气寒，味大辛。苦寒，味浓，阴也，降也。苦，阴中微阳。无毒。
入足阳明经，手太阴、肾经本药。
《象》云∶泻足阳明经火热，补益肾水膀胱之寒。去皮用。
《心》云∶泻肾中火，苦寒，凉心去热。
《珍》云∶凉肾，肾经本药，上颈行经，皆须用酒炒。
《本草》云∶主消渴热中，除邪气，肢体浮肿，下水，补不足，益气，疗伤寒，久疟烦
热，胁下邪气，膈中恶，及风汗内疸。多服，令人泄。
东垣云∶入足阳明、手太阴，味苦，寒润。治有汗骨蒸，肾经气劳，泻心。仲景用此为
白虎汤，治不得眠者，烦躁也。烦者，肺也；躁者，肾也。以石膏为君主，佐以知母之苦寒
，以清肾之源。缓以甘草、粳米之甘，而使不速下也。经云∶胸中有寒者，瓜蒂散吐之。又
云∶表热里寒者，白虎汤主之。瓜蒂、知母味皆苦寒，而治胸中寒及里寒，何也？答曰∶成
无己注云∶即伤寒寒邪之毒为热病也。读者要逆识之，如《论语》言∶乱臣十人，书言唯以
乱民，其能而乱四方。乱，皆治也，乃治乱者也，故云乱民，乱四方也。仲景所言“寒”之
一字，举其初而言之，热病在其中矣。若以“寒”为寒冷之寒，无复用苦寒之剂。兼言白虎
证“脉尺寸俱长”，则热可知矣。
气平，微寒，味辛、苦。无毒。
《本草》云∶主伤寒烦热，淋沥、邪气，疝瘕、喉痹，乳难，金疮，风痉。疗腹中结实
，心下满，洗洗恶风寒，目眩项直，咳嗽上气。止烦渴，出汗，安五脏，利骨髓。
仲景∶寒实结胸，外无热证者，三物小陷胸汤主之，白散亦可。以其内有贝母也。别说
，贝母能散胸中郁结之气，殊有功。
《本草》又云∶浓朴、白薇为之使，恶桃花，畏秦艽、 石、莽草，反乌头。
海藏祖方，下乳三母散∶牡蛎、知母、贝母三物为细末，猪蹄汤调下。
(Zhimu) The qi is cold, and the flavor is greatly pungent. It is bitter and cold, with a dense flavor, belonging to Yin, possessing a descending nature. Bitterness belongs to Yin but contains slight Yang. It is non-toxic.
It enters the Foot-Yangming Meridian, Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, and Kidney Meridian, serving as the principal herb for these meridians.
Xiang states: It clears and drains the fire-heat of the Foot-Yangming Meridian and tonifies the cold of Kidney Water and the Bladder. The skin should be removed before use.
Xin states: It clears and drains fire in the Kidneys; being bitter and cold, it cools the Heart and removes heat.
Zhen states: It cools the Kidneys and is the principal herb of the Kidney Meridian. When ascending to the neck and meridians, it must be stir-fried with wine.
Bencao states: It primarily treats Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst) and internal heat, eliminates pathogenic factors, treats edema of the limbs, promotes urination to drain water, tonifies deficiencies, benefits Qi, treats Shang Han (Cold Damage), chronic malaria with vexation and heat, pathogenic factors under the hypochondrium, evil stagnation in the diaphragm, wind-induced sweating, and internal jaundice. Excessive consumption causes diarrhea.
Dongyuan states: It enters the Foot-Yangming and Hand-Taiyin meridians; its flavor is bitter, and its nature is cold and moistening. It treats bone-steaming fever with sweating, Qi exhaustion of the Kidney Meridian, and drains the Heart. Zhang Zhongjing uses this herb in Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) to treat insomnia caused by restlessness. Vexation (Fan) relates to the Lung; Restlessness (Zao) relates to the Kidney. Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum) serves as the Sovereign herb, assisted by the bitter-cold nature of Zhi Mu to clear the source of Kidney heat. Gan Cao (Licorice Root) and Jing Mi (Millet) are used for their sweet and緩 (slowing) properties to prevent the formula from acting too rapidly downward. The Classic states: For cold in the chest, use Gua Di San (Melon Sepal Powder) to induce vomiting. It also states: For exterior heat and interior cold, Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) is the primary treatment. Both Gua Di (Melon Sepal) and Zhi Mu are bitter and cold, yet they treat cold in the chest and interior cold respectively. Why? The answer is: Cheng Wuji’s annotation explains that this refers to the toxicity of Cold Pathogens in Shang Han transforming into Heat Diseases. Readers must understand this inversely. As the Analects mentions "ten ministers who caused chaos," and the Book of Documents says "only using chaotic people" to govern the four quarters, the word "chaos" here implies governance—those who pacify chaos. Thus, "chaotic people" means those who govern the world. Zhang Zhongjing’s use of the character "cold" refers to the initial etiology, within which the Heat Disease is contained. If "cold" were interpreted merely as physical coldness, there would be no need to employ bitter-cold agents. Furthermore, the Baihu Tang syndrome features "long pulses at both cun and chi positions," indicating heat.
(Beimu) The qi is neutral, slightly cold, with pungent and bitter flavors. It is non-toxic.
Bencao states: It primarily treats vexation and heat from Shang Han, painful urinary dysfunction, pathogenic factors, hernia and masses, throat obstruction, difficulty in lactation, traumatic injuries, and wind-induced spasms. It treats solid accumulations in the abdomen, fullness below the heart, aversion to wind and cold with shivering, dizziness, stiff neck, cough with rebellious Qi, stops vexation and thirst, induces sweating, calms the Five Zang Organs, and benefits the bone marrow.
Zhang Zhongjing: For Cold-Excess Jie Xiong (Chest Binding) without exterior heat signs, San Wu Xiao Xian Xiong Tang (Three-Ingredient Small Trap Chest Formula) is the primary treatment; Bai San (White Powder) may also be used because it contains Bei Mu. Another view states that Bei Mu can disperse stagnant Qi in the chest, achieving significant merit.
Bencao further states: Hou Po (Magnolia Bark) and Bai Wei (Cynanchum Root) act as its guides. It clashes with Tao Hua (Peach Blossom), fears Qin Jiao (Gentiana Macrophylla), Shi [Wei] (likely Shi Wei or similar), and Mang Cao (Artemisia Anethifolia), and is incompatible with Wu Tou (Aconite).
Haizang’s ancestral formula, Xia Ru San Mu San (Nursing Milk Three Mothers Powder): Mu Li (Oyster Shell), Zhi Mu, and Bei Mu are ground into fine powder and taken with Pig Trotter Decoction.