苦平微温，无毒。雷公云，左文列为秦，治湿病。右文列为艽，治香港脚。今药肆
多右文者，慎勿混合。
《本经》主寒热邪气，寒湿风痹，肢节痛，下水，利小便。
发明 秦艽阴中微阳，可升可降，入手足阳明，以其去湿也，兼入肝胆，以其治风也。
故手足不遂，黄瘅酒毒及妇人带疾，须之阳明有湿，则身体酸痛，肢节烦疼及挛急不遂，有
热则日晡潮热，用以祛风胜湿则愈。凡痛有寒热或浮肿者，多挟客邪，用此以祛风利湿方为
合剂，故《本经》治寒热邪气，寒湿风痹，肢节痛等证。若久痛虚羸，血气不能营养肢体而
痛，及下体虚寒，痛酸枯瘦等病，而小便清利者，咸非秦艽所宜。今庸师喜用秦艽，且不辨
左文、右文，凡遇痛证，动辄用之，失其旨矣。
即茈胡
苦平，无毒。入解表药生用，清肝炒熟用。
《本经》主心腹肠胃中结气，饮食积聚，寒热邪气，推陈致新，明目益精。
发明 柴胡能引清阳之气，从左上升，足少阳胆经之药。胆为清净之府，无出无入，禁
汗吐下，惟宜和解，以其经居半表半里。《本经》治心腹肠胃结气，饮食积聚，寒热邪气，
使清阳之气上升。而胃中留结宿滞亦得解散矣。仲景治伤寒寒热往来，胁痛耳聋，妇人热入
血室，皆为必用。小儿五疳羸热，诸疟寒热，咸宜用之。痘疹见点后，有寒热或胁下疼热，
于透表药内用之，不使热留少阳经中，则将来无切牙之患。虚劳寒热多有可用者。劳有五劳
，病在五脏，若劳在肝胆心包络有热，或少阳经寒热，则柴胡为必用药。劳在脾胃有热，或
阳气下陷，则柴胡乃引清气退热之药。惟劳在肺肾者，不可用。东垣补中益气用之者，乃引
肝胆清阳之气上行，兼升达参、 之力耳。疮疽用之者，散诸经血结气聚也。今人以细者名
小柴胡，不知小柴胡乃汤名也，若大柴胡汤而用银州者，可乎？按∶柴胡为少阳经药，病在
太阳，服之太早则引寇入门。病在阴经，用之则重伤其表，误人不可胜数。其性升发，病患
虚而气升者忌之。呕吐及阴火炎上者勿服。若阴虚骨蒸服之，助其虚阳上逆，势必耗尽真阴
而后已。奈何操司命之权者，多所未悟也。
【秦艽】
味苦，性平而微温，无毒。雷公说：字形左边是“文”字旁的是秦，用于治疗湿病；右边是“文”字旁的是艽，用于治疗香港脚（足部肿痛溃烂之症）。现在药店里多为右边是“文”字旁的，千万不要混淆。
《神农本草经》记载：主治寒热邪气，寒湿风痹，肢体关节疼痛，通利水道，小便通畅。
发明：秦艽属于阴中带有微阳的性质，既能升提又能下降，主要归入手足阳明经，因为它能祛除湿邪；兼入肝胆经，因为它能治疗风疾。所以，对于手足不遂、黄疸、酒毒以及妇女带下病，如果是阳明经有湿邪，就会出现身体酸痛、关节烦痛以及筋脉拘挛不遂；如果有热邪，则会出现下午申酉时分潮热的症状，使用秦艽来祛风胜湿，病症就会痊愈。凡是疼痛伴有寒热或浮肿的，多夹杂外来的邪气，使用此药来祛风利湿才符合治疗原则，所以《神农本草经》用它来治疗寒热邪气、寒湿风痹、肢体关节疼痛等证候。如果是久病疼痛导致身体虚弱消瘦，气血不能滋养肢体而引起的疼痛，以及下部虚寒、疼痛酸楚、肌肉枯瘦等病，且小便清长通利的，都不是秦艽适宜治疗的病症。现在的庸医喜欢使用秦艽，而且不辨别左文和右文，凡遇到疼痛病症，动辄就使用它，这是违背了用药宗旨的。
【柴胡】
即茈胡。
味苦，性平，无毒。用于解表药时生用，用于清肝火时炒熟用。
《神农本草经》记载：主治心腹肠胃中的结滞之气，饮食积聚，寒热邪气，推陈出新，明目益精。
发明：柴胡能够引导清阳之气从左上升，是足少阳胆经的药物。胆为清净之府，无出无入，禁止使用汗法、吐法和下法，只适宜使用和解法，因为它的经脉位于半表半里之间。《神农本草经》治疗心腹肠胃结气、饮食积聚、寒热邪气，就是使清阳之气上升，从而胃中留存的宿食积滞也能得以解散。张仲景治疗伤寒引起的寒热往来、胁痛耳聋，妇女热入血室，都是必须使用的药物。小儿五疳羸弱发热，各种疟疾的寒热症状，都适宜使用。痘疹发出后，如果有寒热或胁下疼痛发热，在透表药中加入使用，不让热邪留在少阳经中，那么将来就不会出现咬牙的症状。虚劳引起的寒热大多可以使用柴胡。劳损有五劳之分，病位在五脏，如果劳损在肝胆心包络且有热，或者少阳经有寒热，那么柴胡是必用的药物。如果劳损在脾胃有热，或者阳气下陷，那么柴胡是引导清气退热的药物。只有劳损在肺肾的，不可使用。李东垣在补中益气汤中使用柴胡，是为了引导肝胆的清阳之气上行，同时提升人参、黄芪的力量罢了。治疗疮疽时使用柴胡，是为了消散各条经络的血结气聚。现在的人把细小的柴胡称为小柴胡，不知道小柴胡是一个汤剂的名称。如果用银州产的柴胡来代替大柴胡汤中的主药，可以吗？按：柴胡是少阳经的药物，病在太阳经时，服用太早则会引邪深入，如同引寇入门。病在阴经时，使用柴胡则会重伤体表正气，误人的情况不可胜数。柴胡性质升发，病患体质虚弱且气机上逆的应当忌用。呕吐及阴火上炎者不要服用。如果是阴虚骨蒸（阴虚发热）的患者服用，会助长虚阳上逆，势必耗尽真阴才会停止。奈何掌握人命权柄的医生们，大多对此没有醒悟啊。
[Qinjiao]
Bitter, neutral in nature with slight warmth, non-toxic. Leigong stated: The character with the 'wen' radical on the left is Qin, used to treat dampness diseases; the character with the 'wen' radical on the right is Jiao, used to treat Hongxiangjiao (podagra/foot swelling and ulceration). Currently, most herbs sold in pharmacies are of the right-radical type; do not mix them up.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states: It treats cold-heat pathogenic factors, wind-bi caused by cold-dampness, pain in limbs and joints, promotes water passage, and facilitates urination.
