忍冬 〔即金银藤，甘微寒，入脾经。茎叶及花，气味功用皆同，生者捣用更效，自然汁尤效。〕
除腹胀满，〔热气内盛，则为胀满。甘能和中，寒能除热。〕疗风湿气。〔弘景
言∶煮汁酿酒，补虚疗风、以甘能益血也。〕能止偏头风痛，〔取其益血清热治风。〕可医
香港脚作痛。〔取其清热除湿。〕热毒血痢必征，〔除热解毒之功。〕寒热身肿宜投。〔热胜则肿。
〕外科称圣药，〔散热解毒消肿，一切肿毒痈疽，恶疮疥癣并效。〕痘症是神丹。〔一味熬膏，
小儿预服，出痘必稀。〕性极中和，故无禁忌。
牛蒡子 〔辛凉，入肺、胃二经。酒炒研。〕散风热，利咽膈。〔风热上搏，则为咽痛，
为痰壅，咽膈不利，辛凉解散而自安。〕斑疹、痧、痘必需，〔开毛窍，除热毒，故所必需。〕肿
毒、痈、疽莫缺，〔以其能散诸种疮疡之毒。〕散风除热解毒之要药。
性冷而滑，泄泻者忌用。
车前子 〔甘寒，入肝、肾、膀胱三经。酒拌蒸晒。〕利水止泻，〔利小便而不走气，与茯苓
同功；水道利则清浊分，而泻自止。〕开窍通淋。〔淋者欲尿而不能出，胀急痛甚，不欲尿而点滴淋
漓也。〕能强阴益精，〔男女阴中，各有二窍；一窍通精，乃命门真阳之火；一窍通水，乃膀胱湿热之
水。二窍不并开，水窍开则湿热外泄，相火得宁，精窍常闭，而无漏泄，久久精足，精足则阴强。故
补肾固精，种子药中每加之以利小便者，是此义耳，非其性之真能强阴益精
也。〕疗目疾赤痛。〔其性能祛肝中风热，且又善走下窍，所谓上病下疗也。〕
阳气下陷，肾气虚脱者勿用。
泽泻 〔甘咸微寒，入肾、膀胱二经，去皮酒浸焙。〕利小便，治淋沥。〔有宣通水道之功。
〕泻心下水痞，祛脬中留垢。〔以其能逐三焦、膀胱停水故也。〕渗湿热，行痰饮，泄泻水肿痹症均求
，头旋香港脚疝疼咸疗。〔皆利水除湿之效。时珍云∶脾胃有湿热，则头重旋转，目昏耳鸣，渗去其
湿，则热除而土气得令，清气上行，则天气明爽。故本经言，服之耳目聪明。若久服则降令太过，清
气不升，且小便既多，肾阴潜耗，故扁鹊言其多服昏目。地黄丸用泽泻者，古人用补，必兼泻邪，去邪
则补剂得力，专一于补，必致偏胜之害也。仲淳云∶入六味丸中，除阴虚病有湿热者。其说甚通〕。
性善逐水，病患无湿无饮者勿用。肾虚精滑，虚寒泄泻等候，皆忌。
木通 〔辛甘淡平，入心、小肠、膀胱三经。色白而梗细者佳。〕利水治淋，〔泻心家之火
，则肺不受邪，而气化及州都，随其性之通，而小便利。故曰君火为邪用木通，相火为邪用泽泻，利水
虽同，用各有别。治淋者乃通窍之功也。〕除湿杀虫。〔湿热生虫，利水则除湿，而热亦去，虫自杀
矣。〕宣九窍，利关节，通血脉，下乳汁，〔皆通窍之所致。〕关格可开，〔仲景云∶关则不得小便
，格则吐逆。盖因丹田有热，故不得小便，火炎上升，故食即吐逆。此能利诸经脉寒热不通之气。〕
疮疖兼医。〔能泻心火，由小肠而出也。〕功用虽多，不出宣通气血四字。
性极通利，精滑气弱，内无湿热者忌用。能催生堕胎，孕妇勿服。
通草 〔甘淡寒，入肺、胃二经。〕入肺，引热下降，而利小便；〔色白体经，气寒味淡故也。
〕走胃，通气上达，而下乳汁。
孕妇勿服。
灯心草 〔淡平，入心、小肠二经。〕清心必用，利水偏宜。
小便不禁者忌之。
淡竹叶 〔淡寒，入心、小肠二经。〕专通小便，〔淡味，五脏无归，但入太阳，利小便。〕
能解心烦。〔小便利，心火因而清之也。〕
有走无守，孕妇禁之。
海金砂 〔甘淡寒，入小肠膀胱二经。〕利水道而治诸淋，〔淡能利窍，故通小便，水道利则清
浊自分，而血淋、沙淋、膏淋涩痛愈矣，时珍云∶惟热在太阳经血分者最宜。〕除湿热而消肿满，〔
肿胀因湿热者用之。〕
小便不利，由于肾水不足者勿服。
葶苈子 〔辛苦大寒，入肺、大肠、膀胱三经。酒炒。有甜、苦二种，甜者其力稍缓。〕疏肺壅
而除喘逆，利水道而消肿满。〔肺中水气， 满喘急者，非此不除。盖肺气壅塞，则膀胱不利。譬之上
窍闭，则下窍不通。不通则水湿泛滥，为喘满，为咳逆，为肿胀。其性能泄气闭而不行，逐水亦能泄大
便。〕肺痈必求，〔仲景有葶苈大枣泻肺肠。〕痰饮亦宜。〔能除胸中痰饮，降气行水走泄之功也。〕
性峻走而不守，不可混用，虚人尤为大忌。
泽兰 〔甘苦微温，入肝、脾二经。〕活血有消瘀之能，〔甘能活血，独入血海攻击稽留，故主产后百病。〕
利水有消蛊之效。〔利水消蛊者，乃血化为水之功，非脾虚停湿之水也。〕行而带补，服之无偏盛之忧。
益母草 〔辛苦微寒，入肝经。子名茺蔚子。〕治产后诸疾，〔以其活血破血，故跌仆瘀凝亦主
之。〕救喉闭肿痛。〔捣烂入新汲水一碗，绞汁顿饮，吐之即愈。以其能解毒，一切乳痈疔肿亦饮之，
并用敷之。〕
性善行走，无瘀血者勿用。
红花 〔辛温，入心、肝二经。酒喷微焙。〕行男子血脉，通女子经水。〔少用则养血，多用
则破血。〕产后血晕急需，胎死腹中必用。活血润燥，为行血之要药。
过用，使人血行不止而毙，可弗慎欤！孕妇禁之。
牡丹皮 〔辛苦微寒，入心与包络、肝、肾四经，酒焙。〕清血中之伏火，〔伏火即阴火
也，阴火即相火也。人但知黄柏治相火，而不知丹皮之功更胜。〕凉无汗之骨蒸，除肠胃积血，〔以
其能凉血行血也。〕治神志不足。〔心藏神，肾藏志，治神志不足者，凉心血，清相火之功也。〕
凉血而又能行血，凡妇人血崩，及经水过期不净，忌与行血药同用。孕妇勿服。
三七 〔一名金不换，贵重之也。甘、微苦寒，入胃、肝二经，产广西者，味似人参。以末掺血
中，则血化为水者乃真。〕治吐衄肠红赤痢，疗产后血晕瘀痛。〔俱单服如神，以其止血而能散血也。
〕杖仆刀伤血淋，为末掺，〔杖扑瘀血淋漓者，或嚼烂涂之即止，青肿者即消。若受杖时，先服一、
二钱，则血不冲心，杖后又宜服之。又名山漆，谓其能合金疮粘物也。〕无名痈肿疼痛，醋调涂。〔涂
之即散，破者、研末掺之。〕阴虚火炎失血，非其所长，或与地、冬滋阴之药同用，亦可。
玄胡索 〔辛温苦，入肺、脾、肝、心、包络四经，酒炒。〕止腹痛心疼而治疝症，〔血凝
气滞则痛，温则和畅而气行，辛则走散而血活，痛自止矣。〕能调经利产而除血晕。〔血气不和，
因而凝滞，每多后期而至。活血利气，经自如常。性能破血，故利产后诸病。〕行血中气滞，气中
血滞，故专治一身上下诸痛，乃活血化气之神药也。
走而不守，惟有瘀滞者宜之。若经事先期，产后血虚而晕，万不可服。
茜根 〔苦寒，入心、肝、肾三经。〕治诸窍之血，〔如吐衄便溺是也。仲淳言其能凉血病
