气味苦、平，无毒。主邪气腹痛，除血痹，破坚积，寒热疝瘕，止痛，利小便，益气
陈修园曰∶芍药气平，是夏花而燥金之气；味苦，是得少阴君火之味。气平下降，味苦
下泄
而走血，为攻下之品，非补养之物也。邪气腹痛、小便不利及一切诸痛，皆气滞之病，其主
之者，以苦平而泄其气也。血痹者，血闭而不行，甚则为寒热不调。坚积者，积久而坚实，
甚则为疝瘕、满痛者，皆血滞之病；其主之者，以苦平而行其血也。又云∶益气者，谓邪气
得攻而净，则元气自然受益，非谓芍药能补气也。今人妄改圣经，
以酸寒二字易苦平，误认为敛阴之品，杀人无算。试取芍药而嚼之，酸味何在乎？
张隐庵曰
气味辛、平，无毒。主除脾胃寒热，通利九窍，血脉，关节，令人不忘，去恶虫。（
木通，《本经》名通草。陈士良撰《食性本草》，改为木通。今复有所谓通草，即古之通脱
木也，与此不同。）
张隐庵曰∶木通藤蔓空通，其色黄白，气味辛平，禀土金相生之气化，而为通关利窍之
药也
。禀土气，故除脾胃之寒热。藤蔓空通，故通利九窍、血脉、关节。血脉通而关窍利，则令
人不忘。禀金气，故去恶虫。
防己、木通，皆属空通蔓草。防己取用在下之根，则其性自下而上，从内而外；木通取
用
在
须
知小便之利，亦必上而后下，外而后内也。
[Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix)]
The flavor is bitter, the nature is neutral, and it is non-toxic. It primarily treats abdominal pain caused by pathogenic factors, eliminates blood bi (blood stasis obstruction), breaks down hard accumulations, treats cold-heat hernia and mass formations, relieves pain, promotes urination, and benefits qi.
Chen Xiuyuan states: Shaoyao has a neutral nature, indicating it blooms in summer yet possesses the drying-metal qi; its bitter flavor indicates it acquires the taste of the Ministerial Fire of Shaoyin. Its neutral nature causes it to descend, and its bitter flavor causes it to drain downward, entering the blood level. It is an agent for purging and descending, not a substance for tonification and nourishment. Abdominal pain due to pathogenic factors, difficulty in urination, and all kinds of pains are diseases of qi stagnation. Shaoyao treats these because its bitter and neutral properties drain and descend qi. Blood bi refers to blood that is obstructed and fails to circulate; if severe, it leads to disharmony of cold and heat. Hard accumulation refers to masses that have persisted for a long time and become solid; if severe, they manifest as hernia, mass formations, and abdominal fullness with pain. These are all diseases of blood stasis. Shaoyao treats them because its bitter and neutral properties promote the circulation of blood. Furthermore, the statement "benefits qi" means that once pathogenic factors are cleared away, the primordial qi naturally benefits; it does not mean that Shaoyao can directly tonify qi. Modern practitioners recklessly altered the *Shennong Bencao Jing*, replacing "bitter and neutral" with "sour and cold," mistakenly regarding it as an astringent for yin, resulting in countless deaths. Try chewing Shaoyao; where is the sour taste?
[Mutong (Akebiae Caulis)]
The flavor is pungent, the nature is neutral, and it is non-toxic. It primarily eliminates cold and heat in the spleen and stomach, unblocks the nine orifices, blood vessels, and joints, prevents forgetfulness, and expels harmful parasites. (Note: Mutong was named Tongcao in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*. Chen Shiliang renamed it Mutong in his *Shixing Bencao*. The current Tongcao refers to the ancient Tongsuo Wood, which is different from this.)
Zhang Yin'an states: Mutong vines are hollow and permeable, with a yellowish-white color. Its pungent and neutral flavor endows it with the transformative qi of earth generating metal, making it a herb that opens passages and unblocks orifices. Endowing earth qi allows it to eliminate cold and heat in the spleen and stomach. The hollow and permeable nature of the vines allows it to unblock the nine orifices, blood vessels, and joints. When blood vessels are unblocked and orifices are clear, one is prevented from forgetting. Endowing metal qi allows it to expel harmful parasites.
Fangji and Mutong both belong to hollow, permeable vine herbs. Fangji uses the root located lower down, so its nature acts from below upward and from inside outward. Mutong uses... [Text fragment implies contrast]: One must understand that promoting urination also requires acting from above downward and from outside inward.