气寒，味微苦，苦而甘。微寒，味薄气浓，阳中阴也。阴中微阳，大寒。无毒。
入手太阴经之剂。
《象》云∶治肺中湿热，疗上热，目中赤肿，瘀肉壅盛，必用之药。泄肺受火邪上逆于
膈上。补膀胱之寒不足，乃
滋其化源也。
《心》云∶泻肺中之火。
洁古云∶利胸中气，消膈上痰。性苦寒，下痢脓血稠粘，腹疼后重，身热，久不可者。
与芍药、甘草同用。
《珍》云∶除阳有余，凉心去热，通寒格。阴中微阳，酒炒上行，主上部积血，非此不
能除。肺苦气上逆，急食苦以泄之。
《本草》云∶主诸热黄胆，肠 泄痢，逐水，下血闭，恶疮疽蚀，火伤，疗痰热，胃中
热，小腹绞痛。消谷，利小肠，女子血闭，淋露下血，小儿腹痛。
东垣云∶味苦而薄，中枯而飘，故能泻肺火而解肌热，手太阴剂也。细实而中不空者，
治下部妙。
陶隐居云∶色深坚实者好。又治奔豚、脐下热痛。飘与实，高下之分，与枳实、枳壳
同例。黄芩，其子主肠 脓血。
《本草》又云∶得浓朴、黄连，治腹痛；得五味子、牡蒙、牡蛎，令人有子；得黄 、
白蔹、赤小豆，疗鼠 。山茱萸、龙骨为之使。恶葱实。畏丹砂、牡丹、黎芦。
张仲景治伤寒心下痞满，泻心汤四方皆用黄芩，以其去诸热、利小肠故也。又，太阳病
下之，利不止，有葛根黄芩黄连汤。亦主妊娠，安胎散内多用黄芩，今医家常用有效者，因
着之。《千金方》∶巴郡太守奏加减三黄丸，疗男子五劳七伤、消渴、不生肌肉，妇人带
下、手足寒热者。久服之，得行及奔马。甚验。
陶隐居云∶黄芩，圆者名子芩，仲景治杂病方多用之。
气性寒，味微苦，苦中带甘。性质微寒，气味淡薄而气浓，属于阳中兼阴。阴中略带阳，大寒之性。无毒。
归入手太阴肺经的方剂中使用。
李杲（号东垣，此处《象》指张元素或其后学观点，通常《珍珠囊》为张元素，《心》为王好古或李杲心得，此处依原文标注）说：治疗肺中的湿热，治疗上焦热证，眼睛红肿，瘀肉增生壅盛，是必须使用的药物。清泄肺受火邪影响而上逆于膈上的病机。补益膀胱的寒性不足，这是滋生化之源的方法。
王好古（号海藏，此处《心》可能指其著作或心得）说：清泻肺中的火热。
张元素（洁古）说：疏通胸中的气机，消除膈上的痰饮。药性苦寒，适用于痢疾脓血稠粘，腹痛里急后重，身体发热，久治不愈的情况。与芍药、甘草一同使用。
李杲（珍，指《珍珠囊》作者张元素，但此处引文风格似李杲，依原文标注《珍》）说：清除阳气有余，清凉心脏去除热邪，通利寒格。阴中略带阳，酒炒后药性上行，主治上部的积血，不用此药不能清除。肺喜欢气机下行而厌恶气机上逆，急需食用苦味药以泄降肺气。
《本草》说：主治各种热症引起的黄疸，肠鸣泄痢，逐除水饮，通下闭经，治疗恶疮疽蚀，火伤，治疗痰热，胃中热，小腹绞痛。帮助消化谷物，利小肠，治疗女子血闭，淋浊带下出血，小儿腹痛。
李杲（东垣）说：味道苦而淡薄，质地枯槁而轻飘，所以能清泻肺火并解除肌表的热邪，是手太阴肺经的引经药。果实细小且中间充实不空的，治疗下部疾病效果奇妙。
陶弘景（隐居）说：颜色深、质地坚实的好。又用于治疗奔豚气、脐下热痛。轻飘与坚实的区分，就像枳实与枳壳的区别一样。黄芩的种子主治肠中脓血。
《本草》又说：配合厚朴、黄连，治疗腹痛；配合五味子、牡蒙、牡蛎，有助于生育；配合黄芪、白蔹、赤小豆，治疗鼠瘰（淋巴结核）。山茱萸、龙骨作为它的使药。厌恶葱实。畏惧丹砂、牡丹、黎芦。
张仲景治疗伤寒导致的心下痞满，泻心汤四方中都使用黄芩，因为它能去除各种热邪、通利小肠的缘故。另外，太阳病误用下法，导致腹泻不止，有葛根黄芩黄连汤。也主治妊娠病，安胎散中多用黄芩，如今医生常用且有效，因此记录下来。《千金方》记载：巴郡太守奏请加减三黄丸，治疗男子五劳七伤、消渴、肌肉不生，妇人带下、手足寒热等症状。长期服用，能使体力增强如奔跑及骑马般强健。非常灵验。
陶弘景（隐居）说：圆形的黄芩名叫子芩，张仲景治疗杂病的方剂中多使用它。
Qi is cold, taste is slightly bitter, bitter with a sweet aftertaste. Slightly cold in nature, thin in flavor but strong in qi, it belongs to yang containing yin. Yin containing slight yang, greatly cold. Non-toxic.
