苦大寒，无毒。忌猪肉，犯之令人漏精。
发明 胡黄连苦寒而降，大伐脏腑骨髓邪热，除妇人胎蒸、小儿疳热积气之峻药。同乌
梅止小儿血痢，同鸡肝治小儿疳眼，同猪胰疗杨梅疮毒，同干姜治果子积，皆取伐肝肾热邪
也。小儿肾气本实，故可当此。若脾胃肾脏不足者，服之夺人天元，为害不浅。惟霉疮用胡
黄连、当归、甘草、猪胰水，酒煎服，二剂辄效，以其直达下焦，善搜淫火之毒也。
苦寒，无毒。中空者为枯芩入肺，细实者为子芩入大肠，并煮熟酒炒用。
《本经》主诸热黄瘅，肠 泄利，逐水下血闭，治恶疮疽，蚀火疡。
发明 黄芩苦燥而坚肠胃，故湿热黄瘅、肠 泻痢为必用之药。其枯芩性升，入手太
阴经，清肌表之热。条芩性降，泻肝胆大肠之火，除胃中热。得酒炒上行，主膈上诸热。得
芍药、甘草治下痢脓血、腹痛后重、身热。佐黄连治诸疮痛不可忍。同黑参治喉间腥臭。助
白术安胎，盖黄芩能清热凉血，白术能补脾统血也。此惟胎热升动不宁者宜之；胎寒下坠及
食少便溏者，慎勿混用。丹溪言黄芩治三焦火。仲景治伤寒少阳证，用小柴胡汤。汗下不解
，胸满心烦用柴胡桂姜汤。温病用黄芩汤。太阳少阳合病用葛根黄芩黄连汤。心下痞满用泻
心汤。寒格吐逆用干姜黄芩黄连人参汤等方，皆用黄芩以治表里诸热，使邪从小肠而泄，皆
《本经》主诸热之纲旨。其黄瘅肠 泻痢之治，取苦寒以去湿热也。逐水下血闭者，火郁血
热之所致，火降则邪行，水下血闭自通矣。昔人以柴胡去热不及黄芩，盖柴胡专主少阳往来
寒热，少阳为枢，非柴胡不能宣通中外。黄芩专主阳明蒸热，阳明居中，非黄芩不能开泄蕴
隆。一主风木客邪，一主湿土蕴着，讵可混论。芩虽苦寒，毕竟治标之药，惟躯壳热者宜之
。若阴虚伏热，虚阳发露可轻试乎。其条实者兼行冲脉，治血热妄行。古方有一味子芩丸，
治妇人血热，经水暴下不止者最效。若血虚发热，肾虚挟寒，及妊娠胎寒下坠，脉迟小弱皆
不可用，以其苦寒而伐生发之气也。
胡黄连：味极苦，性大寒，无毒。忌食猪肉，食用后会导致精气泄漏。
【发明】胡黄连味苦性寒，性质沉降，能强力清除脏腑骨髓中的邪热，是治疗妇人胎蒸（孕妇体内虚热）、小儿疳积发热及气滞的峻烈药物。与乌梅同用可止小儿血痢；与鸡肝同用可治小儿疳积眼病；与猪胰同用可疗治杨梅疮毒；与干姜同用可治果积（因食水果引起的积滞），这些配伍都是取其清除肝肾热邪的作用。因为小儿肾气本来充实，所以能够承受这种药力。如果是脾胃和肾脏虚弱不足的人，服用它会损伤人体的先天元气，危害不小。只有治疗霉疮（梅毒）时，使用胡黄连、当归、甘草、猪胰水，加酒煎服，两剂就能见效，这是因为它能直达下焦，善于搜剔淫火之毒。
黄芩：味苦性寒，无毒。中间空心的称为枯芩，入肺经；细小坚实的称为子芩，入大肠经，均需煮熟、酒炒后使用。
《神农本草经》记载其主治各种热症引起的黄疸，肠中泄泻痢疾，通利水道并消除血闭，治疗恶疮疽，腐蚀火疡。
【发明】黄芩味苦性燥，能坚固肠胃，因此湿热引起的黄疸、肠中泻痢是其必用的药物。枯芩药性上升，入手太阴肺经，清除肌表的热邪。条芩药性下降，清泻肝胆和大肠的火气，清除胃中的热邪。经过酒炒后药性上行，主治膈膜以上的各种热症。配合芍药、甘草可治疗下痢脓血、腹痛里急后重、身体发热。佐以黄连可治疗各种疼痛难忍的疮疡。与黑参（玄参）同用可治疗喉间腥臭。辅助白术可安胎，因为黄芩能清热凉血，白术能补脾统血。这仅适用于胎热升动不安的情况；若是胎寒下坠以及饮食少、大便稀溏者，切勿混用。朱丹溪说黄芩能治三焦之火。张仲景治疗伤寒少阳证，使用小柴胡汤。汗法或下法治疗后病不解，出现胸满心烦，使用柴胡桂枝干姜汤。温病使用黄芩汤。太阳病与少阳病合病使用葛根黄芩黄连汤。心下痞满使用泻心汤。寒热格拒导致呕吐逆反使用干姜黄芩黄连人参汤等方剂，这些都是用黄芩来治疗表里各处的热邪，使邪气从小肠排出，这都是《本经》中“主治诸热”的大纲宗旨。对于黄疸和肠中泻痢的治疗，是取用其苦寒之性来去除湿热。关于通利水道、消除血闭，是因为火郁结导致血热，火气降则邪气行，水道通畅、血闭自除。古人认为柴胡退热不如黄芩，大概是因为柴胡专门主治少阳病的往来寒热，少阳为枢机，非柴胡不能宣通内外。黄芩专门主治阳明经的蒸热，阳明居中焦，非黄芩不能开泄蕴积隆盛之热。一个主治风木客邪，一个主治湿土蕴结，岂可混淆讨论。黄芩虽然苦寒，终究是治标的药物，只适合躯壳（体表/上部）有热者。如果是阴虚伏热，虚阳外浮，可以轻试吗？那些条状坚实的黄芩兼走冲脉，治疗血热妄行。古方有一味子芩丸，治疗妇人血热导致的月经暴下不止，效果最好。如果是血虚发热、肾虚挟寒，以及妊娠期间胎寒下坠、脉象迟小微弱者，都不可使用，因为其苦寒会伐伤生发之气。
