宣，解表，泻，下气，治风痰
辛以畅肺解风寒，甘以悦脾理胸腹，苦泻厥阴（肝）之热，寒散太阳（膀胱）之邪（微
寒，一云微温）。性阴而降，功专下气，气下则火降而痰消（气有余便是火，火则生痰）。能
除实热。
治痰热哮喘，咳嗽呕逆，痞膈霍乱，小儿疳气，有推陈致新之绩。明目安胎。无外感者
忌用（按∶柴胡、前胡均是风药。但柴胡性升、前胡性降，为不同。肝胆经风痰，非前胡不
能除）。
皮白肉黑，味甘、气香者良。半夏为使。恶皂角。忌火。
轻，发汗
辛温微苦（僧继洪曰∶中牟产麻黄，地冬不积雪，性热，故过服泄真气）。入足太阳（膀
胱），兼走手少阴、阳明（心、大肠）而为肺家专药。能发汗解肌，去营中寒邪、卫中风热。
调血脉，通九窍，开毛孔。
治中风伤寒（中，犹伤也），头痛温疟，咳逆上气（风寒郁于肺经。经曰∶诸气 郁，
皆属于肺），痰哮气喘（哮证宜泻肺气，虽用麻黄，而不出汗，本草未载），赤黑斑毒（胃热。
一曰斑证，表虚不得再汗，非便闭亦不可下，只宜清解其热），毒风疹痹，皮肉不仁，目赤
肿痛，水肿风肿。过剂则汗多云阳，夏月禁用（汗者心之液，过汗则心血为之动摇，乃骁悍
之剂。丹溪以人参、麻黄同用，亦攻补法也。东垣曰∶十剂曰轻可去实，葛根、麻黄之属是
也。邪客皮毛，腠理闭拒，营卫不行，故谓之实，二药轻清，故可去之。时珍曰∶麻黄太阳
经药，兼入肺经，肺主皮毛；葛根阳明经药，兼入脾经，脾主肌肉。二药皆轻扬发散，而所
入不同。王好古曰∶麻黄治卫实，桂枝治卫虚，虽皆太阳经药，其实营卫药也。心主营为血，
肺主卫为气。故麻黄为手太阴之剂，桂枝为手少阴心之剂。时珍曰∶仲景治伤寒，无汗用麻
黄，有汗用桂枝，未有究其精微者。津液为汗，汗即血也，在营则为血，在卫则为汗。寒伤
营，营血内涩。不能外通于卫，卫气闭固，津液不行，故无汗发热而恶寒；风伤卫，卫气外
滞，不能内护于营，营气虚弱，津液不固，故有汗发热而恶风。然风寒皆由皮毛而入，皮毛
肺之合也，盖皮毛外闭，则邪热内攻，故用麻黄、甘草同桂枝，引出营分之邪，达之肌表；
佐以杏仁，泄肺而和气。汗后无大热而喘者加石膏。《活人书》，夏至后加石膏知母，皆泄
肺火之药，是麻黄汤虽太阳发汗重剂，实散肺经火郁之药。腠理不密，则津液外泄，而肺气
虚，虚则补其母，故用桂枝同甘草，外散风邪以救表，内伐肝木以防脾；佐以芍药，泄木而
固脾；使以姜、枣，行脾之津液而和营卫。下后微喘者，加浓朴、杏仁，以利肺气也。汗后
脉沉迟者加人参，以益肺气也。《活人书》，加黄芩为阳旦汤，以泻肺热也。是桂枝汤虽太
阳解肌轻剂，实为理脾救肺之药也。诸家皆以麻黄桂枝为肺经药，谓伤寒传足不传手者误也
。桂能平肝）。
发汗用茎去节，煮十余沸，掠去浮沫，或用醋汤略泡。
备用，亦有用蜜炒者（庶免太发），止汗用根节（无时出汗为自汗，属阳虚；梦中出汗
为盗汗，属阴虚。用麻黄根、蛤粉、粟米等分为末，袋盛扑之佳。时珍曰∶麻黄发汗，驶不
能御；根节止汗，效如影响，物理不可测如此。自汗有风湿、伤风、风温，气虚、血虚、脾
虚、阴虚、胃热、痰饮、中暑、亡阳、柔痉等证，皆可加用。盖其性能行周身肌表，引诸药
至卫分而固腠理。汗虽为心液，然五脏亦各有汗。经曰∶饮食饱甚，汗出于胃；惊而夺精，
汗出于心；持重远行，汗出于肾；疾走恐惧，汗出于肝；摇体劳苦，汗出于脾）。浓朴、白
薇为使。恶辛夷、石膏。
辛味能疏通肺气、解除风寒；甘味能补益脾气、调理胸腹；苦味能泻除厥阴（肝经）的热邪；寒性能消散太阳（膀胱经）的邪气（药性微寒，另一种说法认为微温）。其性质属阴而主沉降，功效专于下气，气机下行则火气下降、痰浊消除（气有余便是火，火盛则生痰）。能够清除实热。
治疗痰热引起的哮喘、咳嗽呕吐、胸膈痞满、霍乱，以及小儿疳积，有推陈致新的功效。还能明目、安胎。没有外感病邪者忌用。（按语：柴胡和前胡都是风药。但柴胡药性升散，前胡药性沉降，二者不同。肝胆经的风痰，非前胡不能清除。）
