泻热，疗惊疳
苦寒。去心热，益肝胆，浓肠胃。
治骨蒸劳热，五心（心窝、左右手心、足心）烦热，三消（渴而多饮为上消，肺热也。
心移热于肺，传为膈消是也。多食善饥为中消，胃热也，痹成为消中是也。渴而小便数有膏
为下消，肾热而水亏也）五痔（牝痔、牡痔、脉痔、肠痔、血痔、湿热下流伤血分，无所施
泄，则逼肛门而为痔肿），温疟泻痢，女人胎蒸，消果子积，为小儿惊疳良药（朱二允曰∶
解吃烟毒，合茶服之甚效）。性味功用同黄连，故名。
出波斯国，今秦陇、南海亦有之。心黑外黄，折之尘出如烟者真。畏、恶同黄连。
泻火，燥湿，补阴
苦燥湿，寒胜热。沉阴主肾。补阴益精，养肝胆，安五脏（湿热去则血气和平，而五脏
自安）利九窍，生津止渴，明目止泪（泪为肝热）。
治温病血痢（纯下清血者，风伤肝也，宜散风凉血；下如豆汁者，湿伤脾也，宜清热渗
湿），肠风溺赤，黄胆酒毒。热生风，湿生虫，又能祛风、逐水、杀虫，治大肠疥癞。然大
苦大寒，肝、肾虚而无热者勿服（张从正曰∶凡药皆毒也，虽苦参、甘草，不可不谓之毒，
久服必偏胜为患。经曰∶五味入胃，各归其所喜攻，久而增气，物化之常也。气增而久，夭
之由也。王冰注曰∶气增不已，则脏有偏胜，偏胜则脏有偏绝，故令人暴夭。《笔谈》曰∶
久用苦参擦牙，遂病腰痛，由其气伤肾也。经又曰∶大毒治病，十去其六；常毒治病，十去
其七；小毒治病，十去其八；无毒治病，十去其九。谷肉果菜，食养尽之，无使过之，伤其
正也。按∶人参补脾，沙参补肺，紫参补肝，丹参补心，玄参补肾。苦参不在五参之内，然
名参者皆补也。药能医病，不能养人，食能养人，不能医病）。
糯米泔浸去腥气，蒸用。玄参为使。恶贝母，菟丝子、漏芦。反藜芦（苦参一两，或酒
煎，或醋煮，能吐天行时毒）。
【胡黄连】
具有泻热、治疗惊疳（小儿因惊恐或积滞导致的消瘦、发热等症）的功效。
其性味苦寒。能清除心经的热邪，补益肝胆，使肠胃变得厚实（指增强脾胃功能）。
用于治疗骨蒸劳热（阴虚内热，感觉热自骨髓中透发出来）、五心烦热（指心窝及双手心、双脚心的烦热感）、三消病（口渴多饮为上消，属肺热；多食易饥为中消，属胃热；口渴且小便频数且有脂膏状物为下消，属肾热阴亏）、五种痔疮（牝痔、牡痔、脉痔、肠痔、血痔，多由湿热下注损伤血分，无法排泄，逼迫肛门形成痔肿）、温疟和痢疾、妇女胎前发热、消除果积（水果引起的积滞），是治疗小儿惊疳的良药。（朱二允说：能解除吸食烟草的毒性，配合茶水服用效果很好。）它的性味和功效与黄连相同，因此得名“胡”黄连（意指来自外邦且功效类似）。
产于波斯国，现在秦陇、南海等地也有出产。以内心黑而外表黄，折断时有粉尘像烟一样冒出的为真品。其畏恶关系与黄连相同。
【苦参】
具有泻火、燥湿、补阴的功效。
苦能燥湿，寒能胜热。其气沉入阴分，主要作用于肾。能补阴益精，滋养肝胆，安定五脏（湿热去除后，气血平和，五脏自然安宁），通利九窍，生津止渴，明目止泪（眼泪多为肝热所致）。
用于治疗温热病的血痢（纯下清血的，是风邪伤肝，宜疏散风邪凉血；下如豆汁样的，是湿邪伤脾，宜清热渗湿）、肠风便血、小便赤涩、黄疸和酒毒。热极可生风，湿盛可生虫，它又能祛风、逐水、杀虫，治疗大肠疥癞（皮肤疥癣癞疮）。但是苦参大苦大寒，肝肾虚损而没有实热的患者不要服用。（张从正说：凡是药物都有毒性，即使是苦参、甘草，也不能不称为有毒，长期服用必然导致偏胜而产生祸患。医经说：五味进入胃中，各自归于它所喜攻的脏腑，久服会增加该脏之气，这是物质变化的常理。气增加久了，就是早夭的原因。王冰注释说：气增加不停，则脏腑会有偏胜，偏胜则脏腑功能偏绝，所以使人突然夭折。《笔谈》说：长期用苦参擦牙，导致腰痛，是因为药气伤了肾。医经又说：用大毒药物治疗疾病，病去十分之六；用常毒药物治疗，病去十分之七；用小毒药物治疗，病去十分之八；用无毒药物治疗，病去十分之九。用谷肉果菜进行食养来彻底恢复，不要过度，以免伤害正气。按语：人参补脾，沙参补肺，紫参补肝，丹参补心，玄参补肾。苦参不在五参之列，但名字带“参”的都说是补药。药物能治病，不能养人；食物能养人，不能治病。）
用糯米泔水浸泡以去除腥气，然后蒸熟使用。玄参作为引经药。忌与贝母、菟丝子、漏芦同用。反藜芦（苦参一两，或用酒煎，或用醋煮，能催吐时行疫毒）。
[Hu Huang Lian (Picrorhizae Rhizoma)]
It clears heat and treats *Jing Gan* (pediatric syndrome of fright and malnutrition characterized by emaciation and fever).
