气寒，味苦辛，无毒。苦能解毒退热，而利咽喉之痛，并甘桔为妙。辛能达表润肌，而
散疮疡之肿，同解毒尤良。合气与味，又治腰膝凝滞之血。若痘出不快者，即用麻黄桔梗汁
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气寒，味苦咸，无毒，足少阴肾经君药也。强阴益精，补肾明目。疗温疟寒热往来，洒
洒时常发颤。逐肠内血瘕坚症，散颈下痰核痈肿。管领诸气上下，整肃而不浊。统治咽喉肿
痛，软利而即消。去结热，消肿毒。除心中懊 烦渴不得眠，心神颠倒欲绝，血滞小便不利。
及肢满狂邪，忽不知人。并伤寒汗吐下后，毒不能散。诚为整肃枢机之剂，即此能治空中氤
氲之气，去浮游无根之火。又痰药用之，即能消痰，何也？气理，则痰自清也。反藜芦。
气寒，味苦，无毒，纯阴。凉血之妙剂也。去皮肤上风邪，除骨节间劳热。君四物汤鹿
角胶佐以丹皮，治妇人骨蒸最妙。佐解毒汤生地黄臣以茜根，治痘家热毒为良。又治足少阴
手少阳有汗而骨蒸者。表寒忌用。
气微寒，味微苦。主吐血衄血痢血崩血尿血。久服轻身益气，令人能耐寒暑，更治冷风
历节疼痛，此补阴之要药也。其性善守。凡采，必须择月建方向采之，为其得月令之气也。
但性多燥，须用蜜水浸之，饭上蒸熟，阴干，服之大益脾土，以滋其肺也。
气性寒，味苦、辛，无毒。苦味能解毒退热，并缓解咽喉疼痛，配合甘草和桔梗使用效果更佳。辛味能透达肌表滋润肌肤，并消散疮疡的肿胀，配合解毒药使用尤为良好。结合其气味特性，又能治疗腰膝部位气血凝滞之症。若痘疹发出迟缓不畅者，即可用麻黄和桔梗汁煮制（牛蒡子）。
气性寒，味苦、咸，无毒，是足少阴肾经的主治药物。能坚固阴精、补益精髓，补肾明目。治疗温疟引起的寒热往来，身体时常战栗发抖。驱除肠道内的血瘕坚积之症，消散颈部下方的痰核痈肿。统领全身上下诸气的运行，使气机整肃而不浑浊。统管治疗咽喉肿痛，使肿胀软化消退。去除结聚之热，消肿毒。清除心中烦闷懊恼、口渴无法入睡，以及心神颠倒近乎衰竭、血液停滞导致小便不利的症状。以及肢体胀满、狂乱邪气、突然昏不知人。并治疗伤寒经过发汗、催吐、泻下之后，毒邪仍不能散去的病症。确实是整肃人体枢机功能的药剂，仅凭这一点就能治疗空中氤氲之气，去除浮游无根之火。另外在化痰药中使用它，就能消除痰浊，为什么呢？因为气机理顺，痰自然清化。与藜芦相反。
气性寒，味苦，无毒，属于纯阴之品。是凉血的妙剂。去除皮肤上的风邪，清除骨节间的劳热。作为君药配合四物汤，加入鹿角胶为臣药，丹皮为佐药，治疗妇女骨蒸潮热最为巧妙。配合解毒汤，以生地黄为臣药，茜草根为佐药，治疗痘家热毒疗效良好。又治疗足少阴肾经和手少阳三焦经有汗且伴有骨蒸潮热的病症。表寒证忌用。
气微寒，味微苦。主治吐血、鼻出血、痢疾便血、崩漏、尿血等出血症。长期服用能轻身益气，使人能够耐受寒暑，还能治疗冷风引起的历节疼痛，这是补阴的重要药物。其药性善于守中。凡是采集，必须选择月份对应的方位进行采集，因为它得自月令之气。但药性多燥，需用蜜水浸泡，放在饭上蒸熟，阴干后服用，对大益脾土，从而滋养肺脏。
The Qi is cold, the taste is bitter and acrid, non-toxic. Bitterness can detoxify and reduce fever, and relieve pain in the throat; it is excellent when combined with Gancao (Licorice Root) and Jiegeng (Platycodon Root). Acridity can reach the exterior and moisten the skin, dispersing swelling from sores and ulcers; it is particularly good when used with detoxifying herbs. Combining its Qi and taste, it also treats stagnant blood in the waist and knees. If acne or smallpox eruptions are slow to appear, one should use Mahuang (Ephedra) and Jiegeng juice to decoct [the herb].
The Qi is cold, the taste is bitter and salty, non-toxic; it is the sovereign drug of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. It strengthens Yin, benefits essence, tonifies the kidney, and brightens the eyes. It treats warm malaria with alternating chills and fever, where the body frequently trembles. It drives out firm masses of blood stasis within the intestines and dissipates phlegm nodules and carbuncles under the neck. It commands the movement of all Qi above and below, keeping it orderly and not turbid. It universally treats swelling and pain of the throat, softening and relieving it immediately. It removes accumulated heat and reduces toxic swelling. It eliminates mental restlessness, vexation, thirst, and insomnia; mental confusion bordering on collapse; blood stasis causing difficult urination. It also treats limb fullness, manic delirium, and sudden loss of consciousness. Furthermore, it treats cases where pathogenic toxins cannot be dispersed after sweating, vomiting, or purging in Shanghan (Cold Damage) diseases. It is indeed a formula that regulates the pivot mechanism; by this alone, it can treat the misty Qi in the void and remove floating, rootless fire. Additionally, when used in phlegm-resolving prescriptions, it can eliminate phlegm. Why? Because when Qi regulation is restored, phlegm naturally clears. It is incompatible with Litu (Veratrum Rhizome).
The Qi is cold, the taste is bitter, non-toxic, purely Yin. It is an excellent agent for cooling blood. It expels wind pathogens from the skin and removes deficiency heat between bone joints. As the sovereign drug in Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction), assisted by Lujiaojiao (Deer Antler Glue) and supported by Danpi (Moutan Bark), it is most effective for treating bone-steaming in women. Assisting in Jiedu Tang (Detoxification Decoction), with Shengdihuang (Rehmannia Root) as the minister and Qianggen (Qian Cao Gen / Rubia Cordifolia Root) as the assistant, it is good for treating heat toxins in patients with acne/smallpox. It also treats bone-steaming with sweating involving the Foot-Shaoyin and Hand-Shaoyang meridians. It is contraindicated in exterior cold patterns.
The Qi is slightly cold, the taste is slightly bitter. It primarily treats hematemesis (vomiting blood), epistaxis (nosebleed), bloody dysentery, metrorrhagia, and hematuria. Long-term consumption lightens the body and boosts Qi, enabling one to endure cold and heat. It further treats joint pain caused by cold wind. This is an essential herb for tonifying Yin. Its nature is good at maintaining stability. Whenever harvested, one must select the direction corresponding to the lunar month, as it obtains the Qi of the seasonal command. However, its nature is often dry; it must be soaked in honey water, steamed over rice until cooked, dried in the shade, and then consumed. This greatly benefits the Spleen Earth, thereby nourishing the Lung.