而复有非之者，抑又何也？即在王海藏亦曰∶苟无实热而用柴胡，不死何待？凡此所见略同，用者
不可不察。
桔梗（二二） 一名荠 。味苦微辛，气微凉。气轻于味，阳中有阴，有小毒，其性浮。用此
者，用其载药上升，故有舟楫之号，入肺、胆、胸膈、上焦。载散药表散寒邪。载凉药清咽疼喉痹，
亦治赤目肿痛。载肺药解肺热肺痈，鼻塞唾脓咳嗽。载痰药能消痰止呕，亦可宽胸下气。引大黄可
使上升，引青皮平肝止痛。能解中恶蛊毒，亦治惊痫怔忡。若欲专用降剂，此物不宜同用。
防风（二三） 味甘辛，气温，升也，阳也。用此者，用其气平散风。虽膀胱脾胃经药，然
随诸经之药，各经皆至。气味俱轻，故散风邪，治一身之痛，疗风眼，止冷泪。风能胜湿，故亦去
湿，除遍体湿疮。若随实表补气诸药，亦能收汗，升举阳气，止肠风下血崩漏。然此风药中之润剂，
亦能走散上焦元气，误服久服，反能伤人。
细辛（二四）（反藜芦，忌生菜） 味大辛，气温，气味俱浓，升也，阳也，有小毒，用此者，
用其温散。善 阴分之寒邪，除阴经之头痛，益肝温胆利窍，逐诸风湿痹，风痫疲疟，鼻 不闻香
臭，开关通窍，散风浪目疼。口臭牙虫，煎汤含漱。过服亦散真气，不可不知。此味辛甚，故能逐
阴分之邪，阴分且然，阳分可知。旧云少阴、厥阴之药，然岂有辛甚而不入阳分者？但阳证忌热，
用当审之。
羌活（二五） 味微苦，气辛微温，升也，阳也。用此者，用其散寒定痛。能入诸经，太阳为
最。散肌表之寒邪，利周身项脊之疼痛，排太阳之痈疽，除新旧之风湿。缘非柔懦之物，故能拨乱
反正。惟其气雄、大能散逐，若正气虚者忌用之。
独活（二六） 味苦，气香，性微凉。升中有降，善行滞气，故入肾与膀胱两经，专理下焦
风湿。两足痛痹，湿痒拘挛，或因风湿而齿痛，头眩喘逆，奔豚疝瘕，腰腹疼痛等证，皆宜用之。
升麻（二七） 味微苦，气平，气味俱轻浮而升，阳也。用此者，用其升散提气，乃脾、胃、
肺与大肠四经之药。善散阳明经风寒，肌表邪热，提元气之下陷，举大肠之脱泄，除阳明温疫表邪
，解肤腠风热斑疹。引石膏除齿牙臭烂肿痛，引葱头去阳明表证头疼，佐当归、肉苁蓉可通大便结
燥。凡痈疽痘疹，阳虚不能起发，及泻痢崩淋，梦遗脱肛，阳虚下陷之类，用佐补剂，皆所宜也。
若上实气壅，诸火炎上，及太阳表证，皆不宜用。
且其味苦气散，若血气太虚，及水火无根者，并不可用。
前胡（二八） 味苦气寒，降也，阴中微阳。去火痰实热；开气逆结滞，转筋霍乱；除胸中
痞满，气喘呕逆，咳嗽烦闷；治伤寒寒热，风热头疼；解婴儿疳热。
延胡索（二九） 味苦微辛，气微温，入肝脾二经。善行滞气，破滞血，血中气药。故能止
腹痛，通经，调月水淋滞，心气疼痛，破症癖跌扑凝瘀，亦善落胎，利小便，及产后逆血上冲。俱
宜以酒煮服，或用酒磨服亦可。然性惟破气逐血，必真有血逆气滞者方可用。若产后血虚，或经血
枯少不利，气虚作痛者，皆大非所宜。
紫草（三十） 味苦性寒，此手厥阴、足厥阴血分之药。性寒而利，能凉血滑血，通利二便，
故痘疹家宜用之。凡治痘疹，无论未出已出，但血热毒盛，或紫或黑，而大便秘结者，宜用之。若
已出红活，不紫不黑，而大便如常通利者，即不可用。故曾世荣《活幼心书》云∶紫草性寒，小儿
脾气实者犹可用，脾气虚者反能作泻。又若古方惟用其茸，亦取其气轻味薄，而有清凉升发之功也。
此外，可用以解黄胆，消肿胀，及一切斑疹恶疮，亦以其能利九窍，通水道，去湿凉血而然也。
白芨（三一） 味苦涩，性收敛，微寒。反乌头。能入肺止血，疗肺痈肺痿。治痈疽败烂恶
疮，刀箭汤火损伤，生肌止痛，俱可为未敷之。凡吐血不能止者，用白芨为末，米饮调服即效。
三七（三二） 味甘气温，乃阳明、厥阴血分之药，故善止血散血定痛。凡金刃刀箭所伤，
及跌扑杖疮血出不止，嚼烂涂之，或为末掺之，其血即止。亦治吐血衄血，下血血痢，崩漏、经水
不止，产后恶血不下俱宜自嚼，或为末，米饮送下二三钱。若治虎咬蛇伤等证，俱可服可敷。
叶之性用与根大同，凡折伤趺扑出血，敷之即止，青肿亦散。
白藓皮（三三） 味苦寒，性燥而降，乃手足太阴阳明之药。解热黄、酒黄、急黄、谷黄、
劳黄，通关节九窍，利血脉小水，治时行大热饮水，狂躁叫呼，及妇人阴中肿痛，小儿风热惊痫。
尤治一切毒风风疮，疥癣赤烂，杨梅疮毒，眉发脱落。此虽善理疮疡，而实为诸黄、风痹要药。
秦艽（三四） 味苦，性沉寒，沉中有浮，手足阳明清火药也。治风寒湿痹，利小水，疗通
身风湿拘挛，手足不遂，清黄胆，解温疫热母，除口噤牙疼口疮，肠风下血，及虚劳骨蒸发热，潮
热烦渴，及妇人胎热，小儿疳热瘦弱等证。
地榆（三五） 味苦微涩，性寒而降。既清且涩，故能止吐血衄血，清火明目，冶肠风血痢，
