款冬花，辛、甘而温，阳也，无毒。善止肺咳，消痰唾稠粘，润肺，泻火邪，下气定喘，
安
心惊胆怯，去邪热，除烦燥，平肝明目。烧烟吸之，亦善止嗽，尤能止肺咳肝嗽。近人喜用
紫菀，而不用款冬者，殊不可解。紫菀虽亦止久嗽，而味苦伤胃，不若款冬之味甘，清中有
补也，余所以取款冬，而弃紫菀耳。
或问款冬花，清中有补，多用之以益肺、益肝、益心，可乎？曰∶款冬花虽清中有补，
而多
用亦复不宜，盖补少而清多也。夫款冬花入心则安心，入肝则明目，入肺则止咳，是其补也
。然入心，则又泻心之火，多用则心火过衰，反不生胃以健食矣；入肝，则又泻肝之气，多
用则心火过凋，反不能生心以定神矣。入肺，则又泻肺之气，多用则肾气过寒，反不能生脾
以化物矣。是款冬花多用则伤，少用则益，又何必多用哉。
广木香，味甘、苦，气温，降也，阴中阳也。无毒。能通神气，和胃气，行肝气，散滞
气，
破结气，止心疼，逐冷气，安霍乱吐泻，呕逆翻胃，除痞癖症块、脐腹胀痛，安胎散毒，治
痢必需，且辟疫气瘴 。但此物虽所必需，亦止可少用之为佐使，使气行即止，则不可谓其
能补气，而重用之也。大约用广木香由一分、二分，至一钱而止，断勿出于一钱之外，过多
反无效功，佐之补而不补，佐之泻而亦不泻也。
或问广木香与青木香，同是止痢之药，子何取广木香，而弃青木香？盖广木香气温，而
青木
香气寒耳。夫痢乃湿热，青木香寒以去热，似相宜，而余毅然删去者，恶青木香之散气，虽
有益于痢，终有损于气也。若广木香则不然，气温而不寒，能降气而不散气，且香先入脾，
脾得之而喜，则脾气调而秽物自去，不攻之攻，正善于攻。此所以删青木香，而登广木香也
。木香气分药，又能开窍。气分药与血分药不同，气只要引之使通，不须成队共行；若血药
则质滞而性腻，非多不能成功。
款冬花，味道辛、甘，性质温，属于阳药，没有毒性。善于治疗肺咳，消除稠粘的痰液，滋润肺部，清泻火邪，降气平喘，安定因心惊胆怯引起的不适，去除邪热，消除烦躁，平抑肝火并明目。将款冬花燃烧后吸入其烟雾，也善于止咳，尤其能止肺咳和肝咳。近代人喜欢用紫菀，而不用款冬花，这实在让人难以理解。紫菀虽然也能治疗久咳，但味道苦而伤胃，不如款冬花味道甘甜，在清利之中兼有补益作用，所以我选用款冬花，而舍弃紫菀。
有人问：款冬花在清利之中兼有补益，如果多用它可以补肺、补肝、补心，可以吗？回答说：款冬花虽然在清利之中兼有补益，但也不宜多用，因为它的补益作用少而清利作用多。款冬花入心经则能安心神，入肝经则能明目，入肺经则能止咳，这就是它的补益作用。然而，入心经时，它又会清泻心火，如果多用，会导致心火过衰，反而不能生助胃气以健运饮食；入肝经时，它又会疏泄肝气，如果多用，会导致心火过于凋敝（此处原文逻辑似有误，通常肝木生心火，肝气疏泄太过可能影响心神或导致气血失调，原文意指过度疏泄导致相关脏腑功能减弱），反而不能生助心气以安定精神；入肺经时，它又会泻肺气，如果多用，会导致肾气过寒，反而不能生助脾气以运化水谷精微。因此，款冬花多用会损伤正气，少用才能有益，又何必多用呢。
广木香，味道甘、苦，性质温，具有沉降之性，属于阴中之阳药。没有毒性。能够通调神气，调和胃气，行散肝气，消散滞气，破除结聚之气，停止心痛，驱逐冷气，安定霍乱吐泻，缓解呕吐逆气和翻胃，消除痞块症瘕、脐腹胀痛，安胎解毒，是治疗痢疾所必需的药材，并且能辟除疫气瘴毒。但是这种药物虽然必需，也只能少量使用作为佐使药，一旦气机通畅就应停止，不能说它能补气，因而重用。大约使用广木香的量从一分、二分，到一钱为止，千万不要超过一钱，用量过多反而无效，作为佐药辅助补益时不能起到补的作用，辅助泻下时也不能起到泻的作用。
有人问：广木香与青木香，都是止痢的药物，您为什么取广木香而舍弃青木香？这是因为广木香性质温，而青木香性质寒。痢疾是由于湿热所致，青木香性寒以清热，似乎适宜，但我毅然将其删去的原因，是厌恶青木香耗散正气，虽然对痢疾有益，但最终会损伤正气。至于广木香则不然，性质温而不寒，能降气而不散气，而且香气先入脾经，脾得到它而感到喜悦，则脾气调和而秽物自然排出，这是一种不攻之攻的方法，正善于攻邪。这就是为什么删去青木香，而收录广木香的原因。木香是气分药，又能开窍。气分药与血分药不同，气分药只要引导使其通畅即可，不需要成群结队地大量使用；如果是血分药，则质地凝滞而性质腻浊，不多用就不能成功。
Flos Distantis (Kuandonghua), acrid, sweet, and warm in nature, belongs to Yang, and is non-toxic. It is excellent at stopping pulmonary cough, resolving thick and sticky phlegm, moistening the lungs, draining fire pathogens, descending Qi to calm asthma, calming palpitations and timidity, eliminating pathogenic heat, removing irritability, soothing the Liver and brightening the eyes. Inhaling the smoke from burning Flos Distantis is also effective for stopping coughs, particularly those originating from the Lung and Liver. In recent times, people prefer using Radix Asteris (Ziwan) over Flos Distantis, which is hard to understand. Although Radix Asteris can also treat chronic coughs, its bitter taste damages the Stomach, unlike Flos Distantis which has a sweet taste and offers nourishment amidst its clearing properties; therefore, I select Flos Distantis and discard Radix Asteris.
