气味辛、温，无毒。主咳逆上气，头痛脑动，百节拘挛，风湿痹痛，死肌。久服
明目，利九窍，轻身长年。
张隐庵曰∶细辛气味辛温，一茎直上，其色赤黑，禀少阴泉下之水阴，而上交于太阳之
药也。少阴为水脏，太阳为水腑，水气相通行于皮毛，内合于肺；若循行失职，则病咳逆上
气，而细辛能治之。太阳之脉，起于目内 ，从巅络脑；若循行失职，则病头痛脑动，而细
辛亦能治之。太阳之气主皮毛，少阴之气主骨髓，少阴之气不合太阳，则风湿相侵。痹于筋
骨，则百节拘挛；痹于腠理，则为死肌；而细辛皆能治之。其所以能治之者，以气胜之也。
久服明目利九窍者，水精之气濡于空窍也；九窍利，则轻身而延年矣。
又曰∶宋元佑·陈承谓细辛单用末，不可过一钱，多则气闭不通而死。近医多以此语忌
用，而不知辛香之药岂能闭气？上品无毒之药何不可多用？方书之言，类此者不少。学人不
详
察而遵信之，伊芳黄之门，终身不能入矣！
气味苦、平，无毒。主心腹肠胃中结气，饮食积聚，寒热邪气，推陈致新。久服
轻身、明目、益精。（按∶经文不言发汗，仲圣用至八两之多，可知性纯，不妨多服，功缓
必须重用也。）
叶天士曰∶柴胡气平，禀天中正之气。味苦无毒，得地炎上之火味。胆者，中正之官，
相火之府；所以独入足少阳胆经，气味轻升，阴中之阳，乃少阳也。其主心腹肠胃中结气者
，心腹肠胃，五脏六腑也。脏腑共十二经，凡十一脏，皆取决于胆。柴胡轻清，升达胆气，
胆气条达，则十一脏从之宣化，故心腹肠胃中凡有结气皆能散之也。其主饮食积聚者，盖饮
食入胃散精于肝，肝之疏散又借少阳胆为生发之主也。柴胡升达胆气，则肝能散精，而饮食
积聚自下矣。少阳经行半表半里，少阳受邪，邪并于阴则寒；邪并于阳则热。柴胡和解少阳
，故主寒热之邪气也。春气一至，万物俱新。柴胡得天地春升之性，入少阳以生气血，故主
推陈致新也。久服清气上行，则阳气日强，所以轻身。五脏六腑之精华上奉，所以明目。清
气上行，则阴气下降，所以益精。精者，阴气之英华也。
【细辛】
气味：辛、温，无毒。主治咳嗽气逆，头痛脑动（头部胀痛跳动），全身关节拘挛抽搐，风湿痹痛，肌肉枯死僵硬。长期服用可明目，通利九窍，使身体轻便并延长寿命。
张隐庵说：细辛气味辛温，茎干直立向上，颜色赤黑，禀受少阴肾经泉下之水阴之气，而上交于太阳膀胱经的药物。少阴肾为水脏，太阳膀胱为水腑，水气在皮毛间通行，内合于肺；如果循行功能失职，就会发生咳嗽气逆的病证，而细辛能治疗它。太阳经脉，起于目内眦，从头顶联络脑部；如果循行功能失职，就会发生头痛脑动的病证，而细辛也能治疗它。太阳之气主管皮毛，少阴之气主管骨髓，少阴之气不合于太阳，则风湿之邪相互侵扰。痹阻于筋骨，就会导致全身关节拘挛；痹阻于腠理，就会形成死肌；而细辛都能治疗它。之所以能治疗这些病症，是因为以气胜邪。长期服用能明目、通利九窍，是因为水精之气滋润了空窍；九窍通畅，就能使身体轻便并延年益寿。
又说：宋代元佑年间陈承认为，细辛单用粉末，不可超过一钱，多了会导致气闭不通而死。近代医生多因这句话忌讳使用，却不知道辛香类药物岂能闭塞气机？上品无毒的药物为何不能多用？方书中的言论，像这样的不少。学者如果不详细考察就盲目遵信，那就永远无法进入医学的大门了！
【柴胡】
气味：苦、平，无毒。主治心腹肠胃中的结滞之气，饮食积聚，寒热邪气，推陈致新（去除陈旧，生成新物）。长期服用可使身体轻便、明目、益精。（按：经文没有提到发汗，张仲景用到八两之多，可知其药性纯正，不妨多服，功效缓和必须重用。）
叶天士说：柴胡气平，禀受天地中正之气。味苦无毒，得大地炎上之火味。胆是中正之官，相火之府；所以独入足少阳胆经，气味轻清上升，属于阴中之阳，即是少阳。它主治心腹肠胃中的结滞之气，心腹肠胃涵盖五脏六腑。脏腑共有十二经，凡十一脏的功能都取决于胆。柴胡轻清，升达胆气，胆气条达舒畅，则十一脏随之宣通化生，所以心腹肠胃中凡是结滞之气都能消散。它主治饮食积聚，大概因为饮食入胃后散精于肝，肝的疏散功能又借助少阳胆作为生发的主体。柴胡升达胆气，则肝能散精，饮食积聚自然下行。少阳经行于半表半里，少阳受邪，邪气并入阴分则恶寒；邪气并入阳分则发热。柴胡和解少阳，所以主治寒热邪气。春气一到，万物更新。柴胡得天地春升之性，入少阳以生气血，所以主治推陈致新。长期服用清气上行，则阳气日渐强盛，所以身体轻便。五脏六腑的精华上奉，所以明目。清气上行，则阴气下降，所以益精。精，是阴气的英华。
[Asarum]
Odor and Flavor: Acrid, warm, non-toxic. Mainly treats cough with rebellious Qi (Ke Ni Shang Qi), headache with throbbing in the brain (Tou Tong Nao Dong), spasms and contractures of all joints (Bai Jie Ju Luan), bi-syndrome pain due to wind-dampness (Feng Shi Bi Tong), and necrotic muscle tissue (Si Ji). Long-term use brightens the eyes, benefits the nine orifices (Jiu Qiao), lightens the body, and prolongs life.
