连翘为之使。
咸，寒。入手足阳明经。散热毒，治谷贼，通经下乳，排脓止痛，解痘杀虫。配生姜、
地龙，治历节风痛。
茎如油麻，枯黑如漆者真。甘草拌蒸。气虚者禁用。
甘，寒。入足阳明、太阳经血分。治胎前产后心烦，天行热病，兼利小便而通子户，清
淫欲
之瘀热。配建莲、糯米，固胎元。配白银，治胎动腹痛不可忍。
根甘，寒。入足厥阴经血分。泻热散瘀。得蛤粉，通小便。捣汁饮，治骨哽。（并治蚕咬
人毒入肉。）
微苦，大寒。入足阳明、手少阴经。解时行头痛，心胃热毒。治伤寒热狂，黄胆热痢。
配好
酒，治肚皮青黑。（血气失养，风寒乘之也。）佐犀角、栀子，治阳毒发斑。
脾胃虚寒者禁用。
微苦，寒。入手足阳明经。治血痢腹痛，敷痈肿疮疖。得白芷，治蛇螫伤毒。配沙糖，
治中暑神昏。
苦，大温。入命门。壮丹田之元阳，除冷气之潜伏。得茴香、川楝，治奔豚。（寒热气。）
得
荞麦、茴香，治疝瘕。得破故纸、木瓜，治湿香港脚。配桃仁，治膀胱气。
酒蒸用，或炒熟用。阴血不足者禁用。
一名蠡实
辛、平。入阳明经血分。泻湿热，消酒毒，治疝痛，祛冷积。得升麻，治喉痹（根、叶、
汁俱可。）配干姜、黄连，治水利。（忌猪肉、冷水。）取根、叶捣汁服，治绞肠痧。
冷疝，醋炒。泻痢，酒炒。湿热，童便炒。燥热者禁用。久服令人泻。
连翘作为其引经药。
味咸，性寒。归入手经和足经的阳明经。能散发热毒，治疗谷贼（一种因饮食不洁或虫毒引起的急性腹痛病证），疏通经络并促进乳汁分泌，排出脓液并缓解疼痛，解除痘疹毒素并杀灭寄生虫。与生姜、地龙配伍，可治疗历节风痛（关节疼痛游走不定）。
茎像油麻（芝麻），干枯发黑如漆色者为真品。用甘草拌蒸后使用。气虚者禁用。
味甘，性寒。入足阳明经和足太阳经的血分。治疗妊娠及产后心烦，流行性热病，兼能利尿并通利子宫，清除淫欲过度导致的瘀热。与建莲（福建产莲子）、糯米配伍，可固护胎元。与白银配伍，治疗胎动不安且腹痛剧烈难以忍受。
根味甘，性寒。入足厥阴经血分。泻热散瘀。配合蛤粉，可通利小便。捣汁饮用，治疗骨鲠（鱼刺卡喉）。（同时也可治疗蚕咬人导致毒气侵入肌肉。）
味微苦，性大寒。入足阳明经和手少阴经。解除时行头痛，清解心胃热毒。治疗伤寒引起的热狂，黄疸和热痢。配合好酒，治疗肚皮青黑。（这是气血失养，风寒乘虚侵袭所致。）佐以犀角、栀子，治疗阳毒发斑。
脾胃虚寒者禁用。
味微苦，性寒。入手经和足经的阳明经。治疗血痢腹痛，外敷痈肿疮疖。配合白芷，治疗蛇咬伤毒。配砂糖，治疗中暑神志昏迷。
味苦，性大温。入命门。壮补丹田的元阳，驱除潜伏的冷气。配合茴香、川楝子，治疗奔豚（气从少腹上冲心胸的病症，属寒热气交争）。配合荞麦、茴香，治疗疝瘕（腹内结块，伴有疼痛）。配合破故纸（补骨脂）、木瓜，治疗湿脚气。配桃仁，治疗膀胱气滞。
用酒蒸制后使用，或炒熟后使用。阴血不足者禁用。
又名蠡实。
味辛，性平。入阳明经血分。泻湿热，消除酒毒，治疗疝痛，祛除冷积。配合升麻，治疗喉痹（咽喉肿痛闭塞，根、叶、汁均可使用）。配干姜、黄连，治疗水肿泄泻。（忌食猪肉、冷水。）取根、叶捣汁服用，治疗绞肠痧（一种急性腹痛伴吐泻的病症）。
冷疝，用醋炒制。泻痢，用酒炒制。湿热证，用童便（健康儿童的尿液）炒制。燥热者禁用。久服会导致腹泻。
Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus) serves as its guiding herb.