及妇人崩漏下血，月经不止，带浊痔漏，产后阴气散失；亦敛盗汗，疗热痞，除恶肉，止疮毒疼痛。
凡血热者当用，虚寒者不相宜也。作膏可贴金疮；捣汁可涂虎犬蛇虫伤毒，饮之亦可。
黄芩（三六） 味苦气寒，气轻于味，可升可降，阴中微阳。枯者善于入肺，实者善入大肠。
欲其上者酒炒，欲其下者生用。枯者清上焦之火，消痰利气，定喘嗽，止失血，退往来寒热、风热
湿热头痛，解瘟疫，清咽，疗肺痿肺痈，乳痈发背；尤祛肌表之热，故治斑疹鼠 ，疮疡赤眼。实
者凉下焦之热，能除赤痢，热蓄膀胱，五淋涩痛，大肠闭结，便血漏血。胎因火盛不安，酌佐砂仁、
白术；腹因火滞为痛，可加黄连、浓朴。大肠无火滑泄者，最当慎用。
黄连（三七） 味大苦，气大寒。味浓气薄，沉也，降也，降中微升，阴中微阳。专治诸火，
火在上，炒以酒；火在下，炒以童便；火而呕者炒以姜汁；火而伏者炒以盐汤。同吴茱萸炒，可以
止火痛；同陈壁土炒，可止热泻。同枳实用，可消火胀；同天花粉用，能解烦渴。同木香丸，和火
滞下痢腹痛；同吴茱萸丸，治胃热吐吞酸水。总之，其性大寒，故惟平肝凉血，肃胃清肠凉胆，止
惊痫，泻心除痞满。上可治吐血衄血，下可治肠 便红。疗妇人阴户肿痛，除小儿食积热疳，杀蛔
虫。消恶疮痈肿，除湿热郁热。善治火眼，亦消痔漏。解乌附之热，杀巴豆之毒。然其善泻心脾实
火，虚热妄用，必致格阳。故寇宗 曰∶虚而冷者，慎勿轻用。王海藏曰∶夏月久血痢，不用黄连，
阴在内也。景岳曰∶人之脾胃，所以盛载万物，发生万物，本象地而属土。土暖则气行而燥，土寒
则气凝而湿，土燥则实，土湿则滑，此天地间不易之至理。黄连之苦寒若此，所以过服芩、连者，
无不败脾，此其湿滑，亦自明显易见。独因陶弘景《别录》中有调胃浓肠之一言，而刘河间复
证之曰∶诸苦寒药多泄，惟黄连、黄柏性冷而燥。因致后世视为奇见，无不谓黄连性燥而浓肠胃，
凡治泻痢者，开手便是黄连，不知黄连、黄柏之燥，于何见之？，呜呼！一言之谬，流染若此，难
洗若此，悖理惑人，莫此为甚。虽曰黄连治痢亦有效者，然必其素禀阳脏，或多纵口腹，湿热为痢
者，乃其所宜。且凡以纵肆不节而血气正强者，即或误用，未必杀人，久之邪去亦必渐愈，而归功
黄连，何不可也。此外则凡以元气素弱，伤脾患痢，或本无火邪而寒湿动脾者，其病极多，若妄用
黄连，则脾肾日败，百无一生。凡患痢而死者，率由此类，可不寒心。余为此言，而人有未必信者，
多以苦燥二字有未明耳，故余于《传忠录》辨河间条中，复详言若味之理，以后卫生仁者再为赞正，
庶是非得明，而民生有攸赖矣。道书言服黄连犯猪肉，令人泄泻。
胡黄连（三八） 味大苦，大寒。其性味功用，大似黄连。能凉肝明目，治骨蒸劳热，三消，吐
血衄血，五心烦热，疗妇人胎热，虚惊热痢，及小儿疳热惊痫。侵人乳点目甚良。
知母（三九） 味苦，寒，阴也。其性沉中有浮，浮则入手太阴、手少阴，沉则入足阳明、足厥
阴、足少阴也。故其在上，则能清肺止渴，却头痛，润心肺，解虚烦喘嗽，吐血衄血，去喉中腥臭。
在中则能退胃火，平消瘅。在下则能利小水，润大便，去膀胱肝肾湿热，腰脚肿痛，并治劳瘵内热，
退阴火，解热淋崩浊。古书言知母佐黄柏，滋阴降火，有金水相生之义，盖谓黄柏能制膀胱命门阴
中之火，知母能消肺金制肾水化源之火，去火可以保阴，见即所谓滋阴也，故洁古、东垣皆以为滋
阴降火之要药。继自丹溪而后，则皆用以为补阴，诚大谬矣。夫知母以沉寒之性，本无生气，用以
清火则可，用以补阴则何补之有？第其阴柔巽顺，似乎有德，倘元气既亏，犹欲藉此以望补益，是
亦犹小人在朝，而国家元气日受其削，有阴移焉而莫之觉者，是不可不见之真而辨之早也。
龙腊草（四十） 味大苦，大寒。阴也，沉也，乃足厥阴、少阳之正药。大能泻火，但引以佐使，
则诸火皆治。故能退骨蒸疳热，除心火惊痫狂躁；胃火烦热黄胆，咽喉肿痛；肝肾膀胱伏火，小水
淋闭，血热泻痢；下焦湿热痈肿，疮毒疼痛？妇人血热崩淋；小儿热疳客忤，去目黄睛赤肿痛，杀
蛊毒肠胃诸虫，及风热盗汗。凡肝肾有余之火，皆其所宜。
又有对此提出非议的人，这又是为什么呢？就连王海藏也说：“如果没有实热证却使用柴胡，不死还等什么？”凡此种种，见解大致相同，使用者不可不仔细考察。
桔梗（二二） 又名荠。味苦微辛，气微凉。其气轻而味重，阳中有阴，有小毒，药性上浮。使用它，是取其能载药上升，所以有“舟楫”之称，入肺、胆、胸膈、上焦经。它能载散表药以发散寒邪；载凉药以清咽利喉治疗喉痹，也治赤眼肿痛；载治肺药以解肺热、肺痈，治疗鼻塞、唾脓血、咳嗽；载化痰药以消痰止呕，也能宽胸下气；引大黄可使药力上升，引青皮可平肝止痛。能解中恶蛊毒，也治惊痫怔忡。如果想要专门使用降逆的药物，此物不宜同用。
