（山草）泻肠胃热毒
白头翁（专入肠胃）。味苦性寒。何书用此以治痢便脓血。经云。肾欲坚。急食苦以坚
之。痢
则下焦虚损。故以纯苦之剂以坚。如仲景之治挟热下痢之用白头翁汤之属是也。（汤用白头
翁黄连黄柏秦皮。）若使热结不除。则肾愈虚愈解而痢莫愈。又书何以用此以治瘟疟寒热。
齿痛骨痛。鼻衄秃疮疝瘕等症。亦因邪结阳明。服此热解毒清。则肾不燥扰而骨固。（齿属
肾。）胃不受邪而齿安。（龈属阳明。）毒不上侵而衄止。热不内结而疝与瘕皆却。（疝。用此
捣敷。）风无热炽。而小儿头秃得除矣。总皆清解热毒之力也。近根有白茸。得酒良。
（隰草）解胃府热毒并通乳汁
漏芦（专入胃）。味苦而咸。气寒有毒。凡苦则下泄。咸则软坚。寒则胜热。漏芦气味
俱备。
其性专入阳明胃经。故凡痈疽背发。乳汁不通。及预解时行痘毒者。咸须仗此以解毒邪。俾
邪尽从便出而解矣！（诸症非尽热毒而起。不得妄用。）然书又云。遗精尿血能止。亦因毒解
热除自止之意。非因漏芦寓有收涩之力也。但气虚疮疡不起。及孕妇有病者切忌。出闽中。
茎如油麻。枯黑如漆者真。甘草拌连翘为使。
（山草）泻热散结治瘰 等毒
山慈菇（专入肺）。味苦微辛。气寒微毒。功专泻热消结解毒。故凡症患痈疽。无名疔
肿。瘾
疹恶疮。蛇虺齿伤。瘰 结核等症。用此外敷。（醋磨涂。）固可解散。内服亦可调治。总为
结毒散结之方。（普济方治粉滓面 。用山慈菇夜涂旦洗。）但性寒凉。不可过服。根与慈葱
小蒜相类。去毛壳用。
白头翁（专门进入肠胃经）。味道苦，性质寒。为什么有些书籍用此药来治疗痢疾伴有脓血的症状？《内经》说：“肾脏喜欢坚固，应当紧急食用苦味食物来使其坚固。”患痢疾会导致下焦虚损，所以使用纯苦味的药剂来使下焦坚固。例如张仲景治疗伴有热象的下利，使用白头翁汤这类方剂就是这样的道理。（白头翁汤由白头翁、黄连、黄柏、秦皮组成。）如果热邪结聚不能消除，那么肾脏就会越虚越松弛，痢疾也就无法痊愈。另外，书籍中又为何用此药来治疗瘟疫疟疾引起的寒热往来、牙齿疼痛、骨骼疼痛、鼻出血、脱发、秃疮、疝气和瘕积等症状呢？这也是因为邪气结聚在阳明经，服用此药后热毒得以解除，热气清退，肾脏就不会被燥热扰乱而骨骼得以坚固。（牙齿属于肾。）胃不受邪气侵犯而牙齿安宁。（牙龈属于阳明经。）毒邪不上侵而鼻出血停止。热气不在内部结聚而疝气和瘕积都消退。（疝气，可用此药捣碎外敷。）风邪没有炽盛的热象，小儿的头部脱发也就得以消除了。总之，这都是清热解解毒的功效。近根处有白色的茸毛，用酒送服效果良好。
漏芦（专门进入胃经）。味道苦且咸，气性寒，有毒。凡是苦味都能向下泄降，咸味能软化坚硬，寒性能胜过热邪。漏芦的气味兼备这些特性，其药性专门进入阳明胃经。所以凡是痈疽、背部发背、乳汁不通，以及预先解除时行痘疹毒素的情况，都必须依靠此药来解除邪毒，使得邪气完全从大便排出而得到解决！（各种病症并不全是由热毒引起的，不可随意滥用。）然而书中又说，它能止遗精和尿血，也是因为毒解热除后自然停止的意思，并不是因为漏芦含有收敛固涩的力量。但是，对于气虚导致疮疡不起发，以及孕妇患病者，切忌使用。产于福建中部。茎像油麻一样，枯黑如漆的为真品。以甘草拌连翘作为引经药或辅助药。
（山草类）泻热散结治疗瘰疬等毒
山慈菇（专门进入肺经）。味道苦微辛，气性寒，微毒。功效专门在于泻热、消散结块、解毒。所以凡是患有痈疽、无名疔肿、瘾疹恶疮、蛇虫咬伤、瘰疬结核等症状，外用可以涂抹。（用醋磨涂。）确实可以解散；内服也可以调理治疗。总归是散结解毒的方剂。（《普济方》治疗面部粉刺黑头，用山慈菇晚上涂抹早上洗去。）但因其性寒凉，不可过量服用。其根与慈葱、小蒜相似，需去毛壳后使用。
(Mountain Herbs) Purging Heat-Toxin from the Intestines and Stomach
*Polygala tenuifolia* (Baitouweng, 白头翁) [Note: Botanical identification in TCM context often refers to *Pulsatilla chinensis* or related species, but strictly translating the text entity as Baitouweng/Polygala depending on specific lineage. WHO standard for Baitouweng is *Radix Pulsatillae*]. (Specifically enters the Intestine and Stomach meridians). It has a bitter taste and cold nature. Why do some texts use this herb to treat dysentery with pus and blood? The *Classic of Internal Medicine* states: "The Kidney desires firmness; urgently consume bitter substances to firm it." Dysentery causes deficiency and damage in the Lower Jiao (Lower Burner), thus pure bitter agents are used to firm the Lower Jiao. For example, Zhang Zhongjing's treatment of dysentery accompanied by heat using formulas such as *Baitouweng Tang* (Coptis Decoction) follows this principle. (*Baitouweng Tang* consists of *Baitouweng*, *Huanglian*, *Huangbai*, and *Qinpi*.) If the heat accumulation is not eliminated, the Kidney will become increasingly deficient and loose, and the dysentery will not heal. Furthermore, why do other texts use this herb to treat epidemic malaria with alternating chills and fever, toothache, bone pain, epistaxis (nosebleed), alopecia, scrofula-like sores, hernia, and mass accumulations? This is also because pathogenic factors accumulate in the Yangming Meridian. Taking this herb clears heat and detoxifies, preventing the Kidney from being disturbed by