\r地榆\pq12a.bmp\r
酸苦入营阴。肝与大肠皆可及。沉寒凉血分。火同湿热总堪除。且能散肿疏风。疮疹
常用。并可疗崩治痢。痔漏多宜。（地榆入肝凉血。是其本功。痔痢等证。虽由于大肠。然
皆出于血分中之湿热。地榆能除血中之热。热除则湿自去耳。地榆非疏风药。不过血热则生
风。血凉则风自息矣。至其治崩者。亦由血为热妄逼而行所致。当炙黑用之。如因脾虚肝郁。
不因血热者。不可用也。）
\r巴戟天\pq12.bmp\r
能入肾肝血分。起痿强阳。质属甘苦辛温。益阴固下。疝瘕香港脚。借以温通。痹湿
风寒。资其宣导。（巴戟天其根状如牡丹。而结细过之。外赤内黑。去心用。专治肝肾阳虚。
补而不滞。宣而不燥。故凡一切风寒湿痹于下焦腰膝诸证。皆可治之。其气味甘温之中。略
兼辛苦。色紫质重。其功可想。观巴戟之用。为下焦肝肾血分之药。能补阴中之阳。若阴中
真水不足而相火旺者不宜用。以其味兼辛苦气温。非纯静之药耳。）
\r肉苁蓉\pq13a1.bmp\r
壮阳滋肾。甘咸少带微酸。补命通幽。温润且犹兼黑。锁阳之性。主治相同。（肉
苁蓉草类也。其状柔软如肉。形有鳞甲如松枝。一云马精遗地而生者。亦未知然否。甘咸温
润色黑。专入肝肾。能益精壮阳。但无峻补之力。却有滑肠之能。故虽肝肾不足。而脾虚便
溏者。不宜服之。锁阳亦一类二种耳。锁阳出处形质性味功用。皆与苁蓉同。为肾经血分药
。能补下焦阳中之阴。与巴戟之补阴中之阳者略异。故凡老人阳中之阴不足。而致大便结燥
者宜之。）
地榆
味酸、苦，入营分和阴分。肝经与大肠经均可涉及。性沉降寒凉，入血分，火热证兼夹湿热者皆可清除。且能消散肿结、疏解风邪，是治疗疮疡和疹痘的常用药。也可用于治疗崩漏和痢疾，痔疮及瘘管多适宜使用。（地榆入肝经以凉血，这是它的基本功效。痔疮、痢疾等病症，虽然病位在大肠，但根源都在于血分中的湿热。地榆能清除血中的热邪，热邪去除则湿气自然随之而去。地榆并非直接的疏风药，而是因为血热会生风，血液清凉则风邪自息。至于治疗崩漏，也是因为血受热邪逼迫而妄行所致，应当将地榆炒炭黑后使用。如果是因脾虚肝郁引起，而非血热导致的，则不可使用。）
巴戟天
能入肾经和肝经的血分，起痿弱、强阳气。质地属甘、苦、辛、温，益阴固摄下元。疝气、瘕积、脚气（香港脚），借其温通之力。风寒湿痹，依靠其宣导之功。（巴戟天的根形状像牡丹，但比牡丹更细。外皮红色，内里黑色，需去心使用。专门治疗肝肾阳虚，补益而不滞涩，宣通而不燥烈。所以凡是下焦腰膝部位的一切风寒湿痹症状，都可以治疗。其气味在甘温之中，略微兼有辛苦。颜色紫红，质地沉重，其功效可以想见。观察巴戟天的用途，它是作用于下焦肝肾血分的药物，能补益阴中之阳。如果阴中真水不足而相火旺盛者不宜使用，因为其味道兼有辛苦，气温，不是纯静之药。）
肉苁蓉
壮阳滋肾，味甘、咸，略带微酸。补命门、通幽阻，性质温润且色黑。锁阳的药性与主治与此相同。（肉苁蓉属于草类植物。其状柔软如肉，外形有鳞片甲壳如松枝。有一种说法认为是马精遗落在地上生长而成的，也不知是否属实。味甘、咸，性温润，色黑，专门入肝肾二经。能益精壮阳，但没有峻猛补益的力量，却有滑润肠道的作用。所以即使是肝肾不足，但如果伴有脾虚便溏的情况，不宜服用。锁阳也是同类异种的药材。锁阳的产地、形态、质地、性味和功用，都与肉苁蓉相同，为肾经血分药，能补益下焦阳中之阴，与巴戟天补益阴中之阳略有不同。所以凡是老年人阳中之阴不足导致大便干结燥硬的，适宜使用。）
Di Yu (Sanguisorbae Radix)
Acid and bitter in flavor, enters the Ying (Nutrient) level and Yin aspect. It affects both the Liver channel and the Large Intestine channel. Its nature is sinking, cold, and cooling, entering the Blood level; it can eliminate fire combined with damp-heat. Furthermore, it can dissipate swelling and disperse wind, making it a commonly used herb for sores, ulcers, and rashes. It can also treat metrorrhagia (abnormal uterine bleeding) and dysentery, and is suitable for hemorrhoids and fistulas. (The entry into the Liver channel to cool blood is its fundamental function. Although conditions such as hemorrhoids and dysentery are located in the Large Intestine, they originate from damp-heat in the Blood level. Di Yu eliminates heat in the blood; once the heat is removed, the dampness naturally disperses. Di Yu is not primarily a wind-dispersing herb; rather, blood heat generates wind, and when the blood cools, the wind subsides. Regarding its use in treating metrorrhagia, this is due to blood being forced to flow recklessly by heat; therefore, it should be used after being charred black. If the condition arises from Spleen deficiency and Liver Qi stagnation rather than blood heat, it should not be used.)
Ba Ji Tian (Morindae Officinalis Radix)
