〔害〕其气寒降，中寒者勿服，虚脱人及孕妇均忌。
〔利〕色白气寒，体轻味淡，故入肺经，引热下行，味淡而升，故入胃经，通气上达，
而下
乳汁。凡利小便，必先上清心火，而后能下行也。阴窍涩而不利，水肿闭而不行，用之立通
，故名之。
〔修治〕采茎肥大围数寸者，取茎中瓤正白用。
〔害〕其性冷利，专走下窍。虽有开水窍以固精窍之功，若遇内伤劳倦，阳气下陷之病，
肾
虚脱者，皆在禁例。
〔利〕甘寒清心，利膀胱小水，以解湿热。催生止泻，明目益精，男女阴中有二窍，一
窍通
精，乃命门真阳之火；一窍通水、乃膀胱湿热之水。二窍不并开，水窍开，则湿热外泄，
相火常宁。精窍常闭，久久精足，则目明。服固精药，久服此，行房即有子。
车前叶，凉血去热通淋。
〔修治〕五月采取，洗去泥沙晒干，炒过用。入丸散，酒浸一夜，蒸焙研。使叶，勿使
茎蕊
。
〔害〕竹性寒凉，胃寒呕吐，及感寒挟食作吐者，忌用。竹能损胃气，故虚人食笋，甚
不相
宜。
〔利〕辛淡甘寒，入心、肺、肾。清心涤烦热，止嗽化痰涎。卷心者佳，竹叶力减。然
药力
薄弱，不可持以为君，不过借此佐使耳。
〔修治〕淡竹为上，甘竹次之，须用生长甫及一年者，为嫩而有力。
仲景治伤寒解后，气逆欲吐，用以竹叶石膏汤，去其三阳之余热，假其辛寒，以散风热也
。
【危害】通草：其气性寒凉而主降，脾胃虚寒者禁止服用，身体虚弱欲脱之人及孕妇均忌用。
【功效】通草：色白、气寒，质地轻、味道淡，因此入肺经，能引导热邪下行；其味淡而有升提之性，因此入胃经，能使气机通畅上达，并促进乳汁下行。凡是通利小便，必须先在上焦清心火，然后才能下行通利。阴窍涩滞不通、水肿小便闭塞不行的症状，使用此药可立即通利，因此得名。
【炮制】采摘茎秆肥大、直径数寸的通草，取其中间正白色的髓部使用。
【危害】车前子叶：其性冷利，专走下部孔窍。虽然具有开通水窍以固摄精窍的功效，但若遇到因内伤劳倦导致阳气下陷的病证，以及肾虚欲脱的情况，均在禁忌之列。
【功效】车前子叶：味甘性寒，能清心火，利膀胱的小便，以解除湿热。具有催生、止泻、明目、益精的作用。男女下部均有两个窍道，一个窍道通精，这是命门真阳之火的作用；另一个窍道通水，这是膀胱湿热之水的作用。这两个窍道不会同时打开，当水窍打开时，湿热得以外泄，相火常保持宁静；精窍常闭，久而久之精气充足，则眼睛明亮。服用固精药物，长期配合服用车前子，行房事即可受孕。车前叶，能凉血、清热、通淋。
【炮制】五月采集，洗去泥沙晒干，炒过后使用。若用于丸剂或散剂，需酒浸一夜，蒸后焙干研粉。只使用叶片，不要使用茎和蕊。
【危害】竹卷心：竹性寒凉，胃寒呕吐者，以及感受寒邪夹杂食积导致的呕吐者，忌用。竹子会损伤胃气，因此体质虚弱的人食用竹笋非常不合适。
【功效】竹卷心性味辛、淡、甘、寒，入心、肺、肾经。能清心涤除烦热，止咳化痰涎。以卷心者为佳，竹叶的药力较弱。然而其药力薄弱，不可作为君药（主药），仅可借其作为佐使药（辅助药）。
【炮制】以淡竹为上品，甘竹次之，必须使用生长刚满一年的竹子，因为嫩竹才有力道。张仲景治疗伤寒病愈后，出现气逆想吐的症状，使用竹叶石膏汤，以此去除三阳经的残余热邪，借助其辛寒之性来疏散风热。
[Adverse Effects] Tongcao: Its qi is cold and descending; it should not be taken by those with Spleen-Stomach Cold (Pi Wei Xu Han). It is contraindicated for individuals with deficiency collapse (Xu Tuo) and pregnant women.
