茵陈者，青蒿之嫩苗也。秋日青蒿结子，落地发生，贴地大如钱，至冬霜雪满地，萌芽无恙，甫经立春即
勃然生长，宜于正月中旬采之。其气微香，其味微辛微苦，秉少阳最初之气，是以凉而能散。《神农本草经》
谓其善治黄胆，仲景治疸证，亦多用之。为其禀少阳初生之气，是以善清肝胆之热，兼理肝胆之郁，热消郁开，
胆汁入小肠之路毫无阻隔也。《名医别录》谓其利小便，除头热，亦清肝胆之功效也。其性颇近柴胡，实较柴
胡之力柔和，凡欲提出少阳之邪，而其人身弱阴虚不任柴胡之升散者，皆可以茵陈代之。
【附案】一人因境多拂逆，常动肝气、肝火，致脑部充血作疼。治以镇肝、凉肝之药，服后周身大热，
汗出如洗，恍悟肝为将军之官，中寄相火，用药强制之，是激动其所寄之相火而起反动
力也。即原方为加茵陈二钱，服后即安然矣。
一少年常患头疼，诊其脉肝胆火盛，治以茵陈、川芎、菊花各二钱，一剂疼即止。又即原方为加龙胆草二
钱，服两剂觉头部轻爽异常，又减去川芎，连服四剂，病遂除根。
（附∶胡莱菔英能解砒石毒）
莱菔子∶生用味微辛、性平，炒用气香性温。其力能升、能降，生用则升多于降，炒用则降多于升，取其
升气化痰宜用生者，取其降气消食宜用炒者。究之，无论或生或炒，皆能顺气开郁、消胀除满，此乃化气之品，
非破气之品，而医者多谓其能破气，不宜多服、久服，殊非确当之论。盖凡理气之药，单服久服，未有不伤气
者，而莱菔子炒熟为末，每饭后移时服钱许，借以消食顺气，转不伤气，因其能多进饮食，气分自得其养也。
若用以除满开郁，而以参、 、术诸药佐之，虽多服、久服，亦何至伤气分乎。
【附案】一人年五旬，当极忿怒之余，腹中连胁下突然胀起，服诸理气开气之药皆不效。俾用生莱菔子一
两，柴胡、川芎、生麦芽各三钱，煎汤两盅，分三次温服下，尽剂而愈。
一人年二十五六，素多痰饮，受外感，三四日间觉痰涎凝结于上脘，阻隔饮食不能下行，须臾仍复吐出。
俾用莱菔子一两，生熟各半，捣碎煮汤一大盅，送服生赭石细末三钱，迟点半钟，再将其渣重煎汤一大盅，仍
送服生赭石细末三钱，其上脘顿觉开通，可进饮食，又为开辛凉清解之剂，连服两剂全愈。
茵陈，是青蒿的嫩苗。秋天青蒿结籽，种子落地后发芽生长，贴地而生，叶片大如铜钱。到了冬天霜雪覆盖大地时，它的萌芽依然完好无损，刚过立春就蓬勃生长，适宜在正月中旬采摘。它的气味微香，味道微辛微苦，禀受少阳经最初生的气机，因此性质清凉且具有发散作用。《神农本草经》记载它善于治疗黄疸，张仲景治疗疸病证时，也多用此药。因为它禀受了少阳初生之气，所以善于清除肝胆的热邪，兼能疏理肝胆的气郁，热邪消除、气郁解开，胆汁流入小肠的道路就毫无阻碍了。《名医别录》说它能通利小便，清除头部热邪，这也是清利肝胆功效的体现。它的药性颇似柴胡，但实际上比柴胡的药力更为柔和。凡是想要透达少阳经的邪气，而患者身体虚弱、阴虚不能耐受柴胡升散之性的，都可以用茵陈来代替。
【附医案】有一人因为境遇多不顺心，经常动肝气、肝火，导致脑部充血疼痛。医生用镇肝、凉肝的药物给他治疗，服药后全身大汗淋漓，发高热，恍然领悟到肝为将军之官，其中寄居着相火，用药强行压制，反而激发了所寄居的相火，产生了反动的力量。于是就在原方中加入茵陈二钱，服用后病情便安然好转。
另一个少年经常患头痛，诊察其脉象显示肝胆火盛，用茵陈、川芎、菊花各二钱治疗，服一剂后疼痛即止。接着在原方基础上加入龙胆草二钱，服用两剂后感觉头部异常轻松爽快，又减去川芎，连续服用四剂，病根彻底去除。
（附注：胡莱菔英能解砒石毒）
莱菔子：生用时味道微辛，性质平和；炒用时气味芳香，性质温。它的力量既能上升又能下降，生用时升的作用多于降的作用，炒用时降的作用多于升的作用。如果要取其升气化痰的功效，宜用生品；如果要取其降气消食的功效，宜用炒品。究其根本，无论生用还是炒用，都能顺气开郁、消除胀满，这属于化气类的药物，而非破气类的药物。但许多医者认为它能破气，不宜多服、久服，这并非确切的论断。大概凡是理气的药物，单味长期服用，没有不伤气的，而莱菔子炒熟研末，每顿饭过后一段时间服用一钱左右，借以消食顺气，反而不会伤气，因为它能促进饮食摄入，气分自然得到滋养。如果用来消除胀满、开郁结，并用人参、白术等药物辅助，即使多服、久服，又怎么会损伤气分呢？
【附医案】有一人五十岁左右，在极度愤怒之后，腹部连带胁下突然胀起，服用各种理气开郁的药物都不见效。让他用生莱菔子一两，柴胡、川芎、生麦芽各三钱，煎汤两盅，分三次温服，服完一剂后痊愈。
另一人二十五六岁，平时痰饮较多，感受外邪，三四天后感觉痰涎凝结在上脘部，阻隔饮食无法下行，片刻后又吐出来。让他用莱菔子一两，生用和炒用各一半，捣碎煮成一大盅汤，送服生赭石细末三钱，半小时后，再将药渣重新煎成一大盅汤，仍送服生赭石细末三钱，此时上脘部顿时觉得通畅，可以进食饮食，随后又开具辛凉清解的药剂，连续服用两剂完全治愈。
Yinchen (Artemisiae Scopariae Herba) is the tender shoot of Qinghao (Artemisiae Annuae Herba). In autumn, Qinghao produces seeds; when these fall to the ground and sprout, they grow close to the soil with leaves as large as a coin. Even when winter frost and snow cover the ground, the buds remain unharmed. Shortly after the Beginning of Spring (Lichun), they grow vigorously. It is appropriate to harvest it in mid-February. Its odor is slightly fragrant, and its taste is slightly acrid and bitter. It embodies the initial Qi of the Shaoyang (Lesser Yang) channel, which makes it cool yet dispersing. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) states that it is excellent for treating jaundice. Zhang Zhongjing also frequently used it when treating Danzheng (jaundice syndromes). Because it possesses the nascent Qi of Shaoyang, it is effective at clearing heat from the Liver and Gallbladder and simultaneously resolving stagnation in these organs. Once the heat dissipates and stagnation resolves, the pathway for bile to enter the Small Intestine becomes unobstructed. The *Mingyi Bielu* (Record of Famous Physicians) mentions its ability to promote urination and clear heat from the head, which are also manifestations of its efficacy in clearing and draining the Liver and Gallbladder. Its nature is quite similar to Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), but its action is actually milder than that of Chaihu. Whenever one wishes to lift pathogens out of the Shaoyang channel, but the patient is physically weak and Yin-deficient, unable to tolerate the ascending and dispersing properties of Chaihu, Yinchen can be used as a substitute.
