〔害〕性味苦寒之极，设使阴血不足，真精耗竭，而脾阴胃气俱弱，切勿妄投。须与健
脾胃
等药同用，乃可无弊，慎之。忌畏恶，俱同黄连。
〔利〕苦寒，入胃肝胆三经，主虚家骨蒸，初起可用。久痢，胃气实可用。医小儿疳积
惊痫
，其性味功用，似黄连。
〔修治〕不拘时月收采，折之尘出如烟者真。
〔害〕性寒，能伐生生之气，凡肝心二经有热者，宜之。无火热勿用。
〔利〕苦咸，泻心肝肺邪热，下气降火，解毒散血，祛风舒筋。故能明目去障，治惊痫
搐搦
，亦治狂越僻谬梦魇，伤寒，伏热，气逆食噎不通。羚之性灵而精在角，故又辟邪，散瘀血
而疗痘疮，解诸毒也。
〔修治〕出西地，似羊而大，角有节，最坚劲，能碎金石，明亮而不黑者良，多两角，
一角
者更胜。镑片绵包，或磨汁用，入丸散须要不拆原对，绳缚，铁锉锉细，捣筛更研万遍入药
，免刮人肠。
〔害〕久服亦伤胃家。
〔利〕辛苦微寒，缓肝火，解内热，散结气，治瘰 、鼠 、瘿瘤、乳痈、乳岩，目珠
夜痛
，能散厥阴之郁火故也。土瓜为使，伏汞砂。
〔修治〕此草夏至后即枯，四月采，晒干用。
〔害〕多服令人寒中。永不得食山龟，令人丧目。
〔利〕咸凉，坠肺肝风热而明目，内服疗青盲内障，外点散赤膜外障，除目疾及肝火外，
他
用甚稀。亦治骨蒸劳热，通淋。
〔修治〕采无时，七孔九孔者佳。或 研，或生捣，或盐水煮用。
【胡黄连】
【危害】药性苦寒到了极点，如果患者阴血不足，真精耗竭，且脾阴和胃气都虚弱，千万不要随意服用。必须与健脾胃的药物一起使用，才可以避免弊端，务必谨慎。其禁忌、畏忌、恶配伍的情况，都与黄连相同。
【功效】味苦性寒，入胃、肝、胆三经，主治虚损之人骨蒸潮热，初起时可以使用。对于久痢，若胃气充实者可以使用。治疗小儿疳积惊痫，其性味和功能，类似于黄连。
【炮制】不拘泥于季节采收，折断后灰尘像烟一样冒出的为真品。
【羚羊角】
【危害】药性寒凉，能损伤生生之气，凡是肝心二经有热的人，适合使用。没有火热症状的不要使用。
【功效】味苦咸，泻除心、肝、肺的邪热，下气降火，解毒散血，祛风舒筋。因此能明目去障，治疗惊痫抽搐，也治疗狂乱失常、梦魇，伤寒，伏热，气逆食噎不通。羚羊性情灵动，精华集中在角上，所以又能辟邪，消散瘀血而治疗痘疮，解除各种毒素。
【炮制】产于西方之地，形状像羊但体型较大，角有节，质地最坚硬强劲，能粉碎金石，明亮而不发黑的为好，通常有两角，只有一角的更胜一筹。镑成薄片用绵纸包裹，或者磨汁使用，入丸散剂时必须不拆开原来的整对，用绳子捆缚，用铁锉锉细，捣碎筛选后再研磨上万遍入药，以免刮伤人的肠道。
【夏枯草】
【危害】长期服用也会伤害胃部。
【功效】味辛苦微寒，缓和肝火，解内热，散结气，治疗瘰疬、鼠瘰、瘿瘤、乳痈、乳岩，目珠夜间疼痛，这是因为能疏散厥阴经郁火的原因。以土瓜为使药，能伏制汞砂。
【炮制】这种草在夏至后就枯萎了，四月采收，晒干后使用。
【石决明】
【危害】多服会让人中焦受寒。永远不能吃山龟，否则会使人失明。
【功效】味咸性凉，沉降肺肝风热而明目，内服治疗青盲内障，外点涂散赤膜外障，除了治疗眼疾及肝火之外，其他用途很少。也治疗骨蒸劳热，通淋。
【炮制】采收没有时间限制，七孔九孔的为佳。或者研末，或者生捣，或者用盐水煮后使用。
[Picrorhizae Rhizoma (Huhuanglian)]
[Harm] The nature is extremely bitter and cold. If yin-blood is insufficient, true essence is exhausted, and both spleen-yin and stomach-qi are weak, it must not be administered recklessly. It must be used together with herbs that strengthen the spleen and stomach to avoid adverse effects; caution is advised. Its contraindications, aversions, and incompatibilities are the same as those of Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian).
