气味苦温，有大毒。主治心痛寒热，结气积聚，伏梁，伤筋痿拘缓，利水道。
（《本经》之虎掌，今人谓之天南星，处处平泽有之。四月生苗，状如荷梗，高一二尺，
一
茎直上，茎端有叶如爪，岐分四步，岁久则叶不生，而中抽一茎，作穗直上如鼠尾，穗下舒
一叶如匙，斑烂似素锦，一片裹茎作房。穗上布蕊满之，花青褐色，子如御粟子，生白熟则
微红，久又变为蓝色。其根形圆，色白，大如半夏二三倍。曰虎掌者，因叶形似之；曰天南
星者，以根形圆白，如天上南方之大星，取以为名也。）
天南星色白根圆，得阳明金土之气化，味苦性温，又得阳明燥烈之气化，故有大毒。主
治心
痛寒热结气者，若先入心而清热，温能散寒而治痛结也。积聚、伏梁者，言不但治痛结无形
之气，且治有形之积聚、伏梁。所以然者，禀金气而能攻坚破积也。伤筋痿拘缓者，言筋受
伤而痿拘能缓也。夫小筋受伤而驰长为痿，犹放纵而委弃也。大筋受伤而软短为拘，犹缩急
而拘挛也。阳明主润宗筋，束骨而利机关，故伤筋痿拘能缓。缓，舒缓也。利水道者，金能
生水，温能下行也。
气味苦寒，有小毒。主治蛊毒，十二水，腹满急痛，积聚，中风皮肤疼痛，吐逆。
（大戟始出常山，今近道皆有之，多生平泽，春生红芽，渐长丛高，茎直中空，叶长狭
如柳
，折之有白汁，三四月开黄紫花，根皮有紫色，有黄白色，浸于水中，水色青绿。杭州紫大
戟为上，江南土大戟次之，北方绵大戟根皮柔韧于如绵而色白，甚峻利能伤人。）
大戟生于西北，茎有白汁，味苦气寒，皮浸水中，其色青绿，乃禀金水木相生之气化。
水能
生木，则木气营运，故主治蛊毒。治蛊毒者，土得木而达也。金能生水，则水气营运，故主
治十二水。十二经脉环绕一身，十二水者，一身水气不行而肿也。腹满急痛，积聚，言蛊毒
之病，则腹满急痛，内有积聚，大戟能治之。中风皮肤疼痛，言十二水之病，则身中于风而
皮肤疼痛，大戟亦能治之。吐逆者，腹满急痛，积聚，则土气不和。中风皮肤疼痛，则肌表
不通，皆致吐逆，而大戟皆能治之也。
【天南星】
气味苦、温，有大毒。主治心痛伴寒热症状，气机郁结形成的积聚，以及伏梁病（腹中积块），能缓解因筋伤导致的痿软、拘挛或弛缓无力，并通利水道。
（《神农本草经》中的“虎掌”，即今人所说的天南星，在各地的平原沼泽地带均有生长。四月生苗，形状像荷花的梗，高一二尺，一根茎直立向上，茎端有叶子像爪子一样，分叉成四部分；年代久了叶子不再生长，而中间抽出一根茎，结成穗状直立向上像老鼠尾巴，穗下舒展一片叶子像勺子，斑驳烂漫像素色锦缎，这一片叶子包裹着茎形成花房。穗上布满花蕊，花呈青褐色，种子像谷子，生的时候是白色，熟后微红，久放又变为蓝色。其根部形状圆，颜色白，大小是半夏的二三倍。叫它“虎掌”，是因为叶子的形状像老虎的手掌；叫它“天南星”，是因为根部圆润洁白，像天上南方的一颗大星，取此意来命名。）
天南星色白根圆，禀受了阳明金土之气化作用，味苦性温，又禀受了阳明燥烈之气化作用，所以有大毒。主治心痛、寒热、气机郁结，是说它能先入心经以清热，温性能散寒从而治疗疼痛和气结。所谓积聚、伏梁，是指它不仅治疗疼痛这种无形的气滞，还能治疗有形的积聚和伏梁病。之所以如此，是因为它禀受金气，能够攻坚破积。所谓伤筋、痿、拘、缓，是说筋受伤后出现的痿软、拘挛等症状能得到缓解。小筋受伤导致松弛变长成为痿证，就像放纵而被抛弃一样；大筋受伤导致软弱短缩成为拘证，就像紧缩急迫而拘挛一样。阳明经主润宗筋，约束骨骼而利于关节运动，所以能缓解伤筋、痿、拘、缓的症状。“缓”意为舒缓。通利水道，是因为金能生水，温性能使气下行。
【大戟】
气味苦、寒，有小毒。主治蛊毒，十二水病（全身水肿），腹部胀满急痛，积聚，中风引起的皮肤疼痛，呕吐逆气。
（大戟最初产于常山，现在邻近道路的地方都有生长，多生于平原沼泽地带。春天生出红芽，逐渐长成丛生的高株，茎干直立中空，叶子细长狭小像柳叶，折断后有白色汁液，三四月开黄紫色的花，根皮有紫色和黄白色两种，浸泡在水中，水色呈青绿色。杭州产的紫大戟为上品，江南产的土大戟次之，北方产的绵大戟根皮柔韧如棉且颜色白，药性非常峻烈，容易伤人。）
大戟生于西北，茎中有白色汁液，味苦气寒，根皮浸泡水中呈现青绿色，这是禀受了金、水、木相生之气化作用。水能生木，则木气运行通畅，所以主治蛊毒。治疗蛊毒，是因为土得木气疏通而通达。金能生水，则水气运行通畅，所以主治十二水病。十二经脉环绕全身，所谓的“十二水”，是指一身水气运行不畅而导致的水肿。腹部胀满急痛、积聚，是说蛊毒这类疾病，会出现腹部胀满急痛，体内有积聚，大戟能治疗这些病症。中风引起的皮肤疼痛，是说十二水这类疾病，身体感受风邪而导致皮肤疼痛，大戟也能治疗。呕吐逆气，是因为腹部胀满急痛、积聚会导致土气不和；中风皮肤疼痛会导致肌表不通，这些情况都会导致呕吐逆气，而大戟都能治疗。
[Tian Nan Xing / Arisaema Rhizome]
The flavor is bitter and the nature is warm, with high toxicity. It primarily treats heart pain accompanied by alternating chills and fever, qi stagnation forming accumulations (Ji Ju), Fu Liang disease (abdominal masses), and can alleviate flaccidity, spasms, or laxity caused by tendon injury. It also promotes the free flow of water passages.
