青黛，即靛之干者。《本草》辨其出波斯国者，始真转误矣。味苦，气寒，无毒。杀虫
除热
，能消赤肿疔毒，兼疗金疮，余无功效。他书盛称之，皆不足信也。惟喉痹之症，倘系实火
，可以内外兼治，而《本草》各书反不言及。大约此物，止可为佐使者也。惟杀虫可以多用
，只消一味，用至一两，研末，加入神曲三钱、使君子三钱，同为丸，一日服尽，虫尽死矣
。（〔批〕青黛杀虫方神效，试之屡验。）他病不必多用。盖青黛气寒，能败胃气，久服，则
饮食不能消也。
或问青黛微物，先生亦慎用之，毋乃太过乎？嗟乎。用药一味之失，便杀一人，况发明
《本
草》，而可轻言之乎。故物虽至微，不敢忽也。
或问青黛物虽至微，仲景公用以治发斑之伤寒，何子未之言及？曰∶吾前言赤肿，即发
斑之
别名，非满身肿起为赤肿也。青黛至微，而能化斑者，以其善凉肺金之气。肺主皮毛，皮肤
之发斑，正肺之火也。然而发斑，又不止肺火，必挟胃火而同行，青黛又能清胃火，仲景公
所以一物而两用之，退肺、胃之火，自易解皮肤之斑矣。
天麻，味辛、苦，气平，无毒。入肺、脾、肝、胆、心经。能止昏眩，疗风去湿，治筋
骨拘
挛瘫痪，通血脉，开窍，余皆不足尽信。此有损无益之药，似宜删去。然外邪甚盛，壅塞于
经络血脉之间，舍天麻又何以引经，使气血攻补之味，直入于受病之中乎。故必须备载。但
悉其功用，自不致用之之误也。总之，天麻最能祛外来之邪，逐内闭之痰，而气血两虚之人
，断不可轻用耳。（〔批〕天麻举世□□□□□□□□□□也。）
或问天麻世人多珍之，何先生独戒人以轻用乎？曰∶余戒人轻用者，以天麻实止可怯邪。
无
邪之人用之，未有不受害者也。余所以言其功，又示其过，虑世之误用以损人也。
青黛，就是靛蓝的干燥品。《本草》书中辨别说产自波斯国的才是真品，这其实是错误的。它味道苦，性寒，没有毒性。能杀虫、除热，能够消除赤肿和疔毒，兼治金疮（金属利器造成的创伤），其余没有功效。其他书籍极力推崇它，都不值得相信。只有喉痹症，如果是实火引起的，可以内外兼治，而《本草》各书反而没有提及。大概这种药，只能作为佐使药使用。只有杀虫时可以多用，单用一味，用量达到一两，研成粉末，加入神曲三钱、使君子三钱，共同制成丸药，一天服完，虫子就全部死去了。（〔批注〕青黛杀虫方神效，多次尝试都验证了。）其他病症不必多用。因为青黛气寒，会败坏胃气，久服的话，饮食就不能消化了。
有人问青黛是微小的药物，先生也谨慎使用它，是不是太过分了？唉。用药如果有一味失误，就会杀死一个人，何况是阐明《本草》，怎么能轻率地说呢。所以物品虽然极其微小，也不敢忽视。
有人问青黛物品虽然极其微小，张仲景公用它来治疗发斑的伤寒，为什么您没有提到？回答说：我前面说的赤肿，就是发斑的别名，并不是满身肿起称为赤肿。青黛极其微小，却能化解斑疹，因为它善于凉润肺金之气。肺主皮毛，皮肤发出的斑疹，正是肺的火邪所致。然而发斑，又不止于肺火，必定挟带胃火一同发作，青黛又能清胃火，张仲景公因此一物两用，退去肺、胃之火，自然容易解除皮肤的斑疹了。
天麻，味道辛、苦，性平，没有毒性。入肺、脾、肝、胆、心经。能停止昏眩，治疗风邪去除湿气，治疗筋骨拘挛瘫痪，通血脉，开窍，其余的功效都不足以完全相信。这是有损无益的药物，似乎应该删去。然而外邪非常强盛，壅塞在经络血脉之间，除了天麻又用什么来引经，使气血补益攻伐的药物，直接进入患病部位呢。所以必须详细记载。只要了解它的功用，就不会导致误用。总之，天麻最能祛除外来的邪气，驱逐内闭的痰浊，而气血两虚的人，绝对不可以轻易使用。（〔批注〕天麻举世……）
有人问天麻世人大多珍视它，为什么先生唯独告诫人们不要轻用？回答说：我告诫人们不要轻用，是因为天麻实际上只可用来怯除邪气。没有邪气的人使用它，没有不受害的。所以我说明它的功效，又指出它的过失，担心世人误用而损害人体。
Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis) is the dried form of Dian Lan (Indigofera tinctoria). The *Bencao* (Compendium of Materia Medica) states that those produced in Persia are authentic, which is actually an error. It tastes bitter, is cold in nature, and is non-toxic. It can kill parasites and eliminate heat, resolve erythema and swelling as well as carbuncles and toxic sores, and concurrently treat metal weapon injuries (Jinchuang), but has no other efficacy. Other books highly praise it, but these claims are not credible. Only for Hou Bi (sore throat with obstruction), if caused by excess fire, can it be treated both internally and externally, yet various *Bencao* texts fail to mention this. Generally, this substance serves only as an assistant or guide drug (Zuo Shi). It may be used in large doses only for killing parasites: using a single ingredient up to 1 liang (approx. 30-50g depending on historical context), ground into powder, mixed with Shen Qu (Medicated Leaven) 3 qian (approx. 9-15g) and Shijunzi (Quisqualis Fructus) 3 qian, formed into pills, and taken within one day, all parasites will die. ([Commentary] Qingdai parasite-killing formula is miraculous; tested repeatedly with verified results.) For other diseases, it need not be used in large doses. Since Qingdai is cold in nature, it damages Stomach Qi; long-term use prevents digestion of food.
