宣散风湿，补肝润肾
辛温散风邪，故诸风痹痛、咳嗽上气、头痛脊强者宜之（专治少阴头痛，独活为使）。
辛散浮热，故口疮喉痹（少阴火）、鼻渊齿蛊者（虫蚀脓烂）宜之。辛益肝胆，故胆虚惊痫，
风眼泪下者宜之。水停心下则肾燥，细辛之辛，能行水气以润之（肾燥者，心亦燥，火屈于
水故燥也。经曰∶肾苦燥，急食辛以润之）。虽手少阴（心）引经，乃足少阴（肾）本药，
能通精气，利九窍，故耳聋鼻 （音瓮，鼻塞不闻香臭也。风寒入脑，故气不宣通。寒宜表，
热宜清，有息肉者，为末吹鼻）、倒睫便涩者宜之。散结温经，破痰下乳，行血发汗（能发
少阴之汗。仲景治少阴证反发热，麻黄附子细辛汤，乃治邪在里之表剂）。然味浓性烈不可
过用（不可过一钱，多则气不通，闷绝而死，虽而无伤可验，开平狱尝治此，不可不知）。
味极辛，产华阴者真（杜蘅、鬼督邮、徐长卿皆可乱之），拣去双叶者用。恶黄 、山
茱。畏硝石、滑石。反藜芦。
宣，发表和里，退热升阳
苦平微寒，味薄气升为阳。主阳气下陷，能引清气上行，而平少阳、厥阴之邪热（肝、
胆、心包、三焦相火。时珍曰∶行少阳，黄芩为佐；行厥阴，黄连为佐），宣畅气血，散结
调经（昂按∶人第知柴胡能发表，而不知柴胡最能和里。故劳药、血药，往往用之。补中益
气汤，逍遥散，皆用柴胡，取其和中，皆非解表）。为足少阳（胆）表药（胆为清净之府，
无出无入，其经在半表半里，法当和解，小柴胡汤之属是也。若病在太阳，服之太早，则引
贼入门；若病入阴经，复服柴胡，则重虚其表。最宜详慎）。
治伤寒邪热（仲景有大、小柴胡汤），痰热结实，虚劳肌热（寇宗 曰∶柴胡，《本经》
并无一字治劳，《药性论》、《日华子》皆言补劳伤，医家执而用之，贻误无穷。时珍曰∶
劳有五，若劳在肝、胆、心、心包有热，则柴胡乃手足厥阴、少阳必用之药；劳在脾胃有热
，或阳气下陷，则柴胡为升清退热必用之药。惟劳在肺肾者，不可用耳，寇氏一概摈斥，殊
非通论。昂按∶杨氏秦艽扶羸汤，治肺痿成劳，咳嗽声嗄，体虚自汗，用柴胡为君，则肺劳
亦有用之者矣。《药性论》甄权着），呕吐心烦（邪在半表半里，则多呕吐），诸疟寒热（东
垣曰∶诸疟以柴胡为君，佐以引经之药。李士材曰∶疟非少阳经慎用。喻嘉言曰∶疟发必有
寒有热，盖外邪伏于半表半里，适在少阳所主之界。入与阴争，阳胜则热；出与阳争，阴胜
则寒。既纯热无寒，为瘅疟温疟，纯寒无热，为牝疟，要皆自少阳而造其极偏。补偏救弊，
亦必返还少阳之界，使阴阳协和而后愈也。谓少阳而兼他经则有之，谓他经而不涉少阳，则
不成其为疟矣，脉纵屡迁，而弦之一字，实贯彻之也。昂按∶疟之不离少阳。犹咳之不离于
肺也。谈薮云∶张知阁久病疟，热时如火，年余骨立。医用茸，附诸药，热益甚。孙琳投以
小柴胡汤，三服脱然。琳曰∶此名劳疟，热从髓出，加以刚剂，气血愈亏。热有在皮肤、在
脏腑、在骨髓，在骨髓者，非柴胡不可，若得银柴胡，只须一服，南方者力减，故三服乃效
也。时珍曰∶观此则得用药之妙的矣。昂按∶据孙氏之说，是柴胡亦能退骨蒸也），头眩目
赤，胸痞胁痛（凡胁痛，多是肝木有余，宜小柴胡汤加青皮、川芎、白芍。又左胁痛，宜活
血行气；右胁痛，宜消食行痰），口苦耳聋（皆肝胆之邪），妇人热入血室（冲为血海，即血
室也，男女皆有之。柴胡在脏主血，在经主气），胎前产后诸热，小儿痘疹，五疳羸热，散
十二经疮疽，血凝气聚，功同连翘（连翘治血热，柴胡治气热，为少异）。阴虚，火炎气升
者禁用。
银州者根长尺余，微白，治劳疳良。北产者如前胡而软者良，南产者强硬不堪用。外感
生用，内伤升气酒炒用根，中及下降用梢，有汗、咳者蜜水炒。前胡、半夏为使。恶皂角。
