\r柴胡\pq7a1.bmp\r
禀春气以生升。转旋枢机。主少阳表邪之寒热。味苦寒而轻举。通调上下。治厥阴热
蓄之谵狂。木郁达之。疏土畅肝散结气。银柴性似。凉瘀涤热理疳痨。（柴胡得春初生发之
气以生。气味虽微苦微寒。而力甚薄。故无降泄之性。而有生升之能。专入肝胆二经。能条
达木郁。疏畅气血。解散表邪。如同补药。用以升举清气。从左而上。宜蜜炙用之。银柴别
有一种。从来注本草者。皆言其能治小儿疳热。大人痨热。大抵有入肝胆凉血之切。性味与
柴胡相似。故上古所不分耳。柴胡之用在升散。若阴虚火炎。气升咳嗽呕吐等证。不可用之
。惟宜于春月时邪风温等证。内应肝胆者。最为相宜。银柴胡出银州。其质坚。其色白。无
解表之性。虽同是用根。性味相仿。上古虽不分。究竟各有所宜耳。）
\r前胡\pq7a.bmp\r
辛能散风邪。苦以泄肺气。寒堪清上。降可除痰。（前胡辛苦而寒。专入肺经。能解
散外感风热。外邪解则肺气自降。痰火自除。故又能降气下痰耳。前胡之解表邪。惟肺胃结
气有热者可用之。）
\r独活\pq7.bmp\r
芳香气散。辛苦性温。搜少阴之伏风。表邪可解。宣肾经之寒湿。痹病能除。可愈奔豚。
并疗诸疝。因其有风不动
。无风反摇。故能散以搜风。风以胜湿。（独活一茎直上。不为风摇。故名。羌活独活。本
一类二种。皆辛苦性温。解散肌表风寒湿邪之药。但独活入足少阴。羌活入足太阳。然太阳
与少阴为表里。经络相通。不过独活之性细而优。羌活之性粗而劣。故一治伏邪。一治游邪
为异耳。独活气香质细。属阴中之阳。沉而能升。缓而善搜。故入足少阴血分。从内至外。
可治奔豚疝瘕。寒湿痹痛等证。又云独活出川中。由此观之。则羌活独活之用可知矣。）
柴胡
禀受春季生发之气而生长，具有升散之性。能转旋枢机（指调节少阳经气机升降出入的功能），主治少阳经受邪所致的寒热往来症状。其味苦、性寒，质地轻清而上行，能通调上下气机。治疗厥阴肝经热邪蓄积导致的谵语狂乱。遵循“木郁达之”的原则，疏泄土壅，畅达肝气，消散结聚之气。银柴胡的药性与之相似，能凉血化瘀、清除虚热，调理疳积劳热。（柴胡得春季初生的生发之气而成，气味虽微苦微寒，但药力轻薄，因此没有沉降泄下的性质，而有升发生长的功能。专入肝胆二经，能条达肝木之郁结，疏畅气血，解散表邪，作用如同补药。用于升举清气，从左路向上运行，适宜用蜜炙后使用。银柴胡是另一种药材，历代注本草者都说它能治小儿疳热和大人痨热，大抵是因为它具有入肝胆凉血的切效，性味与柴胡相似，所以上古时期二者不分。柴胡的作用在于升散，如果是阴虚火炎、气逆咳嗽呕吐等证候，不可使用。只适宜于春月感受时邪风温等证候，且内应肝胆者，最为相宜。银柴胡产于银州，质地坚硬，颜色洁白，没有解表的性质。虽然同样是用根，性味相近，上古虽不分，但究竟各有所宜罢了。）
前胡
辛味能疏散风邪，苦味能泄降肺气，寒性能清上焦之热，降性能消除痰浊。（前胡辛苦而寒，专入肺经，能解散外感风热。外邪解除则肺气自然下降，痰火自然清除，所以又能降气下痰。前胡解除表邪，只适用于肺胃有结气且伴有热象的情况。）
独活
芳香之气发散，辛苦之味，性温。能搜剔少阴经潜伏的风邪，使表邪得以解除；宣通肾经的寒湿，痹痛病症能够消除。可治愈奔豚气，并治疗各种疝气。因为它“有风不动，无风反摇”，所以能发散以搜剔风邪，以风胜湿。（独活一茎直立向上，不为风所摇动，因此得名。羌活和独活，本是一类两种，都是辛苦性温的药物，是解散肌表风寒湿邪的药。但独活入足少阴肾经，羌活入足太阳膀胱经。然而太阳与少阴互为表里，经络相通，只不过独活的药性细密而优良，羌活的药性粗犷而次劣，所以一个治疗伏邪，一个治疗游邪，这是它们的区别。独活气香质细，属于阴中之阳，沉潜而能上升，缓和而善于搜剔，所以入足少阴血分，从内至外，可治疗奔豚、疝瘕、寒湿痹痛等证候。又说独活产于川中，由此观之，羌活和独活的用途就可以知道了。）
Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix)
It is born with the Qi of spring, possessing a rising and dispersing nature. It rotates the pivot mechanism (referring to the function of regulating the ascending, descending, exiting, and entering of Shaoyang meridian Qi), and mainly treats chills and fever resulting from pathogenic factors in the Shaoyang exterior syndrome. Its taste is bitter and cold, its texture is light and ascending, and it can regulate the Qi mechanism of the upper and lower body. It treats delirium and mania caused by heat accumulation in the Jueyin Liver channel. Following the principle of "releasing Wood stagnation," it soothes Earth congestion, promotes Liver Qi flow, and dissipates stagnant Qi. Yin Chai Hu (Stellariae Radix) has similar properties; it cools blood, resolves stasis, clears deficiency heat, and manages malnutrition fever and consumptive fever. (Chai Hu acquires the sprouting Qi of early spring for its growth. Although its flavor is slightly bitter and cold, its medicinal power is thin, so it lacks descending and purging properties but possesses the ability to generate and rise. It specifically enters the Liver and Gallbladder meridians, can unblock Wood stagnation, smooth Qi and Blood, and resolve exterior pathogens, acting somewhat like a tonic. When used to raise clear Yang, it moves upward from the left side and is suitable for use after honey-frying. Yin Chai Hu is a distinct herb; commentators on Materia Medica have