禀土之冲气，兼得天之春阳之气，故味甘气温，一云微寒无毒。所禀即同，主治相
近，专主凉血行血，补血而为养精，保血衄吐崩中之要药。
大小蓟，又名千针草。气味甘温，养精保血，吐衄唾咯立除，沃漏崩中，即止。又
能破血消肿，去蜘、蝎咬毒，平 痛重疽，并捣烂绞脓汁半瓯，掺童便或醇酒饮下。但
小蓟力微，只可退热凉血，不似蓟能补养下气也。且仅理血疾，不治外科。若脾胃虚
弱，泄泻不思饮食，及血气虚寒者勿用。
主治（痘疹合参） 止吐衄下血，及妇人痘疹，经血妄行者，最宜。
禀地之阴气独浓，得乎天之寒气亦深，故味至苦，气大寒而无毒。入足阳明、太
阴、厥阴，并入手阳明经。气味俱浓，味浓则发泄，而入阴分，故性猛利下泄。兼入血
分，一切 瘕积聚，实热燥结，有形之滞，推陈致新，所至荡平，有戡定祸乱之功也。
血枯血闭，气虚气闭，一切无形虚症，并宜禁用。
大黄欲速生使，欲缓熟宜。推陈致新，荡涤肠胃，消瘀血，滚顽痰，破积聚，止疼
散热毒痈肿，消留饮宿食，清痰实结热。性直走而不守，泻诸实热不通，而心腹胀满，
大便燥结，号为将军，以其峻快也。然热在血分者，有形之邪可下之；热在气分者，无
形之邪不可攻之，反伤元气。
主治（痘疹合参） 功用同前。治痘初起，热毒壅盛，用以泻诸实热。大肠燥结，
小便不通，腹胀烦躁，人大壮实血热毒盛者宜之。然大伤脾胃，不可妄用。欲下行者宜
生。邪气在上者，酒浸用之。
大黄禀受土气的冲和之气，又兼得天之春阳之气，所以味道甘甜、性质温和，另一种说法认为其性微寒、无毒。由于所禀受的天地之气相同，因此主治功效相近，专门主司凉血和行血，通过补血来滋养精气，是治疗血液妄行导致的鼻出血、吐血及崩漏等症的重要药物。
大小蓟，又名千针草。气味甘温，能滋养精气、保护血液，对于吐血、衄血、唾血及咯血等症状能立即消除；对于尿血（沃漏）和崩中出血也能立即止住。此外，它还能破血消肿，去除蜘蛛和蝎子咬伤的毒素，平息严重的痈疽疼痛。将药草捣烂后绞取半瓯的汁液，掺入童便或纯酒中饮下即可。但是小蓟的药力较弱，只能用于退热凉血，不像大蓟那样具有补养下气的作用。而且小蓟仅能调理血分疾病，不能用于治疗外科病症。如果患者脾胃虚弱，出现泄泻、食欲不振，以及气血虚寒者，应当禁用。
主治（参考《痘疹合参》）：停止吐血、衄血及便血，以及妇女痘疹期间经血妄行的症状，最为适宜。
大黄禀受地之阴气特别浓厚，又得到天之寒气也很深重，所以味道极苦，性质大寒且无毒。它进入足阳明、足太阴、足厥阴经，并进入手阳明经。其气味都非常浓烈，味浓则具有发泄作用，并能进入阴分，所以药性猛烈锐利，善于向下通泄。同时它兼入血分，对于一切癥瘕积聚、实热燥结等有形的积滞，能够推陈出新，所到之处荡平无余，有平定祸乱的功效。但是对于血枯血闭、气虚气闭等一切无形的虚证，都应当严禁使用。
大黄若想要快速起效宜生用，想要缓和药性宜熟用。它能推陈致新，荡涤肠胃，消除瘀血，化解顽固痰浊，破除积聚，止痛散热毒痈肿，消除留饮和宿食，清除痰实结聚之热。其药性直走而不守，能泻除各种实热不通引起的心腹胀满和大便燥结，被称为“将军”，是因为其药势峻猛快捷。然而，热邪在血分的，属于有形的邪气可以攻下；热邪在气分的，属于无形的邪气不可攻伐，否则会反而损伤元气。
主治（参考《痘疹合参》）：功效与前述相同。治疗痘疮初起时，热毒壅盛，用来泻除各种实热。对于大肠燥结、小便不通、腹胀烦躁，以及身体壮实、血热毒盛的患者适宜使用。但大黄容易严重损伤脾胃，不可随意滥用。想要药效下行者宜生用。邪气在上焦者，宜用酒浸泡后使用。
Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) inherits the harmonious qi of Earth and combines with the spring yang qi of Heaven; thus, its flavor is sweet and its nature is warm. Another view holds that it is slightly cold and non-toxic. Since the inherited qi is the same, its therapeutic indications are similar. It specializes in cooling blood and promoting blood circulation, nourishing essence by tonifying blood, and preserving blood. It is a crucial herb for treating epistaxis, hematemesis, and metrorrhagia caused by reckless bleeding.
