气味苦寒，无毒。主治心腹邪气，五疳，补中，益气，利九窍。
（紫草出砀山山谷及襄阳、南阳、新野所在皆有，人家或种之。苗似兰香，赤茎青节，
二月开花紫白色，结实白色，春祉前后采根阴干，其根头有白毛如茸，根身紫色，可以染紫。）
紫乃苍赤之间色，紫草色紫，得火气也。苗似兰香，得土气也。火土相生，能资中焦之
精汁
，而调和其上下，故气味苦寒，主治心腹之邪气。疳者，干也，津液干枯也。五疳者，惊疳
、食疳、气疳、筋疳、骨疳也。紫草禀火土之气，滋益三焦，故治小儿之五疳。补中者，补
中土也。益气者，益三焦之气也。九窍为水注之气，补中土而益三焦，则如雾如沤如渎，水
气环复，故利九窍。
气味苦，微温，无毒。主治金疮，痈肿，疮脓。
（泽兰始出汝南诸大泽旁，今处处有之，多生水泽下湿地，叶似兰草，故名泽兰。茎方
色青
节紫，叶边有锯齿，两两对生，节间微香，枝叶间微有白毛，七月作萼色纯紫，开花紫白色
，其根紫黑色。）
泽兰本于水，而得五运之气，故主治三因之证。生于水泽，气味苦温，根萼紫黑，禀少
阴水
火之气也。茎方叶香，微有白毛，边如锯齿，禀太阴土金之气也。茎青节紫，叶生枝节间，
其茎直上，禀厥阴之木气也。主治金疮痈肿疮脓者，金疮乃刀斧所伤，为不内外因之证。痈
肿乃寒邪客于经络，为外因之证，疮脓乃心火盛而血脉虚，为内因之证。泽兰禀五运而治三
阴之证者如此。
气味苦、寒，无毒。主治心腹部的邪气，五种疳积病，补益中焦，益气，通利九窍。
（紫草产于砀山山谷以及襄阳、南阳、新野等地，各处都有，百姓有时也种植它。植株形态像兰香，茎为红色，节为青色，二月开紫白色花，结白色果实，在春社日前后采集根部并阴干，其根头有白色绒毛如茸毛状，根身呈紫色，可用于染紫。）
紫是苍色与赤色之间的间色，紫草颜色紫，禀受火气。植株像兰香，禀受土气。火与土相生，能够资助中焦的精微汁液，从而调和上下，所以气味苦寒，主治心腹部的邪气。“疳”字意为干枯，指津液干枯。五疳包括惊疳、食疳、气疳、筋疳、骨疳。紫草禀受火土之气，滋养三焦，所以治疗小儿的五疳病。“补中”，即补益中土（脾胃）。“益气”，即补益三焦之气。九窍是水气灌注之处，补益中土并增益三焦之气，则水气如雾露、如沤泡、如沟渠般循环往复，所以能通利九窍。
气味苦，微温，无毒。主治金创（金属利器造成的创伤），痈肿，疮疡化脓。
（泽兰最初产于汝南各大沼泽旁边，如今各地都有，多生长在水泽下方的湿地，叶子像兰草，所以名叫泽兰。茎方形，颜色青，节部紫，叶边有锯齿，两两对生，节间有微香，枝叶间微有白毛，七月形成花萼，颜色纯紫，开花紫白色，其根呈紫黑色。）
泽兰本源于水，而禀受五运之气，所以主治由三因（内因、外因、不内外因）引起的证候。生长于水泽，气味苦温，根和花萼呈紫黑色，禀受少阴水火之气。茎方叶香，微有白毛，叶边如锯齿，禀受太阴土金之气。茎青节紫，叶生于枝节之间，茎干直上，禀受厥阴木气。主治金创、痈肿、疮脓：金创是由刀斧所伤，属于不内外因的证候；痈肿是寒邪客居于经络，属于外因的证候；疮脓是心火旺盛而血脉虚弱，属于内因的证候。泽兰禀受五运之气，如此治疗三阴经相关的证候。
Taste and Nature: Bitter, cold, non-toxic. Indications: Treats pathogenic factors in the heart and abdomen, five types of *gan* disease (childhood malnutrition syndrome), tonifies the middle jiao, benefits qi, and unblocks the nine orifices.
