味苦气沉。入足少阴经。功专去风湿。杀疳虫。得枳壳治风癞热毒。肾虚无热者勿
服。糯米泔浸蒸用。元参为使。恶贝母、菟丝子、漏芦。反藜芦。酒煎醋煎服之即吐。
味苦。入手太阴足阳明经。功专治消渴烦热。得麦冬清肺止渴。得地黄滋肾润燥。
得
人参治妊娠子烦。蓐劳骨蒸。久疟下痢。然苦寒伤胃滑肠。多服令人泻。得酒良。上行酒浸
。下行盐水拌。忌铁。
味苦涩。入足厥阴少阳经。功专清热去湿。得柴胡治目疾。得苍耳治耳中诸实症
。过服损胃。甘草水浸一宿曝用。小豆、贯众为使。忌地黄。
味咸寒。入足厥阴经。功专泻肝。散五脏郁火。解中下焦蓄蕴风热。治伤寒发斑。
得杏仁、柿饼治咯血。得硼砂、冰片名青黛散。吹喉痛。
味苦寒。入足厥阴少阳经。功专治瘟疫热毒。得犀角治阳毒发斑。得沙糖治中暑
发昏。
味甘气寒。入手足阳明太阳经。功专下气逐水。得茴香治水饮痛。得大黄治马脾风
病。若湿热在血分。胃弱气虚人禁用。得木香、干姜良。堕胎。
味苦辛寒。性燥而不淳。入足太阳经。功专下行。汉防己得黄柏知母。去下焦湿肿
。木防己得防风、葵子通小便淋涩。足伤寒湿为香港脚。寒湿郁而为热。湿则肿。热则痛。防
己为主。温加苡仁、苍术、木瓜、木通。热加芩、柏。风加羌活、萆 。痰加竹沥、南星。
痛加香附、木香。活血加四物。大便秘加桃仁、红花。小便秘加牛膝泽泻。痛连肩臂加桂枝
、威灵仙。痛连胁加胆草。若因肾虚足跟痛者。不可同论。即湿热在上焦气分。亦所禁忌。
治风宜用木防己。治水宜用汉防己。酒洗用。恶细辛。畏萆 。
【苦参】
味道苦，性质沉降。归入足少阴经。功效专门用于祛除风湿。能杀灭疳虫。与枳壳配伍可治疗风癞热毒。肾虚无热者禁止服用。需用糯米泔水浸泡后蒸制使用。以元参为引药。忌与贝母、菟丝子、漏芦同用。与藜芦相反。用酒煎或醋煎服用会引起呕吐。
【防己】（此处指汉防己）
味道苦。归入手太阴经和足阳明经。功效专门用于治疗消渴烦热。与麦冬配伍可清肺止渴。与地黄配伍可滋肾润燥。与人参配伍可治疗妊娠子烦、产后劳损骨蒸、久疟下痢。然而苦寒之性易伤胃滑肠，多服令人腹泻。与酒配伍效果良好。上行时用酒浸，下行时用盐水拌。忌铁器。
【防己】（此处指木防己）
味道苦涩。归入足厥阴经和足少阳经。功效专门用于清热祛湿。与柴胡配伍可治疗眼疾。与苍耳子配伍可治疗耳中各种实证。过量服用会损伤胃气。需用甘草水浸泡一夜后晒干使用。以小豆、贯众为引药。忌与地黄同用。
【青黛】
味道咸，性质寒。归入足厥阴经。功效专门用于泻肝火。疏散五脏郁结之火。解除中下焦蓄积的风热。治疗伤寒发斑。与杏仁、柿饼配伍可治疗咯血。与硼砂、冰片配伍名为青黛散。吹喉痛患处。
【青黛】（另一条记载）
味道苦，性质寒。归入足厥阴经和足少阳经。功效专门用于治疗瘟疫热毒。与水牛角配伍可治疗阳毒发斑。与砂糖配伍可治疗中暑昏厥。
【甘遂】
味道甜，性质寒。归入手足阳明经和太阳经。功效专门用于降气逐水。与小茴香配伍可治疗水饮疼痛。与大黄配伍可治疗马脾风病。若湿热在血分，以及胃弱气虚之人禁用。与木香、干姜配伍效果良好。有堕胎作用。
【防己】（综合论述）
味道苦辛，性质寒。性燥而不纯厚。归入足太阳经。功效专门作用于下行。汉防己与黄柏、知母配伍，可去除下焦湿肿。木防己与防风、葵子配伍，可通利小便淋涩。足部受风寒湿邪导致香港脚（足踝肿痛）。寒湿郁结化为热，湿则肿胀，热则疼痛。以防己为主药。温证加薏苡仁、苍术、木瓜、木通；热证加黄芩、黄柏；风证加羌活、萆薢；痰证加竹沥、天南星；痛甚加香附、木香；活血加四物汤；大便秘结加桃仁、红花；小便不利加牛膝、泽泻；疼痛牵连肩臂加桂枝、威灵仙；疼痛牵连胁肋加龙胆草。若因肾虚导致的足跟痛，不可与此同论。即使是湿热在上焦气分的情况，也属禁忌。治风宜用木防己，治水宜用汉防己。需用酒洗后使用。忌与细辛同用。畏萆薢。
[Kushen] (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix)
Taste bitter, nature heavy and sinking. Enters the Foot Shaoyin Meridian. Its function is specifically to dispel wind-dampness. It kills pinworms (Ganchong). When combined with Zhike (Aurantii Fructus), it treats wind-leprosy and heat-toxin. Contraindicated in cases of Kidney deficiency without heat. It should be soaked in rice water (Nuomigan) and steamed before use. Yuan Shen (Scrophulariae Radix) serves as its guiding herb. It is incompatible with Beimu (Fritillariae Bulbus), Tusizi (Cuscutae Semen), and Loulu (Euphorbiae Humifusae Herba). It is chemically opposite to Lilü (Veratrum Nigrum). Decocting with wine or vinegar induces vomiting.