细辛味辛性温，能疏散风邪，因此各种风邪引起的痹痛、咳嗽气逆、头痛及项背强直等症状适宜使用（专治少阴经头痛，常以独活为引经药）。
细辛能发散浮游之热，因此口疮、喉痹（少阴经火证）、鼻渊及齿龋（虫蚀致脓液腐烂）等症状适宜使用。
细辛能补益肝胆，因此胆虚导致的惊痫、迎风流泪等症状适宜使用。
若水饮停聚于心下，则会导致肾燥；细辛的辛味，能够运行水气从而滋润肾脏（肾燥时，心也往往干燥，这是因为火被水郁遏所致。《内经》说：“肾恶燥，急食辛以润之”）。
虽然细辛是手少阴心经的引经药，但它实际上是足少阴肾经的本药，能够通利精气，疏通九窍，因此耳聋、鼻塞（音同“瓮”，指鼻塞不通，闻不到香臭。因风寒入脑，导致气机不宣通。寒证宜用解表法，热证宜用清热法，若有息肉者，可将药研末吹入鼻腔）、倒睫及小便涩滞等症状适宜使用。
细辛能消散结聚，温通经脉，破除痰饮，促进乳汁下行，行血发汗（能发少阴经之汗。张仲景治疗少阴病反见发热，使用麻黄附子细辛汤，这是治疗邪气在里的表剂）。
然而细辛气味浓烈，药性峻猛，不可过量使用（不可超过一钱，多了会导致气机闭塞，窒息而死，虽然有案例证明无伤可验，但开平监狱曾治疗过此类中毒病例，不可不知）。
细辛味道极辛，产于华阴的才是真品（杜蘅、鬼督邮、徐长卿等均可用来冒充），使用时需拣去双叶的品种。
细辛畏恶黄芩、山茱萸。害怕硝石、滑石。与藜芦相反。
柴胡味苦，性平微寒，气味轻薄，气机上升属阳。主治阳气下陷，能引导清气上行，从而平息少阳、厥阴经的邪热（包括肝、胆、心包、三焦的相火。李时珍说：“用于少阳经，黄芩为佐使；用于厥阴经，黄连为佐使”），宣畅气血，消散结聚，调理月经（汪昂按：人们只知道柴胡能发表，却不知道柴胡最能调和里气。所以治疗劳损的药物、补血药物中，往往用到它。如补中益气汤、逍遥散，都用柴胡，是取其中和的作用，都不是为了发表）。
柴胡是足少阳胆经的表药（胆为清净之府，无出无入，其经络位于半表半里，治疗方法应当和解，如小柴胡汤之类。如果病在太阳经，过早服用柴胡，则会引贼入室；如果病已入阴经，再服用柴胡，则会加重表的虚损。对此必须详细审慎）。
治疗伤寒邪热（张仲景有大、小柴胡汤），痰热结实，虚劳引起的肌热（寇宗奭说：“柴胡，《本经》中没有一字提到治疗劳损，《药性论》、《日华子》都说能补劳伤，医家固执地应用，贻误无穷。李时珍说：“劳损有五种，如果劳损在肝、胆、心、心包且有热，那么柴胡就是手足厥阴、少阳经必用的药；如果劳损在脾胃有热，或者阳气下陷，那么柴胡就是升清退热必用的药。只有劳损在肺肾的，才不可用。寇氏一概排斥，实在不是通达的议论。汪昂按：杨氏的秦艽扶羸汤，治疗肺痿成劳，咳嗽声哑，体虚自汗，用柴胡作为主药，那么肺劳也有使用的了。出自《药性论》，甄权著）”。
治疗呕吐、心烦（邪气在半表半里，多出现呕吐），各种疟疾的寒热往来（李东垣说：“各种疟疾以柴胡为主药，佐以引经药。李士材说：“疟疾非少阳经慎用。喻嘉言说：“疟疾发作必然有寒有热，这是因为外邪伏于半表半里，恰好在少阳所主的界限。邪气入与阴争，阳胜则热；出与阳争，阴胜则寒。如果纯热无寒，称为瘅疟或温疟；纯寒无热，称为牝疟，这些都源自少阳而达到偏颇的极致。纠正偏弊，也必须返还到少阳的界限，使阴阳协和而后痊愈。可以说少阳兼及其他经是有这种情况的，但说其他经而不涉及少阳，那就不成其为疟疾了，脉象纵然多次变化，但‘弦’这一字，实际上贯穿始终。汪昂按：疟疾离不开少阳，就像咳嗽离不开肺一样。《谈薮》记载：张知阁久患疟疾，发热如火烧，一年多瘦得骨立。医生用鹿茸等刚热药物治疗，热势更甚。孙琳投以小柴胡汤，服三帖后病愈。孙琳说：“这名叫劳疟，热从骨髓发出，加上刚热药物，气血更加亏损。热有的在皮肤，有的在脏腑，有的在骨髓，在骨髓的，非柴胡不可。如果得到银柴胡，只需一帖即可见效，南方的柴胡药力减弱，所以需要三帖才有效。李时珍说：“看这个例子就懂得用药的奥妙了。汪昂按：根据孙氏的说法，看来柴胡也能退骨蒸热）”。
