入药用山茵陈。家莳者力薄。二月生苗。其茎如艾叶。如淡色青蒿而背白。有歧紧细而
扁整。此虽蒿类。经冬不死。更因旧苗而生。故名茵陈。
茎叶
味苦辛甘。气微寒。阴中微阳。入足阳明太阴太阳经。主风湿寒热邪气。热结黄胆。
（本经）小便不利。通关节。去滞热。治时疾热狂头痛。头旋风眼。（诸本草）性味苦寒。
为除湿散热结之要药。（仲淳）茵陈因旧苗而发春令。故云发陈也。蘩萧蔚莪。同为蒿属。
不若此草芳香宣发。独能因陈以致新。（子由）疸证有湿热。有燥热。譬之于苗。涝则湿黄。
旱则燥黄。湿则泻之。燥则润之。此阳黄也。又有阴黄。大抵皆以茵陈为主。而佐治各随其
寒热也。（海藏）茵陈五苓散。总治诸疸。得黄连黄柏干葛苜蓿五味子。治酒疸。得二术茯
苓泽泻车前木通橘皮神曲红曲麦冬。治谷疸。同生地仙人对坐草石斛木瓜牛膝黄柏。治女劳
疸。风疾挛
〔论〕茵陈秋后茎枯。经冬不死。至春又生。根水德之所养。而宣木德之用。土之主在
木。其用在水。由木以达水。由水木之达以善上之用。发陈致新。与他味之逐湿热者殊。而
渗利为功者尤难相匹。卢氏谓诸邪成热入中为疸。必从腠理脉络而内薄之。陈丝如腠如理。
如脉如络。芬芳疏利。味苦健行。则入者出结者散矣。黄证湿气胜则如熏黄而晦。热气胜则
如橘黄而明。湿固蒸热。热亦聚湿。皆从中土之湿毒以为本。所以茵陈皆宜。海藏谓阳黄阴
黄皆用之。又云。内伤变黄。只用理中建中。茵陈不必用。试思人身湿热之病居多。如七情
房劳。酒食违宜。劳役过度。伤其中气。以累元气。致脾阴大损。不能为胃行其津液者。何
可胜数。第有因如是之损伤。以病黄胆者。亦有损伤而不能调养。以成虚劳者。虚劳虽亦有
发黄。实则区以别矣。海藏所云不必用。当是此类。至于黄证。黄为湿。疸为单阳而无阴。
此阳邪即湿邪之所郁而壅者。湿邪有微甚。及兼热兼寒瘀血之所因不同。其初七情房劳。酒
食劳役。伤其中气。以累元气。脾阴受伤。故病于湿。湿渐化热。热则脾阴之伤愈甚。而胃
阳愈困。更不能行其津液矣。至此湿滋热。热益滋湿。黄与疸合。（黄为湿疸为单阳而无阴）
则脾肾交病矣。先哲曰。小便不利为里实。宜利小便。或下之。无汗为表实。宜发汗。或吐
之。小便赤涩为湿热盛。惟小便清白定属虚。（先哲言男子黄。小便自利。当与虚劳脚弱。
心忪口淡耳鸣。微寒发热。气急便浊诸证。均治以养荣汤。）投以茵陈反为虚虚。然则小便
不利及赤涩者。乃湿兼热甚。因脾之真气衰。无以为水之主。而湿邪壅。水不得土气以行其
化。而阳邪壅。真阴虚。二者交病。大都始于胃。次及脾。更次及肾。自微而甚。皆茵陈之
对治。缘茵陈能达水化。以行木用而救脾也。至于内伤。原属虚证。果至标急。则虽虚而舍
本以治标。若久病脾胃受伤。气血虚弱。必须补助正气。俾邪气渐退。不可过用凉剂。强通
小便。恐肾水枯竭。久而面色黑黄。不可治也。又有元气素弱。避渗利之害。过服滋补。以
致湿热愈增者。则又不可拘于久病调补之例。更有劳役伤气已甚。复因口食冷物。或久雨。
体脆感其气。致寒湿相合以发黄者。此种投姜附术蔻不得不藉茵陈以化湿。所谓阴黄也。总
之。兹物之投于外感之阳黄阴黄皆宜。于内伤之湿热亦宜。（小盒饭黄赤）惟于内伤之寒湿
合者不宜。（小便清白而自利）盖内伤寒湿。为阳气不足之所化。宜投术附。不可以有余之
治法化之也。抑黄病原属中土。洁古乃言茵陈人足太阳。何也。曰。巨阳者诸阳之属也。又
三焦者足太阳少阴之所将。能宣巨阳水化。则能达中土之湿化矣。
〔修治〕采得叶有八角者。阴干。去根。细锉。弗令犯火。
For medicinal use, *Yinchen* from mountains is employed. The home-cultivated variety has weaker efficacy. Seedlings emerge in the second lunar month; the stems and leaves resemble those of *Artemisia argyi* (Mugwort), appearing like pale green *Artemisia annua* (Sweet Wormwood) but with a white underside. The branches are closely forked, slender, flat, and neat. Although it belongs to the *Artemisia* genus, it does not die through winter, growing anew from old shoots, hence its name *Yinchen*.
