连翘∶味淡微苦，性凉。具升浮宣散之力，流通气血，治十二经血凝气聚，为疮家要药。能透表解肌，清
热逐风，又为治风热要药。且性能托毒外出，又为发表疹瘾要药。为其性凉而升浮，故又善治头目之疾，凡头
疼、目疼、齿疼、鼻渊或流浊涕成脑漏证，皆能主之。为其味淡能利小便，故又善治淋证，溺管生炎。
仲景方中所用之连招，乃连翘之根，即《神农本草经》之连根也。其性与连翘相近，其发表之力不及
连翘，而其利水之力则胜于连翘，故仲景麻黄连轺赤小豆汤用之，以治瘀热在里，身将发黄，取其能导引湿热
下行也。
连翘诸家皆未言其发汗，而以治外感风热，用至一两必能出汗，且其发汗之力甚柔和，又甚绵长。曾治
一少年风温初得，俾单用连翘一两煎汤服，彻夜微汗，翌晨病若失。
连翘善理肝气，既能舒肝气之郁，又能平肝气之盛。曾治一媪，年过七旬，其手连臂肿疼数年不愈，其脉
弦而有力，遂于清热消肿药中，每剂加连翘四钱，旬日肿消疼愈，其家人谓媪从前最易愤怒，自服此药后不但
病愈，而愤怒全无，何药若是之灵妙也！由是观之，连翘可为理肝气要药矣。
川楝子∶大如栗者是川楝子，他处楝子小而味苦，去核名金铃子。味微酸、微苦，性凉。酸者入肝，苦者
善降，能引肝胆之热下行自小便出，故治肝气横恣，胆火炽盛，致胁下掀疼。并治胃脘气郁作疼，木能疏土也。
其性虽凉，治疝气者恒以之为向导药，因其下行之力能引诸药至患处也。至他处之苦楝子，因其味苦有小毒，
除虫者恒用之。
连翘：味道淡而略带苦味，药性凉。具有上升、浮散和宣通发散的力量，能够流通气血，治疗十二经脉中血凝气聚的病症，是治疗疮疡的要药。它能透达肌表、解除肌邪，清热祛风，又是治疗风热病的要药。而且它性能托毒外出，也是发表疹瘾的要药。因为它的药性凉且具升浮之性，所以又善于治疗头目部的疾病，凡是头痛、眼痛、牙痛、鼻渊（鼻窦炎）或流浊涕形成脑漏证候，都能主治。因为它的味道淡能利小便，所以又善于治疗淋证，以及尿道炎症。
张仲景方剂中所用的“连轺”，乃是连翘的根，也就是《神农本草经》中记载的“连根”。它的药性与连翘相近，但发表（解表）的力量不及连翘，而利水的力量则胜过连翘，所以张仲景在麻黄连轺赤小豆汤中使用它，用来治疗瘀热蕴结在体内、身体即将发黄的病症，取它引导湿热下行的作用。
历代医家都没有提到连翘能发汗，但在治疗外感风热时，使用至一两（约30克）必然能出汗，而且它的发汗力量非常柔和，持续时间也很绵长。曾治疗过一个少年，初患风温病，让他单用连翘一两煎汤服用，整夜微微出汗，第二天早晨病就好了。
连翘善于调理肝气，既能舒展肝气的郁结，又能平抑肝气的亢盛。曾治疗一位七十多岁的老妇人，她的手臂连着手臂肿胀疼痛数年不愈，脉象弦而有力，于是在清热消肿的药方中，每剂加入连翘四钱，十天后肿胀消退、疼痛痊愈。她的家人说这位老妇人以前最容易愤怒，自从服用此药后，不仅病好了，而且不再愤怒，什么药能有如此灵妙呢！由此看来，连翘可以说是调理肝气的要药。
川楝子：像栗子大小的是川楝子，其他地方产的楝子较小且味道苦，去掉核后称为金铃子。味道微酸、微苦，药性凉。酸味入肝，苦味善于降泄，能引导肝胆的热邪下行，从小便排出，所以治疗肝气横逆、胆火炽盛导致的胁下掀动疼痛。并治疗胃脘部气机郁滞引起的疼痛，这是利用木（肝）能疏土（脾/胃）的原理。它的药性虽然凉，但治疗疝气时常常把它作为向导药，因为它下行的力量能引导其他药物到达患处。至于其他地方产的苦楝子，因为味道苦且有小毒，驱虫者常使用它。
Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructum): The taste is light and slightly bitter, and the nature is cool. It possesses ascending, floating, diffusing, and dispersing properties, promoting the circulation of Qi and Blood, treating Qi stagnation and Blood stasis in the twelve meridians, and serving as a key herb for treating sores and ulcers. It can penetrate the exterior to resolve the muscle layer, clear Heat, and expel Wind, making it an essential herb for treating Wind-Heat conditions. Furthermore, its property allows it to push toxins outward, making it a crucial herb for venting rashes and hives. Due to its cool nature and ascending-floating quality, it is also effective in treating disorders of the head and eyes; it can primarily treat headaches, eye pain, toothache, Bi Yuan (nasal sinusitis), or conditions involving turbid nasal discharge leading to brain leakage. Because its light taste promotes urination, it is also adept at treating Lin syndrome (dysuria) and inflammation of the urinary tract.
