须丸、（一作雷丸）乌药、没药为之使。畏硝石、鳖甲、小蓟。恶石斛、芒硝。反藜
芦。
酸、苦、微甘，微寒。入手足太阴、足厥阴经血分。泻木中之火，土中之木，固腠理，
和血
脉，收阴气，退虚热，缓中止痛，除烦止渴。治脾热易饥，泻痢后重，血虚腹痛，胎热不安
。得干姜，治年久赤白带下。得犀角，治衄血咯血。配香附、熟艾，治经水不止。配川芎，
泻肝。配姜、枣，温经。配川连、黄芩，治泻痢。配甘草，止腹痛并治消渴引饮。（肝火泻
，胃热解也。）君炒柏叶，治崩中下血。佐人参，补气。佐白术，补脾。用桂枝煎酒浸炒，
治四肢痘疮痒 。（脾虚也。）研末酒服半钱，治痘胀痛，或地红血散。
伐肝，生用。补肝，炒用。后重，生用。血溢，醋炒。补脾，酒炒。滋血，蜜炒。除寒，
姜
炒。多用，伐肝。少用，敛阴。（收少阴之精气。）
脾气虚寒，下痢纯血，产后，（恐伐生生之气。若少用，亦可敛阴。）三者禁用。
畏恶反使，与白芍药同。
酸、苦，微寒。入足厥阴经血分。行血中之滞。通经闭，治血痹，利小肠，除疝瘕，泻
血热
，退目赤，消痈肿，疗痘毒。得槟榔，治五淋。配香附，治血崩带下。
血虚，疮溃无实热者，禁用。
畏菟丝子、贝母、大黄。忌葱、蒜、胡荽。伏砒。以乌贼骨针其树，必枯。
辛、苦，微寒。入手足少阴、厥阴经血分。泻心胞伏火，清膻中正气，除血中内热，退
无汗
骨蒸。（以其善行血滞，滞去而郁热自解。）滞下胞胎，治惊痫，除螈 疗痈肿，行瘀血。配
防风，治 疝偏坠。入辛凉药，领清气以
达外窍。入滋肾药，使精神互藏其宅。
川生者，内外俱紫，治肝之有余。亳州生者，外紫内白，治肝之不足。胃虚者，酒拌蒸。
实
热者，生用。胃气虚寒，相火衰者，勿用。（以其凉少阴之火。）
牡丹皮清神中之火以凉心，地骨皮清志中之火以安肾。丹皮治无汗之骨蒸，地骨皮治有
汗之
骨蒸。
丹皮、川柏，皆除水中之火，然一清燥火，一降邪火，判不相合。盖肾恶燥，燥则水不
归元
，宜用辛以润之、凉以清之，丹皮为力。肾欲坚，以火伤之则不坚，宜从其性以补之，川柏
为使。故川柏退邪火之胜剂，勿得以丹皮为稳于川柏，而置川柏于无用也。
雷丸（一作雷丸）、乌药、没药作为它的引经药。它畏惧硝石、鳖甲、小蓟；厌恶石斛、芒硝；与藜芦相反。
味酸、苦，微甘，性微寒。归入手足太阴经和足厥阴经的血分。能泻肝木中的火邪，疏泄脾土中的郁滞，巩固腠理，调和血脉，收敛阴气，退除虚热，缓急止痛，除烦止渴。治疗脾热导致的容易饥饿，痢疾后的里急后重，血虚引起的腹痛，胎热不安。配伍干姜，可治疗多年的赤白带下。配伍犀角，可治疗鼻出血和咯血。配伍香附、熟艾，可治疗月经淋漓不止。配伍川芎，可泻肝火。配伍生姜、大枣，可温通经脉。配伍黄连、黄芩，可治疗痢疾。配伍甘草，可止腹痛并治疗消渴多饮。（这是针对肝火泻、胃热解的情况。）以炒柏叶为君药，可治疗崩中下血。佐用人参，可补气。佐用白术，可补脾。用桂枝煎酒浸泡后炒制，可治疗四肢痘疮瘙痒。（这是因为脾虚所致。）研成粉末，用酒送服半钱，可治疗痘疮胀痛，或用于消散红斑血散。
生用则伐肝，炒用则补肝。有里急后重症状时，生用；有出血症状时，醋炒；补脾时，酒炒；滋血时，蜜炒；除寒时，姜炒。多用则伐肝，少用则敛阴。（即收敛少阴的精气。）
脾气虚寒、下痢纯血、产后这三类情况禁用。（担心会损伤生生之气。如果少量使用，也可以起到敛阴的作用。）
其畏、恶、反、使的药性与白芍药相同。
味酸、苦，性微寒。入足厥阴经血分。能行血中之瘀滞。通经闭，治疗血痹，利小肠，除疝瘕，泻血热，退目赤，消痈肿，疗痘毒。配伍槟榔，可治疗五淋。配伍香附，可治疗血崩带下。
畏惧菟丝子、贝母、大黄。忌食葱、蒜、胡荽。能伏制砒霜。如果用乌贼骨针刺其树，树木必枯死。
味辛、苦，性微寒。入手足少阴、厥阴经血分。泻心包络的伏火，清膻中的正气，除血中的内热，退无汗之骨蒸。（因为它善于行血滞，瘀滞去除而郁热自然解除。）治疗痢疾及胞胎问题，治惊痫，除抽搐，疗痈肿，行瘀血。配伍防风，可治疗狐疝偏坠。加入辛凉药中，可引导清气到达外窍。加入滋肾药中，可使精神互藏于宅。
四川产的牡丹皮，内外都呈紫色，治疗肝之有余（实证）。亳州产的牡丹皮，外紫内白，治疗肝之不足（虚证）。胃虚者，用酒拌蒸。实热者，生用。胃气虚寒、相火衰者，勿用。（因为它能凉少阴之火。）
牡丹皮清神中之火以凉心，地骨皮清志中之火以安肾。丹皮治疗无汗之骨蒸，地骨皮治疗有汗之骨蒸。
丹皮、川柏，都能除水中之火，但一个清燥火，一个降邪火，性质截然不同，不可混淆。因为肾恶燥，燥则水不归元，宜用辛以润之、凉以清之，丹皮为此力。肾欲坚，被火伤则不坚，宜从其性以补之，川柏为使药。所以川柏是退邪火的胜剂，不要认为丹皮比川柏稳妥，就把川柏放在无用的位置。
Lei Wan (Thunder Pill, *Omphalia lapidescens*), Wuyao (*Linderae Radix*), Moyao (*Myrrha*) serve as its guiding herbs. It is incompatible with Xiaoshi (*Natrii Nitratis Crystal*), Biejia (*Trionycis Carapax*), and Xiaoji (*Cirsii Herba*); it dislikes Shihu (*Dendrobii Caulis*) and Mangxiao (*Natrii Sulfas*). It is chemically opposite to Lulu (*Veratri Rhizoma*).