(Note: "Hu Zhang" in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* refers to what people today call Tian Nan Xing. It grows in flatlands and marshes everywhere. In April, shoots emerge, resembling lotus stems, one to two chi tall. A single stem rises straight up, with leaves at the tip shaped like claws, branching into four parts. After many years, leaves cease to grow, and a single stem emerges from the center, forming an ear-like spike rising straight up like a rat's tail. Below the spike, a leaf spreads out like a spoon, mottled like plain brocade, wrapping around the stem to form a sheath. The spike is covered with stamens; the flowers are blue-brown. The seeds resemble millet grains, white when fresh, slightly red when ripe, and turning blue after prolonged storage. The root is round and white, two to three times the size of Ban Xia. It is called "Hu Zhang" because its leaf resembles a tiger's paw; it is called "Tian Nan Xing" because its round, white root resembles a large star in the southern sky, from which the name is derived.)
Tian Nan Xing has a white color and a round root, inheriting the Qi transformation of Yangming Metal and Earth. Its bitter flavor and warm nature further inherit the dry and fierce Qi transformation of Yangming, hence its high toxicity. Regarding the treatment of heart pain, chills/fever, and qi stagnation: it first enters the Heart channel to clear heat, while its warming property disperses cold, thereby treating pain and qi knotting. Regarding Ji Ju (accumulations) and Fu Liang: this indicates that it not only treats intangible qi stagnation causing pain but also tangible accumulations and Fu Liang. This is because it inherits Metal Qi, enabling it to break hard accumulations. Regarding tendon injury, flaccidity (Wei), spasm (Ju), and laxity (Huan): it alleviates these conditions resulting from tendon injury. Injury to small tendons leads to elongation and relaxation, becoming Wei syndrome, akin to being abandoned or lax. Injury to large tendons leads to shortening and softness, becoming Ju syndrome, akin to cramping and contracture. The Yangming channel moistens the Zong Jin (general tendons), binds the bones, and facilitates joint movement; thus, it can alleviate tendon injury, Wei, Ju, and Huan. "Huan" means soothing or relaxing. Promoting water passages occurs because Metal generates Water, and warmth directs Qi downward.
[Da Ji / Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix]
The flavor is bitter and the nature is cold, with slight toxicity. It primarily treats Gu Du (poisonous worms/toxicity), Shier Shui (twelve waters/generalized edema), abdominal fullness with acute pain, accumulations, skin pain due to Wind Strike (Zhong Feng), and vomiting/reversal of Qi.
(Note: Da Ji originally grew in Changshan. Now it is found near roadsides, mostly in plains and marshes. Red buds sprout in spring, growing into dense, tall clumps. The stem is straight and hollow. Leaves are long and narrow like willow leaves. When broken, they exude white juice. Yellow-purple flowers bloom in March and April. The root bark is either purple or yellowish-white. When soaked in water, the water turns green-blue. Purple Da Ji from Hangzhou is the superior grade; Earth Da Ji from Jiangnan is secondary. Mian Da Ji from the North has root bark as soft and tough as cotton and white in color; its medicinal action is very峻烈 (pungent and drastic) and can harm people.)
Da Ji grows in the northwest, contains white juice in its stems, has a bitter flavor and cold nature, and its root bark turns green-blue when soaked in water. This reflects inheriting the generative Qi transformation of Metal, Water, and Wood. Since Water generates Wood, Wood Qi circulates freely, thus it treats Gu Du. Treating Gu Du works because Earth achieves unblocking through Wood. Since Metal generates Water, Water Qi circulates freely, thus it treats Shier Shui. The twelve meridians surround the body; "Shier Shui" refers to generalized edema caused by the failure of Water Qi to circulate throughout the body. Abdominal fullness, acute pain, and accumulations indicate that for diseases like Gu Du, where there is abdominal fullness, acute pain, and internal accumulations, Da Ji can treat them. Skin pain due to Wind Strike indicates that for diseases involving Shier Shui, if the body is struck by Wind leading to skin pain, Da Ji can also treat it. Vomiting and reversal of Qi occur because abdominal fullness, acute pain, and accumulations disrupt Earth Qi harmony, and skin pain from Wind Strike blocks the muscle surface; both lead to vomiting, which Da Ji can address.