\r苦参\pq3a1.bmp\r
大苦大寒。纯阴纯降。达心脾而及肾。三经湿热尽蠲除。治疥癞与诸疮。下部火邪都
涣散。梦遗精滑。皆缘湿火为殃。血痢肠红。并是阳邪作咎。若治黄瘅积聚。宣泄中州。至
其逐水杀虫。流通火腑。（苦参苦寒沉降之品。宜入肾脏血分。多服则腰重不能行立。以其
降性太过。伤肾伤骨也。非下焦湿火炽盛者。不宜用之。其所以能治风杀虫。亦热生风湿生
虫耳。宜用于洗方丸方中为佳。若煎方不可多用。）
\r苍术\pq3a.bmp\r
辛苦气温。燥湿强脾能发汗。芳香质壮。宣中解郁并驱邪。破水结之 囊。浊痰尽化
。平胃中之敦阜。瘴疠全消。（苍术汉时名赤术。处处山谷皆有之。而以江苏茅山者为上。
其形较白术为小。切之内有朱砂点。其味辛苦。其气香烈。燥散之性则有余。补助之功则不
足也。专入脾胃。阴虚血燥者忌之。）
\r白术\pq3.bmp\r
补脾燥湿。法干健之功能。冬采野生。随坤土而运用。化水痰于胃脘。腰脐血结并能
搜。进饮食于太仓。妊妇胎元均赖固。脾虚久泻。温燥多灵。痹着诸邪。苦甘有力。（白术
产浙江安徽等处。以于潜野生者为佳。土人皆用种法种之。冬采者为冬术。以冬令则精华汇
聚于根也。为补脾之正药。脾喜温燥。白术之性气温而燥。能补脾而资其健运。脾健则运化
有权。诸病皆愈耳。白术虽燥。中有膏汁。虽日晒后即复还软。刚中有柔。故脾阴不足者。
亦可蜜炙用之。白术之补脾燥湿。当与陈皮茯苓同用。否则恐有滞性。以其中含津液。是以
能闭气。故又宜土炒用之。）
苦参
味极苦，性大寒。属于纯阴之品，主沉降。能通达心、脾二经并波及肾脏，清除这三条经络中的湿热邪气。治疗疥癣癞疮等各种皮肤疮疡，下部（下焦）的火毒邪气得以消散。梦遗、滑精等症状，都是因为湿火为患所致；血痢、大便带血（肠红），也是阳热邪气造成的过错。如果是治疗黄疸及体内积聚的包块，则通过宣泄中焦脾胃的郁热来起效。至于其逐水消肿、杀虫的功效，则是疏通了火腑（小肠）。
【按语】苦参是苦寒沉降的药物，适宜进入肾脏的血分。服用过多会导致腰部沉重，无法站立行走，因为其降泄之性太过，会损伤肾气和骨骼。如果不是下焦湿热火毒炽盛的情况，不宜使用。它之所以能治疗风疾和杀虫，也是因为“热生风”、“湿生虫”的道理。适宜用于外洗方或丸剂中效果最佳，如果是煎汤内服则不可多用。
苍术
味辛、苦，性温。具有燥湿、强健脾胃以及发汗的作用。气味芳香且质地壮实，能宣通中焦、解除郁滞并驱除邪气。能破除水湿凝结形成的囊肿，使浊痰完全化解；平抑胃中过于壅盛的湿气，使瘴疠之气全部消除。
【按语】苍术在汉代称为赤术，山谷中到处都有生长，但以江苏茅山出产的质量最好。它的形状比白术小，切开后内部有朱砂样的斑点。味道辛苦，气味香烈，其燥散的特性有余，但补益的功效不足。专门入脾胃经，阴虚血燥者忌用。
白术
能补益脾胃、燥湿，符合脾脏健运的功能。冬季采挖野生白术，顺应坤土（脾属土）的运行规律。能化解胃脘部位的水湿痰饮，并能搜剔腰部和脐部的血瘀结滞。能促进饮食消化，太仓（指胃/脾胃）受纳正常，孕妇的胎元也依赖它来固摄。对于脾虚导致的长期腹泻，温燥性质的白术疗效显著。对于痹症等诸邪阻滞，其苦甘之性有力。
【按语】白术产于浙江、安徽等地，以于潜县野生的为佳。当地人都采用种植的方法培育。冬季采挖的称为冬术，因为冬季时精华汇聚于根部。它是补脾的正药。脾脏喜欢温燥，白术性温而燥，能补脾并资助其健运功能。脾脏健运，则运化有权，各种疾病都能痊愈。白术虽然性质燥，但中间含有膏汁，即使日晒后也会恢复柔软，刚中带柔，所以脾阴不足的人，也可以用蜜炙白术。白术补脾燥湿时，应当与陈皮、茯苓同用，否则恐怕会有滞涩之性，因为它含有津液，所以容易闭气。因此又适宜用土炒的方法炮制。
Kushen (Radix Sophorae Flavescentis)
Extremely bitter and very cold. It is purely Yin and primarily descending. It reaches the Heart and Spleen meridians and extends to the Kidney, completely eliminating damp-heat in these three meridians. It treats scabies, leprosy, and various sores, dispersing fire-pathogens in the lower part of the body. Nocturnal emission and seminal leakage are all caused by damp-fire acting as a disaster. Bloody dysentery and intestinal bleeding (chang hong) are also faults caused by yang pathogens. If treating jaundice and accumulations, it acts by venting the middle jiao. As for its ability to drain water and kill parasites, it unblocks the Fire Fu organ (Small Intestine).
[Note: Kushen is a bitter, cold, and descending substance, suitable for entering the blood aspect of the Kidney meridian. Excessive consumption causes heaviness in the waist and inability to stand or walk, because its descending nature is too strong, damaging the Kidney and bones. It should not be used unless there is excessive damp-fire and heat in the lower jiao. Its ability to treat wind and kill parasites is also due to the principle that heat generates wind and dampness generates parasites. It is best used in washing formulas or pills. If decocted, it should not be used in large amounts.]
Cangzhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Lanceae)
Pungent, bitter, and warm. It dries dampness, strengthens the Spleen, and can induce sweating. Its aromatic quality is robust; it circulates the middle, resolves stagnation, and expels pathogens. It breaks water condensations and cysts, transforming turbid phlegm completely; it levels the excessive accumulation in the Stomach, entirely eliminating miasma and pestilence.
[Note: Cangzhu was named Chizhu in the Han Dynasty. It grows in valleys everywhere, but those from Maoshan in Jiangsu are superior. Its shape is smaller than Baizhu, with cinnabar-like spots inside when sliced. Its taste is pungent and bitter, its aroma strong and pungent. Its drying and dispersing properties are abundant, but its tonifying power is insufficient. It specifically enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians; it is contraindicated for those with Yin deficiency and dry blood.]
Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae)
Tonifies the Spleen and dries dampness, fulfilling the function of healthy movement. Wild ones harvested in winter follow the operation of Kun Earth (Spleen belongs to Earth). It transforms water-phlegm in the epigastrium and can search out blood stasis at the waist and umbilicus. It promotes food intake, and the Tai Cang (Stomach/Spleen) relies on it to secure the fetal origin in pregnant women. For chronic diarrhea due to Spleen deficiency, its warm and drying nature is highly effective. For various pathogenic obstructions causing bi-syndrome, its bitter and sweet properties are powerful.
[Note: Baizhu is produced in Zhejiang, Anhui, and other places, with wild ones from Yuqian being the best. Locals use planting methods. Those harvested in winter are called Dongshu, because during winter, essence gathers in the root. It is the principal herb for tonifying the Spleen. The Spleen likes warmth and dryness; Baizhu is warm and dry in nature, able to tonify the Spleen and support its healthy transport. When the Spleen is healthy, transportation has authority, and various diseases heal. Although Baizhu is drying, it contains gum/juice; even after sun-drying, it returns to softness, possessing flexibility within rigidity. Therefore, those with Spleen Yin deficiency can use honey-fried Baizhu. When using Baizhu to tonify the Spleen and dry dampness, it should be used together with Chenpi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae) and Fuling (Poria), otherwise, there may be a risk of stagnation, as it contains fluids and can close qi flow. Therefore, it is also suitable for soil-frying processing.]