味苦咸,性大寒无毒,入心肾二经。主暴中风,身热腹满,忽忽不知人,狂惑鬼邪,寒
热酸疼,温疟洗洗发作,下水气,利阴气,定惊益精。以糯米泔浸一宿,去髭细锉,蒸用,
恶黄 、大黄、大戟、干姜、大枣、干漆、山萸。
按∶白薇味苦入心,咸入肾,故主治如上。
味甘辛,性温无毒,入肺脾二经。主中风失音,一切冷风气,头面百病,斑点风疮疥癣,
心痛血痹,阴囊湿痒,入药炮用,新罗出者佳。
按∶白附色白味辛,故宜入肺,以治风痰。甘而且温,故宜入脾,以治皮肤。阳中之阳,
能
味苦,微寒有毒,入心经。主惊痫癫疾,瘰 阴蚀,痈肿毒疮,小儿胎风,手足抽掣。
下三虫,去蛇毒。一名紫河车,一名重楼金线。
按∶蚤休味苦,故入心经,以治惊痫等疾,而能解毒。
味苦咸,性寒无毒,入肺小肠二经。主头风黄胆,咳逆淋沥,湿痹死肌,一切疥癞恶风
疥癣杨梅诸疮,热毒天行时疾,头痛眼疼,女子阴痛,小儿惊痫,和血脉,通九窍,利小肠。
恶螵蛸、桔梗、茯苓、萆 。
按∶白藓皮入肺经,故能去风,入小肠,故能去湿。夫风湿既除,则血气自活,而热亦
从此逝矣。
味苦,性寒无毒,入心肝二经。消风热,除烦闷,明眼目,治惊痫,杀三虫,疗五疳
及疥癣痔漏诸疮,解巴豆毒。
按∶芦荟之苦,本入心经,而肝则其母也,故亦入之。在小儿惊疳诸热,尤为要药。
雷公云∶凡使勿用杂象胆,其象胆干了,上有竹斑光腻,和象叶捣,此药先捣成粉。
Baiwei (Radix Cynanchi Atrati): Bitter and salty in flavor, extremely cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Heart and Kidney meridians. It primarily treats sudden onset of wind-stroke, fever of the body, abdominal fullness, mental confusion with loss of consciousness, mania, delirium, and symptoms attributed to "ghostly evil," acid-pain associated with alternating chills and fever, the shivering episodes of warm malaria, reduces water retention, promotes the flow of Qi in the yin regions, calms fright, and benefits essence. Soak in rice washing water overnight, remove the rootlets, finely chop, steam before use. Adverse interactions with Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), Daji (Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix), Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), Dazao (Jujubae Fructus), Ganqi (Lacca Resina), and Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus).
Commentary: Baiwei is bitter entering the Heart meridian and salty entering the Kidney meridian; thus, it treats the aforementioned conditions.
Baifuzi (Rhizoma Typhonii): Sweet and acrid in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Lung and Spleen meridians. It primarily treats aphonia due to wind-stroke, all types of cold wind-pathogens, diseases of the head and face, spotted wind sores, scabies, and tinea, heart pain due to blood stasis, damp-itching of the scrotum. For medicinal use, it must be processed. The variety from Xinluo (Silla/Korea) is considered superior.
Commentary: Baifuzi is white in color and acrid in flavor, hence suitable for entering the Lung meridian to treat wind-phlegm. It is sweet and warm, hence suitable for entering the Spleen meridian to treat skin conditions. As yang within yang, it can... [Text cuts off here]
Zaoxiu / Chonglou (Rhizoma Paridis): Bitter in flavor, slightly cold in nature, toxic. Enters the the Heart meridian. It primarily treats fright, epilepsy, manic psychosis, scrofula, genital ulcers, carbuncles, toxic sores, pediatric fetal wind, and convulsions of the hands and feet. It expels three types of parasites and removes snake venom. Also known as Ziheche or Chonglou Jinxian.
Commentary: Zaoxiu is bitter, hence enters the Heart meridian to treat fright and epilepsy, and possesses detoxifying properties.
Baixianpi (Cortex Dictamni): Bitter and salty in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Lung and Small Intestine meridians. It primarily treats cephalic wind, jaundice, cough with counterflow qi, dribbling dysuria, wet bi syndrome leading to necrotic skin, all types of scabies, leprosy, wind-aversion, tinea, yaws, and other sores, heat-toxin caused epidemic febrile diseases, headache, eye pain, female genital pain, pediatric fright and epilepsy, harmonizes blood vessels, opens the nine orifices, and promotes urination via the Small Intestine. Adverse interactions with Piaoxiao (Sepiae Endoconcha), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Fuling (Poria), and Bibo (Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma).
Commentary: Baixianpi enters the Lung meridian, thus dispelling wind; it enters the Small Intestine meridian, thus eliminating dampness. Once wind-dampness is removed, blood and qi naturally circulate freely, and heat dissipates accordingly.
Luohui (Aloe): Bitter in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Heart and Liver meridians. It clears wind-heat, relieves irritability and oppression, brightens the eyes, treats fright and epilepsy, kills three types of parasites, cures five types of childhood malnutrition syndromes (gan), and sores such as tinea, hemorrhoids, and fistulas. It resolves the toxicity of Croton seed (Badou).
Commentary: The bitterness of Luohui primarily enters the Heart meridian, and since the Liver is its mother organ (in the context of generating relationships), it also enters the Liver meridian. It is particularly a crucial herb for treating pediatric fright, gan syndromes, and various heat conditions. Leigong stated: When using this herb, do not mix it with Xiangdan (Elephant gallbladder). Dried Xiangdan has a smooth, glossy appearance resembling bamboo spots when mixed with Xiangye (Elephant leaf powder); this herb (Luohui) should first be pounded into powder.