（本经中品）
【气味】辛平，无毒。
【主治】主除脾胃寒热，通利九窍血脉关节，令人不忘，去恶虫。
【核】曰∶通草，即木通。泽、潞、汉中、江淮、湖南州郡皆有之。绕树蔓藤，大者经
三五寸，每节二三枝，枝头五叶。夏末开花紫色，亦有白色者。实如木瓜而小，长三四寸，
瓤白核黑，食之甘美。枝即通草，通理细孔，两头皆通，含取一头吹之，气出彼头，色黄白
者良。黑褐色者，此商贾因其质轻易得，多置舡篷上，为雨 所侵，以致形色腐黑，用之无
力也。
【 】曰∶黄中通理，故名通。草类藤蔓，仍名草。枝头五叶，长夏作花，味辛气平。
脾之用药通剂也。故除脾胃寒热，塞而不通，并九窍血脉关节，悉为脾土所摄故也。去恶虫，
令
（具此神通，则八万四千毛窍。有所闭塞。莫不令之开通。举九窍者，九窍为窍穴之总
持耳
（本经中品）
数犯此者，此字指生气言。
【气味】苦平，无毒。
【主治】主寒热邪气，寒湿风痹，肢节痛，下水，利小便。
【核】曰∶出飞鸟山谷，及甘松、龙洞、泾州、 州、岐州诸处。枝干高五六寸，叶婆
娑如莴苣叶，茎梗俱青。六月开花紫色似葛花，当月结子。根黄色，长尺许，作罗纹交斜，
其文左列者佳，右列者不堪入药，令人发香港脚病也。修治，认取脚文左列者，拭去黄白毛，
还元汤浸一宿，日干用。菖蒲为之使，恶牛乳。
先人云∶人身直者为经，横者为络，络之下注者为孙。肌腠之邪，多从孙人，次薄于络，
复
【 】曰∶根有罗纹，左旋者入药，盖天道左旋，而人生气从之。经云∶自古通天者生
之本，天地之间，六合之内，其气九州九窍，五脏十二节皆通乎天气。数犯此者，则邪气伤
人，内闭九窍，外壅肌肉，卫气散解，是以本经用治寒热邪气，或风寒湿痹，致骨节水道，
反从地道右旋者，使顺天运，以转玉玑。别录诸家，用治转胞口噤，目暗耳鸣，即九窍内闭。
用治痈疽黄胆，传尸骨蒸，即肌肉外壅。用治手足不遂，通身挛急，即卫气散解。设左右无
别，天道逆矣。
【《神农本草经》中品】
【气味】味辛，性平，无毒。
【主治】主要治疗脾胃寒热之证，通利九窍、血脉和关节，使人记忆不衰退，去除恶虫。
【考证】曰：通草，就是木通。泽州、潞州、汉中、江淮、湖南各州郡都有出产。它是缠绕树木生长的蔓藤，粗的直径有三五寸，每节分出二三枝，枝头长有五片叶子。夏末开出紫色的花，也有白色的。果实像木瓜但较小，长三四寸，瓤是白色，核是黑色，吃起来甘甜美味。枝条就是通草，内部纹理有细孔，两头都贯通，含住一头吹气，气会从另一头出来，颜色黄白的是上品。黑褐色的，是因为商人因为质地轻容易得到，多放置在船篷上，被雨水浸泡，导致颜色和形状腐烂变黑，使用没有药效。
【按语】曰：黄色居中通达文理，所以叫“通”。属于草类藤蔓，仍然称为草。枝头五叶，盛夏开花，味辛气平。是调理脾气的通剂药物。所以能去除脾胃寒热，（因为）堵塞不通的情况，以及九窍、血脉、关节，都被脾土所统摄的缘故。去除恶虫，具备这种神通，那么八万四千毛孔如果有闭塞，没有不让它开通的。举出九窍，是因为九窍是窍穴的总纲。
【《神农本草经》中品】
多次触犯这个原则，这个字指代生气而言。
【气味】味苦，性平，无毒。
【主治】主要治疗寒热邪气，寒湿风痹，肢体关节疼痛，下行水气，通利小便。
【考证】曰：出产于飞鸟山谷，以及甘松、龙洞、泾州、某州、岐州等地。枝干高五六寸，叶子婆娑像莴苣叶，茎梗都是青色。六月开紫色的花类似葛花，当月结子。根黄色，长约一尺，呈罗纹状交错斜生，纹理向左排列的好，向右排列的不堪入药，会让人患香港脚病。炮制时，要认准脚部纹理向左排列的，擦去黄白色的毛，用还元汤浸泡一夜，晒干后使用。菖蒲作为它的辅佐药，畏忌牛乳。
先父说：人体直的叫做经，横的叫做络，络向下注入的叫孙。肌腠之间的邪气，多从孙脉进入，其次迫近于络脉，再进而深入。
【按语】曰：根部有罗纹，向左旋转的入药，大概天道是向左旋转的，而人的生气顺应它。经典说：自古通天者，是生命的根本，天地之间，六合之内，其气在九州、九窍、五脏、十二节都与天气相通。多次触犯这个原则，那么邪气伤人，内闭九窍，外壅肌肉，卫气散乱解体，所以《本经》用它来治疗寒热邪气，或者风寒湿痹，导致骨节水道，反而从地道向右旋转的，使其顺应天运，以转动玉玑（比喻调节身体气机）。《别录》及诸家，用它治疗转胞、口噤、目暗耳鸣，这就是九窍内闭。用它治疗痈疽、黄疸、传尸骨蒸，这就是肌肉外壅。用它治疗手足不遂、全身挛急，这就是卫气散解。如果左右没有区别，天道就逆乱了。
[Shennong Bencao Jing, Middle Category]
【Flavor and Nature】Acrid, neutral, non-toxic.
