味辛，平、生微寒、熟温，有毒。主伤寒寒热，心下坚，下气，喉咽肿痛，头眩，胸胀，
咳
腹胸中膈痰热满结，咳嗽上气，心下急痛坚痞，时气呕逆，消痈肿，
胎堕，疗痿黄，悦泽面目。生令人吐，熟令人下。用之汤洗，令滑尽。一名地文，一名水玉，
一名守田，一名示姑。生槐里川谷。五月、八月采根，曝干。
射干为之使，恶皂荚，畏雄黄、生姜、干姜、秦皮、龟甲，反乌头。槐里属扶风，今第
一
白者为佳，不厌陈久，用之皆汤洗十许过，令滑尽，不尔戟人咽喉。方中有半夏，必须生姜
者，亦以制其毒故也。
〔谨案〕
半夏所在皆有，生泽中者，名羊眼
来互相用，功状殊异，问南
人说∶苗
三事混淆，陶竟不识。
主毒肿结热。
本出始兴，今都下亦种之。状如乌 而布地，花紫色，根似附子，苦酒摩涂肿，亦效，
不入余药。
〔谨案〕由跋
根，寻陶所注，乃是鸢尾根，即鸢头也。由跋今南人以为半夏，顿尔乖越，非惟不识半夏，
亦不知由跋与鸢尾耳。
味苦，温、微寒，有大毒。主心痛，寒热结气，积聚伏梁，伤筋痿拘缓，利水道。除阴
下湿，风眩。生汉中山谷及
宛朐。二月、八月采，阴干。
蜀漆为之使，恶莽草。近道亦有，极似半夏，但皆大，四边有子如虎掌。今用多破之，
或三、四片耳，方药亦不正
用也。
〔谨案〕此药，是由跋宿者，其苗一茎，茎头一叶，枝丫夹茎。根大者如拳，小者
若卵，都似扁柿，四畔有圆
牙，看如虎掌，故有此名。其由跋是新根，犹大于半夏二、三倍，但四畔无子牙耳。陶云虎
掌似半夏，也即由跋，以由
跋为半夏，释
【半夏】
味辛，性平；生用微寒，熟用温，有毒。主治伤寒引起的寒热往来，心下痞硬，降逆气，治疗喉咽肿痛、头晕目眩、胸腹胀满，以及膈间痰热壅结导致的咳嗽气喘、心下急痛及坚硬痞块，时行疫病引起的呕吐逆气，消散痈肿，治疗胎堕（流产），治愈萎黄病，使面目容光焕发。生半夏服用会引起呕吐，熟半夏服用则能通利下行。使用时需用汤水清洗，直至洗去滑腻感为止。又名地文、水玉、守田、示姑。产于槐里的川谷地带。五月和八月采集根部，晒干。
以射干为引经药，厌恶皂荚，畏惧雄黄、生姜、干姜、秦皮、龟甲，与乌头相反。槐里属于扶风郡，现在以白色者为佳，不嫌陈久，使用时都要用汤水清洗十余遍，直到滑腻感完全去除，否则像戟一样刺伤咽喉。方剂中如果有半夏，必须配伍生姜，也是为了制约其毒性。
〔谨案〕
半夏各地都有生长，生长在沼泽中的被称为羊眼半夏，人们互相混用，功效状态大不相同。询问南方人说：这三者混淆不清，陶弘景竟然不认识。
【由跋根】
主治毒肿结热。原本出产于始兴，现在京城附近也有种植。形状像乌头而铺散在地面上，花紫色，根部像附子，用醋磨涂敷在肿处，也有效，但不入其他药物配方。
〔谨案〕
关于由跋根，查找陶弘景的注释，发现他所说的乃是鸢尾根，也就是鸢头。现在的南方人把由跋当作半夏，完全搞错了，这不仅仅是不知道半夏是什么，也不知道由跋和鸢尾的区别。
【虎掌】
味苦，性温、微寒，有大毒。主治心痛，寒热结气，积聚形成的伏梁病，损伤筋脉导致的痿软拘挛或弛缓，通利水道。消除阴部潮湿，治疗风眩。产于汉中山谷及宛朐。二月和八月采集，阴干。
以蜀漆为引经药，厌恶莽草。近道也有生长，极像半夏，但个头都比较大，四周有子芽像虎掌。现在使用多将其破开，或者分成三、四片而已，方药中也不正规使用。
〔谨案〕
这种药，是由跋的老根。它的苗只有一茎，茎顶有一叶，枝丫夹着茎生长。根大的像拳头，小的像蛋，整体都像扁柿子，四周有圆形的牙状突起，看起来像虎掌，所以有这个名称。新的由跋根比半夏大二、三倍，只是四周没有子牙罢了。陶弘景说虎掌像半夏，其实也就是由跋，他把由跋当作半夏来解释。
[Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma)]
Pungent in flavor, neutral in nature; raw form is slightly cold, cooked form is warm, and it possesses toxicity. It primarily treats chills and fever associated with Shanghan (Cold Damage), hardness beneath the heart, directs rebellious Qi downward, alleviates sore throat and swelling, dizziness, chest distension, phlegm-heat accumulation in the diaphragm causing cough and upward rushing of Qi, acute pain and hard masses beneath the heart, vomiting and regurgitation due to seasonal epidemics, dissipates carbuncles and swellings, manages spontaneous abortion, treats sallow complexion (Wei Huang), and enhances facial luster. Raw Banxia induces vomiting, while cooked Banxia promotes downward movement. When used, it must be washed with hot water until the slippery sensation is completely removed. It is also known as Diwen, Shuiyu, Shoutian, and Shigu. It grows in the valleys of Huaili. The roots are harvested in May and August and dried in the sun.
