〔害〕凡苦寒性燥，功能除热，而非补益之品。但无湿者，如脾肺虚热，及中寒作泄，
中寒
腹痛，肝肾虚水肿，血枯经闭，肺受寒邪喘嗽，及血虚胎不安，阴虚淋漏皆忌。胎前若非实
热而服之，因损胎元矣。
〔利〕苦寒，中虚而大者曰枯芩，泻肺火，清肌表之热，并理目赤，疔痈。坚实而细者
曰条
芩，即子芩，泻大肠火，治 痢腹痛，兼可安胎，亦治上焦风热湿热，利水。二芩俱兼入脾
经，苦能燥湿，泄热下气也。轻飘者上行，坚重者下降，不可不别也。柴胡退热不及黄芩，
柴胡苦以发之，散火之标，黄芩寒以胜热，折火之本。
若饮食受寒，腹中痛，及饮水心下悸，小便不利，而脉不数者，是里无热也。
〔修治〕得酒炒则上行，得猪肝汁炒，除肝胆火，得柴胡退寒热，得芍药治下痢，得桑
白皮
泻肺火，皆取苦寒泻有余之邪。
（见肝部泻将）
〔害〕固能除热益阴，然阴阳两虚之人，病兼脾胃薄弱，饮食少进，及食不消，或兼泄
泻，
或呕
恶冷物，及好热食，肾虚天明作泻，上热下寒，小便不禁，少腹冷痛，子宫寒冷，血虚不孕
，阳虚发热，瘀血停滞，产后血虚发热，金疮发热，痈疽溃后发热，伤食发热，阴虚小水不
利，痘后脾虚，小水不利，血虚不得眠，血虚烦躁，脾阳不足作泄等症，法并忌服。必尺脉
洪大，按之有力方用之。苦虚火误服，有寒中之变。
〔利〕苦寒，入脾、肾、膀胱、大肠四经。统凉三焦，泻龙火而救水，利膀胱之湿热。
佐以
苍术，理足膝之痹痛。渍以蜜水，嗽口舌之生疮。
〔修治〕川产肉浓色深者良。生用降实火，炒黑止崩带。酒制治上，蜜制治中（蜜炙，
庶不
伤胃），盐制治下。
【危害】凡是苦寒且性燥的药物，功能是清除热邪，而不是补益类的药材。但是，如果没有湿邪的情况，例如脾肺虚热，以及因中焦受寒导致的腹泻、腹部冷痛，肝肾虚弱引起的水肿，血液枯竭导致的闭经，肺部受寒邪侵袭引发的咳嗽气喘，以及血虚导致胎动不安，阴虚引起的淋证漏下等，都应当禁忌使用。在妊娠期间，如果不是实热证而服用此药，会损伤胎元。
【益处】味苦性寒，中间空虚者称为枯芩（黄芩的一种），能泻肺火，清解肌表之热，并治疗目赤肿痛、疔疮痈肿。质地坚实而细长者称为条芩（即子芩），能泻大肠之火，治疗痢疾腹痛，兼可安胎，也能治疗上焦的风热和湿热，有利尿作用。这两种黄芩都兼入脾经，苦味能燥湿，泄热降气。质地轻飘的向上行，质地坚重的向下行，不可不加以区分。柴胡退热的效果不如黄芩，柴胡味苦能发散，疏散火的表象；黄芩性寒能胜热，折服火的根本。如果是饮食受寒，腹中疼痛，以及饮水后心下悸动，小便不利，但脉象不数（不快）的，这是体内没有热邪的表现（此时不宜用黄芩）。
【炮制】用酒炒则药力上行，用猪肝汁炒，能清除肝胆之火，配伍柴胡能退寒热，配伍芍药能治疗下痢，配伍桑白皮能泻肺火，这些都是利用其苦寒之性来泻除有余的邪气。
（见肝部泻将章节）
【危害】虽然能清除热邪、滋养阴液，但是阴阳两虚的人，病情兼有脾胃薄弱，进食少，食物不消化，或者兼有腹泻，或者呕吐恶冷物，喜欢热食，肾虚导致天明时分腹泻，上热下寒，小便失禁，少腹冷痛，子宫寒冷，血虚不孕，阳虚发热，瘀血停滞，产后血虚发热，金创（金属利器造成的伤口）发热，痈疽溃破后发热，伤食发热，阴虚导致的小便不利，痘疹后脾虚导致的小便不利，血虚导致的失眠，血虚烦躁，脾阳不足导致的腹泻等症状，按照法则都应当禁忌服用。必须等到尺脉洪大，重按有力的情况下才能使用。如果是虚火误服，会导致中寒的变证。
【益处】味苦性寒，入脾、肾、膀胱、大肠四经。统管凉清三焦，泻龙火以救水，利膀胱之湿热。佐以苍术，可调理足膝部位的痹痛。用蜜水浸泡，可治疗口舌生疮。
【炮制】四川产的肉厚色深的为佳。生用可降实火，炒黑可止崩漏带下。酒制治疗上部病症，蜜制治疗中部病症（蜜炙，以免伤害胃气），盐制治疗下部病症。
[Harm] All bitter-cold and drying-natured substances function to eliminate heat rather than tonify. However, in cases without dampness, such as deficiency-heat of the Spleen and Lung, diarrhea caused by cold in the Middle Jiao, abdominal pain due to cold, edema from Liver-Kidney deficiency, amenorrhea due to blood exhaustion, wheezing and coughing from Cold pathogen invading the Lung, restless fetus due to Blood deficiency, and stranguria with leakage due to Yin deficiency, these are all contraindicated. During pregnancy, if taken for non-excess-heat conditions, it will damage the fetal origin (Tai Yuan).