always stated that it treats childhood malnutrition fever and adult consumptive fever. This is largely due to its efficacy in cooling blood by entering the Liver and Gallbladder meridians, and its nature and flavor are similar to Chai Hu, which is why they were not distinguished in ancient times. The use of Chai Hu lies in its rising and dispersing action. If there are conditions such as Yin deficiency with flaming fire, rebellious Qi causing cough or vomiting, it should not be used. It is most suitable for seasonal pathogens and wind-warmth contracted in spring, especially when internally corresponding to the Liver and Gallbladder. Yin Chai Hu originates from Yinzhou; its texture is hard and its color white. It lacks exterior-resolving properties. Although both are roots with similar nature and flavor, and were undistinguished in antiquity, each has its specific indications.)
Qian Hu (Peucedani Radix)
The pungent flavor can disperse wind pathogens, the bitter flavor can drain Lung Qi, the cold nature can clear the Upper Jiao, and the descending action can eliminate phlegm. (Qian Hu is pungent, bitter, and cold, specifically entering the Lung meridian. It can resolve external wind-heat. Once the exterior pathogen is resolved, Lung Qi naturally descends, and phlegm-fire is cleared. Thus, it can also descend Qi and expel phlegm. Qian Hu's ability to resolve exterior pathogens is only applicable when there is Qi knotting in the Lung and Stomach accompanied by heat.)
Du Huo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix)
Its aromatic fragrance disperses, its taste is pungent and bitter, and its nature is warm. It searches out latent wind in the Shaoyin meridian, resolving exterior pathogens; it disseminates cold-dampness in the Kidney meridian, relieving bi-syndrome. It can cure Ben Tun (running piglet qi) and treat various hernias. Because it "does not move when there is wind, but sways when there is no wind," it can disperse and search out wind, using wind to overcome dampness. (Du Huo grows with a single stem straight up and is not shaken by the wind, hence its name. Qiang Huo and Du Huo belong to the same category but different species. Both are pungent, bitter, and warm herbs that disperse wind-cold-dampness from the muscles and exterior. However, Du Huo enters the Foot-Shaoyin (Kidney) meridian, while Qiang Huo enters the Foot-Taiyang (Bladder) meridian. Since Taiyang and Shaoyin are interior-exterior pairs with connected meridians, the difference lies in their natures: Du Huo's nature is fine and superior, while Qiang Huo's is coarse and inferior. Thus, one treats latent pathogens and the other wandering pathogens. Du Huo is aromatic and finely textured, belonging to Yang within Yin. It is sinking yet capable of rising, gentle yet good at searching. Therefore, it enters the Blood aspect of the Foot-Shaoyin meridian, moving from inside to outside, treating conditions such as Ben Tun, hernial masses, and cold-damp bi-pain. It is also said that Du Huo originates from Sichuan; from this, the uses of Qiang Huo and Du Huo can be understood.)