今惟用连珠者，然经中不言，此药专于行水攻决为用，入药须斟酌。
葶苈用子。子之味有甜、苦两等，其形则一也。经既言味辛苦，即甜者不复更入药也
。大概治体皆以行水走泄为用，故曰久服令人虚。盖取苦泄之义，其理甚明。《药性论》所
说尽矣，但不当言味酸。
今京、洛间甚多。张仲景《伤寒论》以荛花治利者，以其行水也。水去则利止，其意
如此。然今人用时，当以意斟酌，不可使过与不及也。仍须是有是证者方可用。
叶如大菊，又如艾蒿。八九月有花，大如梧桐子，花淡黄绿，繁茂，圆而覆下，亦
一异也。其香过于菊，行痰水，去头目风。其味甘苦辛，亦走散之药也。其旋花四月五月有
花，别一种，非此花也，第八卷已具。
凡五等，皆一物也，只以大小、长短、似像而名之。后世
补虚寒，则须用附子，仍取其端平而圆、大及半两以上者。其力全不僭。风家即多用天雄，
亦取其大者。以其尖角多热性，不肯就下，故取敷散也。此用乌头、附子之大略如此。余三
等，则量其材而用之。其炮制之法，经方已着。
此乃荀子所说“西方之木，名曰射干”者也。《注》复引《本草》曰∶“不合以射干
为木”。殊不知五行只以水、火、木、金、土而言之，故儒者以草、木皆木也，金、铅皆金
也，粪、土皆土也，灰、火皆火也，水、池皆水也。由是言之，即非佛经所说火宅喻之兽，
及阮公所云临层城者之木。况《本经》亦曰∶“一名草姜”，故知是草无疑。今治肺气、喉
痹为佳。日华子曰∶“大小似高良姜，赤黄色”。此得之。
现在只使用连珠状的甘遂，但经典中并未明确说明这一点。这种药专门用于行水攻决，入药时必须仔细斟酌用量。
葶苈子应当用其种子。种子的味道有甜、苦两种，形状则是一样的。既然经典中说它味辛苦，那么甜味者就不再入药了。大概治疗体证都是以行水走泄为作用，所以说久服会让人虚弱。这是取苦泄的含义，道理非常明白。《药性论》所说的已经很全面了，只是不应当说它味酸。
现在京城、洛阳一带非常多。张仲景在《伤寒论》中用荛花治疗痢疾，是因为它能行水。水去则痢止，意思就是如此。然而现在人使用时，应当用心斟酌，不可使药量过猛或不足。仍然必须是有相应证候的人方可使用。
叶子像大菊花，又像艾蒿。八九月开花，花朵大如梧桐子，花色淡黄绿，繁茂，圆而向下覆盖，这也是一个奇异之处。它的香气超过菊花，能行痰水，去除头目风邪。它的味道甘苦辛，也是走散的药物。它的旋花在四月五月开花，是另一种植物，不是这种花，第八卷已有详细记载。
凡五种，都是同一种东西，只是根据大小、长短、相似的样子来命名它们。后世补虚寒，就必须用附子，仍然选取端正圆润、直径及半两以上者。它的药力完全不会僭越。治风病的人多用天雄，也选取大的。因为它的尖角多热性，不肯下行，所以取敷散之用。这是使用乌头、附子的大略情况。其余三种，则根据其材质来使用。它们的炮制方法，经方中已经注明。
这就是荀子所说的“西方之木，名曰射干”的那种。《注》又引用《本草》说：“不合以射干为木”。却不知道五行只以水、火、木、金、土而言，所以儒者认为草、木都是木，金、铅都是金，粪、土都是土，灰、火都是火，水、池都是水。由此说来，就不是佛经所说火宅喻中的兽，以及阮籍所云临层城者的树。况且《本经》也说：“一名草姜”，所以知道它是草无疑。现在治疗肺气、喉痹效果最佳。日华子说：“大小似高良姜，赤黄色”。这说得对。
Currently, only the bead-like Kansui (Kansui Radix) is used, although the classics do not explicitly state this. This drug is specifically used for promoting water metabolism and attacking accumulation; its dosage in prescriptions must be carefully considered.
Descurainiae Semen (Tinglizi) should use its seeds. The seeds have two tastes: sweet and bitter, while their shape is identical. Since the classics state it tastes pungent and bitter, the sweet variety is no longer used in medicine. Generally, treating physical conditions relies on promoting water metabolism and draining downward, hence it is said that long-term use causes deficiency. This takes the meaning of bitter drainage, and the principle is very clear. What is stated in *Yaoxing Lun* (Treatise on Drug Properties) is comprehensive, except that it should not say it tastes sour.
It is now very abundant in the capital and Luoyang areas. Zhang Zhongjing used Adenophorae Radix (Raohua) to treat dysentery in *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage) because it promotes water metabolism. When water is removed, dysentery stops; this is the intent. However, when used today, one must carefully consider the dosage, avoiding excess or insufficiency. It should only be used for patients presenting with the corresponding syndrome.
The leaves resemble large chrysanthemum or mugwort. Flowers appear in August and September, as large as paulownia seeds, pale yellow-green, lush, round and hanging down, which is also a unique feature. Its fragrance exceeds that of chrysanthemum; it promotes phlegm-fluid metabolism and dispels wind from the head and eyes. Its taste is sweet, bitter, and pungent; it is also a dispersing drug. Its flowers bloom in April and May; this is a different species, not this flower, which is detailed in Volume 8.
Veratri Rhizoma (Lilu) ground into powder, finely mixed, treats equine scabies and itching.
All five types are the same substance, named only by size, length, and resemblance. For later generations tonifying deficiency and cold, Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi) must be used, selecting those that are upright, round, and weigh half tael or more. Its potency does not overact. Those treating wind disorders often use Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix (Tianxiong), also selecting larger ones. Because its pointed tips possess hot nature and do not tend to descend, they are taken for dispersing application. This is the general approach to using Aconiti Radix (Wutou) and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi). The remaining three types are used according to their material quality. Their processing methods are already specified in classical formulas.
This is what Xunzi referred to as "the tree of the West, named Shegan." The commentary cites *Bencao* saying: "It is inappropriate to classify Shegan as a tree." One fails to realize that the Five Elements are discussed only in terms of Water, Fire, Wood, Metal, and Earth; thus Confucians regard grass and trees as Wood, gold and lead as Metal, manure and soil as Earth, ash and fire as Fire, and water and pools as Water. From this perspective, it is neither the beast in the Buddhist parable of the burning house nor the tree mentioned by Ruan Ji near the layered city. Moreover, *Shennong Bencao Jing* states: "Also known as Caojiang," so it is undoubtedly a herb. Currently, it is best for treating Lung Qi issues and throat obstruction. Ri Hua Zi said: "Size similar to Galangal, reddish-yellow." This is accurate.