（本经下品）
【气味】辛寒，无毒。
【主治】主寒热瘰 鼠 ，头疮，破症，散瘿结气，脚肿湿痹，轻身。
【核】曰∶出蜀郡川谷，所在亦有，生平泽原野间。冬至后生苗，渐高至一二尺许，茎
微方。叶对节生，似旋复叶而长大，边有细齿而背白。三、四月茎端作穗，长一、二寸，穗
中开淡紫碎花，似丹参花，结子亦作穗，一穗四子。五月便枯，宜四月收采。土瓜为之使。
伏汞砂。
【 】曰∶冬至生，夏至枯，具三阳之正体，寒水之正化，故从内达外，自下彻上，以
去寒热气结，及合湿成痹也。瘰 曰寒热病。经云∶瘰 者，皆鼠 寒热毒瓦斯，留于脉而不
去也。其本在于脏，其末出于颈腋之间，浮于脉中而未内，与着于肌肉，而外为脓血者易去
也。治之奈何？请从其本，引其末，可使衰去，而绝其寒热，审按其道以予之，徐往徐来以
去之。决其死生，反其目视之，中有赤脉上下贯瞳子者，见一脉，一岁死；见一脉半，岁半
死；见二脉，二岁死；见二脉半，二岁半死；见三脉，三岁而死；见赤脉不下贯瞳子者，可
治也。若瘿则但浮于脉，症则但着于脏，脚肿唯下，头疮唯上，虽非本末，统名寒热病也。
楼全善用治目珠疼，简要济众方用治目睛痛，此得灵枢意旨。有赤脉贯瞳子者相宜，否则涉
寒，非对待法也。
（具寒水之正化，可从在内之脏本；具三阳之正体，可从在外脉中之支末。瘰 曰寒热
病者，以本于脏，其末出于颈腋之间，内外相从，故名寒热，言针法也。）
（浮脉着脏，唯上唯下，尽寒热之变。）
【《神农本草经》列为下品】
【气味】辛，寒，无毒。
【主治】主要治疗寒热往来、瘰疬（颈部淋巴结结核）、鼠瘘（一种伴有寒热的颈部淋巴结核），头部疮疡，破除癥积（腹内结块），消散瘿气（甲状腺肿大等结节性疾病）及气机郁结，治疗脚部肿胀、湿痹，使人身体轻健。
【考证】曰：夏枯草产于蜀郡的山谷中，各地也有生长，多生于水边平地或原野之间。冬至日后开始发芽，逐渐长高至一尺二尺左右，茎呈微方形。叶子对生，形状像旋覆花叶但更大更长，边缘有细齿，背面呈白色。三月、四月时茎端长出穗状花序，长一至二寸，穗中开出淡紫色的小碎花，类似丹参的花，结籽也呈穗状，一穗有四粒种子。五月便枯萎，适宜在四月采收。土瓜为其辅药。能抑制汞砂的毒性。
【发明】曰：夏枯草在冬至日生长，夏至日枯萎，具备“三阳”的正体，具有寒水的正化特性，因此能从内部通达外部，自下而上贯通，以消除寒热气机的郁结，以及化解湿气导致的痹症。所谓“瘰疬”，是指寒热病。医经说：“瘰疬，都是由于鼠瘘寒热毒邪，停留在脉道中而不散去。”其根本在于脏腑，其末梢表现于颈腋之间，若浮于脉中而未深入体内，或者附着于肌肉而外部化为脓血的，容易治疗。如何治疗呢？请从根本入手，引导末梢病变，可以使病情衰退，断绝寒热，仔细按照其道给予治疗，缓慢进针、缓慢出针以祛除病邪。判断生死预后，观察眼睛，如果看到赤色的脉络上下贯穿瞳孔，见一条脉，一年死；见一条半脉，半年死；见两条脉，两年死；见两条半脉，两年半死；见三条脉，三年死；如果看到赤色脉络不向下贯穿瞳孔的，可以治疗。至于瘿病，则仅浮于脉中；癥积，则仅附着于脏腑；脚肿只在下部，头疮只在上部，虽然不属于本末关系，统称为寒热病。楼全善用此药治疗眼珠疼痛，《简要济众方》用它治疗眼睛疼痛，这是得到了《灵枢》的意旨。如果有赤脉贯穿瞳孔的情况适合使用，否则涉及寒证，不是对症的治疗方法。（具备寒水的正化特性，可以从内部的脏腑根本入手；具备三阳的正体，可以从外部的脉道支末入手。所谓瘰疬是寒热病，是因为根本在脏腑，末梢出于颈腋之间，内外相应，所以叫寒热，这里指的是针刺疗法。）（浮脉与着脏，病位唯上唯下，穷尽了寒热变化的规律。）
[Classified as Lower Grade in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*]
[Flavor and Nature] Acrid, Cold, Non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats alternating chills and fever (*Huanre*), scrofula (*Luoli*, tuberculous lymphadenitis of the neck), rat fistula (*Shulou*, a type of cervical lymphatic tuberculosis accompanied by chills and fever), head sores, breaks up masses (*Zheng*, intra-abdominal tumors or hard lumps), dissipates goiter (*Ying*, nodular swellings such as thyroid enlargement) and qi stagnation, treats foot edema and damp-bi syndrome, and lightens the body.