Its nature is bitter and cold. It removes heart-heat, benefits the Liver and Gallbladder, and thickens the intestines and stomach (referring to strengthening Spleen-Stomach function).
It treats bone-steaming tidal fever (a sensation of heat emanating from the marrow due to Yin deficiency), five-center vexation-heat (vexation-heat in the epigastrium and both palms and soles), San Xiao (Three Consumptions: excessive thirst and drinking for upper Xiao, attributed to Lung-heat; excessive hunger for middle Xiao, attributed to Stomach-heat; thirst with frequent urination containing fatty substances for lower Xiao, attributed to Kidney-heat and Yin depletion); five types of hemorrhoids (Pin, Mu, Mai, Chang, and Xue hemorrhoids, often caused by damp-heat flowing downward damaging the blood level, forcing stagnation at the anus causing swelling); warm malaria and dysentery; maternal fetal steaming-fever; resolving fruit accumulation (food stagnation from fruits); it is an excellent medicine for pediatric Jing Gan. (Zhu Eryun stated: It resolves tobacco-smoking toxicity; taking it with tea is very effective.) Its nature, flavor, and functions are the same as Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma), hence the name Hu Huang Lian (indicating foreign origin and similar efficacy).
It originates from Persia; currently, it is also found in Qinlong and Nanhai regions. The authentic product has a black interior and yellow exterior, and when broken, dust emerges like smoke. Its incompatibilities and aversions are the same as Huang Lian.
[Ku Shen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix)]
It purges fire, dries dampness, and nourishes Yin.
Bitterness dries dampness; coldness overcomes heat. Its qi sinks into the Yin level and primarily enters the Kidney. It nourishes Yin and benefits essence, nourishes the Liver and Gallbladder, and calms the Five Zang organs (when damp-heat is removed, Qi and Blood become harmonious, and the Five Zang organs naturally settle); it unblocks the nine orifices, generates fluids, stops thirst, brightens the eyes, and stops tearing (tears are often due to Liver-heat).
It treats bloody dysentery in warm diseases (pure clear blood indicates Wind injuring the Liver, suitable for dispersing Wind and cooling Blood; discharge resembling bean curd residue indicates Dampness injuring the Spleen, suitable for clearing Heat and leaching out Dampness); intestinal wind with hematochezia, red urine, jaundice, and alcohol toxicity. Extreme heat can generate Wind, and excess Dampness can generate parasites; it can also dispel Wind, drive out water, kill parasites, and treat intestinal scabies and leprosy-like skin conditions. However, Ku Shen is extremely bitter and cold; those with Liver and Kidney deficiency without excess Heat should not take it. (Zhang Congzheng stated: All medicines are toxic; even Ku Shen and Gan Cao cannot be considered non-toxic. Long-term use inevitably leads to excess and causes harm. The Classics state: The five flavors enter the stomach and each return to its preferred organ. Long-term use increases the Qi of that organ, which is the normal transformation of substances. If this increased Qi persists, it becomes the cause of premature death. Wang Bing commented: If Qi increases indefinitely, the Zang organs will have excess, leading to functional failure, thus causing sudden death. "Bi Tan" states: Long-term use of Ku Shen to brush teeth led to lower back pain because its Qi injured the Kidney. The Classics further state: When treating disease with highly toxic herbs, remove six-tenths of the disease; with commonly toxic herbs, seven-tenths; with slightly toxic herbs, eight-tenths; with non-toxic herbs, nine-tenths. Use grains, meats, fruits, and vegetables for dietary nourishment to complete recovery. Do not overdo it, lest you injure the healthy Qi. Note: Ren Shen tonifies the Spleen, Sha Shen tonifies the Lung, Zi Shen tonifies the Liver, Dan Shen tonifies the Heart, and Xuan Shen tonifies the Kidney. Ku Shen is not among these five "Shen" herbs, yet all named "Shen" are said to tonify. Medicines cure disease but do not nourish the person; food nourishes the person but does not cure disease.)
Soak in rice-washing water to remove the fishy odor, then steam before use. Xuan Shen (Scrophulariae Radix) acts as a guiding herb. It is incompatible with Bei Mu (Fritillariae Bulbus), Tusizi (Cuscutae Semen), and Loulu (Euphorbiae Humifusae Radix). It is chemically opposed to Licorice Root (Veratrum nigrum) (One qian of Ku Shen, decocted in wine or boiled in vinegar, can induce vomiting to expel epidemic toxins).