（本经中品）
合葛根、石膏、麻黄三种，则知仲景处方大局。仲景为立方祖，三种为诸方始也。
【气味】甘辛平，无毒。
【主治】主消渴，身大热，呕吐，诸痹，起阴气，解诸毒。
【核】曰∶鹿食九草，此其一也。出闽、广、江、浙，所在有之。有野生，有家种。春
生苗，引藤延蔓，长二三丈，取治 ，各以地土之宜，以别精粗美恶耳。叶有三尖，似枫
叶而长，色青翠，七月开花成穗，累累相缀，紫粉色，似豌豆花，结实似小黄豆，荚上有毛，
荚中之子，绿色而扁，似盐梅核，生嚼腥气，即本经所谓葛谷也。根大如臂，外紫内白，长
八九尺，以入土最深者良。五月五日，采根曝干，杀野葛、巴豆、百药毒。
先人云∶外阳内阴，有三阴渐长，化炎热为清凉之象。
【 】曰∶读本经主治，合仲景葛根汤法，此从阳明中治之气化药也。谓阳明之上，燥
化主之，不从本气之四气，标阳之二阳，从乎中见太阴之湿化者，如消渴身大热，及阖逆，
或热逆之呕吐，与邪郁，或热郁之诸毒，此正中见之阴气勿起，致令阳明之上，燥涸殆甚。
葛藤延蔓显明，葛根阴润在中。具备阳明上中下之全体者，无出其右。故能从乎中治，以撤
诸痹，痹撤则中见上下，各各从令，此以化合化，亦以化逆化也。假以治本，偏于风盛，以
风木必动脾土之湿化，使脾土营运，风斯息矣。亦不必另配甲己，方始化合，亦不必转生子
金，以复母仇，即本有辛味可作甲，兼甘可作己，湿化亦己，形似肌腠亦己也。白色可作金，
味辛亦金，腥臭亦金，藤络坚劲亦金也。假以治标，偏于二阳，二阳即阳明也。论部署，己
深入首太阳之次阳明，论形层，己深入一肤二皮之肌分，若邪停太阳之部署，亦必太阳之阳
明，若邪停太阳之形层，亦必太阳之肌分，即正阳阳明，亦属外证延蔓之邪，非内证坚凝之
实，但体性阴润，或寒本湿本主气，及寒化标阴专令者，所当避忌，或邪在部署之首，而非
风木本盛，或邪在形层之肤，未成转热之势，未有不致寇至者。世人不但目为轻浅，且以之
从治严寒，恐非所宜也。
（本经痹字，与风寒湿相合之痹不同，如消渴身热呕吐，及阴气不起，与诸毒皆痹也，
故云
（显明即阳明，在中即中见。）
（化合化者，中见之湿化，在上之燥化也。）
（《神农本草经》列为中品）
结合葛根、石膏、麻黄三种药材，就可以知晓张仲景处方用药的整体格局。张仲景是创立方剂的祖师，这三种药是众多方剂的起始基础。
【气味】味甘、辛，性平，无毒。
【主治】主要治疗消渴病（以多饮、多食、多尿、身体消瘦为特征的疾病），身体高热，呕吐，各种痹证（因风、寒、湿等邪气闭阻经络所致肢体关节疼痛、麻木、屈伸不利的病症），升发阴气，解除各种毒素。
【考证】说：鹿所吃的九种草之一，就是这种植物。产于福建、广东、江苏、浙江等地，各地都有生长。有野生的，也有家种的。春天生苗，藤蔓延伸蔓延，长达二三丈，采收加工时，各地根据土壤适宜情况不同，来区分其品质的精粗美恶。叶子有三个尖角，形状像枫叶但更长，颜色青翠，七月开花成穗状，花朵紧密相连，呈紫粉色，类似豌豆花，结出的果实像小黄豆，豆荚上有毛，荚中的种子绿色而扁平，形状像盐梅核，生嚼时有腥味，这就是《神农本草经》所说的“葛谷”。根部大如手臂，外皮紫色内里白色，长八九尺，以深入泥土最深者为佳。五月五日采集根部晒干，可解野葛、巴豆及百种药物之毒。
先父曾说：此药外显阳刚之象而内含阴柔之质，有三阴之气逐渐增长，将炎热转化为清凉的意象。
【注释】说：阅读《神农本草经》的主治功效，结合张仲景葛根汤的用法，可知这是从阳明经中见之气化角度治疗的药物。所谓阳明经之上，由燥气化主司，不单纯遵循本气的四气（寒热温凉），也不单纯遵循标阳的二阳（太阳与少阳之外候），而是顺从于中见太阴脾经的湿化作用。例如消渴、身体高热，以及气机阖逆，或者热邪上逆导致的呕吐，还有邪气郁结，或者热邪郁结导致的各种毒症，这都是因为中见的阴气不能升发，导致阳明经之上的燥气枯竭到了极点。葛藤延伸蔓延，形象鲜明；葛根内部具有阴润的特性。具备阳明经上、中、下三焦全体特性的，没有能超过它的。所以它能顺从中见之气化进行治疗，从而撤除各种痹证，痹证解除后，中见之气上下贯通，各自听从命令，这是以化合化解其他病变，也是以化解逆乱之气。假如用它来治疗根本病因，若偏重于风邪旺盛，因为风木之气必然扰动脾土的湿化功能，使脾土恢复正常运化，风邪自然平息。也不必另外配伍甲（天干属木，对应肝/胆）己（天干属土，对应脾/胃）组合来形成化合，也不必通过转生子金（肺/大肠）来报复母仇（五行相生相克理论），它本身具有的辛味可作为甲，兼有的甘味可作为己，湿化也属己，形态类似肌腠也属己。白色可作为金，味道辛也属金，腥臭味也属金，藤络坚硬强劲也属金。假如用它来治疗标证，偏重于二阳（即阳明经）。论病位部署，它已深入到达太阳经之后的次一级——阳明经；论形体层次，它已深入到达第一层肤、第二层皮的肌肉分界处。如果邪气停留在太阳经的部署，也必定涉及太阳经的阳明部分；如果邪气停留在太阳经的形体层次，也必定涉及太阳经的肌分。即使是正阳阳明病，也属于外证蔓延的邪气，而非内证坚凝的实邪。但是，如果体质性质偏向阴润，或者是寒本、湿本主气，以及寒化标阴专令的情况，应当避忌。或者邪气在部署之首，并非风木本盛；或者邪气在形层的肤表，尚未形成转热的趋势，没有不导致寇贼（邪气）入侵的。世人不仅将其视为轻浅之药，而且用它来应对严寒重症，恐怕并不适宜。
