益母草，味辛、甘，气微温，无毒。胎前、产后，皆可用之，去死胎最效，行瘀生新，
亦能
下乳。其名益母，有益于妇人不浅。然不佐之归、芎、参、术，单味未能取胜。前人言其胎
前无滞，产后无虚，谓其行中有补也。但益母草实非补物，止能佐补药以收功，故不宜多用
。大约入诸补剂之中，以三钱为率，可从中再减，断不可此外更增。
或问益母草，以益母得名，宜其有益于产母。今人未产之前用之，犹曰治产母也，无孕
之妇
人杂然并进，益母之谓何？曰∶益母草，实不止专益于产母。凡无产之妇，均能受益。盖益
母草治妇人之病，居十之七，治产母之病，反不过十之三。无产之妇，可以多用，而有产之
妇，转宜少用耳。
或疑益母草古今共誉，而吾子何独有贬辞？曰∶吾言益母草佐补药以收功，正显益母草
之奇
耳。何为贬辞哉？
或疑益母草，古人单用以收功，而吾子必言佐补以取效，何也？不知益母草单用以收功，不
若佐补收功之更多而且捷。
续断，味辛，气微温。无毒。善续筋骨，使断者复续得名。亦调血脉，疗折伤最神，治
血症
固精滑梦遗，暖子宫，补多于续，但不可多用耳。盖续断气温，多用则生热，热生则火
炽矣
。少用则温而不热，肾水反得之而渐生。阴生于阳之中也。他本谓其能愈乳痈、瘰 、肠风
痔，岂有气温之药，而能愈温热之病乎？恐非可信之论也。（〔批〕实不可信。）
或问续断能接筋骨，何以单用续断，未见奏功，入之于生血活血药中，反能奏效，何欤？
曰
∶此正续断之奇也。夫断者不能复续，犹死者不能重生也，欲使断者复续，必须使死者重生
矣。筋骨至于断，其中之血先死矣。续断止能接筋骨之断，不能使血之生也。用之于生血、
活血之中，则血之死者既庆再生，而筋骨之断者自庆再续。（〔批〕活血始可接骨，补虚始
能续断，真不易之论。）又何疑于单用之无功，而共用之甚效哉。
或疑续断不宜用之于补药之中，恐牵掣其手也。嗟乎。惟补可续，不补何续耶。
或疑续断因补以接骨，则凡补之药，皆可接骨矣。曰∶单补又何能接续哉。惟续断于补中接
骨，则补即有生之义，生即有续之功也。
益母草，味道辛、甘，性质微温，没有毒性。在怀孕前和产后，都可以使用它，去除死胎的效果最为显著，能行血化瘀并促进新血生成，也能帮助下奶。它的名字叫做“益母”，对妇女的好处非常深。然而，如果不配合当归、川芎、人参、白术等药物辅助，单用一味药难以取得最佳疗效。前人说它在产前没有瘀滞，产后不会导致虚弱，是说它在行血的同时具有补益的作用。但益母草实际上并不是补益类药物，只能辅助补药来发挥作用，所以不适宜大量使用。大概进入各种补剂中时，以三钱为常规剂量，还可以在此基础上再减少，绝对不可以在此之外增加用量。
有人问：益母草因为“益母”得名，理应有益于生产后的母亲。现在有人在未生产之前也使用它，还说是治疗产母病，对于没有怀孕的妇女也混杂着一起进服，这怎么叫“益母”呢？回答说：益母草，实际上不仅仅专门有益于生产后的母亲。凡是未生产的妇女，都能从中受益。因为益母草治疗妇女的疾病，占十分之七，治疗产母疾病的，反而不超过十分之三。没有怀孕的妇女，可以多用；而已经生产过的妇女，反而应该少用。
有人怀疑：益母草古今都受到赞誉，为什么唯独您有贬低的言辞？回答说：我说益母草辅助补药来发挥作用，正是彰显益母草的神奇之处罢了。怎么能说是贬低呢？
有人怀疑：益母草，古人单用就能发挥作用，而您一定要说辅助补药才能见效，这是为什么呢？不知道益母草单用发挥作用，不如辅助补药发挥作用那样更多且迅速。
续断，味道辛，性质微温。没有毒性。善于接续筋骨，使断裂的重新连接，因此得名。也能调理血脉，治疗跌打折伤效果神奇，治疗血症以及固精止遗（包括梦遗），温暖子宫，补益作用多于接续作用，但是不可大量使用。因为续断气温，大量使用会产生热，热产生则火势炽盛。少量使用则温和而不燥热，肾水反而能得到滋养而逐渐滋生。这就是阴生于阳之中的道理。其他本草书籍说它能治愈乳痈、瘰疬、肠风痔漏，难道有温热性质的药物，能够治愈温热性质的疾病吗？恐怕是不可信的言论。（〔批注〕确实不可信。）
有人问：续断能接合筋骨，为什么单用续断，没有见到功效，放入生血活血的药物中，反而能奏效，为什么呢？回答说：这正是续断的神奇之处。所谓断裂的不能重新连接，就像死者不能复活一样，想要使断裂的重新连接，必须使死者复活。筋骨一旦断裂，其中的血液先已死亡。续断只能接合筋骨的断裂，不能使血液再生。将其用在生血、活血的药物中，那么死亡的血液既已庆幸获得新生，而断裂的筋骨自然也会庆幸再次连接。（〔批注〕只有活血才可以接骨，只有补虚才能续断，这是确凿不易的论断。）又何必怀疑单用无效，而合用却非常有效呢？
有人怀疑续断不宜用于补药之中，恐怕会牵制药效。唉！只有补益才能接续，不补益又如何接续呢？
有人怀疑：续断因为依靠补益来接骨，那么凡是补益的药物，都可以接骨了。回答说：单靠补益又怎能接续呢？只有续断在补益中接骨，那么补益就包含了生的意义，生就包含了接续的功效。
Motherwort (Yimucao), with a pungent and sweet taste, is slightly warm in nature and non-toxic. It can be used both before and after childbirth; it is most effective for expelling dead fetuses, promoting blood circulation to remove stasis and generating new blood, and also facilitates lactation. Its name "Motherwort" implies profound benefits for women. However, without the assistance of Danggui (Angelica Sinensis), Chuanxiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong), Renshen (Ginseng), and Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala), using it as a single herb cannot achieve optimal results. Predecessors stated that it causes no stagnation before childbirth and no deficiency after childbirth, meaning it has tonifying properties within its blood-moving action. Yet, Motherwort is essentially not a tonic; it can only assist tonic herbs to achieve therapeutic effects, so it should not be used in large doses. Generally, when included in various tonic prescriptions, three qian (approx. 9-10g) is the standard dose, which can be further reduced, but absolutely should not be increased beyond this.