dryness-heat, thereby solidifying the bones. (Teeth belong to the Kidney.) The Stomach is not invaded by pathogens, so the teeth remain peaceful. (Gums belong to the Yangming Meridian.) Toxins do not invade upward, so nosebleeds stop. Heat does not accumulate internally, so hernias and masses recede. (For hernia, this herb can be crushed and applied externally.) Wind pathogens lack intense heat, and pediatric scalp alopecia is removed. In summary, these are all effects of clearing heat and resolving toxins. The roots near the base have white down; taking it with wine is beneficial.
(Lowland Herbs) Resolving Stomach-Fu Heat-Toxin and Promoting Lactation
*Rhapontici Rhizoma* (Loulu, 漏芦) [Botanical: *Rhaponticum uniflorum*]. (Specifically enters the Stomach meridian). It has a bitter and salty taste, and a cold nature with toxicity. Generally, bitter flavors drain downward, salty flavors soften hardness, and cold flavors overcome heat. *Loulu* possesses all these flavor and qi properties. Its nature specifically enters the Yangming Stomach Meridian. Therefore, for conditions such as carbuncles and sores, back abscesses, blocked lactation, and preemptively resolving epidemic pox toxins, one must rely on this herb to resolve pathogenic toxins, allowing the pathogens to exit completely through the bowels and be resolved! (Not all symptoms arise from heat-toxin; do not use blindly.) However, texts also state that it can stop seminal emission and hematuria. This is because once the toxin is resolved and heat removed, these symptoms stop naturally; it is not because *Loulu* possesses astringent properties. Nevertheless, it is strictly contraindicated for those with Qi deficiency causing non-suppurating ulcers, and pregnant women should avoid it. It originates from central Fujian. The stems resemble sesame seeds; those that are withered, black, and lacquer-like are authentic. Use licorice root mixed with *Lianqiao* (Forsythia Fruit) as an assistant/guide.
(Mountain Herbs) Purging Heat, Dissipating Nodules, and Treating Scrofula Toxins
*Bletillae Bulbus* (Shancigu, 山慈菇) [Botanical: *Bletilla striata* or *Cremastra appendiculata*]. (Specifically enters the Lung meridian). It has a bitter and slightly acrid taste, and a cold nature with slight toxicity. Its efficacy specializes in purging heat, dissipating nodules, and detoxifying. Therefore, for conditions such as carbuncles and sores, unnamed ding-boils, urticaria and malignant sores, snake and insect bites, and scrofula lymph node tuberculosis, it can be used externally for application. (Grind with vinegar for topical application.) It can indeed dissipate nodules; internal administration can also regulate and treat. It is generally a formula for dissipating nodule-toxins. (*Puji Fang* treats facial acne/blackheads by applying *Shancigu* at night and washing it off in the morning.) However, due to its cold and cooling nature, it should not be taken in excess. Its bulb resembles *Cicong* (likely referring to Allium varieties) and *Xisuan*; remove the hairy shell before use.