味辛、苦、甘、平，微温，无毒。入手太阴少阴，兼入足阳明胃经。味浓气轻，阴
中之阳、升也。
桔梗，入手足肺胆二经。主中恶虫毒，风热喘促，开胸隔，利肺经。除壅之气于上
焦，清头目解诸风，散寒冷之邪于肌表，驱胁下刺疼，通鼻中窒塞，咽喉肿痛，施治如
神；逐肺热疗咳嗽，而下痰涎；治肺痈排腐脓，而养新血；仍消恚怒，尤却怔忡，解利
小儿惊痫，开提男子气血。又与国老并行，同为舟楫之剂，载诸药不致下堕；引将军可
使上行，譬如铁石入江，非舟楫不载也。
主治（痘疹合参） 治痘热毒，咽喉肿痛，宽胸膈滞气，理咳嗽鼻塞痰涎，匀气托
理，腹满肠鸣，肺气郁于大肠而腹痛，痰火郁于肺中而干嗽，开提气血，载药上行，利
咽发痘，托里排脓。
按∶桔梗既能引诸药以上行，又能下气者，为其入肺，肺金得令，则浊气下行耳。古人开提气血，及痰
火痢疾诸郁症中用之，亦同此义。若病不属肺者，用之无益。凡病气逆上升者，勿得混加。
禀天地之阴，得甲木之气，味苦、酸、平，微寒，无毒。气薄味浓，阴也，降也。
酸寒，得木花，色白兼金气，为手足太阴引经，入肝。脾血分。载有二种，白补而赤
泻，白收而赤散。入脾胃药酒拌炒，入养血药蜜水拌炒，入平肝药生用。
白芍药，专入脾经血分，能泻肝家火邪，补劳退热，除烦益气，泻肝安脾，明目
安胎，收胃气，敛阴气。心下痞，胁下痛，收肺气而敛汗，抑肝邪而缓中，太阳鼽衄，
肝血不足，而目涩，阳维病，苦寒热不己，带脉病，苦腹痛满，腰溶溶如坐水中，胎前
产后，女人一切病和血脉调中，治血热血虚，腹痛血泻痢，固腠理。白术补脾阳，白
芍补脾阴，同参 益气，同川芎泻肝泻痢用之者，及春月腹痛倍加者，取其和血伸肝扶
脾，能于土中泻木，敛津液而益营血，收阴气而泻邪热也。产后及血虚寒人，并冬月腹
痛戒之者，恐其酸寒伐生气也，然佐以姜桂，制以酒炒，合宜而用，有何方之可执
哉！倘腹痛非因血气者，不可误用，盖诸腹痛，皆宜辛散，而芍药酸收故而。色赤者，
专行恶血，兼利小肠。
主治（痘疹合参） 能养阴退阳，健脾补表，止腹涌而收阴，养血和血，凉血敛
血。凡痘血散不归，疮润不敛者，皆赖以收敛。七日前少用，惟七日以后酒拌炒用。如
手足疮不起发痒塌者，此脾虚也，宜桂枝煎
酒浸炒用。如脾寒肝脉弱者禁之。
按∶白芍药收敛下降，以秋金之令，犹未若芩连之寒，而寇氏云∶冬月减芍药，以
避中寒。丹溪云∶新产后勿用芍药，恐酸寒伐生生之气。盖以药之寒者，行杀伐之气。
违生长之机，虽微寒如芍药，古人犹谆谆告诫，况大苦大寒之药，其可肆用而莫之忌
耶！何今人用芍药，则守前人一定之言，每于产后冬月，兢兢畏惧，及其芩连栀子，视
为平常要药。凡遇发热，不论虚实，辄投殆害，每遇根据希浮越之虚阳，一任寒凉而丧尽
冤哉！
【桔梗】
味辛、苦、甘，性平，微温，无毒。归手太阴肺经和手少阴心经，兼入足阳明胃经。气味浓厚而气轻清，属于阴中之阳，具有升提的作用。
桔梗，归手太阴肺经和足少阳胆经（注：原文此处有异，通常认为入肺经，此处依原文翻译）。主治中恶邪及虫毒，风热引起的喘息急促，能开通胸膈，通利肺经。清除上焦的壅滞之气，清利头目并解除各种风邪，疏散肌表的寒冷之邪，驱除胁下的刺痛，通畅鼻中的阻塞，治疗咽喉肿痛，疗效如神；驱逐肺热以治疗咳嗽，并下行痰涎；治疗肺痈排出腐脓，并滋养新血；还能消除愤怒情绪，尤其能治疗心悸怔忡，解除小儿惊痫，提升男子的气血。此外，桔梗常与甘草（国老）同用，同为“舟楫之剂”，能载持其他药物不致下沉；能引导大黄（将军）等药上行，就像铁石投入江中，没有船桨运载就无法浮起一样。
主治（结合痘疹病症参考）：治疗痘毒热盛，咽喉肿痛，宽胸理气消除胸膈滞气，调理咳嗽鼻塞及痰涎，调和气血并托毒外出，治疗腹满肠鸣，肺气郁结于大肠导致的腹痛，痰火郁结于肺中导致的干咳，提升气血，载药上行，利咽透发痘疹，托里排脓。
按语：桔梗既能引导诸药上行，又能降气，这是因为它入肺经，肺金当令时，浊气自然下行。古人在开提气血，以及治疗痰火痢疾等各种郁症时使用它，也是基于同样的道理。如果疾病不属于肺系病变，使用它就没有益处。凡是病势气逆上升的情况，不要随意添加桔梗。
【白芍药】
禀受天地之阴气，得甲木之气，味苦、酸，性平，微寒，无毒。气味淡薄而味道浓厚，属阴，具有沉降的作用。味酸寒，得木花之气，颜色白兼带金气，是手足太阴经的引经药，入肝经和脾经的血分。白芍药有两种，白色者补益，赤色者泻下；白色者收敛，赤色者发散。入脾胃药中可用酒拌炒，入养血药中可用蜜水拌炒，入平肝药中则生用。
