味甘。性平。有毒。禀火金之气以生。可升可降。阳也。
【主治】主疗诸风瘾疹。及中风半身不遂。口眼 斜。语涩。手足抽掣。形紧小者良。
（开
宝）小儿惊痫风搐。大人 疟。耳聋。疝气。诸风疮。女人带下阴脱。（纲目）
【归经】入肝经。为驱风逐邪之品。（能引诸风药直达病所）
【前论】汪机曰。破伤风宜以全蝎、防风为主。龚信曰。诸风眩掉搐掣。疟疾寒热耳聋。
皆
【禁忌】经疏曰。似中风。及小儿慢脾病。属于虚者。均忌。
【炮制】备要曰。凡使。全用。去足焙。或用尾。尾力尤紧。名蝎梢。
味辛。性温。有毒。禀火金之气以生。可升可降。阳也。畏蜘蛛、鸡屎、桑皮、白盐。
【主治】主鬼疰蛊毒。啖诸蛇虫鱼毒。杀鬼物老精。温疟。去三虫。（本经）疗心腹寒
热
积聚
（纲
【归经】入肝经。为去风散结之品。
【前论】吴瑞曰。行而疾者。惟风与蛇。此能制蛇。故亦能截风。故所主多属厥阴肝病。
仲
瘭
【炮制】备要曰。凡使。取赤足黑头者。火炙。去头足尾甲。将荷叶裹煨。或酒炙用。
一名
以上宣剂虫部
徐之才曰。通可去滞。通草、防己之属是也。刘完素曰。留而不行。必通以行之。如水
病为
牵牛
属通
古名通草。味甘辛。性平。无毒。禀清秋之气。兼得土之甘淡以生。降也。阳中阴也。
【主治】主去恶虫。除脾胃寒热。通利九窍血脉关节。令人不忘。疗脾疸。常欲眠。心
烦哕
三虫
治
【归经】入心肾膀胱小肠四经。为通利之品。（兼轻剂 除烦退热行水下乳止痛排脓）
【前论】李杲曰。通草甘淡。能助肺气下降。利小便。专泻气滞也。肺受热邪。津液气
化之源绝。则寒水断流。膀胱受湿热癃闭约缩。小便不通。宜此治之。凡气味相同者。茯苓、
泽
功
源。
燥也。
于小肠。
皆是伏热
鳌按、木通有细孔。直通两头。故能通窍。每节有二三枝。枝头有五叶。其子垂梢际。
核黑
食是
【禁忌】经疏曰。凡精滑不梦自遗。及阳虚气弱。内无湿热者。均忌。妊娠尤忌。
[Scorpion]
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Neutral. Toxicity: Toxic. It is generated by inheriting the Qi of Fire and Metal. Its action can ascend and descend; it is Yang.
[Indications] Primarily treats various wind-induced urticaria (skin eruptions with itching), as well as hemiplegia caused by stroke, deviation of the mouth and eyes, dysarthria, and convulsions of the limbs. The smaller the scorpion, the better the efficacy.
(Kai Bao Ben Cao) Treats pediatric epilepsy and wind-induced convulsions; adult malaria, deafness, hernia, various wind-induced skin sores; leukorrhea and vaginal prolapse in women. (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
[Meridian Tropism] Enters the Liver Meridian. It is a substance that expels wind and drives away pathogenic factors. (It can guide other wind-expelling herbs directly to the lesion.)
[Preliminary Discussion] Wang Ji stated: For tetanus (po-shang feng), whole scorpion and Saposhnikovia Root (Fangfeng) should be used as principal herbs. Gong Xin stated: Various wind-induced dizziness, tremors, and convulsions, as well as the alternating chills and fever of malaria, and deafness...
[Contraindications] According to Ben Cao Jing Shu (Miao Xiyong): Conditions resembling stroke, as well as slow spleen wind in children, if belonging to deficiency patterns, are all contraindicated.
[Processing] According to Ben Cao Bei Yao: When used, use the whole body, remove the legs, and bake/dry. Alternatively, use only the tail, which has particularly potent effects, known as "Scorpion Tail" (Xie Shao).
Taste: Pungent. Nature: Warm. Toxicity: Toxic. It is generated by inheriting the Qi of Fire and Metal. Its action can ascend and descend; it is Yang. It fears spiders, chicken feces, mulberry bark, and white salt.
[Indications] Primarily treats Gui Zhu (ghostly infection/chronic wasting disease), Gu Du (gu poison), toxins from ingesting various snakes, insects, and fish; kills evil spirits and old essences (superstitious reference to malevolent entities); treats warm malaria; removes intestinal parasites. (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing) Treats cold-heat accumulations in the heart and abdomen... (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
[Meridian Tropism] Enters the Liver Meridian. It is a substance that disperses wind and resolves nodules.
[Preliminary Discussion] Wu Rui stated: What moves rapidly are only wind and snakes. This herb can subdue snakes, thus it can also intercept wind. Therefore, its indications mostly belong to Jueyin Liver diseases...
[Processing] According to Ben Cao Bei Yao: When used, select those with red legs and black heads. Roast over fire, then remove the head, legs, tail, and exoskeleton. Wrap in lotus leaves and simmer/bake, or process with wine.
Above is the Insect Section of the Expanding Agents.
Xu Zhicai stated: The method of unblocking can eliminate stagnation. Tong Cao (Tetrapanacis Medulla) and Fang Ji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Rhizoma) belong to this category. Liu Wansu stated: If retention occurs without movement, it must be treated with unblocking methods to promote flow. Such as water disorders... Qian Niu Zi (Pharbitidis Semen)... belongs to the unblocking category.
Ancient name: Tong Cao. Taste: Sweet and Pungent. Nature: Neutral. Toxicity: Non-toxic. It inherits the Qi of clear autumn, combined with the sweet and bland nature of Earth to generate. Its action descends; it is Yin within Yang.
[Indications] Primarily eliminates harmful insects, removes cold-heat in the Spleen and Stomach, unblocks the nine orifices, blood vessels, and joints, prevents forgetfulness, treats Pi Dan (Spleen jaundice), excessive sleepiness, irritability, and hiccups, removes the Three Worms...
[Meridian Tropism] Enters the Heart, Kidney, Bladder, and Small Intestine meridians. It is a unblocking and draining substance. (It also possesses light agent properties, capable of relieving irritability, reducing fever, promoting diuresis, inducing lactation, alleviating pain, and discharging pus.)
[Preliminary Discussion] Li Gao stated: Tong Cao is sweet and bland; it can assist the descent of Lung Qi, promote urination, and specifically drain Qi stagnation. When the Lung is affected by heat pathogens, the source of fluids and Qi transformation is cut off, leading to stagnant cold water and blocked flow. If the Bladder is affected by damp-heat causing strangury (long bi) and contraction, resulting in urinary obstruction, this herb is suitable for treatment. For substances with similar flavors, such as Fu Ling (Poria) and Ze Xie (Alisma)... their efficacy originates from... drying properties. Acting on the Small Intestine, they address latent heat...
Ao's Note (Zhao Xuemin): Mu Tong (Akebiae Caulis) has fine pores that run straight through both ends, hence it can unblock orifices. Each node has two or three branches, with five leaves at the branch tips, and its fruit hangs at the tip. The seed is black... The edible part is...
[Contraindications] According to Ben Cao Jing Shu (Miao Xiyong): All cases of seminal emission without dreams, as well as Yang deficiency and Qi weakness, where there is no internal damp-heat, are contraindicated. Pregnant women are especially contraindicated.