[Fangji] (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix - Han Fangji)
Taste bitter. Enters the Hand Taiyin and Foot Yangming Meridians. Its function is specifically to treat Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst) with vexation and heat. Combined with Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), it clears the Lung and stops thirst. Combined with Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), it nourishes the Kidney and moistens dryness. Combined with Renshen (Ginseng Radix), it treats Zhi Fan (fetal restlessness during pregnancy), Chulao Guzheng (postpartum consumption with bone-steaming fever), chronic malaria, and dysentery. However, its bitter-cold nature damages the Stomach and lubricates the intestines; excessive use causes diarrhea. Combination with wine enhances efficacy. For upward movement, soak in wine; for downward movement, mix with salt water. Avoid iron.
[Fangji] (Stephaniae Membranaceae Radix - Mu Fangji)
Taste bitter and astringent. Enters the Foot Jueyin and Foot Shaoyang Meridians. Its function is specifically to clear heat and remove dampness. Combined with Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), it treats eye diseases. Combined with Cang'erzi (Xanthii Fructus), it treats various excess syndromes in the ear. Overuse damages the Stomach. Soak in Licorice water (Gancao Shui) overnight, then sun-dry. Xiaodou (Adzuki Bean) and Guanzhong (Cyathulae Rhizoma) serve as guiding herbs. Avoid Dahuang (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata).
[Qingdai] (Indigo Naturalis)
Taste salty, nature cold. Enters the Foot Jueyin Meridian. Its function is specifically to purge Liver fire. It disperses stagnant fire in the five Zang organs. It resolves accumulated wind-heat in the Middle and Lower Jiao. It treats Shanghan Faban (rash due to Cold Damage). Combined with Xingren (Armeniacae Semen) and Shibing (Persimmon Fruit), it treats hemoptysis. Combined with Pengsha (Borax) and Bingpian (Borneolum Syntheticum), it forms Qingdai San (Indigo Powder). Blown into the throat for sore throat.
[Qingdai] (Indigo Naturalis - Alternative Entry)
Taste bitter, nature cold. Enters the Foot Jueyin and Foot Shaoyang Meridians. Its function is specifically to treat plague heat-toxin. Combined with Xijiao (Rhinocerotis Cornu), it treats Yang Du Faban (rash due to Yang toxicity). Combined with Shatang (Sugar), it treats heatstroke with fainting.
[Gansui] (Kochiae Radix)
Taste sweet, nature cold. Enters the Hand and Foot Yangming and Taiyang Meridians. Its function is specifically to direct Qi downward and expel retained water. Combined with Huixiang (Foeniculi Fructus), it treats pain from fluid retention. Combined with Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), it treats Ma Pi Feng Bing (equine spleen wind disease). Contraindicated if damp-heat is in the Blood level, and in persons with weak Stomach and Qi deficiency. Combination with Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix) and Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) is beneficial. It causes abortion.
[Fangji] (Stephaniae Tetrandrae/Membranaceae Radix - General Discussion)
Taste bitter and acrid, nature cold. Nature is drying but not pure. Enters the Foot Taiyang Meridian. Its function acts specifically downward. Han Fangji combined with Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) and Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) removes damp-swelling in the Lower Jiao. Mu Fangji combined with Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) and Kuizi (Abutili Semen) promotes urination for strangury. Hongxiangjiao (Podagra/Gout) results from Wind-Cold-Damp attacking the feet. Cold-Damp stagnates and transforms into Heat; Damp causes swelling, Heat causes pain. Fangji is the principal herb. For Cold patterns, add Yiren (Coicis Semen), Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Mugua (Chaenomelis Fructus), Mutong (Akebiae Caulis). For Heat patterns, add Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex). For Wind patterns, add Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Bibi (Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma). For Phlegm patterns, add Zhuli (Bambusae Sap), Nanting (Arisaematis Rhizoma). For severe pain, add Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma), Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix). For blood stasis, add Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction). For constipation, add Taoren (Persicae Semen), Honghua (Carthami Flos). For oliguria, add Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma). If pain radiates to shoulders and arms, add Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Weilingxian (Saposhnikoviae Radix). If pain radiates to hypochondrium, add Dancao (Gentianae Radix). Cases of heel pain due to Kidney deficiency cannot be discussed under this category. Even if damp-heat is in the Upper Jiao Qi level, it is contraindicated. For treating Wind, use Mu Fangji; for treating Water, use Han Fangji. Wash with wine before use. Incompatible with Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma). Feared by Bibi (Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma).