气寒，味苦辛，阴中微阳也，无毒。凉骨蒸灵丹，止吐衄神方。惟其苦也，故除症坚瘀
血留舍于肠胃之中。惟其辛也，故散冷热血气收作于生产之后。月水欠匀者，服之即调。风
痫时搐者，用之可定。痈疽用之，消肿住痛。痘家用之，行血排脓。清胃汤中止牙疚，快斑
饮内散血热，何也？为其养真血，而攻坏血，固真气，而行结气耳。又治手少阴神不足，足
少阴志不足，故仲景八味丸用之。孕妇所忌。
气寒，味苦酸，无毒。可升可降，阳中阴也。酸苦能补虚，故主伤中五劳羸瘦，补虚益
气也。气寒能利水，故主除肺中水气，止唾血，消水肿，利水道也。蜜炙用之，又主理肺气，
而止咳嗽。与阿胶同用，又能治血嗽，盖阿胶补血，所忌者在敛肺耳，今得此剂以泻之，则
血得补而不患其为敛也。桑白皮乃监制阿胶之妙剂也，用之者，其可少乎。
气温味辛，可升可降，阳也。惟入血分，专治女科。下胎死腹中，为未生圣药。疗口噤
血晕，诚已产佳品。多用破血，少用养血。大都辛温则能和血，故少用养血。若过于辛温，
则血又走散，故多用破血。此通经药中宜用之，必须酒煮。东垣以为补血虚者，为其兼血药
用之，斯能行血养血，而有补血之功也。苗捣敷游毒殊功，胭脂滴 耳立效。
Mudanpi (Cortex Moutan): The qi is cold, the taste is bitter and acrid. It belongs to yin with slight yang, and is non-toxic. It is a spiritual elixir for cooling bone-steaming heat and a divine prescription for stopping hematemesis and epistaxis. Due to its bitterness, it eliminates hard accumulations (zheng) and stagnant blood retained within the intestines and stomach. Due to its acridity, it disperses pathological conditions arising from the contraction of cold and hot blood and qi after childbirth. For irregular menstruation, taking it will regulate the flow. For wind-phlegm epilepsy with frequent convulsions, using it can stabilize the condition. When used for carbuncles and sores, it reduces swelling and stops pain. When used by physicians treating smallpox, it promotes blood circulation and expels pus. In Qingwei Tang (Stomach-Clearing Decoction), it alleviates toothache; in Kuaiban Yin (Rash-Swiftness Drink), it dissipates blood-heat. Why? Because it nourishes true blood while attacking damaged blood, consolidates true qi while moving stagnant qi. It also treats insufficiency of Shen (Spirit) in the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian and insufficiency of Zhi (Will) in the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian; therefore, Zhang Zhongjing included it in Bawei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill). Pregnant women should avoid it.
Sangbaipi (Cortex Mori): The qi is cold, the taste is bitter and sour, and it is non-toxic. Its action can ascend and descend, belonging to yang with yin. Sour and bitter flavors can tonify deficiency; thus, it primarily treats emaciation and weakness caused by the five labors (chronic overwork), providing tonification and qi supplementation. Cold qi promotes diuresis; thus, it clears water-dampness in the lungs, stops hemoptysis, reduces edema, and benefits the water passages. When honey-fried, it regulates Lung qi and stops coughing. When used together with Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin), it treats hemoptysis. Since Ejiao tonifies blood but has the contraindication of astringing Lung qi, obtaining the draining action of Sangbaipi ensures that blood is tonified without worrying about excessive astringency. Sangbaipi is an ingenious agent for controlling the properties of Ejiao; how could users neglect it?
Honghua (Flos Carthami): The qi is warm, the taste is acrid. Its action can ascend and descend, belonging to yang. It enters the blood level and specializes in treating gynecological diseases. For fetal death retained in the uterus, it is a sacred medicine before birth. For treating trismus and postpartum blood syncope, it is indeed an excellent product for after birth. Large doses break blood; small doses nourish blood. Generally, acrid-warm herbs harmonize blood, so small doses nourish blood. If excessively acrid-warm, blood may scatter, so large doses break blood. It should be used among blood-invigorating medicines for unblocking menses and must be decocted with wine. Li Dongyuan considered it capable of tonifying blood deficiency because when used in conjunction with other blood herbs, it can move and nourish blood, thereby achieving the effect of tonifying blood. Crushed seedlings applied externally are highly effective for wandering toxins; red dye drops into the ear produce immediate results.