防风（二三） 味甘辛，气温，主升，属阳。使用它，是取其气味平和以疏散风邪。虽然是膀胱、脾胃经的药，但随诸经之药，各经都能到达。气味都轻，所以能散风邪，治疗全身疼痛，治风眼，止冷泪。风能胜湿，所以也能去湿，消除遍体湿疮。如果配合实表补气的药物，也能收汗，升举阳气，止肠风下血及崩漏。然而这是风药中的润剂，也能走散上焦元气，误服久服，反而能伤人。
细辛（二四）（反藜芦，忌生菜） 味大辛，气温，气味俱浓，主升，属阳，有小毒。使用它，是取其温散之功。善于驱逐阴分的寒邪，清除阴经的头痛，益肝温胆利窍，驱逐各种风湿痹痛、风痫疲疟，治疗鼻渊不闻香臭，开关通窍，散风浪目疼。口臭牙虫，煎汤含漱。过服也会散失真气，不可不知。此味极辛，所以能驱逐阴分之邪，阴分如此，阳分可知。旧说它是少阴、厥阴的药，然而哪有味极辛而不入阳分的？只是阳证忌热，使用时应当审慎。
羌活（二五） 味微苦，气辛微温，主升，属阳。使用它，是取其散寒定痛之功。能入诸经，以太阳经为最。散发肌表寒邪，利周身项脊疼痛，排解太阳经痈疽，清除新旧风湿。因为它不是柔懦之物，所以能拨乱反正。只因其气雄壮、大能散逐，若正气虚者忌用。
独活（二六） 味苦，气香，性微凉。升中有降，善于行滞气，所以入肾与膀胱两经，专理下焦风湿。两足痛痹，湿痒拘挛，或因风湿而齿痛、头眩喘逆、奔豚疝瘕、腰腹疼痛等证，都适宜使用。
升麻（二七） 味微苦，气平，气味俱轻浮而升，属阳。使用它，是取其升散提气之功，乃脾、胃、肺与大肠四经的药。善于散阳明经风寒、肌表邪热，提元气之下陷，举大肠之脱泄，除阳明温疫表邪，解肤腠风热斑疹。引石膏可除齿牙臭烂肿痛，引葱头可去阳明表证头疼，佐当归、肉苁蓉可通大便结燥。凡是痈疽痘疹，阳虚不能起发，以及泻痢崩淋、梦遗脱肛、阳虚下陷之类，用佐补剂，都适宜。若上实气壅，诸火炎上，以及太阳表证，都不宜用。且其味苦气散，若血气太虚，以及水火无根者，并不可用。
前胡（二八） 味苦气寒，主降，阴中微阳。去火痰实热；开气逆结滞，转筋霍乱；除胸中痞满，气喘呕逆，咳嗽烦闷；治伤寒寒热，风热头疼；解婴儿疳热。
延胡索（二九） 味苦微辛，气微温，入肝脾二经。善于行滞气，破滞血，是血中之气药。所以能止腹痛，通经，调月水淋滞，心气疼痛，破症癖跌扑凝瘀，也善落胎，利小便，及产后逆血上冲。都适宜以酒煮服，或用酒磨服也可。然而其性唯破气逐血，必须真有血逆气滞者方可用。若产后血虚，或经血枯少不利，气虚作痛者，都极不适宜。
紫草（三十） 味苦性寒，此手厥阴、足厥阴血分之药。性寒而利，能凉血滑血，通利二便，所以痘疹家宜用之。凡是治痘疹，无论未出已出，只要血热毒盛，或紫或黑，而大便秘结者，宜用之。若已出红活，不紫不黑，而大便如常通利者，就不可用。所以曾世荣《活幼心书》说：“紫草性寒，小儿脾气实者犹可用，脾气虚者反能作泻。”又若古方惟用其茸，也是取其气轻味薄，而有清凉升发之功。此外，可用以解黄疸，消肿胀，及一切斑疹恶疮，也是因为能利九窍，通水道，去湿凉血所致。
白芨（三一） 味苦涩，性收敛，微寒。反乌头。能入肺止血，疗肺痈肺痿。治痈疽败烂恶疮，刀箭汤火损伤，生肌止痛，都可以研末外敷。凡是吐血不能止者，用白芨为末，米饮调服即效。
三七（三二） 味甘气温，乃阳明、厥阴血分之药，所以善止血散血定痛。凡是金刃刀箭所伤，以及跌扑杖疮血出不止，嚼烂涂之，或为末掺之，其血即止。也治吐血衄血，下血血痢，崩漏、经水不止，产后恶血不下都适宜自嚼，或为末，米饮送下二三钱。若治虎咬蛇伤等证，都可服可敷。叶的性质用法与根大同，凡是折伤趺扑出血，敷之即止，青肿亦散。
白藓皮（三三） 味苦寒，性燥而降，乃手足太阴阳明之药。解热黄、酒黄、急黄、谷黄、劳黄，通关节九窍，利血脉小水，治时行大热饮水，狂躁叫呼，及妇人阴中肿痛，小儿风热惊痫。尤其治一切毒风风疮，疥癣赤烂，杨梅疮毒，眉发脱落。这虽然善于理疮疡，而实为诸黄、风痹要药。
秦艽（三四） 味苦，性沉寒，沉中有浮，手足阳明清火药也。治风寒湿痹，利小水，疗通身风湿拘挛，手足不遂，清黄胆，解温疫热母，除口噤牙疼口疮，肠风下血，及虚劳骨蒸发热，潮热烦渴，及妇人胎热，小儿疳热瘦弱等证。
地榆（三五） 味苦微涩，性寒而降。既清且涩，所以能止吐血衄血，清火明目，冶肠风血痢，及妇人崩漏下血，月经不止，带浊痔漏，产后阴气散失；也敛盗汗，疗热痞，除恶肉，止疮毒疼痛。凡是血热者当用，虚寒者不相宜也。作膏可贴金疮；捣汁可涂虎犬蛇虫伤毒，饮之亦可。
