甘微寒，无毒。银州者良。今延安府五原城所产者，长尺余，肥白而软。北地
产者如前胡而软，今人谓之北柴胡。勿令犯火，犯火则不效。
发明 银柴胡行足阳明、少阴，其性味与石斛不甚相远，不独清热兼能凉血，《和剂局
方》治上下诸血，龙脑鸡苏丸中用之。凡入虚劳方中，惟银州者为宜。若用北柴胡升动虚阳
，发热喘嗽愈无宁宇，可不辨而混用乎。按∶柴胡条下，《本经》推陈致新，明目益精，皆
指银夏者而言，非北柴胡所能也。
苦微寒，无毒。甄权曰∶甘辛平无毒。白色者良。去尾用。
发明 前胡入手足太阴、阳明、少阳，其功长于下气，故能治痰热喘嗽，痞膈诸疾，
气下则火降，痰亦降矣。为痰气之要味。治伤寒寒热及时气内外俱热，按∶二胡通为风药，
但柴胡主升，前胡主降，有不同耳。又按∶前胡治气实风痰，凡阴虚火动之痰，及不因外感
而有痰音者禁用。
甘辛温，无毒。叉头者令人烦喘，叉尾者发人痼疾。
《本经》主大风头眩痛，恶风风邪，目盲无所见，风行周身骨节疼痛。
发明 防风浮而升，阳也。入手太阳、阳明、少阳、厥阴，兼通足太阳，治风去湿之仙
药，以风能胜湿也。其治大风头眩痛，恶风，风邪等病，其性上行，故治上盛风邪，泻肺实
喘满，及周身痹痛，四肢挛急，目盲无所见，风眼冷泪，总不出《本经》主治也。防风治一
身尽痛，乃卒伍卑贱之职，随所引而至，风药中润剂也。若补脾胃非此引用不能行，盖于土
中泻水也。凡脊痛项强不可回顾，腰似折，项似拔者，乃手足太阳证，正当用之。凡疮在胸
膈以上者，虽无手足太阳证，亦当用防风，为能散结去上部风热也。《经验方》治妇人风入
胞门，崩中不止，独圣散用一味防风，面糊酒调丸服。然惟血色清稀，而脉浮弦者为宜。如
血色浓赤，脉来数者，又属一味子芩丸证，不可混也。惟肺虚有汗喘乏，及气升作呕，火升
发嗽，阴虚盗汗，阳虚自汗者勿服。妇人产后血虚发痉，婴儿泻后脾虚发搐，咸为切禁。
银柴胡：味甘，性微寒，无毒。以银州出产的为优良。如今延安府五原城所产的，长度有一尺多，肥大、色白且质地柔软。北方地产的像前胡但质地较软，现在的人称之为北柴胡。不要让火接触它，如果经过火制就会失效。
发明（药理阐发）：银柴胡作用于足阳明胃经和足少阴肾经，其性味与石斛非常接近，不仅能清热，还能凉血，《太平惠民和剂局方》中治疗上部和下部各种出血症时，在龙脑鸡苏丸里使用了它。凡是进入治疗虚劳病的方剂中，只有银州的银柴胡才适宜。如果使用北柴胡，会升动虚弱的阳气，导致发热、气喘咳嗽更加没有安宁的时候，这能不加以辨别就混用吗？按：在柴胡条目下，《神农本草经》所说的推陈致新、明目益精，都是指银夏地区出产的银柴胡而言，不是北柴胡所能做到的。
前胡：味苦，性微寒，无毒。甄权说：味甘辛，性平，无毒。以白色者为优良。去掉根部尾端使用。
发明（药理阐发）：前胡作用于手太阴肺经、手阳明大肠经、手少阳三焦经以及足阳明胃经，它的功效长于降气，所以能治疗痰热引起的喘咳、痞满膈塞等各种疾病，气机下降则火气随之下降，痰液也随之排出。它是治疗痰气阻滞的重要药物。治疗伤寒引起的寒热往来及时行疫病内外俱热的症状。按：两种柴胡通称为风药，但柴胡主升散，前胡主降泄，这是它们的不同之处。又按：前胡用于治疗气实风痰，凡是阴虚火旺动扰产生的痰，以及不是因为外感而有痰鸣音的情况，都禁止使用。
防风：味甘辛，性温，无毒。有分叉的头部的会让人烦闷气喘，有分叉的尾部的会引发顽固性疾病。
《神农本草经》主治大风引起的头眩痛、恶风及风邪侵袭、眼睛失明看不见东西、风行周身骨节疼痛。
发明（药理阐发）：防风性质浮而上升，属于阳。作用于手太阳小肠经、手阳明大肠经、手少阳三焦经、足厥阴肝经，兼通足太阳膀胱经，是治疗风邪去除湿气的仙药，因为风能胜湿。它治疗大风引起的头眩痛、恶风、风邪等病症，其药性上行，所以治疗上部盛实的风邪，泻除肺实导致的喘满，以及周身痹痛、四肢挛急、眼睛失明看不见东西、风眼冷泪，总括起来都不超出《神农本草经》的主治范围。防风治疗一身尽痛，就像地位低微的士兵一样，跟随引经药到达病所，是风药中的润剂。如果要补益脾胃，不使用它作为引经药就不能发挥作用，这是在土中泻水的方法。凡是脊背疼痛、项部僵硬不能回顾，腰部像折断一样，项部像被拔起一样的情况，这是手足太阳经证候，正当使用防风。凡是疮疡在胸膈以上的，即使没有手足太阳经证候，也应当使用防风，因为它能疏散结聚并去除上部的风热。《经验方》治疗妇人风邪侵入胞门，崩中出血不止，独圣散只用一味防风，用面糊和酒调制成丸服用。然而只有血色清稀，脉象浮弦的才适宜。如果血色浓赤，脉来急促的，又属于一味子芩丸的证候，不可混淆。只有肺气虚弱有汗、气喘乏力，以及气机上逆作呕，火气上炎引发咳嗽，阴虚盗汗，阳虚自汗的患者不要服用。妇女产后血虚发生痉挛，婴儿腹泻后脾虚发生抽搐，都是严格禁忌的。
Silver Bupleuri Radix (Yin Chai Hu): Sweet, slightly cold, non-toxic. The best quality comes from Yinzhou. Those produced in Wuyuan City, Yan'an Prefecture today, are over a chi long, plump, white, and soft. Those produced in the northern regions resemble Qian Hu but are softer; people nowadays call them Bei Chai Hu (Northern Bupleuri Radix). Do not let it touch fire, as processing with fire renders it ineffective.
