\r瓜蒌\pq38.bmp\r
气味相同花粉。治疗各有偏宜。润肺清肠。降痰火下行为顺。消瘀涤垢。治结胸上实
颇灵。用仁则润滑肠中。用皮则清于肺部。（瓜蒌性味与花粉相同。惟润降之功过之。故凡
上焦郁热。垢腻痰火咳嗽等证。皆可用之。一切肺痈肠痈乳痈之属火者。尤为相宜。但冷滑
大肠。脾虚无火。大便不实者。不可用也。）
\r木通\pq39a1.bmp\r
入心且及小肠。通淋利窍。导湿下行水道。味苦性寒。涤热行瘀。源流无阻。催生下
乳。关节皆通。（木通。苦寒之品。能入心与小肠。清湿热。利九窍。能宣通上下气血。其
所以治淋治乳者。无非清心宣窍之功。以肺无热逼。则气化之源清而淋浊愈。胃为气血之海
。气血宣通。则乳病愈耳。然性极苦寒。不可浪投。木通藤属绕树而生。吹之上下皆通。性
虽苦。却能宣通关节。或痛或肿等证。皆可治之。不独降利之功而已也。）
\r通草\pq39a.bmp\r
色白性寒。体轻味淡。清金肃降。通肺胃而导心主之热邪。利湿分消。达膀胱可无闭
癃之阻滞。（通草。此系草类。一名通脱。木高丈许。中心所结白瓤。以其为心也。故可入
心。其色白。故入肺。味淡性寒。与灯心功用相似。能清心肺上焦之热。淡渗下行。通利水
道。其通利之性。又能旁及阳明而下乳汁耳。）
瓜蒌
气味与天花粉相同。但在治疗应用上各有侧重。它能润肺并清洁肠道，使痰火下行是顺应药性的表现；消除瘀血、涤荡污垢，对于治疗结胸证（邪热与痰水互结于胸膈）的上部实证颇为灵验。使用瓜蒌仁则能润滑肠道，使用瓜蒌皮则能清泄肺部。（瓜蒌的性味与天花粉相同，只是其润降的功效超过天花粉。因此，凡是上焦郁积的热邪，以及垢腻痰火引起的咳嗽等证候，都可以使用它。一切属于火邪性质的肺痈、肠痈、乳痈等病症，尤其适宜使用。但瓜蒌性质冷滑大肠，对于脾虚无火、大便不实的人，不可使用。）
木通
入心经且波及小肠，通利淋证，开通窍道，引导湿气沿水道下行。味道苦，性质寒凉，能涤除热邪、运行瘀血，使源流畅通无阻。能促进分娩、催生乳汁，关节阻滞皆能疏通。（木通是一种苦寒的药物，能进入心经和小肠，清除湿热，利通九窍。它能宣通上下气血，所以治疗淋证和治疗乳病的原因，无非是清心宣通窍道的功效。因为肺没有热邪逼迫，气化的源头清澈，淋浊之症就会痊愈；胃是气血的海源，气血宣通，乳病就会痊愈。然而木通性质极苦寒，不可随意投用。木通属于藤本植物，缠绕树木生长，吹气时上下皆通，其性虽然苦，却能宣通关节，无论是疼痛还是肿胀等证候，都可以治疗，不仅仅具有降利的作用罢了。）
通草
颜色白，性质寒凉，体轻质淡，能清肃肺气（金），通利肺和胃，并引导心主之热邪下行。分消湿邪，通达膀胱，可避免闭癃（小便不通）的阻滞。（通草属于草类，又名通脱木，高达一丈多，中心所结的白色瓤状物，因其为“心”状，故可入心经。其色白，故入肺经。味道淡，性质寒凉，功效与灯心草相似，能清心肺上焦的热邪，淡渗下行，通利水道。其通利的性质，又能旁及阳明经而下催乳汁。）
Trichosanthis Fructus (Gualou, 瓜蒌)
The flavor and nature are the same as Trichosanthis Radix (Huafen, 天花粉). However, their therapeutic applications have different emphases. It moistens the lungs and cleanses the intestines; allowing phlegm-fire to descend is in accordance with its action. It eliminates blood stasis and purges filth, proving quite effective for treating Jie Xiong syndrome (a condition where pathogenic heat and phlegm-fluid bind in the chest/epigastrium) characterized by upper excess. Using the seed lubricates the intestines, while using the peel clears the lungs. (The nature and flavor of Gualou are identical to Huafen, but its moistening and descending efficacy surpasses that of Huafen. Therefore, it can be used for any conditions involving stagnant heat in the Upper Jiao, such as coughs caused by greasy phlegm-fire. It is particularly suitable for all types of Lung Abscess (Fei Yong), Intestinal Abscess (Chang Yong), and Breast Abscess (Ru Yong) attributable to fire. However, due to its cold and slippery nature affecting the large intestine, it should not be used in patients with Spleen deficiency without fire or those with loose stools.)
Akebiae Caulis (Mutong, 木通)
Enters the Heart channel and extends to the Small Intestine channel. It promotes urination to treat strangury, opens orifices, and guides dampness downward through the water pathways. Its flavor is bitter, and its nature is cold. It purges heat and moves blood stasis, ensuring unobstructed source and flow. It induces labor and promotes lactation, and unblocks joint obstructions. (Mutong is a bitter-cold substance capable of entering the Heart and Small Intestine channels to clear damp-heat and benefit the nine orifices. It can disseminate and unblock Qi and Blood throughout the upper and lower body. The reason it treats strangury and breast issues lies in its ability to clear the Heart and open orifices. When the Lungs are not forced by heat, the source of Qi transformation remains clear, resolving turbid urine; since the Stomach is the sea of Qi and Blood, unblocking Qi and Blood resolves breast ailments. However, its nature is extremely bitter and cold, so it must not be administered recklessly. Mutong belongs to the vine family, growing by winding around trees; when blown upon, air passes through from top to bottom. Although bitter, it effectively disseminates and unblocks joints, treating conditions such as pain or swelling, not merely possessing descending and purgative functions.)
Tetrapanacis Medulla (Tongcao, 通草)
Its color is white, and its nature is cold. Its texture is light, and its flavor is bland. It clears and descends Lung Metal (Qi), unblocks the Lungs and Stomach, and guides the Heat Evil of the Heart Master downward. It separates and dissipates dampness, reaches the Bladder, and prevents obstruction from Bi Long syndrome (urinary retention/inability to urinate). (Tongcao belongs to the herb category, also known as Tongtuo. The plant grows over ten feet high, featuring a white pith in its center. Because it resembles a "heart," it enters the Heart channel. Being white, it enters the Lung channel. Its bland flavor and cold nature make its function similar to Jiaogulan (Dengxin Cao, 灯心草); it clears Heat from the Heart, Lungs, and Upper Jiao. Through bland diuresis, it descends and unblocks the water pathways. Its unblocking nature also extends to the Yangming channel to promote lactation.)