黄芩（三六） 味苦气寒，气轻于味，可升可降，阴中微阳。枯者善于入肺，实者善入大肠。欲其上者酒炒，欲其下者生用。枯者清上焦之火，消痰利气，定喘嗽，止失血，退往来寒热、风热湿热头痛，解瘟疫，清咽，疗肺痿肺痈，乳痈发背；尤祛肌表之热，所以治斑疹鼠瘰，疮疡赤眼。实者凉下焦之热，能除赤痢，热蓄膀胱，五淋涩痛，大肠闭结，便血漏血。胎因火盛不安，酌佐砂仁、白术；腹因火滞为痛，可加黄连、浓朴。大肠无火滑泄者，最当慎用。
黄连（三七） 味大苦，气大寒。味浓气薄，沉也，降也，降中微升，阴中微阳。专治诸火，火在上，炒以酒；火在下，炒以童便；火而呕者炒以姜汁；火而伏者炒以盐汤。同吴茱萸炒，可以止火痛；同陈壁土炒，可止热泻。同枳实用，可消火胀；同天花粉用，能解烦渴。同木香丸，和火滞下痢腹痛；同吴茱萸丸，治胃热吐吞酸水。总之，其性大寒，所以惟平肝凉血，肃胃清肠凉胆，止惊痫，泻心除痞满。上可治吐血衄血，下可治肠澼便红。疗妇人阴户肿痛，除小儿食积热疳，杀蛔虫。消恶疮痈肿，除湿热郁热。善治火眼，也消痔漏。解乌附之热，杀巴豆之毒。然而它善泻心脾实火，虚热妄用，必致格阳。所以寇宗奭说：“虚而冷者，慎勿轻用。”王海藏说：“夏月久血痢，不用黄连，阴在内也。”景岳说：“人的脾胃，所以盛载万物，发生万物，本象地而属土。土暖则气行而燥，土寒则气凝而湿，土燥则实，土湿则滑，这是天地间不易之至理。黄连之苦寒若此，所以过服芩、连者，无不败脾，这其湿滑，也自明显易见。独因陶弘景《别录》中有调胃浓肠之一言，而刘河间复证之曰：‘诸苦寒药多泄，惟黄连、黄柏性冷而燥。’因致后世视为奇见，无不谓黄连性燥而浓肠胃，凡治泻痢者，开手便是黄连，不知黄连、黄柏之燥，于何见之？，呜呼！一言之谬，流染若此，难洗若此，悖理惑人，莫此为甚。虽曰黄连治痢亦有效者，然必其素禀阳脏，或多纵口腹，湿热为痢者，乃其所宜。且凡以纵肆不节而血气正强者，即或误用，未必杀人，久之邪去亦必渐愈，而归功黄连，何不可也。此外则凡以元气素弱，伤脾患痢，或本无火邪而寒湿动脾者，其病极多，若妄用黄连，则脾肾日败，百无一生。凡患痢而死者，率由此类，可不寒心。余为此言，而人有未必信者，多以苦燥二字有未明耳，故余于《传忠录》辨河间条中，复详言若味之理，以后卫生仁者再为赞正，庶是非得明，而民生有攸赖矣。道书言服黄连犯猪肉，令人泄泻。”
胡黄连（三八） 味大苦，大寒。其性味功用，大似黄连。能凉肝明目，治骨蒸劳热，三消，吐血衄血，五心烦热，疗妇人胎热，虚惊热痢，及小儿疳热惊痫。侵人乳点目甚良。
知母（三九） 味苦，寒，阴也。其性沉中有浮，浮则入手太阴、手少阴，沉则入足阳明、足厥阴、足少阴也。所以在上，则能清肺止渴，却头痛，润心肺，解虚烦喘嗽，吐血衄血，去喉中腥臭。在中则能退胃火，平消瘅。在下则能利小水，润大便，去膀胱肝肾湿热，腰脚肿痛，并治劳瘵内热，退阴火，解热淋崩浊。古书言知母佐黄柏，滋阴降火，有金水相生之义，盖谓黄柏能制膀胱命门阴中之火，知母能消肺金制肾水化源之火，去火可以保阴，见即所谓滋阴也，所以洁古、东垣皆以为滋阴降火之要药。继自丹溪而后，则皆用以为补阴，诚大谬矣。夫知母以沉寒之性，本无生气，用以清火则可，用以补阴则何补之有？第其阴柔巽顺，似乎有德，倘元气既亏，犹欲藉此以望补益，是亦犹小人在朝，而国家元气日受其削，有阴移焉而莫之觉者，是不可不见之真而辨之早也。
龙腊草（四十） 味大苦，大寒。阴也，沉也，乃足厥阴、少阳之正药。大能泻火，但引以佐使，则诸火皆治。所以能退骨蒸疳热，除心火惊痫狂躁；胃火烦热黄胆，咽喉肿痛；肝肾膀胱伏火，小水淋闭，血热泻痢；下焦湿热痈肿，疮毒疼痛？妇人血热崩淋；小儿热疳客忤，去目黄睛赤肿痛，杀蛊毒肠胃诸虫，及风热盗汗。凡是肝肾有余之火，都是它所适宜的。
There are also those who criticize this, why is that? Even Wang Haicang said: "If there is no excess heat but Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix) is used, how can one expect not to die?" All these views are roughly the same; users must examine them carefully.
