气味辛平，有毒。主治伤寒寒热，心下坚，胸胀咳逆，头眩，咽喉肿痛，肠鸣，下气
，止汗。
（半夏青齐江浙在处有之。二月生苗，一茎高八九寸，茎端三叶，三三相偶，略似竹叶，
其
根圆白，五月八月采根晒干，不厌陈久。）
《月令》∶五月半夏生，盖当夏之半也。《脉解篇》云∶阳明者，午也。五月盛阳之阴也，
半夏生当夏半，白色味辛，禀阳明燥金之气化。主治伤寒寒热者，辛以散之也。阳明胃络上
通于心，胃络不通于心，则心下坚。胸者，肺之部，阳明金气上合于肺。金气不和于肺，
则
胸胀咳逆。半夏色白属金，主宣达阳明之气，故皆治之。金能制风，故治头眩，以及咽喉肿
痛。燥能胜湿，故治肠鸣之下气而止汗也。
气味苦平，无毒。主治寒热鼠 瘰 ，痈肿恶疮，瘿瘤结热，蛊毒。
（连翘出汴京及河中、江宁、润淄、泽兖、鼎岳、南康诸州皆有之，而以蜀中者为胜。
有大
翘、小翘二种。大翘生下湿地，叶如榆叶，独茎赤色，稍间开花黄色可爱，秋结实，形如莲
，内作房瓣，气甚芳馥，根黄如蒿根。小翘生岗原之上，叶茎花实皆似大翘，但细小耳。实
房黄黑，内含黑子，根名连轺，须知大翘用实不用根，小翘用根不用实。）
连翘味苦性寒，形象心肾，禀少阴之气化。主治寒热鼠 瘰 者，治鼠 瘰 之寒热也。
夫
有内外二因，内因曰鼠 ，外因曰瘰 ，其本在脏，其末在脉。此内因而为水毒之 ，故
曰鼠 也。陷脉为 ，留连肉腠，此外因而寒邪薄于肉腠之 ，故曰瘰 也。是鼠 起于肾
脏之毒，留于心主之血脉。瘰 因天气之寒，伤人身之经脉。连翘形象心肾，故治鼠 瘰
也。痈肿恶疮，肌肉不和。瘿瘤结热，经脉不和。连翘味苦，其气芳香，能通经脉而利肌肉
，故治痈肿恶疮，瘿瘤结热也。受蛊毒者在腹，造毒者在心。苦寒泄心，治造毒之原。芳香
醒脾，治受毒之腹，故又治蛊毒。
《灵枢·寒热论》岐伯曰∶鼠 寒热之毒瓦斯也，留于脉而不去者也。其本在于水脏，故
曰鼠
。上通于心主之脉，颈腋溃烂，故曰 。鼠 寒热之毒瓦斯者，言鼠 水毒而为寒，上合心包
而为热也。主治寒热鼠 者，治鼠 之寒热也。今人不解《本经》，祗事剿袭，以寒热二字
句逗，谓连翘主治寒热，出于神农之言。凡伤寒中风之寒热，一概用之，岂知风寒之寒热起
于皮肤，鼠 之寒热起于血脉，风马牛不相及也。嗟嗟，为医者可不知《内经》乎。《灵枢
》论营卫血气之生始，出入脏腑经脉之交合贯通，乃医家根本之学，浅人视为针经而忽之，
良可惜也。
（李时珍曰∶连翘状似人心，两片合成，其中有仁甚香，乃少阴心经，厥阴包络气分主
药。
诸痛痒疮疡皆属心火，故为十二经疮家圣药，而兼注手足少阳、手阳明之经气分之热也。）
气味辛、平，有毒。主治伤寒引起的寒热往来，心下痞硬，胸胁胀满，咳嗽气逆，头晕目眩，咽喉肿痛，肠鸣，以及降气、止汗。
（半夏在青州、齐州、江苏、浙江各地都有生长。二月生苗，一茎高八九寸，茎端长三片叶子，三片一组，略像竹叶，其根圆而白，五月或八月采挖根部晒干，越陈久越好。）
《月令》记载：五月半夏生长，大概是因为正值夏季的中间。《素问·脉解篇》说：阳明经对应午时。五月是盛阳之中蕴含阴气的时候，半夏生长在夏半时节，颜色白、味道辛，禀受了阳明燥金之气化。主治伤寒寒热的，是因为辛味能发散邪气。阳明胃络向上通达于心，如果胃络不通达于心，就会导致心下痞硬。胸廓是肺所主的部位，阳明金气向上合于肺。如果金气与肺不和，就会出现胸胁胀满、咳嗽气逆。半夏色白属金，主要宣通发散阳明之气，所以都能治疗这些病症。金能克制风邪，所以治疗头晕目眩，以及咽喉肿痛。燥性能胜湿，所以治疗肠鸣、降气并止汗。
气味苦、平，无毒。主治寒热往来、鼠瘰（淋巴结结核）、痈肿恶疮、瘿瘤结热、蛊毒。
（连翘产于汴京及河中、江宁、润州、淄州、泽州、兖州、鼎州、岳州、南康等州都有，其中以蜀地出产的最好。有大翘和小翘两种。大翘生长在低湿之地，叶子像榆树叶，单茎赤色，间或开黄色的可爱花朵，秋天结实，形状像莲子，内部有房瓣，气味非常芳香馥郁，根黄色像蒿草根。小翘生长在丘陵原野之上，叶、茎、花、实都像大翘，只是比较细小罢了。果实房黄黑色，内含黑子，根名叫连轺，需要知道大翘用果实而不用根，小翘用根而不用果实。）
连翘味苦性寒，形象上对应心肾，禀受了少阴之气化。主治寒热往来和鼠瘰的，是治疗鼠瘰这种病的寒热症状。
这病有内外两种病因，内因叫“鼠”，外因叫“瘰”，根本在于脏腑，末梢在于经脉。这是内因而产生的水毒之“鼠”，所以叫鼠。邪气陷入经脉成为“瘰”，留连在肌肉腠理之间，这是外因而寒邪迫近肌肉腠理形成的“瘰”，所以叫瘰。因此，“鼠”起于肾脏的毒邪，留滞在心的主血脉中；“瘰”因为天气的寒冷，损伤人身体的经脉。连翘形象上对应心肾，所以能治疗鼠瘰。痈肿恶疮，是肌肉不和；瘿瘤结热，是经脉不和。连翘味苦，其气芳香，能疏通经脉而利养肌肉，所以治疗痈肿恶疮、瘿瘤结热。受到蛊毒侵害的在腹部，制造毒邪的根本在心。苦寒之性能泄心火，治疗造毒的根本；芳香之性能醒脾，治疗受毒的腹部，所以又能治疗蛊毒。
