\r黄芩\pq10.bmp\r
苦入心脾。坚肠胃而性燥。寒行肝肺。除湿热之功多。质虚而空者为枯芩。上达可治
心肺肌表之郁火。色青而坚者为条芩。下行能除肝胆肠内之阳邪。同白术可以安胎。火退则
胎安之义。合白芍又堪止痢。热除有痢愈之机。（黄芩处处山原皆有之。其根中心皆腐去。
故外虽黄而内带黑色。均为之枯芩片芩。惟条芩子芩。系新发之根。中实有心。而兼青色。
虽有治上治下之不同。毕竟苦寒性燥之品。伤脾败胃。非上中有湿热邪火者。不可乱用。况
又有久而增气之说乎。黄芩之苦寒性燥。固与黄连相似。而黄连味浓。黄芩味薄。黄芩能入
肝肺。行肌表。黄连则不能。固所禀形色气质不同。故主治亦异耳。）
\r天麻\pq11a1.bmp\r
定虚风。理眩晕。因有有风不动之称。达肝脏。味辛温。当知质燥偏阳之品。（天麻
其根如大芋。旁有小子十余枚。离大魁数尺。周环卫之。其茎独枝。如箭叶生其端。有风不
动。无风反摇。故一名定风草。独入肝经。能治一切虚风眩晕之证。凡水亏肝虚阳虚土败者
。易生内风。天麻能定内风。而不能散外风。又非羌防等可同日语也。此物同补药则治虚风
。同散药则治外风。总之一切诸风。皆可赖以镇定。既不能发散。又不能滋补。但天麻之性
辛甘而温。升也阳也。独入肝经气分。为定风之主药。不特阴虚之风可用。即阳虚之风亦可
用。内风可定。外风亦可定。各随佐使而立功耳。）
黄芩
苦味入心、脾经。能坚固肠胃，但性质燥烈。寒性行于肝、肺经。清除湿热的功效显著。质地疏松中空的是枯芩，药力上行，可治疗心肺及肌表的郁火。颜色青黑且质地坚实的是条芩，药力下行，能清除肝胆及肠道内的阳热邪气。与白术同用可以安胎，其原理在于火热退去则胎元自安。与白芍合用又能止痢，因为热邪去除就有痢疾痊愈的契机。（黄芩在各地的山原都有生长。它的根部中心往往腐烂消失，所以虽然外表是黄色的，内部却带有黑色，这些都被称为枯芩或片芩。只有条芩和子芩，是新生的根，中间实心且有芯，并且兼带青色。虽然有治疗上部和治疗下部的区别，但终究是苦寒性燥的药物，会损伤脾胃。如果不是上焦和中焦有湿热邪火的人，不可乱用。况且还有“久而增气”的说法呢。黄芩的苦寒性燥，本来与黄连相似，但是黄连味道浓烈，黄芩味道淡薄。黄芩能入肝、肺经，行于肌表，而黄连则不能。确实是因为它们禀受的形色气质不同，所以主治功能也各异。）
天麻
能平息虚风，调理眩晕。因此有“有风不动”的称号。通达肝脏，味道辛温。应当知道这是质地燥烈、偏于阳性的药物。（天麻的根像大的芋头，旁边有十多个小仔根，距离大主根几尺远，周围环绕护卫着。它的茎单独一枝，像箭叶一样生长在顶端。有风的时候反而不动，无风的时候却摇晃，所以又名定风草。它独入肝经，能治疗一切因虚风引起的眩晕证候。凡是肾水亏虚、肝血不足、阳气虚弱、脾气败坏的人，容易产生内风。天麻能平息内风，但不能疏散外风，又不能与羌活、防风等药物相提并论。这种药物如果配合补益药使用，就能治疗虚风；如果配合发散药使用，就能治疗外风。总之，各种风证，都可以依靠它来镇定。它既不能发散，也不能滋补。只是天麻的性质辛甘而温，属于升发、阳性的药物。独入肝经的气分，是平定风邪的主药。不仅是阴虚产生的风可以使用，即使是阳虚产生的风也可以使用。内风可以平息，外风也可以平息，各自随着佐使药的配伍而发挥功效。）
Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix)
The bitter flavor enters the Heart and Spleen meridians. It consolidates the stomach and intestines but has a drying nature. Its cold property travels through the Liver and Lung meridians, with significant efficacy in clearing damp-heat. The variety that is loose and hollow in texture is called Kuqing (Withered Scutellaria), which ascends to treat stagnant fire in the Heart, Lungs, and muscular exterior. The variety that is greenish-black and solid in texture is called Tiaoqing (Striped Scutellaria), which descends to eliminate yang pathogens in the Liver, Gallbladder, and intestines. When combined with Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), it can stabilize the fetus; the principle lies in the fact that when fire recedes, the fetus becomes secure. When combined with Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), it can also stop dysentery, as the elimination of heat provides the opportunity for dysentery to heal. (Huangqin grows in mountains and plains everywhere. Its root center often rots away, so although the exterior is yellow, the interior carries a black hue; these are all referred to as Kuqing Pian or Pianqing. Only Tiaoqing and Ziqing are newly sprouted roots, solid in the center with a core, and possessing a greenish color. Although there are differences between treating the upper and lower body, they are ultimately bitter, cold, and drying substances that damage the Spleen and impair the Stomach. They should not be used indiscriminately unless there is damp-heat and pathogenic fire in the Upper and Middle Jiao. Moreover, there is the theory that prolonged use increases its qi. Huangqin's bitter-cold and drying nature is indeed similar to Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), but Huanglian has a strong taste while Huangqin has a thin taste. Huangqin can enter the Liver and Lung meridians and travel through the muscular exterior, whereas Huanglian cannot. This is precisely because their innate form, color, and temperament differ, leading to different therapeutic indications.)
Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma)
It stabilizes deficiency wind and regulates vertigo, hence the name "immovable in wind." It reaches the Liver meridian, has a pungent and warm flavor. One must understand that this is a substance with a drying quality and a bias toward Yang. (Tianma's root resembles a large taro, with more than ten small offshoots nearby, located several feet away from the main tuber, surrounding and protecting it. Its stem stands alone, with arrow-shaped leaves growing at the tip. It remains still when there is wind but sways when there is none, thus earning the name Dingfengcao (Wind-Stabilizing Grass). It exclusively enters the Liver meridian and can treat all types of vertigo caused by internal deficiency wind. In cases where Kidney Water is deficient, Liver Blood is insufficient, Yang Qi is weak, and Earth (Spleen) function is failing, internal wind easily arises. Tianma can calm internal wind but cannot disperse external wind, and thus cannot be mentioned in the same breath as Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix) or Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix). This herb, when combined with tonifying medicines, treats deficiency wind; when combined with dispersing medicines, it treats external wind. In summary, all kinds of wind disorders can rely on it for stabilization. It neither disperses nor tonifies. However, Tianma's nature is pungent, sweet, and warm, belonging to ascending and Yang properties. It exclusively enters the Qi aspect of the Liver meridian and serves as the chief herb for stabilizing wind. Not only can it be used for wind arising from Yin deficiency, but it can also be used for wind arising from Yang deficiency. Internal wind can be stabilized, and external wind can also be stabilized, each achieving its effect according to the accompanying assistant herbs.)