味苦辛，性温无毒，入肺脾二经。主一切气证，及中恶心腹痛，蛊毒鬼疰，天行疫瘴，
呕逆胀满，霍乱吐泻，痈疖疥癞。
按∶乌药辛，宜于肺，温宜于脾，故主中恶等证。痈疖疥癞，成于血逆，始于气逆。乌
药长
味苦辛，性温无毒，入脾胃二经。去实满而治腹胀，除湿结而和胃气，止呕清痰，温中
消食。干姜为使，恶泽泻、寒水石、硝石，忌食豆。
按∶浓朴辛则能发，温则能行，脾胃之所喜也，故入之以理诸证。丹溪曰∶浓朴属土而
有火，平胃散用之以佐苍术，正谓泻上焦之湿，平胃土不使太过，以致于和而已。若以为温
补而泛用之，非也。体重浊而微降，最能耗气，春夏秋宜用，冬间忌之。气虚之人及孕妇，
亦不可服。
雷公云∶凡使要用紫色味辛为好，或丸散，便去粗皮，用醋炙过，每条一斤，用酥四两，
炙
味苦，性寒无毒，入肾膀胱二经。主泻下焦隐伏之火，安上焦虚哕之虫，除脐下痛，补
肾水衰，止血痢，治痈疮，明眼目，利小便，除湿热，疗女子热崩。盐酒多炒，免致寒入于
肾，恶干漆，肉浓鲜黄者佳。
按∶黄柏沉而属阴，故主肾与膀胱诸证。其性苦寒，能泄亢盛之阳，以坚肾部。则水主
既盛，阳光自遏，而阴血无火烁之患矣，岂实有滋补之功哉！若肾家无火，两尺微弱，或左
尺独旺者，均不宜用。
乌药：味苦、辛，性温，无毒，归肺经和脾经。主治各种气机阻滞的病证，以及中恶邪所致的恶心腹痛、蛊毒鬼疰（指由虫毒或疫气引起的慢性消耗性疾病）、天行疫瘴（指流行性传染病），还有呕吐逆气、胸腹胀满、霍乱吐泻、痈疽疖疮及疥癣癞疾等症。
按语：乌药味辛，适宜入肺经；性温，适宜入脾经，因此能治疗中恶等病证。痈疽疖疮疥癣癞疾，多因血行逆乱而成，而血逆又始于气机逆乱。乌药善于……
浓朴：味苦、辛，性温，无毒，归脾经和胃经。能去除实邪积滞以治疗腹部胀满，祛除湿邪结聚以调和胃气，止呕并清除痰浊，温中焦以促进消化。若与干姜同用可增强疗效，忌与泽泻、寒水石、硝石同用，食用豆类后不宜服用。
按语：浓朴味辛则能发散，性温则能行气，这是脾胃所喜欢的特性，所以用它来调理上述诸证。朱丹溪说：浓朴属土而有火性，在平胃散中使用它是为了辅助苍术，旨在泻除上焦的湿气，使胃土平和而不致太过，从而达到和谐的状态。如果把它当作温补药而随意使用，那就错了。其质地重浊而具有微弱的降泄作用，最容易耗伤正气，春夏秋三季适宜使用，冬季应当禁忌。气虚之人及孕妇，也不可以服用。
雷公说：凡是用药，以紫色且味辛的为佳。如果是制作丸剂或散剂，便需去掉粗皮，用醋炙烤过。每处理一斤药材，需用酥油四两进行炙烤……
黄柏：味苦，性寒，无毒，归肾经和膀胱经。主治泻除下焦潜伏的火邪，安定上焦因虚导致的呃逆及寄生虫困扰，消除脐下疼痛，补充肾水的不足，止血痢，治疗痈疮，明目，通利小便，祛除湿热，治疗女子因热邪导致的崩漏。多用盐水和酒炒制，以避免寒性直入肾脏，忌与干漆同用，肉质厚且颜色鲜黄的为佳。
按语：黄柏性质沉降且属阴，因此主治肾与膀胱的各种病证。其性苦寒，能泄除亢盛的阳热，从而坚固肾部。既然肾水主令旺盛，阳光（相火）自然受到遏制，阴血也就没有火热灼伤的隐患了，这难道是有真正的滋补功效吗！如果肾中没有火邪，脉象两尺微弱，或者仅左尺脉独旺的，均不适宜使用。
Linderae Radix (Wuyao, 乌药): Bitter and acrid in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Lung and Spleen meridians. It primarily treats all types of Qi stagnation syndromes, as well as sudden onset of nausea and abdominal pain due to Evil Qi invasion (Zhong'e), Gu poison and Gui Zhu (chronic wasting diseases caused by insect toxins or epidemic qi), epidemic miasma (Tianxing Yizhang), vomiting and counterflow, abdominal distension and fullness, cholera with vomiting and diarrhea, carbuncles, furuncles, scabies, and leprosy-like skin conditions.
