补肾，治折伤
苦温补肾，故治耳鸣（耳鸣必由肾虚），及肾虚久泻（研末，入猪肾煨熟，空心食之。
肾主二便，久泻多属肾虚，不可专责脾胃也）。肾主骨，故治折伤（以功命名，粥和敷伤处。
经曰∶肾者胃之关也。前阴利水，后阴利谷），牙痛（炒黑为末，擦牙，咽下亦良）。又入厥
阴（心包，肝），能破血止血（入血行伤，故治折伤，粥和末裹伤处）。
根似姜而扁长，去毛用，或蜜拌蒸。
一名茺蔚
通行瘀血，生新血
辛微苦寒。入手、足厥阴（心包、肝）。消水行血，去瘀生新，调经解毒（瘀血去则经
调）。
治血风血晕，血痛血淋，胎痛产难，崩中带下（带脉横于腰间，病生于此，故名为带。
赤属血，白属气。气虚者，补中益气而兼升降。血虚者，养血滋阴而兼调气）。为经产良药
，消疔肿乳痈（亦取其散瘀解毒），通大小便。然辛散之药，瞳子散大者忌服。
益母子主治略同，调经益精，明目（血滞病目者则宜之）活血，顺气逐风（气行则血行，
血活则风散），行中有补。治心烦头痛（血虚血热之候），胎产带崩，令人有子（有补阴之功。
时珍曰∶益母根茎花叶实，皆可同用。若治疮肿胎产，消水行血，则宜并用；若治血分风热
，明目调经，用子为良。盖根茎花叶专于行，子则行中有补也。《产宝》济阴返魂丹，小暑
端午或六月六日，采益母茎叶花实，为末蜜丸，治胎产百病。《近效方》∶捣汁熬膏亦良）
。忌铁。子微炒用。
补肾，治疗跌打损伤。
味苦性温，能补益肾脏，因此治疗耳鸣（耳鸣必然由肾虚引起），以及肾虚导致的长期腹泻（将药研成粉末，放入猪肾中煨熟，空腹食用）。
肾主管大小便，长期腹泻多属于肾虚，不能专门归咎于脾胃。肾主司骨骼，因此治疗跌打骨折（以功效命名，用粥调和药末敷在伤处）。
经典医籍说：肾是胃的关口。前阴通利水液，后阴通利谷食残渣。
治疗牙痛（将药炒黑研成粉末，擦拭牙齿，咽下去也很好）。
又入厥阴经（包括心包络和肝），能够破血止血（进入血分运行以消除瘀伤，所以治疗跌打损伤，用粥调和药末包裹伤处）。
根部形状像姜但扁平细长，去除毛须后使用，或者用蜂蜜拌蒸。
又名茺蔚。
通行瘀血，生成新血。
味辛微苦性寒。入手厥阴、足厥阴经（心包络、肝）。消除水肿、行血，祛除瘀血、生成新血，调理月经、解毒（瘀血去除则月经调顺）。
治疗血风、血晕、血痛、血淋，胎痛、难产，崩漏、带下病（带脉横绕腰间，疾病发生在此处，所以名为带脉。血色红属血证，色白属气证。气虚者，应补中益气并兼用升提降浊之法；血虚者，应养血滋阴并兼用调气之法）。是调理月经和产后疾病的良药，能消除疔疮肿毒、乳痈（也是取其消散瘀血、解毒的功效），通利大、小便。然而辛散的药物，瞳孔散大者忌服。
益母草的子（茺蔚子）主治大致相同，能调理月经、补益精髓、明目（血滞引起的眼病适宜使用）、活血、顺气祛风（气行则血行，血活则风散），在行血中有补益作用。治疗心烦头痛（这是血虚血热的征候），胎产疾病、带下、崩漏，使人易于受孕（具有补阴的功效）。李时珍说：益母草的根、茎、花、叶、果实，都可以一同使用。如果治疗疮肿、胎产疾病，消除水肿、行血，则宜全部并用；如果治疗血分风热、明目、调经，使用果实为好。因为根茎花叶专于行散，果实则是行中有补。《产宝》中的济阴返魂丹，在小暑、端午或六月六日这天，采集益母草的茎、叶、花、实，研成粉末，用蜜制成丸剂，治疗胎产各种疾病。《近效方》记载：捣汁熬膏也很好。忌用铁器。果实微炒后使用。
Tonifies the Kidney, treats fractures.
