〔害〕辛热泄气，昏目动火伤精。经云∶辛走气，气病无多食辛，多食则筋急爪枯。即
此类
也。凡肺经有热，与阴虚火炎，咳嗽生痰，气虚久咳者，法在所忌。切勿误投。茎叶动风，
动气，有疮疡，痔疾，便血者忌。
芥叶久食则积温成热，辛散太甚，耗人真元，昏目发疮。同兔肉食，成恶邪病，同鲫鱼
食，
发水肿。
陆金云∶望梅生津，食芥坠泪，为肝木受病也。大叶者良，细叶有毛者害人。
〔利〕辛温，入肺胃二经，通行经络，发汗散寒，利气疏痰，温中消冷滞，辟邪伏祟魔。
酒
服治反胃，醋涂散痈疽，痰在皮里膜外者，非白芥子不能达。
〔修治〕四月收子，晒干入药。
〔害〕毕竟升药，凡病气逆上升，不得下降，若下焦阴虚而浮，及邪在下焦者，攻补下
焦药
中勿入。误用之，定致喘逆变端。病属上焦实症，而下焦无病者，须与甘草同用。
〔利〕苦辛平，色白属金，入肺气分，泻热兼入手少阴心，足阳明胃二经，开提气血，
泻火
散寒邪，清利头目喉咽，开胸膈滞气，肺火郁于大肠，宜此开之，舟楫之剂，引诸药上至高
之分以成功，风症郁热肺经，皆不可缺。凡痰壅喘促，鼻寒目赤，喉痹咽痛，齿痛口疮，干
咳胸痛肠鸣，皆宜苦梗开之。
甜桔梗，一名荠 ，又名空沙参。寒而利肺，甘而解毒。
〔修治〕二月采根曝干，荠 苗甘，桔梗苗苦，本经无分别。苦梗米泔水浸一夜，切片
微炒
用。古法每桔梗四两，用生百合二两五钱，捣膏投水中，浸一伏时，滤出，缓火熬令干用。
升麻
〔害〕性主升发，凡下元肝肾不足，若用此升之，则下元愈虚。若阴虚火动，咳嗽多痰，
气
逆呕吐，惊悸怔忡，癫狂等症，及小儿斑疹痘疮，见标之后，法咸忌之。误用多致殆。吐血
鼻衄者误服血随气升，涌出不止。
〔利〕甘辛微苦，入脾、胃、大肠、肺四经。表散风邪，升散火郁，能升阳气于至阴之
下，
引清气上行。凡气虚下陷者，须其升提阳气，阳气升，故能杀精鬼，辟瘴而解百药毒，治寒
热下痢脱肛，崩中带下，透痘疹，阴虚火升者，忌用。
〔修治〕蜀川者为胜。二八月采根，晒干刮去粗皮，用黄精自然汁浸一宿曝干。去须及
头芦
锉蒸，再曝用，如嫌过升，蜜水炒或醋炒用。
【白芥子】
〔危害〕（白芥子）性味辛热，会耗散人体正气，导致视力模糊、引动内火并损伤精气。《内经》说：辛味入走气分，患有气病的人不应多吃辛味食物，多吃则会导致筋脉拘急、指甲枯槁。指的就是这类情况。凡是肺经有热，以及阴虚火旺、咳嗽生痰、气虚久咳的患者，依法应当禁忌。切勿误用。其茎叶会引动风邪、扰动气机，患有疮疡、痔疮、便血的人忌用。芥叶长期食用会因积温而成热，辛散太过，消耗人的真元之气，导致视力模糊、引发疮疡。与兔肉同食，会引发恶邪之病；与鲫鱼同食，会诱发水肿。陆金云说：望梅可以生津，吃芥菜却会让人流泪，这是因为肝木受病所致。大叶的白芥子品质较好，细叶且有毛的会害人。
〔功效〕（白芥子）性味辛温，归肺、胃二经，能通行经络，发汗散寒，理气化痰，温中消解冷积停滞，辟除邪祟。用酒送服可治疗反胃，用醋涂抹可消散痈疽。痰在皮里膜外者，非白芥子不能到达病所。
〔炮制〕四月采收种子，晒干后入药。
【苦桔梗】
〔危害〕毕竟属于升提药物，凡是病势气逆上升、不得下降的情况，若下焦阴虚而浮越，以及邪气在下焦者，在使用攻补下焦的药物中不要加入本品。误用会导致喘息逆变等变证。如果病属上焦实证，而下焦无病，必须与甘草同用。
〔功效〕（苦桔梗）性味苦辛平，色白属金，入肺气分，能泻热兼入手少阴心经和足阳明胃经，开提气血，泻火散寒邪，清利头目咽喉，开通胸膈滞气。肺火郁结于大肠，宜用此药开泄。它是“舟楫之剂”，能引导其他药物上行至高之分以取得成功。风症郁热在肺经，都不可缺此药。凡是痰壅喘促、鼻寒目赤、喉痹咽痛、齿痛口疮、干咳胸痛肠鸣，都适宜用桔梗来开宣。甜桔梗，又名荠苨，又名空沙参。性寒而利肺，味甘而解毒。
〔炮制〕二月采集根部，曝晒干燥。荠苨苗味甘，桔梗苗味苦，《本经》没有分别。苦桔梗需用米泔水浸泡一夜，切片微炒后用。古法每用桔梗四两，配生百合二两五钱，捣成膏投入水中，浸泡一个时辰（约12小时），滤出，用慢火熬干使用。
【升麻】
〔危害〕升麻性质主升发，凡是下元肝肾不足者，如果用此药升提，会使下元更加虚弱。如果是阴虚火动、咳嗽多痰、气逆呕吐、惊悸怔忡、癫狂等症状，以及小儿斑疹痘疮透发之后，依法都应禁忌。误用多导致危险。吐血、鼻衄患者误服，会导致血随气升，涌出不止。
