（本经下品）
【气味】苦平，无毒。
【主治】主寒热，鼠 瘰 ，痈肿恶疮，瘿瘤结热，蛊毒。
【核】曰∶出太山山谷，今汴京，及河中、江宁、润、淄、泽、兖、鼎、岳、利诸州，
皆有之，独蜀中者为胜。有大翘、小翘两种。大翘生下湿地，或山冈上，叶青翠如榆叶水苏
辈，茎高三、四尺而色稍赤，独茎梢开花，黄色可爱，三秋着子，似莲实之房，亦若椿实之
未开者，翘出众草，壳小坚外完，无跗萼，剖之中解，气甚芳馥，实才干，振之即落，若不
着茎，根如青蒿之白硬也。小翘，生冈原之上，茎叶花实，皆似大翘，但细小耳。古者茎叶
花实并用，今惟用实，未见茎叶也。南方一种，茎短叶小，惟实黄黑，子如粟粒，乃旱莲。
又一种如菡萏，壳柔软，外有附萼，抱之且无解脉，亦不芳香，干之不落，久着茎上，功用
殊别也。
【 】曰∶内经尝以车盖喻脉状，曰蔼蔼如车盖者，阳结也，亦阳盛也。本经乃以连翘
名药
结阳盛乎。一名连轺，轺亦小车也；盖车者，引重致远，以济不通。周礼云∶车有天地之象，
是合阴阳内外而言，诚开阖之枢键也。故主热结在中，为寒热鼠 瘰 ，其本在脏，其末在
颈腋间也。若蛊毒，此但沉于脏；瘿瘤痈肿，此但浮于脉，咸属寒热为病因，热结为形证者
也。其功力与夏枯相等，但夏枯偏于从本，秉寒水化令，故上彻巅顶，下及趺踵；连翘偏于
从末，秉容平气味，故外弥肤腠，内偏五中，至于解从结心，理则一矣。先人云∶连翘治鼠
痈肿疮瘤，咸从结气所生，取其象形易落，而能自散也。纲目谓状似人心，故入心，以痛
痒疮疡，皆属心火也。东垣谓十二经疮药中，不可无此，何必似人心状乎？顾独茎赤色，及
结实在上，原具心象。又云∶散血结气聚，此以结治结，当用上声之散，不当用去声之散，
散则自散而省力，散则分散而有为，此先人备言所治之证，颐但略言能治之因，合能所生成，
则命名之义了然矣。
【神农本草经·下品】
【气味】味苦，性平，无毒。
【主治】主治寒热病证，鼠瘰（淋巴结核），痈肿恶疮，瘿瘤结聚之热毒，蛊毒。
【考证】曰：连翘产于泰山山谷，如今开封（汴京），以及河中、江宁、润州、淄州、泽州、兖州、鼎州、岳州、利州等各地，都有出产，唯独四川产的质量最好。有大翘和小翘两种。大翘生长在低湿之地，或者山冈之上，叶子青翠如同榆叶和水苏一类植物，茎高三四尺，颜色稍红，只有茎梢开花，花色黄而可爱，三秋时节结果，果实形状像莲蓬的房室，也像香椿未开的果实，高出众草，外壳小而坚硬，外表完整，没有花萼，剖开后中间分开，气味非常芳香浓郁，果实干燥后易脱落，摇动即落，好像不附着在茎上，根部像青蒿的白色硬根。小翘，生长在山冈平原之上，茎、叶、花、实都与大翘相似，只是比较细小。古代是将茎、叶、花、实一起使用，如今只使用果实，未见使用茎叶的。南方有一种，茎短叶小，只有果实呈黄黑色，种子像粟粒一样，那是旱莲草。又有一种像荷花（菡萏），壳柔软，外面有附生的花萼，包裹着且没有分离的脉络，也不芳香，干燥后不脱落，长久附着在茎上，功效作用截然不同。
【按语】曰：《黄帝内经》曾用车盖比喻脉象，说“蔼蔼如车盖”的，是阳气结聚，也是阳气旺盛的表现。《本经》以连翘命名此药，难道是认为它能结聚阳盛之气吗？又名连轺，轺也是一种小车；所谓车，是用来牵引重物、运达远方，以救济不通畅的情况。《周礼》说：车具有天地的象征，这是结合阴阳内外而言的，确实是开阖的关键枢纽。所以主治热邪结聚在中焦，表现为寒热往来和鼠瘰，其根本在脏腑，其末梢表现在颈腋之间。如果是蛊毒，这种病邪沉伏于脏腑；如果是瘿瘤痈肿，这种病邪浮越于经脉，都属于以寒热为病因，以热结为形证的疾病。连翘的功效与夏枯草相当，但夏枯草偏向于从本源治疗，秉承寒水化令之气，所以能上至头顶，下至脚后跟；连翘偏向于从末梢治疗，秉承平和的气味，所以能外布肌肤腠理，内入五脏中心，至于解除心结的原理，则是一致的。先父曾说：连翘治疗鼠瘰、痈肿、疮疡、肿瘤，都认为是从结气所生，取其形态轻盈易落，因而能够自行消散的意思。《本草纲目》说它形状像人心，所以入心经，因为痛痒疮疡，都属于心火所致。李东垣说在十二经治疗疮疡的药物中，不可没有此药，何必非要像人心形状呢？不过独茎赤色，且结实部位在上，原本就具备心的意象。又说：散血结气聚，这是以结治结的方法，应当读作上声的“散”（sǎn，解散），不应当读作去声的“散”（sàn，分散），解散则自然消散而省力，分散则有作为而有效，这是先父详尽说明所治疗的病症，我卢之颐只简要说明能治疗的原因，结合能治之因与所治之果，那么命名的意义就清晰明了了。
[Shennong Bencao Jing · Lower Grade]
[Taste and Nature] Bitter, neutral in nature, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats chills and fever (Hanre), scrofula (Shuluo - lymphatic tuberculosis), carbuncles, sores, malignant ulcers, heat accumulation in goiters and tumors (Yingliu), and gu poison (Gudu).
