味苦。性寒。无毒。禀天地阴寒之气而生。降也。阴也。元参为使。恶贝母、菟丝子
。反藜芦。
【主治】主心腹结气。积聚症瘕。黄胆。溺有余沥。逐水。除痈肿。明目止泪。（本经）
养肝
（
中
【归经】入肾经。为燥湿胜热之品。（兼燥剂 肾经君药故又能补阴 泄血中热）
【前论】丹溪曰。苦参能峻补阴气。久服每致腰重者。因其气降而不升也。非伤肾也。
其治
久
【禁忌】经疏曰。久服损肾气。肝肾虚而无大热者。忌。
【炮制】雷公曰。凡使。糯米泔浸一夜。其腥秽气并浮在水面上。须重重淘过。即蒸半
日。
味苦涩。性大寒。无毒。禀天地纯阴之气以生。降也。阴也。贯众、赤小豆为使。
恶地黄。
【主治】主骨间寒热。惊痫邪气。（本经）除胃中伏热。时气温热。热泄下痢。去肠中
小
虫。
去目中
膀胱火。
【归经】入肝胆胃三经。为涤火邪除湿热之品。（肝胆气分药 泻肝胆火下焦湿热）
【前论】洁古曰。下行之功。与防己同。酒浸则能上行外行。柴胡为主。龙胆为使。治
目疾
邪也
腹服
【禁忌】经疏曰。胃虚血少。脾胃两虚作泻。病虚有热。均忌。
味苦咸。性平。无毒。禀天地之阴气以生。降也。阴也。恶黄 、大黄、大戟、干姜
、大枣、干漆、山萸。
【主治】主暴中风身热支满。忽忽不知人。狂惑邪气。寒热酸疼。温疟洒洒。发作有时。
（
灼热
【归经】入胃经。为清虚火除血热之品。（阳明冲任要药）
【前论】海藏曰。古方多用白薇治妇人病。仲淳曰。别录治伤中淋露者。女子荣气不足
则血
火旺
鳌按、白薇并能除血癖。曾治一妇人。本系产后身热烦呕之症。余用白薇为君。加芎、
归、
微觉
点。
【禁忌】经疏曰。凡汗多亡阳。或内虚不思食。食不消。及下后内虚。腹中觉冷。或因
下太
【炮制】雷公曰。去须。糯米泔浸一宿。细锉。蒸拌。日晒干用。（酒洗亦可）
[Shenkushen (Radix Sophorae Flavescentis)]
Taste: Bitter. Nature: Cold. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Born from the yin-cold qi of heaven and earth. Action: Descending. Category: Yin. Minister herb: Scrophulariae Radix (Xuanshen). Incompatible with: Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus (Beimu), Cuscutae Semen (Tusizi). Counter-indicated with: Veratrum Rhizoma (Lilu).
[Indications] Primarily treats knotting qi in the heart and abdomen, accumulations and masses (Ji Ju Zheng Jia), jaundice, dribbling after urination, expelling water retention, removing carbuncles and swellings, brightening the eyes and stopping tearing. (From *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
[Meridian Tropism] Enters the Kidney Meridian. It is a substance that dries dampness and overcomes heat. (Acts as a drying agent; as the sovereign herb of the Kidney meridian, it can also nourish yin and drain heat from the blood.)
[Preceding Discussions] Zhu Danxi stated: Shenku can severely tonify yin qi. Long-term use often leads to heaviness in the lower back because its qi descends rather than ascends; this does not injure the kidney.
[Contraindications] Miao Xiyong in *Bencao Jing Shul* stated: Long-term use damages kidney qi. Contraindicated for those with deficiency of liver and kidney without significant heat.
[Precipitation/Processing] Lei Gong stated: When used, soak in rice washing water overnight. The fishy and foul odors will float on the surface. Must be washed repeatedly until clean, then steam for half a day.
[Longdancao (Radix Gentianae)]
Taste: Bitter and astringent. Nature: Greatly Cold. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Born from the pure yin qi of heaven and earth. Action: Descending. Category: Yin. Minister herbs: Cyathulae Radix (Guanzhong), Adzuki Bean (Chixiaodou). Incompatible with: Rehmanniae Radix (Dihuang).
[Indications] Primarily treats cold and heat alternating in the bones, fright epilepsy, and pathogenic qi. (From *Shennong Bencao Jing*). Removes latent heat in the stomach, seasonal warm-heat diseases, heat-induced diarrhea and dysentery, removes intestinal parasites, clears bladder fire.
[Meridian Tropism] Enters the Liver, Gallbladder, and Stomach meridians. It is a substance that purges fire pathogens and eliminates damp-heat. (Acts on the qi level of the Liver and Gallbladder, draining Liver/Gallbladder fire and damp-heat in the lower jiao.)
[Preceding Discussions] Zhang Jiegū stated: Its descending function is similar to that of Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix (Fangji). If soaked in wine, it can ascend and move outward. Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu) serves as the sovereign herb, with Gentianae Radix (Longdan) as the minister herb, treating eye diseases caused by pathogenic factors.
[Contraindications] Miao Xiyong in *Bencao Jing Shul* stated: Contraindicated for those with stomach deficiency and blood insufficiency, spleen-stomach dual deficiency causing diarrhea, or deficiency conditions with heat.
[Baiwei (Radix Cynanchi Atrati)]
Taste: Bitter and salty. Nature: Neutral. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Born from the yin qi of heaven and earth. Action: Descending. Category: Yin. Incompatible with: Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin), Rheomi Radix et Rhizoma (Dahuang), Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix (Daji), Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Ganjiang), Jujubae Fructus (Dazao), Kansui Radix (Ganqi), Corni Fructus (Shanyuzhu).
[Indications] Primarily treats sudden wind-stroke with body heat and chest/flank fullness, sudden confusion or loss of consciousness, mania and delirium due to pathogenic qi, alternating cold and heat with soreness and pain, warm malaria with chills occurring at specific times. (From *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
[Meridian Tropism] Enters the Stomach meridian. It is a substance that clears deficient fire and removes blood heat. (Important herb for the Yangming Chong and Ren vessels.)
[Preceding Discussions] Zhang Yuansu (Haicang) stated: Ancient formulas often used Baiwei to treat women's diseases. Zhao Xianke (Zhongchun) stated: *Mingyi Bielu* records its use for treating "shang zhong lin lu" (damage to the middle jiao with dripping discharge). When women have insufficient Ying qi, blood deficiency leads to hyperactive fire.
Commentary: Baiwei can also eliminate blood stasis/patterns. I once treated a woman who presented with postpartum body heat, irritability, and vomiting. I used Baiwei as the sovereign herb, adding Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Xiong) and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Gui)... slightly felt... point.
[Contraindications] Miao Xiyong in *Bencao Jing Shul* stated: Contraindicated for excessive sweating leading to yang collapse, internal deficiency with no desire to eat, indigestion, internal deficiency after purgative treatment with a cold sensation in the abdomen, or excessive purgation...
[Precipitation/Processing] Lei Gong stated: Remove the rootlets. Soak in rice washing water overnight. Finely chop. Steam and mix. Sun-dry before use. (Washing with wine is also acceptable.)