味苦酸。性平。无毒。禀地中阳气。兼乎木火之化以生。降也。阴中阳也。恶龟甲。
畏白前。忌牛肉乳。
【主治】主寒湿痿痹。四肢拘挛。膝痛不可屈伸。逐血气。伤热火烂。堕胎。（本经）
疗
伤中
血
【归经】入肝肾二经。为走而能补之品。（兼泻剂 能引诸药下行）
【前论】丹溪曰。牛膝能引诸药下行。筋骨痛风在下者。宜加用。张子和曰。大法治淋。
宜
牛
膝
淋
酒蒸。益肝肾。强筋骨。治腰膝骨痛。足痿筋挛。阴痿失溺。久疟下痢。伤中少气。皆取其
补肝肾之功也。
鳌按、杜牛膝性专下走。毫无补益。肝肾二家虚弱者。不可轻投。
【禁忌】经疏曰。误用必伤胎。经闭未久。疑似有妊者。忌用。上焦药中勿入。血崩不
止。
味甘。性微寒。无毒。禀天春生之气。感地稼穑之甘以生。降也。阳中微阴也。地黄
、车前为使。
【主治】主心腹结气。肠中伤饱。胃脉络绝。羸瘦短气。（本经）身重。目黄。心下支
满。
虚
录）去心热。止烦热。寒热体劳。下痰饮。（藏器）止嗽。定肺痿吐脓。时疾热狂头痛。（大
明
热妄
【归经】入心肺二经。兼入胃经。为清润之品。（兼泻剂 阳明正药专行肺经气分药）
【前论】宗 曰。麦冬除肺热之功居多。但专泄而不专收。虚寒多人禁服。东垣曰。凉
而能
者。
【禁忌】经疏曰。麦冬性寒。虽主脾胃。而虚寒泄泻。及痘疮虚寒作泄。产后虚寒作泄。
均
[Niu Xi (Achyranthes Root)]
Taste: Bitter, sour. Nature: Neutral. Toxicity: Non-toxic. It inherits the yang qi of the earth and is generated through the transformation of wood and fire. Its action is descending; it is yang within yin. It is incompatible with Tortoise Shell (Guiban). It is opposed by White Anterior Root (Baiqian). Beef and milk are contraindicated.
[Indications] Primarily treats wind-cold-dampness bi-syndrome (painful obstruction) leading to flaccidity and numbness, spasm and contracture of the four limbs, knee pain with inability to flex or extend. It expels blood stasis and qi stagnation, treats sores and ulcers caused by heat-fire damaging the flesh, and induces abortion. (From *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
[Meridian Tropism] Enters the Liver and Kidney meridians. It is a substance that can both move and tonify. (It has a draining function and can guide other herbs downward.)
[Prior Discussions] Zhu Danxi stated: Niu Xi can guide other drugs downward. For wind-cold-dampness pain in the lower jiao affecting sinews and bones, it should be added. Zhang Zihe stated: In the general treatment of strangury (Lin syndrome), Niu Xi is suitable. When steamed with wine, it tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, strengthens sinews and bones, treats waist and knee bone pain, lower limb flaccidity and sinew contracture, impotence, and urinary incontinence. It also treats chronic malaria, dysentery, and deficiency of qi due to injury to the middle jiao. These effects all derive from its ability to tonify the Liver and Kidneys.
Author's Note: Du Niu Xi (Cyathulae Radix) has a nature specifically directed downward and possesses no tonifying properties. It should not be administered lightly to those with weakness of the Liver and Kidneys.
[Contraindications] Miao Xiyong in *Bencao Jing Shu* stated: Misuse will inevitably damage the fetus. It is contraindicated for women with recent amenorrhea where pregnancy is suspected. It should not be included in formulas targeting the upper jiao. It is contraindicated in cases of continuous metrorrhagia (blood flooding).
[Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber)]
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Slightly cold. Toxicity: Non-toxic. It inherits the vital energy of spring growth and generates sweetness from the earth's agricultural essence. Its action is descending; it is slightly yin within yang. Rehmannia Root (Dihuang) and Plantago Seed (Cheqianzi) serve as its guides.
[Indications] Primarily treats knotting of qi in the heart and abdomen, intestinal fullness from overeating, severance of stomach collaterals, emaciation, and shortness of breath. (From *Shennong Bencao Jing*) It addresses heaviness of the body, yellow eyes, and distending fullness below the heart.
It clears heart-heat, stops irritability and fever, treats fatigue with alternating chills and fever, and resolves phlegm-fluids. (From *Chen Cangqi/Cangqi*) It stops coughing, stabilizes lung abscess with pus expectoration, and treats headache and mania due to epidemic heat. (From *Da Ming Bencao*)
[Meridian Tropism] Enters the Heart and Lung meridians, and additionally the Stomach meridian. It is a clearing and moistening substance. (It has a draining function; it is a principal herb for the Yangming channel, specifically acting on the qi level of the Lung meridian.)
[Prior Discussions] Zong [sic] stated: Mai Dong mostly excels at clearing lung-heat, but specializes in purging rather than astringing. It is prohibited for people with deficiency-cold patterns. Li Dongyuan stated: It is cooling yet capable of... (Text incomplete).
[Contraindications] Miao Xiyong in *Bencao Jing Shu* stated: Mai Dong is cold in nature. Although it governs the Spleen and Stomach, it is contraindicated in cases of deficiency-cold diarrhea, diarrhea caused by deficiency-cold in chickenpox/smallpox, and diarrhea caused by deficiency-cold after childbirth. (Text incomplete).