[Efficacy] Tongcao: Being white in color, cold in nature, light in texture, and bland in taste, it enters the Lung Meridian (Fei Jing), guiding heat downward. Due to its bland taste which has an ascending property, it enters the Stomach Meridian (Wei Jing), promoting the free flow of Qi upwards and facilitating the descent of milk. In all cases of promoting urination, one must first clear Heart Fire (Xin Huo) in the upper jiao before the fluid can descend and flow freely. For symptoms such as obstruction and difficulty in urination from the yin orifices, or edema with urinary retention, this herb brings immediate relief, hence its name.
[Processing] Harvest stems that are thick and several inches in circumference, taking only the pure white pith from the center of the stem.
[Adverse Effects] Cheqian Ye: Its nature is cold and purgative, specifically targeting the lower orifices. Although it has the merit of opening the water orifice to secure the essence orifice, it is strictly prohibited in cases of internal injury and fatigue leading to sinking of Yang Qi (Yang Qi Xia Xian), as well as in cases of Kidney Deficiency Collapse (Shen Xu Tuo).
[Efficacy] Cheqian Ye: Sweet and cold, it clears Heart Fire, promotes urination in the Bladder, and resolves Damp-Heat (Shi Re). It aids childbirth, stops diarrhea, brightens the eyes, and benefits essence. Men and women have two orifices in the genital region: one orifice conducts essence, governed by the True Yang Fire of the Gate of Life (Ming Men); the other orifice conducts water, governed by Damp-Heat in the Bladder. These two orifices do not open simultaneously. When the water orifice opens, Damp-Heat is discharged externally, and Ministerial Fire (Xiang Huo) remains tranquil. When the essence orifice remains closed, essence accumulates over time, resulting in clear vision. Taking astringent herbs for essence, combined with long-term use of Cheqian Ye, facilitates conception during intercourse. Cheqian Ye cools blood, clears heat, and promotes unobstructed urination (Tong Lin).
[Processing] Harvest in the fifth month, wash away mud and sand, dry in the sun, and use after stir-frying. For use in pills and powders, soak in wine overnight, steam, bake, and grind. Use only the leaves; do not use the stems or pistils.
[Adverse Effects] Zhujuanxin: Bamboo is cold and cooling. It is contraindicated for vomiting due to Stomach Cold (Wei Han) and for vomiting caused by cold pathogen combined with food stagnation. Bamboo damages Stomach Qi; therefore, it is highly unsuitable for deficient individuals to consume bamboo shoots.
[Efficacy] Zhujuanxin: Pungent, bland, sweet, and cold, it enters the Heart, Lung, and Kidney meridians. It clears the Heart, eliminates vexation and heat, stops cough, and transforms phlegm. The rolled heart is superior; the efficacy of bamboo leaves is reduced. However, its medicinal power is weak and cannot serve as the Sovereign Herb (Jun Yao); it serves merely as an Assistant (Zuo Shi) herb.
[Processing] Dan Zhu (Bland Bamboo) is of the highest grade, followed by Gan Zhu (Sweet Bamboo). One must use bamboo that has grown for just one year, as tender bamboo possesses greater potency. Zhang Zhongjing treated post-febrile disease where Qi rebels upward causing nausea, using Zhuye Shigao Tang (Bamboo Leaf and Gypsum Decoction), to eliminate residual heat from the Three Yang meridians, utilizing its pungent-cold nature to disperse Wind-Heat (Feng Re).