本经猪苓利水道，不云止消渴；而仲圣以猪苓名方者，必渴而后与之，恶得无故。邹氏
谓猪苓起阴气以和阳化水，譬之枫叶已丹，遂能即落。虽本经别录无起阴之文，然考尔雅正
义、述异记、一统志、南方草木状、物类相感志、荀伯子临川记，所载枫树诸灵异，确与阴
气相感。猪苓生枫树下，其皮至黑，气味俱薄，未必不能起阴。况水道既利，三焦得通，肾
气之由三焦而上者，自亦滋溉于其胸（释名∶消渴者，肾气不周于胸也），消渴奚能不止。
此与泽泻之止消渴，有相侔之处。然有不如泽泻者焉，泽泻形圆，一茎直上，能起极下之阴
以济极上之阳，平极上之阳淫。猪苓甘淡，不能直上至头，故泽泻汤治冒眩而猪苓不与。然
猪苓之阴，阴中有阳，能开腠理达表，与茯苓为伯仲而泽泻亦不与。五苓散、猪苓汤，所以
治脉浮发热者，以其有猪苓茯苓也。夫以猪苓视茯苓，所同者为太阳阳明药耳，猪苓究何足
与茯苓比烈，茯苓结于土中，猪苓亦结于土中；茯苓肉白，猪苓亦肉白；茯苓甘淡；猪苓亦
甘淡；而茯苓之白，光洁而纯；猪苓之白，幽暗而犷。茯苓甘淡，得土味之正；猪苓甘淡，
得土味之偏。此茯苓所以主治广，猪苓所以主治狭也。
竹青而中空，与胆为清净之府，无出无入相似。竹茹甘而微寒，又与胆喜温和相宜。故
黄芩为少阳经热之药，竹茹为少阳腑热之药。古方疗胆热多用竹茹，而后人无知其为胆药者。
哕逆之因不一，胃虚而胆热乘之，亦作哕逆。橘皮竹茹汤，以参枣甘草补胃养阴，橘皮
生姜和胃散逆，竹茹除胆火则为清哕之源。橘皮汤无竹茹者，以手足厥为肝逆也。妇人乳子
之时，中虚胆热，胆热必犯其胃，呕逆而至烦乱，热亦甚矣。竹皮大丸，以石膏白薇除胃热
而敛浮阳，竹茹凉胆而清其源，恐中虚难任寒药，故加桂枝之辛甘以导之，药兼阴阳，故加
甘草以和之。喘则以柏实辑肝气，又所以辅竹茹之不逮也。
《神农本草经》记载猪苓能通利水道，并未提及它能止消渴；但张仲景以“猪苓”命名方剂时，必定是在患者出现口渴症状后才使用该药，怎么能说它没有功效呢？邹氏认为猪苓能升发阴气从而调和阳气、化行水湿，就像枫叶变红后自然脱落一样。虽然《本经》和《别录》中没有关于“起阴”的记载，但考证《尔雅正义》、《述异记》、《一统志》、《南方草木状》、《物类相感志》、荀伯子《临川记》等书，其中所载枫树的种种灵异现象，确实与阴气相互感应。猪苓生长在枫树之下，其外皮颜色极黑，气味都很淡薄，未必不能起到升发阴气的作用。况且水道既然通畅，三焦得以通达，肾气经由三焦上行的部分，自然也能滋润灌溉到胸部（《释名》解释：所谓消渴病，是因为肾气不能在胸中周流全身），那么消渴症又怎能不止住呢？这与泽泻治疗消渴的功效有相似之处。然而也有不如泽泻的地方，泽泻形状圆润，茎干直立向上，能够提升最下部的阴气来济助最上部的阳气，并平抑最上部过盛的阳热。猪苓味甘淡，不能直接上行至头部，所以泽泻汤用于治疗头目昏眩而猪苓不在其列。然而猪苓之阴，是阴中含阳，能够开发腠理、透达体表，这一点与茯苓不相上下，而泽泻则不具备这种功能。五苓散、猪苓汤之所以能治疗脉浮、发热等症状，就是因为方中含有猪苓和茯苓。拿猪苓与茯苓相比，它们的共同点在于都是太阳经和阳明经的药物，猪苓究竟哪里足以与茯苓相提并论呢？茯苓结聚于土中，猪苓也结聚于土中；茯苓肉质白色，猪苓肉质也白色；茯苓味甘淡，猪苓也味甘淡；但是茯苓的白色，光洁而纯正；猪苓的白色，幽暗而粗犷。茯苓味甘淡，得土气的正味；猪苓味甘淡，得土气的偏味。这就是为什么茯苓的主治范围广泛，而猪苓的主治范围狭窄的原因。
竹子青色且中空，与胆腑作为清净之府，无出无入的特性相似。竹茹味甘微寒，又与胆腑喜好温和的特性相适宜。因此，黄芩是治疗少阳经热的药物，竹茹则是治疗少阳腑热的药物。古方治疗胆热多用竹茹，而后人无知，不知道它是治疗胆腑的药物。呃逆（哕逆）的原因不一，若是胃虚导致胆热乘袭，也会引发呃逆。橘皮竹茹汤，用人参、大枣、甘草补益胃气、滋养阴液，用橘皮、生姜调和胃气、降逆止呕，用竹茹清除胆火以从根本上清解呃逆。橘皮汤中不含竹茹，是因为手足厥冷属于肝气上逆所致。妇女在哺乳期间，中焦虚弱且胆热，胆热必然侵犯胃腑，导致呕吐逆气甚至烦乱不安，热邪也很严重。竹皮大丸，用石膏、白薇清除胃热并收敛浮越的阳气，用竹茹凉胆清热以断绝病源，担心中焦虚弱难以承受寒凉药物，所以加入桂枝的辛甘之性来引导药力，药物兼顾阴阳，所以加入甘草来调和诸药。若有喘息症状，则用柏实平息肝气，这也是辅助竹茹不足之处的手段。
*Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) records that Polyporus (Zhu Ling, 猪苓) promotes the flow of water passages but does not mention its ability to arrest thirst; yet when Zhang Zhongjing named a formula with "Polyporus," he certainly administered it only after the patient exhibited thirst. How can one claim it is without efficacy? Zou believed that Polyporus raises Yin Qi (vital energy associated with Yin) to harmonize Yang and transform water, akin to maple leaves turning red and subsequently falling. Although *Bencao Jing* and *Mingyi Bielu* lack texts on "raising Yin," an examination of *Erya Zhengyi*, *Shuyi Ji*, *Yitong Zhi*, *Nanfang Caomu Zhuang*, *Wulei Xianggan Zhi*, and Xun Bozi's *Lin Chuan Ji* reveals various spiritual phenomena associated with maple trees that indeed resonate with Yin Qi. Polyporus grows beneath maple trees; its skin is extremely black, and its flavor and aroma are both thin. It may well be capable of raising Yin. Moreover, once the water passages are unblocked and the San Jiao (Triple Burner) becomes patent, the Kidney Qi ascending via the San Jiao will naturally moisten and irrigate the chest (as explained in *Shiming*: Thirstiness arises because Kidney Qi fails to circulate throughout the chest). Thus, how can thirst fail to cease? This shares similarities with Alisma (Zexie, 泽泻) arresting