之血，行已伤之血。〕疗跌扑之瘀，黄胆可医，〔指蓄血发黄也。〕肿毒能消。〔凉血行血之功。〕
虽有血症，而食少作泻者勿服，孕妇亦忌。
蒲黄 〔甘平，入心包、肝二经。炒透亦能止血。〕服之则止心腹诸痛，〔活血消瘀之功。〕
掺之则治舌肿满口。〔凉血除热之效。〕
非因瘀血痛者勿用。
姜黄 〔辛苦温，入肝、脾二经。〕除积血腹痛，〔其性破血，而能兼理血中之气。〕止痹症
臂疼。〔戴元礼云∶片姜黄能入手臂治痛，辛散破血之功也。〕
血虚者服之，病反增剧。
王不留行 〔苦平，入肝经。〕能下乳汁，〔古云∶穿山甲、王不留，妇人服了乳常流。〕可
消痈毒，〔活血之功。〕通血脉，走而不守，虽有王命亦不能留其行也，故妇人难产每用之。
孕妇及失血家并忌。
刘寄奴 〔苦寒，入肝、脾二经。〕能破血下胀，敷金疮出血。
速走之性，又在血分，多服则令人痢。
京三棱 〔苦平，入肝、脾二经。醋炒。〕下血积如神，化坚癖为水。〔破血散血，能治一切
凝滞有形之坚积。从气药则治气，从血药则治血。〕
能泻真气，虚者勿服。东垣五积诸方，皆有人参赞助，如专用克削，则脾胃愈虚，积安得去乎。
孕妇勿服。
蓬莪术 〔辛苦温、入肝经。或醋或酒炒。〕治积聚诸气，疗心腹作痛，〔其功能行气破血，散结消
积，为气中之血药。〕
磨积之要药。虚人当与健脾胃补元气之品同用，乃无损耳。
使君子 〔甘温，入脾、胃二经。〕杀诸虫，治疳积。〔空腹食数枚，虫皆死而出，疳积，脾虚
胃弱所致，甘温能补胃健脾，不苦不辛，而能杀虫，此所以为小儿上药也。〕
服后忌饮水，犯之即泻。
旋复花 〔一名金沸草，咸寒，入肺、大肠二经。去蒂焙，煎成须绢滤清服之。〕治胶痰，
〔咸能软坚。〕祛留饮，〔咸能润下。〕除噫气，〔性能下气也。〕利大肠。昔人言其祛头目风，行
水治肿，亦走散之药。
虚者不宜多服。
半夏 〔辛温有毒，入脾、胃、心、胆四经。反乌头，忌羊血饧糖。洗净滑液，姜汁炒。〕
治痰饮之咳嗽，〔寒痰、湿痰，或因留饮致咳，宜用之，若阴虚痰嗽者大忌。〕止胃冷之呕吐，〔因胃
停积冷痰留饮致吐，宜用，若由胃热火冲而呕，则忌之。〕疗痰厥头痛眩晕，〔湿痰厥逆而上，则上实
而为痛为眩为晕，此为对症，若因血虚火痰而致者，用之则误。〕除留饮胸满短气，〔膈有留饮湿聚则
为满闷，射肺则为喘为咳，阻气不布，而为短气，此为的药；若非留饮满闷，阴虚气喘气短，投之立祸
。〕燥湿消痰祛饮之要药。
古人有三禁，谓血家、渴家、汗家是也。若无脾湿，且有肺燥，误服半夏，悔不可追，谨之戒之。又
有似中风热痰壅盛，此属阴虚者居多，大忌犯之，能堕胎，孕妇亦忌。每见世医，执丹溪言二陈汤治一
身之痰，见痰即用，不知世之患燥痰甚多，惟此一味贻害不少，特表着误。
南星 〔辛苦温有毒，入肝经。火炮则毒性缓。〕入肝祛风痰，九制则燥性减。〔性烈而燥，
须用牛胆九制。〕因痰凝结核，〔不据何处，或大或小，或软或硬，不痛不痒，其色白者，乃痰块也。〕
频涂则块渐消。〔同半夏、海藻、昆布、大黄等为末，醋涂自消。〕
非西北方真中风，大忌。破血堕胎，孕妇戒用。
海藻 〔苦咸，寒，入肝、胃、肾三经。反甘草。〕消瘰 瘿瘤，除卵肿疝疼。〔苦能泄结，咸能
软坚，寒能除热故也〕。
脾家有湿者勿用。
昆布 〔咸寒，入肝、胃、肾三经。洗净。〕瘿坚如石者，非此不除；老痰成噎者，用之可祛。
散结软坚，除热之品，与海藻相同，多服令人瘦削。
常山 〔辛苦寒有毒，入肝经。酒炒令透，则不发吐。〕驱痰饮有灵，截疟疾必效，〔无痰不成疟
，善祛老痰积饮，故能截积年久疟有神〕。散瘴气寒热，治项下瘿瘤。〔散瘴邪祛老痰之功。〕
其性暴悍，最损真气。截疟宜同补药用。虚人及孕妇大忌。
草豆蔻 〔辛温。入脾、胃二经。炒研。〕散冷滞之气，止心腹之疼。
性温热，气芳烈，因火热作痛者忌用。
肉豆蔻 〔一名肉果。辛温，入脾、胃、大肠三经。面裹煨透。忌铁器。〕暖脾胃而消宿
食，固大肠而止泄泻。
病患有火，泻痢初起，皆不宜服。
益智仁 〔辛热，入脾、肾二经。盐水炒研。〕温中进食，〔古人进食，必先益智，为其于
土中益火故耳。〕益脾补肾，〔芳香归脾，辛能润肾。〕摄涎唾，〔脾为涎，肾为唾，补益二脏，则
脾能统摄，肾能纳气归元，不致泛滥上溢矣〕。缩小便。〔小便频数淋沥，因于肾气不固，须佐补肾
药用。〕
功专补火，非脾肾虚寒者大忌。
蛇床子 〔辛苦温，入脾、肾二经，地黄汁拌蒸三次后黑色乃佳。〕善起男子阳事痿，〔性善益
阳，治痿有奇功，不可以贱而忽之。〕能温妇女子宫寒。〔阴有寒冷，蜜丸绵裹纳入阴中。〕止白带
，〔带下如鸡子清不臭者宜之。〕而擦疮癣；洗阴痒，〔用猪肝葱椒油煎，先纳阴户片时，以引虫出，然
后同白矾煎汤频洗，男子阴汗阴囊痒湿，并洗有效。〕而浴癫风。
温燥之品，相火易动者勿服。
兰叶 〔辛甘微寒，入肺、胃二经。解牛马肉毒。〕止消渴必用，〔芳香清润，生津止渴。〕散
郁气最良。〔辛芳故能散结开郁。〕开胃称神，〔芳香而不燥也。〕利水颇效。〔肺气郁结，则上窍闭
而下窍不通，清肺开郁，水道自利。除胸中痰癖。〔胃气莞滞，则水谷不能以时化，而为痰癖
也〕。消痈肿蛊毒。〔散结清胃之功。〕
白前 〔辛甘平，入肺经。汤泡去须焙。〕胸胁逆气能除，〔长于降气故也。〕咳嗽上气可
安。〔咳则气逆痰随上壅，但坐不得卧，喉如水鸡声者，服之立愈。〕性无补益，肺因邪客、痰壅
者宜之。
若由气不归元所致者忌用。
**Jin Yin Teng (Lonicerae Japonicae Caulis et Folium)** [Also known as Jin Yin Teng, Sweet and slightly cold, enters the Spleen Meridian. The stems, leaves, and flowers have identical properties, flavors, and functions; fresh ones are more effective when pounded for use, and their natural juice is especially potent.] Eliminates abdominal distension and fullness. [Internal excess of heat causes