治疗头晕目赤，胸膈痞满胁痛（凡是胁痛，多是肝木有余，适宜用小柴胡汤加青皮、川芎、白芍。另外左胁痛，宜活血行气；右胁痛，宜消食化痰），口苦耳聋（都是肝胆的邪气），妇女热入血室（冲脉为血海，即血室，男女都有。柴胡在脏主血，在经主气），胎前产后各种发热，小儿痘疹，五疳羸弱发热，消散十二经疮疽，化解血凝气聚，功效同连翘（连翘治疗血热，柴胡治疗气热，这是细微的区别）。阴虚，火炎气升者禁用。
银州产的柴胡根长达一尺多，颜色微白，治疗劳损疳积效果好。北地产的像前胡且质地柔软的为好，南产的强硬不堪使用。
外感病生用，内伤病升提清气用酒炒过的根，中段及下降作用用梢，有汗、咳嗽的用蜜水炒。
以前胡、半夏为使药。畏恶皂角。
Disperses wind-dampness, tonifies the Liver and moistens the Kidney.
Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma) is acrid and warm, dispersing wind-pathogens; therefore, it is suitable for various bi-syndromes caused by wind, cough with qi rebellion, headache, and stiffness of the neck and back (specifically treats Shaoyin headaches, often used with Duohuo [Angelicae Pubescentis Radix] as a guiding herb).
Xixin dissipates floating heat; therefore, it is suitable for mouth ulcers, throat obstruction (Shaoyin fire syndrome), rhinitis with purulent discharge (biyuan), and dental caries with pus and decay (chigü) (caused by worm erosion).
Xixin benefits the Liver and Gallbladder; therefore, it is suitable for palpitations and epilepsy due to Gallbladder deficiency, and tearing upon exposure to wind.
When water retention occurs below the heart, it leads to Kidney dryness; the acridity of Xixin can move water qi to moisten the Kidney (when the Kidney is dry, the Heart is also dry, because Fire is constrained by Water. The Classic says: "The Kidney dislikes dryness; hasten to eat acrid foods to moisten it").