（《神农本草经》中的“痹”字，与风寒湿相合致的痹证不同，如消渴、身热、呕吐，以及阴气不起和各种毒症，也都称为痹，所以说……）
（显明即阳明经，在中即中见之气。）
(Shennong Bencao Jing, Middle Category)
By combining Radix Puerariae (Gegen), Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao), and Herba Ephedrae (Mahuang), one can understand the overall framework of Zhang Zhongjing's prescription principles. Zhang Zhongjing is the ancestor of formula creation; these three herbs serve as the starting point for numerous formulas.
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet and acrid, neutral in nature, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats Xiao Ke (Wasting and Thirsting Syndrome, characterized by excessive thirst, hunger, urination, and emaciation), high fever, vomiting, various Bi Syndromes (obstruction syndromes caused by wind, cold, or dampness leading to pain, numbness, or stiffness in joints and muscles), raises Yin Qi, and resolves various toxins.
[Verification] It is said that this plant is one of the nine grasses eaten by deer. It grows in Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, and is found everywhere. There are wild varieties and cultivated ones. Sprouts emerge in spring, with vines extending and creeping, reaching two or three zhang in length. Harvesting and processing methods vary according to local soil conditions to distinguish between superior and inferior quality. The leaves have three points, resembling maple leaves but longer, with a verdant green color. Flowers bloom in July in spikes, densely clustered, purple-pink in color, similar to pea flowers. The fruit resembles small soybeans, with hairy pods containing green, flat seeds like salt plum pits. Chewing them raw yields a fishy odor; this is what the Shennong Bencao Jing refers to as "Ge Gu" (Pueraria Seeds). The root is as thick as an arm, purple on the outside and white inside, eight or nine chi long. Those growing deepest in the soil are considered the best. Collected on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month and dried in the sun, it can detoxify wild Ge (Aristolochia debilis), Croton Seed (Badou), and poisons from hundreds of medicines.
