气平。味苦。无毒。主心腹肠胃中结气。饮食积聚。寒热邪气。推陈致新。久服轻
身。明目益精。
柴胡气平。禀天中正之气。味苦无毒。得地炎上之火味。胆者中正之官。相火之腑。所
以独
入足少阳胆经。气味轻升。阴中之阳。乃少阳也。其主心腹肠胃中结气者。心腹肠胃。五脏
六腑也。脏府共十二经。凡十一脏皆取决于胆。柴胡轻清。升达胆气。胆气条达。则十一脏
从之宣化。故心腹肠胃中。凡有结气。皆能散之也。其主饮食积聚者。盖饮食入胃散精于肝
。肝之疏散。又借少阳胆为生发之主也。柴胡升达胆气。则肝能散精。而饮食积聚自下矣。
少阳经行半表半里。少阳受邪。邪并于阴则寒。邪并于阳则热。柴胡和解少阳。故主寒热之
邪气也。春气一至。万物俱新。柴胡得天地春升之性。入少阳以生气血。故主推陈致新也。
久服清气上行。则阳气日强。所以身轻。五脏六腑之精华上奉。所以明目。清气上行。则
阴气下降。所以益精。精者阴气之英华也。
制 方
柴胡同人参、半夏、黄芩、甘草、大枣、生姜。名小柴胡汤。治少阳寒热。同白芍、甘
草、
枳实。名四逆散。治胸胁痛。四肢厥冷。同人参、升麻、黄 、甘草、归身、白术、广皮、
生姜、大枣。名补中益气汤。治劳伤倦怠。同人参、黄 、白术、甘草、升麻、白茯、泽泻、
葛根、神曲。治暑伤元气。同升麻、葛根等。能升阳散火。同白芍、丹皮、山栀、甘草、
白茯、白术、广皮、归身。名逍遥散。治肝胆郁火。
气味平和。味道苦。没有毒性。主治心腹肠胃中的气机郁结。饮食停滞积聚。寒热邪气。推除陈腐。生成新气。长期服用能使人身体轻健。视力明亮。精力充沛。
柴胡气味平和，禀受天地中正之气。味道苦且无毒，获得大地炎上之火的味道。胆被称为中正之官，是相火所在的腑。因此柴胡单独进入足少阳胆经。其气味轻扬上升，属于阴中之阳，正是少阳的特性。它主治心腹肠胃中气机郁结的原因在于：心腹肠胃涵盖五脏六腑。脏腑共有十二经脉，所有十一个脏腑的功能都取决于胆。柴胡质地轻清，能升发通达胆气。胆气条达舒畅，则其余十一个脏腑随之宣通化生。所以，心腹肠胃中凡是存在的气机郁结，都能被疏散。它主治饮食停滞积聚的原因在于：饮食进入胃中后，将精微物质散布于肝。肝的疏泄功能，又借助少阳胆作为生发之主。柴胡升发通达胆气，则肝能够散精，饮食停滞积聚自然下行消散。
少阳经循行于半表半里之间。少阳经受邪，邪气并入阴分则表现为寒，邪气并入阳分则表现为热。柴胡能和解少阳，所以主治寒热往来的邪气。春气一到，万物更新。柴胡具备天地春季升发之性，进入少阳以化生气血，所以主要起到推陈致新的作用。长期服用使清气上行，阳气日益强盛，所以身体轻健。五脏六腑的精华上奉于心目，所以视力明亮。清气上行，则阴气下降，所以精力充沛。精，是阴气的精华所在。
制方应用：
柴胡与人参、半夏、黄芩、甘草、大枣、生姜同用，名为小柴胡汤。治疗少阳证的寒热往来。与白芍、甘草、枳实同用，名为四逆散。治疗胸胁疼痛、四肢厥冷。与人参、升麻、黄芪、甘草、当归身、白术、广陈皮、生姜、大枣同用，名为补中益气汤。治疗劳倦内伤导致的倦怠乏力。与人参、黄芪、白术、甘草、升麻、茯苓、泽泻、葛根、神曲同用。治疗暑热损伤元气。与升麻、葛根等同用，能升举阳气、发散郁火。与白芍、牡丹皮、山栀、甘草、茯苓、白术、广陈皮、当归身同用，名为逍遥散。治疗肝胆郁火。
Nature: Neutral. Flavor: Bitter. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Primarily treats qi stagnation in the heart, abdomen, and intestines/stomach; accumulation of food and fluids; pathogenic cold and heat. It pushes out the old and brings forth the new. Long-term use makes the body light and agile, improves vision, and benefits essence (Jing).
Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix) has a neutral nature, inheriting the central and upright Qi of Heaven and Earth. Its bitter flavor and non-toxicity derive from the fiery upward nature of Earth's Fire. The Gallbladder is referred to as the "Official of Uprightness" and is the Fu-organ of Ministerial Fire. Therefore, Chai Hu specifically enters the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. Its medicinal properties are light and ascending, representing Yang within Yin, which corresponds to Shaoyang. Regarding its ability to treat qi stagnation in the heart, abdomen, and intestines/stomach: the heart, abdomen, and intestines/stomach encompass the Zang and Fu organs. There are twelve meridians connecting these organs, and it is said that all eleven Zang-Fu organs depend on the Gallbladder for decision-making. Chai Hu is light and clear, capable of ascending and unblocking Gallbladder Qi. When Gallbladder Qi flows freely, the other eleven organs follow suit in their dissemination and transformation. Thus, any qi stagnation in the heart, abdomen, and intestines/stomach can be dispersed. Regarding its ability to treat food accumulation: when food enters the Stomach, its refined essence is distributed to the Liver. The Liver's dispersing function relies on the Shaoyang Gallbladder as the master of growth and generation. By ascending and unblocking Gallbladder Qi, Chai Hu enables the Liver to distribute essence, causing food accumulations to descend and dissipate naturally.
The Shaoyang Meridian travels through the half-exterior and half-interior regions. When Shaoyang is affected by pathogens, if the pathogen merges with Yin, chills occur; if it merges with Yang, fever occurs. Chai Hu harmonizes Shaoyang, thus treating pathogenic chills and fevers. When Spring Qi arrives, all things renew themselves. Chai Hu possesses the ascending nature of Spring Qi from Heaven and Earth, entering Shaoyang to generate Qi and Blood, thereby primarily promoting the removal of the old and the generation of the new. Long-term use causes Clear Qi to ascend, strengthening Yang Qi daily, which results in a light and agile body. The essence of the Zang and Fu organs ascends to nourish the eyes, resulting in clear vision. As Clear Qi ascends, Yin Qi descends, thereby benefiting Essence. Essence is the brilliant essence of Yin Qi.
Formulation Applications:
When combined with Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Banxia (Pinelliae Tuber), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Gancao (Licorice Root), Dazao (Jujubae Fructus), and Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), it is named Xiaochaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction). It treats Shaoyyang syndrome characterized by alternating chills and fever.
When combined with Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Gancao (Licorice Root), and Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), it is named Sini San (Reverse Extremities Powder). It treats chest and hypochondriac pain and cold extremities.
When combined with Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Gancao (Licorice Root), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Guangpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), and Dazao (Jujubae Fructus), it is named Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction). It treats fatigue and lassitude due to labor injury.
When combined with Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Gancao (Licorice Root), Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), Fuling (Poria), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), and Shenqu (Massa Medicata Fermentata), it treats Yuanqi (Original Qi) damaged by summerheat.
Combined with Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) and Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), etc., it can raise Yang Qi and disperse fire.
When combined with Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Danpi (Moutan Cortex), Shanzhi (Gardeniae Fructus), Gancao (Licorice Root), Fuling (Poria), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Guangpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), and Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), it is named Xiaoyao San (Free Wanderer Powder). It treats stagnant fire in the Liver and Gallbladder.