Although Xixin is a guiding herb for the Hand-Shaoyin (Heart) meridian, it is fundamentally a herb for the Foot-Shaoyin (Kidney) meridian. It can unblock essence and qi, benefit the nine orifices, and is therefore suitable for deafness, nasal congestion (pronounced "weng", referring to nasal blockage where one cannot smell odors. Caused by wind-cold entering the brain, leading to stagnation of qi transmission. Cold syndromes should be treated with exterior-releasing methods, heat syndromes with clearing methods; if polyps are present, the herb can be powdered and insufflated into the nose), inverted eyelashes, and dysuria.
It dissipates nodules, warms the meridians, breaks up phlegm, promotes lactation, moves blood, and induces sweating (can induce sweating from the Shaoyin level. Zhang Zhongjing treated Shaoyin syndrome with fever using Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang, which is an exterior-releasing formula for pathogens located in the interior).
However, its flavor is strong and nature fierce, so it must not be overused (should not exceed 1 qian; excessive amounts cause qi stagnation, suffocation, and death. Although there are verified cases of no harm, the Kaiping prison once treated such poisoning cases, so this must be known).
Its taste is extremely acrid; the variety produced in Huayin is authentic (Duheng [Dysosma versipellis], Guiduyou [Akebia quinata], and Xuchangqing [Pterocaulon sphaerocephalum] can be used to adulterate it). Use only those picked to remove double leaves.
It is incompatible with Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) and Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus). It fears Xiaoshi (Natrii Nitras) and Huashi (Talcum). It is antagonistic to Lilu (Veratri Rhizoma).
Releases the exterior and harmonizes the interior, reduces fever and raises yang.
Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) is bitter, neutral in nature with slight cold, has a thin flavor, and its ascending qi belongs to Yang. It primarily treats sinking of Yang qi, guiding clear qi upward, thereby pacifying pathogenic heat in the Shaoyang and Jueyin meridians (including Ministerial Fire of the Liver, Gallbladder, Pericardium, and Sanjiao. Li Shizhen said: "For the Shaoyang meridian, Huangqin is the assistant; for the Jueyin meridian, Huanglian is the assistant"). It promotes the free flow of qi and blood, dissipates nodules, and regulates menstruation (Wang Ang notes: People only know that Chaihu releases the exterior, but do not know that Chaihu is best at harmonizing the interior. Therefore, herbs for treating consumptive diseases and blood-invigorating herbs often include it. Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang and Xiao Yao San both use Chaihu to take advantage of its harmonizing properties, not for releasing the exterior).
Chaihu is an exterior herb for the Foot-Shaoyang (Gallbladder) meridian (The Gallbladder is a pure and clear organ, having no exit or entry, and its meridian is located half-exterior and half-interior; the treatment method should be harmonization, such as with Xiao Chaihu Tang. If the disease is in the Taiyang meridian, taking it too early will invite the thief into the house; if the disease has entered the Yin meridians, taking Chaihu again will doubly weaken the exterior. One must be detailed and cautious).
It treats exogenous febrile diseases (Zhang Zhongjing used Da Chaihu Tang and Xiao Chaihu Tang), phlegm-heat accumulation, and muscular heat due to deficiency-consumption (Kou Zongshi said: "Chaihu, in the *Shennong Ben Cao Jing*, has not a single word treating consumption. *Yaoxing Lun* and *Ri Hua Zi* both say it tonifies deficiency-consumption. Physicians adhered to this and used it, causing endless errors. Li Shizhen said: 'Consumption has five types. If consumption involves heat in the Liver, Gallbladder, Heart, or Pericardium, then Chaihu is a necessary herb for the Hand and Foot Jueyin and Shaoyang meridians. If consumption involves heat in the Spleen and Stomach, or sinking of Yang qi, then Chaihu is a necessary herb for raising clear qi and reducing fever. Only when consumption involves the Lung and Kidney should it not be used. Kou's blanket rejection is certainly not a comprehensive view. Wang Ang notes: Yang Shi's Qin Jiao Fu Lei Tang, treating lung wasting turning into consumption with cough, hoarseness, body weakness, and spontaneous sweating, uses Chaihu as the chief herb, so Lung consumption does have users. From *Yaoxing Lun*, authored by Zhen Quan").