Someone asked: "Qingdai is a minor substance, yet you also use it cautiously; is this not excessive?" Alas! A mistake in even one herb can kill a person, let alone elucidating the *Bencao*; how can one speak lightly? Therefore, although the substance is extremely minute, I dare not neglect it.
Someone asked: "Although Qingdai is extremely minute, Zhang Zhongjing used it to treat Shaoyang disease (Shanghan) with macules (Fabang); why did you not mention this?" I replied: "The 'erythema and swelling' I mentioned earlier is another name for macules; it does not mean the whole body swells up as erythema and swelling. Qingdai is extremely minute but can transform macules because it excels at cooling Lung Metal Qi. The Lung governs skin and hair; macules appearing on the skin are precisely due to Fire in the Lung. However, macules are not solely due to Lung Fire; they must accompany Stomach Fire. Qingdai can also clear Stomach Fire. Thus, Zhang Zhongjing used it for two purposes: retreating Lung and Stomach Fire, thereby easily resolving skin macules."
Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma) tastes pungent and bitter, is neutral in nature, and is non-toxic. It enters the Lung, Spleen, Liver, Gallbladder, and Heart meridians. It can stop dizziness and vertigo, treat wind and remove dampness, cure tendon and bone spasms and paralysis, unblock blood vessels, open orifices, but its other claimed efficacies are not entirely credible. This is a drug that causes harm without benefit and should perhaps be deleted. However, when external pathogens are extremely vigorous and obstructed between the collaterals and blood vessels, what else but Tianma can serve as a guiding drug to direct substances that tonify Qi and Blood or attack pathogens directly into the diseased area? Therefore, it must be recorded in detail. As long as its functions are understood, misuse will be avoided. In short, Tianma is best at expelling external pathogens and driving out internally closed phlegm, but persons with dual deficiency of Qi and Blood must absolutely not use it lightly. ([Commentary] Tianma is universally...)
Someone asked: "People generally treasure Tianma, why do you alone warn against using it lightly?" I replied: "I warn against light use because Tianma can only be used to subdue pathogens. Those without pathogens who use it will inevitably suffer harm. Therefore, I state its merits and point out its faults, fearing that people will misuse it and damage their bodies."