My late father once said: Externally it exhibits Yang characteristics while internally possessing Yin nature, symbolizing the gradual growth of Yin energies, transforming heat into coolness.
[Commentary] Reading the indications in the Shennong Bencao Jing and combining them with Zhang Zhongjing's Ge Gen Tang method, we see this is a herb treating via the Qi transformation of the Middle View (Zhong Jian) of the Yangming channel. It is stated that the upper aspect of the Yangming channel is governed by Dryness transformation. It does not solely follow the Four Qi (Cold, Heat, Warmth, Coolness) of its Root Qi, nor merely the Biao Yang (Exterior Yang) of Er Yang (Taiyang and Shaoyang), but rather follows the Dampness transformation of its Zhong Jian Taiyin (Spleen/Stomach). For instance, Xiao Ke, high fever, closure-reversal (He Ni), vomiting due to heat reversal, or various toxins due to pathogenic stagnation or heat stagnation—these occur because the Yin Qi of the Zhong Jian fails to rise, causing extreme dryness and depletion in the upper aspect of the Yangming channel. The spreading vines clearly display its nature; the root possesses internal Yin-moistening properties. None surpass it in embodying the entirety of the Upper, Middle, and Lower aspects of the Yangming channel. Therefore, it can treat via the Zhong Jian Qi transformation, withdrawing various Bi Syndromes. Once Bi is withdrawn, the Zhong Jian Qi connects above and below, obeying commands. This is using chemical transformation to resolve other transformations, and using transformation to resolve rebellious Qi. If used to treat the Root (Ben), particularly when Wind is predominant, since Wood (Wind) inevitably disturbs the Spleen Earth's Dampness transformation, restoring Spleen Earth's transport function will extinguish the Wind. There is no need to separately pair Jia (Wood/Liver-Gallbladder) and Ji (Earth/Spleen-Stomach) to achieve chemical combination, nor is there a need to generate Metal (Lung-Large Intestine) to revenge the Mother (Five Elements theory). Its inherent Acrid flavor serves as Jia; its combined Sweet flavor serves as Ji. Dampness transformation is also Ji; its form resembling muscle and interstices is also Ji. White color serves as Metal; Acrid taste is also Metal; Fishy/Foul odor is also Metal; tough and strong vines are also Metal. If used to treat the Branch (Biao), particularly focusing on Er Yang (which is Yangming). Regarding disease location deployment, it has already deeply entered the secondary position after Taiyang, which is Yangming. Regarding physical layers, it has penetrated into the muscular divisions between the first layer of skin and the second layer of epidermis. If pathogens remain in the Taiyang deployment, they must involve the Yangming aspect of Taiyang; if pathogens remain in the Taiyang physical layer, they must involve the muscular division of Taiyang. Even Zheng Yang Yangming (Positive Yang Yangming) belongs to external syndrome spreading pathogens, not internal solid accumulation. However, if the constitution is inherently Yin-moist, or if Cold Root/Damp Root governs the Qi, or if Cold Transformation Biao Yin dominates, caution should be exercised. Or if the pathogen is at the beginning of the deployment, not necessarily due to excessive Wood/Wind; or if the pathogen is in the superficial skin layer, without yet forming a trend toward heat conversion, invasion by bandits (pathogens) is inevitable. People not only regard it as a mild and superficial herb but also use it to treat severe cold conditions, which is likely inappropriate.
(The term "Bi" in the Shennong Bencao Jing differs from Bi caused by Wind-Cold-Dampness combination. Conditions like Xiao Ke, fever, vomiting, failure of Yin Qi to rise, and various toxins are also termed Bi, hence it says...)
(Xian Ming refers to Yangming; In Zhong refers to the Zhong Jian/Middle View.)
(Chemical Transformation refers to the regulation of Upper Dryness by Middle Dampness.)