辛温，无毒。产华阴及辽东者良。反藜芦。
《本经》主咳逆头痛，百节拘挛，风湿痹痛，死肌，明目，利九窍。
发明 细辛辛温，上升入手足厥阴、少阴血分，治督脉为病，脊强而厥。《本经》治咳
逆，头痛脑痛，善搜厥阴伏匿之邪也。独活为使，治少阴头痛如神，亦主诸阳头痛。诸风药
用之治风湿痹痛，百节拘挛。去死肌、明目者，取辛以散结而开经脉窍隧之邪也。味辛而热
，温少阴之经，故仲景少阴证用麻黄附子细辛汤，辛温能散。故凡风寒风湿头痛、口疮、喉
痹、 齿诸病用之，取其能散浮热，亦火郁发之之义也。辛能泄肺，故风寒咳嗽上气者宜之
。辛能补肝，故胆气不足则肝气有余，惊痫眼目诸病宜之。辛能润燥，故通少阴，诸经及耳
窍闭塞者宜之。又主痰结湿火，鼻塞不利，凡口舌生疮者，用细辛、黄连末掺之。凡血虚内
热火郁，头痛发热，咳嗽者戒用；以其辛烈耗真气也。细辛辛之极者，用不过五分。
俗名马蹄香，又名杜葵
辛温，无毒。
发明 杜衡香窜与细辛相似，故药肆以之代充细辛。亦能散头目风寒，下气消痰，行水
破血。但其气浊，不能搜涤少阴经中之寒，稍逊细辛一筹耳。
苦咸平，无毒。
《本经》主暴中风，身热肢满，忽忽不知人，狂惑邪气，寒热酸疼，温疟洗洗，发作
有时。
发明 白薇咸平降泄，抑阳扶阴，为足阳明经本药，兼行足少阴、手太阴。《本经》主
暴中风身热肢满，是热郁生风，痰随火涌，故令忽忽不知人，狂惑邪气，寒热酸疼，皆热邪
所致。温疟乃冬时伏邪，至春而发，缪氏《经疏》言，暑邪所伤，秋必发为温疟，恐非经旨
。《别录》疗伤中淋露者，女子伤犯阴中营血，而成淋露之疾，用以除热益阴，则前证瘳矣
。下水气利阴气者，总取益阴之功，真阴益而邪水下。性善降泄，故久服利人。《金匮》治
妇人产中虚烦、呕逆，安中益气，竹皮丸中用之。《千金》治风温发汗后身灼热，自汗，身
重，多眠，鼻息必鼾，语言难出，葳蕤汤中用之。又治妇人遗尿，不拘胎前产后，有白薇芍
药汤，取其有补阴之功。而兼行手太阴，以清膀胱之上源，殊非虚寒不禁之比也。古方多用
治妇人者，以《别录》有疗伤中淋露之功也。凡胃虚少食，泄泻及喘咳多汗，阳气外泄者禁
用。
【细辛】
味辛、性温，无毒。产自华阴和辽东地区的品质优良。与藜芦相反。
《神农本草经》主治咳嗽气逆、头痛，全身关节拘挛，风湿痹痛，肌肉坏死（死肌），明目，通利九窍。
【发明】
细辛味辛性温，药势上升，入足厥阴肝经、手厥阴心包经及足少阴肾经的血分，治疗督脉病变引起的脊柱强直和厥逆。《本经》治疗咳嗽气逆、头痛脑痛，是因为它能搜剔厥阴经中潜伏隐匿的邪气。若以独活为引导，治疗少阴经头痛效果如神，也主治各种阳经头痛。各类祛风药中加入细辛，可治疗风湿痹痛和全身关节拘挛。能去除死肌、明目的原因，是取其辛散之性，能消散结聚并开通经脉孔窍中的邪气。味道辛而热，能温通少阴经，所以张仲景在治疗少阴病证时使用麻黄附子细辛汤，利用其辛温发散的特性。因此，凡是风寒或风湿引起的头痛、口疮、喉痹以及牙齿疾病，使用它都是取其能疏散浮游之热的功效，这也符合“火郁发之”的治疗原则。辛味能泄肺，所以风寒引起的咳嗽、气逆上冲者适宜使用。辛味能补肝，所以当胆气不足导致肝气有余时，出现惊痫及眼部疾病，适宜使用。辛味能润燥，所以能通利少阴经及其他经络及耳窍闭塞者适宜使用。此外，还能主治痰结、湿火引起的鼻塞不通，凡是口舌生疮的，可用细辛和黄连研成末掺敷患处。凡是血虚内热、火郁引起头痛发热、咳嗽的患者，禁止使用；因为细辛辛烈，会耗伤真气。细辛是辛味最烈的药物，用量不超过五分。
