大、小蓟，味甘、苦，气凉，无毒。入肺、脾二经。破血止血甚奇，消肿安崩亦效，去
毒亦
神，但用于初起之血症，大得奇功，而不能治久伤之血症也。盖性过于凉，非胃所喜，可以
降火，而不可以培土故耳。
或问大、小蓟，皆是止血圣药，一时急症，用鲜尤佳。倘无鲜者，干者亦可用乎？夫鲜
者难
遽得，势必用干者矣。但必须将大、小蓟用水先煎取汁，然后煎补血、生血、止血之药，同
饮才妙，不比鲜者，捣汁即可用也。
或问大、小蓟同是血分之品，毕竟何胜？二者较优劣。大蓟不如小蓟之佳。小蓟用一两
者，
大蓟必须加五钱，其功用实未尝殊也。
或问大、小二蓟，北人以之治吐血多功，南人以之往往鲜效，何也？盖二蓟过于寒凉，
北人
秉性刚强，非患热症，不易吐血；南人柔弱，不必犯热，即能吐血也，故宜北而不宜于南。
然而，北人不因热而致吐血者，服之未必相宜；南人偶因热而致吐血者，服之未必不相宜也
。
或问大、小蓟，即分大小，毕竟功效亦别，岂尽同而无异乎？曰∶同者止血，异者止热
也。
大蓟止热，而小蓟则力不胜。故遇热症，不妨用大蓟一二钱，使热退而不动血耳。
刘寄奴，味苦，气温，无毒。入心、脾、膀胱之经。下气，止心腹痛，下血消肿，解痈
毒，
灭汤火热疮，并治金疮。《本草》诸书，言其能却产后余疾，则误之甚者也。寄奴性善走迅
，入膀胱，专能逐水。凡白浊之症，用数钱，同车前子、茯苓利水之药服之，立时通快，是
走而不守，产后气血大亏耶，有瘀血，岂可用此迅逐之乎？夫走而不守之药，何以能止金疮
之
血。盖寄奴非能止血，能逐血也。血欲外出，寄奴逐之，血不敢外出矣。此反治之道也。
或问刘寄奴，以治金疮得名，而子谓非治金疮之药，非好异乎？夫寄奴逐血以止血，与治金
疮之说，两无妨也。然而以之治金疮，未见捷效，以之治白浊，实得神效。吾疑刘寄奴当日
治金疮，或别有他药，未必不借此惑世，英雄欺人，不可全信也。
大蓟和小蓟，味甘、苦，气凉，无毒。入肺、脾二经。破血止血非常神奇，消肿安胎（安崩）也有效，去毒也很神妙，但只适用于初起的血症，能取得奇效，而不能治疗久伤导致的血症。这是因为药性过于寒凉，不是胃所喜欢的，可以降火，但不能培补脾胃的缘故。
有人问：大蓟和小蓟都是止血的圣药，在紧急病症时，用鲜品尤其好。如果没有鲜品，干品可以用吗？鲜品难以立刻得到，势必得用干品了。但必须先将大蓟、小蓟用水先煎取汁，然后再煎煮补血、生血、止血的药物，一起服用才妙，不像鲜品那样，捣汁就可以使用。
有人问：大蓟和小蓟同是血分药，究竟哪个更好？比较两者的优劣。大蓟不如小蓟好。小蓟用量一两的，大蓟必须加五钱，其功用其实并没有差别。
有人问：大蓟和小蓟，北方人用它治吐血多有效，南方人用它往往很少见效，为什么呢？因为二蓟过于寒凉，北方人体质刚强，如果不是患热症，不容易吐血；南方人体质柔弱，不一定犯热，也能吐血，所以适宜北方而不适宜南方。然而，北方人不是因为热而导致吐血的，服用它未必合适；南方人偶尔因为热而导致吐血的，服用它未必不合适。
有人问：大蓟和小蓟，既然分了大小，功效也应该不同，难道完全相同而没有差异吗？回答说：相同的是止血，不同的是止热。大蓟止热，而小蓟力量不足以胜任。所以遇到热症，不妨用大蓟一二钱，使热退而不扰动血液罢了。
刘寄奴，味苦，气温，无毒。入心、脾、膀胱之经。下气，止心腹痛，下血消肿，解痈毒，灭汤火热疮，并治疗金疮（金属利器造成的创伤）。《本草》诸书说它能消除产后余疾，这是很大的错误。刘寄奴药性善于走窜迅疾，入膀胱，专门能逐水。凡是白浊的症状，用几钱，同车前子、茯苓等利水药一起服用，立刻通快，这是走而不守的药，产后气血大亏，如果有瘀血，怎么可用这种迅疾逐水的药呢？夫走而不守的药，怎么能止住金疮的血？大概刘寄奴不能止血，只能逐血。血欲外出，刘寄奴逐之，血就不敢外出了。这是反治之道。
有人问：刘寄奴以治疗金疮得名，而你却说它不是治疗金疮的药，不是喜欢标新立异吗？刘寄奴通过逐血来止血，与治金疮的说法，并不冲突。然而用它治金疮，未见快速疗效，用它治白浊，确实得到神效。我怀疑刘寄奴当日治金疮，或许有别的药，未必不是借此迷惑世人，英雄欺人，不可全信。
Da Ji (Cirsii Japonici Herba) and Xiao Ji (Cirsii Setosae Herba), with sweet and bitter tastes, cool nature, and non-toxic properties. They enter the Lung and Spleen meridians. Their ability to break blood stasis and stop bleeding is remarkable; they are also effective in reducing swelling and stabilizing miscarriage/bleeding, and miraculous in detoxification. However, they are only applicable to initial-stage blood disorders, where they yield extraordinary results, but cannot treat blood disorders caused by long-term injury. This is because their nature is overly cool, which is not favored by the Stomach; they can descend fire but cannot tonify Earth (Spleen/Stomach).