It can enter the Blood level of the Kidney and Liver channels, treating flaccidity syndrome and strengthening Yang. Its substance is sweet, bitter, acrid, and warm, benefiting Yin and securing the lower Jiao. For hernia, masses (Zhang), and gouty arthritis (Hong Kong foot), it utilizes its warming and unblocking properties. For bi-syndrome caused by wind-cold-dampness, it provides guidance and dissemination. (The root of Ba Ji Tian resembles that of Peony but is finer. The exterior is red and the interior is black; the heart should be removed before use. It specifically treats Kidney and Liver Yang deficiency. It tonifies without causing stagnation and disseminates without causing dryness. Therefore, it can treat all types of wind-cold-dampness bi-syndrome affecting the lower Jiao, waist, and knees. Its aroma and taste are sweet and warm, slightly mixed with bitter and acrid. Its color is purple and its substance is heavy, indicating its efficacy. Observing the use of Ba Ji Tian, it is an herb acting on the Blood level of the lower Jiao Liver and Kidney, capable of tonifying the Yang within Yin. It is unsuitable for those whose True Water within Yin is insufficient and who have hyperactive Ministerial Fire, because its flavor includes bitter and acrid qualities and its nature is warm, making it not a purely tranquil herb.)
Rou Cong Rong (Cistanches Herba)
Strengthens Yang and nourishes the Kidney. Flavor is sweet and salty, with a slight sour note. It tonifies the Ming Men (Gate of Life), opens obstructions, and is moistening and warm, possessing a black color. Suo Yang has similar properties and indications. (Rou Cong Rong belongs to the grass category. Its texture is soft like flesh, and its shape has scales resembling pine branches. One theory suggests it grows from horse essence dropped on the ground, though this is uncertain. Sweet, salty, warm, and moistening, with a black color, it specifically enters the Liver and Kidney channels. It benefits Essence and strengthens Yang, but lacks powerful tonifying strength; however, it has the ability to lubricate the intestines. Therefore, even if there is Liver and Kidney insufficiency, it is not suitable for those with Spleen deficiency and loose stools. Suo Yang is also a herb of the same category but different species. The origin, morphology, substance, flavor, and functions of Suo Yang are identical to Rou Cong Rong. It is a Blood-level herb of the Kidney channel, capable of tonifying the Yin within Yang in the lower Jiao, which differs slightly from Ba Ji Tian's function of tonifying Yang within Yin. Therefore, it is suitable for elderly people whose Yin within Yang is insufficient, leading to dry and constipated stools.)