Jie Geng (22) Also known as Qi Jie. Taste: bitter, slightly pungent. Nature: slightly cool. Its qi is lighter than its taste, possessing yang within yin, with slight toxicity, and its nature is ascending. It is used for its ability to carry other herbs upward, hence the name "Keel" (Zhou Ji), entering the Lung, Gallbladder, Chest Diaphragm, and Upper Jiao meridians. It carries dispersing herbs to scatter cold pathogens from the exterior; it carries cooling herbs to clear the throat and treat sore throat and bi obstruction, and also treats red eyes and swelling pain. It carries lung-clearing herbs to resolve lung heat and lung abscess, treating nasal congestion, spitting of pus and blood, and cough. It carries phlegm-resolving herbs to eliminate phlegm and stop vomiting, and can also broaden the chest and direct qi downward. Guided by Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), it can ascend; guided by Qing Pi (Aurantii Fructus Pericarpium), it can soothe the liver and relieve pain. It can resolve malignant poisoning and gu poison, and also treat epilepsy and palpitations. If one wishes to use exclusively descending agents, this herb should not be used together.
Fang Feng (23) Taste: sweet, pungent. Nature: warm. Action: ascending, yang. It is used for its mild qi to disperse wind pathogens. Although it enters the Bladder and Spleen/Stomach meridians, it reaches all meridians when combined with herbs of other meridians. Both its taste and qi are light, so it disperses wind pathogens, treats body-wide pain, treats wind-eye conditions, and stops cold tearing. Wind can overcome dampness, so it can also remove dampness and eliminate widespread damp sores. When combined with herbs that consolidate the exterior and tonify qi, it can also stop sweating, raise yang qi, and stop intestinal wind bleeding and metrorrhagia. However, this is a moistening agent among wind-dispersing herbs; it can also dissipate yuan qi in the upper jiao. Misuse or long-term use can harm the body.