distension and fullness. Sweetness harmonizes the middle, and cold clears heat.] Treats wind-damp qi. [Hong Jing stated: Boiling the juice to brew wine tonifies deficiency and treats wind, as sweetness benefits blood.] Can stop pain from hemi-cephalic wind. [Taking advantage of its ability to benefit blood, clear heat, and treat wind.] Can treat painful Hong Kong foot (gouty arthritis). [Taking advantage of its ability to clear heat and drain dampness.] Essential for heat-toxin bloody dysentery. [Its function of clearing heat and resolving toxicity.] Suitable for alternating chills and fever with edema. [Excess heat causes swelling.] Called a "Holy Medicine" in surgery. [Resolving heat, detoxifying, reducing swelling; effective for all types of toxic swellings, carbuncles, sores, malignant ulcers, scabies, and tinea.] A miraculous pill for smallpox. [Boiling this single herb into a paste and administering it to children beforehand ensures that the eruption will be sparse.] Its nature is extremely neutral, thus there are no contraindications.
**Niu Bang Zi (Arctii Fructus)** [Acrid and cool, enters the Lung and Stomach meridians. Stir-fried with wine and ground.] Disperses wind-heat, benefits the pharynx and diaphragm. [When wind-heat attacks upward, it causes sore throat, phlegm obstruction, and discomfort in the pharynx and diaphragm; acrid-cool dispersal brings peace.] Essential for macules, rashes, scarlet fever, and smallpox. [Opening hair follicles and removing heat-toxin makes it essential.] Indispensable for toxic swellings, carbuncles, and sores. [Because it can disperse the toxins of various types of skin ulcers.] An important herb for dispersing wind, clearing heat, and resolving toxicity. Its nature is cold and slippery; those with diarrhea should avoid using it.
**Che Qian Zi (Plantaginis Semen)** [Sweet and cold, enters the Liver, Kidney, and Bladder meridians. Steamed and sun-dried after mixing with wine.] Promotes urination and stops diarrhea. [Promoting urination without depleting Qi has the same effect as Fu Ling; when the water passages are unobstructed, clear and turbid substances separate, and diarrhea stops spontaneously.] Opens orifices and promotes free flow in strangury. [Strangury refers to the desire to urinate but inability to do so, with severe distension and pain, or the opposite: not wanting to urinate but passing drops continuously.] Can strengthen the yin and benefit essence. [Males and females each have two orifices in the genital region; one passage connects to essence, which is the fire of true Yang from the Gate of Life; the other