味苦，性寒，无毒。入肺、三焦二经。炒透。
治胸中懊 ，而眠卧不宁。疏脐下血滞，而小便不利。清太阴肺，轻飘而上达。泻三焦
火，
屈曲而下行。
栀子本非吐药，仲景谓邪气在上，得吐则邪出，所谓高者因而越之也。亦非利小便药，
盖肺
清则化行，而膀胱津液之腑，奉气化而出矣。
大苦大寒，能损胃伐气，虚者忌之。心腹痛，不因火者，尤为大戒。世人每用治
血，不
知血寒则凝，反为败证。治实火之吐血，顺气为先，气行则血自归经。治虚火之吐血，
养正
为先，气壮则能摄血，此治疗之大法，不可少违者也。
栀子花∶另有专条。见咽喉用药。
味苦，性寒，无毒。入肝、肾二经。童便浸一宿，曝。
清热、凉血。解暑热，退潮热，清虚热，治痨热。温疟瘅疟，早凉暮热，热自阴来，用
之多
捷。
苦寒之药，多与胃家不利。惟青蒿芬芳袭脾，宜于血虚有热之人，取其不犯冲和之气耳。
寒而泄泻者，仍当避之。
味苦，性寒，无毒。入肺、肾二经。忌铁器。肥白者佳。去毛，盐酒炒透。
清肺热而消痰捐咳，泻肾火而利水滑肠。肢体肿浮为上剂，伤寒烦热号神良。补寒水于
不充
，益五脏之阴气。
泻肾家有余之火，是其本功，至夫清金治肿诸效，良由相火不炎，自当驯致也。
知母阴寒，不宜多服，近世理痨，尊为上品，往往致泄泻而毙，故肾虚阳痿，脾虚
溏泄
，不思食，不化食者，皆不可用。
味苦，性寒，无毒。入肺、三焦二经。炒透。
治疗胸中烦闷懊恼，导致睡眠卧息不安。疏通脐下血行瘀滞，使小便通畅。清肃太阴肺经之热，药性轻扬而上达；泻除三焦之火，药势屈曲而下行。
栀子本非催吐之药，张仲景认为邪气在上部，通过呕吐可使邪气排出，这就是所谓“病位高者，因势利导使其从上而出”的道理。栀子也非单纯利尿之药，大概是因为肺气清肃则津液输布正常，膀胱作为津液之腑，依赖气化功能而排出尿液。
栀子大苦大寒，容易损伤胃气和正气，体质虚弱者忌用。心腹疼痛如果不是由火热引起，更是绝对禁忌。世人常用它来治疗出血症，不知道血遇寒则凝结，反而会导致败坏难治的证候。治疗实火引起的吐血，以顺降气机为先，气机运行顺畅则血液自然回归经脉；治疗虚火引起的吐血，以扶正养阴为先，正气充足则能统摄血液，这是治疗的大法，不可稍有违背。
栀子花：另有专门条目。见咽喉用药部分。
味苦，性寒，无毒。入肝、肾二经。用童子尿浸泡一夜，晒干。
清热，凉血。解除暑热，退去潮热，清除虚热，治疗劳损发热。温疟、瘅疟（一种疟疾），表现为早晨凉爽傍晚发热，热感从阴分而来，使用此药效果迅速。
苦寒性质的药物，大多对脾胃不利。只有青蒿气味芬芳醒脾，适宜于血虚有热的人使用，取其不侵犯脾胃冲和之气罢了。
如果服用后出现寒性泄泻，仍应当避免使用。
味苦，性寒，无毒。入肺、肾二经。忌用铁器。肥大白色的为佳。去除毛须，用盐和酒炒透。
清肺热而消除痰浊止咳，泻肾火而利水滑肠。肢体浮肿属于上佳疗效，伤寒烦热号称神效良方。补益不足之寒水（肾阴），增益五脏之阴气。
泻除肾脏有余之火，是它的根本功效，至于清金（肺）治肿等各种疗效，确实是由于相火不妄动炎上，自然就会逐渐见效。
知母属阴寒之品，不宜多服。近代治疗痨病（肺结核等慢性消耗性疾病），将其尊为上品，往往导致泄泻而死，所以肾虚阳痿、脾虚溏泄（大便稀薄）、食欲不振、食物不消化的人，都不可使用。
Bitter in taste, cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Lung and Sanjiao (Triple Burner) meridians. Stir-fried until thoroughly cooked.
Treats chest fullness with vexation and restlessness, leading to disturbed sleep. Unblocks blood stasis below the umbilicus, facilitating urination. Clears heat from the Taiyin Lung meridian, its action is light and ascending; drains fire from the Sanjiao, its action descends through the curves.
Gardenia (Zhizi) is not originally an emetic. Zhang Zhongjing stated that when pathogenic factors are located superiorly, vomiting expels them, which is referred to as "treating superior conditions by inducing upward expulsion." It is also not merely a diuretic. Generally, when Lung Qi is clear, fluid metabolism proceeds normally, and the Bladder, as the organ of fluids, excretes urine through Qi transformation.
Its extreme bitterness and coldness can damage Stomach Qi and deplete healthy Qi; thus, it is contraindicated for those with deficiency. For abdominal pain not caused by fire, it is strictly forbidden. People often use it to treat bleeding disorders, unaware that cold congeals blood, potentially leading to severe complications. For hematemesis due to excess fire, regulating Qi is paramount; once Qi flows smoothly, blood returns to its vessels. For hematemesis due to deficient fire, nourishing righteousness (healthy Qi/Yin) is paramount; when Qi is strong, it can contain blood. These are fundamental treatment principles that must not be violated.
Gardenia flower: See separate entry under medications for throat conditions.
Bitter in taste, cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Liver and Kidney meridians. Soaked overnight in child's urine, then dried in the sun.
Clears heat, cools blood. Resolves summerheat, reduces tidal fever, clears deficient heat, treats consumptive fever. For warm malaria and dan malaria (a type of malaria), characterized by coolness in the morning and fever in the evening, with heat originating from the Yin level, this herb acts rapidly.
Most bitter-cold herbs are detrimental to the Stomach. However, Qinghao (Artemisia annua) has a fragrant aroma that awakens the Spleen, making it suitable for individuals with blood deficiency and heat, as it does not violate the harmonious Qi of the Middle Jiao.
If cold-type diarrhea occurs after ingestion, it should still be avoided.
Bitter in taste, cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Lung and Kidney meridians. Avoid iron utensils. Those that are plump and white are preferred. Remove hairs, stir-fry thoroughly with salt and wine.
Clears Lung heat and eliminates phlegm to stop coughing; drains Kidney fire, promotes urination, and moistens the intestines. It is the premier remedy for limb edema and swelling, and is hailed as a miraculous cure for vexation and heat in Shanghan (Cold Damage). It supplements insufficient Cold Water (Kidney Yin) and benefits the Yin Qi of the Five Zang organs.
Draining the excess fire of the Kidneys is its primary function. The various effects such as clearing Metal (Lung) and treating swelling are indeed because when Ministerial Fire does not flare up improperly, these results naturally follow.
Zhimu (Anemarrhena Rhizome) is yin-cold in nature and should not be taken in large amounts or for long periods. In recent times, it has been revered as a top-grade herb for treating consumptive diseases (such as tuberculosis), often leading to fatal diarrhea. Therefore, it is contraindicated for those with Kidney deficiency and impotence, Spleen deficiency with loose stools, lack of appetite, and food stagnation.