[Attached Case] A certain individual, due to frequent frustrations in life, often experienced Liver Qi stagnation and Liver Fire, leading to cerebral congestion and pain. He was treated with herbs that suppress the Liver and cool the Liver. After taking the medicine, he suffered severe systemic fever and profuse sweating. He suddenly realized that the Liver is the "General" organ, within which Ministerial Fire resides. Using medication to forcibly suppress it only agitated the resident Ministerial Fire, triggering a counter-reaction. Consequently, Yinchen (two qian) was added to the original prescription. After ingestion, his condition stabilized and improved.
Another youth frequently suffered from headaches. His pulse indicated excessive Fire in the Liver and Gallbladder. He was treated with Yinchen, Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), and Juhua (Chrysanthemi Flos), each two qian. The pain ceased after one dose. Subsequently, Longdancao (Gentianae Radix) two qian was added to the original formula. After two doses, he felt an unusual lightness and clarity in his head. Chuanxiong was then removed, and after four more doses, the disease was eradicated.
(Attachment: Hu Lai Fu Ying can detoxify arsenic)
Laifuzi (Raphani Semen): When used raw, it is slightly acrid and neutral in nature; when stir-fried, it is fragrant and warm in nature. Its action can ascend and descend. When used raw, ascending actions predominate over descending ones; when stir-fried, descending actions predominate over ascending ones. To utilize its ascending property for transforming phlegm, raw seeds should be used; to utilize its descending property for promoting digestion, fried seeds should be used. Fundamentally, whether raw or fried, it can regulate Qi, resolve stagnation, and eliminate distension. It is a substance that transforms Qi, not one that breaks Qi. However, many physicians believe it breaks Qi and advise against frequent or long-term use, which is not an accurate assessment. Generally, any Qi-regulating herb, if taken alone for a long time, will inevitably damage Qi. However, when Laifuzi is stir-fried, powdered, and taken about an hour after meals (approximately one qian per dose) to aid digestion and regulate Qi, it does not damage Qi because it promotes food intake, thereby nourishing the Qi. If used to relieve distension and resolve stagnation, assisted by herbs such as Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), even frequent and long-term use will not harm the Qi.
[Attached Case] A man in his fifties, following extreme anger, experienced sudden abdominal distension extending to the hypochondrium. Various Qi-regulating and opening agents were ineffective. He was prescribed Sheng Laifuzi (raw Raphani Semen) one liang, along with Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), and Sheng Maiya (Hordei Fructus Germinatus), each three qian. These were decocted in two zhong of water, divided into three doses, and taken warm. The illness was cured after completing one full course.
Another man, aged twenty-five or twenty-six, who typically had abundant phlegm-fluids, contracted an external pathogen. Within three to four days, he felt phlegm-saliva congealing in the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner), obstructing food and drink from descending, causing immediate regurgitation. He was instructed to take Laifuzi one liang (half raw, half stir-fried), crushed and decocted in one large zhong of water. This decoction was used to administer San Zhe Shi (Hematitum) fine powder, three qian. Half an hour later, the dregs were re-decocted into another large zhong of water, again administered with three qian of raw Hematitum powder. At this point, the Upper Jiao instantly opened, allowing him to eat and drink. Subsequently, a formula with acrid-cooling and resolving properties was prescribed. After two doses, he made a complete recovery.