味苦甘辛，性微无毒，入肺肝脾膀胱四经。主伤寒痰嗽痞满，心腹结气，解热开胃，推
陈致新，亦止夜啼儿，佐使畏恶同柴胡。
按∶前胡辛可畅肺，以解风寒，甘可悦脾，以理胸腹，苦能泄厥阴之火，温能散太阳之
邪。
雷公云∶凡使勿用野蒿根，缘真似前胡，只是味粗酸，若误用，令人反胃不受食。若是
前胡，味甘气香，凡修事，先用刀刮去苍黑皮并髭，细锉，用甜水浸令润，于日中晒干用之。
味辛甘，性温无毒，入肺肝脾胃四经。疏气开郁，消风除痒，便醋制用。
按∶香附味甘辛，故主发散疏通，以入肺肝脾胃，类称女科圣药者，盖以妇人心性偏热，
多气多郁，血因气郁，则不能生耳。不知惟气实血不大虚者宜之。不然，损其气，燥其血，
愈致其疾，惜乎未有发明，而俗多受女科圣药一句之累矣！性燥，故便制以润之，性散故醋
制以敛之。
味甘苦，性温无毒，入肺心大肠膀胱四经。主散在表寒邪，通九窍，开毛孔，破症结，
除积聚。去根节者，大能发汗。根节能敛汗。浓朴为使，恶辛夷，石苇，陈久者良。
按∶麻黄端主发散，宜入肺部，出汗开气，宜入心与大肠膀胱，此骁悍之剂也。可治冬
月春间伤寒瘟疫，夏季不可轻用，惟在表真有寒邪者可用，或无寒邪，或寒邪在里，或里虚
之人，或阴虚发热，或伤风有汗，或伤食等证。虽发热恶寒，其不头疼而拘急，六脉不浮紧
者，皆不可用。虽可汗之证，不宜多服，盖汗乃心之液，若不可汗而汗，与可汗而过汗，则
心血为之动矣。或至亡阳，或至衄血不止，而成大患。丹溪以麻黄人参同用，亦攻补之法也，
医
雷公云∶凡使去节并沫，若不尽，服之令人闷，用铜刀剪去节并头，槐砧上用铜刀细锉，
煎三四十沸，竹片掠去上沫尽，漉出，熬干用。
[Peucedani Radix (Qianhu)]
Taste: bitter, sweet, pungent. Nature: slightly warm. Non-toxic. Meridian tropism: Lung, Liver, Spleen, Bladder. Indications: Mainly treats phlegm-cough and chest/epigastric fullness due to Cold Damage (Shanghan), stagnant Qi in the heart and abdomen, resolves heat, opens the stomach, promotes elimination of turbid substances and generation of fresh ones, and also treats night crying in infants. Its compatibility contraindications and mutual aversions are the same as those of Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu).
Commentary: Qianhu’s pungency can unblock the Lung Qi to resolve Wind-Cold; its sweetness can harmonize the Spleen to regulate the chest and abdomen; its bitterness can drain Fire from the Jueyin channel; its warmth can disperse pathogenic factors from the Taiyang channel.
Lei Gong stated: When using Qianhu, do not use the roots of wild Artemisia, as they resemble true Qianhu but have a coarse, sour taste. If mistakenly used, it causes regurgitation and inability to eat. True Qianhu has a sweet taste and fragrant aroma. For processing, first scrape off the dark grey-black skin and root hairs with a knife, finely chop, soak in sweet water until moist, then dry in the sun for use.
[Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu)]
Taste: pungent, sweet. Nature: warm. Non-toxic. Meridian tropism: Lung, Liver, Spleen, Stomach. Actions: Disperses Qi, opens depression, eliminates Wind, relieves itching. Usually prepared by stir-frying with vinegar.
Commentary: Xiangfu’s sweet and pungent nature makes it effective for dispersing and unblocking. As it enters the Lung, Liver, Spleen, and Stomach meridians, it is often referred to as the "Holy Medicine for Gynecology." This is likely because women tend to have a predisposition to Heat in their mental disposition, with abundant Qi and frequent stagnation. Blood fails to generate properly due to Qi stagnation. However, it should be noted that only those with robust Qi and non-severe Blood deficiency are suitable for this herb. Otherwise, it may damage Qi and dry out Blood, exacerbating the condition. It is regrettable that this has not been clarified, and common practice is often misled by the label "Holy Medicine for Gynecology." Since Xiangfu is drying in nature, vinegar processing is used to moisten it; since it is dispersing in nature, vinegar processing is used to astringe it.
[Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang)]
Taste: sweet, bitter. Nature: warm. Non-toxic. Meridian tropism: Lung, Heart, Large Intestine, Bladder. Indications: Mainly disperses exterior Cold pathogens, unblocks the nine orifices, opens pores, breaks up masses and accumulations. The part without roots and nodes induces strong sweating. The part with roots and nodes has an effect of restraining sweating. Polygalae Radix (Gancao) serves as the guiding herb (Note: Text says "Nongpu" which is Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, but traditionally Gancao is common guide; sticking to text: Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (Houpo) is used as Shi). Averse to Magnoliae Flos (Xinyi) and Pyrosiae Fructus (Shiwei). Older stored material is superior.
Commentary: Mahuang primarily acts on dispersion and is suitable for entering the Lung meridian to induce sweating and open Qi flow; it is also suitable for entering the Heart, Large Intestine, and Bladder meridians. It is a potent and fierce agent. It can treat Cold Damage and epidemics during winter and spring, but should not be used lightly in summer. It is only applicable when there is genuine exterior Cold pathogen. It is contraindicated if there is no Cold pathogen, if the Cold is interior, if the patient has interior deficiency, Yin deficiency with fever, Wind-strike with sweating, or food stagnation. Even if fever and aversion to cold are present, if there is no headache and stiffness, and the six pulses are not floating and tight, it must not be used. Even for syndromes suitable for diaphoresis, it should not be taken in excess, as sweat is the fluid of the Heart. Forced sweating when inappropriate, or excessive sweating when appropriate, will disturb Heart Blood. This may lead to Yang collapse or persistent epistaxis, causing severe complications. Zhu Danxi combined Mahuang with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen), employing a method of attacking and tonifying simultaneously.
Lei Gong stated: When processing, remove the nodes and wash away the foam. If not clean, ingestion causes chest stuffiness. Use a copper knife to cut off the nodes and head, place on a locust wood anvil, finely chop with a copper knife, boil for 30-40 boils, skim off the foam on the surface completely with a bamboo spatula, strain out, and dry thoroughly for use.