\r夏枯草\pq26a1.bmp\r
虽禀纯阳之气。味仍辛苦而寒。独走厥阴。能解肝家郁火。功专散结。堪医瘰 疮
疡。（此草冬至后生叶。至春而花。一到夏至即枯。故名。然各家皆言其苦寒。散结气。治
瘰。惟朱丹溪言其能有补养厥阴血脉之功。想此草得春气最多。或可为助耳。观此草得阳
气而生。得阴气而死。似乎禀纯阳之性。故虽属阴寒。而阴中仍含阳气。且皆取用其花。有
春木发陈条达之意。虽苦寒而不遏耳。）
\r葫芦巴\pq26a.bmp\r
补肾壮元阳。辛苦温通有效。入肝宣冷滞。疝瘕寒湿宜求。（葫芦巴壮元阳。除下
焦冷气。味苦而辛。性热而降。出胡地。萝菔子也。入肝肾二经。故能治疝瘕香港脚等证。下
焦阳虚有寒者可用之。阴亏者非所宜也。）
\r牛蒡子\pq26.bmp\r
苦辛入肺。散结清咽。润降松肌。消痰化热。解风温于上部。利膈疏邪。宣疹痘于
周身。通肝达外。（牛蒡子一名大力子。三月生苗。初夏开花。至秋结子。故其子得秋金之
气。辛胜于苦。性平。专治肺病。兼通于肝。宣散润降。均擅其长。一切咽喉痘疹诸病。凡
属于肺者。皆可用之。）
\r艾叶\pq27a1.bmp\r
补命门以暖子宫。香达肝脾寒湿化。理血气而疗崩带。温通奇脉苦辛兼。可灸疮疽。
能薰虫蚀。（艾叶入肝脾肾三经。芳香可以入血。辛热可以解寒。故生者能理血气。解散风
寒湿邪。或炒黑。或揉熟。能温暖下元。治妇人崩带瘕疝胎产等证。属于寒湿者。皆可用之
。纯阳之性。故可杀虫辟恶。其灸疮疽者。藉芳香辛热以宣通气血耳。艾叶入下焦血分。能
温阴中之阳。逐下焦血分寒湿浊气。生温熟热。生者能散。熟者能守。亦若干姜炮姜之用。
但艾叶之功。辛苦而香。所用在叶。非干姜之但辛热而用根也。）
虽然禀受纯阳之气，但味道仍属辛苦且性寒。它独入厥阴经，能解除肝脏的郁火，功效专门在于消散结块，可用于治疗瘰疬、疮疡。（这种草在冬至后生叶，到春天开花，一到夏至就枯萎，因此得名。然而各家都说是苦寒之品，能散结气，治瘰疬，只有朱丹溪说它能补养厥阴血脉的功效。想这草得春气最多，或许可以辅助。看这草得阳气而生，得阴气而死，似乎禀赋纯阳之性，所以虽然属于阴寒，但阴中仍含有阳气，而且都取其花，有春木发陈条达之意，虽苦寒而不遏抑。）
补肾壮元阳，辛苦温通有效。入肝经宣散冷滞，疝气、瘕积、寒湿证适宜使用。（葫芦巴壮元阳，除下焦冷气，味苦而辛，性热而降，出自胡地，是萝卜子。入肝肾二经，所以能治疝气、瘕积、香港脚等证。下焦阳虚有寒者可用之，阴亏者不宜。）
苦辛入肺经，散结清咽，润降松肌，消痰化热。解上部风温，利膈疏邪，宣发疹痘于周身，通肝达外。（牛蒡子一名大力子，三月生苗，初夏开花，至秋结子，所以其子得秋金之气，辛胜于苦，性平，专治肺病，兼通于肝，宣散润降，均擅其长。一切咽喉痘疹诸病，凡属于肺者，皆可用之。）
补命门以暖子宫，香达肝脾使寒湿化，理血气而疗崩漏带下，温通奇脉苦辛兼。可灸疮疽，能薰虫蚀。（艾叶入肝脾肾三经，芳香可以入血，辛热可以解寒，所以生者能理血气，解散风寒湿邪，或炒黑，或揉熟，能温暖下元，治妇人崩漏、带下、瘕疝、胎产等证。属于寒湿者，皆可用之。纯阳之性，所以可杀虫辟恶。其灸疮疽者，藉芳香辛热以宣通气血耳。艾叶入下焦血分，能温阴中之阳，逐下焦血分寒湿浊气，生温熟热，生者能散，熟者能守，也若干姜炮姜之用。但艾叶之功，辛苦而香，所用在叶，非干姜之但辛热而用根也。）
Xia Ku Cao (Prunellae Spica)
Although it inherits the nature of pure Yang, its taste remains pungent and bitter with a cold property. It uniquely enters the Jueyin Liver channel, can resolve liver Qi stagnation transforming into fire, and its function is specialized in dissipating nodules; it is suitable for treating scrofula (lymphatic tuberculosis) and sores/ulcers. (This herb sprouts leaves after the Winter Solstice, flowers in spring, and withers upon the Summer Solstice, hence its name. However, various schools describe it as bitter and cold, capable of dissipating stagnant Qi and treating scrofula. Only Zhu Danxi stated that it has the merit of nourishing the blood vessels of the Jueyin channel. One may speculate that since this herb receives the most Spring Qi, it might serve as an aid. Observing that this herb grows by receiving Yang Qi and dies by receiving Yin Qi, it seems to possess a nature of pure Yang. Thus, although categorized as Yin-Cold, it still contains Yang within Yin. Moreover, only its flower spikes are used, embodying the intent of Spring Wood to promote growth and free flow; thus, despite being bitter and cold, it does not obstruct.)