〔功效〕（升麻）性味甘辛微苦，入脾、胃、大肠、肺四经。能表散风邪，升散火郁，能将阳气从至阴之下提升上来，引导清气上行。凡是气虚下陷者，需要它来升提阳气。阳气升发，故能杀灭精鬼，辟除瘴气并解百药毒，治疗寒热下痢、脱肛、崩漏带下，透发痘疹。阴虚火升者，忌用。
〔炮制〕四川产的为佳。二八月采集根部，晒干刮去粗皮，用黄精自然汁浸泡一夜后曝晒干燥。去掉须根及头芦，锉碎蒸制，再曝晒使用。如果觉得升提作用过强，可用蜜水炒或醋炒后使用。
[White Mustard Seed]
[Harm] (White mustard seed) is pungent and hot in nature; it dissipates healthy Qi, causes blurred vision, stirs up internal fire, and damages essence. The *Neijing* states: "Pungency travels to Qi; those with Qi disorders should not consume much pungent food, as excessive consumption leads to tendon tension and brittle nails." This refers to such cases. It is contraindicated for patients with heat in the Lung meridian, Yin deficiency with flaming fire, coughing with phlegm, or chronic cough due to Qi deficiency. Do not use erroneously. Its stems and leaves stir up wind and disturb Qi; they are forbidden for those with sores, hemorrhoids, or blood in stool. Long-term consumption of mustard leaves accumulates warmth into heat; excessive pungent dispersion consumes true Yuan Qi, causing blurred vision and triggering sores. Consumed with rabbit meat, it causes evil pathogenic diseases; consumed with crucian carp, it induces edema. Lu Jinyun said: "Looking at plums generates saliva, but eating mustard causes tears," which indicates Liver Wood pathology. Large-leaf varieties are superior; fine-leaf varieties with hairs are harmful.
[Efficacy] (White mustard seed) is pungent and warm, entering the Lung and Stomach meridians. It unblocks collaterals, induces sweating to disperse cold, regulates Qi and disperses phlegm, warms the middle to resolve cold stagnation, and wards off evil spirits. Taken with wine, it treats retrograde vomiting; applied with vinegar, it disperses carbuncles and ulcers. For phlegm located between the skin and fascia, only white mustard seed can reach the site.