《灵枢·寒热论》中岐伯说：鼠瘰寒热是毒瓦斯，留滞于经脉而不消散。它的根本在于水脏（肾），所以叫鼠。向上通达于心主的经脉，导致颈腋部溃烂，所以叫瘰。所谓“鼠瘰寒热之毒瓦斯”，是说鼠瘰的水毒性质为寒，向上合于心包则化为热。主治寒热鼠瘰的，就是治疗鼠瘰病的寒热症状。现在的人不理解《神农本草经》，只是一味抄袭，把“寒热”二字断开句读，认为连翘主治一般的寒热，这是出于神农的说法。凡是伤寒中风引起的寒热，一概使用它，哪里知道风寒引起的寒热起于皮肤，而鼠瘰引起的寒热起于血脉，两者风马牛不相及啊。唉，做医生的怎么能不了解《内经》呢？《灵枢》论述营卫血气的生成始末，出入脏腑经脉的交合贯通，这才是医家的根本学问，浅薄之人把它视为针灸之书而忽视它，真是可惜啊。
（李时珍说：连翘形状像人心，两片合成，其中有仁非常香，是少阴心经、厥阴心包络气分的主药。各种痛痒疮疡都属于心火，所以它是十二经疮疡家的圣药，并且兼治手足少阳、手阳明经气分的热邪。）
The flavor is pungent and neutral, and it is toxic. It mainly treats chills and fever caused by Shanghan (Cold Damage), hardness below the heart, chest distension, cough with rebellious qi, dizziness, swelling and pain of the throat, borborygmus, descending qi, and stopping sweating.
(Banxia [Pinelliae Rhizoma] grows everywhere in Qingzhou, Qizhou, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. Seedlings emerge in the second lunar month; each stem is eight or nine cun high, with three leaves at the tip, grouped in threes, resembling bamboo leaves. The root is round and white. Roots are harvested in the fifth or eighth lunar months, dried, and stored for a long time to improve efficacy.)
According to *Yueling* (*Monthly Ordinances*), Banxia grows in the fifth lunar month, which corresponds to the middle of summer. The *Maijie Pian* chapter of *Suwen* states: Yangming corresponds to Wu (noon). The fifth lunar month contains Yin within flourishing Yang. Banxia grows at mid-summer; its color is white and flavor is pungent, inheriting the Qi transformation of Yangming Dryness-Metal. Its ability to treat chills and fever from Shanghan is due to the dispersing action of the pungent flavor. The Yangming stomach meridian connects upward to the Heart. If the stomach meridian fails to connect to the Heart, hardness below the heart occurs. The chest is the domain of the Lung, and Yangming Metal Qi combines upward with the Lung. If Metal Qi is disharmonious with the Lung, chest distension and cough with rebellious qi occur. Banxia is white and belongs to Metal; it primarily disseminates and unblocks Yangming Qi, thus treating these conditions. Metal can restrain Wind, so it treats dizziness and swelling/pain of the throat. Dryness can overcome Dampness, so it treats borborygmus, descends Qi, and stops sweating.