passage connects to water, which is damp-heat water from the Bladder. These two orifices do not open simultaneously. When the water orifice opens, damp-heat is excreted externally, Ministerial Fire becomes tranquil, the essence orifice remains closed, and leakage does not occur. Over time, essence becomes sufficient, and sufficient essence strengthens the yin. Therefore, in kidney-tonifying and essence-stabilizing fertility herbs, those that promote urination are added based on this principle, not because their nature truly strengthens yin and benefits essence.] Treats red and painful eye diseases. [Its nature can dispel wind-heat in the Liver, and it excels at descending to the lower orifices, known as treating upper disorders by addressing lower areas.] Do not use in cases of sinking of Yang Qi or depletion of Kidney Qi.
**Ze Xie (Alismatis Rhizoma)** [Sweet, salty, and slightly cold, enters the Kidney and Bladder meridians. Peel removed, soaked in wine, and baked.] Promotes urination and treats dribbling strangury. [Has the function of promoting the free flow of water passages.] Drains epigastric water-fullness and removes retained filth in the bladder. [Because it can expel stagnant water from the San Jiao and Bladder.] Percolates damp-heat, moves phlegm-fluids; sought for diarrhea, edema, and bi-syndromes; also treats dizziness, Hong Kong foot, and hernia pain. [All are effects of promoting urination and draining dampness. Shizhen said: When there is damp-heat in the Spleen and Stomach, the head feels heavy and spinning, eyes are dim, and ears ring. Percolating away the dampness removes heat, allowing Earth Qi to function properly, Clear Qi ascends, and the atmosphere becomes bright and crisp. Thus, the Ben Jing states that taking it makes ears and eyes sharp. However, long-term use leads to excessive descending action, preventing Clear Qi from ascending, and since urination increases, Kidney Yin is secretly depleted, hence Bian Que said that taking too much blurs the eyes. Ze Xie is used in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan because ancients, when tonifying, always included draining pathogenic factors; removing pathogens allows tonics to work effectively, while focusing solely on tonification leads to imbalance. Zhong Chun said: In Liu Wei Wan, it is used to address damp-heat in yin-deficiency conditions. This explanation is very logical.] Its nature excels at chasing water; patients without dampness or fluid retention should not use it. Contraindicated in Kidney deficiency with seminal emission and loose stools due to deficiency-cold.
