\r白芨\pq15a1.bmp\r
清金治嗽。苦辛甘涩性平寒。止血生肌。散结敛疮质腻滑。（白芨色白。味甘苦兼辛
。气平微寒。性滑。有汁极粘腻。得秋金之令。而主收敛。专入肺家血分。故止血止嗽生肌
治疮。皆取用之。然必虚而有热者乃为相宜耳。白芨虽禀秋金收敛之性。而仍具苦泄辛散之
意。与白蔹相近。故每相需而用。但非治病紧要之品耳。）
\r黄精\pq15a.bmp\r
甘可益脾。使五脏丰盈。精完神固。润能养血。从后天平补。辟谷充饥。（黄精得土
之精气而生。甘平之性。故为补益脾胃之胜品。土者万物之母。母得其养。则水火既济。金
木调平。诸邪自去。百病不生矣。然滋腻之品。久服令人不饥。若脾虚有湿者。不宜服之。
恐其腻膈也。此药味甘如饴。性平质润。为补养脾阴之正品。可供无病患服食。古今方中不
见用之。）
\r白薇\pq15.bmp\r
咸苦入阳明。寒能胜热。芳香走血分。凉可除蒸。利水益阴。兼治癃淋成闭。产虚烦
呕。并医血热生风。（白薇其根色白。微细如丝。故名。味苦而咸。性寒而香。故能清解
血分热邪。凡一切时邪温病。热传营分。下午为盛者。最宜。其所以益阴利水者。亦热退则
阴生。阴生则水利也。能入阳明者。因金匮竹皮大丸一方。用白薇以治产虚烦呕之胃病耳。
白薇花于夏。实于秋。采根于秋末。有由阳转阴之意。故治表热。解风温。皆由里阴不守而
来。皆可用此治愈者。亦阳归阴之义。其所以能利水者。因其根似牛膝。有引热下行之意。
亦由阳归阴也。
白芨
清肃肺气以治疗咳嗽。其味苦、辛、甘，性平而寒。具有止血和生肌的功效，能消散结块、收敛疮口，质地腻滑。（白芨颜色洁白，味道兼有甘、苦、辛，气平微寒，性质滑利，含有极粘腻的汁液。它顺应秋季金气的时令特性，主司收敛，专门进入肺经的血分，因此用于止血、止咳、生肌和治疗疮疡。但必须适用于虚而有热的情况才为适宜。白芨虽然禀受秋季金气收敛的特性，但仍具备苦泄辛散的意思，与白蔹相近，所以常配合使用。但它并非治疗疾病的关键药物。）
黄精
味甘可补益脾胃，使五脏充盈，精气完善，神志坚固。滋润能养血，从后天之本进行平和的补益，可辟谷充饥。（黄精得土的精气而生，味甘平，因此是补益脾胃的佳品。土是万物的母亲，母亲得到滋养，则水火既济，金木调平，各种邪气自然去除，百病不生。然而，滋腻的药物久服会使人不感到饥饿。如果脾虚有湿的人，不宜服用，恐怕它会阻碍膈部。此药味道像饴糖一样甜，性质平和，质地滋润，是补养脾阴的正宗药物，可供无病之人食用。古今方剂中很少见到使用它。）
白薇
味咸苦入阳明经，性寒能胜热。芳香走窜血分，凉性能除骨蒸潮热。有利水益阴的功效，兼治小便不通或淋沥成闭，产后虚烦呕吐，以及治疗血热生风。（白薇根部色白，细微如丝，因此得名。味道苦咸，性寒而香，因此能清解血分的热邪。凡是各种时行温病，热邪传入营分，下午加重的情况，最为适宜。它之所以能益阴利水，也是因为热退则阴生，阴生则水利。它能入阳明经，是因为《金匮要略》中的竹皮大丸一方，用白薇来治疗产后虚烦呕吐的胃病。白薇花在夏季开放，果实于秋季成熟，在秋末采挖根部，有由阳转阴的意味，因此治疗表热、解除风温，都是因为里阴不能固守所致，都可以用此治愈，这也是阳气回归阴分的意义。它之所以能利水，是因为其根类似牛膝，有引热下行的意思，也是由阳归阴的表现。）
Baiji (Rhizoma Bletillae)
Clears Metal (Lung) to treat cough. Bitter, pungent, sweet, neutral in nature, cold in temperature. Stops bleeding and generates flesh. Dissipates nodules and astringes sores; texture is greasy and slippery. (Baiji is white in color, with a taste that is sweet, bitter, and pungent. Its qi is neutral and slightly cold, its nature is slippery, and it contains extremely viscous juice. It follows the command of Autumn Metal and primarily governs astringency. It specifically enters the Blood aspect of the Lung organ. Therefore, it is used for stopping bleeding, relieving cough, generating flesh, and treating sores. However, it is suitable only for cases involving deficiency with heat. Although Baiji possesses the astringent nature of Autumn Metal, it still retains the intent of bitter drainage and pungent dispersion, similar to Bailian (Rhizoma Amomi Rotundus). Thus, they are often used together. Nevertheless, it is not an essential herb for treating diseases.)
Huangjing (Rhizoma Polygonati Sibirici)
Sweetness benefits the Spleen, making the Five Zang organs abundant. Essence is complete, spirit is solid. Moistening nourishes Blood, providing a balanced tonification from the Post-Heaven foundation. It can ward off grain consumption and relieve hunger. (Huangjing grows by obtaining the essence of Earth. With its sweet and neutral nature, it is a superior product for tonifying the Spleen and Stomach. Earth is the mother of all things; when the mother is nourished, Water and Fire interact properly, Metal and Wood are balanced, various pathogens depart naturally, and hundred diseases do not arise. However, cloying and greasy products taken for a long time make one feel no hunger. Those with Spleen deficiency and dampness should not take it, fearing it may obstruct the diaphragm. This herb tastes like maltose, has a neutral nature and moist texture, and is a genuine product for tonifying Spleen Yin. It can be consumed by healthy people. It is rarely seen used in ancient and modern formulas.)
Baiwei (Radix Cynanchi Atrati)
Salty and bitter enter the Yangming channel. Coldness overcomes heat. Aromatic quality travels through the Blood aspect. Coolness removes steaming bone disorder. Promotes urination and benefits Yin. Also treats strangury progressing to retention. Addresses postpartum deficiency vexation and vomiting. Treats wind generated by blood heat. (Baiwei's root is white, fine as silk, hence the name. Taste is bitter and salty, nature is cold and aromatic. Thus, it can clear and resolve heat pathogens in the Blood aspect. It is most suitable for all kinds of seasonal warm diseases where heat transmits to the Ying (Nutrient) aspect and peaks in the afternoon. The reason it benefits Yin and promotes urination is also because when heat recedes, Yin generates; when Yin generates, water metabolism flows. It can enter Yangming because in the formula Zhupi Da Wan from *Jin Gui Yao Lue*, Baiwei is used to treat stomach disease characterized by postpartum deficiency vexation and vomiting. Baiwei flowers in Summer and fruits in Autumn; roots are harvested at the end of Autumn, implying a transition from Yang to Yin. Therefore, treating exterior heat and resolving wind-warmth, which stem from the failure of interior Yin to maintain control, can all be cured with this. This is also the meaning of Yang returning to Yin. The reason it can promote urination is because its root resembles Niuxi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae), having the intent of guiding heat downward, which is also a manifestation of Yang returning to Yin.)