【杜衡】
俗名马蹄香，又名杜葵。
味辛、性温，无毒。
【发明】
杜衡香气窜透，与细辛相似，所以药店常用来冒充细辛。也能疏散头目风寒，降气消痰，行水破血。但它的药气浑浊，不能搜剔涤荡少阴经中的寒邪，稍逊于细辛一筹。
【白薇】
味苦、咸，性平，无毒。
《神农本草经》主治突然中风，身体发热、四肢胀满，神情恍惚不知人事，狂乱迷惑等邪气症状，寒热酸痛，以及定时发作的温疟（一种疟疾）。
【发明】
白薇味苦咸性平，具有降泄作用，能抑制阳气、扶持阴液，是足阳明胃经的本经药，兼行足少阴肾经和手太阴肺经。《本经》主治突然中风、身热肢满，这是因为热郁生风，痰随火势涌上，所以导致神情恍惚不知人事，狂乱迷惑、寒热酸痛等症状，都是由热邪所致。温疟是冬季伏藏的邪气，到春季才发作，缪希雍在《本草经疏》中说，这是暑邪所伤，秋季必然发作温疟，恐怕不符合《本经》的原意。《名医别录》治疗因内伤导致的淋沥漏下之症，女子因阴部受损损伤营血，从而形成淋露的疾病，使用白薇可以清除热邪、增益阴液，那么前面的病症就能痊愈。通过下水气、利阴气的作用，主要是取益阴的功效，真阴得到补充，邪水自然下行。白薇性质善于降泄，所以长期服用对人有益。《金匮要略》治疗妇女产后虚烦、呕逆，安中益气，在竹皮丸中使用白薇。《千金方》治疗风温病发汗后身体灼热、自汗、身体沉重、嗜睡、鼻息鼾声、语言困难，在葳蕤汤中使用白薇。又治疗妇女遗尿，不论胎前产后，有白薇芍药汤，取其补阴的功效，并且兼行手太阴肺经，以清肃膀胱的上源（肺为水之上源），这显然不是虚寒不禁的情况。古方多用白薇治疗妇女疾病，是因为《别录》记载它有治疗内伤淋露的功效。凡是胃虚食少、腹泻以及喘咳多汗、阳气外泄的患者，禁止使用。
[Asari Radix et Rhizoma]
Pungent in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic. The best quality comes from Huayin and Liaodong. It is incompatible with Veratrum nigrum (Lilü).
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it treats cough with reverse flow of Qi, headache, spasms and contracture of all joints, bi-syndrome caused by wind-dampness, necrotic muscle tissue, improves vision, and unblocks the nine orifices.
