甘平，无毒。色白者良。入阳明。表药生用。胃热烦渴，煨熟用。
《本经》主消渴、身大热、呕吐、诸痹，起阳气，解诸毒。
发明 葛根性升属阳，能鼓午胃中清阳之气，故《本经》主消渴、身热、呕吐，使胃气
敷布，诸痹自开。其言起阳气、解诸毒者，胃气升发，诸邪毒自不能留而解散矣。葛根乃阳
明经之专药，治头额痛，眉棱骨痛，天行热气呕逆，发散解肌，开胃止渴，宣斑发痘。若
太阳经初病头脑痛而不渴者，邪尚未入阳明不可便用，恐引邪内入也。仲景治太阳、阳明合
病，自利反不利，但呕者俱用葛根汤。太阳病下之遂利不止，喘汗脉促者，葛根黄芩黄连汤
，此皆随二经表里寒热轻重而为处方。按证施治，靡不应手神效。又葛根葱白汤为阳明头痛
仙药。斑疹已见点不可用葛根、升麻，恐表虚反增斑烂也；又葛根轻浮，生用则升阳生津，
熟用则鼓午胃气，故治胃虚作渴，七味白术散用之。又清暑益气汤兼黄 用者，以暑伤阳明
，额颅必胀，非此不能开发也。花能解酒毒，葛花解醒汤用之，必兼人参，但无酒毒者不可
服，服之损人天元，以大开肌肉而发泄伤津也。
即天棘根
甘寒，无毒。焙热去心，用肥白者良。忌鲤鱼。
《本经》主诸暴风湿偏痹，强骨髓，杀三虫，去伏尸，久服轻身益气，延年不饥。
发明 天门冬手太阴肺经气分药。兼通肾气咳逆喘促，肺痿肺痈，吐血衄血，干咳痰结
，其性寒润能滋肺，肺气热而燥者宜之。肺为清虚之脏，凉则气宁，热则气腾。天门冬能保
肺，使气不受火扰。合地黄、麦门冬主心肺虚热咳吐脓血，又能治热淋。同参、 定虚喘，
盖肺肃则气化，乃能出。若脾虚而泄泻恶食者，虽有前证，亦莫轻投，以其降泄太过也。时
珍云，天门冬清金降火，益水之上源，故能下通肾气，入滋补方用之有效。若脾胃虚寒人久
服，必致滑肠，反成痼疾，以性寒能利大肠故也。《本经》治诸暴风湿偏痹，盖热则生风，
暴则属火，偏痹者湿热所致，故治风先清火，清火在养阴也。其三虫伏尸，皆脾肾湿热所化
，清二经湿热，则无三虫伏尸之患矣。又能延年不饥，故辟谷方多用之。
葛根：味甘性平，无毒。以色白者为佳。归入阳明经。作为解表药时生用；若用于胃热烦渴，则煨熟后使用。
《神农本草经》记载其主治消渴、身体高热、呕吐、各种痹证，能升发阳气，解除各种毒素。
【发明】葛根性质升散，属阳，能够鼓舞胃中的清阳之气，所以《神农本草经》说它主治消渴、身热、呕吐，使胃气得以敷布全身，各种痹证自然开通。文中所说的“起阳气、解诸毒”，是因为胃气升发，各种邪气毒素自然不能停留而解散。葛根是阳明经的专药，治疗额头痛、眉棱骨痛，以及流行性热病引起的呕逆，具有发散解肌、开胃止渴、宣透斑疹痘疮的功效。如果是太阳经初发病，出现头脑痛但不口渴，说明邪气尚未传入阳明经，此时不可立即使用葛根，恐怕会引邪气内入体内。张仲景治疗太阳与阳明合病，出现下利反而小便不利，或者只是呕吐的情况，都使用葛根汤。太阳病误用泻下法导致腹泻不止，伴有气喘、出汗、脉急促的，使用葛根黄芩黄连汤。这些都是根据两经表里寒热的轻重程度来处方。按照证候施治，没有不立刻见效的。另外，葛根葱白汤是治疗阳明头痛的仙方。