〔害〕苦寒之药，多与胃家不利。凡产后气虚内寒作泻，及饮食停滞泄泻勿用。产后脾
胃薄
弱，忌与归地同用。雷公曰∶使子勿使叶，使根勿使茎，子叶根茎四件若同使，翻然成痼疾
。
〔利〕苦寒入肝胆肾，治三焦，清暑，治骨蒸劳瘦，骨间伏热，杀鬼疰传尸。苦寒之药，
多
与胃家不和。惟青蒿芬芳袭脾，宜于血虚有热之人，取其不犯中和之气耳。
〔修治〕四五月采茎叶，八九月采子，蒿梗功用相同，晒干入药，或熬膏，或蒸露。
〔害〕苦寒之品，非胃家所宜。《牧竖闲谈》云∶真菊延龄，野菊泄人。故丹溪曰∶野
菊服
之，大伤胃气是也。
〔利〕甘苦微寒，补益金水，善制风木，去胸中之热，祛头目之风，白术、枸杞、地骨
皮、
桑白皮为使。
〔修治〕滁州菊，单瓣色白味甘者为上。杭州黄白茶菊，微苦者次之。其余苦菊，单不
入药
，或炒黑，或煨炭，或生用。九月采摘曝干。野菊苦辛惨烈有小毒，调中破血，治痈肿疔毒
，连茎叶捣，敷服皆效。
〔害〕性凉，中寒者勿使，即阴虚有热者，亦不宜用。解毒治火，固其所长，古方多有
用于
诸血证者。使非血分实热而病，由于阴虚内热，阳无所附，火空上炎，发为吐衄咯血唾血等
证，用之非宜，愈增其病，宜详辨之。
〔利〕咸寒清肝火，解郁结，治中下焦蓄蕴风热，吐血，理幼稚惊疳，敷热毒恶肿。染
靛功
同。
〔修治〕真者从波斯国来，不可得也。今用干靛花，取娇碧者，每斤淘取一两亦佳，内
多石
灰，故须淘净。
【青蒿】
〔危害〕苦寒性质的药物，大多对脾胃不利。凡是产后气虚、体内有寒而导致的腹泻，以及因饮食停滞引起的泄泻，均不可使用。产后脾胃功能薄弱，忌与当归、地黄同用。雷公说：用药时只用子实，不用叶片；只用根部，不用茎秆。如果子、叶、根、茎四者同时使用，反而会引发顽固难愈的疾病。
〔功效〕苦寒之性入肝、胆、肾经，治疗三焦病症，清除暑热，治疗骨蒸劳瘦（阴虚发热导致的消瘦），消除骨间潜伏的热邪，杀灭鬼疰传尸（指具有传染性的慢性消耗性疾病）。苦寒的药物，大多与胃气不和。只有青蒿气味芬芳，能醒脾，适宜于血虚且有内热的人使用，因为它不损伤中焦脾胃的平和之气。
〔炮制〕在四月、五月采集茎和叶，八月、九月采集种子。蒿梗的功效相同，晒干后入药，或者熬制成膏，或者蒸馏成露剂。
【菊花】
〔危害〕苦寒性质的药材，不适合胃气虚弱者。《牧竖闲谈》中说：真正的菊花可以延年益寿，野菊则会导致人体泄泻。所以丹溪先生说：服用野菊会严重损伤胃气，说的就是这个道理。
〔功效〕味甘、苦，性微寒，能补益肺（金）和肾（水），善于制约肝（风木）的亢逆，清除胸中的热邪，祛除头目的风邪。常与白术、枸杞、地骨皮、桑白皮配伍使用。
〔炮制〕滁州产的菊花，单瓣、花色白、味道甘甜的为上品。杭州产的黄白茶菊，味道微苦的次之。其余的苦菊，一般不入药，或者炒黑，或者煅烧成炭，或者生用。九月采摘后曝晒干燥。野菊味苦辛，气味惨烈且有小毒，能调和脾胃、破血散瘀，治疗痈肿疔毒，连茎叶一起捣碎，外敷或内服均有效。
【青黛】
〔危害〕性凉，中寒者勿用。即使是阴虚有热者，也不宜使用。解毒清热固然是它的长处，古方中多用于各种血证。如果不是血分实热引起的疾病，而是由于阴虚内热，阳气无所依附，火热向上炎升，导致吐血、衄血、咯血、唾血等症状，此时使用青黛并不适宜，只会加重病情，应当仔细辨别。
〔功效〕味咸，性寒，能清泻肝火，解郁结，治疗中下焦蓄积的风热，治疗吐血，调理小儿惊疳，外敷可治热毒恶肿。染靛用的青黛功效相同。
〔炮制〕真正的青黛来自波斯国，现已难以得到。现在使用的是干靛花，选取颜色娇碧的，每斤淘洗提取一两也是很好的。因为其中含有较多的石灰，所以必须淘洗干净。
[Qinghao (Artemisiae Annuae Herba)]
[Harm] Bitter-cold herbs are generally detrimental to the Stomach. They should not be used in cases of diarrhea caused by Qi deficiency and internal cold after childbirth, nor in cases of diarrhea due to food stagnation. After childbirth, when the Spleen and Stomach are weak, it is contraindicated to use it together with Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) and Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix). Leigong stated: Use the seed, not the leaf; use the root, not the stem. If the seed, leaf, root, and stem are all used together, it may instead lead to chronic, intractable diseases.