A question arises: Da Ji and Xiao Ji are both holy medicines for stopping bleeding, and using fresh herbs is particularly good for acute conditions. If fresh herbs are unavailable, can dried ones be used? Since fresh herbs are not readily available, dried ones must be used. However, one must first decoct Da Ji and Xiao Ji in water to extract the juice, then decoct blood-tonifying, blood-generating, and hemostatic herbs together, and drink them mixed. This is superior to fresh herbs, which can be used directly after crushing and extracting juice.
Another question: Both Da Ji and Xiao Ji are substances affecting the Blood level. Which is better? Comparing their merits, Da Ji is inferior to Xiao Ji. Where Xiao Ji is used at 1 liang, Da Ji requires an additional 5 qian; their functions are essentially the same.
Another question: In the North, Da Ji and Xiao Ji are often effective for treating hemoptysis, whereas in the South, they rarely show efficacy. Why? Because these two herbs are overly cold and cool. People in the North have a robust constitution; unless suffering from heat syndromes, they do not easily experience hemoptysis. People in the South have a delicate constitution; even without heat pathogens, they may experience hemoptysis. Thus, they are suitable for the North but not the South. However, northerners who suffer hemoptysis not due to heat may not find them appropriate; southerners who occasionally suffer hemoptysis due to heat may still find them suitable.
Another question: Since Da Ji and Xiao Ji are distinguished as large and small, should their effects not differ? Are they completely identical? The answer is: They share the function of stopping bleeding, but differ in clearing heat. Da Ji clears heat effectively, whereas Xiao Ji’s power is insufficient. Therefore, in cases of heat syndromes, it is advisable to use 1-2 qian of Da Ji to clear heat without disturbing the blood.
Liu Ji Nu (Artemisiae Annuae Herba), with a bitter taste, warm nature, and non-toxic properties. It enters the Heart, Spleen, and Bladder meridians. It directs Qi downward, stops epigastric and abdominal pain, promotes the discharge of blood, reduces swelling, resolves carbuncle toxins, treats burns and scalds, and manages traumatic injuries from metal weapons. Various texts in Ben Cao state that it can eliminate residual postpartum ailments; this is a significant error. Liu Ji Nu has a property of moving swiftly and penetrating; entering the Bladder, it specializes in driving out water retention. For symptoms of turbid urine (Bai Zhuo), using a few qian combined with diuretics like Che Qian Zi (Plantaginis Semen) and Fu Ling (Poria) brings immediate relief. This indicates a "moving without staying" property. Postpartum involves a great deficiency of Qi and Blood; if there is blood stasis, how can such a swift, draining herb be used? A herb that moves without staying cannot stop bleeding from traumatic wounds. Essentially, Liu Ji Nu does not stop bleeding but drives out blood. When blood attempts to exit externally, Liu Ji Nu drives it, preventing external hemorrhage. This is a method of contrary treatment.
A question arises: Liu Ji Nu is famous for treating traumatic wounds, yet you claim it is not a medicine for such wounds. Is this not merely seeking novelty? Liu Ji Nu stops bleeding by driving out blood, which aligns with the theory of treating traumatic wounds. However, its effect on traumatic wounds is not rapid, whereas its effect on turbid urine is truly miraculous. I suspect that when Liu Ji Nu was originally used for traumatic wounds, other herbs might have been involved, or perhaps this was a means to deceive the world. Heroes may deceive people; one should not believe everything entirely.