味苦辛。入手太阴足太阳经。功专散邪通阳。得射干治肺痿上气。得桂心治风痹冷
痛。夏月禁用。过服亡阳。蜜炒稍缓。止汗用根。浓朴、白薇为使。恶辛夷、石膏。
味辛。入足厥阴经。功专治产后血晕。得石膏治风热头痛。得甘草洗烂 。头旋目
晕。荆芥穗微炒三钱。酒煎服神效。若用酒洗元参一钱。荆芥穗一钱。泡汤常饮亦可。治血
炒黑用。反鱼蟹河豚驴肉。风在皮里膜外。荆芥主之。
味苦气平。入手足少阳少阴厥阴气分。兼入手阳明经。功专散血结气聚。泻心与小
肠之热。得瞿麦、大黄、甘草治项边马刀。得脂麻治瘰 结核。止痛消肿排脓。为疮家圣药
。
味辛温。入手太阴经。功专发表散寒。得广皮、砂仁则行气安胎。得木瓜、浓朴治
寒湿香港脚。得藿香、乌药温中止痛。得香附解肌。得芎 、当归和血散血。得桔梗、枳壳利
膈宽肠。得卜子、杏仁消痰定喘。叶得百合。治夜不寐。梗得桔梗。治梅核气。解蟹毒。
味苦。入手足太阴阳明经。功专散风下气。得桔梗治痰热咳逆。无实热及无外感者
忌用。内有硬者名雄前胡。须拣去。半夏为使。恶皂角。
【麻黄】味苦、辛。归入手太阴肺经和足太阳膀胱经。功效专于发散邪气、通达阳气。配伍射干可治疗肺痿引起的上气喘息；配伍桂心可治疗风痹冷痛。夏季禁用，过量服用会导致亡阳（阳气脱失）。用蜜炒制后药性稍缓。止汗需使用其根部。以浓朴、白薇为引经药。畏忌辛夷、石膏。
【荆芥】味辛。归入足厥阴肝经。功效专于治疗产后血晕。配伍石膏可治疗风热头痛；配伍甘草并洗烂后，可治疗头晕目眩。取微炒的荆芥穗三钱，用酒煎服，疗效神妙。若用酒洗过的元参一钱、荆芥穗一钱，泡汤常饮亦可。治疗血证时，需将药材炒黑使用。反忌鱼、蟹、河豚、驴肉。风邪位于皮里膜外者，以荆芥为主治药物。
【夏枯草】味苦，气平。归入手足少阳、少阴及厥阴的气分，兼入手阳明大肠经。功效专于消散血结与气聚，清泻心与小肠之热。配伍瞿麦、大黄、甘草可治疗颈部侧面的马刀瘘（一种淋巴结结核）；配伍脂麻（芝麻）可治疗瘰疬结核。具有止痛、消肿、排脓的功效，是疮疡科医生的圣药。
【紫苏】味辛、温。归入手太阴肺经。功效专于发表散寒。配伍广陈皮、砂仁则能行气安胎；配伍木瓜、浓朴可治疗寒湿脚气；配伍藿香、乌药可温中止痛；配伍香附可解肌表之邪；配伍川芎、当归可调和血液、散瘀血；配伍桔梗、枳壳可利膈宽肠；配伍萝卜子、杏仁可消痰定喘。紫苏叶配伍百合，可治疗夜间失眠；紫苏梗配伍桔梗，可治疗梅核气。此外还能解除蟹毒。
【前胡】味苦。归入手足太阴、阳明经。功效专于疏散风邪、降气。配伍桔梗可治疗痰热咳嗽气逆。体内无实热及无外感者忌用。内部质地坚硬的称为“雄前胡”，须拣除不用。以半夏为引经药。畏忌皂角。
【薄荷】味辛。归入手足厥阴经。功效专于治疗头、目、咽喉、口齿等部位的诸种病症。配伍天花粉可清上焦之热并化痰。另有鸡苏薄荷品种。体虚者及夏季均宜少服。江苏产的质量最佳。
【决明子】味苦。归入足厥阴肝经。功效专于去除目翳（角膜云翳），治疗肠风（便血）。配伍禹余粮、当归、川芎可治疗崩漏中的赤白带下；配伍槐子、枳实可治疗痔疮出血。
[Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba)] Bitter and acrid in flavor. Enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung meridian and Foot-Taiyin Bladder meridian. Its function is specifically to disperse pathogenic factors and unblock Yang Qi. When combined with Shegan (Belamcandae Rhizoma), it treats pulmonary fibrosis accompanied by rebellious Qi and wheezing; when combined with Guixin (Cinnamomi Ramulus), it treats wind-bi syndrome characterized by cold pain. It is contraindicated in summer months; excessive consumption leads to collapse of Yang Qi. Honey-fried Mahuang has a slightly milder effect. To stop sweating, the root should be used. Radix Polygalae (Nanmu) and Cortex Anemarrhenae (Baiwei) act as guiding herbs. It is incompatible with Xinyi (Magnoliae Flos) and Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao).
