气平。味甘辛。无毒。主消渴。身大热。呕吐。诸痹。起阴气。解诸毒。
（
葛根气平。禀天秋平之金气。入手太阴肺经。味甘辛无毒。得地金土之味。入足阳明经
燥金
胃。气味轻清。阳也。其主消渴者。葛根辛甘。升腾胃气。气上则津液生也。其主身大热者
。葛根气平。平为秋气。秋气能解大热也。脾有湿热。则壅而呕吐。葛根辛甘。升发胃阳。
胃阳鼓动。则湿热下行而呕吐止矣。诸痹皆起于气血不流通。葛根辛甘和散。气血活。诸痹
自愈也。阴者从阳者也。人生阴气。脾为之原。脾与胃合。辛甘入胃。鼓动胃阳。阳健则脾
阴亦起也。甘者土之冲味。平者金之和气。所以解诸毒也。
葛谷气平味甘。入足阳明胃、手阳明大肠。阴中阳也。阴中之阳为少阳。清轻上达。能
引胃
气上升。所以主下痢十岁以上。阳陷之症也。
制 方:
葛根同香薷、生地。煎服。可以预防热病。同白芍、甘草、山药、白茯、焦米。治痢血
不止
。葛根一味。治中毒。
气温。味苦。无毒。主中风伤寒头痛。温疟发表出汗。去邪热气。止咳逆上气。除
寒热。破症坚积聚。（去节水煮去沫用）
麻黄气温。禀天春和之木气。入足厥阴肝经。味苦无毒。得地南方之火味。入手少阴心
经。
气味轻升。阳也。心主汗。肝主疏泄。入肝入心。故为发汗之上药也。伤寒有五。中风伤寒
者。风伤卫。寒伤营。营卫俱伤之伤寒也。麻黄温以散之。当汗出而解也。温疟。但热不寒
之疟也。温疟而头痛。则阳邪在上。必发表出汗。乃可去温疟邪热之气。所以亦可主以麻黄
也。肺主皮毛。皮毛受寒。则肺伤而咳逆上气之症生矣。麻黄温以散皮毛之寒。则咳逆上气
自平。寒邪郁于身表。身表者。太阳经行之地。则太阳亦病而发热恶寒矣。麻黄温以散寒。
寒去而寒热除矣。症坚积聚者。寒气凝血而成之积也。寒为阴。阴性坚。麻黄苦入心。心主
血。温散寒。寒散血活。积聚自破矣。（根节）气平。味甘无毒。入足太阳脾经、手太阴肺
经
。所以止汗也。
制 方:
麻黄同桂心。治风痹冷痛。同桂枝、甘草、杏仁、生姜、大枣。治伤寒营症。同白芍、
甘草
、炮姜、细辛、苏梗、北味。治肺寒而喘。麻黄根同黄 、牡蛎末。小麦汤下。治自汗。
【葛根】
气性平。味甘、辛。无毒。主治消渴症。身体高热。呕吐。各种痹证。激发阴气。解除各种毒素。
葛根气性平，禀受天空秋季平和的金气，归入手太阴肺经。味甘、辛，无毒，得自大地金土之味，归入足阳明胃经（属燥金）。气味轻清，属于阳。它主治消渴症，是因为葛根辛甘，能升腾胃气，气上升则津液生成。它主治身体高热，是因为葛根气性平，平对应秋气，秋气能解除大热。脾有湿热，就会壅滞导致呕吐。葛根辛甘，能升发胃阳，胃阳鼓动，则湿热下行，呕吐停止。各种痹证都起因于气血不流通。葛根辛甘能和散，气血通畅，各种痹证自然痊愈。阴依附于阳。人身的阴气，以脾为源头。脾与胃相合，辛甘入胃，鼓动胃阳，阳气强健则脾阴也随之兴起。甘是土的中和之味，平是金的调和之气，所以能解除各种毒素。
葛谷（葛根的果实）气性平，味甘，归入足阳明胃经、手阳明大肠经。属于阴中之阳。阴中之阳即为少阳，性质清轻向上通达，能引导胃气上升，所以主治十岁以上因阳气下陷导致的痢疾。
制方：
葛根同香薷、生地黄一起煎服，可以预防热病。同白芍、甘草、山药、白茯苓、炒米一起使用，治疗痢疾出血不止。单用葛根一味药，可治疗中毒。
【麻黄】
气性温。味苦。无毒。主治中风、伤寒引起的头痛。温疟的发汗解表。去除邪热之气。止咳逆上气。消除寒热往来。破除癥坚积聚。（使用时需去节，水煮并撇去浮沫后使用）
麻黄气性温，禀受天空春季温和的木气，归入足厥阴肝经。味苦，无毒，得自大地南方之火味，归入手少阴心经。气味轻扬上升，属于阳。心主管汗液，肝主管疏泄，归入肝和心经，所以是发汗的上等药物。伤寒分为五种，这里的中风伤寒，是指风伤卫气，寒伤营血，营卫俱伤的伤寒。麻黄性温以发散之，应当通过出汗而病解。温疟，是只发热不恶寒的疟疾。温疟伴有头痛，说明阳邪在上，必须发汗解表，才能去除温疟的邪热之气，所以也可以用麻黄来主治。肺主皮毛，皮毛受寒，则肺受伤而产生咳逆上气的症状。麻黄性温以发散皮毛之寒，则咳逆上气自然平息。寒邪郁结于体表，体表是太阳经运行的部位，则太阳经也会生病而出现发热恶寒。麻黄性温以散寒，寒去则寒热消除。癥坚积聚，是由寒气凝结血液而成的积块。寒属阴，阴性质坚硬。麻黄苦味入心，心主血，温散寒气，寒散则血活，积聚自然破除。（麻黄根）气性平，味甘，无毒，归入足太阴脾经、手太阴肺经，所以能止汗。
制方：
麻黄同桂心一起使用，治疗风痹冷痛。同桂枝、甘草、杏仁、生姜、大枣一起使用，治疗伤寒营分病症。同白芍、甘草、炮姜、细辛、紫苏梗、北五味子一起使用，治疗肺寒引起的喘证。麻黄根同龙骨、牡蛎末，用小麦汤送服，治疗自汗。
[Ge Gen (Puerariae Radix)]
Nature: Neutral. Flavor: Sweet, Pungent. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Xiao Ke (Wasting and Thirsting syndrome), severe body heat, vomiting, various Bi syndromes (obstruction syndromes), generates Yin Qi, resolves various toxins.