Enters the Taiyin Lung meridian formulas.
Xiang (Zhang Yuansu or his school) says: Treats damp-heat in the lungs, treats upper jiao heat, redness and swelling of the eyes, overgrowth of fleshy masses; it is an essential herb. It drains the rebellion of fire pathogen affecting the lungs rising to above the diaphragm. It tonifies the deficiency of cold in the Bladder, thereby nourishing the source of transformation.
Xin (Wang Haogu or Li Dongyuan's insights) says: Drains fire in the lungs.
Jiegou (Zhang Yuansu) says: Promotes the movement of qi in the chest, eliminates phlegm above the diaphragm. The nature is bitter and cold, indicated for dysentery with thick and sticky pus and blood, abdominal pain with tenesmus, fever, and chronic cases refractory to treatment. Used together with Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma).
Zhen (Zhang Yuansu's *Zhenzhu Nang*) says: Eliminates excess yang, cools the Heart and removes heat, unblocks cold obstruction. Yin containing slight yang; when stir-fried with wine, its action moves upward, primarily treating accumulation of blood in the upper body; without this herb, it cannot be eliminated. The Lung dislikes rebellion of qi; urgently consume bitter substances to drain it.
*Bencao* says: Primarily treats various heat-induced jaundice, intestinal rumbling and dysentery, expels water retention, promotes menstruation in amenorrhea, treats malignant sores and ulcers, burns, treats phlegm-heat, stomach heat, colic in the lower abdomen. Aids digestion of grains, benefits the Small Intestine, treats female menstrual obstruction, leukorrhea with bleeding, and pediatric abdominal pain.
Dongyuan (Li Dongyuan) says: The taste is bitter and thin, the texture is withered and light, thus it can drain lung fire and resolve muscle-layer heat; it is a guide herb for the Hand-Taiyin Lung meridian. Those that are small, solid, and not hollow inside are excellent for treating diseases of the lower body.
Tao Hongjing (Yinju) says: Those with deep color and solid texture are good. Also treats Ben Tun (fleeing pig qi) and hot pain below the umbilicus. The distinction between light/floating and solid/heavy is analogous to the difference between Zhishi (Immature Bitter Orange Fruit) and Zhike (Bitter Orange Fruit). The seed of Huangqin treats pus and blood in the intestines.
*Bencao* further states: Combined with Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) and Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), it treats abdominal pain; combined with Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus), Mumeng (likely Ophiopogonis Radix or similar, context specific), and Muli (Ostreae Concha), it aids fertility; combined with Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Baijian (Ampelopsis Radix), and Chixiaodou (Adzuki Bean), it treats scrofula (Shu Luo). Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus) and Longgu (Fossilia Ossis Mastodi et Scapulae) serve as its guiding herbs. It is incompatible with Congshi (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus). It fears Dansha (Cinnabaris), Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex), and Lilü (Veratri Rhizoma).
Zhang Zhongjing used Huangqin in all four Xiexin Tang (Drain the Epigastrium Decoctions) formulas to treat epigastric fullness due to Cold-Heat complex in Shanghan (Cold Damage), because it clears various heats and benefits the Small Intestine. Furthermore, in Sunyang Bing (Taiyang Disease) where purgation was incorrectly applied leading to persistent diarrhea, Gegen Huangqin Huanglian Tang (Kudzu, Scutellaria, and Coptis Decoction) is indicated. It also governs pregnancy conditions; An Tai San (Calming the Fetus Powder) uses Huangqin extensively. As modern physicians find it effective, it is recorded here. *Qianjin Fang*: The Governor of Ba Commandate memorialized the modified Sanhuang Wan (Three Yellows Pill) to treat men suffering from Five Exhaustions and Seven Injuries, Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst), and failure to build muscle; and women with leukorrhea and alternating cold and heat in hands and feet. Long-term consumption results in stamina comparable to running and horseback riding. It is highly effective.
Tao Hongjing (Yinju) says: Round-shaped Huangqin is named Ziqin (Son Scutellaria); Zhang Zhongjing used it frequently in formulas for miscellaneous diseases.