\r牛膝\pq19a.bmp\r
滋肝助肾。生者破血行瘀。盐炒酒蒸。熟则强筋健骨。具苦酸平和之性。治拘挛痹着
之邪。怀产者。象若枝条。下行力足。川产者。形同续断。补益功多。（牛膝今江淮闽粤等
处皆有之。惟以怀庆及川中所产者为良。亦地土之各有异宜。故功用亦有差等耳。性善下行
。制炒则补益肝肾。生用则专去恶血。二者而已。怀牛膝根细而长。川牛膝根粗而大。欲行
瘀达下则怀胜。补益肝肾则川胜耳。）
\r紫菀\pq19.bmp\r
性温利肺。治风寒咳逆之邪。色赤和营。疗痿 吐红之疾。皆为苦能降气。金肃则
小
但辛苦之性。疏邪降逆。是其所长。故一切风寒风热咳嗽痰血等证。凡属肺金之邪郁而不宜
者。皆可用之。惟润养之力为不足耳。因紫菀根虽柔软。然亦非润药。皆以辛散苦泄为功。
若内无郁结。外无表邪。肺阴不足。虚火上刑者。仍不可用。）
\r川断\pq20a1.bmp\r
益肝肾。筋骨能强。利机关。劳伤可续。治带脉之郁结。暖子宫之虚寒。抑且补而
能宣。味苦性温瘀可散。况复行而不泄。妇人外证病咸宜。（川断以其能接续断绝筋骨诸伤
损。故名。而筋骨主于肝肾。故专入肝肾。考其苦温之性。以及
本经主治。毕竟行散之力有余。补益之功不足。妇人血脉因寒瘀阻。外科已溃未溃等证。皆
可治之。川断之性味主治。与牛膝相近。但下行之力。牛膝为长。宣补之功。川断较胜耳。
肝肾不足。风寒痹于下焦血分者。更宜。）
牛膝
滋养肝脏，辅助肾脏。生用能破除瘀血、运行血行。经盐水炒制或酒蒸后，熟用则能强健筋骨。具有苦、酸、平和的药性，治疗筋脉拘挛、痹症阻滞等邪气。产自怀庆（今河南焦作一带）的牛膝，形态像枝条，下行通利之力充足；产自四川的牛膝，形状类似续断，补益功效较多。（注：现在的牛膝在江淮、福建、广东等地都有出产，但以怀庆和四川所产的为优良，这也是因为各地水土适宜程度不同，所以功效也有差异。其药性善于下行，经过炮制炒制后能补益肝肾，生用则专门去除恶血，主要就这两种用途。怀牛膝根细而长，川牛膝根粗而大，想要行瘀并引药下行则怀牛膝更好，想要补益肝肾则川牛膝更优。）
紫菀
药性温和，利于肺部，治疗因风寒引起的咳嗽气逆等邪气。颜色赤红能和调营血，治疗痿证、吐血等疾患。这都是因为苦味能降泄气机，肺气肃降则小（此处原文可能有脱漏或语意未完，通常指肺气清肃）。紫菀辛散苦泄的特性，疏解外邪、降逆气是它的长处。所以一切风寒风热咳嗽、痰中带血等证候，凡是属于肺金之气郁结不畅的，都可以使用它。只是滋润养护的力量稍显不足。因为紫菀的根虽然柔软，但并不是润燥的药物，都是以辛散苦泄为功效。如果体内没有郁结，体外没有表邪，而是肺阴不足、虚火上炎灼伤肺络的情况，仍然不可使用。
川断（续断）
补益肝肾，能使筋骨强壮；通利关节，劳损外伤得以接续。治疗带脉的郁结，温暖子宫的虚寒。而且它能补益的同时又能宣通，味苦性温，瘀血可以消散。况且它通行而不泻下，妇女的外科病症都适宜使用。（注：川断之所以得名，是因为它能接续断裂的筋骨及各种损伤，故名。而筋骨由肝肾所主，所以专入肝肾二经。考察其苦温的药性，以及《本经》的主治记载，终究是行散的力量有余，补益的功效不足。妇女血脉因寒邪瘀阻，外科疮疡已溃或未溃等证候，都可以治疗。川断的药性、气味和主治与牛膝相近，但下行的力量，牛膝更强；宣通补益的功效，川断更胜一筹。对于肝肾不足，风寒痹阻于下焦血分的病证，更为适宜。）
Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix (Niuxi, Achyranthes Root)
Nourishes the Liver and assists the Kidney. When used raw, it breaks blood stasis and promotes circulation. After being stir-fried with salt or steamed with wine, when processed (shu), it strengthens sinews and bones. It possesses a bitter, sour, and neutral nature, treating pathogenic factors such as tendon contracture and bi-syndrome obstruction. Those produced in Huaiqing (modern-day Jiaozuo, Henan) resemble branches, possessing sufficient downward-penetrating power; those produced in Sichuan resemble Dipsaci Radix (Xu Duan), offering more tonifying efficacy. (Note: Achyranthes root is currently available in Jianghuai, Fujian, Guangdong, and other regions, but those from Huaiqing and Sichuan are considered superior due to differences in local soil and climate suitability, resulting in varying degrees of efficacy. Its nature favors descending action; after processing and stir-frying, it tonifies the Liver and Kidney; when used raw, it specifically eliminates bad blood. These are its two main uses. Huai Niuxi has thin and long roots, while Chuan Niuxi has thick and large roots. To move stasis and guide herbs downward, Huai Niuxi is superior; to tonify the Liver and Kidney, Chuan Niuxi is superior.)
