味辛寒。主症瘕，积聚结气，水饮所结之疾。饮食寒热，破坚逐邪，亦皆水气之疾。
通利水道。肺气降则水道自通。
葶苈滑润而香，专泻肺气，肺为水源，故能泻肺，即能泻水。凡积聚寒热从水气来者，
此药主之。大黄之泻从中焦始，葶苈之泻从上焦始。故《伤寒论》中承气汤用大黄，而陷胸
汤用葶苈也。
味咸温。主结气胁下满，惊悸，除中上二焦结闭之疾。除水，咸能润下。去五脏间
寒热，五脏留结不通所生之寒热。补中下气，开气下达，皆咸降之功。
此以味为治，凡草木之味，咸者绝少。咸皆治下，咸而能治上焦者尤少。惟此味咸而治
上，为上中二焦之药。咸能软坚，故凡上中二焦凝滞坚结之疾，皆能除之。凡体轻气芳之药，
往
往能消之，疾无不因郁遏而成。《内经》云∶火郁则发之。轻芬之体能发散，故寒热除也。
味辛寒。主蛊毒，味烈杀虫。咳逆，泄痢肠 ，除湿热之疾。头疡，疥瘙，恶疮，杀
诸虫毒，去死肌。皆杀虫之功。
凡有毒之药，皆得五行刚暴偏杂之性以成。人身气血，乃天地中和之气所结，故服毒药
者，
往往受伤。疮疥等疾，久而生虫，亦与人身气血为类，故人服之，而有伤气血者，必能杀虫
。惟用之得其法，乃有利而无弊，否则必至于两伤，不可不慎也。又毒之解毒，各有所宜。
如燥毒之药，能去湿邪；寒毒之药，能去火邪。辨证施治，神而明之，非仅以毒攻毒四字，
可了其义也。
味辛，性寒。主治症瘕（腹内结块，推之不移）、积聚（气滞血瘀形成的包块）及因气机郁结、水饮停聚所致的疾病。饮食冷热不调引起的病症，以及破除坚积、驱逐邪气的情况，大多也属于水气为患的疾病。
葶苈子质地滑润且芳香，专门泻泄肺气。肺为水之上源，所以能泻肺气，也就能够泻水湿。凡是积聚、寒热症状由水气引发的，此药为主治药物。大黄的泻下作用从中焦开始，葶苈子的泻下作用从上焦开始。因此，《伤寒论》中的承气汤使用大黄，而陷胸汤使用葶苈子。
味咸，性温。主治气机郁结导致的胁下胀满、惊悸，消除中上二焦气机闭塞不通的疾病。去除水湿，因为咸味具有润下的特性。清除五脏之间的寒热病邪，即消除因五脏气机留滞结聚不通所产生的寒热。补益中气并降逆气，使气机下行，这都是咸味药物沉降功效的体现。
这是以味道来阐述治疗原理。凡草木类药物，具有咸味的极少。咸味药物多用于治疗下部疾病，而既能咸又能治疗上焦疾病的尤为少见。只有此药味咸却能治疗上部，是作用于上、中二焦的药物。咸味能软化坚硬之物，所以凡是上、中二焦凝滞坚结的疾病，都能消除。凡是体质轻清、气味芳香的药物，往往能消散此类疾病，因为疾病无不因气机郁遏而成。《内经》说：“火郁结则发散它。”轻清芬芳的药体能发散郁结，所以寒热得以消除。
味辛，性寒。主治蛊毒（一种严重的中毒或寄生虫病），因其药性猛烈能杀虫。治疗咳嗽气逆、腹泻痢疾及肠鸣腹痛，清除湿热病邪。治疗头部疮疡、疥癣瘙痒、恶疮，杀灭各种虫毒，去除坏死肌肉。这些都是杀虫的功效。
凡是带有毒性的药物，都是凭借五行中刚烈暴戾、偏杂的特性形成的。人身的气血，是由天地中和之气凝结而成，所以服用毒药的人，往往会受到伤害。疮疥等疾病，日久滋生虫体，也与人身气血同类，所以人服用这类药物后，在伤害自身气血的同时，必然也能杀死虫体。只要使用方法得当，就有利而无弊；否则必然导致两败俱伤，不可不谨慎。另外，解毒的方法各有适宜之处。如燥性有毒的药物，能去除湿邪；寒性有毒的药物，能去除火邪。必须辨证施治，灵活掌握，不能仅仅用“以毒攻毒”这四个字就能概括其全部含义。
Pungent in flavor, cold in nature. Primarily treats zhizheng (abdominal masses that are fixed and immovable), jijuzhi (accumulations formed by qi stagnation and blood stasis), and diseases resulting from qi constraint and fluid retention. Diseases caused by dietary imbalances of hot and cold, as well as those requiring the breaking of hardness and expulsion of pathogens, are mostly also disorders related to water-qi.
It promotes the free flow of the water passages. When Lung Qi descends, the water passages naturally become unobstructed.
Tingli (Periplocae Semen) is slippery, moist, and fragrant; it specifically drains Lung Qi. Since the Lung is the source of water, draining Lung Qi equates to draining water. For any accumulation or cold-heat conditions originating from water-qi, this herb is the primary treatment. The purgative action of Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) begins in the Middle Jiao, whereas the purgative action of Tingli begins in the Upper Jiao. Therefore, in the *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage), Chengqi Tang (Gut-Clearing Decoction) uses Dahuang, while Xiantong Tang (Sinking Chest Decoction) uses Tingli.
Salty in flavor, warm in nature. Primarily treats fullness under the ribs due to qi constraint, palpitations with fright, and eliminates disorders of blockage in the Upper and Middle Jiao. It removes water-dampness because salty flavors have a moistening and downward-draining property. It clears cold-heat pathogenic factors between the five Zang organs, specifically those generated by stagnation and blockage within the Zang organs. It tonifies the Middle and directs Qi downward, opening the pathways for Qi to descend; these are all effects of the descending nature of salty flavors.
This section explains treatment principles based on flavor. Among herbal medicines, those with a salty flavor are extremely rare. Salty flavors generally treat lower body disorders, and those that can treat the Upper Jiao are even rarer. Only this herb, being salty yet treating the upper region, acts upon the Upper and Middle Jiao. Salty flavors can soften hardness; thus, it can eliminate stagnation and hard accumulations in the Upper and Middle Jiao. Herbs that are light in texture and fragrant in aroma often resolve such conditions, as diseases invariably arise from Qi constraint. The *Neijing* (Inner Canon) states: "For Fire constrained, disperse it." The light and fragrant nature of these herbs facilitates dispersion, thereby eliminating cold and heat.
Pungent in flavor, cold in nature. Primarily treats gudú (severe toxicity or parasitic disease); its potent flavor allows it to kill parasites. It treats cough and rebellious Qi, diarrhea and dysentery with abdominal pain, and clears damp-heat disorders. It treats head sores, scabies and pruritus, and malignant ulcers; it kills various insect toxins and removes necrotic tissue. These are all functions of killing parasites.
All toxic drugs acquire their nature from the rigid, violent, and mixed attributes of the Five Elements. Human Qi and Blood are condensed from the harmonious Qi of Heaven and Earth; therefore, consuming toxic drugs often causes injury. Sores and scabies may breed insects over time, which are similar to human Qi and Blood; thus, when humans consume these drugs, the damage inflicted on human Qi and Blood inevitably kills the parasites. If used correctly, there will be benefits without drawbacks; otherwise, it leads to mutual injury, so caution is essential. Furthermore, methods of detoxification vary according to suitability. For instance, drying toxic drugs can remove damp pathogens, while cold toxic drugs can remove fire pathogens. Treatment must be based on syndrome differentiation and applied with flexibility; the meaning cannot be fully grasped merely by the phrase "using toxicity to attack toxicity."