一名皂矾
酸寒，无毒。
发明 皂矾专除垢腻。同苍术酒曲醋丸，治心腹中满，或黄肿如土色甚效。盖矾色绿、
味酸，烧之则赤，用以破血分之瘀积，其效最速。《金匮》治女劳黑瘅，硝石矾石丸，专
取皂矾以破瘀积之血。缘其未经注明，尝有误用。白矾涩收，殊昧此理。又妇人白沃经水不
利，子脏坚癖，中有干血白物，用矾红杏仁蜜丸，纳阴中，日一易之。
一名国老 甘平，无毒。反海藻、大戟、甘遂、芫花。补中散表炙用，泻火解毒
生用。中心黑者有毒，勿用。
《本经》主五脏六腑寒热邪气，坚筋骨，长肌肉，倍气力，解金疮肿毒。
发明 甘草气薄味浓，升降阴阳，大缓诸火。生用则气平，调脾胃虚热，大泻心火，解
痈肿金疮诸毒。炙之则气温，补三焦元气，治脏腑寒热，而散表邪，去咽痛，缓正气，养阴
血，长肌肉，坚筋骨，能和冲脉之逆，缓带脉之急。凡心火乘脾，腹中急痛，腹皮急缩者宜
倍用之。其性能缓急而又协和诸药，故热药用之缓其热，寒药用之缓其寒，寒热相兼者用之
得其平。《本经》治脏腑寒热邪气，总不出调和胃气之义。仲景附子理中用甘草恐僭上也。
调胃承气用甘草恐速下也。皆缓之之意。小柴胡有黄芩之寒，人参、半夏之温，而用甘草则
有调和之意。炙甘草汤治伤寒脉结代，心动悸，浑是表里津血不调，故用甘草以和诸药之性
而复其脉，深得攻补兼该之妙用。惟土实胀满者禁用，而脾虚胀满者必用，盖脾温则健运也
。世俗不辨虚实，一见胀满便禁甘草，何不思之甚耶。凡中满呕吐、诸湿肿满、酒客之病，
不喜其甘，藻、戟、遂、芫与之相反，亦迂缓不可救昏昧耳。而胡洽治痰 ，以十枣汤加甘
草、大戟，乃痰在膈上，欲令通泄，以拔病根也。古方有相恶相反并用，非妙达精微者，不
知此理。其梢去茎中痛，节解痈疽毒，条草生用解百药毒。凡毒遇土则化，甘草为九土之精
，故能解诸毒也。《千金方》云∶甘草解百药毒。如汤沃雪，有中乌头、巴豆毒，甘草入腹
即定，验如反掌。方称大豆解百药毒，予每试之不效。加甘草为甘豆汤，其验甚捷。岭南人
解蛊，凡饮食时，先用炙甘草一寸嚼之，其中毒随即吐出。
皂矾
味酸，性寒，无毒。
发明：皂矾专门清除污垢油腻。与苍术、酒曲、醋制成丸药，治疗心腹部胀满，或者身体发黄肿胀如土色，效果极佳。大概因为矾石颜色绿、味道酸，烧制后变红，用来破除血分的瘀积，其疗效最快。《金匮要略》治疗女劳黑疸（因房劳过度导致的黑疸病），使用硝石矾石丸，专门取用皂矾来破除瘀积之血。由于原文没有注明具体种类，曾经有人误用。白矾具有涩敛的作用，很不明白这个道理。另外，妇女白带过多、月经不通，子宫内有坚硬的癖块，其中有干血和白物，使用矾红杏仁蜜丸，纳入阴道中，每天更换一次。
国老（甘草的别名）
味甘，性平，无毒。与海藻、大戟、甘遂、芫花相反。补中益气、发散表邪宜炙用；泻火解毒宜生用。中心发黑的有毒，不要使用。
《神农本草经》主治五脏六腑的寒热邪气，坚固筋骨，生长肌肉，倍增气力，解除金疮肿毒。
发明：甘草气味淡薄而味道浓厚，能升降阴阳，大大缓解各种火邪。生用时气性平和，调理脾胃虚热，大大清泻心火，解除痈肿、金疮等各种毒害。炙过后气性温热，补益三焦元气，治疗脏腑寒热，并发散表邪，去除咽痛，缓和正气，滋养阴血，生长肌肉，坚固筋骨，能够调和冲脉的逆气，缓解带脉的拘急。凡是心火侵犯脾土，腹部紧急疼痛，腹皮紧缩的情况，适宜加倍使用。它的性能既能缓急又能协和各种药物，所以热药用它来减缓其热性，寒药用它来减缓其寒性，寒热兼用的方剂用它来达到平衡。《神农本草经》说治疗脏腑寒热邪气，总离不开调和胃气的含义。张仲景在附子理中汤中使用甘草，是担心药力僭越上行。在调胃承气汤中使用甘草，是担心泻下太快。这都是为了“缓”的意思。小柴胡汤中有黄芩的寒性，人参、半夏的温性，而使用甘草则有调和之意。炙甘草汤治疗伤寒脉结代、心动悸，完全是因为表里津液血液不调，所以使用甘草来调和各种药物的性质从而恢复脉搏，深得攻补兼施的妙用。只有土实（实证）导致胀满的人禁用，而脾虚导致胀满的人必须使用，因为脾喜温则健运。世俗之人不辨别虚实，一见胀满就禁止使用甘草，怎么不想想呢？凡是中满呕吐、各种湿邪导致的肿胀满闷、经常饮酒的人的病，不喜欢甘草的甜味，海藻、大戟、甘遂、芫花与它相反，也是迂腐迟缓，不能救治昏昧之症。但是胡洽治疗痰证，在十枣汤中加入甘草和大戟，是因为痰在膈上，想要通过通泄来拔除病根。古方中有相恶、相反的药物并用，不是精微通达的人，不知道这个道理。甘草梢能治疗茎中疼痛，甘草节能解痈疽毒，条草生用能解百药毒。凡是毒药遇到土就能化解，甘草是九土的精华，所以能解各种毒。《千金方》说：甘草能解百药毒。像热水浇雪一样快，如果中了乌头、巴豆的毒，甘草进入腹中立刻安定，验证起来容易得像翻手掌一样。方书称大豆能解百药毒，我每次尝试都不见效。加入甘草成为甘豆汤，验证非常迅速快捷。岭南人解蛊毒，凡是在饮食时，先用一寸炙甘草咀嚼，其中毒随即吐出。
