（见外治）
（见外治）
味辛、甘、淡，性平，无毒。入心、小肠二经。色白而梗细者佳。
降心火出于小肠。治五淋并宣九窍。通血脉，利关节。清肺泄湿，行经下乳。
功用虽多，不出宣通气血四字。若君火为邪，宜用木通。相火为邪，宜用泽泻，利水虽
同，
用各有别。
木通，性通利，精滑气弱。内无湿热，妊娠者均忌。
味淡，性平，无毒。入心、小肠二经。
清心必用，利水偏宜。烧灰吹喉症，涂乳治夜啼。
中寒，小便不禁者忌之。
味淡，性寒，无毒。入小肠经。
专通小便，兼解心烦。
淡味五脏无归，但入太阳利小便，小便利，则心火因之而清也。
淡竹叶，有走无守，不能益人，孕妇禁服。
味苦，性微寒，无毒。入肺、脾、胃、大肠四经。半夏为使。恶皂荚，畏藜芦。
散结而消痰定喘。下气以消食安胎。
李时珍曰∶“前胡主降，与柴胡上升者不同。气降则痰亦降矣”。安胎化食，无非下气之
力耳。前胡去风痰，与半夏
治湿痰、贝母治燥痰者各别也。
前胡治气实风痰，凡阴虚火动之痰，及不因外感而有痰者，法当禁之。前胡又为散
风之品，
故多用于感冒之初。
味苦、甘，性温，有毒。入肺、大肠二经。恶黄芩、黄 、葛根。泡去皮尖，焙。双仁
者勿
用。
散上焦之风，除心下之热，利胸中气逆而喘嗽，润大肠气闭而难通。解锡毒有效，消狗
肉如
神。
杏仁性温，散肺经风寒滞气，殊效。
阴虚咳嗽者忌之。双仁者，能杀人，有毒盖指此耳。
（参见外治法章节）
（参见外治法章节）
木通：味辛、甘、淡，性平，无毒。归心经、小肠经。以色白且茎细者为佳。
能降泄心火，使其从小肠排出。治疗五淋（五种淋证），并宣通九窍。疏通血脉，滑利关节。清肺热、祛湿气，通行经络、促进乳汁下行。
其功效虽多，但不出“宣通气血”四字。若为君火（心火）受邪，适宜使用木通；若为相火（肾火/命门之火）受邪，适宜使用泽泻。两者虽均有利水作用，但临床应用各有区别。
木通药性通利，易致精气滑脱、耗气虚弱。体内无湿热者、孕妇均忌用。
通草：味淡，性平，无毒。归心经、小肠经。
是清心火的必用药，利水作用尤为适宜。烧成灰末吹入喉部可治喉症，涂抹乳房可治婴儿夜啼。
中寒证、小便失禁者忌用。
淡竹叶：味淡，性寒，无毒。归小肠经。
专于通利小便，兼能解除心烦。
淡味药物在五脏中无特定归属，仅入太阳经以利小便。小便通利后，心火随之而清。
淡竹叶药性走而不守，不能补益人体，孕妇禁止服用。
前胡：味苦，性微寒，无毒。归肺经、脾经、胃经、大肠经。以半夏为使药。畏皂荚，恶藜芦。
能散结滞、消痰浊、定喘咳。降逆气以消食积、安胎元。
李时珍说：“前主降气，与柴胡的升提作用不同。气降则痰也随之而降。”安胎化食，无非是借助其下气的力量罢了。前胡主治风痰，与半夏治疗湿痰、贝母治疗燥痰各不相同。
前胡适用于气实风痰证。凡是阴虚火旺引起的痰证，以及非因外感引起的痰证，依法应当禁用。前胡又是疏散风邪的药物，因此多用于感冒初期。
杏仁：味苦、甘，性温，有毒。归肺经、大肠经。畏黄芩、黄柏、葛根。需泡制去皮尖，焙干。双仁者勿用。
能疏散上焦风邪，清除心下热邪，利胸中逆气以治喘嗽，润大肠以治气闭便秘。解锡毒有效，消化狗肉积滞如神。
杏仁性温，能疏散肺经的风寒滞气，效果显著。
阴虚咳嗽者忌用。双仁杏仁能致人死亡，所谓有毒主要指此而言。
(See External Treatment)
(See External Treatment)
Tongcao (Akebia Caulis): Pungent, sweet, and bland in flavor; neutral in nature; non-toxic. Enters the Heart and Small Intestine meridians. Those that are white in color with fine stems are superior.