外皮白色、肉质黑色、味甘、气香的为佳。以半夏为引经药。畏皂角。忌用火制。
辛温微苦（僧人继洪说：中牟产的麻黄，冬季地面积雪不冻，药性大热，所以过服会耗泄真气）。入足太阳（膀胱）经，兼入手少阴（心）、手阳明（大肠）经，是肺经的专用药。能发汗解肌，祛除营分中的寒邪、卫分中的风热。调和血脉，通利九窍，开启毛孔。
治疗中风伤寒（中，即伤的意思），头痛、温疟，咳逆上气（风寒郁闭在肺经。经典记载：各种气机郁滞的病证，都归属于肺），痰哮气喘（哮喘证应当泻肺气，虽然使用麻黄，但并不导致出汗，本草书中未详细记载此点），赤黑斑毒（胃热。一种说法认为斑疹证，表虚者不可再发汗，若非大便闭塞也不可攻下，只宜清热解毒），毒风疹痹，皮肉麻木不仁，目赤肿痛，水肿及风肿。用量过大则会导致大汗淋漓、阳气外越，夏季禁用（汗是心的津液，过汗会使心血动摇，这是药性峻猛的药剂。朱丹溪主张人参与麻黄同用，也是攻补兼施的方法。李东垣说：十剂中有“轻可去实”，葛根、麻黄这类药物就是。邪气客居皮毛，腠理闭塞拒邪，营卫运行不畅，所以称为实证，这两味药质地轻清，所以能去除实证。李时珍说：麻黄是太阳经药，兼入肺经，肺主皮毛；葛根是阳明经药，兼入脾经，脾主肌肉。两药都轻扬发散，但所入经络不同。王好古说：麻黄治疗卫分实证，桂枝治疗卫分虚证，虽然都是太阳经药，其实分别是营分和卫分的药。心主营血，肺主卫气。所以麻黄是手太阴肺经的方剂，桂枝是手少阴心经的方剂。李时珍说：张仲景治疗伤寒，无汗用麻黄，有汗用桂枝，没有人探究其中的精微之处。津液化为汗，汗即是血，在营分则为血，在卫分则为汗。寒邪伤及营分，营血内部涩滞，不能外通于卫分，卫气闭固，津液不行，所以无汗、发热且恶寒；风邪伤及卫分，卫气在外滞留，不能内护于营分，营气虚弱，津液不固，所以有汗、发热且恶风。然而风寒都是从皮毛侵入的，皮毛是肺的外合，既然皮毛外部闭塞，邪热就会内攻，所以用麻黄、甘草配合桂枝，将营分的邪气引出，达于肌表；佐以杏仁，泻肺气而调和气机。发汗后若无大热但仍有喘息的，加入石膏。《活人书》中，夏至后加入石膏、知母，都是泻肺火的药物，这说明麻黄汤虽然是太阳经发汗的重剂，实际上是疏散肺经火郁的药物。若腠理不紧密，则津液外泄，导致肺气虚，虚则补其母，所以用桂枝配合甘草，向外疏散风邪以救表，向内伐肝木以防犯脾；佐以芍药，泻肝木而固护脾土；使以生姜、大枣，运行脾的津液而调和营卫。攻下后出现轻微喘息的，加入厚朴、杏仁，以利肺气。发汗后脉象沉迟的，加入人参，以补益肺气。《活人书》中加入黄芩成为阳旦汤，以泻肺热。这说明桂枝汤虽然是太阳经解肌的轻剂，实际上是调理脾胃、救肺的方剂。各家都将麻黄、桂枝视为肺经药，认为伤寒传足经不传手经是错误的观点。桂枝能平抑肝木）。
发汗时使用麻黄茎，去掉节，煮十余沸，撇去浮沫，或者用醋汤略泡一下备用。也有用蜜炒的（以免发汗太过），止汗时使用麻黄根和节（不因外界刺激而自然出汗称为自汗，属于阳虚；睡梦中出汗称为盗汗，属于阴虚。使用麻黄根、蛤粉、粟米等分为末，装袋扑擦效果很好。李时珍说：麻黄发汗迅猛无法阻挡；根和节止汗，效果如影随形，物理规律难以测度如此。自汗有风湿、伤风、风温、气虚、血虚、脾虚、阴虚、胃热、痰饮、中暑、亡阳、柔痉等各种证候，都可以加用。因为它的性能能通行周身肌表，引导诸药到达卫分从而固密腠理。汗虽然由心所主，但五脏也各有汗。经典记载：饮食过饱，汗出于胃；受惊夺精，汗出于心；负重远行，汗出于肾；疾走恐惧，汗出于肝；身体摇动劳苦，汗出于脾）。以厚朴、白薇为引经药。畏辛夷、石膏。
To diffuse lung qi, release the exterior, purge fire, descend adverse qi, and treat wind-phlegm.