[Stems and Leaves]
Taste: bitter, pungent, sweet. Nature: slightly cold. Category: Yin with slight Yang. Meridian Tropism: Foot-Yangming, Foot-Taiyin, Foot-Taiyang. Indications: Wind-dampness, cold-heat pathogenic factors, heat accumulation causing jaundice (a condition characterized by yellowing of the skin and sclera due to damp-heat stagnation), difficult urination, unblocking joints, removing stagnant heat, treating epidemic febrile diseases with manic delirium, headache, wind-stroke dizziness, and eye disorders (*Shennong Bencao Jing*). Nature and taste are bitter and cold; it is a crucial herb for resolving dampness and clearing heat accumulation (*Zhongchun*). *Yinchen* sprouts in spring from old roots, thus described as "releasing the old" (*Fachen*). *Fan*, *Xiao*, *Wei*, and *E* all belong to the *Artemisia* genus, but unlike this herb which is aromatic and dispersing, uniquely capable of bringing forth the new from the old (*Ziyu*). Jaundice syndromes include damp-heat type and dry-heat type, analogous to crops: waterlogging causes damp-yellow, drought causes dry-yellow; dampness is treated with purgation, dryness with moistening; this refers to Yang Jaundice. There is also Yin Jaundice; generally, *Yinchen* serves as the principal herb, while adjunctive treatments vary according to cold or heat patterns (*Haizang*). *Yinchen Wuling San* treats various types of jaundice. Added with *Coptidis Rhizoma* (Huanglian), *Phellodendri Cortex* (Huangbai), *Puerariae Radix* (Gegen), *Medicago sativa* (Muzhu), and *Schisandrae Fructus* (Wuweizi), it treats Wine Jaundice. Added with *Atractylodis Rhizoma* (Baizhu/Cangzhu), *Poria* (Fuling), *Alisma Rhizoma* (Zexie), *Plantaginis Semen* (Cheqianzi), *Akebia Caulis* (Mutong), *Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium* (Chenpi), *Massa Medicata Fermentata* (Shenqu), *Red Yeast Rice* (Hongqu), and *Ophiopogonis Radix* (Maidong), it treats Grain Jaundice. Combined with *Rehmanniae Radix* (Shengdi), *Xianren Duizucao*, *Dendrobii Caulis* (Shihu), *Chaenomelis Fructus* (Mugua), *Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix* (Niuxi), and *Phellodendri Cortex* (Huangbai), it treats Female Labor Jaundice.
