【气味】
苦寒有毒。为治疟之最要。不可多进。凡无水不作痰。无痰不成疟。水在上焦则常
山能吐之。水在胁下则常山能破其辟而下其水。但得行血药为佐助。功可收其十全也。又纯
热
发疟。或蕴热内实之症。投以常山。大便点滴而下。大便似泄不泄者。佐以大黄泄利敷行。
可获全愈也。
【气味】
酸温平涩无毒。入脾肺二经血分。
【主治】
止渴调中。去痰治疟。敛肺涩肠。噎膈蛔厥蚀恶肉。仲景治蛔厥乌梅丸及虫 方中
用者。取虫得酸而即止之之义也。
【气味】
苦寒有小毒。阴中之微阳也。
【主治】
蛊毒十二水。腹满急痛。破症结。并甘遂同为泄水之重剂。盖水湿也。得气与火。
则凝滞而为痰为涎为涕为癖。故入心迷窍则成癫痫妄言妄见。入肺塞窍则成咳唾稠粘喘息背
冷。入肝而留伏蓄聚则成胁痛干呕寒热往来。入经络则麻痹疼痛。入筋骨则颈项胸背腰胁手
足牵引。三因方并以控涎丹主之。总以大戟能泄脏腑之水湿。善用之可奏奇功也。又钱氏谓
肾为真水。有补无泻。而复云痘疮变黑归肾一症。乃用百祥膏下之以泻肾者也。盖非泻肾。
是泻其腑而脏自不实也。然其性苦寒有毒。最损真气。须认症确审。方可言用。
【气味】
苦平无毒。
【主治】
补胆肝。明目。骨蒸劳热。妇人胎蒸。小儿惊痫。理腰肾。去阴汗。去果子积。性
情功用与黄连同。
恶（菊花 白藓皮 玄参 芫花 姜蚕 冷水） 畏（款冬 牛膝）
【气味】
味苦，性寒，有毒。是治疗疟疾最重要的药物。不可大量服用。凡是体内没有水饮就不会产生痰湿，没有痰湿就不会形成疟疾。如果水饮停留在上焦，常山能够将其吐出；如果水饮停留在胁下，常山能够破除其积聚并引导水饮下行。只要配合活血药物作为辅助，疗效可以达到十全十美。另外，对于纯热引起的疟疾，或者体内蕴藏实热的病症，使用常山后，大便会有点滴排出，出现似泄泻又不完全泄泻的情况。此时佐以大黄促进排泄通畅，可以获得痊愈。
【气味】
味酸，性温平，具有涩性，无毒。归脾经和肺经的血分。
【主治】
止渴，调和脾胃，去除痰湿，治疗疟疾，收敛肺气，涩肠止泻。用于噎膈（吞咽困难）、蛔厥（因蛔虫引起的四肢厥冷）、腐蚀恶肉。张仲景在治疗蛔厥的乌梅丸以及治虫方剂中使用它，是取“虫子遇到酸味就会停止活动”的含义。
【气味】
味苦，性寒，有小毒。属于阴中的微阳。
【主治】
治疗蛊毒及十二种水肿，腹部胀满急痛，破除症结肿块。与甘遂同为泻水的重剂。这是因为水湿之气，得到气与火的煎熬，就会凝滞而成痰、涎、涕、癖积。所以，如果进入心窍迷乱神明，就会形成癫痫、胡言乱语、幻觉妄见；如果进入肺部堵塞窍道，就会形成咳嗽吐稠粘痰液、喘息、背部发冷；如果进入肝脏而留伏蓄聚，就会形成胁痛、干呕、寒热往来；如果进入经络，就会造成麻痹疼痛；如果进入筋骨，就会造成颈项、胸背、腰胁、手足牵引拘挛。《三因方》都用控涎丹来主治这些病症。总的来说是大戟能泻除脏腑的水湿，善于使用它可以取得奇效。另外，钱乙曾说肾为真水，只有补法没有泻法，但又提到痘疮变黑归肾这一病症，于是使用百祥膏来攻下以泻肾。这其实不是泻肾，而是泻其腑（膀胱），则脏自然不虚不实。然而大戟性味苦寒有毒，最损伤真气，必须准确辨证审察病情，才可以言用。
【气味】
味苦，性平，无毒。
【主治】
补益胆肝，明目。治疗骨蒸劳热，妇人胎蒸，小儿惊痫。调理腰肾，去除阴汗，消除果子积滞。其性情功用与黄连相同。
畏恶：忌菊花、白鲜皮、玄参、芫花、僵蚕、冷水；畏惧款冬、牛膝。
[Flavor and Nature]
Bitter, cold, toxic. It is the most essential herb for treating malaria. It should not be taken in large doses. The principle holds that without water retention, there is no phlegm; without phlegm, there is no malaria. If water retention is located in the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner), Hengshan can induce vomiting to expel it. If water retention is located under the flanks, Hengshan can break up the accumulation and guide the water downward. Provided that blood-invigorating herbs are used as adjuvants, its efficacy can achieve perfection. Furthermore, for malaria caused by pure heat or conditions characterized by internal excess heat, administering Hengshan may result in scanty stool discharge, resembling diarrhea but incomplete. In such cases, assisting with Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) to promote smooth defecation can lead to a complete cure.
