黄连泻心火 木通泻小肠火 黄芩泻肺火（栀子佐之）黄芩泻大肠火 柴胡泻肝火（黄连佐之）
柴胡泻胆火（亦以黄连佐之） 白芍药泻脾火 石膏泻胃火 知母泻肾火 黄柏泻膀胱火 柴胡泻三焦火
（黄芩佐之）
以上诸药，各泻其火，不惟止能如此，更有治病，合为君、合为臣处，详其所宜而用，勿执一也。
天有阴阳 风、寒、暑、湿、燥、火，三阴三阳上奉之。
温、凉、寒、热，四气是也。温热者，天之阳也。凉寒者，天之阴也，此乃天之阴阳也。
地有阴阳 金、木、水、火、土，生、长、化、
收、应之藏下。
辛、甘、淡、酸、苦、咸，五味是也。皆象于地，辛、甘、淡者，地之阳也，酸、苦、咸者，
地之阴也，此乃地之阴阳也。
味之薄者，为阴中之阳。味薄则通，酸、苦、咸，平是也。
味之浓者，为阴中之阴。味浓则泄，酸、苦、咸，寒是也。
气之浓者，为阳中之阳。气浓则发热，辛、甘、温，热是也。
气之薄者，为阳中之阴。气薄则发泄，辛、甘、淡、平、凉，寒是也。
轻清成象（味薄茶之类），本乎天者亲上。
重浊成形（味浓大黄之类），本乎地者亲下。
气味辛甘发散为阳， 酸苦涌泄为阴。
清阳发腠理，清之清者也；清阳实四肢，清之浊者也。
浊阴归六腑，浊之浊者也；浊阴走五脏，浊之清者也。
黄连能清泻心火，木通能清泻小肠火，黄芩能清泻肺火（常以栀子作为辅助），黄芩也能清泻大肠火，柴胡能清泻肝火（常以黄连作为辅助）。柴胡能清泻胆火（同样以黄连作为辅助），白芍药能清泻脾火，石膏能清泻胃火，知母能清泻肾火，黄柏能清泻膀胱火，柴胡能清泻三焦火（常以黄芩作为辅助）。
以上这些药物，各自清泻相应的脏腑之火，但不仅仅局限于此，它们还有治疗其他疾病的作用。在组方时，有的作为主药（君药），有的作为辅药（臣药），应当根据具体情况适宜地选用，不要拘泥于一种固定的用法。
天有阴阳之分，风、寒、暑、湿、燥、火这六种气候现象，是由三阴三阳之气在上奉承而形成的。温、凉、寒、热，这就是所谓的“四气”。温热属于天的阳气，凉寒属于天的阴气，这是天之阴阳的表现。
地也有阴阳之分，金、木、水、火、土五行，以及生、长、化、收、应五种变化规律，是藏于地下的基础。辛、甘、淡、酸、苦、咸，这就是所谓的“五味”。这些都取象于地，其中辛、甘、淡味属于地的阳气，酸、苦、咸味属于地的阴气，这是地之阴阳的表现。
味道薄的药物，属于阴中之阳。味道薄则具有通利作用，如酸、苦、咸味中性质平和的药物即是如此。
味道浓的药物，属于阴中之阴。味道浓则具有泄下作用，如酸、苦、咸味中性质寒凉的药物即是如此。
气味浓的药物，属于阳中之阳。气味浓则具有发热作用，如辛、甘味中性质温热甚至大热的药物即是如此。
气味薄的药物，属于阳中之阴。气味薄则具有发散透泄作用，如辛、甘、淡味中性质平和或偏凉、甚至偏寒的药物即是如此。
质地轻清而成象的药物（如味道薄的茶之类），其本性源于天，趋向于上部。
质地重浊而成形的药物（如味道浓的大黄之类），其本性源于地，趋向于下部。
气味辛、甘且具有发散作用的属于阳；气味酸、苦且具有涌吐和泄下作用的属于阴。
Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian) clears Heart Fire; Akebiae Caulis (Mutong) clears Small Intestine Fire; Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin) clears Lung Fire (often assisted by Gardeniae Fructus, Zhizi); Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin) also clears Large Intestine Fire; Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu) clears Liver Fire (often assisted by Coptidis Rhizoma, Huanglian). Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu) clears Gallbladder Fire (also assisted by Coptidis Rhizoma, Huanglian); Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao) clears Spleen Fire; Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao) clears Stomach Fire; Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhimu) clears Kidney Fire; Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai) clears Bladder Fire; Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu) clears Sanjiao Fire (often assisted by Scutellariae Radix, Huangqin).
The aforementioned herbs each clear the fire of their respective organs. However, their functions are not limited to this alone; they also possess therapeutic effects for various diseases. In prescription formulation, some serve as Sovereign drugs (Jun Yao), while others serve as Minister drugs (Chen Yao). One should select and use them according to appropriate indications, rather than adhering rigidly to a single fixed usage.
Heaven possesses Yin and Yang. The six climatic factors—Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness, Dryness, and Fire—are upheld by the Three Yin and Three Yang Qi above. Warmth, Coolness, Cold, and Heat constitute the "Four Qi." Warmth and heat belong to the Yang Qi of Heaven; coolness and cold belong to the Yin Qi of Heaven. This constitutes the Yin and Yang of Heaven.
Earth also possesses Yin and Yang. The Five Elements—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—and the five phases of growth, development, transformation, harvest, and storage are hidden within the Earth below. Pungent, Sweet, Bland, Sour, Bitter, and Salty constitute the "Five Flavors." These all correspond to images of the Earth. Among them, Pungent, Sweet, and Bland flavors belong to the Yang Qi of Earth; Sour, Bitter, and Salty flavors belong to the Yin Qi of Earth. This constitutes the Yin and Yang of Earth.
Herbs with thin flavors belong to Yin within Yang. Thin flavors promote unblocking; examples include Sour, Bitter, and Salty flavors that are neutral in temperature.
Herbs with thick flavors belong to Yin within Yin. Thick flavors promote purging; examples include Sour, Bitter, and Salty flavors that are cold in nature.
Herbs with strong aromas/flavors belong to Yang within Yang. Strong aromas/flavors generate heat; examples include Pungent and Sweet flavors that are warm or hot in nature.
Herbs with weak aromas/flavors belong to Yang within Yin. Weak aromas/flavors promote dispersal and venting; examples include Pungent, Sweet, and Bland flavors that are neutral, cool, or cold in nature.
Substances that are light and clear form images (such as tea, which has a thin flavor); those originating from Heaven tend toward the upper part. Substances that are heavy and turbid form shapes (such as Rheum Palmatum, Dahuang, which has a thick flavor); those originating from Earth tend toward the lower part.
Pungent and Sweet flavors that disperse and diffuse belong to Yang; Sour and Bitter flavors that induce vomiting and purging belong to Yin.
Clear Yang Qi issues forth into the interstices (Cou Li); this is the clearest aspect of Clear Yang. Clear Yang Qi fills the four limbs; this is the relatively turbid aspect of Clear Yang.
Turbid Yin Qi returns to the Six Fu Organs; this is the most turbid aspect of Turbid Yin. Turbid Yin Qi travels to the Five Zang Organs; this is the relatively clear aspect of Turbid Yin.