一名假苏。禀得春气，故善走散。味辛，气温，无毒。升也，阳也。春气升，风
性亦升，故能上行头目。肝主风木，故通肝气行血分，而为血分之风药，且能散邪解肌
发汗，散瘀除痹及产后血晕中风，口噤之要药。入疏散药宜生用，入止血及血分药宜用穗炒黑。
荆芥，入肝经气分，兼行血分。其性升浮，故能发汗散风热，解肌表，清头目，解
诸邪，遁血脉，下瘀血，除湿痹。散疮疥、吐衄、肠风，崩中血痢，产后血晕，瘰 疮
肿。
主治（痘疹合参） 寒热疮疹，皮肤作痒，疏风解肌，通利血脉。同发散药去风除
热，表发痘疮、疮后用以退痈肿，解余热。其功长于祛风邪，散瘀血，破结气，消疮
毒，为风病血病疮病之主药。若便制炒黑，神治产后血晕血崩，盖产后去血过多，腹内
空虚，风从内生，非外袭也，故作崩晕。荆芥祛风散瘀，黑能止血，辛能散结而不滞，
故其效如神。
按∶荆芥气味轻扬，凡风在皮里膜外。惟此主之。许学士谓有神圣功，非若防风之
入人骨肉也。
得天阳和之气故温，兼地之金味故辛，辛则善散，温能通气。入手少阴、太阴、足
阳明经，为除寒热、散冷气、止霍乱、消胀满之要药。子则辛温而兼滑润，故尤为下气
咳逆之需。梗体轻味薄，虚人疏解顺气尤宜。若汗多者忌用叶；善呕者忌用子。
紫苏，背面俱紫，而香者佳。五月端午采用。味辛入气分，色紫入血分，香能达
外，温可暖中，发表解肌，疗伤风寒殊捷。开胃下食，治作胀满易瘥，通心利肺，止痛
安胎，香港脚兼除，口臭亦辟。梗下诸气略缓，体稍虚者宜用。苏子驱痰降气定喘，润
心肺，止咳逆，消五膈，破 坚，利大小二便，却霍乱呕吐，比茎叶则不发散，比陈皮
更不泄气，理气而不伤气，气分中处处宜之。惟脐下气逆而上者，不可用。
主治（痘疹合参） 主下气除寒，消痰利肺定喘，安胎解肌发表，头痛身热，咳嗽
痰涎。凡痘前干热无汗暂用。叶惟发散，茎又行气，为里之表药，随所使以见功。
按∶紫苏本散风之剂，欲喜其芳香，旦暮资食，不知能泄真元之气，所谓芳草致豪
贵之疾者是也。气虚表虚者禁用。叶能润肺，虚者禁用。子至于安胎和胃，药中用之，不过取
其辛香，暂调胃寒气滞之症。岂可概用、久用，以陷虚虚之祸耶！
【荆芥】
又名假苏。禀受春天的生气，所以善于走散。味道辛，气温，无毒。具有升浮的特性，属于阳。春气上升，风的性质也上升，所以能上行至头目。肝主风木，所以能通达肝气并运行血分，是血分中的风药，并且能够发散邪气、解除肌表、发汗，也是消散瘀血、祛除痹症以及治疗产后血晕、中风、口噤的要药。进入疏散类药物时宜生用，进入止血及血分类药物时宜将穗部炒黑。
荆芥，入肝经气分，兼行血分。其性升浮，所以能发汗、散风热、解肌表、清头目、解诸邪、通血脉、下瘀血、除湿痹。治疗疮疥、吐衄（吐血、鼻出血）、肠风、崩中（妇女非经期大量出血）、血痢、产后血晕、瘰疬（颈部淋巴结结核）和疮肿。
主治（痘疹合参）：寒热、疮疹、皮肤瘙痒，疏风解肌，通利血脉。配合发散药可去风除热，发表透发痘疮；痘疮发出后使用可退痈肿，解余热。其功效长于祛风邪、散瘀血、破结气、消疮毒，是风病、血病、疮病的主药。如果将其炒黑，对治疗产后血晕、血崩有神奇疗效，因为产后失血过多，腹内空虚，风从内生，并非外感侵袭，所以导致崩漏和晕厥。荆芥能祛风散瘀，黑色能止血，辛味能散结而不滞涩，所以效果如神。
按语：荆芥气味轻扬，凡是风邪在皮里膜外的病症，只有它能主治。许学士说它有神圣的功效，不像防风那样深入人的骨肉。
【紫苏】
得天地的阳气所以温，兼得大地的金味所以辛，辛则善于发散，温能通气。入手少阴心经、手太阴肺经、足阳明胃经，是除寒热、散冷气、止霍乱、消胀满的要药。苏子则辛温而兼滑润，所以更是降气止咳逆所必需。苏梗体轻味薄，虚人用来疏解顺气尤其适宜。如果出汗多的人忌用叶；容易呕吐的人忌用子。
紫苏，背面都呈紫色，香气浓郁者佳。五月端午采集。味道辛入气分，色紫入血分，香能达外，温可暖中，发表解肌，治疗伤风寒非常快捷。开胃下食，治疗作胀满容易痊愈，通心利肺，止痛安胎，脚气兼除，口臭也能辟除。苏梗下诸气略缓，体质稍虚者宜用。苏子驱痰降气定喘，润心肺，止咳逆，消五膈，破坚积，利大小二便，治霍乱呕吐，比茎叶则不发散，比陈皮更不泄气，理气而不伤气，气分中处处适宜。只有脐下气逆而上冲的情况，不可用。