Bitter and warm in nature, it tonifies the Kidney; therefore, it treats tinnitus (tinnitus is invariably caused by Kidney deficiency) and chronic diarrhea due to Kidney deficiency (grind into powder, stew with pig kidney, and consume on an empty stomach).
The Kidney governs the two lower orifices (urination and defecation); chronic diarrhea often belongs to Kidney deficiency and cannot be solely attributed to the Spleen and Stomach. The Kidney governs the bones; therefore, it treats fractures (named after its efficacy, mix with porridge and apply to the injured area).
The Classics state: "The Kidney is the gate of the Stomach." The anterior orifice promotes water metabolism, while the posterior orifice promotes the passage of grain residues.
It treats toothache (char until black, grind into powder, rub on teeth; swallowing it is also beneficial).
It enters the Jueyin channel (including the Pericardium and Liver), where it can break blood stasis and stop bleeding (enters the blood level to resolve injuries, thus treating fractures; mix powder with porridge and wrap around the injury).
The root resembles ginger but is flat and elongated; remove the hairs before use, or steam with honey.
Also known as Chongwei (Leonurus japonicus fruit).
Promotes the circulation of blood stasis and generates new blood.
Pungent, slightly bitter, and cold in nature. Enters the Hand Jueyin and Foot Jueyin channels (Pericardium and Liver). Reduces edema, moves blood, removes stasis, generates new blood, regulates menstruation, and detoxifies (when blood stasis is removed, menstruation becomes regular).
Treats blood wind, syncope due to blood, blood pain, strangury due to blood, fetal pain, difficult labor, metrorrhagia, and leukorrhea (the Dai vessel crosses the waist; diseases arising here are named Dai [belt] disease. Red discharge relates to blood, white discharge relates to Qi. For Qi deficiency, tonify the Middle and employ ascending and descending methods; for Blood deficiency, nourish Blood and Yin while regulating Qi). It is an excellent medicine for regulating menstruation and postpartum conditions, reduces carbuncles and mastitis (also by dispersing stasis and detoxifying), and unblocks the large and small intestines. However, pungent and dispersing herbs are contraindicated for those with dilated pupils.
The fruits of Leonurus japonicus have similar main indications: they regulate menstruation, benefit essence, brighten the eyes (suitable for eye diseases caused by blood stasis), invigorate blood, smooth Qi, and expel wind (when Qi moves, blood moves; when blood invigorates, wind dissipates), possessing a tonic effect within its moving action. It treats vexation and headache (signs of Blood deficiency and Heat), fetal and postpartum disorders, leukorrhea, and metrorrhagia, and facilitates conception (possesses Yin-tonifying properties). Li Shizhen stated: The roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds of Leonurus japonicus can all be used together. If treating sores, swellings, fetal and postpartum conditions, reducing edema, and moving blood, all parts should be used together; if treating Wind-Heat in the Blood level, brightening the eyes, and regulating menstruation, the seeds are superior. This is because the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers specialize in movement/dispersion, whereas the seeds move while also tonifying. The Ji Yin Fan Hun Dan from *Chan Bao* (Precious Prescriptions for Women's Health) involves harvesting the stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds of Leonurus japonicus on Minor Heat, Dragon Boat Festival, or the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, grinding them into powder, and forming pills with honey to treat various fetal and postpartum diseases. The *Jin Xiao Fang* records that crushing into juice and boiling into paste is also effective. Iron utensils are contraindicated. Lightly stir-fry the seeds before use.