**Mu Tong (Akebiae Caulis)** [Acrid, sweet, and bland, neutral, enters the Heart, Small Intestine, and Bladder meridians. Those that are white with fine stalks are best.] Promotes urination and treats strangury. [Draining Heart Fire prevents the Lungs from receiving evil, allowing Qi transformation to reach the Zhou Du (Bladder); following its penetrating nature, urination becomes smooth. Hence it is said: if Lord Fire is the pathogen, use Mu Tong; if Ministerial Fire is the pathogen, use Ze Xie. Although both promote urination, their applications differ. Treating strangury is a function of opening orifices.] Drains dampness and kills parasites. [Damp-heat generates parasites; promoting urination drains dampness, heat is also removed, and parasites die naturally.] Opens the nine orifices, benefits joints, unblocks blood vessels, and promotes lactation. [All result from opening orifices.] Can open Guan Ge (obstruction and regurgitation). [Zhong Jing said: Guan means inability to urinate, Ge means vomiting/regurgitation. This is because there is heat in the Dan Tian, causing inability to urinate, and fire flares upward, causing immediate vomiting upon eating. This herb can benefit the unobstructed flow of cold, heat, and Qi in various meridians.] Also treats sores and boils. [Can drain Heart Fire, which exits via the Small Intestine.] Although its functions are numerous, they do not go beyond the four characters "promoting and unblocking Qi and Blood." Its nature is extremely penetrating and unblocking; those with seminal emission, weak Qi, and no internal damp-heat should avoid it. It can induce labor and abort fetuses; pregnant women should not take it.
**Tong Cao (Tetrapanacis Medulla)** [Sweet, bland, and cold, enters the Lung and Stomach meridians.] Enters the Lung, guides heat downward, and promotes urination. [Because it is white, light in texture, cold in nature, and bland in flavor.] Moves to the Stomach, promotes Qi ascent, and promotes lactation. Pregnant women should not take it.
**Deng Xin Cao (Junci Medulla)** [Bland and neutral, enters the Heart and Small Intestine meridians.] Essential for clearing the Heart, particularly suitable for promoting urination. Contraindicated in cases of urinary incontinence.
**Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatheri Herba)** [Bland and cold, enters the Heart and Small Intestine meridians.] Specifically promotes urination. [Bland flavor has no specific affinity for the five Zang organs, but enters the Taiyang meridian to promote urination.] Can relieve mental restlessness. [When urination is smooth, Heart Fire is thereby cleared.] It moves without staying; pregnant women should avoid it.
**Hai Jin Sha (Lygodii Spora)** [Sweet, bland, and cold, enters the Small Intestine and Bladder meridians.] Promotes water pathways and treats various stranguries. [Blandness can benefit orifices, thus promoting urination; when water pathways are unobstructed, clear and turbid substances separate, and the涩 pain of bloody, sandy, and creamy strangury heals. Shizhen said: It is most suitable only when heat is in the blood aspect of the Taiyang meridian.] Drains damp-heat and reduces swelling and fullness. [Used for swelling caused by damp-heat.] Do not take if difficulty in urination is due to insufficient Kidney Water.
**Ting Li Zi (Descurainiae Semen seu Lepidii Semen)** [Acrid, bitter, and very cold, enters the Lung, Large Intestine, and Bladder meridians. Stir-fried with wine. There are two types: sweet and bitter; the sweet type has a milder effect.] Relieves Lung congestion and eliminates wheezing and counterflow; promotes water pathways and reduces swelling and fullness. [For water and Qi in the Lung causing fullness, wheezing, and urgency, nothing else can remove it except this. Because Lung Qi congestion leads to Bladder dysfunction. Analogy: If the upper orifices are blocked, the lower orifices do not flow. Blockage leads to flooding of water and dampness, causing wheezing and fullness, cough and counterflow, and swelling. Its nature can vent Qi blockage and prevent movement; purging water can also loosen the bowels.] Essential for Lung abscess. [Zhong Jing had Ting Li Da Zao Tang to drain Lung and Intestines.] Also suitable for phlegm-fluids. [Its function is to remove chest phlegm-fluids, descend Qi, move water, and purge.] Its nature is harsh, moving without staying; it cannot be mixed indiscriminately, and is especially contraindicated in deficient persons.
**Ze Lan (Leonuri Herba)** [Sweet, bitter, and slightly warm, enters the Liver and Spleen meridians.] Invigorates blood with the ability to resolve stasis. [Sweetness invigorates blood, entering exclusively into the Sea of Blood to attack stagnation, thus primarily treating postpartum diseases.] Promotes urination with the effect of eliminating gu-swelling (abdominal mass). [Promoting urination and eliminating gu-swelling is the result of blood transforming into water, not water stopped due to Spleen deficiency and dampness.] Moves while containing tonification; taking it avoids the worry of bias or excess.
**Yi Mu Cao (Leonuri Cortex)** [Acrid, bitter, and slightly cold, enters the Liver meridian. The seed is named Chong Wei Zi.] Treats various postpartum diseases. [Because it invigorates and breaks blood, it also treats bruising and blood coagulation from falls.] Saves from throat closure and swelling/pain. [Pound thoroughly, add one bowl of fresh well water, squeeze out the juice, and drink immediately; vomiting cures it. Because it can resolve toxicity, it is also drunk and applied topically for all breast carbuncles and furuncles.] Its nature excels at moving; those without blood stasis should not use it.
