得地之金气，兼感天之阳气，故味辛气温无毒。入手足阳明、足太阴。走气分，亦
走血分，升多于降，阳也。性善祛风，并能蚀脓湿。
白芷，治阳明头痛解利风寒之要药。止
目痒目泪，眉棱骨痛，牙痛鼻渊，赤白带下，心腹血痛。外散一切乳痈痈疽；内托肠
风痔漏，排脓长肉。为祛风燥湿之要药。然阴虚火盛者之所宜忌也。痈疽溃后，亦宜渐
减。
主治（痘疹合参） 专治初热头痛，痘疮无脓发痒，虚寒不起，及不结靥，或烂或
癞之症，但性辛燥不宜用于血虚灌浆之时，惟搔痒甚者暂用。痘后手足发痈毒者亦用。
若阴虚火盛者忌之。
按∶白芷色白味辛，行手阳明庚金，性温气浓，行足阳明戊土，芳香上达，入手太
阴辛金，故主治不离三经，一以温散腠理之寒邪；一以解托留结之痈肿，皆取其辛温走
散也。但燥能耗血，散能损气，阴虚火盛者勿用。
禀天地清阳发生之气，其味甘平，其性升而无毒。生气升腾，故起阴气。甘者土之
冲气，春令少阳应，兼微寒，故解诸毒。专入足阳明胃经，解散阳明温病，热邪之要
药，且其性轻清升而发散，有风药之性也。
干葛，足阳明经药，疗伤寒发表解肌，及却往来温疟，散外疮疹止痛，解巴豆野葛
毒，及中酒毒。能升提胃气，除胃热而生津液，故能止胃虚之渴，散肌表热，及诸热
毒，开腠发汗。又能起阴气，散郁火解酒毒，杀百药毒，鼓舞胃气上行，益阳生津。
凡脾胃虚弱作渴泄者，非此不除。风药俱燥，葛根独能止渴，正以其升胃家下陷之
气，上输肺金，以生水也。且清气在下则生飧泄，用以升提阳明清气乃止耳。生根汁大
寒，疗消渴伤寒壮热。花消酒毒。
主治（痘疹合参） 发散风寒，善解肌表之热，止胃虚之渴，初热时用以解肌托
痘，但与升麻二味有汗不宜服，发惊不宜服，唇白不宜服，眼梢红不宜服。其气轻
浮，鼓舞胃气上行，生津液而解肌热，真神功也。凡夏月末虚汗多者，并宜切忌。
按∶葛根种种治效，只在阳明一经。若太阳初病，未入阳明而头痛者，不可便服，
是犹引贼入阳明也。麻黄，乃太阳经药，兼入肺经，肺主皮毛；葛根乃阳明经药，兼入
脾经，脾主肌血，发散时同。所入迥异。
白芷，禀受大地金气，兼感上天阳气，所以味道辛、气温、无毒。归入手足阳明经和足太阴经。主要行走在气分，也进入血分，升散作用多于沉降作用，属性为阳。其性善于祛风，并能腐蚀脓液、燥湿。
白芷是治疗阳明头痛、解除风寒的要药。能止眼痒、流泪，眉棱骨痛，牙痛，鼻渊（鼻窦炎），赤白带下，心腹血痛。外可消散各种乳痈、痈疽；内可托出肠风痔漏的脓毒，排脓生肌。它是祛风燥湿的要药。但是阴虚火旺者应当忌用。痈疽溃破后，也应逐渐减量使用。
主治（结合痘疹病症）：专门治疗初热阶段的头痛，痘疮无脓且发痒，因虚寒导致痘出不畅，以及不结痂，或溃烂成癞的症状。但因其性味辛燥，不宜用于血虚需要灌浆的时候，只有瘙痒特别严重时暂时使用。痘后手足出现痈毒的也可以用。如果阴虚火旺者忌用。
按语：白芷色白味辛，运行于手阳明庚金经；性温气味浓厚，运行于足阳明戊土经；芳香上达，进入手太阴辛金经。所以它的主治范围离不开这三条经络。一是通过温散腠理中的寒邪；二是通过解托留结的痈肿，都是利用其辛温走散的特性。但是燥性能耗伤血液，散性能损伤正气，阴虚火旺者不要使用。
干葛（葛根），禀受天地清阳发生之气，味道甘平，性质升发，无毒。生气升腾，所以能起阴气。甘味是土的冲和之气，对应春季少阳之气，兼有微寒，所以能解各种毒。专入足阳明胃经，是解散阳明温病、热邪的要药，而且其性质轻清升散，具有风药的性质。
干葛，是足阳明经的药物，治疗伤寒发表解肌，以及消除往来寒热的温疟，散发外感疮疹引起的疼痛，解巴豆、野葛之毒，以及酒毒。能升提胃气，清除胃热而生津液，所以能止因胃虚引起的口渴，散发肌表热及各种热毒，开泄腠理发汗。又能起阴气，散郁火，解酒毒，杀百药毒，鼓舞胃气上行，益阳生津。凡是脾胃虚弱导致的口渴泄泻，非此药不能去除。风药大多燥烈，唯独葛根能止渴，正是因为它能升提胃家下陷之气，上输于肺金，以生水。况且清气在下则产生飧泄（完谷不化的腹泻），用它来升提阳明清气才能停止。葛根汁大寒，治疗消渴、伤寒壮热。葛根花能解酒毒。
主治（结合痘疹病症）：发散风寒，善于解除肌表之热，止胃虚之渴。在初热阶段用来解肌托痘，但与升麻两味药合用时，有汗者不宜服用，发惊者不宜服用，唇白者不宜服用，眼梢红者不宜服用。其气轻浮，鼓舞胃气上行，生津液而解肌热，真是神效。凡是夏末虚汗多的人，都应切忌服用。
按语：葛根的种种疗效，只在阳明一经。如果是太阳经初病，尚未传入阳明经而出现的头痛，不可以立即服用，这犹如引贼进入阳明经一样。麻黄，是太阳经药物，兼入肺经，肺主皮毛；葛根是阳明经药物，兼入脾经，脾主肌肉和血，发散功能虽然相同，但所入经络截然不同。
Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix) inherits the metal qi of the earth and combines with the yang qi of heaven; therefore, its flavor is pungent, temperature is warm, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Hand-Yangming, Foot-Yangming, and Foot-Taiyin meridians. It primarily circulates in the Qi level but also enters the Blood level, with ascending and dispersing actions predominating over descending ones, thus belonging to Yang. Its nature is good at expelling wind and can also corrode pus and dry dampness.