Xi Xin (24) (Incompatible with Li Lu, avoid raw vegetables) Taste: extremely pungent. Nature: warm. Both taste and qi are strong, action: ascending, yang, with slight toxicity. It is used for its warming and dispersing properties. It excels at dispelling cold pathogens in the yin aspect, removing headache in the yin meridians, benefiting the liver, warming the gallbladder, and opening orifices. It drives out various wind-damp bi syndromes, wind epilepsy, fatigue malaria, nasal congestion with loss of smell, opens orifices, disperses wind-wave eye pain. For bad breath and tooth worms, decoct and gargle. Overuse will also dissipate true qi, which must be known. This herb is extremely pungent, thus able to drive out yin-aspect pathogens; if it affects the yin aspect, the yang aspect is understandable. Old texts say it is a herb for the Shaoyin and Jueyin meridians, but how can an extremely pungent herb not enter the yang aspect? However, yang patterns contraindicate heat, so use must be cautious.
Qiang Huo (25) Taste: slightly bitter. Nature: pungent, slightly warm. Action: ascending, yang. It is used for its ability to disperse cold and stabilize pain. It can enter all meridians, most notably the Taiyang meridian. It disperses cold pathogens on the muscle surface, relieves pain in the entire body, neck, and spine, expels Taiyang carbuncles and sores, and removes old and new wind-dampness. Because it is not a soft or weak substance, it can restore order from chaos. Only because its qi is vigorous and powerful in dispersing and driving out pathogens, it is contraindicated for those with deficient righteous qi.
Du Huo (26) Taste: bitter. Nature: fragrant, slightly cool. Ascending with descending action, it excels at moving stagnant qi, thus entering the Kidney and Bladder meridians, specifically managing lower jiao wind-dampness. It is suitable for pain and bi in both legs, damp itching and spasms, toothache, dizziness, wheezing and counterflow due to wind-damp, ben tun hernia and mass, waist and abdominal pain, etc.
Sheng Ma (27) Taste: slightly bitter. Nature: neutral. Both taste and qi are light, floating, and ascending, belonging to yang. It is used for its ascending, dispersing, and lifting properties, entering the Spleen, Stomach, Lung, and Large Intestine meridians. It excels at dispersing wind-cold in the Yangming meridian, exterior pathogenic heat, lifting sinking yuan qi, raising prolapse of the large intestine, removing exterior pathogens of Yangming epidemic febrile diseases, and resolving wind-heat macules and rashes on the skin. Guided by Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum), it removes foul-smelling, rotting, swollen, and painful teeth; guided by Cong Bai (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus), it removes headache from Yangming exterior patterns; assisted by Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) and Rou Cong Rong (Cistanches Herba), it unblocks dry constipation. For any carbuncle, sore, acne, or rash where yang deficiency prevents eruption, as well as dysentery, metrorrhagia, nocturnal emission, rectal prolapse, and patterns of yang deficiency with sinking, using it as an assistant to tonifying agents is appropriate. However, it is unsuitable for upper fullness with qi stagnation, flaming up of various fires, and Taiyang exterior patterns. Furthermore, since its taste is bitter and qi dispersing, it cannot be used for those with severe blood and qi deficiency, or those lacking root water and fire.
Qian Hu (28) Taste: bitter, cold. Nature: descending, slightly yang within yin. It eliminates fire-phlegm and excess heat; opens qi counterflow and stagnation, treating tetany and cholera; removes chest fullness, wheezing, vomiting, cough, and restlessness; treats shanghan alternating chills and fever, wind-heat headache; resolves infant malnutrition heat.
Yan Hu Suo (29) Taste: bitter, slightly pungent. Nature: slightly warm. Enters the Liver and Spleen meridians. It excels at moving stagnant qi and breaking stagnant blood, being a qi herb within blood. Thus, it can stop abdominal pain, unblock menstruation, regulate menstrual flow and urinary retention, treat heart qi pain, break masses and contusion stasis, induce abortion, promote urination, and treat postpartum reverse blood rushing upward. All are suitable for decoction in wine or grinding in wine. However, its nature is solely to break qi and drive out blood; it should only be used for true blood counterflow and qi stagnation. It is highly unsuitable for postpartum blood deficiency, scanty or obstructed menstruation due to blood exhaustion, or pain due to qi deficiency.
Zi Cao (30) Taste: bitter, cold. This is a blood-level herb for the Hand Jueyin and Foot Jueyin meridians. Its nature is cold and lubricating, capable of cooling blood and lubricating blood, unblocking the two bowels, thus suitable for acne and smallpox practitioners. In treating acne and smallpox, whether erupted or not, if blood heat and toxin are abundant, appearing purple or black, with dry stool constipation, it is suitable. If already erupted red and vibrant, not purple or black, with normal loose stools, it should not be used. Thus, Zeng Shirong's *Huoyou Xinshu* states: "Zi Cao is cold; if a child has solid spleen qi, it can still be used; if spleen qi is deficient, it may cause diarrhea." Ancient formulas only use its buds, taking advantage of its light qi and thin taste, having cooling and ascending functions. Additionally, it can be used to resolve jaundice, reduce swelling, and treat all macules, rashes, and malignant sores, because it benefits the nine orifices, unblocks water passages, removes dampness, and cools blood.