**Hong Hua (Carthami Flos)** [Acrid and warm, enters the Heart and Liver meridens. Sprinkled with wine and lightly baked.] Moves blood vessels in men, unblocks menstrual water in women. [Small doses nourish blood; large doses break blood.] Urgently needed for postpartum blood fainting; essential for fetal death in the womb. Invigorates blood and moistens dryness, an important herb for moving blood. Overuse causes continuous bleeding leading to death; how can one not be cautious! Pregnant women should avoid it.
**Mu Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex)** [Acrid, bitter, and slightly cold, enters the Heart, Pericardium, Liver, and Kidney meridians. Baked after wine treatment.] Clears latent fire in the blood. [Latent fire is Yin fire, which is Ministerial Fire. People only know that Huang Bai treats Ministerial Fire, but do not know that Mu Dan Pi's efficacy is even superior.] Cools bone-steaming without sweat, removes accumulated blood in the stomach and intestines. [Because it can cool and move blood.] Treats insufficiency of spirit and will. [The Heart stores Spirit, the Kidney stores Will; treating insufficiency of spirit and will involves cooling Heart blood and clearing Ministerial Fire.] Cools blood while moving blood; for women with uterine bleeding (blood flooding) and menstruation lasting longer than usual, it is contraindicated to use together with blood-moving herbs. Pregnant women should not take it.
**San Qi (Notoginseng Radix)** [Also known as Jin Bu Huan, valued highly. Sweet and slightly bitter-cold, enters the Stomach and Liver meridians. Those produced in Guangxi taste like Ren Shen. True San Qi turns blood into water when powder is sprinkled into blood.] Treats hematemesis, epistaxis, intestinal bleeding, and red dysentery; heals postpartum blood fainting and stasis pain. [Both are miraculous when taken alone, because it stops bleeding while dispersing blood.] For beating injuries, knife wounds, and bloody strangury, sprinkle powder. [For those with dripping bruised blood, chewing and applying stops it immediately; blue-black swelling dissipates. If beaten, take one or two qian first to prevent blood rushing to the heart, and take it again afterward. Also called Shan Qi, meaning it can bind wounds and stick things together.] For nameless carbuncle swelling and pain, mix with vinegar and apply. [Applying it dissipates it; if broken, grind into powder and sprinkle.] For loss of blood due to Yin deficiency and flaming fire, it is not its specialty, but can be used together with Di Gu Pi and Dong Quai for nourishing Yin.
**Yan Hu Suo (Corydalis Rhizoma)** [Acrid, warm, and bitter, enters the Lung, Spleen, Liver, Heart, and Pericardium meridians. Stir-fried with wine.] Stops abdominal pain and heart pain, treats hernia. [Blood coagulation and Qi stagnation cause pain; warmth harmonizes and moves Qi, acridity disperses and moves blood, and pain stops.] Regulates menstruation, facilitates childbirth, and eliminates blood fainting. [Qi and blood disharmony leads to stagnation, often causing delayed menstruation. Invigorating blood and benefiting Qi restores normal cycles. Its nature breaks blood, thus benefiting various postpartum diseases.] Moves Qi stagnation in blood and blood stagnation in Qi, thus specifically treating all pains above and below the body; it is a divine herb for invigorating blood and transforming Qi. Moves without staying; suitable only for those with stagnation. If menstruation occurs early, or postpartum blood deficiency causes fainting, it must never be taken.
**Qian Cao Gen (Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma)** [Bitter and cold, enters the Heart, Liver, and Kidney meridians.] Treats bleeding from all orifices. [Such as hematemesis, epistaxis, and blood in stool/urine. Zhong Chun said it can cool blood disease and move already injured blood.] Treats bruises and stasis from falls; jaundice can be cured. [Referring to jaundice due to stored blood.] Toxic swelling can be resolved. [Function of cooling and moving blood.] Even with blood disorders, do not take if appetite is poor and diarrhea occurs; pregnant women also avoid it.
**Pu Huang (Typhae Pollen)** [Sweet and neutral, enters the Pericardium and Liver meridians. Thoroughly stir-fried can also stop bleeding.] Taken internally, it stops various heart and abdominal pains. [Function of invigorating blood and resolving stasis.] Sprinkled externally, it treats tongue swelling filling the mouth. [Effect of cooling blood and removing heat.] Do not use if pain is not due to blood stasis.
**Jiang Huang (Curcumae Longae Rhizoma)** [Acrid, bitter, and warm, enters the Liver and Spleen meridians.] Removes accumulated blood and abdominal pain. [Its nature breaks blood and can also regulate Qi within the blood.] Stops arm pain in bi-syndromes. [Dai Yuanli said: Pian Jiang Huang can enter the arms to treat pain, due to its acrid dispersal and blood-breaking power.] Those with blood deficiency who take it will find their condition worsens.
**Wang Bu Liu Xing (Vaccariae Semen)** [Bitter and neutral, enters the Liver meridian.] Can promote lactation. [Ancient saying: Pangolin scales and Wang Bu Liu Xing, once taken by women, milk flows constantly.] Can eliminate carbuncle toxins. [Function of invigorating blood.] Unblocks blood vessels, moves without staying; even with royal orders, its movement cannot be stopped, thus often used for difficult labor in women. Contraindicated in pregnant women and those with blood loss.