thirst. However, there are aspects where it falls short of Alisma. Alisma is round in shape with a single stem growing straight upward; it can raise Yin from the lowest depths to nourish Yang at the highest peak and pacify excessive Yang heat at the summit. Polyporus is sweet and bland and cannot ascend directly to the head; therefore, Alisma Decoction treats dizziness and vertigo, whereas Polyporus is not included therein. Nevertheless, the Yin nature of Polyporus contains Yang, enabling it to open the interstices (Cou Li, 腠理) and reach the exterior. In this regard, it is comparable to Poria (Fuling, 茯苓), a capability Alisma lacks. Wuling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria) and Zhuling Tang (Polyporus Decoction) treat floating pulse and fever precisely because they contain Polyporus and Poria. Comparing Polyporus to Poria, their commonality lies in being herbs for the Taiyang (Greater Yang) and Yangming (Yang Brightness) channels. What merit does Polyporus have to rival Poria? Both Poria and Polyporus aggregate in the earth; both have white flesh; both are sweet and bland. Yet Poria's whiteness is bright and pure, while Polyporus's whiteness is dark and rugged. Poria, being sweet and bland, obtains the correct flavor of Earth; Polyporus, also sweet and bland, obtains the biased flavor of Earth. This explains why Poria has a broad scope of indications, while Polyporus has a narrow one.
Bamboo is green and hollow inside, resembling the Gallbladder as a clear and pure organ that has no exit or entry. Bamboo sheath (Zhuru, 竹茹) is sweet and slightly cold, which aligns with the Gallbladder's preference for mild warmth. Therefore, Scutellaria (Huangqin, 黄芩) is an herb for Shaoyang channel heat, while Bamboo Sheath is an herb for Shaoyang fu-organ heat. Ancient formulas treating Gallbladder heat frequently used Bamboo Sheath, yet later generations, lacking knowledge, failed to recognize it as a Gallbladder herb. The causes of hiccups (Yue Ni, 哕逆) vary; if Stomach deficiency allows Gallbladder heat to invade, hiccups may occur. Jupi Zhuru Tang (Tangerine Peel and Bamboo Sheath Decoction) uses Ginseng, Jujube, and Licorice to tonify Stomach Qi and nourish Yin; Tangerine Peel and Ginger to harmonize the Stomach and scatter rebellious Qi; and Bamboo Sheath to eliminate Gallbladder fire, thereby clearing the source of hiccups. Jupi Tang excludes Bamboo Sheath because cold hands and feet indicate Liver Qi rebellion. During lactation, women often suffer from middle-jiao deficiency and Gallbladder heat; Gallbladder heat inevitably invades the Stomach, causing vomiting, rebellious Qi, and even restlessness due to severe heat. Zhupi Dawan (Bark Large Pill) employs Gypsum and Anemarrhena to clear Stomach heat and anchor floating Yang; Bamboo Sheath cools the Gallbladder and clears the source. Fearing that the deficient middle-jiao cannot tolerate cold herbs, Cinnamon Twig is added for its acrid-sweet properties to guide the action. Since the prescription balances Yin and Yang, Licorice is added to harmonize. If wheezing occurs, Platycladi Seed is used to regulate Liver Qi, further assisting the limitations of Bamboo Sheath.