Invention (Pharmacological Elaboration): Yin Chai Hu acts on the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Its nature and flavor are not very different from Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis); it not only clears heat but also cools blood. In the *Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang* (Formulas of Benefit for the People), used to treat various bleeding conditions above and below, it is included in Longnao Jisu Wan (Borneol and Chicken-Su Pill). Whenever entering formulas for treating consumptive diseases (Xu Lao), only Yin Chai Hu from Yinzhou is suitable. If Bei Chai Hu is used, it will ascend and agitate deficient Yang, causing fever, wheezing, and coughing to have no respite. How can one fail to distinguish between them and use them interchangeably? Note: Under the entry for Chai Hu, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) mentions "pushing out the old and bringing forth the new," improving vision, and benefiting essence; these refer specifically to Yin Chai Hu from the Yin and Xia regions, which Bei Chai Hu cannot achieve.
Peucedani Radix (Qian Hu): Bitter, slightly cold, non-toxic. Zhen Quan stated: Sweet and pungent, neutral, non-toxic. The white ones are superior. Use after removing the tail end.
Invention (Pharmacological Elaboration): Qian Hu enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. Its efficacy lies primarily in descending Qi; therefore, it can treat wheezing and cough caused by phlegm-heat, as well as various disorders such as fullness and obstruction in the chest and diaphragm. When Qi descends, Fire descends, and Phlegm also descends. It is an essential herb for treating phlegm-Qi disorders. It treats chills and fever due to Shanghan (Cold Damage) and internal and external heat due to seasonal epidemics. Note: Both types of Chai Hu are generally classified as wind-dispelling herbs, but Chai Hu mainly ascends, while Qian Hu mainly descends; this is their difference. Furthermore, Qian Hu treats Wind-Phlegm with excess Qi. For Phlegm generated by Yin deficiency with hyperactive Fire, and for cases with phlegmal sounds not caused by external contraction, its use is contraindicated.
Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng): Sweet and pungent, warm, non-toxic. Those with forked heads cause irritability and wheezing; those with forked tails induce chronic diseases.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it treats severe wind-induced dizziness and headache, aversion to wind and wind pathogens, blindness where nothing can be seen, and pain in the joints throughout the body due to wind movement.
Invention (Pharmacological Elaboration): Fang Feng is floating and ascending, belonging to Yang. It enters the Hand-Taiyin Small Intestine Meridian, Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian, and also connects with the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. It is a miraculous herb for treating wind and eliminating dampness, because wind can overcome dampness. It treats disorders such as severe wind-induced dizziness and headache, aversion to wind, and wind pathogens. Due to its ascending nature, it treats excess wind pathogens in the upper body, drains lung excess causing wheezing and fullness, and addresses generalized bi-syndrome pain, limb contracture and urgency, blindness, and cold tears from wind eyes. All these indications fall within the scope of the *Shennong Bencao Jing*. Fang Feng treats generalized body pain; it serves a humble role like a common soldier, following guiding herbs to the affected area, and is a moistening agent among wind-dispelling herbs. To tonify the Spleen and Stomach, it must be used as a guiding herb to take effect, acting as a method to drain water within the Earth element. For cases of spinal pain, neck stiffness preventing turning back, waist feeling like breaking, and neck feeling like being pulled, which are syndromes of the Hand and Foot Taiyang meridians, Fang Feng is appropriate. For sores located above the chest and diaphragm, even without Hand and Foot Taiyang syndrome, Fang Feng should be used because it can dissipate nodules and remove wind-heat from the upper part. The *Jingyan Fang* (Experienced Formulas) treats women whose wind pathogen has entered the uterus (Baomen), causing continuous metrorrhagia (Bengzhong), using Dusheng San consisting solely of Fang Feng, prepared into pills with flour paste and wine. However, it is suitable only when the blood color is clear and thin, and the pulse is floating and wiry. If the blood color is dark red and the pulse is rapid, it belongs to the syndrome treated by Yiwei Ziqin Wan (Single-Herb Scutellaria Pill), and they must not be confused. It is forbidden for those with Lung deficiency accompanied by sweating, asthenic wheezing, Qi rebelling causing vomiting, Fire rising causing cough, Yin deficiency with night sweats, and Yang deficiency with spontaneous sweating. It is strictly contraindicated for postpartum women with blood deficiency leading to spasms, and infants with spleen deficiency leading to convulsions after diarrhea.