味苦，性寒无毒，入肾经。泻无根之肾火，疗有汗之骨蒸，止虚劳之阳胜，滋化源之
阴生。勿犯铁器，犯之损肾，烧去毛，盐酒炒用。
按∶知母入肾，为生水之剂，水盛则火熄。所谓壮水之主，以制阳光也。口渴干咳眼花
目眩，便赤腰痛，褥劳，烦躁不眠，此皆阳盛阴衰之证，服之皆愈。若肺家寒嗽，及肾气虚
脱
雷公云∶凡使先用槐砧上捶锉，烧干，木臼中杵捣。勿令犯铁器。行经上颈。酒炒用。
味辛苦，性微寒无毒，入心肺二经。清心润肺，止嗽消痰，主胸腹气逆，伤寒烦热，淋
沥瘕疝，喉痹，金疮，人面疮，瘿瘤诸恶疮。去心研用，浓朴白薇为使，恶桃花，畏秦艽、
矾石、莽草，反乌头。
按∶贝母辛走肺，苦走心，善能散郁泻火，故治胸腹云云等疾。
雷公云∶凡使先于柳木火中炮令黄，擘破去肉，口鼻上有米许大者，心一小颗。后拌糯
米，于锅上同炒。待米黄熟，然后去米取出，其中有独颗围，不作两片无皱者，号曰丹龙精，
不入药中。若误服，令人筋血脉永不收，用黄精小盐汁，合服立愈。
味苦平，性寒无毒，入肺大肠膀胱胆四经。主崩淋热疽，痛痢恶疮，解毒收口，去翳
明目，调经安胎。中枯而飘者，泻肺火，消痰利气，除风湿留热于肌表。细实而坚者，泻大
肠火，养阴退阳，滋化源，除热于膀胱。山茱萸、龙骨为使，恶葱实，畏丹砂，牡丹，藜芦
、沙参，丹参。
按∶芩，枯飘者有上升之象，故入肺，坚实者有下行之理，故入大肠诸经，性甚寒，苟
无实火，不宜用之。
[Anemarrhena Rhizome (Zhimu, 知母)]
Bitter in taste, cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Kidney Meridian. It clears rootless Kidney fire, treats bone-steaming consumption with sweating, stops yang excess in consumptive diseases, and nourishes the source of transformation to generate yin. Do not use iron vessels, as contact damages the Kidneys; burn off the hairs and stir-fry with salt water and wine before use.
Commentary: Anemarrhena enters the Kidney meridian and acts as an agent to generate water; when water is abundant, fire is extinguished. This is what is meant by "strengthening the master of water to control the sunlight (hyperactive yang heat)." Thirst, dry cough, blurred vision, dizziness, dark urine, lower back pain, consumptive disease, irritability, and insomnia are all syndromes of yang excess and yin deficiency; taking this herb will cure them. However, for cold coughs due to Lung conditions, and for collapse of Kidney qi... [text cuts off]
Leigong's processing method states: When using it, first pound and chop on a locust wood block, roast until dry, and pound in a wooden mortar. Do not let it touch iron. Use caution on the neck during menstruation. Stir-fry with wine before use.
[Fritillaria Bulb (Beimu, 贝母)]
Pungent and bitter in taste, slightly cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Heart and Lung meridians. Clears the Heart and moistens the Lungs, stops coughing and eliminates phlegm. It governs rebellious Qi in the chest and abdomen, vexation and heat from Cold Damage (Shanghan), strangury and hernia, throat obstruction (Houbi), metallic wounds, human-face sores, goiter, and various malignant sores. Remove the heart and grind before use. Polygoni Multiflori Caulis (Houpo) and Radix Cynanchi Atrati (Baiwei) serve as guides/assistants; it is incompatible with Peach Blossom (Taohua); it fears Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix (Qinjiao), Alum (Fanshi), and Polygoni Citrini Herba (Mangcao); it is chemically antagonistic (Fan) to Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata (Wutou).
Commentary: Beimu's pungency travels to the Lung, and its bitterness travels to the Heart; it is excellent at dispersing stagnation and draining fire, thus treating the aforementioned chest and abdominal ailments.
Leigong's processing method states: When using it, first roast over willow wood fire until yellow, break open and remove the flesh. The part resembling a rice grain at the nose/mouth area is the heart. Then mix with glutinous rice and stir-fry together in a pot. Wait until the rice is yellow and cooked, then remove the rice and extract the bulb. Those that are single, round, do not split into two pieces, and have no wrinkles are called "Danlong Jing" and are not used in medicine. If mistakenly ingested, it causes the tendons and blood vessels never to recover; take Huangjing (Polygonati Rhizoma) with small salt juice, and recovery will be immediate.
[Scutellaria Root (Huangqin, 黄芩)]
Bitter in taste, neutral in nature, cold in temperature, non-toxic. Enters the Lung, Large Intestine, Bladder, and Gallbladder meridians. It governs metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, strangury, hot carbuncles, painful dysentery, and malignant sores; it detoxifies, promotes wound healing, removes nebulae, brightens the eyes, regulates menstruation, and calms the fetus. Those that are withered and light float upward, clearing Lung fire, eliminating phlegm, promoting Qi movement, and removing wind-dampness residual heat from the muscle surface. Those that are fine, solid, and hard drain Large Intestine fire, nourish Yin, retreat Yang, nourish the source of transformation, and clear heat from the Bladder. Corni Fructus (Shanzhuyu) and Dragon Bone (Longgu) serve as assistants; it is incompatible with Fruit of Allium fistulosum (Congshi); it fears Cinnabar (Dansha), Peony Root (Mudanpi), Veratrum Nigrum (Lilu), Adenophorae Radix (Shashen), and Salvia Miltiorrhiza Radix (Danshen).
Commentary: Huangqin, when withered and light, has an ascending tendency, thus entering the Lung meridian; when solid and hard, it has a descending principle, thus entering the Large Intestine and other meridians. Its nature is very cold; if there is no excess fire, it should not be used.