Invention: Qinjiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix) possesses a nature of slight yang within yin, capable of ascending and descending. It enters the Hand and Foot Yangming meridians because it dispels dampness; it also enters the Liver and Gallbladder meridians because it treats wind disorders. Therefore, for conditions such as flaccidity or paralysis of the limbs, jaundice, alcohol toxicity, and leukorrhea in women, if there is dampness in the Yangming meridian, symptoms include body soreness and pain, vexatious pain in joints, and spasmodic flaccidity. If heat is present, tidal fever occurs during the Shen and You hours (3 PM - 7 PM). Using Qinjiao to dispel wind and overcome dampness will lead to recovery. Whenever pain is accompanied by cold-heat sensations or edema, it usually involves external pathogenic factors; using this herb to dispel wind and promote diuresis is appropriate. Hence, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* uses it to treat cold-heat pathogenic factors, wind-bi due to cold-dampness, and limb joint pain. However, for chronic pain leading to emaciation, where Qi and Blood fail to nourish the limbs causing pain, or for deficiency-cold in the lower body manifesting as painful soreness, withered muscles, and thinness, provided the urine is clear and profuse, these are not suitable indications for Qinjiao. Modern mediocre physicians frequently use Qinjiao without distinguishing between the left-radical and right-radical types. They indiscriminately apply it to all pain syndromes, thereby missing its true therapeutic intent.
[Chaihu]
Also known as Zihou.
Bitter, neutral in nature, non-toxic. When used in exterior-releasing formulas, use raw; when used to clear Liver heat, use stir-fried.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states: It treats constrained Qi in the heart, abdomen, stomach, and intestines, food stagnation accumulation, cold-heat pathogenic factors, pushes out the old and brings forth the new, brightens the eyes, and benefits essence.
Invention: Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) can guide clear Yang Qi to ascend from the left; it is a herb of the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. The Gallbladder is a pure and clear organ, having no exit or entry, and prohibits the use of sweating, vomiting, and purging methods; only harmonization is suitable, as its meridian resides at the half-exterior half-interior level. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* treats constrained Qi in the heart, abdomen, stomach, and intestines, food stagnation, and cold-heat pathogenic factors by causing the clear Yang Qi to ascend, thereby resolving retained food and stagnation in the stomach. Zhang Zhongjing used it as an essential herb for treating alternating chills and fever from Cold Damage, hypochondriac pain, deafness, and heat entering the Blood Chamber in women. It is also suitable for five kinds of childhood malnutrition (Wugan) with emaciated fever, and various malaria chills and fevers. After the eruption of smallpox or chickenpox, if there are chills/fever or painful heat under the hypochondrium, adding it to exterior-resolving formulas prevents heat from lingering in the Shaoyang meridian, thus avoiding future teeth-grinding complications. It is often useful for deficiency-consumption with chills and fever. Consumption disorders involve five types of consumption affecting the Five Zang organs. If the consumption involves heat in the Liver, Gallbladder, or Pericardium, or Shaoyang meridian chills and fever, Chaihu is an essential medication. If the consumption involves heat in the Spleen and Stomach, or sinking of Yang Qi, Chaihu serves to guide clear Qi upward to reduce fever. Only when consumption affects the Lungs and Kidneys should it be avoided. Li Dongyuan included it in Buzhong Yiqi Tang to guide the clear Yang Qi of the Liver and Gallbladder upward, simultaneously enhancing the lifting power of Ginseng and Astragalus. In treating carbuncles and sores, it is used to dissipate blood stasis and Qi stagnation in various meridians. Nowadays, people mistakenly refer to fine Chaihu as "Xiaochaihu," unaware that Xiaochaihu is actually the name of a decoction formula. Would one use Yinzhou-grown Chaihu to replace the main ingredient in Daxiaohuai Tang? Note: Chaihu is a herb for the Shaoyang meridian. If the disease is in the Taiyang meridian, administering it too early draws the pathogen inside, like inviting a thief into the house. If the disease is in the Yin meridians, using it severely damages the exterior defenses, causing countless errors. Its nature is ascending and dispersing; patients who are deficient and have ascending Qi must avoid it. Those with vomiting and flaming-up of Yin Fire should not take it. If taken by patients with Yin deficiency and bone-steaming fever, it aids the rebellious deficiant Yang, inevitably exhausting the True Yin until death. Alas, how many practitioners holding the power over life and death remain unaware of this!