\r连翘\pj217.bmp\r
味苦，气平、微寒。气味俱薄，轻清而浮，升也，阳也。无毒。茎短微赤，叶狭常青
花细瓣深黄，实作房黄黑。
因中片片相比，状如翘应故名。凡用采收，须择地土。生川蜀者，实类椿实，壳小坚（似椿
实未开者，）外完而无跗萼，
剖则中解，气甚芬香，才干便脱茎间
，不击自然落下；生江南者，实若菡萏，壳柔软，外有跗萼抱之，解脉绝无，香气自少，干
久尚着茎上，任击亦不脱离。以此为殊，惟蜀最胜。去梗旋研，入剂方灵。余剩密藏，气味
免失。经入少阴心脏，手足少阳阳明。泻心经客热殊功，降脾胃湿热神效。驱恶痈毒蛊毒，
去寸白虫蛔虫。疮科尝号圣丹、血证每为中使。通月水下五淋，义盖取其结者散之。故此能
散诸经血凝气聚，必用而不可缺也。实人宜用，虚者勿投。连轺系根之名。仲景方云
去热
之。
\r射（音夜）干\pj218.bmp\r
味苦、气平、微温。属金、有木与水、火。阴中阳也。无毒。川泽郊原，随处
生长。叶如翅羽扇，俗呼乌 根。一说∶叶类萱草坚强，根多短须黄黑。花开四种，紫白红
黄。丹溪取紫为真，只因试过有验。三月三日，采根曝干。凡药剂投煎，务米泔浸宿。散结
气旋平痈毒，逐瘀血竟通月经。止喉痹刺疼，驱口热秽臭。去因劳而发之湿热，溃硬肿殊功
；行太阴厥阴之积痰，消突核甚捷。仍治胸满气胀，更疗咳急涎多。
连翘
味苦，气平、微寒。气味都较淡薄，性质轻清而浮升，属于阳。无毒。茎短且微红，叶狭长且四季常青，花细小花瓣深黄，果实呈房状黄黑色。
因为果实内部片片相连，形状像鸟尾的翘羽，所以得名。凡是要使用连翘采收时，必须选择产地。生长在川蜀地区的，果实类似椿树的果实，壳小且坚硬（像未开的椿实），外表完整没有萼片包裹，剖开后中间分开，气味非常芳香，干燥后自然从茎间脱落，不需敲击就会落下；生长在江南地区的，果实像荷花苞，壳柔软，外面有萼片抱持，脉络完全断开，香气较少，干燥后很久还附着在茎上，即使敲击也不脱离。以此作为区别，只有蜀地产的最好。去掉梗后随即研磨，入药方才灵验。剩余的需密封储藏，以免气味散失。它进入少阴心经和手足少阳、阳明经。泻除心经客热功效显著，降脾胃湿热效果神奇。驱除恶性痈毒和蛊毒，去除寸白虫和蛔虫。外科常称它为“圣丹”，血证治疗中常作为使者（引经药）。通月经、下五淋，大概取其“结者散之”的道理。因此它能消散各经的血凝气聚，是必用且不可缺少的药物。实证患者适宜使用，虚证患者不要投用。连轺是根部的名称。张仲景的方子说用它来清热。
射干（音夜）
味苦，气平、微温。属金，兼具木、水、火属性。属于阴中之阳。无毒。生长在川泽郊原，随处生长。叶子像翅膀或羽扇，俗称为乌 根。另一种说法：叶子像萱草但更坚强，根多短须且黄黑。花开四种颜色，紫、白、红、黄。朱丹溪认为紫色的是真品，只因试用过有效。三月三日，采集根部晒干。凡是药剂煎煮，务必用米泔水浸泡过夜。消散结气并迅速平息痈毒，驱逐瘀血并通畅月经。止喉痹刺痛，驱除口热口臭。去除因劳累引发的湿热，溃破硬肿功效显著；运行太阴、厥阴经的积痰，消除突起的核块非常快捷。仍然治疗胸满气胀，更治疗咳嗽急促痰多。
Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus)
Bitter, neutral and slightly cold in nature. The flavor and qi are both thin, light, clear, and floating; it ascends and belongs to Yang. Non-toxic. The stem is short and slightly reddish; the leaves are narrow and evergreen; the flowers are small with deep yellow petals; the fruit is pod-like, yellow-black.
It is named so because its internal segments are adjacent to each other, resembling the quill of a bird's tail. When harvesting for use, one must select the origin. Those grown in Sichuan and Shu resemble Toona seeds, with small, hard shells (resembling unopened Toona seeds), complete exterior without calyxes; when split, they separate in the middle, possessing a very fragrant aroma, and detach naturally from the stems upon drying without needing to be struck; those grown in Jiangnan resemble lotus buds, with soft shells embraced by calyxes, completely severed veins, less fragrance, and remaining attached to the stems even after long drying, not detaching even when struck. This serves as the distinction, with only those from Shu being superior. Remove the pedicels and grind immediately; it becomes effective only when added to prescriptions. Remaining portions should be stored tightly sealed to prevent loss of aroma and qi. It enters the Shaoyin Heart Meridian and the Hand-Foot Shaoyang and Yangming Meridians. It has remarkable efficacy in draining guest-heat from the Heart Meridian and divine effectiveness in descending damp-heat from the Spleen and Stomach. It drives away malignant carbuncles, toxins, and gu-poison; removes Taenia solium (pork tapeworm) and Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworm). In dermatology, it is often called "Holy Cinnabar"; in blood disorders, it often serves as an envoy. It regulates menstruation and treats five types of strangury, likely owing to its property of dispersing stagnation ("dispersing what is knotted"). Therefore, it can disperse blood coagulation and qi accumulation in various meridians; it is essential and indispensable. It is suitable for excess-pattern patients but should not be administered to deficiency-pattern patients. Lianyao refers to the name of the root. Zhang Zhongjing's formulas state it is used to clear heat.
Shegan (Belamcandae Rhizoma)
Bitter, neutral and slightly warm in nature. It belongs to Metal, yet possesses attributes of Wood, Water, and Fire. It is Yang within Yin. Non-toxic. It grows wherever found in riverbanks, marshes, suburbs, and plains. The leaves resemble wings or feather fans, commonly known as Wu Gen. Another view states: the leaves are similar to daylily but stronger, with roots having many short yellow-black fibrils. Flowers bloom in four colors: purple, white, red, and yellow. Zhu Danxi considered purple-flowered ones to be authentic, solely based on successful clinical verification. On the third day of the third lunar month, harvest the rhizomes and dry them in the sun. For all medicinal decoctions, it is imperative to soak the herb overnight in rice-washing water. It dissipates stagnant qi and rapidly resolves carbuncle toxins; expels blood stasis and unblocks menstruation. It relieves throat obstruction and stabbing pain, and驱除s bad breath caused by oral heat. It eliminates damp-heat triggered by fatigue, with special efficacy in suppurating hard swellings; it promotes the movement of accumulated phlegm in the Taiyin and Jueyin meridians, and quickly消解s protruding nodules. It also treats chest fullness and abdominal distension, and further treats urgent coughing with excessive salivation/phlegm.