Baizhi is a key herb for treating Yangming headache and resolving wind-cold. It stops eye itching and tearing, pain in the supraorbital ridge, toothache, nasal sinusitis (Bi Yuan), leukorrhea (red and white discharge), and blood stasis pain in the heart and abdomen. Externally, it dissipates all types of mastitis and carbuncles; internally, it supports the expulsion of pus from intestinal wind and hemorrhoids/fistulas, drains pus, and promotes flesh regeneration. It is a crucial herb for expelling wind and drying dampness. However, it should be avoided by those with Yin deficiency and hyperactive fire. After the ulceration of carbuncles and sores, the dosage should gradually be reduced.
Main indications (integrated with smallpox/rash diseases): Specifically treats headache during the initial heat stage, smallpox lesions that lack pus and itch, failure to erupt due to deficiency-cold, failure to form scabs, or symptoms of ulceration and pockmarks. However, due to its pungent and drying nature, it is unsuitable during the blood-deficient stage requiring fluid filling (pus formation), except temporarily when itching is severe. It is also used for toxic swellings on hands and feet after smallpox. It is contraindicated in cases of Yin deficiency with hyperactive fire.
Commentary: Baizhi is white in color and pungent in taste, acting on the Hand-Yangming Geng-Metal meridian; its warm nature and thick aroma act on the Foot-Yangming Wu-Earth meridian; its aromatic quality ascends, entering the Hand-Taiyin Xin-Metal meridian. Thus, its therapeutic scope is confined to these three meridians. It works by one means: warming and dispersing cold pathogens in the interstices (Couli); and by another: resolving and supporting the expulsion of accumulated abscesses/swellings. Both utilize its pungent-warm dispersing properties. However, dryness consumes blood, and dispersing damages Qi; therefore, it should not be used by those with Yin deficiency and hyperactive fire.
Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix) inherits the clear, ascending Yang qi of heaven and earth. Its flavor is sweet and neutral, its nature is ascending, and it is non-toxic. As the vital Qi ascends, it generates Yin Qi. The sweet flavor represents the harmonious Qi of Earth, corresponding to the Shaoyang energy of spring, combined with slight coldness, thus resolving various toxins. It specifically enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and is a key herb for resolving Yangming warm diseases and heat pathogens. Moreover, its light, clear, ascending, and dispersing nature gives it characteristics similar to wind-dispelling herbs.
Gegen is a medicine for the Foot-Yangming Meridian. It treats exterior syndromes of Shanghan (Cold Damage) by releasing the exterior and relaxing the muscles, eliminates alternating fever and chills in Wenmalaria (Warm Malaria), disperses pain from external rashes, resolves toxicity from Croton seed (Badou) and wild kudzu (Yege), and detoxifies alcohol. It can lift Stomach Qi, clear Stomach heat, and generate fluids, thereby stopping thirst caused by Stomach deficiency. It disperses heat in the muscle layer and various heat toxins, opens the interstices, and induces sweating. It can also generate Yin Qi, disperse stagnant fire, resolve alcohol toxicity, kill multi-drug toxicity, encourage Stomach Qi to ascend, benefit Yang, and generate fluids. For thirst and diarrhea caused by Spleen and Stomach weakness, this herb is indispensable. While most wind-dispelling herbs are drying, Gegen alone can stop thirst precisely because it lifts the sinking Qi of the Stomach, transports it upward to the Lung Metal, and generates Water. Furthermore, if clear Qi sinks below, it causes undigested stool diarrhea (Sunxie); using Gegen to lift the clear Qi of the Yangming meridian stops this. Fresh juice of Gegen is very cold and treats Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst) and high fever in Shanghan. The flower resolves alcohol toxicity.
Main indications (integrated with smallpox/rash diseases): Disperses wind-cold, excels at relieving heat in the muscle layer, and stops thirst due to Stomach deficiency. During the initial heat stage, it is used to relax the muscles and support the eruption of smallpox. However, when combined with Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), it is contraindicated for patients with sweating, convulsions/fright, pale lips, or redness at the outer corners of the eyes. Its Qi is light and floating, encouraging Stomach Qi to ascend, generating fluids, and relieving muscle heat, which is truly miraculous. It is strictly contraindicated for those with excessive spontaneous sweating in late summer.
Commentary: The various therapeutic effects of Gegen are focused solely on the Yangming Meridian. If a headache occurs during the initial stage of Taiyang disease without entering the Yangming meridian, it should not be taken immediately, as this would be like inviting thieves into the Yangming territory. Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) is a medicine for the Taiyang Meridian and additionally enters the Lung Meridian, where the Lung governs the skin and hair; Gegen is a medicine for the Yangming Meridian and additionally enters the Spleen Meridian, where the Spleen governs the muscles and blood. Although their dispersing functions are similar, the meridians they enter are distinctly different.