气味苦温，无毒。主治咳逆上气，胸中寒热结气，去蛊毒，痿 ，安五脏。
（紫菀之根紫色，而其质柔宛，故名紫菀。近道处处有之，三四月布地生苗，本有白毛，
其叶二四相连，五六月开黄白紫花，结黑子。其根细而白者，白菀，即女菀也。）
紫，黑赤之间色也。黑赤，水火之色也。紫菀气味苦温，禀火气也。其质阴柔，禀水气
也。
主治咳逆上气者，启太阳寒水之气，从皮毛而合肺也。治胸中寒热结气者，助少阴火热之气
，通利三焦而上达也。蛊毒在腹属土，火能生土，故去蛊毒。痿 在筋，属木，水能生木，
故去痿 。水火者，阴阳之征兆也。水火交，则阴阳合，故安五脏。
气味苦寒，无毒。主治消渴热中，除邪气，肢体浮肿，下水，补不足，益气。
（知母《本经》名连母，又名 母，又名地参，又名水参。出频河、怀卫、彰德、解州、
滁州、彭城诸处。形似菖蒲而柔润，其根皮黄，肉白，而外毛，以肥大质润者为佳。）
知母质性滋润，得寒水之精，故气味苦寒，有地参，水参之名。又名连母、 母者，皮
有毛
而肉白色，禀秋金清肃之气，得寒水之精，而禀秋金之气，须知水之有母也。禀寒水之精，
故主治消渴热中。皮外有毛，故除皮毛之邪气。肉浓皮黄，兼得土气，故治肢体浮肿，下水
。补不足者，补肾水之不足。益气者，益肺气之内虚。夫金生其水，故补肾水之不足。土生
其金，故益肺气也。
【紫菀】
气味苦温，无毒。主治咳嗽气逆，胸中寒热郁结之气，去除蛊毒，治疗痿证，安定五脏。
（紫菀的根呈紫色，质地柔顺宛转，因此得名紫菀。附近各地都有生长，三四月间贴地生出苗芽，根部有白色绒毛，叶片两两或四四相连，五六月间开出黄、白、紫色的花，结出黑色的种子。其中根细而白的，称为白菀，也就是女菀。）
紫色是黑与赤之间的颜色。黑色和赤色分别是水与火的颜色。紫菀气味苦温，禀受火的气化；其质地阴柔，禀受水的气化。
主治咳嗽气逆，是因为它能开启太阳经寒水之气，使其从皮毛合于肺脏。治疗胸中寒热郁结之气，是因为它能助益少阴经火热之气，通利三焦并向上通达。蛊毒位于腹部属土，火能生土，所以能去除蛊毒。痿证在筋脉，属木，水能生木，所以能治疗痿证。水和火，是阴阳的象征。水火相交，则阴阳调和，所以能安定五脏。
【知母】
气味苦寒，无毒。主治消渴病及热中症，祛除邪气，治疗肢体浮肿，通利水道下行，补益不足，益气。
（知母在《神农本草经》中名为连母，又名儿母，又名地参，又名水参。出产于频河、怀卫、彰德、解州、滁州、彭城等地。形状像菖蒲但质地柔润，根部外皮黄色，肉质白色，且外表有毛，以肥大、质地润泽者为佳。）
知母质性滋润，得寒水之精气，所以气味苦寒，因此有地参、水参的名称。又被称为连母、儿母的，是因为皮上有毛而肉质白色，禀受秋季金气清肃的特性，得到寒水的精气，并且禀受秋金之气，由此可知水是金的母亲。因为禀受寒水的精气，所以主治消渴热中。皮外有毛，所以能祛除皮毛部位的邪气。肉质浓厚、皮色黄，兼得土气，所以能治疗肢体浮肿，通利水道。补益不足，是指补肾水的不足。益气，是指补益肺气之内虚。因为金生水，所以能补肾水的不足。因为土生金，所以能益肺气。
[Shiowen / Asteris Radix]
Taste and nature: Bitter, warm. Non-toxic.
Indications: Cough with rebellious Qi (Ke Ni Shang Qi), stagnation of cold and heat in the chest, removal of Gu poison (Gu Du), treatment of Wei syndrome (Wei Zheng), and stabilization of the Five Zang Organs.
(Note: The root of Shiowen is purple, and its texture is soft and pliant, hence the name "Purple Pliant". It grows everywhere in nearby regions. In the third and fourth lunar months, it sprouts from the ground; the base has white hairs. The leaves grow in pairs or quaternary clusters. In the fifth and sixth months, it blooms with yellow, white, or purple flowers and bears black seeds. The variety with fine, white roots is called Baiwan, which is also known as Nuwan.)
Purple is an intermediate color between black and red. Black and red are the colors of Water and Fire, respectively. Shiowen possesses a bitter and warm taste/nature, inheriting the Qi of Fire. Its texture is Yin and soft, inheriting the Qi of Water.
The indication for cough with rebellious Qi stems from its ability to initiate the Cold Water Qi of the Taiyang channel, allowing it to merge with the Lung from the skin and hair. The treatment of stagnation of cold and heat in the chest is achieved by assisting the Hot Fire Qi of the Shaoyin channel, unblocking the Sanjiao, and allowing it to ascend. Gu poison located in the abdomen belongs to Earth; since Fire generates Earth, it can remove Gu poison. Wei syndrome affects the sinews and belongs to Wood; since Water generates Wood, it can treat Wei syndrome. Water and Fire are the manifestations of Yin and Yang. When Water and Fire interact, Yin and Yang harmonize, thus stabilizing the Five Zang Organs.
[Zhimu / Anemarrhenae Rhizoma]
Taste and nature: Bitter, cold. Non-toxic.
Indications: Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst) and Re Zhong (Heat in the Middle Jiao), elimination of pathogenic factors, treatment of edema of the limbs, promotion of urination (Xia Shui), tonification of insufficiency, and supplementation of Qi.
(Note: Zhimu was named Lianmu in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*, also known as Ermu, Dican, and Shuishen. It is produced in Pinhe, Huaiwei, Zhangde, Jiezhou, Chuzhou, Pengcheng, and other places. It resembles Calamus but is soft and moist. The root bark is yellow, the flesh is white, and it has external hairs. Those that are plump and moist are considered superior.)
Zhimu has a moistening nature and obtains the essence of Cold Water; therefore, its taste and nature are bitter and cold, earning it the names Dican and Shuishen. It is also called Lianmu and Ermu because the bark has hairs and the flesh is white, inheriting the clear and肃 (solemn/descending) Qi of Autumn Metal, obtaining the essence of Cold Water, and inheriting the Qi of Autumn Metal. This indicates that Water is the mother of Metal. Since it inherits the essence of Cold Water, it treats Xiao Ke and Re Zhong. Because the outer bark has hairs, it eliminates pathogenic factors from the skin and hair. Because the flesh is thick and the bark is yellow, it simultaneously obtains the Qi of Earth; thus, it treats edema of the limbs and promotes urination. "Tonifying insufficiency" refers to tonifying the insufficiency of Kidney Water. "Supplementing Qi" refers to supplementing the internal deficiency of Lung Qi. Since Metal generates Water, it tonifies the insufficiency of Kidney Water. Since Earth generates Metal, it supplements Lung Qi.