味辛而热，气猛而浊，故善破瘴 ，消谷食，及一切宿实停滞作胀闷及痛。佐常山
截疫疟。
草果，消宿食，立除胀满，去邪气，且却冷疼，同缩砂温中焦，佐常山截疫疟，辟
山岚瘴气，止霍乱恶心，然气猛浊。若气不实，邪不甚者，不必用之。
禀地二之气以生，故味辛热纯阳，浮也。入足阳明太阴经，而治冷逆逐寒邪诸
症。
高良姜，健脾消食下气温中，除胃间冷逆冲心，去霍乱转筋泻痢，翻胃呕食可止，
腹痛积冷堪驱。然治客寒犯胃，心腹冷痛并宜若伤暑注泻，心虚作痛，实热腹疼切忌。
子名红豆蔻，炒过入药，醒脾温肺，散寒燥湿，故东垣常用之脾胃药中，又善解酒毒，
余治同前。然善能动火伤目致衄，不可常用也。
禀地天阴寒清和之气，故味苦气寒而无毒，入足少阴、厥阴，为凉血之圣药。软嫩
而紫色者侄，去根取茸血分热盛者生用，脾虚者酒净焙。
紫草和膏，敷热毒疮疡，煎服凉血化斑，托豌豆疮疹，利九窍水道，乃血热痘
中，滑肌通窍凉血，必用之药。但性苦寒通利，勿多服久服，以增中寒泄泻之虞。
主治（痘疹合参） 治痘红紫目赤，血热毒盛之症。此痘心经有热，闭塞不通，血
气凝滞，毒盛色紫，用此凉血开窍，而热毒发越，痘易起也。至于五六朝用，宜同粘
米，盖粘米能制紫草之余寒，但终属性寒滑利，不可久用通用，恐致泄泻成虚。若非血
热及大便滑利者勿用。
草果：味道辛热，药气猛烈且浑浊，因此善于破除瘴气，消化谷物食物，以及消除一切因宿食停滞引起的腹胀、胸闷和疼痛。配合常山使用，可以截断治疗疫疟。
草果能消除宿食，迅速解除胀满，驱除邪气，并且能缓解冷痛。与缩砂（砂仁）同用可温补中焦，配合常山可截断治疗疫疟，辟除山林间的瘴气，止住霍乱引起的恶心。然而其药气猛烈浑浊。如果人体正气不实，邪气不盛者，不必使用它。
高良姜：禀受地之二气而生，因此味道辛热，属于纯阳之品，药性上浮。进入足阳明胃经和足太阴脾经，用于治疗冷逆及驱逐寒邪等各种病症。
高良姜能健脾消食，下气温中，清除胃间冷逆冲心之感，去除霍乱引起的转筋、腹泻和痢疾，停止翻胃呕吐食物，驱除腹痛和积冷。然而，对于外感寒邪侵犯胃部引起的心腹冷痛，适宜使用；但如果是因为伤暑导致的泄泻，或心虚引起的疼痛，以及实热引起的腹痛，则切忌使用。
红豆蔻（高良姜的子）：炒过后入药，能醒脾温肺，散寒燥湿，因此李东垣常在脾胃药方中使用它。它又善于解酒毒，其他功效与前文所述相同。然而它容易动火伤目导致鼻出血，不可长期常用。
紫草：禀受天地阴寒清和之气，因此味道苦，气寒而无毒。进入足少阴肾经和足厥阴肝经，是凉血的圣药。质地软嫩且呈紫色的为佳品，去掉根部，取茸毛部分。血分热盛者生用，脾虚者用酒洗净后焙干。
紫草调和成膏，敷于热毒疮疡上；煎服则可凉血化斑，托出豌豆疮疹，通畅九窍和水道，是血热痘疹中，滑利肌肤、通畅窍道、凉血必用的药物。但其性质苦寒通利，不要多服或久服，以免增加中寒导致泄泻的担忧。
主治（痘疹合参）：治疗痘疹颜色红紫、眼睛发红，属于血热毒盛的病症。这种痘症是因为心经有热，闭塞不通，血气凝滞，毒盛导致颜色发紫，使用此药可凉血开窍，使热毒发散，痘疹容易起发。至于在发病五到六天时使用，宜配合粘米，因为粘米能制约紫草剩余的寒性。但紫草终究属性寒滑利，不可长期通用，恐怕会导致泄泻变成虚证。如果不是血热以及大便滑利者，不要使用。
Caoguo (Tsaoko Fructus): It tastes pungent and is hot in nature, with a vigorous and turbid qi. Therefore, it is good at breaking through miasma, digesting grain and food, and eliminating all distension, chest fullness, and pain caused by stagnation of retained solid matter. When assisted by Changshan (Cortex Dichroiae), it can arrest epidemic malaria.