Da Xiao Ji (Cirsii Herba), also known as Qianzhen Cao (Thousand-Needle Grass), has a sweet and warm flavor and nature. It nourishes essence and preserves blood, instantly eliminating hematemesis, epistaxis, sputum with blood, and hemoptysis, while stopping hematuria and metrorrhagia. Furthermore, it can break up blood stasis, reduce swelling, and detoxify bites from spiders and scorpions. It alleviates severe carbuncles and ulcers. When crushed and juiced to obtain half a bowl of liquid, mixed with child's urine or pure wine and drunk, it is effective. However, Xiao Ji (Cirsii Japonici Herba) has weaker efficacy; it only clears heat and cools blood, unlike Da Ji which can tonify and descend qi. Moreover, Xiao Ji only regulates blood diseases and does not treat surgical conditions. It should be avoided in patients with weak spleen and stomach, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and those with deficiency-cold of qi and blood.
Indications (referencing *Douzhen He Can*): Most suitable for stopping hematemesis, epistaxis, lower bleeding, and reckless menstrual bleeding during chickenpox/rubella in women.
Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) possesses a particularly strong yin qi of Earth and deep cold qi of Heaven; therefore, its flavor is extremely bitter, its nature is greatly cold, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Foot-Yangming, Foot-Taiyin, and Foot-Jueyin meridians, as well as the Hand-Yangming meridian. Its flavor and nature are both intense. The intense flavor promotes dispersing and entering the yin aspects, making its nature fierce and sharp in downward purgation. It also enters the blood aspect. For all forms of masses and accumulations, excess-heat dryness constipation, and tangible stagnations, it pushes out the old and generates the new, sweeping clean wherever it goes, possessing the merit of quelling chaos. It is strictly contraindicated for all intangible deficiency syndromes such as blood depletion with closure, and qi deficiency with closure.
To achieve rapid effects, Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) should be used raw; to achieve a milder effect, it should be cooked. It pushes out the old and generates the new, cleanses the intestines and stomach, eliminates blood stasis, rolls away stubborn phlegm, breaks up accumulations, stops pain, dissipates heat, resolves toxic carbuncles and swellings, eliminates retained fluids and old food retention, and clears phlegm-excess binding heat. Its nature moves directly without staying put, purging various excess-heat obstructions causing chest and abdominal fullness and dry fecal impaction. It is nicknamed "General" due to its fierce and swift action. However, if heat is in the blood aspect, the tangible pathogen can be purged; if heat is in the qi aspect, the intangible pathogen cannot be attacked, as this would damage the primordial qi instead.
Indications (referencing *Douzhen He Can*): Functions are the same as above. Used when acne/rash begins with abundant heat toxin, to purge various excess heats. Suitable for cases of large intestine dryness and constipation, inability to urinate, abdominal distension and irritability, especially in robust individuals with excessive blood heat and toxic accumulation. However, it severely damages the spleen and stomach and must not be used recklessly. To direct the action downward, use raw. For pathogens located in the upper jiao, use after soaking in wine.