[Processing] Seeds are harvested in April, dried in the sun, and used medicinally.
[Bitter Platycodon Root]
[Harm] As a drug that ascends, it is contraindicated when pathological Qi rebels upward and fails to descend. If there is Yin deficiency with floating Yang in the Lower Jiao, or pathogens in the Lower Jiao, do not include it in formulas treating the Lower Jiao. Erroneous use will definitely lead to wheezing and other adverse changes. If the disease is an excess pattern in the Upper Jiao with no pathology in the Lower Jiao, it must be used together with Licorice Root.
[Efficacy] (Bitter Platycodon Root) is bitter, pungent, and neutral in nature. Its white color corresponds to Metal. It enters the Qi aspect of the Lung meridian, clears heat, and also enters the Hand Shaoyin Heart meridian and Foot Yangming Stomach meridian. It opens and lifts Qi and Blood, clears fire, disperses cold pathogens, and clears and benefits the head, eyes, throat, and pharynx. It opens stagnation in the chest and diaphragm. When Lung fire is constrained in the Large Intestine, this herb should be used to open it. It is a "vessel agent" (Zhouji Zhi Ji), guiding other herbs to ascend to the high regions to achieve success. For wind patterns with constrained heat in the Lung meridian, this herb is indispensable. It is suitable for phlegm obstruction with wheezing, nasal coldness with red eyes, throat obstruction with pain, toothache with mouth sores, dry cough with chest pain, and borborygmus. Sweet Platycodon Root, also known as *Qili*, is another name for Kong Shashen. It is cold and benefits the Lung; sweet and detoxifies.
[Processing] Roots are collected in February and sun-dried. The sprouts of *Qili* are sweet, while the sprouts of Platycodon are bitter; the *Shennong Bencao Jing* makes no distinction. Bitter Platycodon Root should be soaked in rice washing water overnight, sliced, and lightly stir-fried before use. Ancient methods prescribe four taels of Platycodon Root with two taels and five qian of fresh Lily Bulb, pounded into a paste, added to water, soaked for one shichen (approx. 12 hours), filtered out, and slowly boiled until dry.
[ Cimicifuga Rhizome ]
[Harm] Cimicifuga Rhizome has a primary property of ascending and dispersing. For those with insufficiency of the Lower Origin (Liver and Kidney), using this herb to ascend will further deplete the Lower Origin. It is contraindicated for conditions such as Yin deficiency with stirring fire, coughing with profuse phlegm, rebellious Qi with vomiting, palpitations, epilepsy, mania, and after the eruption of infantile maculopapular rashes or smallpox. Erroneous use often leads to danger. For patients with hematemesis or epistaxis, erroneous ingestion causes blood to rise with Qi, leading to unremitting gushing.
[Efficacy] (Cimicifuga Rhizome) is sweet, pungent, and slightly bitter. It enters the Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine, and Lung meridians. It releases the exterior to scatter wind pathogens and ascends to disperse constrained fire. It can raise Yang Qi from below the Supreme Yin and guide clear Qi upward. For Qi deficiency with sinking, its ability to lift and raise Yang Qi is required. Once Yang Qi ascends, it can eliminate evil spirits, ward off miasma, and resolve the toxicity of hundreds of drugs. It treats chills and fever with dysentery, rectal prolapse, metrorrhagia, and leukorrhea, and promotes the eruption of measles and smallpox. It is contraindicated for Yin deficiency with rising fire.
[Processing] Those from Sichuan are superior. Roots are collected in the second and eighth months, dried in the sun, and scraped to remove coarse bark. They are soaked overnight in the natural juice of Polygonatum Rhizome, then sun-dried. Remove rootlets and the crown, chop, steam, and sun-dry again. If the ascending effect is considered too strong, it may be stir-fried with honey water or vinegar.