The flavor is sour, bitter, slightly sweet; the nature is slightly cold. It enters the blood aspect of the Taiyin meridians of the hand and foot, and the Jueyin meridian of the foot. It drains fire from Wood, disperses stagnation in Earth, consolidates the Couli (pores/skin texture), harmonizes blood vessels, gathers Yin Qi, retreats deficiency heat, relieves urgency and stops pain, eliminates vexation, and quenches thirst. It treats spleen-heat causing easy hunger, tenesmus after dysentery, abdominal pain due to blood deficiency, and fetal restlessness due to heat. When combined with Jiangjiang (Dried Ginger, *Zingiberis Rhizoma*), it treats chronic red and white leukorrhea. When combined with Xijiao (Rhinoceros Horn, *Rhinocerotis Cornu*), it treats epistaxis and hemoptysis. When paired with Xiangfu (*Cyperi Rhizoma*) and Shuai Ai (Cooked Mugwort Leaf, *Artemisiae Argyi Folium*), it treats menorrhagia. When paired with Chuanxiong (*Chuanxiong Rhizoma*), it drains Liver fire. When paired with Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger, *Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens*) and Dazao (Jujube, *Zizyphi Fructus*), it warms the meridians. When paired with Huanglian (*Coptidis Rhizoma*) and Huangqin (*Scutellariae Radix*), it treats dysentery. When paired with Gancao (*Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma*), it stops abdominal pain and treats polydipsia associated with Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst). (This addresses Liver-fire diarrhea and Stomach-heat resolution.) Using Chao Baiye (Stir-fried Coptis Leaf, *Coptidis Folium*) as the Sovereign herb treats Bingzhong bleeding (uterine bleeding). Assisted by Renshen (*Ginseng Radix*), it tonifies Qi. Assisted by Baizhu (*Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma*), it tonifies the Spleen. Stir-fried with wine after soaking in Gui Zhi Decoction (*Cinnamomi Ramulus*), it treats itching of acne on the four limbs (due to Spleen deficiency). Ground into powder and taken with half a qian using wine, it treats bloating and pain of acne, or dissipates erythema and blood dispersion.