Salty, cold. Enters the hand and foot Yangming meridians. Disperses heat-toxins, treats Guzei (an acute abdominal pain syndrome caused by dietary impurity or insect toxins), unblocks meridians and promotes lactation, expels pus and alleviates pain, resolves toxin from smallpox/rash, and kills parasites. Combined with Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, Fresh Ginger) and Dilong (Pheretima, Earthworm), it treats Lijie Fengtong (painful bi syndrome characterized by wandering joint pain).
The stems resemble Sesamum indicum (Sesame); those that are dry, black, and glossy like lacquer are authentic. Processed by steaming with Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Licorice Root) mixed in. Contraindicated for patients with Qi deficiency.
Sweet, cold. Enters the blood aspect of the foot Yangming and foot Taiyang meridians. Treats mental restlessness during pregnancy and postpartum, epidemic febrile diseases, simultaneously promotes urination and unblocks the uterus, clears stasis-heat caused by excessive sexual indulgence. Combined with Jianlian (Nelumbinis Semen, Lotus Seed from Fujian) and Nuomi (Oryzae Sativa Glutinosa Semen, Glutinous Rice), it secures the fetal origin. Combined with Baiyin (Argentum, Silver), it treats restless fetus with unbearable abdominal pain.
The root is sweet, cold. Enters the blood aspect of the foot Jueyin meridian. Drains heat and disperses stasis. Obtained with Gafen (Concha Meretricis, Clam Shell Powder), it promotes urination. Crushed to extract juice and drunk, it treats bone splinter obstruction in the throat. (It also treats venom entering the flesh from silkworm bites.)
Bitter, slightly; very cold. Enters the foot Yangming and hand Shaoyin meridians. Resolves epidemic headache, clears heart and stomach heat-toxins. Treats mania due to heat from Shanghan (Cold Damage), jaundice, and dysentery due to heat. Combined with Haojiu (Good Wine), it treats blue-black discoloration of the abdomen. (This is due to loss of nourishment of qi and blood, allowing wind-cold to invade.) Assisted by Xijiao (Rhinocerotis Cornu, Rhino Horn) and Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus, Gardenia Fruit), it treats yang-toxin causing macular eruptions.
Contraindicated for patients with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold.
Bitter, slightly; cold. Enters the hand and foot Yangming meridians. Treats bloody dysentery with abdominal pain, applies externally to carbuncles, sores, and boils. Obtained with Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, Dahurian Angelica Root), it treats snakebite toxicity. Combined with Shatang (Saccharum Officinarum, Sugar Cane Juice/Sugar), it treats coma due to heatstroke.
Bitter; very warm. Enters the Mingmen (Gate of Life). Strengthens the primordial yang of the Dantian, eliminates latent cold qi. Obtained with Huixiang (Foeniculi Fructus, Fennel Fruit) and Chuanlianzzi (Meliae Toosendan Fructus, Toosendan Fruit), it treats Ben Tun (a condition where qi rushes upward from the lower abdomen to the chest, involving alternating cold and heat). Obtained with Qiaomai (Tartari Fagopyri Herba, Tartary Buckwheat Herb) and Huixiang, it treats Shanxia (abdominal masses with pain). Obtained with Poguzhi (Psoraleae Fructus, Psoralea Fruit) and Mugua (Chaenomelis Fructus, Quince Fruit), it treats damp Hongzhijiaoqi (damp tinea pedis/foot swelling). Combined with Taoren (Persicae Semen, Peach Kernel), it treats bladder qi stagnation.
Used after steaming with wine, or used after stir-frying until cooked. Contraindicated for patients with yin-blood deficiency.
Also known as Lishi.
Acrid, neutral. Enters the blood aspect of the Yangming meridians. Drains damp-heat, eliminates alcohol toxicity, treats hernia pain, dispels cold accumulation. Obtained with Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma, Black Cohosh Rhizome), it treats Houbi (throat obstruction/swelling; roots, leaves, and juice are all usable). Combined with Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma, Dried Ginger) and Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma, Coptis Rhizome), it treats edema and diarrhea. (Avoid pork and cold water.) Extract juice from roots and leaves and take orally, it treats Jiaochangsha (acute abdominal colic with vomiting and diarrhea).
For cold hernia, stir-fry with vinegar. For dysentery/diarrhea, stir-fry with wine. For damp-heat, stir-fry with Tongbian (Children's Urine). Contraindicated for patients with dryness-heat. Long-term use causes diarrhea.