[Benefit] The bitter-cold nature enters the Liver, Gallbladder, and Kidney meridians, treats Sanjiao (Triple Burner) disorders, clears summerheat, treats bone-steaming emaciation (emaciation due to yin-deficiency heat), eliminates latent heat within the bones, and kills guizhu chuanshi (contagious chronic wasting diseases). Bitter-cold herbs generally do not harmonize well with the Stomach. However, Qinghao has a fragrant aroma that awakens the Spleen, making it suitable for individuals with blood deficiency and internal heat, as it does not damage the neutral qi of the Middle Jiao.
[Preparation] Harvest the stems and leaves in the fourth and fifth months, and harvest the seeds in the eighth and ninth months. The stalks have the same efficacy as the herb; they are dried for medicinal use, or processed into paste, or distilled into dew.
[Juhua (Chrysanthemi Flos)]
[Harm] Bitter-cold materials are not suitable for those with weak Stomach Qi. "Mushu Xiantan" states: True Chrysanthemum extends life, while wild Chrysanthemum causes diarrhea. Thus, Danxi said that taking wild Chrysanthemum severely damages Stomach Qi, which refers to this point.
[Benefit] Sweet and bitter, slightly cold, it tonifies Metal (Lung) and Water (Kidney), effectively controls Wind-Wood (Liver), removes heat from the chest, dispels wind from the head and eyes. It is often used with Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Gouqi (Lycii Fructus), Digupi (Lycii Cortex), and Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex).
[Preparation] Chuzhou Chrysanthemum, specifically single-petaled, white-flowered, and sweet-tasting varieties, are considered superior. Hangzhou yellow-white tea Chrysanthemum, which is slightly bitter, is of secondary quality. Other bitter Chrysanthemums are generally not used in prescriptions, or are charred black, calcined into charcoal, or used raw. Harvested in the ninth month and sun-dried. Wild Chrysanthemum is bitter and acrid, with a harsh odor and slight toxicity; it regulates the middle jiao, breaks blood stasis, and treats carbuncles and sores. Crushed whole including stems and leaves, it is effective both externally applied and internally ingested.
[Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis)]
[Harm] Cool in nature, it should not be used by those with Cold in the Middle Jiao. Even for those with Yin deficiency and internal heat, it is not advisable to use. While detoxification and clearing fire are its strengths, ancient formulas often employed it for various blood disorders. If the disease is not due to excess heat in the Blood level, but rather due to Yin deficiency causing internal heat, where Yang has no anchor and Fire flares upward, resulting in symptoms such as hematemesis, epistaxis, hemoptysis, or spitting blood, using Qingdai is inappropriate and will exacerbate the condition. Careful differentiation is required.
[Benefit] Salty and cold, it clears Liver Fire, resolves stagnation, treats accumulated Wind-Heat in the Middle and Lower Jiao, treats hematemesis, regulates pediatric convulsive malnutrition (Jinggan), and external application treats toxic heat and malignant swellings. Indigo dye used for coloring has the same efficacy.
[Preparation] Authentic Qingdai comes from Persia and is now unobtainable. Currently, dried Indigo flowers are used; selecting those with a vibrant blue color, extracting one tael per jin is also excellent. Since it contains much lime, it must be thoroughly washed clean.