气味甘苦平，微寒，无毒。主解百毒，杀百精老物殃鬼，辟瘟疫、瘴气、邪气，蛊
毒入口皆吐出，中恶腹痛，时气毒疠，头痛寒热，风肿诸毒，喉痛口疮。久服不夭，轻身长
年。
（升麻今蜀汉、陕西、淮南州郡皆有，以川蜀产者为胜。一名周麻。春苗夏花，叶似麻
叶，其根如蒿根，其色紫黑，多须。）
升麻气味甘苦平，甘者土也，苦者火也。主从中土而达太阳之气。太阳标阳本寒，故微
寒。
盖太阳禀寒水之气而行于肤表，如天气之下连于水也。太阳在上，则天日当空，光明清
湛。
清湛，故主解百毒。光明，故杀百精老物殃鬼。太阳之气，行于肤表，故辟瘟疫、瘴气、邪
气。太阳之气，行于地中，故蛊毒入口皆吐出。治蛊毒，则中恶腹痛自除。辟瘟疫瘴气邪气
，
则时气毒疠，头痛寒热自散。寒水之气，滋于外而济于上，故治风肿诸毒，喉痛口疮。久服
则阴精上滋，故不夭。阳气盛，故轻身，阴阳充足，则长年矣。
愚按∶柴胡、升麻，皆达太阳之气，从中土以上升，柴胡从中土而达太阳之标阳，升麻
兼启
太阳之寒水，细辛更启寒水之气于泉下，而内合少阴，三者大义相同，功用少别。具升转周
遍之功，故又名周麻。防风、秦艽、乌药、防己、木通、升麻，皆纹如车辐，而升麻更觉空
通。
【气味与功效】味甘、苦，性平，微寒，无毒。主治解除各种毒素，杀灭百精老物及殃鬼，驱避瘟疫、瘴气、邪气，蛊毒入口皆能吐出，治疗中恶腹痛、时行气毒疠气、头痛寒热、风肿诸毒、喉痛口疮。长期服用不会夭折，能使身体轻健、延年益寿。
（注：升麻现今蜀汉、陕西、淮南各州郡均有出产，以四川蜀地所产者为优。又名周麻。春季生苗，夏季开花，叶片类似麻叶，根部像蒿根，颜色紫黑，须根较多。）
【药性分析】升麻的气味甘、苦，性平。甘味属土，苦味属火。其作用是从中焦脾胃之气通达于太阳经之气。太阳经标阳本寒，所以药性微寒。
【机理阐述】大概因为太阳经禀受寒水之气而运行于肤表，如同天气之下连于水一样。太阳经在上，则如天日当空，光明清澈湛蓝。
因为清澈湛蓝，所以主治解除各种毒素。因为光明，所以能杀灭百精老物及殃鬼。太阳经之气运行于肤表，所以能驱避瘟疫、瘴气、邪气。太阳经之气运行于地中，所以蛊毒入口皆能吐出。治疗蛊毒，则中恶腹痛自然消除。驱避瘟疫、瘴气、邪气，则时行气毒疠气、头痛寒热自然消散。寒水之气滋润于外并济助於上，所以治疗风肿诸毒、喉痛口疮。长期服用则阴精上滋，所以不会夭折。阳气旺盛，所以身体轻健，阴阳充足，就能延年益寿。
【按语】我认为：柴胡和升麻，都能通达太阳经之气，从中焦脾胃向上提升。柴胡是从中焦脾胃通达太阳经的标阳，升麻兼能开启太阳经的寒水之气，细辛更在泉下开启寒水之气，并与少阴经内相合。这三者的主要义理相同，功用略有区别。都具有升转周遍的功效，所以又名为周麻。防风、秦艽、乌药、防己、木通、升麻，纹理都像车辐条一样，而升麻的空通感更为明显。
[Flavor and Efficacy] The flavor is sweet and bitter, the nature is neutral with a slight coldness, and it is non-toxic. It primarily serves to resolve various toxins, eliminate hundred spirits, old entities, and calamitous ghosts, repel epidemics (Yiwen), miasma (Zhangqi), and pathogenic factors (Xieqi). When gu poison enters the mouth, it can be vomited out. It treats sudden evil abdominal pain (Zhong'e腹疼痛), seasonal toxic plague (Shiqi Duli), headache with chills and fever (Touhng Hanre), wind-induced swelling and various toxins (Fengzhong Zhudu), sore throat, and oral ulcers. Long-term consumption prevents premature death, lightens the body, and prolongs life.
(Note: Shengma [Rhizoma Cimicifugae] is currently produced in Shuhan, Shaanxi, and Huainan commanderies, with those from Sichuan being superior. It is also known as Zhouma. It sprouts in spring and flowers in summer; its leaves resemble hemp leaves, its root resembles mugwort root, its color is purple-black, and it has many fibrous roots.)
[Property Analysis] The flavors of Shengma are sweet and bitter, with a neutral nature. Sweetness belongs to Earth, and bitterness belongs to Fire. Its action is to transmit Qi from the Middle Jiao (Spleen/Stomach) to reach the Taiyang channel Qi. The Taiyang channel's marked Yang originates from Cold, hence its slight cold nature.
[Mechanism Explanation] Generally, the Taiyang channel inherits the Qi of Cold Water and circulates on the skin surface, similar to how heavenly Qi connects downward to water. When Taiyang is above, it is like the sun shining in the sky, bright, clear, and azure.
Because it is clear and azure, it resolves various toxins. Because it is bright, it eliminates hundred spirits, old entities, and calamitous ghosts. Since Taiyang Qi circulates on the skin surface, it repels epidemics, miasma, and pathogenic factors. Since Taiyang Qi circulates within the earth, gu poison entering the mouth can be vomited out. Treating gu poison naturally removes sudden evil abdominal pain. Repelling epidemics, miasma, and pathogenic factors naturally dissipates seasonal toxic plague, headache, chills, and fever. The Qi of Cold Water nourishes externally and assists upward, thus treating wind-induced swelling, various toxins, sore throat, and oral ulcers. Long-term consumption causes Yin Essence to nourish upward, preventing premature death. Yang Qi becomes abundant, lightening the body; with sufficient Yin and Yang, one can prolong life.
[Commentary] I observe: Chaihu [Radix Bupleuri] and Shengma both transmit Taiyang Qi, ascending from the Middle Jiao. Chaihu transmits from the Middle Jiao to reach the marked Yang of Taiyang, while Shengma additionally启 (opens/activates) the Cold Water of Taiyang. Xixin [Radix Asari] further opens the Cold Water Qi from the depths and internally harmonizes with the Shaoyin channel. The three share the same major principle but have slightly different functions. They all possess the merit of ascending and circulating throughout, hence the alternative name Zhouma. Fangfeng [Radix Saposhnikoviae], Qinjiao [Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae], Wuyao [Radix Linderae], Fangji [Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae], Mutong [Caulis Akebiae], and Shengma all have textures resembling chariot spokes, but Shengma appears even more hollow and patent.