Zaofan (Green Vitriol)
Acidic in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic.
Invention: Zaofan is specifically used to remove dirt and grease. When made into pills with Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Jiuqu (Medicated Leaven), and vinegar, it is highly effective for treating fullness in the heart and abdomen, or yellowish swelling resembling the color of earth. This is because the alum stone is green in color and acidic in taste; when calcined, it turns red. It is used to break up blood stasis, and its efficacy is the fastest. In *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet), for the treatment of Nulao Heidan (Black Jaundice caused by sexual exhaustion), Xiaoshi Fanshi Wan (Niter and Alum Pill) specifically utilizes Zaofan to break up accumulated blood stasis. Due to the lack of specific designation in the original text, misuse has occurred in the past. Baifan (White Alum) possesses astringent properties and fails to grasp this principle. Furthermore, for women suffering from excessive leukorrhea and irregular menstruation, with hard masses in the uterus containing dried blood and white matter, Fanhong Xingren Miwan (Alum-Red Almond Honey Pill) is inserted into the vagina and changed once daily.
Guolao (National Elder - Alias for Gancao)
Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Antagonistic to Haizao (Sargassum), Daji (Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix), Gansui (Kansui Radix), and Yuanhua (Genkwa Flos). For tonifying the middle and dispersing exterior pathogenic factors, use honey-fried Gancao; for clearing fire and detoxifying, use raw Gancao. Those with a black center are toxic and should not be used.
*Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) states it treats cold and heat pathogenic factors in the five zang and six fu organs, strengthens sinews and bones, promotes muscle growth, increases strength and energy, and resolves sores, ulcers, and traumatic injuries.
Invention: Gancao has a thin qi and strong flavor, capable of ascending and descending yin and yang, and greatly moderating various fire pathogens. When used raw, its qi is balanced; it regulates deficiency heat in the spleen and stomach, significantly clears heart fire, and resolves toxins from sores, ulcers, and traumatic injuries. When honey-fried, its qi becomes warm; it tonifies the primordial qi of the Sanjiao (Triple Burner), treats cold and heat of the zang and fu organs, disperses exterior pathogenic factors, relieves sore throat, moderates righteous qi, nourishes yin and blood, promotes muscle growth, strengthens sinews and bones, harmonizes rebellious qi of the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel), and relieves tension of the Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel). In cases where Heart Fire invades the Spleen, causing urgent abdominal pain and contraction of the abdominal wall, it should be used in double dosage. Its nature can relieve urgency and harmonize other herbs; thus, it moderates the heat of hot-natured herbs and the cold of cold-natured herbs, achieving balance in formulas combining cold and hot herbs. The statement in *Shennong Bencao Jing* regarding the treatment of cold and heat pathogenic factors in the zang and fu organs essentially revolves around the meaning of harmonizing Stomach Qi. Zhang Zhongjing uses Gancao in Fuzi Lizhong Tang (Aconite Decoction to Regulate the Middle) likely to prevent the medicinal force from overstepping upwards. In Tiaowei Chengqi Tang (Regulating the Stomach and Purging Yang Decoction), Gancao is used to prevent purgation from being too rapid. Both instances reflect the intent of "moderation." Xiao Chaihu Tang contains the cold nature of Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) and the warm nature of Renshen (Ginseng Radix) and Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma); the addition of Gancao serves to harmonize. Zhi Gancao Tang (Honey-Fried Licorice Decoction) treats palpitations and intermittent pulse due to Taiyang disease, which is fundamentally a disharmony of interior and exterior fluids and blood; thus, Gancao is used to harmonize the properties of various herbs and restore the pulse, demonstrating the subtle utility of combining attack and tonification. It is strictly contraindicated in cases of excess-fullness due to Earth excess, but must be used in cases of deficiency-fullness due to Spleen deficiency, as the Spleen thrives on warmth and movement. Laypeople fail to distinguish between excess and deficiency; upon seeing fullness, they immediately prohibit Gancao, failing to think deeply about this. In cases of middle-fullness, vomiting, various dampness-induced swellings, and diseases of wine drinkers, the sweet taste is disliked. The antagonism with Haizao, Daji, Gansui, and Yuanhua also represents a sluggish approach unsuitable for rescuing critical conditions. However, Hu Qia, in treating phlegm disorders, adds Gancao and Daji to Shizao Tang (Ten Jujube Decoction) because the phlegm is located above the diaphragm, aiming to promote drainage to extract the root of the disease. Ancient formulas sometimes combine mutually hostile or antagonistic herbs; only those who thoroughly understand the subtleties know this principle. The tip of Gancao treats pain in the urethra, the nodes treat carbuncles and sores, and raw strip licorice resolves the toxicity of all medicines. Generally, poisons are transformed by earth; Gancao is the essence of the nine soils, hence it can resolve various toxins. *Qianjin Fang* (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) states: Gancao resolves the toxicity of all medicines. Like hot water melting snow, if one is poisoned by Wutou (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata) or Badou (Crotonis Fructus), Gancao acts immediately upon entering the stomach, with verification as easy as turning a palm. Formulas claim that Da Dou (Soybean) resolves the toxicity of all medicines, but I have tested this repeatedly without success. Adding Gancao to create Gandou Tang (Licorice and Soybean Decoction) yields very rapid results. People in Lingnan resolve gu poison (poisonous sorcery/parasitic disease); whenever eating or drinking, they first chew an inch of honey-fried Gancao, and if poisoned, they vomit it out immediately.