Bai Ji (31) Taste: bitter, astringent. Nature: converging, slightly cold. Incompatible with Wu Tou. It enters the Lung to stop bleeding and treats lung abscess and lung萎 (flaccidity). It treats carbuncles, ulcers, rotten malignant sores, knife wounds, arrow injuries, scalds, burns, generates flesh, and relieves pain; all can be ground into powder for external application. For hematemesis that cannot be stopped, using Bai Ji powder mixed with rice water is effective.
San Qi (32) Taste: sweet, warm. This is a blood-level herb for the Yangming and Jueyin meridians, thus excellent at stopping bleeding, dispersing blood, and relieving pain. For injuries from metal blades or arrows, or contusions and beatings with continuous bleeding, chewing and applying, or grinding into powder and sprinkling, stops bleeding immediately. It also treats hematemesis, epistaxis, lower bleeding, bloody dysentery, metrorrhagia, prolonged menstruation, and postpartum retained lochia; all are suitable for self-chewing or powder taken with rice water, 2-3 qian. For tiger bites or snakebites, it can be taken or applied. The leaves have similar properties and uses to the roots; for fractures, contusions, and bleeding, applying stops bleeding, and bruising dissipates.
Bai Xian Pi (33) Taste: bitter, cold. Nature: drying and descending. It is a herb for the Hand and Foot Taiyang and Yangming meridians. It resolves heat jaundice, alcohol jaundice, acute jaundice, grain jaundice, and labor jaundice; unblocks joints and nine orifices, benefits blood vessels and urination, treats epidemic high fever with thirst, mania and shouting, women's vulvar swelling and pain, and children's wind-heat epilepsy. It especially treats all toxic wind sores, scabies, red and rotten tinea, yaws, and eyebrow/hair loss. Although good for sores, it is actually a key herb for jaundice and wind-bi.
Qin Jiao (34) Taste: bitter. Nature: heavy cold, with floating within heaviness. It is a fire-clearing herb for the Hand and Foot Yangming meridians. It treats wind-cold-damp bi, promotes urination, treats whole-body wind-damp spasms and limb paralysis, clears jaundice, resolves epidemic heat mothers, removes lockjaw, toothache, and mouth ulcers, intestinal wind bleeding, and deficiency consumption bone-steaming fever, tidal fever, irritability, and thirst, as well as women's fetal heat and children's malnutrition heat and emaciation.
Di Yu (35) Taste: bitter, slightly astringent. Nature: cold and descending. Both clearing and astringent, it can stop hematemesis and epistaxis, clear fire and brighten eyes, treat intestinal wind bloody dysentery, women's metrorrhagia and bleeding, prolonged menstruation, leukorrhea, hemorrhoids, postpartum loss of yin qi; it also stops night sweats, treats heat fullness, removes evil flesh, and stops sore pain. It should be used for blood heat, but is unsuitable for deficiency cold. Made into ointment, it can be applied to metal wounds; crushed for juice, it can be applied to tiger, dog, snake, or insect bites/poisons, and drinking it is also effective.
Huang Qin (36) Taste: bitter, cold. Qi is lighter than taste, can ascend or descend, slightly yang within yin. Dried ones excel at entering the Lung; solid ones excel at entering the Large Intestine. To ascend, stir-fry with wine; to descend, use raw. Dried ones clear upper jiao fire, eliminate phlegm, benefit qi, stabilize asthma and cough, stop bleeding, resolve alternating chills and fever, wind-heat/damp-heat headache, resolve epidemics, clear the throat, treat lung flaccidity and abscess, breast abscess, and back carbuncles; especially dispel muscle-surface heat, thus treating macules/rashes, scrofula, sores, and red eyes. Solid ones cool lower jiao heat, remove red dysentery, heat accumulating in the bladder, five types of strangury with painful urination, large intestine closure, hematochezia, and metrorrhagia. For fetus unsettled by excessive fire, add Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus) and Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma); for abdominal pain due to fire stagnation, add Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma) and Hou Po (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex). For large intestine without fire causing slippery diarrhea, use with extreme caution.