One might ask: Since Flos Distantis nourishes while clearing, can it be used in large doses to benefit the Lung, Liver, and Heart? The answer is: Although Flos Distantis nourishes while clearing, it should not be used in large doses because its nourishing effect is minor compared to its clearing effect. When entering the Heart channel, it calms the Spirit; when entering the Liver channel, it brightens the eyes; when entering the Lung channel, it stops coughing—these are its nourishing effects. However, upon entering the Heart, it drains Heart Fire; excessive use leads to an excessive decline of Heart Fire, which fails to generate Stomach Qi to promote digestion. Upon entering the Liver, it disperses Liver Qi; excessive use leads to excessive depletion [of related energies], failing to generate Heart Qi to stabilize the Spirit. Upon entering the Lung, it drains Lung Qi; excessive use leads to excessive coldness in Kidney Qi, which fails to generate Spleen Qi to transform substances. Thus, excessive use of Flos Distantis causes harm, while moderate use brings benefits; why then use it in large doses?
Radix Aucklandiae (Guangmuxiang), sweet and bitter in taste, warm in nature, has a descending property and belongs to Yin containing Yang. It is non-toxic. It can unblock Shen Qi (Spirit Qi), harmonize Stomach Qi, circulate Liver Qi, disperse stagnant Qi, break up knotted Qi, stop heart pain, drive out cold Qi, stabilize cholera with vomiting and diarrhea, relieve vomiting, regurgitation, and reverse flow of the stomach, eliminate masses and abdominal distension/pain, secure the fetus, scatter toxins, is essential for treating dysentery, and can ward off epidemic miasma and pestilential vapors. However, although this herb is necessary, it should only be used in small amounts as an assistant or guide herb. Once Qi circulation is restored, usage should cease; one cannot claim it tonifies Qi and thus use it heavily. Generally, the dosage of Radix Aucklandiae ranges from 1 fen, 2 fen, up to 1 qian, and must not exceed 1 qian. Excessive use yields no efficacy; when assisting tonification, it fails to tonify; when assisting purgation, it fails to purge.
One might ask: Both Radix Aucklandiae (Guangmuxiang) and Radix Aucklandiae (Qingmuxiang) are herbs that stop dysentery. Why do you choose Guangmuxiang and discard Qingmuxiang? This is because Guangmuxiang is warm in nature, whereas Qingmuxiang is cold. Dysentery is caused by damp-heat; Qingmuxiang’s cold nature clears heat, which seems appropriate. However, I decisively excluded it because I dislike Qingmuxiang’s ability to dissipate Qi. Although beneficial for dysentery, it ultimately damages Qi. Guangmuxiang is different; it is warm but not cold, can descend Qi without dissipating it, and its fragrance first enters the Spleen channel. The Spleen delights in it, leading to harmonized Spleen Qi and natural expulsion of turbid matter. This is "attacking without attacking," effectively dealing with pathogens. This is why Qingmuxiang was deleted and Guangmuxiang was included. Aucklandia is a Qi-class herb that can also open orifices. Qi-class herbs differ from Blood-class herbs; Qi herbs only need to be guided to achieve free flow and do not require large groups of herbs acting together. Blood herbs, however, have dense textures and cloying properties, requiring larger doses to achieve success.