One might ask: Since Motherwort is named for benefiting mothers, it should logically benefit postpartum women. Why do people use it before childbirth, claiming it treats postpartum conditions, and why do childless women indiscriminately take it? How does this justify the name "Motherwort"? The answer is: Motherwort actually benefits not only postpartum women. All women, whether pregnant or not, can benefit from it. This is because Motherwort treats gynecological diseases in seventy percent of cases, while treating postpartum diseases accounts for less than thirty percent. Childless women may use it in larger doses, whereas women who have given birth should use it sparingly.
Some doubt: Motherwort has been praised since ancient times, why do you alone criticize it? I say that stating Motherwort achieves results by assisting tonic herbs precisely highlights its miraculous nature. How can this be considered criticism?
Some doubt: Ancient texts claim Motherwort works effectively when used alone, yet you insist it requires tonic assistance. Why? It is unknown that using Motherwort alone yields fewer and slower results compared to using it alongside tonics.
Duanxu (Dipsacus Asperoides), with a pungent taste and slightly warm nature, is non-toxic. It excels at reconnecting bones and tendons, allowing broken parts to heal, hence its name. It also regulates blood vessels, is highly effective for treating fractures and trauma, manages blood disorders, secures essence to prevent seminal emission (including nocturnal emissions), and warms the uterus. Its tonifying effect outweighs its connecting effect, but it must not be used in large quantities. Because Duanxu is warm in nature, excessive use generates heat, leading to blazing fire. Used in small amounts, it is warm but not hot, allowing Kidney Water (Jin Shui) to gradually regenerate. This illustrates yin arising from yang. Other materia medica claim it cures breast abscesses, scrofula, intestinal wind, and hemorrhoids. Can a warm-natured herb truly cure heat-related diseases? Such claims are likely untrustworthy. [Commentary: Indeed untrustworthy.]
One asks: Duanxu connects bones and tendons; why does it fail when used alone but succeed when combined with blood-generating and blood-invigorating herbs? The answer lies in Duanxu's uniqueness. A break cannot heal unless the "dead" tissue revives. When bones and tendons break, the blood within them first dies. Duanxu can only reconnect the structural break, not regenerate the blood. When used within formulas that generate and invigorate blood, the "dead" blood is revived, and the broken bones naturally reconnect. [Commentary: Only by invigorating blood can bones be set; only by tonifying deficiency can breaks be healed. This is an indisputable principle.] Thus, there is no reason to doubt its inefficacy when used alone versus its high efficacy when combined.
Some doubt: Duanxu should not be used with tonic herbs for fear of hindering their effects. Alas! Only tonification allows for connection; without tonification, how can connection occur?
Some doubt: If Duanxu connects bones via tonification, then all tonic herbs should connect bones. The answer is: Tonification alone cannot achieve connection. Only when Duanxu connects bones within a tonifying context does tonification embody the meaning of "generation," and generation embodies the merit of "connection."