[Evidence] It is stated: It originates from the valleys of Shu Commandery, but is also found elsewhere, growing commonly in wetlands, plains, and fields. After the Winter Solstice, it sprouts, gradually growing to a height of one or two chi (approx. 30-60 cm). The stem is slightly square. Leaves are opposite, resembling those of *Inula japonica* (*Xuanfu*) but larger and longer, with fine serrations on the margins and a white underside. In the third and fourth lunar months, spikelets form at the stem tips, one to two cun (approx. 3-6 cm) long. Pale purple small flowers bloom within the spikes, resembling those of *Salvia miltiorrhiza* (*Danshen*). Seeds also form in spikes, with four seeds per spike. It withers in the fifth lunar month; harvesting is suitable in the fourth month. *Benincasa hispida* (*Tugua*, wax gourd) acts as its guide/enhancer. It can neutralize the toxicity of mercury sulfide.
[Elucidation] It is stated: Sprouting at the Winter Solstice and withering at the Summer Solstice, it possesses the correct constitution of the "Three Yang" meridians and the proper transformation of Cold Water. Therefore, it reaches from the interior to the exterior, penetrating from below to above, thereby dispelling the stagnation of cold and heat qi, and resolving bi syndrome caused by dampness. "Scrofula" refers to diseases involving chills and fever. The Classics state: "Scrofula arises from the toxic vapors of rat fistula chills and heat, remaining in the vessels without dispersing." Its root lies in the Zang organs, while its branches manifest between the neck and axilla. If it floats in the vessels without entering internally, or adheres to muscles and externally suppurates, it is easy to treat. How should it be treated? One must address the root and guide the branches, allowing the condition to recede and cutting off the chills and fever. Carefully follow the appropriate method to administer treatment, using slow insertion and slow withdrawal to expel the pathogen. To determine prognosis, observe the eyes: if red vessels are seen piercing the pupil vertically, seeing one vessel indicates death in one year; one and a half vessels, death in half a year; two vessels, death in two years; two and a half vessels, death in two and a half years; three vessels, death in three years. If red vessels are seen but do not pierce downward through the pupil, the condition is treatable. As for goiter, it merely floats in the vessels; masses adhere only to the Zang organs; foot edema occurs only in the lower part; head sores occur only in the upper part. Although these do not strictly follow the root-branch relationship, they are collectively termed diseases of chills and heat. Lou Quanshan used this herb to treat eyeball pain, and the *Jianyao Jizhong Fang* used it to treat eye pain, which aligns with the principles of the *Ling Shu*. It is suitable when red vessels pierce the pupil; otherwise, it may involve cold patterns and is not a targeted treatment. ([Possessing the proper transformation of Cold Water, it can address the internal root of the Zang organs; possessing the correct constitution of Three Yang, it can address the peripheral branches in the external vessels. Scrofula is called a disease of chills and heat because its root is in the Zang organs and its branches emerge between the neck and axilla, corresponding internally and externally, hence named 'chills and heat,' referring here to acupuncture methods.) (Floating pulse and adherence to Zang organs, pathology located only above or below, exhausts the variations of cold and heat.)]