**Liu Ji Nu (Siegesbeckiae Herba)** [Bitter and cold, enters the Liver and Spleen meridians.] Can break blood and reduce distension, applied to golden wound bleeding. Its nature is fast-moving, acting in the blood aspect; taking too much causes diarrhea.
**Jing San Leng (Sparganii Rhizoma)** [Bitter and neutral, enters the Liver and Spleen meridians. Stir-fried with vinegar.] Like magic in expelling blood accumulation, transforms hard masses into water. [Breaking and dispersing blood, it can treat all tangible, stagnant, hard accumulations. Combined with Qi herbs, it treats Qi; combined with Blood herbs, it treats Blood.] Can drain true Qi; deficient persons should not take it. In Dong Yuan's formulas for Five Accumulations, Ren Shen is always used to assist; if only harsh draining is used, the Spleen and Stomach become more deficient, and how can the accumulation be removed? Pregnant women should not take it.
**Peng E Zhu (Curcumae Rhizoma)** [Acrid, bitter, and warm, enters the Liver meridian. Stir-fried with vinegar or wine.] Treats various Qi accumulations, relieves heart and abdominal pain. [Its function is to move Qi, break blood, dissipate nodules, and eliminate accumulation; it is a Blood herb among Qi herbs.] An important herb for grinding down accumulations. Deficient persons should use it together with herbs that strengthen the Spleen and Stomach and tonify Yuan Qi, so as not to cause harm.
**Shi Jun Zi (Quisqualis Semen)** [Sweet and warm, enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians.] Kills various parasites, treats childhood malnutrition (Gan syndrome). [Eating several on an empty stomach kills parasites, which then exit. Gan syndrome is caused by Spleen deficiency and Stomach weakness; sweetness and warmth can tonify the Stomach and strengthen the Spleen; neither bitter nor acrid, yet it kills parasites, which is why it is a top medicine for children.] Avoid drinking water after taking it; violating this causes diarrhea.
**Xuan Fu Hua (Inulae Flos)** [Also known as Jin Fei Cao, salty and cold, enters the Lung and Large Intestine meridians. Remove calyx, bake, decoct, and filter through silk cloth before taking.] Treats sticky phlegm. [Saltiness softens hardness.] Expels retained fluids. [Saltiness moistens and descends.] Eliminates belching. [Nature descends Qi.] Benefits the Large Intestine. Ancients said it dispels wind from head and eyes, moves water, and treats swelling; it is also a dispersing herb. Deficient persons should not take it in large amounts.
**Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma)** [Acrid, warm, and toxic, enters the Spleen, Stomach, Heart, and Gallbladder meridians. Incompatible with Wu Tou; avoid sheep blood and malt sugar. Wash away slippery fluid, stir-fry with ginger juice.] Treats cough due to phlegm-fluids. [Cold-phlegm and damp-phlegm, or cough caused by retained fluids, are suitable for use; however, it is strictly contraindicated for Yin deficiency with phlegm-cough.] Stops vomiting due to Cold Stomach. [Vomiting caused by cold phlegm and retained fluids in the Stomach is suitable for use; however, if vomiting is due to Stomach heat and fire rushing up, it is contraindicated.] Treats headache and vertigo due to Phlegm-Jue. [When damp-phlegm reverses upward, the upper part becomes excess, causing pain, dizziness, and vertigo; this is symptomatic treatment. However, if caused by blood deficiency and fire-phlegm, using it is a mistake.] Removes retained fluids causing chest fullness and shortness of breath. [Retained damp-phlegm in the diaphragm causes fullness and oppression; shooting to the Lungs causes wheezing and cough; blocking Qi distribution causes shortness of breath; this is the correct medicine. However, if fullness and oppression are not due to retained fluids, but rather Yin deficiency causing wheezing and shortness of breath, administering it brings disaster.] An important herb for drying dampness, eliminating phlegm, and removing fluids. The ancients had three prohibitions: blood disorders, thirst disorders, and sweating disorders. If there is no Spleen dampness but Lung dryness exists, mistakenly taking Ban Xia leads to irreparable regret; be careful and heed this warning. Also, cases resembling stroke with abundant hot phlegm are mostly due to Yin deficiency; strictly avoid violating this. It can abort fetuses; pregnant women also avoid it. I often see modern physicians adhering to Dan Xi's statement that Er Chen Tang treats all phlegm in the body, using it whenever phlegm is seen, unaware that many suffer from dry-phlegm; this single herb has caused considerable harm, so I specifically highlight this error.
**Nan Xing (Arisaematis Rhizoma)** [Acrid, bitter, warm, and toxic, enters the Liver meridian. Fire-roasting reduces toxicity.] Enters the Liver to dispel wind-phlegm; nine-processing reduces dryness. [Nature is fierce and dry, requiring nine processing with ox gall.] Due to phlegm condensing into nodules. [Regardless of location, large or small, soft or hard, painless and itchless, white in color, these are phlegm lumps.] Frequent application gradually dissolves the lumps. [Grind Ban Xia, Hai Zao, Kun Bu, and Da Huang into powder, mix with vinegar, and apply to dissolve spontaneously.] Strictly contraindicated unless it is true stroke in the Northwest region. Breaks blood and aborts fetuses; pregnant women must avoid it.
