味辛。性平。有毒。得土金之气。兼感天之燥气以生。降也。阴中阳也。柴胡为使。
【主治】主伤寒寒热心下坚。胸胀。咳逆。头眩。咽喉肿痛。肠鸣。下气。止汗。（本
经）
消心腹胸膈痰热满结。心下急痛坚痞。时气呕逆。堕胎。（别录） 消痰。下肺气。（甄权）
治吐食反胃。霍乱转筋。肠腹冷。痰疟。（大明） 治寒痰。及形寒饮冷伤肺而咳。除胸寒。
燥脾家湿。治痰厥头痛。消肿散结。（元素） 治眉棱骨痛。（丹溪） 除腹胀目不得瞑。（纲
目） 救暴卒。（无己）
【归经】入脾胃胆三经。兼入心肺大肠三经。为除湿化痰。开郁发表之品。（兼宣剂 和
胃
【前论】葛生曰。凡遇五绝之病。缢溺压魇产死者。用半夏末吹入鼻中即活。盖取其能
作嚏
性燥
咽痛
湿热
星。
【禁忌】经疏曰。一切血症。及阴虚血少。津液不足之病。均忌。
以上燥剂草部
味辛甘。性大热。有小毒。禀天地之阳气。兼得土金之气以生。升也。阳中阳也。得人
参、甘草、麦冬良。忌生葱、石脂。色紫肉浓者良。即此桂。但去粗皮用。为肉桂。 即此
桂。去里外皮。单用当中心。为桂心。 其枝上嫩皮。为桂枝。 桂枝之细者为柳桂。
【主治】主温中。利肝肺气。心腹寒热冷疾。霍乱转筋。头腰痛。出汗。止烦。止唾。
咳嗽
沉寒
素） 补命门不足。能益火消阴。（好古） 木得桂而枯。又能抑肝风而扶脾土。脾虚恶食。
湿盛泄泻
【归经】入肾肝命门三经。为下行温补之品。（兼补剂 肝肾血分药 补命门相火不足）
[Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma)]
Taste: Acrid. Nature: Neutral. Toxicity: Toxic. It derives its qi from Earth and Metal, and simultaneously absorbs the dryness of Heaven to generate. Its action is descending. It belongs to Yin containing Yang. Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) serves as its guiding herb.
[Indications] Primarily treats cold and heat alternating in Shanghan (Cold Damage), hardness below the heart, chest distension, cough with counterflow qi, dizziness, sore throat and swelling, borborygmus, descending of Qi, and stopping sweating. (From *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
Eliminates phlegm-heat accumulation in the heart, abdomen, chest, and diaphragm; acute pain and hard masses below the heart; vomiting and counterflow qi due to seasonal epidemics; and induces abortion. (From *Bencao Jing Ji Zhu*)
Eliminates phlegm and descends Lung Qi. (From Zhen Quan)
Treats vomiting of food, retroflexion of the stomach, Huoluan (Cholera-like syndrome) with muscle cramps, coldness of the intestines and abdomen, and phlegmatic malaria. (From Li Daming)
Treats cold-phlegm, and cough caused by external cold damaging the Lungs and cold drinks injuring them; removes chest cold; dries Spleen dampness; treats headache due to Phlegm-Jue (syncope); reduces swelling and dissipates nodules. (From Li Dongyuan/Yuansu)
Treats pain in the supraorbital ridge. (From Zhu Danxi/Danxi)
Removes abdominal distension and inability to close the eyes. (From *Bencao Gangmu*)
Rescues sudden collapse. (From Kou Zongshi/Wuji)
[Meridian Tropism] Enters the Spleen, Stomach, and Gallbladder meridians, and concurrently enters the Heart, Lung, and Large Intestine meridians. It is a substance for drying dampness, resolving phlegm, opening depression, and releasing the exterior. (Belongs to the category of "Semi-Releasing Agents", harmonizes the Stomach).
[Preliminary Discussion] Ge Sheng stated: For all conditions of "Five Extinctions" (death by hanging, drowning, crushing, nightmare, or childbirth), blowing powder of Banxia into the nose can revive the patient. This is likely because it can induce sneezing.
[Contraindications] Miao Xiyong (Jingshu) stated: All blood disorders, as well as diseases characterized by Yin deficiency, blood scarcity, and insufficient body fluids, are strictly contraindicated.
The above belongs to the Drying Agents section of the Grass Category.
[Gui (Cinnamomi Cortex/Ramulus)]
Taste: Acrid and Sweet. Nature: Very Hot. Toxicity: Slightly toxic. It inherits the Yang qi of Heaven and Earth, and simultaneously acquires the qi of Earth and Metal to generate. Its action is ascending. It belongs to Yang within Yang. It pairs well with Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Gancao (Licorice Root), and Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix). It is incompatible with raw Congbai (Scallion Bulb) and Chishizhi (Halloysit Rubra). Those that are purple in color and thick in flesh are superior. This is Gui, but the coarse bark must be removed for use, known as Rougui (Cortex Cinnamomi). This is Gui, where the outer and inner barks are removed, using only the center, known as Guixin (Cortex Cinnamomi Medullaris). The tender bark on the branches is known as Guizhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi). The fine twigs of Guizhi are known as Liugui.
[Indications] Primarily treats warming the Middle Jiao, benefiting Liver and Lung Qi, cold and hot diseases of the heart and abdomen, Huoluan with muscle cramps, headache and backache, inducing sweating, relieving irritability, stopping salivation, and treating cough.
Tonifies insufficiency of the Mingmen (Gate of Life), capable of augmenting Fire to dissolve Yin. (From Wang Haogu/Haogu)
Wood withers when encountering Gui; it can also suppress Liver Wind and support Spleen Earth. It treats poor appetite due to Spleen deficiency and diarrhea due to excessive dampness.
[Meridian Tropism] Enters the Kidney, Liver, and Mingmen meridians. It is a substance for descending and warming tonification. (Belongs to the category of "Semi-Tonifying Agents", acts on Liver-Kidney Blood level, tonifies insufficiency of Mingmen Minister Fire).