气大寒，味苦、甘，阴中微阳。有小毒。
《本草》云∶治蛊毒，十二水，腹满急痛，积聚，中风，皮肤疼痛，吐逆，颈腋痈肿，
头疼，发汗，利大小肠。此泽漆根也。
《液》云∶与甘遂同为泄水之药，湿胜者苦燥除之。反甘草。与芫花、黄药子等分，水
糊为丸，桐子大，每服十丸，伤风、伤寒，葱白汤下；伤食，陈皮汤下。或十五丸，微加至
止，亦可。芫花别有条，海藏，十枣汤同用。
《珍》云∶泻肺，损真气。
气微寒，味苦、辛。有毒。
《本草》云∶主伤寒温疟，下十二水，破积聚大坚症瘕，荡涤肠胃中留癖，饮食寒热
邪气。利水道，疗痰饮咳嗽。
《衍义》云∶仲景以荛花治利者，以其行水也，水去则利止，其意如此。用时斟酌，不
可太过与不及也。仍察其须有是证，方可用之。仲景小青龙汤∶若微利，去麻黄，加荛花，
如鸡子，熬令赤色用之。盖利水也。
气寒，味咸。
《本草》云∶主瘿瘤气，颈下核，破散结气，痈肿症瘕坚气，腹中上下鸣，下十二水肿
。疗皮间积聚，暴 ，留气热结，利小便。
《珍》云∶洗，去咸。泄水气。
气平，味辛、酸。有毒。
《本草》云∶主水胀，疝、瘕、痹，熨除痈肿，杀鬼精物。治胸中邪气、水肿、痿痹、
腹满洪，直疏五脏，散水气。如人形者有神。
《珍》云∶辛酸同用，导肿气。
(Da Ji) The nature is greatly cold, the taste is bitter and sweet, belonging to Yin with slight Yang. It has slight toxicity.
Bencao states: Treats gu poison, twelve types of water retention diseases, abdominal distension with acute pain, accumulations and masses, wind-stroke, skin pain, vomiting and regurgitation, carbuncles and swellings in the neck and axilla, headache, induces sweating, and promotes urination and defecation. This refers to the root of Zeqi (Phytolaccae Radix).
Ye states: Together with Gansui, it is a drug for draining water; its bitter-drying property removes excessive dampness. It is incompatible with Gancao. Mixed in equal parts with Yuanhua and Huangyaozi, made into pills using water paste, sized like wutong seeds. Take ten pills per dose. For wind-cold or shanghan, take with scallion white decoction; for food stagnation, take with chenpi decoction. Alternatively, fifteen pills, slightly increased until efficacy is reached, is also acceptable. Yuanhua has a separate entry; Haicang (Zhang Yuansu) mentions its concurrent use in Shizao Tang.
Zhen states: Drains the Lung, damages true Qi.
(Shang Lu) The nature is slightly cold, the taste is bitter and pungent. It is toxic.
Bencao states: Primarily treats shanghan and wenmalaria, drains twelve types of water retention, breaks down hard accumulations and zhijia masses, sweeps away lingering piji in the intestines and stomach, and eliminates pathogenic factors of cold and heat from diet. Promotes water pathways, treats phlegm-fluid retention cough.
Yanyi states: Zhongjing uses Raohua to treat diarrhea because it moves water; when water is removed, diarrhea stops. This is the intent. Dosage must be carefully considered during use, neither excessive nor insufficient. One must still observe if the patient presents the corresponding syndrome before using it. In Zhongjing's Xiao Qinglong Tang: if there is mild diarrhea, remove Mahuang, add Raohua, amount equivalent to a chicken egg, stir-fry until reddish-brown for use. This is likely for its diuretic effect.
(Jing San Leng / Other Saline Herb) The nature is cold, the taste is salty.
Bencao states: Primarily treats yingliu qi, nodular masses below the neck, breaks and disperses stagnant qi, carbuncles, zhijia hard masses, rumbling in the upper and lower abdomen, drains twelve types of edema. Treats subcutaneous accumulations, sudden retention of qi and heat結 (knots), promotes urination.
Zhen states: Wash to remove saltiness. Drains water qi.
(Hai Zao / Kun Bu Type) The nature is neutral, the taste is pungent and sour. It is toxic.
Bencao states: Primarily treats water distension, hernia, jia masses, bi-syndrome, hot compresses to remove carbuncles and swellings, kills ghost spirits and entities. Treats evil qi in the chest, edema, flaccidity and bi-syndrome, abdominal fullness and bloating, directly unblocks the five zang organs, disperses water qi. Those resembling human form possess spiritual efficacy.
Zhen states: Used together with pungent and sour flavors, guides swelling qi downwards.