白芍药，专入脾经血分，能泻肝火，补虚劳退热，除烦益气，泻肝安脾，明目安胎，收敛胃气，敛藏阴气。治疗心下痞满，胁下疼痛，收敛肺气并止汗，抑制肝邪并缓急止痛，治疗太阳经引起的鼻流清涕或鼻出血，肝血不足导致的眼目干涩，阳维脉病变导致的寒热不退，带脉病变导致的腹痛腹胀、腰部溶溶然如坐水中感，以及产前产后妇女的一切血脉不调疾病，治疗血热和血虚引起的腹痛、便血痢疾，巩固腠理。白术补脾阳，白芍补脾阴，与人参同用可益气，与川芎同用可泻肝治痢，在春季腹痛时加倍使用，是因为它能和血疏肝扶脾，能在土中泻木，收敛津液而益营血，收阴气而泻邪热。产后及血虚寒证之人，以及冬季腹痛者需戒慎使用，因为担心其酸寒之性损伤生气。然而，若佐以生姜、肉桂，并用酒炒制，合乎宜忌地使用，又有什么固定的方剂不可变通呢！如果腹痛不是由血气问题引起，不可误用，因为各种腹痛大多适宜辛散，而芍药味酸主收敛，故需谨慎。色赤的白芍药，专门运行恶血，兼利小肠。
主治（结合痘疹病症参考）：能养阴退阳，健脾补表，止腹部涌泄并收敛阴气，养血和血，凉血敛血。凡是痘疮血散不收，疮口湿润不愈合的，都依赖它来收敛。七日前少用，只在七日以后用酒拌炒后使用。如果手足部位的痘疮不起发、发痒塌陷的，这是脾虚所致，宜用桂枝煎酒后浸炒使用。如果脾寒肝脉弱弱的患者禁用。
按语：白芍药收敛下降，顺应秋金肃杀之令，虽然不如黄芩、黄连那样大寒，但寇宗奭说：冬季减少使用芍药，以避免中寒。朱丹溪说：新产后不要用芍药，恐怕其酸寒之性损伤生生之气。大概因为药物的寒性，带有杀伐之气，违背了生长的机理，即使是像芍药这样微寒的药，古人还谆谆告诫，何况是大苦大寒的药物，怎么可以肆意使用而不加忌讳呢！为什么现在的人使用芍药时，就死守前人一定的言论，每逢产后和冬季，就兢兢业业地畏惧；而当遇到黄芩、黄连、栀子时，却视为平常要药。凡遇到发热，不论虚实，就投以这些药，往往导致危害，每每遇到根基虚弱、阳气浮越的情况，任由寒凉药物伤害而丧失生机，真是冤枉啊！
[Jiegeng (Platycodon Root)]
Taste: Pungent, Bitter, Sweet. Nature: Neutral, slightly warm. Non-toxic. Enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian, and also enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. The flavor is strong but the aroma is light; it belongs to Yang within Yin and has an ascending action.
Jiegeng enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. It primarily treats malignant qi invasion and insect poison, wind-heat causing panting and urgency, opens the chest and diaphragm, and benefits the Lung Meridian. It removes stagnation of Qi in the Upper Jiao, clears the head and eyes, resolves various wind pathogens, disperses cold evil from the muscle surface, drives away stabbing pain under the ribs, unblocks nasal obstruction, treats sore throat and swelling, with miraculous efficacy; expels Lung heat to treat cough and descends phlegm-saliva; treats Lung Abscess by draining pus and nourishing new blood; still eliminates anger, especially repels palpitations, resolves pediatric convulsions and epilepsy, and lifts the Qi and Blood of men. Furthermore, when used together with Gancao (Licorice Root, referred to as "Guolao"), it acts as a "boat and oar" agent, carrying other herbs so they do not sink downwards; it guides Dahuang (Rhubarb Root, referred to as "Jiangjun") upwards, just like iron or stone thrown into a river cannot float without a boat and oars.