**Hu Huang Lian (Scutellariae Barbatae Radix)**: Extremely bitter, greatly cold, non-toxic. Contraindicated with pork; consuming it may cause leakage of essence.
[Invention] Hu Huang Lian is bitter and cold in nature, descending in action. It vigorously eliminates pathogenic heat from the zang-fu organs and bone marrow. It is a potent drug for treating "tai zheng" (fetal steaming/internal heat in pregnancy) in women and "gan re" (childhood malnutrition fever) with qi stagnation in children. Combined with Wu Mei (Mume Fructus), it stops bloody dysentery in children; combined with Ji Gan (Galli Hepar), it treats "gan yan" (ophthalmia due to childhood malnutrition); combined with Zhu Yi (Porcinis Pancreas), it treats ymei chuang du (syphilitic toxin); combined with Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), it treats fruit accumulation. All these applications utilize its ability to clear heat pathogens in the Liver and Kidney. Since children's Kidney Qi is naturally robust, they can tolerate this strong medication. However, for those with deficiency of Spleen-Stomach or Kidney, taking it will deplete one's congenital Yuan Qi, causing significant harm. Only in the treatment of mei chuang (syphilis) is Hu Huang Lian used with Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), and Zhu Yi water, decocted with wine. Two doses yield immediate results because it reaches the Lower Jiao directly and excels at searching out toxins of lascivious fire.
**Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix)**: Bitter, cold, non-toxic. The hollow-centered variety is called Ku Qin (Withered Scutellaria), entering the Lung Meridian; the fine and solid variety is called Zi Qin (Seed Scutellaria), entering the Large Intestine Meridian. Both should be cooked thoroughly and stir-fried with wine before use.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states that it treats various heat-induced jaundice, intestinal diarrhea and dysentery, promotes urination, resolves blood obstruction, treats malignant sores and carbuncles, and cauterizes fire ulcers.
[Invention] Huang Qin is bitter and drying, strengthening the intestines and stomach. Therefore, it is an essential herb for damp-heat jaundice and intestinal dysentery. Ku Qin has an ascending nature, enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, and clears heat from the muscle and surface. Tiao Qin (Strip Scutellaria) has a descending nature, purges fire from the Liver, Gallbladder, and Large Intestine, and clears heat from the Stomach. When stir-fried with wine, its action ascends, treating various heats above the diaphragm. Paired with Shao Yao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) and Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), it treats dysenteric pus and blood, abdominal pain with tenesmus, and fever. Assisted by Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma), it treats unbearable pain from various sores. Combined with Hei Shen (Scrophulariae Radix), it treats foul odor in the throat. Assisting Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), it calms the fetus, as Huang Qin clears heat and cools blood, while Bai Zhu tonifies the Spleen and controls blood. This combination is suitable only for cases where fetal heat causes restlessness and upward movement; if there is fetal cold with downward bearing sensation, poor appetite, or loose stools, it must not be used indiscriminately. Danxi stated that Huang Qin treats fire in the Triple Burner. Zhang Zhongjing used Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) to treat Shaoyang syndrome in Shanghan (Cold Damage). If sweating or purging fails to resolve the condition, resulting in chest fullness and vexation, Chai Hu Gui Zhi Gan Jiang Tang (Bupleurum, Cinnamon Twig, and Ginger Decoction) is used. For warm diseases, Huang Qin Tang (Scutellaria Decoction) is employed. For concurrent Taiyang and Shaoyang syndromes, Ge Gen Huang Qin Huang Lian Tang (Kudzu, Scutellaria, and Coptis Decoction) is used. For epigastric fullness and stuffiness, Xie Xin Tang (Drain the Epigastrium Decoction) is applied. For cold rejection causing vomiting and reversal, Gan Jiang Huang Qin Huang Lian Ren Shen Tang (Zingiber, Scutellaria, Coptis, and Ginseng Decoction) is prescribed. In all these formulas, Huang Qin is used to treat exterior and interior heats, allowing pathogens to drain via the Small Intestine. These align with the general principles of "treating various heats" in the *Bencao Jing*. The treatment of jaundice and intestinal dysentery utilizes its bitter-cold nature to remove damp-heat. Regarding promoting urination and resolving blood obstruction, this is caused by fire constraint and blood heat; when fire descends, pathogens move, and urinary flow and blood circulation naturally resume. Ancients believed Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix) is less effective than Huang Qin in clearing heat. This is because Chai Hu specifically targets the alternating chills and fever of Shaoyang syndrome. As Shaoyang is the pivot, only Chai Hu can unblock the interior and exterior. Huang Qin specifically targets the steaming heat of Yangming. As Yangming resides in the center, only Huang Qin can open and vent accumulated heat. One addresses wind-wood exogenous pathogens, while the other addresses damp-earth accumulation; they cannot be confused. Although Huang Qin is bitter and cold, it is ultimately a symptomatic treatment, suitable only for heat in the body shell (exterior/upper body). What about yin deficiency with latent heat or floating deficient yang? Can it be lightly tried? The strip-solid varieties also traverse the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) and treat reckless bleeding due to blood heat. An ancient formula, Yi Wei Zi Qin Wan (Single-Ingredient Seed Scutellaria Pill), is highly effective for treating excessive vaginal bleeding due to blood heat in women. However, for blood deficiency with fever, Kidney deficiency with cold, or pregnancy with fetal cold and downward bearing sensation accompanied by slow, small, and weak pulses, it is contraindicated, as its bitter-cold nature damages the vitalizing qi.