叶气味辛平。东垣曰甘寒。其气清香。入手太阴足阳明经。主治利水道。除胸中痰癖。
生津止渴。治消渴胆痹。调气养营。久服益气轻身。煮水浴风病。浸油涂发。去风垢令香润。
方书治齿疾。素问云。五味入口。藏于脾胃。以行其精气。津液在脾。令人口甘。此肥美所
发也。其气上溢。转为消渴。治之以兰。除陈气也。东垣治消渴生津饮。用兰叶本于此。（濒
湖）臭香味辛。气化中药也。故主益气利水道。（之颐）肺气郁结。则上窍闭而下窍不通。
胃气郁滞。则水谷不以时化而为痰癖。此草辛平芬芳。能散结滞。大都开胃除恶。清肺消痰。
为散郁结之圣药。（仲淳）以花煮酒。臭类木香。苦甚黄连。用治滞痢。获效颇捷。（之颐）
同藿香枇杷叶石斛竹茹橘红。为开胃气之神品。加入沉香郁金白蔻苏子芦根汁下气开郁。治
噎膈之将成者。同栝蒌根麦冬黄连竹叶芦根汁。治消渴。
叶味苦辛甘酸。气微温。阴中之阳。足太阴厥阴经药也。苦辛泄热。甘能和血。酸能
入肝。温通营血。行而带补。妇人方中最为急用。防己为之使。主治养血气。破宿血。利关
节。通九窍。消身面水肿。并痈肿及头风目痛。女子频产血气衰冷。成痨羸瘦。及血沥腰痛
产后诸病。气香而温。味辛而散。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。故为女子方中所急用。（濒湖）补而不滞。行而不峻。为产科要药。
得炒黑豆炮姜芎归地芍牛膝蒲黄五灵脂益母草。治产后恶露不尽。少腹作痛。寒月加桂。多
火及内热虚劳人。去桂加童便。去五灵脂加人参鳖甲香附麦冬。治产后诸虚百病。肺热者去
人参。月候不通。结块发热者。泽兰一束。捣烂酒浸。温饮之。日二三次。当通。产后水肿
。血虚浮肿。泽兰防己等分。为末。每服二钱。醋酒下。水肿肾沉膀胱浮者。同泽泻茯苓猪
苓白术木通灯草通草牡蛎滑石附子葶苈瞿麦车前防己用。
〔总论〕濒湖言兰草泽兰功用。有气血之分。兰草走气道。故能利水。除痰癖。杀蛊辟
恶。而为消渴良药。泽兰走血分。故治水肿。涂痈毒。破瘀血。消症瘕。而为妇人要药。虽
是一类。而功用稍殊。正如赤白茯苓芍药补泻不同也。按二药分气血之治是矣。第本经久服
兰草何以益气。而甄权于泽兰何以治频产血气衰冷成痨羸瘦。此义未经发明。犹未免与他味
之利气血者例视也。
The leaves of *Lan* (Agastache rugosa / Eclipta prostrata) have a pungent and neutral flavor. Li Dongyuan stated they are sweet and cold. Their aroma is fresh and clear, entering the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. They primarily promote urination, eliminate phlegm-rheum in the chest, generate fluids to quench thirst, treat Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst) and Dan Bi (Gallbladder Obstruction), regulate Qi and nourish Ying Blood. Long-term consumption benefits Qi and lightens the body. Boiling water from them for bathing treats Feng Bing (Wind Diseases); soaking them in oil for hair application removes wind-dirt and makes hair fragrant and moist. Formulary texts use them for dental diseases. The *Su Wen* states: "When five flavors enter the mouth, they are stored in the Spleen and Stomach to circulate their essence-qi. Fluids reside in the Spleen, causing a sweet taste in the mouth; this arises from rich and fatty foods. When this Qi overflows upward, it transforms into Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst). Treatment uses Lan Cao (Grass) to remove stale Qi." Li Dongyuan's Sheng Jin Yin (Fluid-Generating Drink) for treating Xiao Ke uses Lan Ye (Leaves) based on this principle. (Li Shizhen) Ze Lan (Eclipta) has an odorous smell and pungent flavor; it belongs to the category of Qi-transforming Chinese medicines. Thus, it primarily benefits Qi and promotes urination. (Wang Haogu) When Lung Qi is stagnant, the upper orifices close and the lower orifices do not open; when Stomach Qi is stagnant, food and drink fail to digest on time and transform into phlegm-rheum. This herb is pungent, neutral, and aromatic, capable of dispersing stagnation. It generally opens the stomach, eliminates evil, clears the Lungs, and resolves phlegm, serving as a supreme medicine for dispersing stagnation. (Chen Shigong) Wine boiled with its flowers smells like Mu Xiang (Aucklandia Root) and is more bitter than Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome); used to treat Zhi Li (Dysentery with tenesmus), achieving rapid results. (Wang Haogu) Combined with Huo Xiang (Patchouli Leaf), Pi Pa Ye (Loquat Leaf), Shi Hu (Dendrobium Stem), Zhu Ru (Bamboo Shavings), and Ju Hong (Tangerine Peel), it is a divine product for opening Stomach Qi. Adding Chen Xiang (Agarwood), Yu Jin (Curcuma Tuber), Bai Kou Ren (Cardamom Seed), Su Zi (Perilla Fruit), and Lu Gen Juice (Reed Rhizome Juice) descends Qi and opens depression, treating Yi Ge (Dysphagia/Regurgitation) in its incipient stage. Combined with Gua Lou Gen (Trichosanthes Root), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber), Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome), Zhu Ye (Bamboo Leaf), and Lu Gen Juice, it treats Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst).