Huang Lian (37) Taste: extremely bitter. Nature: extremely cold. Taste is strong, qi is thin, heavy, descending, slightly ascending within descending, slightly yang within yin. Specifically treats various fires: fire above, stir-fry with wine; fire below, stir-fry with child's urine; fire with vomiting, stir-fry with ginger juice; latent fire, stir-fry with salt water. Stir-fried with Wu Zhu Yu (Evodiae Fructus), it stops fire pain; stir-fried with Chen Bi Tu (Old Wall Soil), it stops heat diarrhea. Used with Zhi Shi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), it eliminates fire bloating; used with Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthis Radix), it resolves irritability and thirst. With Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix) pills, it harmonizes fire-stagnant dysentery and abdominal pain; with Wu Zhu Yu pills, it treats stomach heat vomiting and acid regurgitation. In short, its nature is extremely cold, thus only soothing the liver, cooling blood, purifying the stomach, clearing the intestines and gallbladder, stopping epilepsy, draining heart fire, and removing fullness. Above, it treats hematemesis and epistaxis; below, it treats bloody stools. It treats women's vulvar swelling and pain, removes children's food accumulation heat and malnutrition, kills roundworms. Eliminates malignant sores and carbuncles, removes damp-heat and stagnant heat. Excellent for fire eyes, also eliminates hemorrhoids. Resolves heat of Wu Tou (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata) and toxicity of Ba Dou (Crotonis Fructus). However, it excellently drains heart and spleen excess fire; misuse for deficiency heat will certainly cause rejection of yang. Thus, Kou Zongshi said: "For deficiency and cold, do not use lightly." Wang Haicang said: "In summer, for prolonged bloody dysentery, do not use Huang Lian, as yin is inside." Jingyue says: "Human Spleen and Stomach hold and generate all things, resembling earth and belonging to earth. Warm earth allows qi to move and becomes dry; cold earth causes qi to congeal and becomes damp; dry earth becomes solid; damp earth becomes slippery. This is an immutable principle in heaven and earth. Huang Lian is so bitter and cold that overusing Qin and Lian invariably damages the spleen; its dampness and slipperiness are obvious. Solely because Tao Hongjing's *Bielu* mentioned 'regulating stomach and thickening intestines,' and Liu Hejian confirmed: 'Most bitter-cold herbs cause diarrhea, only Huang Lian and Huang Bo are cold and drying.' This led later generations to view it as a rare insight, claiming Huang Lian is drying and thickens the intestines, so anyone treating diarrhea starts with Huang Lian. But where is the drying nature of Huang Lian and Huang Bo seen? Alas! One erroneous statement, spread like this, hard to wash away, misleading people contrary to reason, nothing is worse. Although Huang Lian is effective for dysentery, it is only suitable for those constitutionally yang-predominant or those whose dysentery is caused by damp-heat from indulgence in food. Moreover, for those with strong blood and qi due to indulgence, even misuse may not kill; eventually, as pathogens leave, they will gradually recover, attributing success to Huang Lian, why not? Otherwise, for those with originally weak yuan qi, spleen-damaged dysentery, or cold-damp moving spleen without fire pathogen, there are many such cases. If Huang Lian is misused, spleen and kidney decline daily, with less than one in a hundred surviving. Most deaths from dysentery are of this type, which is chilling. I speak these words, yet some may not believe, mostly due to misunderstanding 'bitter' and 'drying.' Thus, in *Chuanzhong Lu*, refuting Hejian, I detailed the principles of flavors again, hoping future benevolent physicians will review and correct, so right and wrong become clear, and people's lives depend on it. Daoist texts say consuming Huang Lian with pork causes diarrhea."
Hu Huang Lian (38) Taste: extremely bitter, extremely cold. Its nature, taste, and functions are very similar to Huang Lian. It cools the liver and brightens eyes, treats bone-steaming consumption fever, three consumptions, hematemesis and epistaxis, five-center heat, treats women's fetal heat, deficiency epilepsy and heat dysentery, and children's malnutrition heat and epilepsy. Invigorating human milk to drop into eyes is very good.
Zhi Mu (39) Taste: bitter, cold, yin. Its nature is heavy with floating; floating enters Hand Taiyin and Hand Shaoyin; heavy enters Foot Yangming, Foot Jueyin, and Foot Shaoyin. Thus, above, it clears lungs, stops thirst, removes headache, moistens heart and lungs, resolves deficiency irritability, asthma, and cough, hematemesis and epistaxis, removes foul odor in throat. In the middle, it retreats stomach fire, flattens xiao dan. Below, it promotes urination, moistens large intestine, removes damp-heat in bladder, liver, and kidneys, waist and leg swelling and pain, and treats consumption internal heat, retreats yin fire, resolves heat strangury and turbid discharge. Ancient texts state Zhi Mu assists Huang Bo to nourish yin and descend fire, having the meaning of metal and water generating each other. This means Huang Bo controls fire in yin of bladder and mingmen, while Zhi Mu eliminates fire in the source of kidney water controlled by lung metal. Removing fire protects yin, which is what is meant by nourishing yin. Thus, Jiegu and Dongyuan both considered it a key herb for nourishing yin and descending fire. Since Danxi, everyone used it to tonify yin, which is truly a great error. Zhi Mu, with its heavy cold nature, originally lacks vital energy; it can be used to clear fire, but what does it tonify yin? Although its yin-soft and compliant nature seems virtuous, if yuan qi is already depleted, relying on it for tonification is like petty men in court, where national yuan qi is daily diminished, with yin shifting unnoticed. One must see the truth and distinguish early.
Long La Cao (40) Taste: extremely bitter, extremely cold. Yin, heavy, it is the principal herb for Foot Jueyin and Shaoyang. It greatly drains fire; but guided as an assistant, it treats all fires. Thus, it retreats bone-steaming malnutrition heat, removes heart fire epilepsy and mania; stomach fire irritability and jaundice, throat swelling and pain; latent fire in liver, kidney, and bladder, urinary strangury and closure, blood heat dysentery; lower jiao damp-heat carbuncles, sore pain; women's blood heat metrorrhagia; children's heat malnutrition and ke wu, removes yellow eyes and red swollen painful eyes, kills gu poison and gastrointestinal parasites, and wind-heat night sweats. Any excess fire in liver and kidney is suitable for it.