It descends Heart Fire (Heart Fire), directing it out through the Small Intestine. It treats the five types of strangury (Wu Lin, referring to painful urinary disorders) and unblocks the nine orifices. It unblocks blood vessels and benefits joints. It clears Lung heat and drains dampness, promotes meridian circulation, and facilitates lactation.
Although its functions are numerous, they do not go beyond the four characters "unblocking Qi and Blood." If the Sovereign Fire (Sovereign Fire, referring to Heart Fire) is pathogenic, Mutong (Akebia Caulis) should be used. If the Minister Fire (Minister Fire, referring to Kidney/Life Gate Fire) is pathogenic, Ze Xie (Alisma Rhizome) should be used. Although both promote urination, their clinical applications differ.
Mutong has a penetrating and draining nature; it may cause seminal emission and Qi deficiency. It is contraindicated for those without damp-heat internally and for pregnant women.
Tongcao (Tetrapanacis Medulla): Bland in flavor; neutral in nature; non-toxic. Enters the Heart and Small Intestine meridians.
It is essential for clearing Heart Fire and is particularly suitable for promoting urination. Burned to ash and insufflated into the throat, it treats throat conditions; applied to the breast, it treats infant night crying.
It is contraindicated for those with Middle Jiao Cold and involuntary urination.
Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatheri Herba): Bland in flavor; cold in nature; non-toxic. Enters the Small Intestine meridian.
It specializes in promoting urination and additionally relieves mental restlessness.
The bland flavor does not specifically target any of the five Zang organs but enters the Taiyang meridian to promote urination. When urination is promoted, Heart Fire is thereby cleared.
Dan Zhu Ye moves without retaining; it cannot tonify the human body and is forbidden for pregnant women.
Qian Hu (Peucedani Radix): Bitter in flavor; slightly cold in nature; non-toxic. Enters the Lung, Spleen, Stomach, and Large Intestine meridians. Used with Ban Xia (Pinellia Rhizome) as an assistant drug. It clashes with Zao Jia (Gleditsiae Fructus) and fears Li Lu (Veratri Radix).
It disperses nodules, eliminates phlegm, and calms wheezing. It directs Qi downward to digest food and calm the fetus.
Li Shizhen stated: "Qian Hu primarily directs Qi downward, which differs from Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix) that raises Qi. When Qi descends, phlegm also descends." Calming the fetus and aiding digestion are merely the result of its Qi-directing-downward power. Qian Hu treats Wind-Phlegm, which is distinct from Ban Xia treating Damp-Phlegm and Bei Mu (Fritillariae Bulbus) treating Dry-Phlegm.
Qian Hu is indicated for Phlegm due to Excess Qi and Wind. For phlegm caused by Yin Deficiency with Fire Hyperactivity, and for phlegm not arising from external contraction, it is legally contraindicated. As a wind-dispersing herb, it is mostly used in the early stages of common colds.
Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum): Bitter and sweet in flavor; warm in nature; toxic. Enters the Lung and Large Intestine meridens. It clashes with Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex), and Ge Gen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix). It should be soaked, skin and tip removed, and baked. Do not use seeds with two kernels.
It disperses Wind in the Upper Jiao, removes heat in the epigastrium, benefits rebellious Qi in the chest to treat wheezing and cough, and moistens the Large Intestine to treat constipation due to Qi stagnation. It is effective in resolving Tin toxicity and miraculous in digesting dog meat accumulation.
Xing Ren is warm; it disperses Wind-Cold and stagnant Qi in the Lung meridian with remarkable efficacy.
It is contraindicated for cough due to Yin Deficiency. Seeds with two kernels can cause death; the term "toxic" mainly refers to this.