[Invention/Commentary]
Asari Radix is pungent and warm; its action ascends and enters the blood aspect of the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian, Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, and Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. It treats diseases of the Du Mai (Governing Vessel) characterized by stiffness of the spine and cold extremities. The *Bencao Jing* treats cough with reverse flow of Qi and headache because it can search out and eliminate pathogens hidden within the Jueyin meridian. When used with Angelica pubescens (Duhuo) as a guide, it effectively treats Shaoyin-type headaches and also addresses various Yang-meridian headaches. Added to various wind-dispelling herbs, it treats bi-syndrome due to wind-dampness and joint spasms. Its ability to remove necrotic tissue and improve vision stems from its pungency which disperses stagnation and opens the collaterals and orifices. Being pungent and hot, it warms the Shaoyin meridian; therefore, Zhang Zhongjing uses Ephedrae Herba, Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata, and Asari Radix Decoction (Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang) for Shaoyin syndrome, utilizing its pungent-warm dispersing property. Thus, it is used for headaches caused by wind-cold or wind-dampness, mouth ulcers, throat obstruction, and dental diseases, taking advantage of its ability to disperse floating heat, consistent with the principle of "releasing fire depression." Pungency can drain the Lung; hence, it is suitable for cough and asthma due to wind-cold. Pungency can tonify the Liver; thus, when Gallbladder Qi is insufficient leading to excess Liver Qi, causing fright, epilepsy, and eye disorders, it is appropriate. Pungency can moisten dryness; therefore, it is suitable for blocking of the Shaoyin meridian, other meridians, and ear orifices. Furthermore, it treats phlegm nodules and damp-fire causing nasal congestion. For mouth and tongue ulcers, a powder of Asari Radix and Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian) can be applied. It is contraindicated for patients with Blood deficiency, internal heat, fire depression causing headache and fever, or cough, because its pungent and acrid nature consumes True Qi. Asari Radix is extremely pungent; dosage should not exceed 2.5 grams (5 fen).
[Duheng / Dictamni Radix]
Commonly known as Matixiang, also named Dukui.
Pungent in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic.
[Invention/Commentary]
Dictamni Radix has an aromatic and penetrating scent similar to Asari Radix, so pharmacies often use it to adulterate Asari Radix. It can also dispel wind-cold from the head and eyes, direct Qi downward, resolve phlegm, promote water metabolism, and break blood stasis. However, its qi is turbid and cannot search out and cleanse cold from the Shaoyin meridian, making it slightly inferior to Asari Radix.
[Baiwei / Cynanchi Atrati Radix]
Bitter and salty in flavor, neutral in nature, non-toxic.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it treats sudden stroke, body heat and limb fullness, mental confusion/unconsciousness, mania and delirious behavior due to pathogenic factors, alternating chills and fever, soreness and pain, and intermittent fever (Wen Nue) occurring at specific times.
[Invention/Commentary]
Cynanchi Atrati Radix is bitter and salty with a neutral nature, possessing descending and draining properties. It suppresses Yang and supports Yin. It is a primary herb for the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and also acts on the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. The *Bencao Jing* treats sudden stroke with body heat and limb fullness because heat depression generates wind, and phlegm surges with fire, leading to mental confusion, mania, alternating chills and fever, and soreness/pain, all caused by heat pathogens. Wen Nue (Warm Malaria) is latent pathogenic qi from winter that manifests in spring. Miao Xiyong in *Jingshu* suggests it is caused by Summerheat damaging the body, manifesting as Warm Malaria in autumn, which likely contradicts the original intent of the *Jing*. The *Bielu* treats leukorrhea and dripping sensations due to internal injury. In women, damage to the Yin region and Ying-Blood leads to this condition; Baiwei clears heat and benefits Yin, curing these symptoms. By promoting water metabolism and benefiting Yin Qi, it primarily relies on its Yin-nourishing effect; when True Yin is replenished, pathological fluids descend. Its nature favors descending and draining, so long-term use is beneficial. The *Jinkui Yaolue* uses it in Zhupi Wan to treat postpartum deficiency irritability and vomiting, stabilizing the Middle and boosting Qi. The *Qianjin Fang* uses it in Zhenyu Tang to treat Wind-Warm disease after sweating, characterized by burning heat, spontaneous sweating, heaviness of the body, somnolence, snoring breath, and difficulty speaking. It also treats urinary incontinence in women, regardless of pre- or postpartum status, using Baiwei Shaoyao Tang, leveraging its Yin-tonifying power while acting on the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian to clear the upper source of the Bladder (Lung being the upper source of water), which is distinct from deficiency-cold incontinence. Ancient formulas frequently use Baiwei for gynecological conditions because the *Bielu* records its efficacy in treating internal injury-related leukorrhea. It is contraindicated for those with Spleen/Stomach deficiency, poor appetite, diarrhea, wheezing/cough with excessive sweating, or external leakage of Yang Qi.