味咸、性寒，无毒。入肺、心、胃、肝四经。
喉痹剧痛，磨其汁，内服外敷均效。青盲目翳，入汤液，拨云开雾有灵。救漆疮中蛊，
治热
疾天行。既可催生，又疗血运。
马志谓此物须“细研水飞，入诸药相助用之”。《玉揪药解》谓其“清心泻热”。孕妇忌
服
。
味苦、酸，性平。生用入肺、胃二经。
捣汁生吞，治喉风、涌吐痰涎，能于救急。用之煎服，消咽肿，清火降浊，引热下行。
此即野生牛膝，俗称方梗对叶草。生用之以涌吐救急，往往转危为安。晒干研末，
又可
伍薄荷、硼砂、冰片等，作吹喉药用。另有一种杜牛膝，也混称土牛膝，亦具良效，别
详下
条。
味甘辛，性平。入肺经。
咽喉肿痛，捣汁鹅翎探扫。汤水不下，用之可以开关。
杜有假借之意。引伸之，又有代替之意。即功效与苋科植物土牛膝相仿，可用之代
替治
咽喉者。一名天名精，亦即李时珍所谓开小黄花如小野菊花者，乃菊科植物，近世华南
用以
治白喉者即此种。过去土牛膝与杜牛膝两种每每混称。当依本草纲目，专称天名精之根
为杜
牛膝，以示区别。
（见外治）
（见外治）
味微酸、涩，性平，无毒。入肝、肺二经。
开郁和中、生津除渴。止口燥饮而不解、治咽干如有异物。躁烦易怒多疑，酸以柔之可
择。
此花同诸药制为丸，远行含之，可以不渴。
味咸、性寒，无毒。入肺、心、胃、肝四经。
喉痹剧痛（咽喉肿痛剧烈），磨其汁，内服外敷均效。青盲（视物不清或失明）目翳（角膜云翳），入汤液（煎剂），拨云开雾有灵。救漆疮中蛊（漆毒及中毒），治热疾天行（流行性热病）。既可催生，又疗血运（因血虚或血瘀导致的晕厥）。
马志谓此物须“细研水飞，入诸药相助用之”。《玉揪药解》谓其“清心泻热”。孕妇忌服。
味苦、酸，性平。生用入肺、胃二经。
捣汁生吞，治喉风（急性咽喉肿痛）、涌吐痰涎，能于救急。用之煎服，消咽肿，清火降浊，引热下行。此即野生牛膝，俗称方梗对叶草。生用之以涌吐救急，往往转危为安。晒干研末，又可伍薄荷、硼砂、冰片等，作吹喉药用。另有一种杜牛膝，也混称土牛膝，亦具良效，别详下条。
味甘辛，性平。入肺经。
咽喉肿痛，捣汁鹅翎探扫。汤水不下，用之可以开关（开通闭塞）。杜有假借之意。引伸之，又有代替之意。即功效与苋科植物土牛膝相仿，可用之代替治咽喉者。一名天名精，亦即李时珍所谓开小黄花如小野菊花者，乃菊科植物，近世华南用以治白喉者即此种。过去土牛膝与杜牛膝两种每每混称。当依本草纲目，专称天名精之根为杜牛膝，以示区别。
（见外治）
（见外治）
味微酸、涩，性平，无毒。入肝、肺二经。
开郁和中、生津除渴。止口燥饮而不解、治咽干如有异物。躁烦易怒多疑，酸以柔之可择。此花同诸药制为丸，远行含之，可以不渴。
Salty, cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Lung, Heart, Stomach, and Liver meridians.
For severe pain due to Hou Bi (throat obstruction), grinding its juice for both internal administration and external application is effective. For Qing Mang (blindness) and eye Yi (corneal opacity), incorporating it into decoctions can effectively clear visual obscurations. It rescues from Qi Chuang Zhong Gu (poisoning from lacquer and other toxins) and treats Re Ji Tian Xing (epidemic febrile diseases). It can induce labor and also treat Xue Yun (syncope due to blood deficiency or stasis).
Ma Zhi stated that this substance must be "finely ground and washed with water, then used in conjunction with other herbs." *Yu Qiu Yao Jie* states that it "clears the Heart and drains heat." Pregnant women should avoid taking it.
Bitter and sour, neutral in nature. When used raw, it enters the Lung and Stomach meridians.
Crushed and swallowed raw, it treats Hou Feng (acute throat wind/swelling) and induces vomiting of phlegm-saliva, capable of emergency rescue. When decocted and taken orally, it reduces throat swelling, clears fire and descends turbidity, guiding heat downward. This is wild Niuxi (Achyranthes root), commonly known as Fang Geng Dui Ye Cao (square-stemmed opposite-leaf herb). Used raw to induce vomiting for emergency rescue, it often turns danger into safety. Dried and powdered, it can be combined with Bohe (Mint), Pengsha (Borax), Bingpian (Borneol), etc., for use as a powder insufflated into the throat. There is another type called Du Niuxi, also mixedly referred to as Tu Niuxi, which also has good effects; see the next entry for details.
Sweet and pungent, neutral in nature. Enters the Lung meridian.
For throat swelling and pain, crushed juice applied with a goose feather probe and sweep. If one cannot swallow soup or water, using it can open blockages ("Guan"). "Du" implies substitution. Extended, it means replacement. That is, its efficacy is similar to Tu Niuxi (Achyranthes bidentata root) of the Amaranthaceae family, and it can be used to replace it for treating throat conditions. Also known as Tian Ming Jing, which is what Li Shizhen described as opening small yellow flowers resembling small wild chrysanthemums; it is a plant of the Asteraceae family. In modern times, this species is used in South China to treat Bai Hou (diphtheria). In the past, Tu Niuxi and Du Niuxi were often confused. According to *Bencao Gangmu*, only the root of Tian Ming Jing should be specifically called Du Niuxi to distinguish them.
(See External Treatment)
(See External Treatment)
Slightly sour and astringent, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Liver and Lung meridians.
It opens depression, harmonizes the middle, generates fluids, and relieves thirst. It stops dry mouth where drinking does not relieve it, and treats dry throat as if there were a foreign body. For irritability, anger, and suspicion, the sour flavor can soften these conditions, making it a suitable choice. This flower, prepared into pills with other herbs, when held in the mouth during long journeys, can prevent thirst.