It treats vomiting and irritability (pathogen in half-exterior/half-interior often causes vomiting), various malaria chills and fever (Li Dongyuan said: "For all malaria, Chaihu is the chief herb, assisted by guiding herbs. Li Shicai said: 'Malaria requires caution regarding the Shaoyang meridian.' Yu Jiayan said: 'Malaria attacks always involve chills and fever, as external pathogens lie dormant in half-exterior/half-interior, exactly within the domain governed by Shaoyang. When the pathogen enters and contends with Yin, Yang prevails and causes heat; when it exits and contends with Yang, Yin prevails and causes chills. If purely hot without chills, it is called Dan Malaria or Wen Malaria; if purely cold without heat, it is called Pin Malaria. All these originate from Shaoyang and reach extreme deviation. To correct deviation and save disadvantage, one must return to the Shaoyang boundary, making Yin and Yang harmonious for recovery. It is true that Shaoyang may combine with other meridians, but saying other meridials are involved without touching Shaoyang means it ceases to be malaria. Even if the pulse changes frequently, the character "wiry" actually permeates it all. Wang Ang notes: Malaria never leaves Shaoyang, just as cough never leaves the Lung. *Tansu* records: Zhang Zhihe suffered from long-term malaria, burning like fire, becoming skeletal after more than a year. Doctors used deer antler and other heating drugs, worsening the heat. Sun Lin administered Xiao Chaihu Tang; after three doses, he recovered completely. Lin said: "This is named Consumption Malaria. Heat comes from the marrow. Adding harsh/heating drugs further depletes qi and blood. Heat can be in the skin, organs, or marrow. For heat in the marrow, only Chaihu works. If Yinchaihu (Stellariae Radix) were obtained, one dose would suffice. Southern Chaihu has weaker potency, hence three doses were needed. Li Shizhen said: "Observing this, one understands the subtlety of medication. Wang Ang notes: According to Mr. Sun's theory, it seems Chaihu can also reduce bone-steaming heat").
It treats dizziness and red eyes, chest fullness and hypochondriac pain (Hypochondriac pain is mostly due to excess Liver Wood; Xiao Chaihu Tang plus Qingpi [Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride], Chuanxiong [Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma], and Baishao [Paeoniae Radix Alba] is suitable. Additionally, left-sided pain suggests stasis requiring blood-moving and qi-regulating methods; right-sided pain suggests food stagnation and phlegm requiring digestion-promoting and phlegm-resolving methods), bitter taste in the mouth and deafness (all are Shaoyang/Gallbladder-Liver pathogens), women with heat entering the Blood Chamber (Chong Mai is the Sea of Blood, i.e., the Blood Chamber, present in both men and women. Chaihu governs blood in the zang organs and qi in the meridians), various fevers before and after childbirth, pediatric smallpox/rash, five kinds of childhood malnutrition with emaciation and heat, dissipates carbuncles and sores in the twelve meridians, resolves blood stasis and qi aggregation. Its efficacy is similar to Lqiaoqiao (Forsythiae Fructus) (Liqiaoqiao treats blood-heat, Chaihu treats qi-heat; this is a minor difference).
Contraindicated in Yin deficiency with flaming fire and ascending qi.
Chaihu from Yinzhou has roots over a chi long, slightly white, and is excellent for treating consumption and malnutrition. Northern varieties resembling Qianhu [Peucedani Radix] and soft in texture are good; southern varieties are hard and rigid, unsuitable for use.
For exogenous diseases, use raw. For endogenous injuries to raise qi, use wine-fried root. For descending action, use the tip. For patients with sweating or cough, use honey-fried.
Qianhu [Peucedani Radix] and Banxia [Pinelliae Rhizoma] serve as assistants.
It is incompatible with Zaojiao [Gleditsiae Sinensis Spina].