禀土中冲阳之气，兼感春之和气以主，故其味甘平而无毒。气薄味浓，阳中阴也。
入足阳明、足少阴，亦入手少阴、足太阴，脾、胃、心、肾四经药也。宜择其形长而
细，其味不苦而甘，中坚实者良，酒洗晒干用，勿误用木斛，味大苦，饵之损人。
石斛，却惊定志，益精强阴，壮筋骨补虚羸，健脚膝，驱冷痹，皮外邪热，胃中虚
火，浓肠胃轻身，长肌肉下气，但气力浅薄，得参 便能凑功，专倚之无捷效也。
主治（痘疹合参） 入胃，清湿热，故理痹症泄泻。入肾强阴，故理精衰骨痛。其
安神定惊者，亦清热强阴之力，兼入心也。痘后调理，药中多用，总平胃气之至药。宜
形长色黄，而细且坚味甘不苦者为真，择取新者去枝、节，酒洗蒸过用。
禀天地至阴之气，故味苦微甘，气寒而无毒，入手太阴、足少阴经。入清热药用宜
生。入滋肾药用宜盐酒拌炒。
知母，补肾水，泻无根火邪，消浮肿，为利小便佐使。初痢脐下痛者能却，久疟烦
热甚者堪除。治有汗骨蒸热痨，疗往来传尸疰病。润燥解渴，止渴消痰，上清肺金而泻
火，下润肾燥而滋阴，为三经气分药，久服不宜，令人作泻。
主治（痘疹合参） 治痘阴火上潮，诸热不退，口渴好饮冷水，泻气分中之火。然
疹家多用治痘，惟宜于痘后养阴退阳。
按∶知母，泻肾经有余之火，惟狂阳亢甚者宜之。若肾虚而泻之，则愈虚而虚火愈
甚，况寒能伤胃，润能滑肠，其害人也隐而深，譬诸小人，阴柔巽顺，深受其祸，莫觉
其非也。
禀受土中冲阳之气，兼感春天的温和之气而生成，所以它的味道甘平且无毒。气味轻薄而滋味浓厚，属于阳中有阴的性质。
归入足阳明胃经、足少阴肾经，也归入手少阴心经、足太阴脾经，是调理脾、胃、心、肾四经的药物。应当选择形状细长、味道不苦而甘甜、中间质地坚实的为佳，用酒清洗后晒干使用，不要误用木斛，木斛味道大苦，服用后会损伤人体。
石斛，能消除惊恐、安定神志，补益精髓、强壮阴液，强健筋骨、补益虚弱消瘦之体，健旺脚膝，驱除冷痹，清除皮肤外的邪热和胃中的虚火，浓稠肠胃、轻身延年、促进肌肉生长、降气，但药力浅薄，与人参配合才能奏效，单独依赖它没有迅速见效的功效。
主治（结合痘疹病症参考）：入胃经，清除湿热，因此能治疗痹症和泄泻。入肾经以强壮阴液，因此能治疗精气衰败和骨痛。其安神定惊的作用，也是清热强阴力量的体现，兼入心经。痘病后的调理，方剂中多用此药，总归是平和胃气的极佳药物。应当选择形状长、颜色黄、细且坚实、味甘不苦的为真品，选取新鲜的去除枝、节，用酒清洗蒸过后使用。
禀受天地至阴之气，所以味道苦微甘，气寒且无毒，归入手太阴肺经、足少阴肾经。用于清热药时宜生用。用于滋肾药时宜用盐酒拌炒。
知母，能补肾水，清泻无根之火邪，消除浮肿，作为利小便的辅助药。初起痢疾伴有脐下疼痛者能消除，久疟疾伴严重烦热者能祛除。治疗有汗的骨蒸劳热，疗治往来传尸疰病。润燥解渴，止渴消痰，上清肺金而降泻火邪，下润肾燥而滋阴，是三经气分的药物，长期服用不宜，会导致腹泻。
主治（结合痘疹病症参考）：治疗痘毒阴火上潮，各种热象不退，口渴喜欢喝冷水，泻除气分中的火邪。然而疹科医生多用它来治疗痘病，只适宜于痘后养阴退阳的阶段。
按语：知母，泻除肾经有余的火邪，只有阳气狂亢严重时才适宜使用。如果肾虚而使用它泻火，则会使正气更虚，虚火更加旺盛，况且寒性会伤胃，润性能滑肠，它对人的危害隐蔽而深远，就像小人一样，表面柔顺，实则深受其祸，人们往往察觉不到它的错误。
Endowed with the rushing Yang Qi of Earth, and simultaneously influenced by the harmonious Qi of Spring in its formation, its taste is sweet and neutral, and it is non-toxic. Its Qi is light while its Flavor is strong, representing Yin within Yang.
It enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, as well as the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian and the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian; thus, it is a herb for regulating the Spleen, Stomach, Heart, and Kidney meridians. One should select those that are long and slender, with a sweet rather than bitter taste, and a solid center. These are considered superior. They should be washed with wine and dried before use. Do not mistakenly use *Dendrobium nobile* (Muhuo), which has a very bitter taste and damages the body when ingested.
Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis), dispels fright and stabilizes the mind, benefits Essence and strengthens Yin, fortifies sinews and bones, tonifies deficiency and emaciation, strengthens the feet and knees, drives out cold-bi obstruction, clears exterior pathogenic heat from the skin, and clears deficient fire in the Stomach. It thickens the intestines and stomach, lightens the body, promotes muscle growth, and directs Qi downward. However, its therapeutic power is shallow and thin; it achieves efficacy only when combined with Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma). Relying on it exclusively yields no rapid effect.
Main Indications (Referencing Smallpox and Rash Conditions): Entering the Stomach, it clears damp-heat, thereby treating Bi syndrome and diarrhea. Entering the Kidney, it strengthens Yin, thereby treating essence depletion and bone pain. Its ability to calm the spirit and stabilize fright is also a manifestation of its heat-clearing and Yin-strengthening power, extending to the Heart. In post-smallpox regulation, this herb is frequently used in prescriptions; it is ultimately an excellent medicine for harmonizing Stomach Qi. Authentic material should be long, yellowish, slender, firm, sweet-tasting, and not bitter. Select fresh specimens, remove branches and nodes, wash with wine, steam, and then use.
Endowed with the supreme Yin Qi of Heaven and Earth, its taste is bitter with a slight sweetness, its nature is cold, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. When used in heat-clearing formulas, it should be used raw. When used in Kidney-nourishing formulas, it should be stir-fried with salted wine.
Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), tonifies Kidney Water, drains rootless fire pathogens, reduces edema, and serves as an assistant drug to promote urination. It can eliminate pain below the umbilicus in initial dysentery and remove severe irritability and fever in chronic malaria. It treats consumption fever with sweating (bone-steaming), and addresses transmissible wasting diseases (Chuan Shi Zhu Bing). It moistens dryness and relieves thirst, stops thirst and resolves phlegm, clears Lung Metal and drains fire from above, and moistens Kidney dryness and nourishes Yin from below. It is a Qi-level herb for these three meridians; long-term use is inadvisable as it may cause diarrhea.
Main Indications (Referencing Smallpox and Rash Conditions): Treats surging Yin fire from smallpox toxins, persistent heat syndromes, thirst with a desire to drink cold water, and drains fire from the Qi level. However, rash specialists often use it for smallpox treatment, but it is only suitable for nourishing Yin and retreating Yang during the post-smallpox recovery phase.
Commentary: Zhimu drains excess fire in the Kidney meridian and is suitable only for cases of extreme hyperactive Yang. If used to drain fire in cases of Kidney deficiency, it will further deplete the righteous Qi and exacerbate deficient fire. Moreover, since cold nature damages the Stomach and moistening nature slides the Intestines, its harm to humans is hidden and profound. It is like a petty person who appears compliant and gentle on the surface but brings deep disaster, often without one realizing the error.