it treats acute consumptive fever with irritability.
Combined with Ge Gen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), Yin Chen (Artemisiae Scopariae Herba), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus), Chuan Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Bian Dou (Dolichoris Semen), Mu Tong (Akebiae Caulis), and Yi Yi Ren (Coicis Semen), it treats Wine Jaundice (Jiu Dan).
Combined with Yi Yi Ren, Mu Gua (Chaenomelis Fructus), Wu Jia Pi (Acanthopanacis Cortex), Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex), Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), and Niu Xi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), it treats pain caused by damp-heat in the lower body and damp sores.
[Shi Hu]
Nature is neutral. Flavor is sweet. Non-toxic. Mainly treats internal injury, removes Bi syndrome, directs Qi downward, tonifies deficiency-wasting syndrome of the five Zang organs leading to emaciation, strengthens Yin, benefits essence, and thickens intestines and stomach with long-term use. (Processing method: Soak in wine and dry.)
Shi Hu has a neutral nature, inheriting the metal energy of autumn that descends from heaven, entering the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Its flavor is sweet and non-toxic, obtaining the central earth flavor from earth, entering the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian.
Sweet and neutral are the flavors of Metal and Earth, entering the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Nature descends and flavor is harmonious, belonging to Yin. Yin is the guardian within. Yin deficiency leads to internal injury; sweet and neutral properties benefit Yin, thus treating internal injury. Bi means obstruction. When blood is depleted and stagnant, numbness and Bi occur. Sweet and neutral properties nourish blood, thus removing Bi. The Lung governs Qi; Lung heat causes Qi to rebel upward. Neutral nature clears the Lung, thus directing Qi downward. The Five Zang organs store Yin. Yin deficiency leads to weakness of all Five Zang organs, making them unable to withstand labor. Labor further damages True Qi. Among the Yin of the Five Zang organs, the Spleen is the source. The Spleen governs muscles; therefore, deficiency-wasting of the Five Zang organs leads to muscle emaciation. Sweet and neutral properties benefit Yin, thus treating deficiency-wasting and generating muscle tissue. Yin refers to the sinews, where Taiyin and Yangming meridians converge. Shi Hu's sweet flavor benefits the Spleen and Stomach, thus strengthening Yin. Essence is the brilliance of Yin Qi. Sweet and neutral properties nourish Yin, thus benefiting essence. Intestines refer to the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine; Stomach refers to the Foot-Yangming Stomach. Hand and Foot Yangming meridians belong to Dry Metal; dryness makes the intestines and stomach thin. Long-term use of sweet, neutral, clearing, and moistening substances prevents Yangming dryness, thereby thickening the intestines and stomach.
Prescription Methods:
Shi Hu combined with Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Wu Wei Zi, Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Gan Cao, Qi Zi (Lycii Fructus), Niu Xi, and Du Zhong (Eucommiae Cortex) regulates internal injury, tonifies deficiency-wasting, strengthens Yin, and benefits essence.
Combined with Mai Dong, Bai Fu Ling (Poria), Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), and Gan Cao, it treats weak and flaccid limbs due to Stomach heat.
Used alone as tea during summer months, it strengthens leg power.