味苦平。主痈肿，恶疮，败疽伤阴，死肌，解毒生肌。胃中邪气，养胃驱邪。贼风鬼
击，痱缓不收。和筋逐风。
此以质为治，白芨气味冲淡和平，而体质滑润又极粘腻。入于筋骨之中，能和柔滋养，
与正气相调，则微自退也。
味苦微寒。主腹中邪热气，寒能除热。诸毒，邪热之毒。杀三虫。湿热所生之虫。
贯众生于山涧之中，得天地清阴之气，故能除蕴热湿秽之疾。其体中虚而清芳，故能解
中焦之毒。人身之虫，皆湿热所生。湿热除，则诸虫自消也。
味苦平。主寒热，火气所郁之寒热。鼠 瘰 ，痈肿恶疮，瘿瘤结热，皆肝经热结之
证。蛊毒。湿热之虫。
凡药之散寒、温凉，有归气分者，有归血分者。大抵气胜者治气，味胜者治血。连翘之
气芳
家留
滞之邪毒也。
味苦辛寒。主寒热，瘰 ，鼠 头疮，火气所发。破症散瘿结气，火气所结。嘴肿
湿痹，湿热之在下者。轻身。湿火退则身健也。
此以物禀之气候为治，又一义也。凡物皆生于春，长于夏，惟此草至夏而枯。盖其性禀
纯阴，得少阳之气勃然兴发，一交盛阳，阴气将尽，即成熟枯槁。故凡盛阳留结之病，用此
为治，亦即枯灭，此天地感应之妙理也。凡药之以时候荣枯为治者，俱可类推。
味咸平。主逐恶血，瘀血月闭，破血瘕积聚，诸败血结滞之疾皆能除之。无子，恶血
留于子宫则难孕。利水道，水蛭生于水中故也。
凡人身瘀血，方阻尚有生气者易治，阻之久，则无生气而难治。盖血既离经，与正气全
不相
属，投之轻药，则拒而不纳，药过峻，反能伤未败之血，故治之极难。水蛭最喜食人之血，
而性又迟缓善入，迟缓则生血不伤，善入则坚积易破，借其力以攻积久之滞，自有利而无害
也。
[Baiji (Bletilla Rhizome)]
Taste: Bitter. Nature: Neutral.
Indications: Mainly treats carbuncles and swellings (Yongzhong), foul sores (Echuang), gangrenous ulcers damaging Yin (Baiju shangyin), necrotic tissue (Simi); detoxifies and promotes tissue regeneration (Shengji). Clears pathogenic qi from the Stomach, nourishes Stomach Qi to expel pathogens. Treats flaccid paralysis and inability to move limbs caused by "Zefeng Guiji" (strange wind and ghost strikes). Harmonizes tendons and drives out Wind.
This treatment method utilizes the physical quality of the herb. Baiji has a mild and peaceful aroma and taste, while its texture is slippery, moist, and extremely sticky. Entering the sinews and bones, it can gently nourish and harmonize with the Healthy Qi (Zhengqi), causing the pathogen to recede naturally.
[Leech]
Taste: Bitter. Nature: Slightly Cold.
Indications: Mainly treats evil heat qi in the abdomen; the cold nature eliminates heat. Treats various toxins, specifically toxins of evil heat. Kills three types of parasites (worms generated by damp-heat).
Leeches live penetrating through mountain streams, absorbing the clear and yin qi of heaven and earth; thus, they can eliminate diseases of accumulated heat, dampness, and filth. Their bodies are hollow inside with a clear fragrance, enabling them to resolve toxicity in the Middle Jiao. Parasites within the human body are all generated by damp-heat. When damp-heat is removed, the parasites naturally disappear.
[Lianqiao (Forsythia Fruit)]
Taste: Bitter. Nature: Neutral.
Indications: Mainly treats alternating chills and fever (Hanre) caused by depression of fire qi. Treats scrofula (Shuluo), carbuncles and swellings, foul sores, and goiters with knotted heat; these are all syndromes of heat knotting in the Liver Meridian. Treats Gu poison (parasites of damp-heat).
Generally, herbs that disperse cold or have warm/cool properties either enter the Qi level or the Blood level. Broadly speaking, herbs with predominant Qi properties treat Qi-level disorders, while those with predominant Taste properties treat Blood-level disorders. Lianqiao's aromatic fragrance... [text fragment]: ...resolves stagnant pathogenic toxins.
[Xiakucao (Prunella Spike)]
Taste: Bitter, Pungent. Nature: Cold.
Indications: Mainly treats alternating chills and fever, scrofula, and head sores, caused by the eruption of fire qi. Breaks up masses (Zheng), dissipates goiters, and resolves knotted qi caused by fire qi condensation. Treats throat swelling and damp-bi, which refers to damp-heat located below. Makes the body feel light; when damp-fire retreats, the body becomes healthy.
This treatment method utilizes the climatic characteristics of the plant, representing another principle. All plants are born in Spring and grow in Summer, but this herb withers in Summer. This is because its nature is purely Yin; it receives the vigorous rising energy of Shaoyang (Lesser Yang), but once it encounters the peak Yang of summer, the Yin qi is exhausted, leading to maturity and withering. Therefore, for diseases characterized by the stagnation and knotting of excessive Yang, using this herb causes the pathology to wither and perish, just like vegetation. This is the wonderful principle of heaven-earth resonance. For any herb that uses seasonal flourishing and withering as its therapeutic basis, similar logic applies.
[Shuizhi (Leech)]
Taste: Salty. Nature: Neutral.
Indications: Mainly drives out evil blood, stasis, amenorrhea (Yuebi); breaks down blood masses (Xuejia) and accumulations; clears all diseases of stagnant and coagulated bad blood. Treats infertility (Wuzi); if evil blood remains in the uterus, conception is difficult. Promotes urination, as leeches live in water.
Generally, human blood stasis that has recently obstructed still retains vital energy and is easy to treat. If obstruction persists for a long time, it loses vital energy and becomes difficult to treat. Once blood leaves the vessels, it is completely disconnected from the Healthy Qi. If mild medicines are administered, they are rejected and not absorbed; if medicines are too harsh, they damage the uncorrupted blood. Thus, treatment is extremely difficult. Leeches most prefer to feed on human blood, and their nature is slow yet adept at penetration. Their slowness ensures they do not harm newly generated blood, and their ability to penetrate allows them to easily break hard accumulations. By borrowing their strength to attack long-standing stagnation, there is naturally benefit without harm.