气微寒，味酸苦，气薄味浓，有小毒，可升可降，阴也。入手足太阴二经。生用则降，
酒浸可升。其用有赤白之异，赤者泻热，白者补虚，赤者能泻肝家火，故暴赤眼洗与服同。
白者佐炙草，能治腹痛，但夏月少加黄芩，如恶寒者，加肉桂一钱、白芍三钱、炙草钱半，
此仲景之神方也。与白术同用，则能补脾。与川芎同用，则能泻肝。与人参白术同用，则补
益元气。又下痢腹痛者宜用，盖由肠胃湿热，故用此收敛之剂，则脾胃得正，而邪毒不能作
祸矣。腹中有寒而疼，当煨用之。妇人产后，及血虚之人，必须酒炒。古人四物汤用此剂之
寒酸，以收当归之辛散耳。痘家血热，及血不归根者，用此酸寒之剂，以敛血归根极妙，但
血寒痘不发者勿用。反藜芦。
气寒，味甘苦，无毒，气薄味浓，沉也，阴中阳也。惟其性寒泥滞，故用醇酒洗过，或
姜汁炒过，或同附子用，不惟行滞，且能导引入肾，下元血虚者，必须用之。又能填骨髓、
长肌肉。尺脉微者，桂附相宜。尺脉旺者，宜用黄柏知母，则滋阴降火补肾。善黑须发。佐
鹿角胶极能补血。但此剂泥膈，不宜独用。若犯铁器，令人消肾。忌莱菔子，恐耗诸血。痘
家匀气药中用之，便泄则禁。
气寒，味甘苦，无毒，气薄味浓，沉也，阴中阳也。性虽大寒，较熟地则犹宣通而不泥
膈，故能凉心火之血热，泻脾土之湿热，止鼻中之衄热，除五心之烦热。其或虚而生热者，
不可多用，以性大寒故也。惟劳倦伤脾热者当用，以脾经大络之血损也。女人崩中血不止，
产后血上攻心，胎动下血，老人津液枯绝，大肠燥结不润者，皆当用之。又实脾药中用二三
分，以固脾气，使脾家永不受邪，但不可多用，以大寒恐倒脾气也。或用姜汁炒，或用醇酒
洗，或用砂仁酒浸，皆制其寒性，免泥滞也。忌铁器。痘家血热之症，宜用之以凉血解毒，
便滑者禁用。
Shao Yao (Radix Paeoniae Alba/Rubra): The qi is slightly cold, the flavor is sour and bitter. The qi is thin and the flavor is strong; it has slight toxicity. Its action can ascend or descend, and its nature is Yin. It enters the Hand Taiyin and Foot Taiyin meridians. When used raw, its action descends; when soaked in wine, its action ascends. There are differences between red and white varieties: Red Shao Yao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra) clears heat, while White Shao Yao (Radix Paeoniae Alba) tonifies deficiency. Red Shao Yao can drain fire from the Liver, so for sudden acute red eyes, external washing and internal administration use the same method. White Shao Yao combined with Zhi Cao (Honey-fried Licorice Root) treats abdominal pain; however, in summer, a small amount of Huang Qin (Scutellaria Root) should be added. If there is aversion to cold, add 1 qian Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark), 3 qian Bai Shao (White Peony Root), and half a liang Zhi Cao (Honey-fried Licorice Root); this is Zhang Zhongjing's divine prescription. Used with Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), it tonifies the Spleen. Used with Chuan Xiong (Szechwan Lovage Rhizome), it drains Liver fire. Used with Ren Shen (Ginseng Root) and Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), it tonifies Yuan Qi (Primary Qi). Furthermore, it is suitable for dysentery with abdominal pain, as this arises from damp-heat in the intestines and stomach; using this astringent agent restores proper Spleen and Stomach function, preventing evil toxins from causing harm. If abdominal pain is caused by cold in the abdomen, it should be used after baking (wei). For women postpartum and those with blood deficiency, it must be stir-fried with wine. In the ancient Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction), the cold and sour properties of this herb are used to restrain the acrid and dispersing nature of Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis). For patients with pox who have blood heat or whose blood fails to return to its root, using this sour-cold agent to astringe blood and guide it back to its root is excellent; however, it should not be used if the pox fail to erupt due to blood cold. It is incompatible with Li Lu (Veratrum Root).
Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia Root): The qi is cold, the flavor is sweet and bitter, non-toxic. The qi is thin and the flavor is strong; it sinks. It is Yin within Yang. Because its nature is cold and cloying/stagnant, it should be washed with pure wine, stir-fried with ginger juice, or used together with Fu Zi (Aconite Lateral Root). This not only moves stagnation but also guides the drug into the Kidney; it is essential for deficiency of blood in the lower origin. It can fill the marrow and grow muscles. If the Chi Mai (Radial Pulse at the Cinnabar position) is weak, Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) and Fu Zi are appropriate. If the Chi Mai is vigorous, Huang Bo (Phellodendron Bark) and Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizome) are suitable to nourish Yin, descend fire, and tonify the Kidney. It promotes blackening of beard and hair. Combined with Lu Jiao Jiao (Deer Antler Glue), it greatly tonifies blood. However, this agent is cloying and obstructs the chest/stomach, so it should not be used alone. Contact with iron vessels causes "Xiao Shen" (Kidney consumption). Radish seeds (Lai Fu Zi) are contraindicated as they may deplete various types of blood. In formulas for regulating Qi in pox cases, it is used; however, if diarrhea occurs, it is prohibited.
Sheng Di Huang (Raw Rehmannia Root): The qi is cold, the flavor is sweet and bitter, non-toxic. The qi is thin and the flavor is strong; it sinks. It is Yin within Yang. Although its nature is severely cold, compared to Shu Di Huang, it is more unblocking and less cloying to the chest/stomach. Thus, it can cool blood heat in the Heart Fire, drain damp-heat in the Spleen Earth, stop nasal bleeding due to heat, and remove vexatious heat in the five centers (palms, soles, and chest). If heat arises from deficiency, it should not be used in large amounts due to its severe cold nature. It is indicated specifically for heat arising from fatigue damaging the Spleen Qi, as this involves damage to the blood of the great collaterals of the Spleen meridian. It is indicated for women with metrorrhagia (profuse uterine bleeding), postpartum blood rushing to attack the Heart, fetal restlessness with vaginal bleeding, elderly people with exhaustion of body fluids, and dry constipation of the Large Intestine without lubrication. Adding two or three fen to spleen-fortifying drugs consolidates Spleen Qi, ensuring the Spleen remains free from evil pathogens; however, do not use in large amounts, as severe cold may invert/damage Spleen Qi. It can be stir-fried with ginger juice, washed with pure wine, or soaked in wine with Sha Ren (Amomum Fruit) to restrain its cold nature and avoid cloying stagnation. Iron vessels are contraindicated. For pox cases with blood heat symptoms, it is suitable for cooling blood and resolving toxicity; it is prohibited for those with loose stools.