The "Lian Yao" used in Zhang Zhongjing's formulas refers to the root of Lianqiao, which is the "Lian Gen" recorded in *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica). Its nature is similar to that of Lianqiao, but its ability to release the exterior is inferior to Lianqiao, while its diuretic power surpasses it. Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing used it in Mahuang Lianqiao Chixiaodou Tang (Ephedra, Forsythia Root, and Red Bean Decoction) to treat stagnant Heat trapped inside the body with impending jaundice, utilizing its ability to guide Damp-Heat downward.
Previous authorities did not mention that Lianqiao induces sweating. However, when used to treat exogenous Wind-Heat, a dosage of one liang (approx. 30g) will inevitably induce sweating. Moreover, its diaphoretic action is very gentle and prolonged. I once treated a young man who had just contracted Wind-Warmth disease. I prescribed him to take a decoction of single-herb Lianqiao (one liang). He sweated mildly throughout the night, and by the next morning, his illness had vanished.
Lianqiao excels at regulating Liver Qi; it can both soothe Liver Qi stagnation and pacify excessive Liver Qi. I once treated an elderly woman over seventy years old who had suffered from swelling and pain in her hand extending to her arm for several years without cure. Her pulse was wiry and forceful. In the prescription for clearing Heat and reducing swelling, I added four qian (approx. 12g) of Lianqiao per dose. After ten days, the swelling subsided and the pain ceased. Her family stated that she was previously prone to anger, but after taking this medicine, not only did her illness heal, but her anger disappeared completely. What herb could be so miraculous! From this, we can see that Lianqiao is indeed a key herb for regulating Liver Qi.
Chuanlianzi (Toosendan Fructus): Those the size of a chestnut are Chuanlianzi. Liuzi produced elsewhere are smaller and more bitter; when the kernel is removed, they are called Jinlingzi. The taste is slightly sour and slightly bitter, and the nature is cool. Sour enters the Liver; Bitter descends effectively. It can guide Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder downward to exit via urine, thus treating Liver Qi rebellion and blazing Gallbladder Fire causing throbbing pain under the hypochondrium. It also treats pain caused by Qi stagnation in the epigastrium, utilizing the principle that Wood (Liver) can loosen Earth (Spleen/Stomach). Although its nature is cool, it is frequently used as a guiding herb for treating hernia because its descending power can lead other herbs to the affected area. As for the bitter Liuzi from other regions, due to its bitter taste and slight toxicity, it is commonly used by those specializing in expelling parasites.