主治（痘疹合参）：主下气除寒，消痰利肺定喘，安胎解肌发表，头痛身热，咳嗽痰涎。凡痘前干热无汗暂用。叶惟发散，茎又行气，为里之表药，随所使以见功。
按语：紫苏本是散风的药剂，人们喜欢它的芳香，早晚饮食佐餐，却不知道它能泄真元之气，这就是所说的芳草招致豪贵之疾的道理。气虚表虚者禁用。叶能润肺，虚者禁用。苏子至于安胎和胃，药中用之，不过取其辛香，暂时调理胃寒气滞之症。岂可一概使用、长期使用，以陷入虚虚之祸呢！
[Jingjie (Schizonepetae Spica)]
Also known as Jiasu. It inherits the vital energy of spring, thus possessing the property of dispersing and moving freely. Its taste is pungent, its temperature is warm, and it is non-toxic. It has ascending and floating characteristics and belongs to Yang. The energy of spring ascends, and the nature of wind also ascends; therefore, it can travel upward to the head and eyes. The Liver governs Wind-Wood, so Jingjie can unblock Liver Qi and circulate in the Blood aspect, serving as a Wind herb for the Blood aspect. Furthermore, it can disperse pathogenic factors, release the muscle layer, induce sweating, and is an essential herb for dissipating blood stasis, removing bi-syndrome, and treating postpartum blood vertigo, stroke, and lockjaw. When used in dispersing formulas, it should be used raw; when used in hemostatic or blood-regulating formulas, the spikes should be stir-fried until black.
Jingjie enters the Qi aspect of the Liver Meridian and also acts on the Blood aspect. Its nature is ascending and floating, so it can induce sweating, disperse Wind-Heat, release the muscle layer, clear the head and eyes, resolve various pathogens, unblock the vessels, descend blood stasis, and remove damp-bi. It treats sores, carbuncles, vomiting of blood, epistaxis, intestinal wind, metrorrhagia, bloody dysentery, postpartum blood vertigo, scrofula, and swellings.