Zhang Yin'an stated: Asarum has an acrid and warm flavor. Its stem grows straight upward, and its color is reddish-black. It inherits the water-yin energy from the springs of the Shaoyin Kidney channel and communicates upward with the Taiyang Bladder channel. The Shaoyin Kidney is the Water Organ, and the Taiyang Bladder is the Water Bowel. Water Qi circulates through the skin and hair and internally connects with the Lung; if this circulation fails, it results in cough with rebellious Qi, which Asarum can treat. The Taiyang meridian originates at the inner canthus of the eye and links to the brain via the vertex; if its circulation fails, it results in headache with throbbing in the brain, which Asarum also treats. The Qi of Taiyang governs the skin and hair, while the Qi of Shaoyin governs the bone marrow. If Shaoyin Qi does not harmonize with Taiyang, wind-damp pathogens invade mutually. When bi-occlusion affects tendons and bones, it causes spasms and contractures of all joints; when it affects the interstices (Cou Li), it leads to necrotic muscle; Asarum can treat both. The reason for its efficacy is that it overcomes pathogenic factors with its Qi. Long-term use brightens the eyes and benefits the nine orifices because the essence of water nourishes the hollow orifices; when the nine orifices are unobstructed, the body becomes light and lifespan is extended.
It is further said: Chen Cheng of the Yuanyou era in the Song Dynasty stated that when used alone as a powder, Asarum should not exceed one qian (approx. 3-5g); excessive amounts cause Qi closure leading to death. Modern physicians often avoid using it due to this statement, failing to realize how acrid-aromatic herbs could close Qi? Why cannot high-grade non-toxic herbs be used in larger doses? There are many such statements in medical formularies. Scholars who do not investigate carefully but blindly follow them will never enter the gate of medicine!
[Bupleurum]
Odor and Flavor: Bitter, neutral, non-toxic. Mainly treats knotted Qi in the heart, abdomen, intestines, and stomach; food stagnation; cold and heat pathogens; pushes out the old and brings forth the new (Tui Chen Zhi Xin). Long-term use lightens the body, brightens the eyes, and benefits Jing (Essence). (Note: The classic text does not mention inducing sweating. Zhang Zhongjing used up to eight liang, indicating its nature is pure and safe for frequent use; since its action is slow, heavy dosage is required.)
Ye Tianshi stated: Bupleurum has a neutral Qi, inheriting the central and upright Qi of Heaven and Earth. Its bitter flavor is non-toxic, deriving from the fire-flavor of the earth rising upwards. The Gallbladder is the official of centrality and uprightness, and the residence of Ministerial Fire; thus, it uniquely enters the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder channel. Its odor and flavor are light and ascending, representing Yang within Yin, which is Shaoyang. It treats knotted Qi in the heart, abdomen, intestines, and stomach. The heart, abdomen, intestines, and stomach encompass the Zang and Fu organs. There are twelve meridians connecting these organs, and the functions of eleven organs depend on the Gallbladder. Bupleurum is light and clear, ascending and promoting Gallbladder Qi. When Gallbladder Qi flows freely, the eleven organs follow in their dissemination and transformation; thus, any knotted Qi in the heart, abdomen, intestines, and stomach can be dispersed. Regarding food stagnation, food entering the stomach disperses its essence to the Liver, and the Liver's dispersing function relies on the Shaoyang Gallbladder as the master of growth and generation. Bupleurum ascends and promotes Gallbladder Qi, enabling the Liver to disperse essence, so food stagnation naturally descends. The Shaoyang meridian travels between the exterior and interior. When Shaoyang is invaded by pathogens, if the pathogen merges with Yin, there is chills; if it merges with Yang, there is fever. Bupleurum harmonizes Shaoyang, thus treating cold and heat pathogens. When Spring Qi arrives, all things are renewed. Bupleurum possesses the spring-rising nature of Heaven and Earth, enters Shaoyang to generate Blood and Qi, thus treating the pushing out of the old and bringing forth of the new. Long-term use allows Clear Qi to ascend, strengthening Yang Qi daily, hence lightening the body. The essence of the Zang and Fu organs is offered upwards, hence brightening the eyes. As Clear Qi ascends, Yin Qi descends, hence benefiting Jing. Jing is the brilliant essence of Yin Qi.