The flavor is bitter and neutral, and it is non-toxic. It mainly treats chills and fever, Shuluo (scrofula/lymphatic tuberculosis), carbuncles and malignant sores, Yingliu (goiter) with accumulated heat, and Gu poison (parasitic poisoning).
(Lianqiao [Forsythiae Fructum] is produced in Bianjing, Hezhong, Jiangning, Runzhou, Zizhou, Zezhou, Yanzhou, Dingzhou, Yuezhou, and Nankang. The best quality comes from Shu. There are two types: Daqiao (Large Forsythia) and Xiaoqiao (Small Forsythia). Daqiao grows in low, damp places; its leaves resemble elm leaves, with a single reddish stem. It blooms yellow flowers in between, which are lovely. In autumn, it bears fruit shaped like lotus seeds, with internal chambers/separations, having a very fragrant aroma. The root is yellow like Artemisia roots. Xiaoqiao grows on hills and plains; its leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits resemble Daqiao but are smaller. The fruit chambers are yellow-black, containing black seeds. The root is called Lianyao. Note that Daqiao uses the fruit, not the root; Xiaoqiao uses the root, not the fruit.)
Lianqiao has a bitter flavor and cold nature. Its form resembles the Heart and Kidney, inheriting the Qi transformation of Shaoyin. Its treatment of chills/fever and Shuluo addresses the chills and fever associated with Shuluo.
This condition has internal and external causes. The internal cause is called "Shu" (rat-like abscess/nodule), and the external cause is called "Luo" (scrofula/knot). The root lies in the Zang organs, while the branch lies in the meridians. This internal cause arises from water toxicity, hence called "Shu". Pathogenic factors sinking into meridians become "Luo", lingering in muscle interstices; this external cause involves cold pathogens pressing upon muscle interstices, hence called "Luo". Thus, "Shu" originates from toxicity in the Kidney and remains in the Heart's governing blood vessels. "Luo" results from heavenly cold damaging the body's meridians. Since Lianqiao's form corresponds to the Heart and Kidney, it treats Shuluo. Carbuncles and malignant sores indicate disharmony of muscles. Yingliu with accumulated heat indicates disharmony of meridians. Lianqiao is bitter and aromatic, capable of unblocking meridians and benefiting muscles, thus treating carbuncles, malignant sores, Yingliu, and accumulated heat. Gu poison affecting the abdomen involves toxicity originating in the Heart. Bitter-cold properties drain Heart Fire, treating the source of toxicity. Aromatic properties awaken the Spleen, treating the abdomen affected by poison, thus also treating Gu poison.
In *Lingshu · Hanre Lun*, Qibo stated: Shuluo chills and fever are toxic vapors remaining in the meridians without dissipating. Their root is in the Water Zang (Kidney), hence called "Shu". They connect upward to the Heart Master's meridians, causing ulceration in the neck and axilla, hence called "Luo". "Shuluo chills and fever toxic vapors" refers to the water toxicity of Shuluo being cold, which transforms into heat when combining upward with the Pericardium. Treating chills and fever Shuluo means treating the chills and fever of Shuluo. Modern people do not understand the *Benjing* (*Shennong Bencao Jing*), merely copying others. They punctuate "chills and fever" as separate terms, claiming Lianqiao treats general chills and fever based on Shennong's words. Using it indiscriminately for chills and fever from Shanghan or Zhongfeng ignores that chills/fever from wind-cold arise from the skin, whereas chills/fever from Shuluo arise from blood vessels; they are unrelated. Alas, how can physicians fail to know the *Neijing*? The *Lingshu* discusses the origin of Ying and Wei Qi and Blood/Qi, their entry/exit, and the intersection of Zang-Fu and meridians—this is the fundamental study of medicine. Superficial persons dismiss it as merely an acupuncture classic, which is truly regrettable.
(Li Shizhen said: Lianqiao resembles the human heart, formed by two halves joined together, with a fragrant kernel inside. It is the chief herb for the Qi aspect of the Shaoyin Heart Meridian and Jueyin Pericardium Meridian. All pain, itching, carbuncles, and sores belong to Heart Fire; therefore, it is the sage medicine for carbuncles across the twelve meridians, and additionally clears heat from the Qi aspect of the Hand-Shaoyang, Foot-Shaoyang, and Hand-Yangming meridians.)