苦寒，无毒。茎紫者真。根茎子叶不可并用，恐成痼疾。叶主湿热，子治骨蒸，
俱宜童便制用。
《本经》主疥瘙痂痒恶疮，杀虫，留热在骨节间，明目。
发明 青蒿亦有二种，一种发于早春，叶青如绵茵陈，专泻丙丁之火，能利水道，与绵
茵陈之性不甚相远。一种盛于夏秋，微黄如地肤子，专司甲乙之令，为少阳、厥阴血分之药
。故茎紫者为良，其治骨蒸劳热，有杀虫之功，而不伤伐骨节中阳和之气者，以其得春升之
令最早也，此与角蒿之性大都相类；又能明目，善清在上之虚热。烧灰淋汁，和锻石点治恶
疮息肉 瘢。苏恭生捣敷金疮。《经验方》和桂心治寒疟，但性偏苦寒，脾虚虚寒泄泻者勿
服。
俗名益母
辛甘微温，无毒。忌犯铁器。其子微炒香。蒸熟烈日曝燥杵，去壳用。
《本经》茺蔚子明目益精，除水气，茎治瘾疹，可作浴汤。
发明 茺蔚入手少阴、足厥阴血分，活血行气，有补阴之功。凡胎前产后所恃者血气也
，胎前无滞，产后无虚，以其行中有补也。然所谓补者，是散其瘀而营血受荫，非补养血气
之谓。《丹方》以益母之叶阴干，拌童便、陈酒九蒸九晒，入四物汤料为丸，治产后诸证。
但功专行血，故崩漏下血，若脾胃不实，大肠不固者勿用，为其性下行也。近世治番痧，腹
痛呕逆，用以浓煎，少加生蜜放温，恣饮有效，取其能散恶血也。其子能明目，功专益精利
水，水亏而瞳子收小者宜之。若火盛瞳子散大者切忌，为其辛散能助火邪也。白花者名錾菜
，嫩苗可食，故谓之菜。藏器主产后腹痛。今人治白带用一味为末，服之大效。
【青蒿】
味苦、性寒，无毒。茎呈紫色的为正品。根、茎、子、叶不可同时使用，恐怕会导致顽固性疾病。叶主治湿热证，子治疗骨蒸劳热，都适宜用童子小便炮制后使用。
《神农本草经》记载其主治疥疮、瘙痒、结痂及恶疮，能杀虫，清除骨节间的余热，明目。
【发明】
青蒿也有两种，一种在早春生长，叶子青色像绵茵陈，专门清泻心火（丙丁之火），能通利水道，其药性与绵茵陈不相上下。另一种在夏秋季节茂盛，颜色微黄像地肤子，专门主管肝木与胆木（甲乙之令）的时令之气，是作用于少阳经和厥阴经血分的药物。所以茎呈紫色的品质优良，它治疗骨蒸劳热，有杀虫的功效，且不损伤骨节中的阳气，这是因为它最早获得春季升发之气，这与角蒿的药性大致相似；又能明目，善于清除上部的虚热。烧成灰淋取汁液，与锻石混合点涂治疗恶疮息肉瘢痕。苏恭主张生捣敷于金创伤口。《经验方》中将其与桂心配合治疗寒疟，但其性质偏于苦寒，脾胃虚弱且有虚寒泄泻者不宜服用。
【茺蔚】
俗名益母草。
味辛、甘，性微温，无毒。忌接触铁器。其子需微炒至香，蒸熟后在烈日下曝晒干燥并捣碎，去壳后使用。
《神农本草经》记载茺蔚子能明目、益精，消除水气，茎治疗瘾疹，可煮水洗澡。
【发明】
茺蔚入入手少阴心经和足厥阴肝经的血分，具有活血行气的作用，兼有补阴的功效。凡是胎前产后所依赖的气血，胎前无瘀滞，产后无虚损，是因为它在行血的同时具有补益作用。然而所谓的“补”，是指消散瘀血而使营血受益，并非指直接补养血气。《丹方》将益母草的叶子阴干，拌入童子便和陈酒，经过九次蒸煮和九次晾晒，加入四物汤作为原料制成丸药，治疗产后各种病症。但因其功效专于行血，所以对于崩漏下血，若脾胃不实、大肠不固者不宜使用，因为其药性下行。近代治疗番痧（一种痧症），出现腹痛呕吐逆乱的症状，用其浓煎，稍加生蜂蜜放温后大量饮用有效，取其能消散恶血的作用。其子能明目，功效专于益精利水，对于因水亏导致瞳孔缩小者适宜。若因火盛导致瞳孔散大者切忌使用，因为其辛散之性能助长火邪。白色的花称为錾菜，嫩苗可以食用，所以称之为菜。藏器主张用于治疗产后腹痛。现在人治疗白带，单用一味研末服用，效果显著。
[Qinghao (Artemisiae Annuae Herba)]
Bitter, cold, non-toxic. The authentic variety has purple stems. Roots, stems, seeds, and leaves should not be used together, as this may lead to intractable diseases. Leaves treat damp-heat; seeds treat bone-steaming fever. Both are best prepared using urine from a young boy.