[Dissertation on Wind Disease and Spasm]
After autumn, the stems and leaves of *Yinchen* wither, yet it survives winter and regrows in spring. Its roots are nourished by the virtue of Water, thereby exerting the function of Wood. Earth's master lies in Wood; its utility lies in Water. Through Wood, it reaches Water; through the interaction of Water and Wood, it perfects its ascending function, releasing the old to generate the new. This differs from other herbs that expel damp-heat, and its diuretic efficacy is hard to match. Lu stated that when various pathogens transform into heat and enter the interior causing jaundice, they must invade internally via the interstices (Couli) and collaterals. The fibrous structure of *Yinchen* resembles these pathways; its aromatic nature promotes free flow, and its bitter taste facilitates vigorous movement, allowing invading pathogens to exit and aggregated pathogens to disperse. In jaundice, if dampness prevails, the complexion is dull like smoked yellow; if heat prevails, it is bright like orange yellow. Dampness steams heat, and heat gathers dampness; both originate from damp-toxin in the Middle Jiao, making *Yinchen* suitable for all cases. Haizang noted it is used for both Yang and Yin Jaundice, but also claimed that for jaundice caused by internal injury, one should only use *Lizhong* or *Jianzhong* formulas, without needing *Yinchen*. Consider that most diseases in the human body involve damp-heat. Emotional stress, sexual excess, improper diet, and overwork damage the Middle Qi, affecting Yuan Qi, severely injuring Spleen Yin, and impairing its ability to transport fluids for the Stomach. Such cases are countless. Some develop jaundice from such injuries, while others fail to recover and develop Consumption (Xu Lao). Although Consumption may present with yellowing, it is distinct. Haizang’s statement "not necessary to use" likely refers to such cases. Regarding jaundice, "Huang" implies dampness, while "Dan" implies pure Yang without Yin; this Yang pathogen is actually dampness constrained and obstructed. Dampness varies in severity, and accompanying heat, cold, or blood stasis differ in cause. Initially, emotions, sex, diet, or work damage Middle Qi, affecting Yuan Qi and Spleen Yin, leading to dampness. Dampness gradually transforms into heat, further damaging Spleen Yin and confining Stomach Yang, preventing fluid transport. Thus, dampness nourishes heat, and heat nourishes dampness; Huang and Dan merge (Huang is damp, Dan is pure Yang without Yin), affecting both Spleen and Kidney. Ancients said: Difficult urination indicates Interior Excess, treat by promoting urination or purging; absence of sweating indicates Exterior Excess, treat by inducing sweating or emesis. Reddish, scanty urine indicates abundant damp-heat; clear, copious urine indicates Deficiency. (Ancients stated: For men with yellowing and spontaneous clear urination, associate with Consumption symptoms like weak legs, palpitations, bland taste, tinnitus, aversion to cold with fever, shortness of breath, and turbid urine; treat all with *Yangrong Tang*.) Administering *Yinchen* in such deficiency cases would worsen the deficiency. Therefore, difficult or reddish/scanty urination indicates severe damp-heat combined with heat, due to衰竭 of Spleen True Qi, failing to control water, leading to damp obstruction. Water fails to transform without Earth Qi, Yang pathogen obstructs, True Yin is deficient; both interact. This usually starts in the Stomach, spreads to the Spleen, then to the Kidney, progressing from mild to severe, all being indications for *Yinchen*. Because *Yinchen* can facilitate Water transformation, execute Wood functions, and rescue the Spleen. Internal injuries are originally Deficiency syndromes; if branch symptoms become urgent, treat the branch even in deficiency. If chronic illness damages Spleen and Stomach, weakening Qi and Blood, one must tonify Righteous Qi to gradually repel pathogens; do not overuse cooling agents or forcibly promote urination, lest Kidney Water be depleted, leading to black-yellow complexion and incurability. Those with inherent weak Qi who avoid diuretics but overuse tonics may increase damp-heat; do not rigidly adhere to tonification rules for chronic illness. Furthermore, severe Qi damage from overwork, combined with cold food intake or prolonged rain, where fragile constitution contracts cold, causing cold-damp to combine and produce jaundice, requires Ginger, Aconite, Atractylodes, and Cardamom, necessarily relying on *Yinchen* to resolve dampness; this is Yin Jaundice. In summary, this herb is suitable for external Yang and Yin Jaundice, and for internal damp-heat. It is unsuitable for internal cold-damp combination (clear urine, spontaneous urination). Internal cold-damp arises from insufficient Yang Qi; treat with Atractylodes and Aconite; do not use methods for Excess patterns. Regarding why Ji Guo stated *Yinchen* enters the Foot-Taiyang meridian despite jaundice originating in Earth: Taiyang is the commander of all Yang meridians. Additionally, the Sanjiao is governed by Foot-Taiyang and Foot-Shaoyin; by disseminating Taiyang’s water transformation, it can reach Earth’s damp transformation.
[Processing]
Harvest leaves with eight angles, shade-dry, remove roots, finely slice, and avoid fire exposure.