【Indications】Primarily treats cold-heat disorders of the Spleen and Stomach, unblocks the Nine Orifices (the nine openings of the head and body), blood vessels, and joints, prevents forgetfulness, and expels harmful parasites.
【Verification】It is stated: Tongcao is Mu Tong (Akebiae Caulis). It is found in Zezhou, Luzhou, Hanzhong, Jianghuai, and various prefectures in Hunan. It is a climbing vine that winds around trees. The thicker stems have a diameter of three to five cun. Each node produces two or three branches, with five leaves at the branch tips. Purple flowers bloom in late summer, though white ones also exist. The fruit resembles a small quince, about three to four cun long, with white pulp and black seeds; it tastes sweet and delicious. The stem itself is Tongcao, characterized by fine internal channels that are open at both ends. If one end is placed in the mouth and air is blown through, it exits the other end. Those with a yellowish-white color are of good quality. Blackish-brown specimens result from merchants placing them on boat canopies due to their light weight and ease of acquisition; rain infiltration causes them to rot and darken, rendering them ineffective for medicinal use.
【Commentary】It is said: "Yellow" represents the center and penetrating texture, hence the name "Tong" (Unblocking). As a herbaceous vine, it retains the character "Cao" (Herb). With five leaves at the tips and flowering in midsummer, its flavor is acrid and nature neutral. It serves as a regulating agent for the Spleen. Thus, it eliminates cold-heat in the Spleen and Stomach. Since blockages in the Nine Orifices, blood vessels, and joints are governed by the Earth element of the Spleen, this herb addresses these areas. By expelling harmful parasites, it demonstrates its spiritual efficacy: if any of the 84,000 pores are blocked, it ensures they all open. Mentioning the Nine Orifices highlights them as the general control points of all bodily orifices.
[Shennong Bencao Jing, Middle Category]
Repeatedly violating this principle refers to the concept of "Sheng Qi" (Vital Qi).
【Flavor and Nature】Bitter, neutral, non-toxic.
【Indications】Primarily treats cold-heat pathogenic factors, wind-dampness bi syndrome, pain in limbs and joints, promotes urination, and facilitates the flow of water.
【Verification】It is stated: It grows in valleys inhabited by flying birds, as well as in Gansong, Longdong, Jingzhou, [missing character]zhou, and Qizhou. The branches and trunk are five to six cun high. The leaves are luxuriant, resembling lettuce leaves, and the stems are green. Purple flowers, similar to Kudzu flowers, bloom in June, and fruits form in the same month. The root is yellow, approximately one chi long, with a cross-hatched pattern. Roots with patterns spiraling to the left are superior; those spiraling to the right are unsuitable for medicine and may cause gout (Hong Kong foot). For processing, select roots with left-spiraling patterns, wipe off the yellow-white hairs, soak in Huanyuan Decoction overnight, and dry in the sun for use. Changpu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma) acts as its assistant. It opposes cow's milk.
My late father said: In the human body, vertical structures are called Jing (Meridians), horizontal ones are Luo (Collaterals), and those flowing downward from the Luo are Sun (Sun Collaterals). Pathogens in the muscle interstices often enter via the Sun collaterals, then approach the Luo collaterals, and subsequently penetrate deeper.
【Commentary】It is said: The root has a spiral pattern; those rotating to the left are used in medicine, reflecting the Heavenly Dao's leftward rotation, which human Vital Qi follows. The Classics state: "Those who connect with Heaven since ancient times possess the root of life." Within the universe and the six directions, Qi connects the Nine Provinces, Nine Orifices, Five Zang Organs, and Twelve Joints with Heavenly Qi. Repeated violations of this principle allow pathogens to harm the body, internally closing the Nine Orifices and externally obstructing muscles, causing Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) to scatter and disintegrate. Therefore, the *Bencao Jing* uses Qinjiao to treat cold-heat pathogens or wind-cold-dampness bi syndromes that cause the bone-water pathways to rotate rightward (following the Earthly Dao) contrary to the Heavenly motion, thereby restoring harmony with Heaven's movement. The *Bielu* and other authorities use it to treat inverted bladder, lockjaw, dim vision, and tinnitus, representing internal closure of the Nine Orifices. It is used for carbuncles, jaundice, consumption, and bone-steaming fever, representing external obstruction of muscles. It is used for paralysis of limbs and whole-body spasms, representing the scattering of Wei Qi. If there were no distinction between left and right, the Heavenly Dao would be reversed.