[Jingjie (Schizonepetae Spica)] Acrid in flavor. Enters the Foot-Jueyin Liver meridian. Its function is specifically to treat postpartum blood syncope. When combined with Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao), it treats headache due to wind-heat; when combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) and washed until soft, it treats dizziness and vertigo. Three qian of lightly fried Schizonepetae Spica (Jingjie Sui), decocted in wine, yields miraculous efficacy. Alternatively, one qian of Scrophulariae Radix (Xuanshen) washed in wine and one qian of Schizonepetae Spica (Jingjie Sui), steeped in water for regular drinking, is also effective. For treating blood disorders, the herb should be charred before use. It is antagonistic to fish, crab, pufferfish, and donkey meat. For wind pathogens located between the skin and fascia, Jingjie is the primary treatment.
[Xiakucao (Prunellae Spica)] Bitter in flavor and neutral in qi. Enters the Qi aspect of the Hand-Shaoyang, Foot-Shaoyang, Hand-Shaoyin, Foot-Shaoyin, Hand-Jueyin, and Foot-Jueyin meridians, and additionally enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine meridian. Its function is specifically to dissipate blood stasis and Qi stagnation, and to drain heat from the Heart and Small Intestine. When combined with Qumai (Dianthi Herba), Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (Dahuang), and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), it treats scrofula (mader gland) on the side of the neck. When combined with Sesami Fructus (Zhimai), it treats scrofula tubercles. It relieves pain, reduces swelling, and expels pus, making it a sacred medicine for practitioners specializing in sores and ulcers.
[Zisu (Perillae Folium)] Acrid and warm in flavor. Enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung meridian. Its function is specifically to release the exterior and dispel cold. When combined with Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Guangpi) and Amomi Fructus Rotundus (Sharen), it promotes Qi movement and calms the fetus. When combined with Papae Fructus (Mugua) and Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (Nanmu), it treats cold-dampness foot qi. When combined with Pogostemonis Herba (Huoxiang) and Linderæ Cortex (Wuyao), it warms the middle and relieves pain. When combined with Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu), it releases the muscle layer. When combined with Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong) and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui), it harmonizes and disperses blood. When combined with Platycodonis Radix (Jiegeng) and Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhike), it benefits the diaphragm and widens the intestines. When combined with Raphani Semen (Buzi) and Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Xingren), it resolves phlegm and stabilizes asthma. Perillae Folium (Zisu Ye) combined with Lilii Bulbus (Baihe) treats insomnia at night. Perillae Causulis (Zisu Geng) combined with Platycodonis Radix (Jiegeng) treats plum-pit qi. It also resolves crab toxicity.
[Qianhu (Peucedani Radix)] Bitter in flavor. Enters the Hand-Taiyin, Foot-Taiyin, Hand-Yangming, and Foot-Yangming meridians. Its function is specifically to disperse wind and direct Qi downward. When combined with Platycodonis Radix (Jiegeng), it treats cough and rebellious Qi due to phlegm-heat. It is contraindicated for those without excess heat or external contraction. The variety with a hard interior is called "Xiong Qianhu" and must be sorted out and discarded. Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum (Banxia) acts as a guiding herb. It is incompatible with Gleditsiae Sinensis Spina (Zaojiao).
[Boho (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba)] Acrid in flavor. Enters the Hand-Jueyin and Foot-Jueyin meridians. Its function is specifically to treat various conditions of the head, eyes, throat, mouth, and teeth. When combined with Trichosanthis Radix (Huafen), it clears upper burner heat and transforms phlegm. There is another variety known as Jisu Bohe. It should be taken in small doses by those with deficient constitution and during summer months. The variety produced in Suzhou is considered superior.
[Juemingzi (Cassiae Semen)] Bitter in flavor. Enters the Foot-Jueyin Liver meridian. Its function is specifically to remove corneal nebula (eye opacity) and treat intestinal wind (hematochezia). When combined with Yuyuliang (Hematitum), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), and Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong), it treats metrorrhagia with red and white discharge. When combined with Sophorae Flavescentis Semen (Huai Zi) and Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhishi), it treats bleeding from hemorrhoids.