*Shennong Bencao Jing* records its indications for scabies, itching, crusting, and malignant sores; it kills parasites, clears residual heat in the joints, and improves vision.
[Commentary]
There are two types of Qinghao. One type emerges in early spring; its leaves are green like Mian Yinchen (Artemisiae Scopariae Herba), specifically draining the fire of Bing-Ding (Heart Fire), promoting urination, with properties similar to Mian Yinchen. The other type thrives in summer and autumn; it is slightly yellow like Difuzi (Kochiae Fructus), specifically governing the influence of Jia-Yi (Liver and Gallbladder meridians), acting on the blood level of Shaoyang and Jueyin meridians. Therefore, those with purple stems are superior. It treats bone-steaming consumption fever and has insecticidal effects without damaging the harmonious Yang Qi in the joints, because it receives the ascending energy of spring earliest. Its nature is largely similar to Jiaohao (Artemisiae Argyi Folium); it also improves vision and effectively clears deficiency heat in the upper body. Burned to ash and leached with water, mixed with Duan Shi (Calcined Oyster Shell) to apply to malignant sores, polyps, and scars. Su Gong advocated applying freshly crushed herb to traumatic wounds. *Jingyan Fang* combines it with Guixin (Cinnamomi Ramulus) to treat cold malaria. However, due to its bitter-cold nature, it should be avoided by those with Spleen deficiency and cold-dysentery.
[Chongwei (Leonuri Fructus / Motherwort)]
Commonly known as Yimucao (Motherwort).
Pungent, sweet, slightly warm, non-toxic. Avoid contact with iron vessels. Its seeds should be lightly stir-fried until fragrant, steamed, dried in the sun, pounded, and shelled before use.
*Shennong Bencao Jing* records that Chongwei Zi (Leonuri Fructus) improves vision and nourishes essence, eliminates fluid retention, while the stem treats urticaria and can be used for bathing.
[Commentary]
Chongwei enters the Blood level of the Hand-Shaoyin (Heart) and Foot-Jueyin (Liver) meridians. It invigorates blood, moves Qi, and possesses yin-nourishing properties. In both prenatal and postnatal states, reliance is placed on Qi and Blood. Prenatally, there should be no stasis; postnatally, there should be no deficiency, because its action of moving blood contains an element of tonification. However, this "tonification" refers to dispersing blood stasis so that Ying-Blood benefits, rather than directly supplementing Qi and Blood. *Danfang* prescribes drying Motherwort leaves in the shade, mixing them with urine from a young boy and aged wine, undergoing nine cycles of steaming and sun-drying, then combining with Siwu Tang ingredients to make pills for treating various postpartum conditions. Since its function specializes in moving blood, it should not be used for metrorrhagia or hematoschesis if the Spleen-Stomach is weak or the Large Intestine is insecure, due to its descending nature. Recently, for treating Fan Sha (a type of sand-pox/summerheat disorder) presenting with abdominal pain and vomiting, a strong decoction with a little raw honey taken warm is effective, utilizing its ability to disperse evil blood. Its seeds improve vision, specializing in nourishing essence and promoting diuresis; they are suitable for cases where the pupil constricts due to Yin-fluid deficiency. They are strictly contraindicated when the pupil dilates due to excess fire, as their pungent dispersion can exacerbate pathogenic fire. White-flowered varieties are called Zancai; tender shoots are edible, hence the name "vegetable." Zangqi advocated its use for postpartum abdominal pain. Currently, for leukorrhea, taking a single herb powder yields significant results.