[Evidence] It is stated: Lianqiao grows in the valleys of Mount Tai, as well as in present-day Bianjing (Kaifeng), Hezhong, Jiangning, Runzhou, Zizhou, Zezhou, Yanzhou, Dingzhou, Yuezhou, Lizhou, etc., all of which produce it, but those from Sichuan are considered superior. There are two types: Daqiao (Large Forsythia) and Xiaoqiao (Small Forsythia). Daqiao grows in low, wet areas or on hillsides; its leaves are emerald green, resembling elm leaves or Perilla frutescens (Shuisu); the stem is three to four chi high with a slightly reddish color; flowers bloom only at the tip of the single stem, yellow and pleasing; fruits appear in the third autumn, resembling the chambers of lotus pods or unopened Ailanthus seeds; it stands out among other grasses, with a small, hard, intact shell without sepals; when split, it divides in the middle, emitting a very fragrant aroma; the dried fruit is dry and falls off upon shaking, as if not attached to the stem; the root is white and hard, resembling that of Artemisia annua (Qinghao). Xiaoqiao grows on hills and plains; its stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits resemble those of Daqiao but are smaller. In ancient times, the stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits were used together; nowadays, only the fruits are used, and the use of stems and leaves has not been seen. There is a variety in the south with short stems and small leaves, whose fruits are yellow-black, with seeds like millet grains; this is Eclipta prostrata (Hanlian). Another variety resembles Nelumbo nucifera (Handan); its shell is soft, with attached sepals outside, enclosing it without separation lines, lacking fragrance, does not fall off when dried, remains on the stem for a long time, and has distinctly different efficacy.
[Commentary] It is stated: The Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) once used the canopy of a carriage to describe pulse conditions, stating that "abundant like a carriage canopy" indicates Yang Qi binding (Yangjie) and also Yang Qi excess (Yangsheng). The Bencao Jing names this herb Lianqiao; does it imply binding Yang excess? Also known as Lianyao, yao refers to a small carriage; carriages are used to pull heavy loads and travel far, thereby relieving obstruction. The Zhouli (Rites of Zhou) states that carriages embody the imagery of Heaven and Earth, speaking of Yin and Yang, interior and exterior, truly serving as the pivot of opening and closing. Therefore, it primarily treats heat binding in the center, manifesting as chills and fever and scrofula; its root lies in the Zang organs, while its branches manifest in the neck and axillary regions. If it is Gu poison, this pathogen sinks into the Zang organs; if it is goiter, tumor, or carbuncle, this pathogen floats in the meridians; all belong to diseases where chills and fever are the etiology, and heat binding is the morphological manifestation. Its efficacy is comparable to Prunella vulgaris (Xiakucao), but Xiakucao tends to treat from the root, inheriting the cold-water transformation command, thus reaching up to the vertex and down to the dorsum of the foot and heel; Lianqiao tends to treat from the branch, inheriting a balanced taste and nature, thus spreading externally to the skin and interstices, and internally to the five Zang centers. Regarding resolving binding from the heart, the principle is the same. My late father said: Lianqiao treats scrofula, carbuncles, sores, and tumors, all believed to arise from Qi binding; it takes advantage of its shape being light and easily falling, thus capable of self-dispersion. The Bencao Gangmu states that its shape resembles the human heart, hence entering the Heart meridian, because pain, itching, sores, and ulcers all belong to Heart Fire. Li Dongyuan stated that among herbs for sores in the twelve meridians, this one is indispensable; why must it resemble the human heart? However, the single stem is red, and the fruiting part is located superiorly, originally possessing the imagery of the Heart. It is also said: To disperse blood binding and Qi aggregation, this is using binding to treat binding; one should read "san" as the rising tone (sǎn, meaning to disperse/resolve), not the departing tone (sàn, meaning to scatter/distribute). Resolving leads to natural dispersion with less effort; distributing implies active dispersal. This is what my late father fully explained regarding the treated conditions; I, Lu Zhiyi, merely briefly explain the reasons for treatment. Combining the cause of treatment and the treated condition, the meaning behind the name becomes clear.