Indications (Integrated with Smallpox/Rash Diseases): Treats smallpox heat toxin, sore throat and swelling, widens the chest and diaphragm to resolve stagnant Qi, regulates cough, nasal congestion, and phlegm-saliva, harmonizes Qi and promotes expulsion of toxins, treats abdominal fullness and borborygmi, abdominal pain due to Lung Qi stagnation in the Large Intestine, dry cough due to Phlegm-Fire stagnation in the Lung, lifts Qi and Blood, carries medicines upward, benefits the throat and promotes eruption of rashes, supports the interior and drains pus.
Commentary: Jiegeng can both guide various medicines upward and descend Qi because it enters the Lung. When Lung Metal is in command, turbid Qi naturally descends. Ancients used it in conditions involving lifting Qi and Blood, as well as in various stagnation syndromes such as Phlegm-Fire dysentery, based on this same principle. If the disease does not belong to the Lung system, using it is of no benefit. In cases where pathological Qi rebels and rises upward, one must not indiscriminately add it.
[Baishao (White Peony Root)]
It inherits the Yin energy of Heaven and Earth, obtains the Qi of Jia Wood. Taste: Bitter, Sour. Nature: Neutral, slightly cold. Non-toxic. The aroma is thin but the taste is strong; it is Yin and has a descending action. Sour and cold, obtaining the Qi of wood flowers, its color is white combining with Metal Qi. It serves as a guiding herb for the Hand and Foot Taiyin Meridians, entering the Liver and the Blood aspect of the Spleen. There are two types: White Baishao tonifies, while Red Shaoyao purges; White Baishao astringes, while Red Shaoyao disperses. For herbs entering the Spleen and Stomach, stir-fry with wine; for herbs nourishing Blood, stir-fry with honey water; for herbs calming the Liver, use raw.