[Benefit] Bitter and cold, enters the Stomach, Liver, and Gallbladder meridians. It primarily treats bone-steaming fever in patients with deficiency, and can be used in the early stages. For chronic dysentery, it can be used if the stomach-qi is substantial. In treating pediatric malnutrition (Gan syndrome) and convulsive epilepsy, its nature, flavor, and functions are similar to those of Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian).
[Preparation] Harvested at any time. Authentic material is identified by dust rising like smoke when broken.
[Antelope Horn (Lingyangjiao)]
[Harm] Cold in nature, it can damage the vital generating qi. It is suitable for cases where there is heat in the Liver and Heart meridians. Do not use if there is no fire or heat.
[Benefit] Bitter and salty, it drains pathogenic heat from the Heart, Liver, and Lungs, directs qi downward, descends fire, resolves toxicity, disperses blood stasis, expels wind, and relaxes tendons. Thus, it can brighten the eyes and remove obstructions, treat convulsive epilepsy and spasms, as well as mania, delirium, nightmares, Shanghan (cold damage), latent heat, rebellious qi, and food stagnation with inability to swallow. Antelopes are agile and spiritual, with their essence concentrated in the horns; therefore, they can also ward off evil, disperse blood stasis to treat smallpox lesions, and resolve various toxins.
[Preparation] Sourced from western regions. It resembles a sheep but is larger. The horn has joints and is extremely hard and tough, capable of crushing metal and stone. Bright and non-blackened material is superior. Usually, horns come in pairs; single horns are considered even better. Shave into thin slices wrapped in cotton, or grind into juice. When preparing pills and powders, do not separate the original pair; bind with rope, file finely with an iron file, pound, sieve, and grind ten thousand times before incorporating into medicine to prevent scratching the intestinal tract.
[Prunellae Spica (Xiakucao)]
[Harm] Long-term consumption may also injure the stomach.
[Benefit] Pungent, bitter, and slightly cold. It moderates liver fire, resolves internal heat, dissipates nodular qi, and treats scrofula (Luoli), rat scrofula (Shuluo), goiter (Yingliu), breast abscess (Ruyong), and breast cancer (Ruyan). It treats night pain in the eyeballs because it can dissipate constrained fire of the Jueyin meridian. Using Convolvulus root (Tugua) as an assistant herb, it can stabilize mercury sulfide.
[Preparation] This herb withers after the Summer Solstice. Harvest in April, dry in the sun, and use.
[Ablumen Haliotidis (Shijueming)]
[Harm] Excessive intake causes coldness in the middle jiao. One must never consume mountain turtles, as it leads to blindness.
[Benefit] Salty and cool. It sinks wind-heat of the Lung and Liver to brighten the eyes. Internally, it treats amblyopia and cataracts; externally applied, it disperses red membranes and external opacities. Aside from treating eye diseases and liver fire, its other uses are rare. It also treats bone-steaming consumptive fever and promotes urination.
[Preparation] Harvested without specific timing. Those with seven or nine perforations are best. Grind into powder, crush fresh, or boil in salt water for use.