The pungent flavor unblocks lung qi and resolves wind-cold; the sweet flavor benefits spleen qi and regulates the chest and abdomen; the bitter flavor purges heat from the Jueyin (Liver) channel; the cold nature disperses pathogenic factors from the Taiyang (Bladder) channel (the property is slightly cold, another view holds it is slightly warm). Its nature is yin and descending, with efficacy specialized in descending qi; when qi descends, fire descends and phlegm dissipates (excess qi becomes fire, and fire generates phlegm). It can eliminate excess heat.
It treats asthma and cough with vomiting due to phlegm-heat, chest and diaphragm fullness, cholera-like disorder, and pediatric malnutrition (Gan Qi), achieving the effect of pushing out the old and generating the new. It also brightens the eyes and calms the fetus. It is contraindicated in cases without external contraction. (Note: Chai Hu and Qian Hu are both wind-dispelling herbs. However, Chai Hu has an ascending nature, while Qian Hu has a descending nature, making them different. Wind-phlegm in the Liver and Gallbladder channels cannot be cleared without Qian Hu.)
Those with white skin, black flesh, sweet taste, and fragrant aroma are superior. Ban Xia serves as an assistant. It opposes Zao Jiao. It should not be processed by fire.
Light, induces sweating.
Pungent, warm, slightly bitter (Monk Jihong said: Ephedra produced in Zhongmu does not accumulate snow on the ground in winter, so its nature is hot; therefore, excessive use leaks true qi). It enters the Foot-Taiyang (Bladder) channel, and also travels to the Hand-Shaoyin (Heart) and Hand-Yangming (Large Intestine) channels, serving as a specific herb for the Lung organ. It can induce sweating and release the muscle layer, expel cold pathogens from the Ying (Nutritive) level, and disperse wind-heat from the Wei (Defensive) level. It harmonizes blood vessels, opens the nine orifices, and opens the hair follicles.
It treats stroke and cold damage (Zhong means Shang/injury), headache, warm malaria, rebellious coughing and upward rushing of qi (wind-cold stagnating in the Lung channel. The Classics state: All qi stagnations belong to the Lung), phlegmatic wheezing and asthma (Wheezing syndromes should drain Lung qi; although Ma Huang is used, it does not cause sweating, which is not recorded in Materia Medica), red and black macular toxins (Stomach heat. One view states that for macular syndromes, if the exterior is deficient, one must not sweat again; if there is no constipation, one must not purge; only clearing and resolving heat is suitable), toxic wind rashes and bi-syndrome, insensitivity of skin and flesh, red and swollen painful eyes, edema, and wind-swelling. Overdose leads to profuse sweating and Yang hyperactivity; it is strictly forbidden in summer (Sweat is the fluid of the Heart; excessive sweating shakes the Heart Blood. This is a fierce agent. Zhu Danxi advocated using Ren Shen with Ma Huang, which is a method of attacking and tonifying simultaneously. Li Dongyuan said: Among the Ten Categories, "Light can remove excess," such as Ge Gen and Ma Huang. When pathogens lodge in the skin and hair, closing the Cou Li and blocking Ying and Wei circulation, it is called excess. These two herbs are light and clear, thus they can remove this excess. Li Shizhen said: Ma Huang is a Taiyang channel herb, also entering the Lung channel, as the Lung governs skin and hair; Ge Gen is a Yangming channel herb, also entering the Spleen channel, as the Spleen governs muscles. Both are light and dispersing, but enter different channels. Wang Haogu said: Ma Huang treats Wei excess, Gui Zhi treats Wei deficiency. Although both are Taiyang channel herbs, they actually treat the Wei and Ying levels respectively. The Heart governs Ying as Blood, and the Lung governs Wei as Qi. Thus, Ma Huang is a formula for the Hand-Taiyin Lung channel, and Gui Zhi is a formula for the Hand-Shaoyin Heart channel. Li Shizhen said: Zhang