气味苦平，无毒。主心腹肠胃中结气，饮食积聚，寒热邪气，推陈致新。久服轻身明
目益精。
（柴胡一名地薰，叶名芸蒿，始出宏农川谷及冤句，今长安及河内近道皆有。二月生苗
甚香
，七月开黄花，根淡赤色，苗之香气直上云间，有鹤飞翔于上，过往闻者，皆神气清爽。柴
胡有硬软二种，硬者名大柴胡，软者名小柴胡。小柴胡生于银州者为胜，故又有银柴胡之名
。今市肆中另觅草根白色而大，不知何种，名银柴胡，此伪充也，不可用。古茈从草，今柴
从木，其义相通。）
柴胡春生白 ，香美可食，香从地出，直上云霄。其根苦平，禀太阴坤土之气，而达于
太阳
之药也。主治心腹肠胃中结气者。心为阳中之太阳而居上，腹为至阴之太阴而居下，肠胃居
心腹之中，柴胡从坤土而治肠胃之结气，则心腹之正气自和矣。治饮食积聚，土气调和也。
治寒热邪气，从阴出阳也。从阴出阳，故推陈 而致新谷。土地调和，故久服轻身。阴气上
出于阳，故明目。阳气下交于阴，故益精。
愚按∶柴胡乃从太阴地土、阳明中土而外达于太阳之药也。故仲祖《卒病论》言∶伤寒
中风，不从表解，太阳之气逆于中土，不能枢转外出，则用小柴胡汤达太阳之气于肌表，是
柴胡并非少阳主药，后人有病在太阳，而用柴胡，则引邪入于少阳之说，此庸愚无稽之言，
后人宗
气味苦平，无毒。主治心腹肠胃中的结滞之气，饮食积滞，寒热邪气，能推陈致新。长期服用可轻身明目、益精。
（柴胡又名地薰，其叶名为芸蒿，最初产于宏农川谷及冤句等地，如今长安及河内附近地区均有生长。二月生苗，香气浓郁；七月开黄花，根呈淡赤色。苗的香气直冲云霄，有鹤在上面飞翔，过往的人闻到香气，都感到神气清爽。柴胡有硬软两种，硬的称为大柴胡，软的称为小柴胡。小柴胡以银州出产的为佳，所以又有银柴胡的名称。现在市场上另有一种白色粗大的草根，不知是什么种类，也叫做银柴胡，这是伪充之物，不可使用。古字“茈”从草部，今字“柴”从木部，其含义相通。）
柴胡春天生长，花白，香气美好可以食用，香气从地面发出，直上云霄。它的根味苦性平，禀受太阴坤土之气，是通达太阳经的药物。主治心腹肠胃中的结滞之气。心属于阳中之太阳而居上位，腹部属于至阴之太阴而居下位，肠胃位于心腹之间，柴胡从坤土之气出发治疗肠胃的结滞之气，那么心腹的正气自然调和了。治疗饮食积聚，是因为土气得到了调和。治疗寒热邪气，是因为从阴出阳。从阴出阳，所以能推陈致新。土地调和，所以长期服用身体轻便。阴气出于阳位，所以明目。阳气下交于阴位，所以益精。
我按语：柴胡是从太阴地土、阳明中土向外通达太阳经的药物。所以张仲景在《卒病论》中说：伤寒中风，如果不从表解，太阳之气逆乱在中土，不能枢转外出，就使用小柴胡汤将太阳之气达于肌表。这说明柴胡并不是少阳经的主药，后人说病在太阳经却用柴胡，就会引邪入少阳，这是庸俗愚昧无稽之谈，后人宗奉……
The flavor is bitter and the nature is neutral, non-toxic. It primarily treats constrained Qi in the heart, abdomen, stomach, and intestines; food stagnation; pathogenic cold and heat; it pushes out the old and brings forth the new. Long-term use lightens the body, brightens the eyes, and benefits the essence.
(Chai Hu [Bupleuri Radix], also known as Di Xun [Ground Smudge], has leaves named Yun Hao [Artemisia芸蒿]. It originally grew in Hongnong Chuan Gu [Hongnong River Valleys] and Yuanju [Yuanju County]; nowadays it is found near Chang'an [Chang'an] and Henei [Henei]. In the second lunar month, seedlings emerge with a strong fragrance; in the seventh lunar month, yellow flowers bloom, and the roots are pale reddish. The fragrance of the seedlings rises straight to the clouds, where cranes fly; passersby who smell it feel refreshed and clear-minded. Chai Hu has two types: hard and soft. The hard type is called Da Chai Hu [Greater Bupleuri Radix], and the soft type is called Xiao Chai Hu [Lesser Bupleuri Radix]. Xiao Chai Hu produced in Yinzhou [Yinzhou] is superior, hence the name Yin Chai Hu [Silver Bupleuri Radix]. Currently, markets sell another type of white, thick root, whose species is unknown, also named Yin Chai Hu; this is a counterfeit and should not be used. The ancient character "Zi" [Purple] uses the grass radical, while the modern character "Chai" [Firewood] uses the wood radical; their meanings are consistent.)
Chai Hu sprouts in spring, bears white flowers, has a fragrant and edible quality, with its aroma rising from the earth straight into the clouds. Its root is bitter and neutral, inheriting the Qi of Taiyin Kun Earth [Taiyin Spleen/Earth element], and is a herb that reaches the Taiyang [Greater Yang] channel. It treats constrained Qi in the heart, abdomen, stomach, and intestines. The Heart belongs to Yang within Yang (Taiyang) and resides in the upper jiao; the abdomen belongs to Zhiyin [Ultimate Yin] (Taiyin) and resides in the lower jiao; the stomach and intestines lie between them. By treating intestinal constriction via Kun Earth Qi, the righteous Qi of the heart and abdomen naturally harmonizes. It treats food stagnation because Earth Qi becomes harmonized. It treats pathogenic cold and heat because it moves from Yin to Yang. Moving from Yin to Yang allows it to push out the old and bring forth new grain. Because Earth Qi is harmonized, long-term use lightens the body. Because Yin Qi emerges from the Yang position, it brightens the eyes. Because Yang Qi descends to interact with Yin, it benefits the essence.
My commentary: Chai Hu is a herb that extends outward from Taiyin Earth and Yangming Central Earth to reach Taiyang. Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing [Master Zhang] stated in *Zhu Bing Yuan Lun* [Treatise on the Origin and Manifestations of Various Diseases]: For Shanghan [Cold Damage] or Zhongfeng [Wind Strike], if the exterior does not resolve, and Taiyang Qi rebels in the central Earth without pivoting outward, one should use Xiao Chai Hu Tang [Lesser Bupleuri Decoction] to extend Taiyang Qi to the muscle layer. This indicates that Chai Hu is not the primary herb for Shaoyang [Lesser Yang]. Later scholars claimed that using Chai Hu when the disease is in Taiyang would draw pathogens into Shaoyang; this is vulgar, foolish, and baseless talk, which later generations followed...