Shuye (Belamcandae Rhizoma) serves as its guiding herb. It is incompatible with Zaojia (Gleditsiae Fructus Spina), fears Xionghuang (Realgar), Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger), Ganjiang (Dried Ginger), Qinpi (Ailanthi Cortex), and Guijia (Testudinis et Chelonis Carapax et Plastrum), and is chemically antagonistic to Wutou (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata). Huaili belongs to Fufeng commandery; currently, the white variety is considered superior. There is no objection to using aged material. In use, it must be washed with hot water more than ten times until the slippery texture is entirely gone; otherwise, it will irritate the throat like a halberd. In prescriptions containing Banxia, Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger) must be included to counteract its toxicity.
[Note]
Banxia is found everywhere. Those growing in marshes are called Yangyan Banxia (Sheep's Eye Pinellia). People interchangeably use them, but their efficacy differs significantly. Inquiry among southern people reveals that these three are confused, yet Tao Hongjing failed to recognize this distinction.
[Yuoba Gen (Iris Tectorii Rhizoma)]
Primarily treats toxic swellings and accumulated heat. Originally produced in Shixing, it is now cultivated near the capital. Its appearance resembles Wutou (Aconite) spreading on the ground, with purple flowers and roots similar to Aconite. Rubbing it with vinegar and applying it to swellings is also effective, but it is not typically included in other herbal formulas.
[Note]
Regarding Yuoba Gen, consulting Tao Hongjing’s annotations reveals that he referred to the root of Iris tectorum (Yuanwei), also known as Yuan Tou. Currently, southern people mistake Yuoba for Banxia, which is a significant error. This indicates not only ignorance of Banxia but also confusion between Yuoba and Yuanwei (Iris).
[Huzhang (Pinelliae Ternatae Rhizoma or Iris Root variant)]
Bitter in flavor, warm and slightly cold in nature, possessing high toxicity. It primarily treats heart pain, qi stagnation with chills and fever, accumulations forming Fuliang disease, tendon injuries causing flaccidity or spasms, promotes urination, eliminates dampness in the genital region, and treats wind-induced vertigo. It grows in the valleys of Hanzhong and Wanqu. Harvested in February and August, then dried in the shade.
Shuqi (Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix) serves as its guiding herb. It is incompatible with Mangcao (Cannabis Fructus or potentially another herb depending on context, usually Cannabidis Fructus in older texts but here likely referring to a specific incompatibility). It grows in nearby regions and closely resembles Banxia, but is larger, with lateral buds resembling a tiger's paw. Currently, it is often broken apart into three or four pieces for use, though it is not standardly prescribed in official formulas.
[Note]
This medicinal substance is the old root of Yuoba. Its sprout has a single stem with one leaf at the tip, and branches clasp the stem. The roots are large, up to the size of a fist, or small, like an egg, generally resembling flat persimmons, with round tooth-like projections around the edges, looking like a tiger's paw, hence the name. The new Yuoba root is two to three times larger than Banxia but lacks these lateral teeth. Tao Hongjing stated that Huzhang resembles Banxia, implying they are essentially the same, as he interpreted Huzhang as Yuoba mistaken for Banxia.