Zhongjing treated cold damage with Ma Huang for no sweat and Gui Zhi for sweating, but few have explored the subtleties. Body fluids transform into sweat; sweat is blood. In the Ying level it is blood, in the Wei level it is sweat. Cold damages the Ying, causing internal stagnation of Ying blood, preventing external communication with the Wei. The Wei Qi closes and secures, body fluids do not flow, resulting in no sweat, fever, and aversion to cold. Wind damages the Wei, causing external stagnation of Wei Qi, preventing internal protection of the Ying. The Ying Qi is weak, and body fluids are not secured, resulting in sweating, fever, and aversion to wind. However, wind and cold enter via the skin and hair, which are the exterior union of the Lung. Since the exterior is closed, pathogenic heat attacks internally. Therefore, Ma Huang and Gan Cao are combined with Gui Zhi to draw out Ying-level pathogens and bring them to the muscle surface; Xing Ren is added to drain Lung qi and harmonize qi. After sweating, if there is no high fever but wheezing remains, Shi Gao is added. In *Huo Ren Shu*, Shi Gao and Zhi Mu are added after the Summer Solstice; these are drugs that drain Lung fire. This shows that although Ma Huang Tang is a heavy sweating agent for the Taiyang channel, it is actually a drug that disperses Lung fire stagnation. If the Cou Li are not tight, body fluids leak externally, leading to Lung Qi deficiency. Deficiency requires tonifying the mother, so Gui Zhi is combined with Gan Cao to externally scatter wind pathogens to save the exterior and internally attack Liver Wood to prevent invasion of the Spleen; Shao Yao is added to drain Wood and secure the Spleen; Sheng Jiang and Da Zong are used to move Spleen fluids and harmonize Ying and Wei. After purging, if slight wheezing occurs, Hou Po and Xing Ren are added to benefit Lung qi. After sweating, if the pulse is deep and slow, Ren Shen is added to benefit Lung qi. *Huo Ren Shu* adds Huang Qin to form Yang Dan Tang to drain Lung heat. This shows that although Gui Zhi Tang is a light agent for releasing the muscle layer in the Taiyang channel, it is actually a drug for regulating the Spleen and saving the Lung. Various schools regard Ma Huang and Gui Zhi as Lung channel herbs, claiming that cold damage transmits through foot channels but not hand channels, which is erroneous. Gui Neng calms the Liver.)
For inducing sweating, use the stem, remove the nodes, boil for more than ten boils, skim off the floating foam, or briefly soak in vinegar water. For reserve use, some use honey-fried versions (to avoid excessive sweating); for stopping sweating, use the root and nodes (spontaneous sweating without external stimuli belongs to Yang deficiency; night sweats during dreams belong to Yin deficiency. Using Ma Huang Gen, Ge Fen, and Su Mi in equal parts, ground into powder and packed in bags for dusting, is excellent. Li Shizhen said: Ma Huang induces sweating so swiftly it cannot be controlled; the root and nodes stop sweating with effects like shadow and echo; physical principles are unfathomable. Spontaneous sweating includes syndromes of wind-damp, wind-stroke, wind-warmth, Qi deficiency, Blood deficiency, Spleen deficiency, Yin deficiency, Stomach heat, phlegm-fluids, heatstroke, collapse of Yang, and flexible spasm; all can add this herb. Because its nature can circulate through the whole body's muscle surface, guiding other herbs to the Wei level to secure the Cou Li. Although sweat is the fluid of the Heart, each of the five Zang organs has its own sweat. The Classics state: After eating to fullness, sweat comes from the Stomach; after fright and loss of essence, sweat comes from the Heart; after carrying heavy loads and traveling far, sweat comes from the Kidney; after running fast and fearing, sweat comes from the Liver; after shaking the body and laboring bitterly, sweat comes from the Spleen). Hou Po and Bai Wei serve as assistants. It opposes Xin Yi and Shi Gao.