味咸。性寒。无毒。得土中阴水之气而生。降也。阴中阴也。畏葱、盐。
【主治】主蛇瘕。去三虫。杀长虫。（本经） 化为水。疗伤寒温病伏热发狂。大腹黄
疸。
（
人小
热痢
入轻粉
【归经】入胃轻。为清热利水之品。
【前论】苏颂曰。肾脏风下注病。不可缺也。香港脚药必须用之为使。然亦有毒。不可过
剂。
行湿
得
【禁忌】经疏曰。蚯蚓性大寒。能除有余邪热。故伤寒。非阳明实热。狂躁者。忌。温
病无
复有
【炮制】吴瑞曰。凡使。有炙为末。有阴干研末。有化水。有生捣。各随方法。
以上泻剂虫部
徐之才曰。轻可去实。麻黄、葛根之属是也。 张从正曰。风寒之邪。始客皮肤。头痛
身热
剂也
味苦。性温。无毒。禀天地清阳刚烈之气以生。升也。阳也。浓朴、白薇为使
石苇。
【主治】主中风伤寒头痛。温疟。发表出汗。去邪热气。止咳逆上气。除寒热。破症坚
积聚
九窍。调
【归经】入肺膀胱二经。兼入心大肠二经。为发汗之品。（肺家专药）
【前论】东垣曰。六经有余之邪。客于阳分皮毛之间。腠理闭拒。营卫气血不行。故谓
之实
毛气
脱人元
主营为
【禁忌】经疏曰。诸虚有汗。肺虚痰嗽。气虚发喘。阴虚火炎眩晕。南方中风瘫痪。平
日阳
【炮制】备要曰。凡用发汗。取茎。去根节。煮十余沸。竹片掠去浮沫。或用醋汤略泡。
晒
[Earthworm (White-necked)]
Taste: Salty. Nature: Cold. Toxicity: Non-toxic. It is born from the Yin-Water Qi of the earth. It descends. It is Yin within Yin. It fears green onions and salt.
[Indications] Primarily treats snake-like abdominal masses (abdominal masses resembling a snake). Eliminates the "Three Parasites" (roundworms, pinworms, and liver flukes). Kills long worms. (*Shennong Bencao Jing*) When dissolved into water, it treats febrile diseases with latent heat causing mania, massive abdominal distension, and jaundice.
[Meridian Tropism] Enters the Stomach Meridian. It is a substance for clearing heat and promoting urination.
[Prior Discussions] Su Song said: For diseases where wind-dampness pours downward into the Kidney channel, it is indispensable. It must be used as an guiding herb in prescriptions for Hong Kong Foot (Jiaqi disease/beriberi). However, it is also toxic and should not be overdosed.
[Contraindications] Miao Xiyong in *Bencao Jing Shu* said: Earthworm has a very cold nature and can eliminate excess pathogenic heat. Therefore, in Taiyang Cold Damage diseases, if there are no Yangming excess-heat symptoms such as mania and restlessness, it is contraindicated.
[Preparation] Wu Rui said: Generally, it may be stir-fried and ground into powder, dried in the shade and ground into powder, dissolved in water, or crushed fresh for juice. Each method follows specific therapeutic requirements.
Above belongs to the Insect Category of Purgative Agents.
Xu Zhicai said: Light agents can dispel excess. Ephedra and Pueraria belong to this category. Zhang Congzheng said: Wind-Cold pathogens initially lodge in the skin, causing headache and body heat.
[Ephedra]
Taste: Bitter. Nature: Warm. Toxicity: Non-toxic. It is born inheriting the clear, Yang, vigorous, and fierce Qi of Heaven and Earth. It ascends. It is Yang. Polygalae Radix (Nanmu) and Cynanchi Atrati Radix (Baiwei) serve as guiding herbs. Pyri Folium (Shiwei).
[Indications] Primarily treats headaches due to wind-stroke and cold damage, warm malaria (malaria with warm nature), releases the exterior and induces sweating, eliminates pathogenic heat qi, stops cough and rebellious Qi (asthma/coughing), removes chills and fever, breaks hard accumulations and masses, opens the nine orifices, regulates...
[Meridian Tropism] Enters the Lung and Bladder meridians. Also enters the Heart and Large Intestine meridians. It is a sweating agent. (A specialized herb for the Lung organ)
[Prior Discussions] Li Dongyuan said: Excess pathogens of the Six Channels lodge between the Yang branches and the skin/hair follicles. The interstices close and resist, causing Ying and Wei Qi and Blood to fail to circulate. Thus it is called excess. Hair Qi escapes, Yuan Qi... primarily manages...
[Contraindications] Miao Xiyong in *Bencao Jing Shu* said: For various deficiencies with sweating, Lung deficiency with phlegm-cough, Qi deficiency with asthma, Yin deficiency with flaming fire causing vertigo, southern stroke paralysis, daily Yang...
[Preparation] *Bencao Beiyao* said: For inducing sweating, use the stems, remove the root joints, boil for about ten boils, skim off the floating foam with a bamboo slice, or briefly soak in vinegar water, then dry.