**Hai Zao (Sargassum)** [Bitter, salty, and cold, enters the Liver, Stomach, and Kidney meridians. Incompatible with Gan Cao.] Eliminates scrofula and goiter, removes testicular swelling and hernia pain. [Bitterness drains knots, saltiness softens hardness, coldness clears heat.] Do not use if the Spleen has dampness.
**Kun Bu (Eckloniae Thallus)** [Salty and cold, enters the Liver, Stomach, and Kidney meridians. Wash clean.] For goiters hard as stone, nothing else removes them except this; for old phlegm causing choking, it can be dispelled. Dissipates nodules, softens hardness, and clears heat; similar to Hai Zao, long-term use causes emaciation.
**Chang Shan (Dichroae Radix)** [Acrid, bitter, cold, and toxic, enters the Liver meridian. Stir-fried with wine until thorough to prevent vomiting.] Spiritual in driving out phlegm-fluids, effective in cutting malaria. [No phlegm, no malaria; excels at dispelling old phlegm and accumulated fluids, thus miraculously cutting chronic malaria over years.] Dispels miasma and cold/heat, treats neck goiters. [Function of dispersing miasma and dispelling old phlegm.] Its nature is violent and fierce, damaging true Qi the most. To cut malaria, it should be used with tonifying herbs. Strictly contraindicated in deficient persons and pregnant women.
**Cao Dou Kou (Kenmpferiae Semen)** [Acrid and warm. Enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians. Stir-fried and ground.] Disperses cold-stagnant Qi, stops heart and abdominal pain. Nature is warm and hot, fragrance is strong; contraindicated for pain caused by fire-heat.
**Rou Dou Kou (Myristicae Semen)** [Also known as Rou Guo. Acrid and warm, enters the Spleen, Stomach, and Large Intestine meridians. Roasted wrapped in flour. Avoid ironware.] Warms the Spleen and Stomach and digests leftover food, secures the Large Intestine and stops diarrhea. Not suitable for patients with fire, or initial onset of diarrhea/dysentery.
**Yi Zhi Ren (Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus)** [Acrid and hot, enters the Spleen and Kidney meridians. Stir-fried with salt water and ground.] Warms the middle and promotes eating. [Ancients prioritized Yi Zhi Ren before meals because it benefits Fire within Earth.] Benefits the Spleen and tonifies the Kidney. [Fragrance returns to the Spleen, acridity moistens the Kidney.] Controls saliva and spit. [Spleen controls saliva, Kidney controls spit; tonifying both organs allows the Spleen to control and the Kidney to gather Qi back to the source, preventing overflow.] Reduces urination frequency. [Frequent dribbling urination is due to insecure Kidney Qi; must be assisted with Kidney-tonifying herbs.] Its function specializes in tonifying Fire; strictly contraindicated in Spleen and Kidney deficiency-cold.
**She Chuang Zi (Cnidii Fructus)** [Acrid, bitter, and warm, enters the Spleen and Kidney meridians. Mixed with Rehmannia juice, steamed three times until black is best.] Excels at restoring male impotence. [Nature benefits Yang, has miraculous effects on treating impotence, do not ignore it because it is cheap.] Can warm female uterine cold. [If the vagina is cold, make honey pills wrapped in cotton and insert into the vagina.] Stops leukorrhea. [Suitable for discharge like egg white without odor.] And rubs sores/tinea; washes vaginal itching. [Fry pork liver, green onion, pepper, and oil, insert into the vagina briefly to attract worms out, then boil with alum and wash frequently. Effective for male penile sweat and scrotal itching/dampness.] And bathe for leprosy/vitiligo. Warm and dry nature; those with easily moved Ministerial Fire should not take it.
**Lan Ye (Mesuaeae Folium)** [Acrid, sweet, and slightly cold, enters the Lung and Stomach meridians. Resolves beef and horse meat toxicity.] Essential for stopping thirst. [Fragrant, clear, and moist, generates fluids and stops thirst.] Best for dispersing stagnant Qi. [Acrid and fragrant, thus can dissipate knots and open depression.] Divine for opening the stomach. [Fragrant but not dry.] Quite effective for promoting urination. [When Lung Qi is depressed, upper orifices close and lower orifices do not flow; clearing the Lung and opening depression allows water pathways to flow freely.] Removes chest phlegm-pi. [Stomach Qi stagnation prevents timely transformation of water and grain, forming phlegm-pi.] Eliminates carbuncle swelling and gu-toxin. [Function of dissipating knots and clearing the Stomach.]
**Bai Qian (Cynanchi Stauntonii Rhizoma et Radix)** [Acrid, sweet, and neutral, enters the Lung meridian. Soaked in soup, remove roots, bake.] Can remove rebellious Qi in the chest and hypochondrium. [Excels at descending Qi.] Can calm cough and hyperactive Qi. [Cough causes Qi rebellion and phlegm obstructing upward; unable to lie down, throat sounds like a water chicken; taking it cures immediately.] Nature has no tonifying effect; suitable for Lung invaded by evil and phlegm congestion. Contraindicated if caused by Qi failing to return to the source.