Ze Lan leaves taste bitter, pungent, sweet, and sour, with a slightly warm nature, belonging to Yang within Yin. They are herbs for the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. Bitter and pungent drain heat; sweet harmonizes blood; sour enters the Liver; warmth unblocks Ying Blood. Their action is moving yet contains tonification, making them urgently needed in formulas for women. Fang Ji (Stephania Root) serves as their guiding herb. They primarily nourish Qi and Blood, break old blood stasis, benefit joints, open the nine orifices, reduce edema of the body and face, and treat abscesses, head-wind, and eye pain. For women whose frequent childbirth leads to deficient and cold Qi and Blood, resulting in Lao (Consumption), emaciation, blood-stasis lumbar pain, and various postpartum conditions: their Qi is fragrant and warm, their flavor is pungent and dispersing. The Spleen delights in fragrance; the Liver suits pungent dispersion. When Spleen Qi expands, the San Jiao (Triple Burner) becomes smooth, and Righteous Qi harmonizes; when Liver stagnation disperses, Ying and Wei circulate freely, and pathogenic factors resolve. Hence, they are urgently needed in gynecological formulas. (Li Shizhen) They tonify without stagnation and move without being harsh, making them essential herbs in obstetrics. Combined with Stir-fried Black Soybeans, Roasted Ginger, Chuan Xiong (Szechwan Lovage Rhizome), Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis), Di Huang (Rehmannia Root), Bai Shao (White Peony Root), Niu Xi (Achyranthes Root), Pu Huang (Typha Pollen), Wu Ling Zhi (Trogopterus Dung), and Yi Mu Cao (Motherwort Herb), they treat incomplete expulsion of lochia postpartum and lower abdominal pain. In cold months, add Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig); for those with excessive fire, internal heat, or deficiency-labor, remove Gui Zhi and add Tong Bian (Child's Urine); remove Wu Ling Zhi and add Ren Shen (Ginseng Root), Bie Jia (Turtle Shell), Xiang Fu (Cyperus Rhizome), and Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber) to treat various deficiencies and hundred diseases postpartum. For Lung Heat, remove Ren Shen. For amenorrhea with masses and fever, take a bundle of Ze Lan, crush it, soak in wine, and drink warm twice or thrice daily; flow should be restored. For postpartum edema due to Blood deficiency, equal parts Ze Lan and Fang Ji, powdered, two qian per dose, taken with vinegar and wine. For edema presenting with a deep Kidney pulse and floating Bladder pulse, combine with Ze Xie (Alisma Rhizome), Fu Ling (Poria), Zhu Ling (Polyporus), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome), Mu Tong (Akebia Stem), Deng Cao (Juncus Effusus), Tong Cao (Tetrapanax Pith), Mu Li (Oyster Shell), Hua Shi (Talcum), Fu Zi (Aconite Lateral Root), Ting Li Zi (Descurainia Seed), Qu Mai (Persicaria Herba), Che Qian Zi (Plantago Seed), and Fang Ji (Stephania Root).
[General Discussion] Li Shizhen stated that Lan Cao and Ze Lan differ in their effects on Qi and Blood. Lan Cao moves in the Qi aspect, thus promoting urination, eliminating phlegm-rheum, killing parasites, warding off evil, and serving as a good medicine for Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst). Ze Lan moves in the Blood aspect, thus treating edema, applying to toxic sores, breaking blood stasis, resolving masses, and serving as a key herb for women. Although they are similar herbs, their functions differ slightly, just as Chi Fu Ling (Red Poria) and Bai Fu Ling (White Poria), or Chi Shao Yao (Red Peony Root) and Bai Shao Yao (White Peony Root) differ in tonifying and draining. The view that these two herbs treat Qi and Blood separately is correct. However, the reason why the *Ben Jing* records long-term consumption of Lan Cao benefits Qi, and why Zhen Quan recorded Ze Lan treating frequent childbirth leading to deficient/cold Qi-Blood, consumption, and emaciation, remains unexplained. This fails to distinguish them from other herbs that simply benefit Qi and Blood.