苦辛性平，气涩而收，质润兼补，入肺，止吐血、衄血。肺损者，能复生之。
甘苦微温，散血，止血，定痛。能损新血，吐衄无瘀者勿服。草三七∶功用相仿，
稍烈，藜藿辈宜暂用之。
苦酸微寒，性沉而涩；入下焦血分，除血痢，止肠风。俱炒炭用。梢反行血，与根相
味苦色赤，气平而降；入心与包络，破宿血，生新血，兼四物，为女科要药。虽能
长于行血，血虚无瘀者勿用。
苦甘微寒，入肺肾二经。除烦止渴，解毒利咽，泻无根浮游之火。脾虚泄泻忌。亦有
熟用者。
大苦燥湿，大寒胜热，沉降入肾，功专解毒消痈。肝肾虚而无湿热者忌之。
大苦大寒，沉阴下行；入肝胆泻火，兼入膀胱、肾经，以除下焦之湿热。酒洗亦能
大损胃气，无实火者忌用。
大苦大寒，入心泻火，而燥脾湿。泻火生用，燥湿炒用。猪胆汁炒，治肝胆火；酒
治上焦火；姜汁炒，治中焦火；盐水炒，治下焦火；吴茱汤炒，治湿热在肝胆气分；醋
治湿热在心脾。血分无实热者均忌。连非川产，反能泻人。
性味苦寒，凉惊泻热，益肝胆；浓肠胃，治大人骨蒸、小儿疳热。禁忌同川黄连。
【白芨】味苦、辛，性平。其气涩而具收敛之性，质地滋润兼有补益作用，入肺经，能止吐血、衄血（鼻出血）。对于肺脏损伤者，能促进其修复再生。
【白及】味甘、苦，微温。能散瘀血，止血，定痛。但会损伤新形成的血液，故吐血、衄血而无瘀滞者不宜服用。草三七：功效相似，但药力稍猛烈，平民百姓宜暂时使用。
【紫草】味苦、酸，微寒。性质沉降且涩，入下焦血分，能消除血痢，止肠风（便血）。均宜炒炭后使用。紫草梢反而具有行血作用，与根部功效相反。
【丹参】味苦，色赤，气平而降。入心经与心包络，能破除陈旧瘀血，生成新血，配合四物汤使用，是妇科的重要药物。虽然能促进血液运行，但血虚而无瘀滞者不宜使用。
【麦冬】味苦、甘，微寒。入肺、肾二经。能除烦止渴，解毒利咽，清泻无根浮游之火。脾虚泄泻者忌用。也有熟用的情况。
【黄柏】味大苦，燥湿；性大寒，胜热。性质沉降入肾经，功效专于解毒消痈。肝肾虚损而无湿热者忌用。
【龙胆】味大苦、大寒，性质沉阴下行。入肝胆经以泻火，兼入膀胱、肾经，以清除下焦的湿热。酒洗虽能增强药效，但也大损胃气，无实火者忌用。
【黄连】味大苦、大寒。入心经以泻火，并燥脾湿。泻火宜生用，燥湿宜炒用。猪胆汁炒，治肝胆火；酒炒，治上焦火；姜汁炒，治中焦火；盐水炒，治下焦火；吴茱萸汤炒，治湿热在肝胆气分；醋炒，治湿热在心脾。血分无实热者均忌用。若黄连非四川产，反而可能耗伤人体正气。
【胡黄连】性味苦寒。能凉惊泻热，补益肝胆；厚肠胃，治疗成人骨蒸潮热、小儿疳积发热。禁忌症同川黄连。
【黄芩】性味苦寒。能泻肺火，退寒热。中气虚者称为枯芩，入肺经，以清肌表之热；中气实者称为条芩，入大肠经，清热安胎。泻火宜生用；退寒热宜酒炒用。
[Baiji (Bletillae Rhizoma)] Bitter, pungent, neutral in nature. Its qi is astringent and contracting; its substance is moistening and tonifying. It enters the Lung meridian, stops hematemesis (vomiting blood) and epistaxis (nosebleed). For those with Lung damage, it can promote regeneration.
[Baiji (Bletillae Rhizoma)] Sweet, bitter, slightly warm. Disperses blood stasis, stops bleeding, alleviates pain. However, it may damage newly formed blood; thus, it should not be taken for hematemesis or epistaxis without blood stasis. Caosanqi (Panacis Japonici Rhizoma): Similar efficacy, but slightly more potent; suitable for temporary use by common people.
[Zicao (Arnebiae Radix seu Lithospermi Radix)] Bitter, sour, slightly cold. Nature is sinking and astringent; enters the lower Jiao blood level. Eliminates bloody dysentery, stops intestinal wind (hematochezia). All parts are used after being charred to carbon. The tip promotes blood circulation, contrary to the root's function.
[Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma)] Bitter, red in color, neutral in qi and descending. Enters the Heart and Pericardium meridians. Breaks down old blood stasis, generates new blood. When combined with Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction), it becomes an essential herb for gynecology. Although it promotes blood circulation, it should not be used for those with blood deficiency without stasis.
[Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix)] Bitter, sweet, slightly cold. Enters the Lung and Kidney meridians. Relieves irritability and thirst, detoxifies, benefits the throat, and clears floating fire of no root. Contraindicated for spleen deficiency with diarrhea. Sometimes used cooked.
[Huangbo (Phellodendri Cortex)] Greatly bitter, dries dampness; greatly cold, overcomes heat. Sinking and entering the Kidney meridian. Its function specializes in detoxification and reducing carbuncles. Contraindicated for Liver and Kidney deficiency without damp-heat.
[Longdancao (Gentianae Radix et Rhizoma)] Greatly bitter, greatly cold, sinking and yin-descending. Enters the Liver and Gallbladder meridians to drain fire, and also enters the Bladder and Kidney meridians to eliminate damp-heat in the lower Jiao. Wine-washing enhances efficacy but severely damages Stomach qi; contraindicated for those without excess fire.
[Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma)] Greatly bitter, greatly cold. Enters the Heart meridian to drain fire and dries Spleen dampness. Drain fire: use raw. Dry dampness: use stir-fried. Stir-fried with pig bile treats Liver/Gallbladder fire; wine-stir-fried treats upper Jiao fire; ginger juice-stir-fried treats middle Jiao fire; salt water-stir-fried treats lower Jiao fire; stir-fried with Evodia decoction treats damp-heat in the Qi level of Liver/Gallbladder; vinegar-stir-fried treats damp-heat in Heart/Spleen. Contraindicated for all cases where the blood level lacks excess heat. If not produced in Sichuan, Huanglian may instead deplete healthy qi.
[Huhuanglian (Picrorhizae Rhizoma]) Bitter, cold in nature and flavor. Cools convulsions, drains heat, benefits Liver and Gallbladder; thickens intestines and stomach. Treats adult bone-steaming fever and pediatric gan-heat (malnutrition fever). Contraindications are the same as Chuan Huanglian.
[Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix)] Bitter, cold in nature and flavor. Drains Lung fire, relieves chills and fever. Those with middle deficiency are called "Ku Qin" (withered Scutellaria), entering the Lung meridian to clear exterior heat; those with interior excess are called "Tiao Qin" (striped Scutellaria), entering the Large Intestine meridian to clear heat and calm the fetus. Drain fire: use raw. Relieve chills/fever: use wine-stir-fried.
[Shengdi (Rehmanniae Radix)] Sweet, salty, cold in qi. Enters the Jueyin (Liver) blood level. Cools blood and invigorates blood. It is a specific medicine for blood heat in smallpox/variolous eruptions. Contraindicated for loose stools.