如果斑疹已经显现出点状，不可再用葛根、升麻，恐怕因表虚反而加重斑烂。此外，葛根质地轻浮，生用时能升阳生津，熟用时能鼓舞胃气，所以治疗胃虚引起的口渴，在七味白术散中使用它。还有清暑益气汤中兼用黄耆（黄芪），是因为暑邪损伤阳明经，额头颅部必然胀满，非此药不能开发郁结。葛花能解酒毒，葛花解醒汤中使用它，必须兼用人参，但没有酒毒的人不可服用，因为服用后会损伤人体的元气，由于它能大开腠理毛孔而发泄津液。
天门冬：即天棘根。味甘性寒，无毒。焙干去心，选用肥大白色的为佳。忌与鲤鱼同食。
《神农本草经》记载其主治各种突发性的风湿偏痹，强健骨髓，杀灭三虫，去除伏尸鬼疰，久服能轻身益气，延年不老且不饥饿。
【发明】天门冬是手太阴肺经气分的药物。兼通肾气，治疗咳逆喘促、肺痿、肺痈、吐血、鼻衄、干咳痰结等症状。其性寒润，能滋养肺脏，肺气热而燥者适宜使用。肺是清虚之脏，凉则气静，热则气乱。天门冬能保肺，使肺气不受火邪干扰。配合地黄、麦门冬主治心肺虚热引起的咳吐脓血，又能治疗热淋。与人参、五味子等同用可定虚喘，因为肺气肃降则气化正常，才能正常呼吸。如果是脾虚导致泄泻、厌恶饮食的人，即使有上述前症，也不可轻易投药，因为其降泄作用太过。李时珍说，天门冬清金降火，补益水之上源（肺为水之上源），所以能下通肾气，加入滋补方剂中使用有效。如果是脾胃虚寒的人久服，必定会导致滑肠腹泻，反而形成顽固疾病，因为其性寒能通利大肠的缘故。《神农本草经》说它治疗各种突发性的风湿偏痹，大概是因为热则生风，突发则属火，偏痹是由湿热所致，所以治疗风病先要清火，清火在于养阴。其中的三虫、伏尸，都是脾肾湿热所化生，清除这两经的湿热，就没有三虫伏尸的祸患了。又能延年不饥，所以在辟谷方剂中多用它。
Ge Gen (Puerariae Radix): Sweet and neutral in nature, non-toxic. The white-colored variety is superior. It enters the Yangming channel. When used as a superficial-releasing drug, it should be used raw; for stomach heat causing excessive thirst, it should be used after being roasted with bran (wei).
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states that it mainly treats xiao ke (wasting-thirst syndrome), high fever of the body, vomiting, and various bi syndromes (painful obstruction); it raises yang qi and resolves various toxins.