Raw use invigorates/drains the Liver; stir-fried use tonifies the Liver. For tenesmus, use raw; for hemorrhage, use vinegar-stir-fried; for tonifying the Spleen, use wine-stir-fried; for nourishing blood, use honey-stir-fried; for dispelling cold, use ginger-stir-fried. Heavy dosage drains the Liver; light dosage gathers Yin (specifically gathering Jing-Qi of the Shaoyin).
Contraindicated in cases of Spleen-Qi deficiency with cold, pure blood in stool, and postpartum conditions. (Fear of damaging the vital generating energy. If used in small amounts, it can still gather Yin.)
Its incompatibilities (Wei, E, Fan, Shi) are the same as Baishao Yao (White Peony Root, *Paeoniae Radix Alba*).
The flavor is sour, bitter; the nature is slightly cold. It enters the blood aspect of the Jueyin meridian of the foot. It moves stagnation in the blood. It unblocks amenorrhea, treats Blood Bi (painful obstruction), benefits the Small Intestine, eliminates hernia masses, drains blood heat, reduces redness of the eyes, dissipates carbuncles and swellings, and treats acne toxins. When combined with Binglang (*Arecae Semen*), it treats Wu Lin (Five Types of Strangury). When paired with Xiangfu (*Cyperi Rhizoma*), it treats metrorrhagia and leukorrhea.
Contraindicated in cases of blood deficiency and ulcerated sores without excess heat.
It fears Tusizi (*Cuscutae Semen*), Beimu (*Fritillariae Bulbus*), and Dahuang (*Rhei Radix et Rhizoma*). It is contraindicated with Congbai (Green Onion Stem, *Allii Fistulosi Bulbus*), Suan (Garlic, *Allii Sativi Bulbus*), and Huisui (Coriander, *Coriandri Fructus*). It can subdue Pi (Arsenic). If pricked by the bone of Oumougu (Cuttlefish Bone, *Sepiae Endoconcha*), the tree will surely wither.
The flavor is pungent, bitter; the nature is slightly cold. It enters the blood aspect of the Shaoyin and Jueyin meridians of the hand and foot. It drains latent fire from the Pericardium, clears Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) from the Dan Zhong (Sea of Qi), removes internal heat from the blood, and retreats bone-steaming fever without sweat. (Because it excels at moving blood stagnation; once stagnation is removed, constrained heat naturally resolves.) It treats dysentery and uterine issues, treats convulsions and epilepsy, removes spasms, treats carbuncles and swellings, and moves blood stasis. When paired with Fangfeng (*Saposhnikoviae Radix*), it treats hernia with scrotal swelling. Added to pungent-cool formulas, it guides clear Qi to reach external orifices. Added to Kidney-nourishing formulas, it allows Spirit and Essence to reside mutually within their dwelling.
Those produced in Sichuan are purple inside and out, treating Liver excess. Those produced in Bozhou are purple outside and white inside, treating Liver deficiency. For Stomach deficiency, steam with wine. For excess heat, use raw. Do not use for Stomach-Qi deficiency with cold and declining Ministerial Fire. (Because it cools the fire of the Shaoyin.)
Danpi (Moutan Cortex) clears fire in the Shen (Spirit) to cool the Heart; Digupi (Phellodendri Cortex) clears fire in the Zhi (Willpower) to calm the Kidney. Danpi treats bone-steaming fever without sweat; Digupi treats bone-steaming fever with sweat.
Danpi and Chuanbai (Phellodendri Cortex) both remove fire in Water, but one clears dry fire, while the other descends pathogenic fire; they are distinct and should not be confused. The Kidney dislikes dryness; if dry, Water does not return to its source. One should use pungency to moisten and coolness to clear; Danpi achieves this. The Kidney desires firmness; if injured by fire, it becomes unfirm. One should follow its nature to tonify it; Chuanbai serves as the Assistant/Guide. Therefore, Chuanbai is a superior agent for descending pathogenic fire. Do not consider Danpi more stable than Chuanbai and render Chuanbai useless.