Hu Lu Ba (Trigonellae Semen)
Tonifies the Kidney and strengthens primordial Yang; pungent, bitter, warm, and unblocking proves effective. Enters the Liver channel to disseminate cold stagnation; suitable for hernia, mass accumulation, and cold-dampness conditions. (Hu Lu Ba strengthens primordial Yang and eliminates cold Qi in the lower Jiao. Its taste is bitter and pungent, its nature hot and descending. Originating from Hu regions, it is related to Radish seeds. It enters the Liver and Kidney channels, thus capable of treating hernia, mass accumulation, and tinea pedis (athlete's foot). It can be used for deficiency of Yang and presence of cold in the lower Jiao, but is not suitable for those with Yin deficiency.)
Niu Bang Zi (Arctii Fructus)
Bitter and pungent, enters the Lung channel; dissipates nodules and clears the throat, moistens and descends while relaxing muscles, resolves phlegm and transforms heat. Resolves Wind-Warmth in the upper body, benefits the diaphragm and disperses pathogens, promotes eruption of rashes and smallpox throughout the body, communicates with the Liver and reaches the exterior. (Niu Bang Zi, also known as Da Li Zi, sprouts in March, flowers in early summer, and bears fruit in autumn; thus, its fruit inherits the Qi of Autumn Metal. Pungency exceeds bitterness, and its nature is neutral. It specializes in treating Lung diseases and additionally communicates with the Liver. It excels in both dispersing and moistening/descending functions. All disorders of the throat, rashes, and smallpox that belong to the Lung category can utilize it.)
Ai Ye (Mugwort Leaf)
Tonifies the Gate of Vitality (Mingmen) to warm the uterus; its fragrance reaches the Liver and Spleen, transforming cold-dampness. Regulates Blood and Qi to treat metrorrhagia and leukorrhea; warms and unblocks the extraordinary vessels, combining pungent and bitter properties. Suitable for moxibustion on sores and carbuncles; can fumigate to expel parasites and insect erosion. (Ai Ye enters the Liver, Spleen, and Kidney channels. Its aromatic quality can enter the Blood, and its pungent-hot nature can resolve cold. Therefore, when raw, it regulates Blood and Qi and dissipates Wind-Cold-Damp pathogens. When stir-fried until black or kneaded cooked, it warms the lower Yuan and treats women's metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, mass accumulation, hernia, and pregnancy/postpartum conditions. For conditions belonging to cold-dampness, it can be used. Being of pure Yang nature, it can kill parasites and dispel malignancy. In treating sores and carbuncles via moxibustion, it relies on aromatic pungent-heat to promote the circulation of Qi and Blood. Ai Ye enters the Blood aspect of the lower Jiao, warming the Yang within Yin and driving out cold-damp turbid Qi from the Blood aspect of the lower Jiao. Raw is warm, cooked is hot; raw acts to disperse, cooked acts to retain, similar to the use of Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger) and Pao Jiang (Prepared Ginger). However, the merit of Ai Ye lies in its pungent, bitter, and aromatic qualities found in the leaf, unlike Gan Jiang which relies solely on pungent-heat from the root.)