Baishao specifically enters the Blood aspect of the Spleen Meridian. It can purge Fire-Evil of the Liver, tonify deficiency and reduce fever, eliminate vexation and benefit Qi, purge the Liver and calm the Spleen, brighten the eyes and stabilize the fetus, gather Stomach Qi, and astringe Yin Qi. It treats epigastric fullness and flank pain, gathers Lung Qi and stops sweating, suppresses Liver Evil and moderates internal tension, treats rhinorrhea or epistaxis caused by Taiyang channel involvement, dry eyes due to insufficient Liver Blood, disorders of the Yang Wei Vessel characterized by persistent alternating chills and fever, disorders of the Dai Vessel characterized by abdominal pain and fullness, and a sensation of sitting in water in the loins. It treats all blood-related disorders in women before and after childbirth, harmonizes the blood, treats abdominal pain and bloody dysentery due to Heat-Blood or Blood Deficiency, and consolidates the Cou Li (skin and pores). Baizhu tonifies Spleen Yang, while Baishao tonifies Spleen Yin. Used together with Renshen, it benefits Qi; used with Chuanxiong, it purges the Liver and treats dysentery. In spring, when abdominal pain occurs, the dosage should be doubled because it harmonizes Blood, extends Liver function, supports the Spleen, purges Wood within Earth, collects body fluids to benefit Ying Blood, gathers Yin Qi, and purges pathogenic Heat. For postpartum patients and those with Blood Deficiency and Cold, as well as for abdominal pain in winter, caution is advised to avoid damaging the vital generating Qi with its sour-cold nature. However, if assisted by Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger) and Rougui (Cinnamon Bark), and processed with wine stir-frying, applied appropriately, why adhere rigidly to fixed formulas? If abdominal pain is not due to Blood and Qi issues, it must not be misused, as most abdominal pains are suitable for pungent dispersion, whereas Baishao is sour and astringent. Red Shaoyao specifically moves bad blood and benefits the Small Intestine.
Indications (Integrated with Smallpox/Rash Diseases): Nourishes Yin and retreats Yang, strengthens the Spleen and supplements the exterior, stops abdominal surging and collects Yin, nourishes and harmonizes Blood, cools Blood and astringes Blood. For any rash where blood scatters and fails to consolidate, or ulcers that remain moist and fail to close, reliance is placed on its astringent properties. Use sparingly in the first seven days; only use wine-stir-fried after the seventh day. If hand and foot lesions fail to erupt, become itchy, or collapse, this indicates Spleen Deficiency; Gui Zhi Decoction should be soaked in wine and stir-fried for use. Contraindicated in cases of Spleen Cold and weak Liver pulse.
Commentary: Baishao is astringent and descending, following the command of Autumn Metal. Although it is not as cold as Huangqin (Scutellaria Root) and Lianhua (Lotus Seed Plumule/often refers to Coptis in context of cold herbs, here likely implying Coptis/Huanglian given the pairing), Kou Zongshi stated: Reduce Baishao in winter to avoid middle-jiao cold. Danxi stated: Do not use Baishao immediately after childbirth, fearing its sour-cold nature will damage the life-generating Qi. Generally, the cold nature of medicines carries a killing/purging energy, violating the mechanism of growth. Even for mildly cold herbs like Baishao, ancients earnestly warned against misuse. How much more so for greatly bitter and cold medicines, which should never be used recklessly without caution! Why do modern practitioners, when using Baishao, rigidly adhere to the words of predecessors, trembling with fear during postpartum periods and winter months, yet view Huangqin, Huanglian, and Zhizi (Gardenia Fruit) as ordinary essential medicines? Whenever fever occurs, regardless of excess or deficiency, they administer these drugs, often causing harm. Whenever encountering deficient Yang floating due to weak roots, they allow cold-cooling herbs to destroy vitality, truly unjust!