气平。味甘辛。无毒。主消渴。身大热。呕吐。诸痹。起阴气。解诸毒。
（
葛根气平。禀天秋平之金气。入手太阴肺经。味甘辛无毒。得地金土之味。入足阳明经
燥金
胃。气味轻清。阳也。其主消渴者。葛根辛甘。升腾胃气。气上则津液生也。其主身大热者
。葛根气平。平为秋气。秋气能解大热也。脾有湿热。则壅而呕吐。葛根辛甘。升发胃阳。
胃阳鼓动。则湿热下行而呕吐止矣。诸痹皆起于气血不流通。葛根辛甘和散。气血活。诸痹
自愈也。阴者从阳者也。人生阴气。脾为之原。脾与胃合。辛甘入胃。鼓动胃阳。阳健则脾
阴亦起也。甘者土之冲味。平者金之和气。所以解诸毒也。
葛谷气平味甘。入足阳明胃、手阳明大肠。阴中阳也。阴中之阳为少阳。清轻上达。能
引胃
气上升。所以主下痢十岁以上。阳陷之症也。
制 方:
葛根同香薷、生地。煎服。可以预防热病。同白芍、甘草、山药、白茯、焦米。治痢血
不止
。葛根一味。治中毒。
气温。味苦。无毒。主中风伤寒头痛。温疟发表出汗。去邪热气。止咳逆上气。除
寒热。破症坚积聚。（去节水煮去沫用）
麻黄气温。禀天春和之木气。入足厥阴肝经。味苦无毒。得地南方之火味。入手少阴心
经。
气味轻升。阳也。心主汗。肝主疏泄。入肝入心。故为发汗之上药也。伤寒有五。中风伤寒
者。风伤卫。寒伤营。营卫俱伤之伤寒也。麻黄温以散之。当汗出而解也。温疟。但热不寒
之疟也。温疟而头痛。则阳邪在上。必发表出汗。乃可去温疟邪热之气。所以亦可主以麻黄
也。肺主皮毛。皮毛受寒。则肺伤而咳逆上气之症生矣。麻黄温以散皮毛之寒。则咳逆上气
自平。寒邪郁于身表。身表者。太阳经行之地。则太阳亦病而发热恶寒矣。麻黄温以散寒。
寒去而寒热除矣。症坚积聚者。寒气凝血而成之积也。寒为阴。阴性坚。麻黄苦入心。心主
血。温散寒。寒散血活。积聚自破矣。（根节）气平。味甘无毒。入足太阳脾经、手太阴肺
经
。所以止汗也。
制 方:
麻黄同桂心。治风痹冷痛。同桂枝、甘草、杏仁、生姜、大枣。治伤寒营症。同白芍、
甘草
、炮姜、细辛、苏梗、北味。治肺寒而喘。麻黄根同黄 、牡蛎末。小麦汤下。治自汗。
[Ge Gen (Puerariae Radix)]
Nature: Neutral. Flavor: Sweet, Pungent. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Xiao Ke (Wasting and Thirsting syndrome), severe body heat, vomiting, various Bi syndromes (obstruction syndromes), generates Yin Qi, resolves various toxins.
Ge Gen has a neutral nature, inheriting the autumnal metal qi of heaven, entering the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. It tastes sweet and pungent, non-toxic, deriving from the metal and earth flavors of the earth, entering the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian (associated with Dry Metal). Its aroma and flavor are light and clear, belonging to Yang. Its ability to treat Xiao Ke arises because Ge Gen is pungent and sweet, ascending and raising Stomach Qi; when Qi ascends, Body Fluids are generated. Its ability to treat severe body heat stems from its neutral nature; neutrality corresponds to autumn Qi, and autumn Qi can resolve severe heat. When Spleen possesses damp-heat, it becomes obstructed leading to vomiting. Ge Gen’s pungency and sweetness ascend and generate Stomach Yang; when Stomach Yang stirs, damp-heat descends, and vomiting ceases. Various Bi syndromes originate from the lack of circulation in Qi and Blood. Ge Gen’s pungency and sweetness harmonize and disperse; when Qi and Blood become active, various Bi syndromes heal spontaneously. Yin follows Yang. The source of human Yin Qi is the Spleen. The Spleen and Stomach are exterior-interior paired. Pungent and sweet flavors enter the Stomach, stirring Stomach Yang; when Yang is robust, Spleen Yin also rises. Sweetness is the harmonizing flavor of Earth, and neutrality is the harmonious Qi of Metal; thus, it resolves various toxins.