[Flavor and Nature]
Sour, warm/neutral, astringent, non-toxic. Enters the Blood aspect of the Spleen and Lung meridians.
[Indications]
Relieves thirst, harmonizes the middle jiao, eliminates phlegm, treats malaria, astringes the Lung and intestines. Used for dysphagia (Yige), ascariasis-induced cold limbs (Huijue), and cauterizing foul flesh. Zhang Zhongjing uses it in Wumei Wan for treating Huijue and in vermifuge formulas, taking advantage of the principle that "parasites cease activity upon encountering sour flavors."
[Flavor and Nature]
Bitter, cold, slightly toxic. It represents slight Yang within Yin.
[Indications]
Treats gu poison and twelve types of edema, abdominal distension with acute pain, and breaks up mass accumulations. Together with Gansui (Kansui Radix), it serves as a heavy agent for draining water. This is because dampness-water, when subjected to Qi and Fire, condenses into phlegm, saliva, nasal mucus, and fixed masses. Thus, if it enters the Heart and confounds the Orifices, it becomes epilepsy, delirious speech, and hallucinations; if it enters the Lung and blocks the Orifices, it causes coughing with thick sticky sputum, wheezing, and coldness in the back; if it enters the Liver and remains latent/accumulated, it causes hypochondriac pain, dry retching, and alternating chills and fever; if it enters the meridians, it causes numbness and pain; if it enters the sinews and bones, it causes traction and spasms in the neck, chest, back, waist, flanks, hands, and feet. The *San Yin Fang* (*Three Causes Formulas*) primarily uses Kongxian Dan to treat these conditions. Generally, Daji can drain dampness-water from the Zang-Fu organs; skillful use can yield miraculous results. Additionally, Qian Yi stated that the Kidney is True Water, subject only to tonification and not purgation. Yet, he mentioned the condition where smallpox lesions turn black and revert to the Kidney, using Baixiang Ointment to purge and drain the Kidney. This is actually not draining the Kidney organ itself, but draining its paired Fu organ (Bladder), so the Zang organ naturally does not become deficient or excessive. However, since its nature is bitter, cold, and toxic, it severely damages True Qi. One must accurately differentiate and examine the syndrome before considering its use.
[Flavor and Nature]
Bitter, neutral, non-toxic.
[Indications]
Tonifies the Gallbladder and Liver, brightens the eyes. Treats bone-steaming tidal fever, maternal fetal steaming, pediatric convulsions and epilepsy. Regulates the lower back and Kidneys, eliminates genital sweating, and resolves fruit stagnation. Its properties and functions are identical to Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma).
Incompatibilities: Averse to Ju Hua (Chrysanthemi Flos), Baixianpi (Dictamni Cortex), Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), Yuanhua (Genkwa Flos), Jiang Can (Bombyx Batryticatus), and cold water. Feared by: Kuidong (Adenophorae Radix), Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix).