气味辛、平，无毒。主伤寒烦热，淋沥邪气，疝瘕，喉痹，乳难，金疮，风痉。
陈修园曰∶贝母气平味辛，气味俱属于金，为手太阴、手阳明药也。其主伤寒烦热者，
取西
方之金气以除酷暑；《伤寒论》以白虎汤命名，亦此意也。其主淋沥邪气者，肺之治节行于
膀胱，则邪热之气除，而淋沥愈矣。疝瘕为肝木受病，此则金平木也。喉痹为肺窍内闭，此
能宣通肺气也。乳少为阳明之汁不通，金疮为阳明之经脉受伤，风痉为阳明之宗筋不利，贝
母清润而除热，所以统治之。今人以主治痰嗽，大失经旨。
且李士材谓∶贝母主燥痰，半夏主湿痰，二物如水炭之反，皆臆说也。
气味苦、寒，无毒。主消渴身热，烦满大热，补虚安中，续绝伤。
陈修园曰∶栝蒌根气寒，禀天冬寒之水气而入肾与膀胱；味苦无毒，得地南方之火味而
入心
。火盛烁液则消渴，火浮于表则身热，火盛于里则烦满，大热火盛则阴虚，阴虚则中失守而
不安，栝蒌根之苦寒清火，可以统主之。其主续绝伤者，以其蔓延能通阴络而续其绝也。实
名栝蒌，《金匮》取治胸痹，《伤寒论》取治结胸，盖以能开胸前之结也。
张隐庵曰∶半夜起阴气于脉外，上与阳明相合而成火土之燥。花粉起阴津于脉中，天癸
相合
而能滋其燥金。《伤寒》、《金匮》诸方，用半夏以助阳明之气，渴者燥热太过，即去半夏
易花粉以滋之。圣贤立加减之方，必推物理所以然。
【贝母】
气味辛、平，无毒。主治伤寒引起的烦热，淋沥（小便淋漓不畅）邪气，疝瘕（腹内结块），喉痹（咽喉闭塞不通），乳汁难下，金疮（金属利器造成的创伤），风痉（因风邪引起的痉挛抽搐）。
陈修园说：贝母气平味辛，气味都归属于金，是手太阴肺经和手阳明大肠经的药物。它主治伤寒烦热的，是取西方金气来清除酷暑；《伤寒论》中命名为白虎汤（由石膏、知母等组成的清热方剂），也是这个意思。它主治淋沥邪气的，是因为肺的治节功能行于膀胱，那么邪热之气就被清除，淋沥也就痊愈了。疝瘕是肝木受病，这里则是用金来平抑木。喉痹是肺窍内部闭塞，这里能宣通肺气。乳汁少是因为阳明经的汁液不通，金疮是阳明经的经脉受伤，风痉是阳明经的宗筋不利，贝母清润而能除热，所以能统管治疗这些病症。现在的人把主治痰嗽作为其主要功效，大大偏离了经典的本意。
况且李士材说：贝母主治燥痰，半夏主治湿痰，这两样药就像水和炭一样相反，都是主观臆断的说法。
【栝蒌根】
气味苦、寒，无毒。主治消渴（糖尿病类症状）、身热、烦满大热，补虚安中，续绝伤（接续断裂损伤）。
陈修园说：栝蒌根气寒，禀受天冬寒之水气而进入肾与膀胱；味苦无毒，得地南方之火味而进入心。火盛灼烧津液则导致消渴，火浮于体表则导致身热，火盛于体内则导致烦满，大热火盛则导致阴虚，阴虚则中焦失守而不安宁，栝蒌根的苦寒能清火，可以统管主治这些病症。它主治续绝伤的，是因为它能蔓延通达阴络从而接续其断裂。其实名栝蒌，《金匮要略》用它治疗胸痹（胸部闷痛），《伤寒论》用它治疗结胸（胸胁硬满疼痛），大概是因为它能开通胸前的结滞。
张隐庵说：半夜时阴气从脉外升起，上与阳明相合而成火土之燥。花粉（栝蒌根的别名）从脉中升起阴津，与天癸相合而能滋润其燥金。《伤寒论》、《金匮要略》中的各方，用半夏来助长阳明之气，如果口渴是因为燥热太过，就去掉半夏换成花粉来滋润它。圣贤设立加减的方剂，必定推究事物原理之所以然。
[Bei Mu (Fritillariae Bulbus)]
Taste: Acrid, Neutral. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Mainly treats vexation and heat in Shanghan (Cold Damage), lingering pathogenic qi in strangury (dysuria with dribbling), shan jia (abdominal masses), hou bi (obstruction of the throat), difficulty in lactation, jin chuang (traumatic wounds caused by metal weapons), and feng jing (wind-induced spasms).
Chen Xiuyuan stated: Bei Mu has a neutral Qi and acrid taste; both its Qi and taste belong to Metal, making it a herb for the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Its treatment of vexation and heat in Shanghan is derived from taking the Metal Qi of the West to eliminate summer heat; this is also the meaning behind naming the Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) in the *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage). Its treatment of lingering pathogenic qi in strangury occurs because the regulation function of the Lung acts upon the Bladder, thereby eliminating pathogenic heat and curing strangury. Shan jia is a disease of Liver Wood; here, Metal pacifies Wood. Hou bi is an internal obstruction of the Lung orifice; this herb can diffuse and unblock Lung Qi. Scanty milk secretion is due to the blockage of fluids in the Yangming Meridian; jin chuang is an injury to the meridians of the Yangming Meridian; feng jing is a dysfunction of the Zong Jin (major tendons) of the Yangming Meridian. Bei Mu is clear, moistening, and eliminates heat, thus governing the treatment of all these conditions. Modern people mistakenly consider treating phlegm-cough as its primary indication, which greatly deviates from the original intent of the classic.
Furthermore, Li Shicai claimed that Bei Mu treats dry-phlegm while Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) treats damp-phlegm, stating that the two herbs are as opposite as water and charcoal. This is merely a subjective conjecture.
[Gua Lou Gen (Trichosanthis Radix)]
Taste: Bitter, Cold. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Mainly treats xiao ke (wasting-thirst syndrome), body heat, vexation and fullness with severe heat, tonifying deficiency, calming the Middle Jiao, and healing severe injuries.
Chen Xiuyuan stated: Gua Lou Gen has a cold Qi, inheriting the cold Water Qi of Tian Dong (Asparagi Radix) to enter the Kidney and Bladder; its bitter taste and non-toxic nature derive from the Fire flavor of the South Earth to enter the Heart. When excessive Fire scorches fluids, xiao ke results; when Fire floats on the exterior, body heat occurs; when Fire is excessive internally, vexation and fullness arise; severe heat and Fire excess lead to Yin deficiency; Yin deficiency causes the Middle Jiao to lose its hold and become unsettled. The bitter and cold nature of Gua Lou Gen clears Fire and can govern the treatment of these conditions. Its ability to heal severe injuries stems from its capacity to spread and unblock the Yin collaterals, thereby reconnecting severed tissues. Its actual name is Gua Lou; the *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet) uses it to treat Xiong Bi (chest bi-syndrome), and the *Shanghan Lun* uses it to treat Jie Xiong (knotted chest), likely because it can open obstructions in the chest area.
Zhang Yinan stated: At midnight, Yin Qi rises outside the vessels and combines with Yangming to form the dryness of Fire and Earth. Hua Fen (Trichosanthis Radix) raises Yin fluids inside the vessels, combining with Tian Gui (heavenly water/essence) to nourish the dry Metal. In various formulas from the *Shanghan Lun* and *Jingui Yaolue*, Ban Xia is used to assist Yangming Qi. If thirst is present due to excessive dry-heat, Ban Xia is removed and replaced with Hua Fen to provide nourishment. The Sages established modified formulas only after thoroughly deducing the rationale behind the principles of nature.