味苦，性微寒无毒，入心肝胆胃三焦大肠六经。泻六经之血热，散诸肿之疮疡，利小
肠，杀白虫，通月经，疗五淋，破瘿瘤，解痘毒。鼠粘子为使。
按∶连翘苦寒虽泻六经，而心经为最，诸疮淋闭等证，俱属心火，故能疗之。药性曰∶
除六经热，与柴胡同功，然此治血热，柴胡治气热之别耳。
味甘咸，性寒无毒，入膀胱肾三焦小肠四经。主去胞垢，退阴汗，治小便淋涩仙药，
疗水病湿肿灵丹。畏海蛤，文蛤，色白者佳。
按∶泽泻下降为阴，专主渗泄，宜入膀胱诸经，其行水之功，过于猪苓。《衍义》曰∶
小便既多，肾气焉得复实。扁鹊曰；多服病患眼。《药性》曰∶令人面光无子，乃本草称其
补虚明目治泄精消渴，《珍囊》注其生新水止虚烦，恐无是理。即六味丸中用之，以其渗去
脾湿，退命门火为向导尔。又《药性赋》云∶补阴不足，盖以补阴之功不足也。后世不察，
谓其可以补阴分之不足，大失本旨。
扁鹊云∶多服病患眼，一名水泻，一名及泻，一名芒芋，一名鹄泻。生汝南汝泽，五月
八月，采根阴干。实味，甘无毒，主风痹消渴，益肾气。强阴补不足，除邪湿，久服面生光，
令人无子，九月采。
雷公云∶不拘多少，细锉，酒浸一宿，漉出曝干任用也。叶味咸无毒，主大风，乳汁不
出，产难，强阴气，五月采。
【连翘】
味苦，性微寒，无毒，归心、肝、胆、胃、三焦、大肠六经。能泻除六经的血热，消散各种肿胀疮疡，通利小肠，杀灭白色寄生虫，疏通月经，治疗五种淋证，破除瘿瘤，解除痘毒。以鼠粘子（牛蒡子）作为引药。
按语：连翘虽苦寒，能泻除六经之热，但以清心经之火最为显著。各种疮疡、淋证闭塞等病症，都属于心火亢盛所致，因此连翘能够治疗这些疾病。《药性论》记载：它能清除六经的热邪，功效与柴胡同功，然而这是治疗血热的药物，而柴胡是治疗气热的药物，二者有别。
【泽泻】
味甘、咸，性寒，无毒，归膀胱、肾、三焦、小肠四经。主要去除胞宫污垢，消退阴部汗出，治疗小便淋漓涩痛，被誉为仙药；治疗水肿湿肿，被称为灵丹。畏惧海蛤、文蛤，颜色白色的品质较好。
按语：泽泻性质下降属阴，专门主司渗湿泄浊，适宜进入膀胱各经，其行水利尿的功效，超过猪苓。《本草衍义》说：如果小便本来就多，肾气又怎么能恢复充实呢？扁鹊说：长期服用会导致患者眼睛患病。《药性论》说：使人面色光亮但导致无子嗣，这违背了本草书中称其能补虚明目、治疗遗精消渴的说法，《珍囊》注释说它能滋生津液、止住虚烦，恐怕没有这种道理。即使在六味地黄丸中使用它，也是利用它渗去脾脏湿气，引导命门之火退却的作用。另外《药性赋》说它能补益阴分不足，大概是因为它的补阴功效并不足。后世医家不加考察，认为它可以补益阴分的不足，大大失去了本来的宗旨。
扁鹊说：长期服用会导致患者眼睛患病。又名水泻，又名及泻，又名芒芋，又名鹄泻。产于汝南汝泽，五月和八月采集根部，阴干。果实味道甘平，无毒，主治风痹、消渴，益肾气，强阴补不足，祛除邪湿，长期服用使面色光亮，但令人无子嗣，九月采集。
雷公说：不论多少，细细切碎，用酒浸泡一夜，滤出晒干后随意使用。叶子味道咸，无毒，主治大风病，乳汁不下，难产，强壮阴气，五月采集。
[Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus)]
Bitter in taste, slightly cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Heart, Liver, Gallbladder, Stomach, Sanjiao (Triple Burner), and Large Intestine meridians. It drains blood-heat from the six meridians, dissipates various swellings and sores, promotes urination via the Small Intestine, kills white parasites, regulates menstruation, treats five types of strangury (Lin syndrome), breaks up goiters, and resolves toxin from smallpox. Arctii Fructus (Niu Bang Zi) serves as a guiding herb.
Commentary: Although Lianqiao is bitter and cold and can drain heat from the six meridians, its effect on clearing Heart-fire is the most prominent. Various conditions such as sores and strangury obstruction are attributed to excessive Heart-fire; therefore, it can treat these ailments. *Yao Xing Lun* states that it clears heat from the six meridians with efficacy similar to Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix). However, this distinction lies in the fact that Lianqiao treats blood-heat, whereas Chai Hu treats qi-heat.
[Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma)]
Sweet and salty in taste, cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Bladder, Kidney, Sanjiao (Triple Burner), and Small Intestine meridians. It primarily removes utrine filth, reduces sweating in the genital region, treats painful and difficult urination (strangury), and is regarded as an "immortal medicine." It treats edema and dampness-induced swelling and is called a "miraculous elixir." It is incompatible with Haige (Arca Shell) and Wen Ge (Meretrix Meretrix Shell); those with a white color are superior.
Commentary: Zexie has a descending, yin nature and specializes in promoting diuresis and draining dampness, making it suitable for entering the Bladder meridians. Its water-draining efficacy surpasses that of Zhuling (Polyporus). *Bencao Yan Yi* states: "If urination is already frequent, how can Kidney Qi be replenished?" Bian Que stated that long-term use causes eye diseases in patients. *Yao Xing Lun* claims it makes the face radiant but leads to infertility, which contradicts the *Ben Cao* assertion that it tonifies deficiency, brightens the eyes, and treats seminal emission and thirst. The annotation in *Zhen Nang* suggests it generates fresh fluids and stops vexation due to deficiency, which is likely unfounded. Even when used in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, it is employed to drain Spleen dampness and guide the decline of Mingmen Fire. Furthermore, *Yao Xing Fu* mentions it tonifies insufficient Yin, implying its capacity to do so is limited. Later generations failed to examine this carefully, claiming it can tonify insufficient Yin, thereby greatly deviating from its original intent.
Bian Que stated that long-term use causes eye diseases. Also known as Shui Xie, Ji Xie, Mang Yu, or Gu Xie. It grows in Ruze, Runan. The root is harvested in May and August and dried in the shade. The fruit is sweet and neutral in nature, non-toxic. It treats wind-bi (painful obstruction syndrome) and thirst, benefits Kidney Qi, strengthens Yin, dispels pathogenic dampness, makes the face radiant with long-term use, but causes infertility. It is harvested in September.
Lei Gong stated: Regardless of quantity, finely chop, soak in wine overnight, strain, sun-dry, and use as needed. The leaves are salty in taste and non-toxic. They treat severe wind disorders, lack of lactation, dystocia, and strengthen Yin Qi. Harvested in May.