Asteris Tatarici Radix (Zi Wan, Aster Root)
Its nature is warm and beneficial to the Lung, treating pathogenic factors such as cough and rebellious qi caused by wind-cold. Its reddish color harmonizes Ying (Nutritive) blood, treating disorders such as flaccidity syndrome and hemoptysis. This is because bitterness can descend Qi; when Metal (Lung) becomes肃 (clear and descending), [the text implies resolution of symptoms]. The pungent-dispersing and bitter-draining nature of Zi Wan makes dispersing pathogens and descending rebellious qi its strength. Therefore, for all conditions involving wind-cold or wind-heat cough, phlegm, and blood in sputum, where the Lung Metal Qi is stagnant and not smooth, it can be used. However, its moistening and nourishing power is insufficient. Although the root of Zi Wan is soft, it is not a moistening herb; its efficacy lies in pungent dispersion and bitter drainage. If there is no internal stagnation, no exterior pathogen, but rather Lung Yin deficiency with deficient fire flaming upward, it should still not be used.
Dipsaci Radix (Chuan Duan, Xu Duan / Teasel Root)
Tonifies the Liver and Kidney, strengthening sinews and bones; unblocks joints, allowing recovery from labor injuries and trauma. It treats stagnation in the Dai Vessel (Belt Vessel) and warms deficiency-cold in the uterus. Moreover, it can tonify while also promoting circulation; its bitter taste and warm nature disperse blood stasis. Furthermore, it moves without purging, making it suitable for various gynecological external conditions. (Note: Chuan Duan is named so because it can reconnect severed sinews, bones, and various traumatic injuries. Since sinews and bones are governed by the Liver and Kidney, it specifically enters these two meridians. Examining its bitter-warm nature and the indications in the *Shennong Ben Cao Jing*, it ultimately has more power in moving and dispersing than in tonifying. For women whose blood vessels are obstructed by cold-stasis, and for surgical conditions such as ulcers that have or have not yet ruptured, it can be treated. The nature, taste, and indications of Chuan Duan are similar to Niuxi, but Niuxi is stronger in its downward-penetrating force, while Chuan Duan excels in circulating and tonifying efficacy. It is particularly suitable for cases of Liver and Kidney deficiency with wind-cold bi-syndrome obstructing the lower jiao blood level.)