(Zicao [Lithospermum Radix] grows in the valleys of Dangshan as well as Xiangyang, Nanyang, and Xinye, where it is found everywhere; people sometimes cultivate it. The seedling resembles Lanxiang [Agastache rugosa], with red stems and green nodes. It blooms purple-white flowers in the second lunar month, bears white fruit, and its roots are harvested around the Spring She festival and dried in the shade. The root head has white hairs resembling down, and the root body is purple, which can be used for dyeing.)
Zi (purple) is an intermediate color between Cang (blue/green) and Chi (red). Zicao is purple in color, thus acquiring the Qi of Fire. The seedling resembles Lanxiang, thus acquiring the Qi of Earth. Since Fire and Earth generate each other, it can nourish the essence and fluids of the Middle Jiao, thereby harmonizing the upper and lower parts. Therefore, its taste is bitter and cold, and it treats pathogenic factors in the heart and abdomen. "Gan" means dryness, referring to the dryness of body fluids. The five types of Gan include Jing Gan (startle gan), Shi Gan (food gan), Qi Gan (qi gan), Jin Gan (tendon gan), and Gu Gan (bone gan). Zicao inherits the Qi of Fire and Earth, nourishes the San Jiao (Triple Burner), and thus treats the five types of Gan in children. "Tonifying the middle" refers to tonifying the Central Earth (Spleen and Stomach). "Benefiting qi" refers to benefiting the Qi of the San Jiao. The nine orifices are the passages for water Qi. By tonifying the Central Earth and benefiting the Qi of the San Jiao, the water Qi circulates like mist, like foam, and like ditches; therefore, it unblocks the nine orifices.
Taste: Bitter, slightly warm, non-toxic. Indications: Treats Jin Chuang (metal-induced wounds), Yong Zhong (carbuncles and swellings), and Chuang Nong (suppurating sores).
(Zelan [Epimedii Folium] originally grew beside the large marshes of Runan, but is now found everywhere. It mostly grows in wetlands below water marshes. Its leaves resemble those of Lancao [Orchid grass], hence the name Zelan. The stem is square and green, with purple nodes. The leaf margins have serrations, and leaves grow opposite each other. There is a slight fragrance at the nodes and fine white hairs on the branches and leaves. In the seventh lunar month, it forms calyxes that are purely purple, blooming purple-white flowers. Its roots are purple-black.)
Zelan originates from water and acquires the Qi of the Five Movements (Wu Yun); thus, it treats conditions caused by the Three Causes (San Yin). Growing in water marshes, its taste is bitter and warm, and its roots and calyxes are purple-black, inheriting the Water and Fire Qi of Shao Yin (Lesser Yin). The square stem and fragrant leaves, with fine white hairs and serrated edges, inherit the Earth and Metal Qi of Tai Yin (Greater Yin). The green stem and purple nodes, with leaves growing between branches and nodes, and the straight upward growth of the stem, inherit the Wood Qi of Jue Yin (Terminal Yin). Regarding its indications for Jin Chuang, Yong Zhong, and Chuang Nong: Jin Chuang is caused by knives and axes, constituting a condition of the "Neither Internal nor External" cause. Yong Zhong is caused by Cold pathogenic factors lodging in the meridians, constituting an external cause condition. Chuang Nong is caused by excessive Heart Fire and deficiency of blood vessels, constituting an internal cause condition. Thus, Zicao, inheriting the Qi of the Five Movements, treats conditions related to the Three Yin meridians in this manner.