Commentary: Lindera is acrid, which suits the Lung; it is warm, which suits the Spleen. Therefore, it treats syndromes such as Zhong'e. Carbuncles, furuncles, scabies, and leprosy originate from Blood counterflow, which begins with Qi counterflow. Lindera excels at...
Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (Houpo, 厚朴): Bitter and acrid in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians. It removes excess accumulation to treat abdominal distension, resolves dampness obstruction to harmonize Stomach Qi, stops vomiting and clears phlegm, warms the Middle Jiao to promote digestion. When used with Zingiberis Rhizoma (Ganjiang, 干姜), it enhances efficacy. It is incompatible with Alumen Crudum (Zexie, 泽泻 - *Note: Text says Ze Xie but implies incompatibility, usually Houpo is incompatible with certain minerals, here strictly translating text*), Halloysitum Rubrum (Hanshuishi, 寒水石), and Natrii Sulfas (Xiaoshi, 硝石). Avoid consuming beans after administration.
Commentary: Magnolia bark is acrid, thus capable of dispersing; it is warm, thus capable of moving Qi. These are properties favored by the Spleen and Stomach, hence it is used to regulate various syndromes. Zhu Danxi stated: Magnolia belongs to Earth and possesses Fire characteristics. In Pingwei San, it is used to assist Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Cangzhu, 苍术), precisely to drain dampness from the Upper Jiao, ensuring the Earth of the Stomach does not become excessive, thereby achieving harmony. If used indiscriminately as a warming tonic, this is incorrect. Its weight is heavy and turbid, possessing a slight descending action, and it easily consumes Zheng Qi (Upright Qi). It is suitable for use in Spring, Summer, and Autumn, but should be avoided in Winter. Persons with Qi deficiency and pregnant women should not take it.
Lei Gong said: When using this herb, purple ones with an acrid taste are preferred. For pills or powders, remove the rough bark first, then stir-fry with vinegar. For every one jin (approx. 500g) of the herb, use four liang (approx. 200g) of animal fat (Su, 酥) for frying...
Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai, 黄柏): Bitter in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Kidney and Bladder meridians. It primarily drains latent fire in the Lower Jiao, calms epigastric regurgitation and parasites in the Upper Jiao caused by deficiency, eliminates pain below the umbilicus, supplements declining Kidney Water, stops bloody dysentery, treats carbuncles and sores, clarifies the eyes, promotes urination, resolves damp-heat, and treats female leukorrhea or metrorrhagia caused by heat. Stir-fry extensively with salt water and wine to prevent the cold nature from entering the Kidney directly. It is incompatible with Drynariae Rhizoma (Ganqi, 干漆). Those with thick flesh and bright yellow color are superior.
Commentary: Phellodendron bark is sinking and Yin in nature, thus treating various syndromes of the Kidney and Bladder. Its bitter-cold nature can drain hyperactive Yang, thereby firming the Kidney region. Since Kidney Water becomes dominant, Sunlight (Ministerial Fire) is naturally restrained, and Yin Blood is free from the hazard of being scorched by fire. Does this truly constitute a nourishing effect? If there is no fire in the Kidney, if both Chi (cun-kuan-chi) pulses are weak, or if only the left Chi pulse is vigorous, it is unsuitable for use.