Ge Gen has a neutral nature, inheriting the autumnal metal qi of heaven, entering the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. It tastes sweet and pungent, non-toxic, deriving from the metal and earth flavors of the earth, entering the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian (associated with Dry Metal). Its aroma and flavor are light and clear, belonging to Yang. Its ability to treat Xiao Ke arises because Ge Gen is pungent and sweet, ascending and raising Stomach Qi; when Qi ascends, Body Fluids are generated. Its ability to treat severe body heat stems from its neutral nature; neutrality corresponds to autumn Qi, and autumn Qi can resolve severe heat. When Spleen possesses damp-heat, it becomes obstructed leading to vomiting. Ge Gen’s pungency and sweetness ascend and generate Stomach Yang; when Stomach Yang stirs, damp-heat descends, and vomiting ceases. Various Bi syndromes originate from the lack of circulation in Qi and Blood. Ge Gen’s pungency and sweetness harmonize and disperse; when Qi and Blood become active, various Bi syndromes heal spontaneously. Yin follows Yang. The source of human Yin Qi is the Spleen. The Spleen and Stomach are exterior-interior paired. Pungent and sweet flavors enter the Stomach, stirring Stomach Yang; when Yang is robust, Spleen Yin also rises. Sweetness is the harmonizing flavor of Earth, and neutrality is the harmonious Qi of Metal; thus, it resolves various toxins.
Ge Gu (the fruit/seed of Ge Gen) has a neutral nature and sweet flavor, entering the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. It belongs to Yang within Yin. Yang within Yin is Shaoyang (Lesser Yang). Its quality is clear and light, ascending and reaching upward, capable of guiding Stomach Qi to rise. Therefore, it treats dysentery in patients over ten years old caused by sinking of Yang Qi.
Prescription Formulation:
Ge Gen decocted with Xiang Ru (Moslae Herba) and Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix) can prevent Heat diseases. Combined with Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), Bai Fu Ling (Poria), and Jiao Mi (Fried Rice), it treats persistent bloody dysentery. Used alone as a single herb, Ge Gen treats poisoning.
[Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba)]
Nature: Warm. Flavor: Bitter. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Headache due to Feng Zhong (Wind Strike) or Shang Han (Cold Damage), sweating for Wen Nue (Warm Malaria), expelling pathogenic heat, stopping cough and rebellious Qi, eliminating alternating chills and fever, breaking down Zheng Jian (masses) and Ji Ju (accumulations). (Instructions: Remove nodes, boil in water, and skim off the foam before use.)
Mahuang has a warm nature, inheriting the spring-like gentle wood qi of heaven, entering the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. It tastes bitter and is non-toxic, deriving from the fire flavor of the southern earth, entering the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. Its aroma and flavor are light and ascending, belonging to Yang. The Heart governs sweat, and the Liver governs dispersion and excretion. Entering the Liver and Heart meridians, it serves as the premier herb for inducing sweating. Shang Han encompasses five types; here, "Feng Zhong Shang Han" refers to wind damaging Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) and cold damaging Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi), representing Shang Han where both Ying and Wei are damaged. Mahuang’s warmth disperses this condition, resolving it through sweating. Wen Nue is malaria characterized by fever without chills. If Wen Nue presents with headache, it indicates Yang pathogens located above; one must induce sweating via the exterior to expel the pathogenic heat of Wen Nue, hence Mahuang is indicated. The Lungs govern the skin and hair. When the skin and hair are affected by cold, the Lungs are injured, resulting in symptoms of cough and rebellious Qi. Mahuang’s warmth disperses the cold in the skin and hair, thereby calming cough and rebellious Qi. Cold pathogens stagnating at the body surface affect the Taiyang Meridian region, causing Taiyang disease manifesting as fever and aversion to cold. Mahuang’s warmth disperses the cold; once the cold is expelled, the alternating chills and fever are eliminated. Zheng Jian and Ji Ju are accumulations formed by cold coagulating blood. Cold is Yin, and Yin nature is firm/hard. Mahuang’s bitterness enters the Heart; the Heart governs blood. Its warmth disperses cold; when cold disperses, blood circulates, and accumulations break down spontaneously. (Mahuang Gen - Ephedrae Radix): Nature neutral, flavor sweet, non-toxic, enters the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian and Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian; therefore, it stops sweating.
Prescription Formulation:
Mahuang combined with Gui Xin (Cinnamomi Ramulus) treats Wind-Bi with cold pain. Combined with Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum), Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), and Da Zao (Jujubae Fructus), it treats Ying-level patterns of Shang Han. Combined with Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Pao Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Preparatum), Xi Xin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), Su Geng (Perillae Caulis), and Bei Wei (Schisandrae Fructus), it treats asthma due to Lung cold. Mahuang Gen combined with Long Gu (Fossilia Ossis Mastodi et Ossis Femoris) and Mu Li (Ostreae Concha), taken with Xia Mai Tang (Triticum Decoction), treats spontaneous sweating.