Indications (Integration of Smallpox and Rashes): Chills and fever, rashes, skin itching, dispelling Wind and releasing the muscle layer, unblocking and benefiting the vessels. Combined with diaphoretic herbs, it removes Wind and clears Heat, releases the exterior to bring out smallpox/rashes, and after eruption, it reduces abscesses and resolves residual heat. Its efficacy lies in dispelling Wind pathogens, dissipating blood stasis, breaking Qi stagnation, and eliminating toxin from sores. It is the principal herb for Wind diseases, Blood diseases, and Sores/Carbuncles. If processed by stir-frying until black, it has miraculous effects in treating postpartum blood vertigo and flooding (metrorrhagia). This is because excessive blood loss during childbirth leaves the abdomen empty, causing Wind to arise internally rather than from external invasion, leading to flooding and vertigo. Jingjie dispels Wind and dissipates stasis; blackness stops bleeding, and pungency breaks stagnation without causing obstruction, hence its divine efficacy.
Commentary: Jingjie has a light and aromatic nature. For Wind pathogens located between the skin and fascia, only this herb is primarily indicated. Scholar Xu stated that it possesses sacred efficacy, unlike Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), which penetrates deep into bones and flesh.
[Zisu (Perillae Folium)]
It inherits the harmonious Yang energy of Heaven, thus being warm; it combines with the Metal flavor of Earth, thus being pungent. Pungency facilitates dispersion, and warmth promotes the flow of Qi. It enters the Hand-Shaoyin (Heart) Meridian, Hand-Taiyin (Lung) Meridian, and Foot-Yangming (Stomach) Meridian. It is an essential herb for resolving chills and fever, dissipating cold Qi, stopping cholera-like symptoms, and eliminating distension and fullness. Zisu Zi (Perillae Fructus) is pungent and warm with slippery and moistening properties, making it particularly necessary for descending rebellious Qi and relieving cough. Zisu Geng (Perillae Caulis) is light in body and thin in flavor, making it especially suitable for deficient individuals to soothe and regulate Qi. Those with excessive sweating should avoid the leaves; those prone to vomiting should avoid the fruit.
Zisu leaves are purple on both sides, and those with strong fragrance are superior. They are harvested on the Dragon Boat Festival in May. The pungent taste enters the Qi aspect, the purple color enters the Blood aspect, the fragrance reaches the exterior, and the warmth warms the interior. It releases the exterior and relaxes the muscle layer, offering rapid relief for injuries caused by Wind-Cold. It opens the stomach and aids digestion, treating distension and fullness which then easily resolve. It benefits the Heart and Lung, relieves pain, calms the fetus, alleviates beriberi, and eliminates bad breath. Zisu Geng descends Qi more gently and is suitable for those with slight deficiency. Zisu Zi expels phlegm, descends Qi, calms asthma, moistens the Lungs and Heart, stops cough and rebellious Qi, resolves five types of chest oppression, breaks accumulations, promotes urination and defecation, and treats cholera and vomiting. Compared to stems and leaves, it does not disperse excessively; compared to Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), it does not deplete Qi. It regulates Qi without damaging it and is suitable throughout the Qi aspect. However, it should not be used when Qi rebels upward from below the umbilicus.
Indications (Integration of Smallpox and Rashes): Descends Qi and dispels Cold, resolves phlegm, benefits the Lungs, calms asthma, calms the fetus, releases the exterior, treats headache and fever, and cough with sputum. It is temporarily used when there is dry heat and no sweating prior to the eruption of rashes. Leaves are primarily for dispersion; stems move Qi. It serves as an exterior-releasing agent for the interior, achieving its effect according to its application.
Commentary: Zisu is originally a formula for dispersing Wind. People appreciate its aromatic fragrance and use it daily with meals, unaware that it can deplete the primordial Qi. This is what is meant by "aromatic herbs cause diseases of the wealthy." It is contraindicated in cases of Qi deficiency and exterior deficiency. Leaves moisten the Lungs and are contraindicated in deficiency. Zisu Zi calms the fetus and harmonizes the Stomach; when used medicinally, one merely takes advantage of its pungent aroma to temporarily regulate conditions of Cold-Qi stagnation in the Stomach. How can it be used indiscriminately or long-term, thereby falling into the disaster of further weakening the deficient?