Caoguo eliminates retained food, immediately relieves distension and fullness, expels pathogenic factors, and alleviates cold pain. Combined with Suosha (Amomi Fructus Rotundus), it warms the middle jiao; when assisted by Changshan, it arrests epidemic malaria, wards off mountainous miasma, stops nausea associated with cholera, yet its qi is vigorous and turbid. If one's qi is not substantial or the pathogen is not severe, it need not be used.
Gaoliangjiang (Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma): It is born from the qi of Earth Number Two, thus possessing a purely yang nature that is pungent and hot, with an ascending quality. It enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach meridian and the Foot-Taiyin Spleen meridian, treating conditions such as cold reversal and various syndromes involving the expulsion of cold pathogens.
Gaoliangjiang strengthens the spleen, aids digestion, directs qi downward, warms the middle, removes cold reversal rushing to the heart from the stomach, eliminates convulsions, diarrhea, and dysentery associated with cholera, stops vomiting and regurgitation, and drives away abdominal pain and accumulated cold. However, while it is suitable for epigastric and abdominal cold pain caused by exogenous cold invading the stomach, it is strictly contraindicated for diarrhea due to summerheat invasion, heart-deficiency-induced pain, and abdominal pain due to excess heat.
Hongdoukou (Cardamomi Fructus Ruber, the seed of Gaoliangjiang): Stir-fried before use, it awakens the spleen, warms the lungs, disperses cold, and dries dampness. Therefore, Li Dongyuan often included it in formulas for the spleen and stomach. It is also excellent at resolving alcohol toxicity, with other effects similar to those mentioned above. However, it tends to stir up fire, damage the eyes, and cause epistaxis, so it should not be used frequently over long periods.
Zicao (Arnebiae Radix et Rhizoma / Lithospermi Radix): It inherits the yin-cold, clear, and harmonious qi of Heaven and Earth; thus, it tastes bitter, is cold in nature, and is non-toxic. It enters the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney meridian and the Foot-Jueyin Liver meridian, serving as a supreme herb for cooling blood. The soft, tender, and purple ones are superior. Remove the roots and use the hairy parts. For excess heat in the blood level, use raw; for spleen deficiency, wash with wine and bake dry.
Zicao mixed into ointments is applied to hot-toxin carbuncles and sores; decocted and taken orally, it cools blood, resolves macules, promotes the eruption of smallpox/varioloid rashes, and unblocks the nine orifices and water passages. It is an essential herb for cooling blood, smoothing skin, unblocking orifices, and treating blood-heat-related smallpox/varioloid eruptions. However, due to its bitter-cold and purgative nature, it should not be taken in large doses or for prolonged periods to avoid the risk of middle-jiao cold leading to diarrhea.
Main Indications (Comprehensive Analysis of Smallpox and Varioloid): Treats smallpox/varioloid eruptions that are red-purple with red eyes, representing syndromes of excessive blood heat and toxin. This type of eruption occurs because heat in the Heart meridian causes blockage, leading to stagnation of blood and qi, and toxins causing a purple color. Using this herb cools the blood and opens the orifices, allowing the heat and toxin to disperse, facilitating the eruption of the rash. When used on the fifth or sixth day, it should be combined with Zhanmi (Oryza Sativa Glutinosa), as glutinous rice can restrain the residual cold of Zicao. Nevertheless, since it is inherently cold and slippery, it should not be used long-term or universally, lest it cause diarrhea and transform into deficiency. Do not use if there is no blood heat or if the stool is already loose.