气味苦寒，无毒。主治诸热，黄胆，肠 ，泄痢，逐水，下血闭，恶疮，疽蚀，火疡
。
（黄芩《本经》名腐肠，又名空肠，又名妒妇，谓外皮肉，而内空腐，妒妇心黯，黄芩
心黑
同也。出川蜀及陕西河东，近道皆有。芩者黔也，黑色也。其根黑而黄，故曰黄芩。）
黄芩色黄内空，能清肠胃之热，外肌皮而性寒，能清肌表之热，乃手足阳明兼手太阴之
药也
。主治诸热黄胆，肠 泄痢者，言诸经之热，归于胃土而为黄胆，归于大肠而为泄痢。黄芩
中空，主清肠胃之热，故能治之。肠胃受浊，得肺气通调，则水津四布，血气营运，逐水下
血闭者，黄芩外肌皮而清肌表。肌表清，则肺气和，而留水可逐，血闭自下矣。火热之气留
于肌肉皮肤，则为恶疮疽蚀。恶疮疽蚀名曰火疡。黄芩治之，清肌表也。
气味辛温，无毒。主治妇人疝瘕，阴中寒肿痛，腹中急，除风头痛，长肌肤，悦颜色
。
（ 本始出崇山山谷，今西川河东、兖州、杭州山中皆有。根似芎 而轻虚，味麻不堪
作饮，正月、二月采根，曝
干三十日成。）
，高也。 本始生崇山，得天地崇高之气，禀太阳标本之精。故下治妇人疝瘕，阴中
寒肿
痛，中治腹中拘急，上除头风痛。盖太阳之脉本于下，而上额交巅，出入于中上也。太阳阳
气有余，则长肌肤，悦颜色。
【气味与主治】
味苦，性寒，无毒。主治各种热证、黄疸、肠澼（痢疾）、泄泻痢疾、逐水饮、通下血闭、恶疮、疽蚀、火疡。
（黄芩在《神农本草经》中名为“腐肠”，又名“空肠”，又名“妒妇”。这是形容其外皮肉质而内部中空腐烂，如同妒妇内心阴暗；黄芩心色黑，与此相同。产于川蜀及陕西河东地区，邻近道路都有出产。“芩”意为“黔”，即黑色。其根外表黑而内里黄，所以称为黄芩。）
黄芩颜色黄且内部中空，能清除肠胃的热邪；其作用外达肌皮且性质寒凉，能清除肌表的热邪，是手足阳明经兼入手太阴经的药物。主治各种热证、黄疸、肠澼和泄痢，意思是说各经的热邪，归于胃土则形成黄疸，归于大肠则形成泄痢。黄芩内部中空，主要清除肠胃的热邪，所以能治疗这些病症。肠胃受浊气困扰，若得肺气通调，则水液津液四布，气血运行通畅。所谓逐水饮、通下血闭，是因为黄芩作用于肌皮并清解肌表之热。肌表清爽，则肺气调和，留滞的水饮可被驱逐，血闭自然下行。火热之气留滞在肌肉皮肤，就形成恶疮、疽蚀。恶疮、疽蚀被称为火疡。黄芩治疗这些病症，是通过清解肌表之热来实现的。
【气味与主治二】
味辛，性温，无毒。主治妇人疝瘕（腹中结块）、阴部寒冷肿痛、腹部拘急疼痛，去除风邪引起的头痛，促进肌肤生长，使面色悦泽。
（本始最初产于崇山山谷，现在西川河东、兖州、杭州的山中都有出产。根部形状类似川芎但质地轻虚，味道苦涩难以用来煮水饮用，正月、二月采集根部，曝晒三十天制成。）
“本”意为高。本始生长在高山之上，禀受了天地崇高之气，继承了太阳经标本的精气。所以下治妇人疝瘕、阴部寒冷肿痛，中治腹部拘急疼痛，上除头风痛。因为太阳经脉起始于下部，向上行至额部交会于头顶，出入于中上部。太阳阳气有余，就能促进肌肤生长，使面色悦泽。
[Flavor, Nature, and Indications]
Bitter in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. It treats various heat syndromes, jaundice (Huangdan), intestinal dysentery (Changpi), diarrhea and dysentery, expels fluid retention, unblocks blood obstruction, malignant sores (Echuang), carbuncles and ulcers (Jushi), and fire burns (Huoyang).
(Huangqin [Scutellariae Radix], named "Fuchang" [Rotting Intestine] in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*, is also known as "Kongchang" [Hollow Intestine] or "Dufu" [Jealous Woman]. This describes its outer skin being fleshy while the interior is hollow and rotting, akin to a jealous woman's dark heart; Huangqin has a black core, which corresponds to this. It originates from Sichuan, Shu, Shaanxi, and Hedong regions, and is available along nearby routes. "Qin" means "Qian," referring to black color. Its root is black on the outside and yellow inside, hence the name Huangqin.)
Huangqin is yellow in color and hollow inside, capable of clearing heat from the intestines and stomach. Acting externally on the muscle and skin with a cold nature, it clears heat from the muscular surface. It is a herb for the Hand-Yangming and Foot-Yangming meridians, extending to the Hand-Taiyin meridian. Regarding the treatment of various heat syndromes, jaundice, Changpi, and diarrhea/dysentery: this refers to heat from various meridians returning to the Stomach Earth to form jaundice, or returning to the Large Intestine to form diarrhea and dysentery. Since Huangqin is hollow inside and primarily clears heat from the intestines and stomach, it can treat these conditions. When the intestines and stomach are affected by turbid qi, if the Lung Qi achieves free flow and diffusion, body fluids distribute widely, and Qi and Blood circulate smoothly. The action of expelling fluid retention and unblocking blood obstruction occurs because Huangqin acts on the muscle and skin to clear superficial heat. When the superficial layer is cleared, Lung Qi harmonizes, retained fluids are expelled, and blood obstruction naturally resolves. When fiery-heat qi stagnates in the muscles and skin, it forms malignant sores and carbuncles/ulcers. Malignant sores and carbuncles/ulcers are termed Huoyang (fire burns). Huangqin treats these by clearing superficial heat.
[Flavor, Nature, and Indications II]
Acrid in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic. It treats gynecological masses (Shenjia) in women, cold swelling and pain in the genital region, abdominal tension and pain, removes wind-induced headaches, promotes skin growth, and enhances complexion.
(Benshi originally grew in high mountains and valleys. Now it is found in the mountains of Western Sichuan, Hedong, Yanzhou, and Hangzhou. The root resembles Xiongqiong [Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizoma] but is light and void. It tastes astringent and is unsuitable for brewing tea. Roots are harvested in the first and second lunar months and sun-dried for thirty days.)
"Ben" means high. Benshi grows in high mountains, inheriting the lofty Qi of Heaven and Earth, and absorbing the essence of the Taiyang meridian's Biao-Biao relationship. Therefore, it treats lower-body conditions such as Shenjia in women and cold swelling/pain in the yin region; middle-body conditions like abdominal tension; and upper-body conditions like wind-headache. This is because the Taiyang meridian originates from below, ascends to the forehead and vertex, and enters/exits the upper-middle region. Abundance of Taiyang Yang Qi promotes skin growth and enhances complexion.