[Benefit] Bitter and cold in nature. The hollow-centered variety is called Ku Qin (Scutellariae Radix, "withered root"), which drains Lung Fire, clears heat from the muscle layer, and treats red eyes, carbuncles, and sores. The solid and slender variety is called Tiao Qin (or Zi Qin), which drains Large Intestine Fire, treats dysentery with abdominal pain, helps calm the fetus, and also treats Wind-Heat and Damp-Heat in the Upper Jiao, promoting urination. Both varieties enter the Spleen Meridian; bitterness dries dampness, drains heat, and directs Qi downward. Light and floating substances ascend, while solid and heavy substances descend; this distinction must not be overlooked. Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix) is less effective than Huang Qin in reducing fever. Chai Hu is bitter and dispersing, scattering the superficial aspect of Fire; Huang Qin is cold and conquering heat, subduing the root of Fire. If one suffers from cold-damaged diet causing abdominal pain, palpitations in the epigastrium after drinking water, difficult urination, but a pulse that is not rapid, this indicates an absence of Heat in the interior (and thus Huang Qin should not be used).
[Processing] Stir-frying with wine causes the action to ascend. Stir-frying with pig liver juice eliminates Liver and Gallbladder Fire. Combined with Chai Hu, it resolves alternating chills and fever. Combined with Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix), it treats dysentery. Combined with Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex), it drains Lung Fire. These methods all utilize its bitter-cold nature to drain excess pathogens.
(See section on Draining Liver)
[Harm] Although it can clear heat and benefit Yin, it is contraindicated for individuals with both Yin and Yang deficiency, especially when complicated by weak Spleen and Stomach, poor appetite, indigestion, or concurrent diarrhea. It is also contraindicated for vomiting of cold substances, preference for hot food, dawn diarrhea due to Kidney deficiency, upper heat and lower cold, urinary incontinence, cold pain in the lower abdomen, cold uterus, infertility due to Blood deficiency, fever due to Yang deficiency, stagnation of Blood stasis, postpartum fever due to Blood deficiency, fever from metal wounds, fever after ulceration of carbuncles and sores, fever from food stagnation, difficult urination due to Yin deficiency, difficult urination after smallpox due to Spleen deficiency, insomnia due to Blood deficiency, irritability due to Blood deficiency, and diarrhea due to insufficient Spleen Yang. In all these cases, it must be avoided according to the principles. It should only be used when the Chi (Cun Cun) pulse is surging and forceful upon deep pressure. Misuse for deficient Fire can lead to complications of Cold in the Middle Jiao.
[Benefit] Bitter and cold. Enters the Spleen, Kidney, Bladder, and Large Intestine meridians. It cools the Triple Burner generally, drains Dragon Fire to preserve Water, and promotes the draining of Damp-Heat from the Bladder. When assisted by Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), it treats bi-syndrome pain in the feet and knees. Soaked in honey water, it treats mouth and tongue ulcers.
[Processing] Those produced in Sichuan with thick flesh and dark color are superior. Raw use reduces Excess Fire; charred black stops metrorrhagia and leukorrhea. Wine-processing treats disorders of the Upper Jiao; honey-processing treats disorders of the Middle Jiao (honey-roasting prevents injury to the Stomach); salt-processing treats disorders of the Lower Jiao.