[Invention] Ge Gen has an ascending nature and belongs to Yang; it can stimulate the clear yang qi within the Stomach. Therefore, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it treats wasting-thirst, fever, and vomiting, allowing Stomach qi to distribute throughout the body, so that various bi syndromes naturally open up. The statements regarding "raising yang qi" and "resolving various toxins" imply that when Stomach qi ascends and develops, various pathogenic factors and toxins cannot remain and are naturally dispersed. Ge Gen is a specific herb for the Yangming channel, treating pain in the forehead and supraorbital ridge, as well as vomiting and counterflow caused by epidemic heat pathogens. It has the effects of releasing the exterior, resolving muscle tension, opening the stomach, stopping thirst, and venting macules and pustules. If a disease begins in the Taiyang channel with headache but no thirst, indicating the pathogen has not yet entered the Yangming channel, Ge Gen should not be used immediately, lest it draw the pathogen inward. Zhang Zhongjing used Gegen Tang (Pueraria Decoction) for combined Taiyang and Yangming diseases presenting with diarrhea without urinary difficulty, or merely vomiting. For Taiyang disease where purgation was mistakenly applied, leading to incessant diarrhea, panting, sweating, and a rapid pulse, Gegen Huangqin Huanglian Tang (Pueraria, Scutellaria, and Coptis Decoction) was used. These prescriptions are formulated according to the severity of cold and heat in the exterior and interior of the two channels. Treating according to the syndrome yields miraculous results instantly. Additionally, Gegen Congbai Tang (Pueraria and Scallion Decoction) is considered a divine remedy for Yangming headaches. Once macules and rashes have appeared as distinct spots, Ge Gen and Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) must not be used, as this may worsen ulceration due to exterior deficiency. Furthermore, Ge Gen is light and floating; when used raw, it raises yang and generates fluids; when cooked/roasted, it stimulates Stomach qi. Thus, it is used in Qiwei Baizhu San (Seven-Ingredient Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder) to treat thirst caused by Stomach deficiency. In Qingshu Yiqi Tang (Clear Summerheat and Boost Qi Decoction), Huangqi (Astragali Radix) is included alongside Ge Gen because summerheat damages the Yangming channel, causing distension in the forehead and skull, which requires this herb to develop and disperse. Ge Hua (Puerariae Flos) can resolve alcohol toxicity and is used in Gehua Jiejiu Tang (Pueraria Flower Decoction); it must be combined with Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma). However, those without alcohol toxicity should not take it, as it damages Yuan qi (primordial qi) by greatly opening the muscle layer and causing fluid loss through sweating.
Tian Dong (Asparagi Radix): Also known as Tianji Gen. Sweet and cold in nature, non-toxic. After baking, remove the heart; select plump and white varieties as superior. Avoid consuming with carp.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states that it mainly treats various sudden wind-dampness hemiplegic bi syndromes, strengthens the bone marrow, kills three types of parasites, removes fu shi (hidden corpses/ghostly afflictions), and with long-term use, lightens the body, boosts qi, prolongs life, and prevents hunger.
[Invention] Tian Dong is a drug for the qi aspect of the Hand-Taiyin Lung channel. It also unites Kidney qi, treating coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, fei wei (lung atrophy), fei yong (lung abscess), hematemesis, epistaxis, dry cough with phlegm stagnation. Its cold and moistening nature nourishes the Lung; it is suitable for cases where Lung qi is hot and dry. The Lung is a pure and hollow organ; coolness calms the qi, while heat agitates it. Tian Dong protects the Lung, preventing the qi from being disturbed by fire. Combined with Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix) and Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), it treats hemoptysis and expectoration of pus-blood caused by deficiency-heat in the Heart and Lung, and also treats re lin (hot strangury). Combined with Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus), it stabilizes deficiency asthma, because when Lung qi descends, qi transformation occurs normally, enabling proper respiration. However, for individuals with Spleen deficiency presenting with diarrhea and aversion to food, even if the aforementioned symptoms exist, this herb should not be administered lightly, as its descending and draining action is too strong. Li Shizhen stated that Tian Dong clears Metal (Lung) and descends fire, benefiting the upper source of Water (Lung), thus it can descend to connect with Kidney qi and is effective when added to tonifying formulas. However, long-term use by individuals with Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold will inevitably lead to loose bowels, potentially forming chronic diseases, due to its cold nature promoting bowel movement. The *Shennong Bencao Jing*'s statement on treating sudden wind-dampness hemiplegic bi syndromes implies that heat generates wind, sudden onset belongs to fire, and hemiplegic bi is caused by damp-heat. Therefore, treating wind requires first clearing fire, and clearing fire relies on nourishing yin. The three parasites and fu shi mentioned are all transformed from damp-heat in the Spleen and Kidney; clearing damp-heat from these two channels eliminates the risk of parasites and hidden afflictions. It can also prolong life and prevent hunger, hence it is frequently used in bigu (grain-avoidance) prescriptions.