君
木香，味苦辛，性温无毒。降也，阴也。其用有二。调诸气不可无；泻肺气不可缺。
君
槟榔，味辛苦。性温无毒。降也，阴也。其用有二；坠诸药，性若铁石；治后重，验如
奔马。
恶丹参硝石紫石英先以汤浸去辛味凡六七次然后可用
吴茱萸，味苦辛，性热有小毒。可升可降，阳也。其用有四∶咽嗌寒气噎塞而不通；胸
中冷气闭塞而不利；脾胃停冷腹痛而不住；心气刺痛成阵而不止。
藿香叶，味甘性温无毒，可升可降，阳也。其用有二∶开胃口，能进食欲；止霍乱，仍
除呕逆。
川芎，味辛性温无毒。升也，阳也。其用有二∶上行头角，助元阳之气而止痛；下行血
海，养新生之血以调经。
臣，恶菊花芫花玄参畏款冬胜乌头巴豆毒
黄连，味苦性寒无毒。沉也，阴也。其用有四∶泻心火，消心下痞满之状；主肠 ，除
肠中混杂之物；治目疾暴发宜用；疗疮疡首尾俱同。
臣 恶葱实畏丹砂牡丹藜芦
黄芩，味苦平性寒无毒。可升可降，阴也。其用有四∶中枯而飘者，泻肺火，消痰利气；
细实而坚者，泻大肠火，养阴退阳；中枯而飘者，除风湿留热于肌表；细实而坚者，滋化
源退热于膀胱。
黄柏，味苦性寒无毒。沉也，阴也。其用有五∶泻下焦隐伏之龙火；安上焦虚哕之蛔虫；
脐下痛单制而能除；肾不足必炒用而能补；痿厥除热药中，诚不可缺。
Jun (Sovereign) Drugs
Muxiang (Radix Aucklandiae), bitter and acrid in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic. Its action is descending, belonging to Yin. It has two main uses: it is indispensable for regulating various Qi stagnations; it is also essential for unblocking Lung Qi.
Jun (Sovereign) Drugs
Binglang (Arecae Semen), bitter and acrid in flavor. Warm in nature, non-toxic. Its action is descending, belonging to Yin. It has two main uses: it guides other drugs downward, its nature being hard as iron and stone; it treats tenesmus (the feeling of incomplete defecation with urgent need), with efficacy as swift as a galloping horse.
(Wu Zhu Yu should be avoided with Danshen, Xiaoshi, and Zhi Shiyin. Wu Zhuyu must be soaked in decoction to remove its pungent taste, repeated six or seven times before use.)
Wuzhuyu (Fructus Evodiae), bitter and acrid in flavor, hot in nature, slightly toxic. It can ascend and descend, belonging to Yang. It has four main uses: treating obstruction in the throat due to cold Qi; treating blockage in the chest due to cold Qi; treating persistent abdominal pain due to cold stagnation in the Spleen and Stomach; treating paroxysmal stabbing heart pain that does not cease.
Huoxiangye (Herba Agastaches), sweet in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic. It can ascend and descend, belonging to Yang. It has two main uses: opening the stomach appetite to promote food intake; stopping cholera-like vomiting and diarrhea, and eliminating retching.
Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), acrid in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic. Its action is ascending, belonging to Yang. It has two main uses: ascending to the head and temples, assisting Yuan Yang Qi to relieve pain; descending to the Sea of Blood (Chong Mai/Liver storing blood function), nourishing newly generated blood to regulate menstruation.
Chen (Minister) Drugs
(Huanglian should be avoided with Juhua, Yuanhua, and Xuanshen; it fears Kuandonghua; it overcomes the toxicity of Wutou and Badou. Huangqin should be avoided with Congshi; it fears Dansha, Mudanpi, and Lilv.)
Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis), bitter in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. Its action is sinking, belonging to Yin. It has four main uses: clearing Heart Fire and eliminating the sensation of fullness below the heart; managing intestinal disorders and removing mixed turbid matter from the intestines; suitable for treating sudden onset eye diseases; treating sores and ulcers, applicable at both the beginning and end stages.
Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae), bitter and neutral in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. It can ascend and descend, belonging to Yin. It has four main uses: the hollow and light varieties clear Lung Fire, eliminate phlegm, and benefit Qi movement; the dense and solid varieties clear Large Intestine Fire, nourish Yin, and retreat Yang heat; the hollow and light varieties remove wind-dampness and lingering heat on the body surface; the dense and solid varieties nourish the source of transformation and retreat heat from the Bladder.
Huangbai (Cortex Phellodendri), bitter in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. Its action is sinking, belonging to Yin. It has five main uses: clearing latent Dragon Fire (Ministerial Fire) in the Lower Jiao; calming roundworms agitated by deficient fire in the Upper Jiao; relieving pain below the umbilicus when used alone; tonifying Kidney deficiency only when stir-fried; truly indispensable in formulas for treating flaccidity syndromes, cold limbs, and clearing heat.