Ge Gu (the fruit/seed of Ge Gen) has a neutral nature and sweet flavor, entering the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. It belongs to Yang within Yin. Yang within Yin is Shaoyang (Lesser Yang). Its quality is clear and light, ascending and reaching upward, capable of guiding Stomach Qi to rise. Therefore, it treats dysentery in patients over ten years old caused by sinking of Yang Qi.
Prescription Formulation:
Ge Gen decocted with Xiang Ru (Moslae Herba) and Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix) can prevent Heat diseases. Combined with Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), Bai Fu Ling (Poria), and Jiao Mi (Fried Rice), it treats persistent bloody dysentery. Used alone as a single herb, Ge Gen treats poisoning.
[Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba)]
Nature: Warm. Flavor: Bitter. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Headache due to Feng Zhong (Wind Strike) or Shang Han (Cold Damage), sweating for Wen Nue (Warm Malaria), expelling pathogenic heat, stopping cough and rebellious Qi, eliminating alternating chills and fever, breaking down Zheng Jian (masses) and Ji Ju (accumulations). (Instructions: Remove nodes, boil in water, and skim off the foam before use.)
Mahuang has a warm nature, inheriting the spring-like gentle wood qi of heaven, entering the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. It tastes bitter and is non-toxic, deriving from the fire flavor of the southern earth, entering the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. Its aroma and flavor are light and ascending, belonging to Yang. The Heart governs sweat, and the Liver governs dispersion and excretion. Entering the Liver and Heart meridians, it serves as the premier herb for inducing sweating. Shang Han encompasses five types; here, "Feng Zhong Shang Han" refers to wind damaging Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) and cold damaging Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi), representing Shang Han where both Ying and Wei are damaged. Mahuang’s warmth disperses this condition, resolving it through sweating. Wen Nue is malaria characterized by fever without chills. If Wen Nue presents with headache, it indicates Yang pathogens located above; one must induce sweating via the exterior to expel the pathogenic heat of Wen Nue, hence Mahuang is indicated. The Lungs govern the skin and hair. When the skin and hair are affected by cold, the Lungs are injured, resulting in symptoms of cough and rebellious Qi. Mahuang’s warmth disperses the cold in the skin and hair, thereby calming cough and rebellious Qi. Cold pathogens stagnating at the body surface affect the Taiyang Meridian region, causing Taiyang disease manifesting as fever and aversion to cold. Mahuang’s warmth disperses the cold; once the cold is expelled, the alternating chills and fever are eliminated. Zheng Jian and Ji Ju are accumulations formed by cold coagulating blood. Cold is Yin, and Yin nature is firm/hard. Mahuang’s bitterness enters the Heart; the Heart governs blood. Its warmth disperses cold; when cold disperses, blood circulates, and accumulations break down spontaneously. (Mahuang Gen - Ephedrae Radix): Nature neutral, flavor sweet, non-toxic, enters the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian and Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian; therefore, it stops sweating.
Prescription Formulation:
Mahuang combined with Gui Xin (Cinnamomi Ramulus) treats Wind-Bi with cold pain. Combined with Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum), Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), and Da Zao (Jujubae Fructus), it treats Ying-level patterns of Shang Han. Combined with Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Pao Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Preparatum), Xi Xin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), Su Geng (Perillae Caulis), and Bei Wei (Schisandrae Fructus), it treats asthma due to Lung cold. Mahuang Gen combined with Long Gu (Fossilia Ossis Mastodi et Ossis Femoris) and Mu Li (Ostreae Concha), taken with Xia Mai Tang (Triticum Decoction), treats spontaneous sweating.