泽兰，味苦、甘，曰辛误，气微温，无毒。入肝、脾二经。理胎产，消身面、四肢浮肿，
破
宿血，去症瘕，行瘀血，疗扑损，散头风目痛，逐痈肿疮脓，长肉生肌，利关开窍。此系女
科佳品，然亦佐使之药也。《本草》称其能治百病，未考为训也。
或问泽兰每每用之妇人，而不用于男子，岂亦有说乎？夫男女之病，本无分别，而药味
又何
须分别。惟是女子善怀，一不得志，而闺中怨忧无以解其郁，郁无聊之气，而经血不行，行
经作痛，千般怪病，后此生焉。泽兰气味和平，又善于解郁，尤宜于妇人，故为妇科妙药，
非单宜妇人，而不宜于男子也。
或问泽兰，吾于解郁而世人未知，岂前人未尝用之乎？曰∶泽兰解郁，前人多用之，近
人不
知者，以其辨之不真耳。世以泽兰为泽草，谁知泽兰别是一种草药，非兰蕙馨香之药也。生
于楚地，无花，而叶似兰，而根则宛如兰也。兰生于山，而泽兰发生于水泽，故不曰兰，而
曰泽兰也。
萆 ，味苦、甘，气平，无毒。俗呼为土茯苓。入肾、肝二经。善治痹症，祛风寒湿痹，
腰
背冷痛，止筋骨掣疼，缩小便明目，逐关节久结，能消杨梅疮毒。此物败毒祛邪，不伤元气
，但功用甚缓，可治缓病，而不可治急症者也。近人以之治轻粉结毒，正取其缓消，而不损
伤元气故耳。然而，经年累月殊无功效者，单藉一味以作汤，而不加补气血之味也。苟用补
气血之药，加人参、 、术、茯苓、麦冬、熟地、山药、元参、地骨皮、沙参之类，用草精
数两，先煮汤以煎药，不须十剂，而轻粉之毒全消，杨梅之毒亦散矣。
或问萆 非土茯苓，别一种也，萆 生于川蜀，而土茯苓处处有之，未可以二物而合为
一也
。曰∶萆 ，即土茯苓也，岂特一特而两名之，一曰拔 ；一曰冷饭块，一曰岐良，是一物
而五名。生于川蜀者曰萆 ，其生于他处者，随俗名之，正不止四名已也。大约川蜀所产为
第一，他处用一两者，川蜀只消用五钱，故古人取川中萆 ，而不取他处也。然而，生他处
者，未尝不可解杨梅结毒，要之地产虽殊，而秉性无各别耳。
泽兰，味道苦、甘，（原文注：说它味辛是错误的），气微温，无毒。归入肝、脾二经。调理胎产疾病，消除身体面部及四肢浮肿，破除陈旧瘀血，去除症瘕积聚，运行瘀血，治疗跌打损伤，消散头风引起的目痛，驱逐痈肿疮疡的脓液，促进肌肉生长，通利关节窍道。这是妇科的佳品，但也是作为辅助药物使用的。《本草》称它能治百病，未曾考证便作为准则，是不对的。
有人问：泽兰常常用于妇女，而不用于男子，难道也有说法吗？男女的疾病，本来没有分别，药味又何必分别呢？只是女子多愁善感，一旦心意不畅，闺房中的怨恨忧愁无法排解心中的郁结，郁结无聊之气，导致经血不行，行经时疼痛，千奇百怪的病症，由此而生。泽兰气味平和，又善于解除郁结，尤其适宜于妇人，所以成为妇科妙药，并非只适宜妇人，而不适宜男子。
有人问：泽兰能解郁，世人却不知晓，难道前人未曾使用过吗？回答说：泽兰解郁，前人多有使用，近代人不知道，是因为辨别不真切罢了。世人把泽兰当作泽草，谁知道泽兰是另一种草药，并不是兰蕙那种馨香的药。生长在楚地，没有花，叶子像兰草，根则宛如兰根。兰草生长在山里，而泽兰生长在水泽之中，所以不叫兰，而叫泽兰。
萆薢，味道苦、甘，气平，无毒。俗称土茯苓。归入肾、肝二经。善于治疗痹症，祛除风寒湿邪导致的痹证，缓解腰背冷痛，停止筋骨牵掣疼痛，缩小便并明目，驱逐关节久积之邪，能消除杨梅疮毒。此物败毒祛邪，不伤元气，但功效甚为缓慢，可以治疗慢性病，而不能治疗急症。近代人用它来治疗轻粉结成的毒疮，正是取其缓慢消解，而不损伤元气的缘故。然而，常年累月毫无功效的，是因为单靠一味药煎汤服用，而没有加入补气血的药物。如果配合使用补气血的药，加入人参、白术、茯苓、麦冬、熟地黄、山药、玄参、地骨皮、沙参之类，用萆薢数两，先煮萆薢汤来煎煮其他药物，不需要十副药，轻粉的毒就能完全消除，杨梅的毒也能散尽。
有人问：萆薢不是土茯苓，是另一种东西，萆薢生长在川蜀，而土茯苓到处都有，不能把这两种东西合为一谈。回答说：萆薢就是土茯苓，岂止是一个东西两个名字，一个叫拔葜，一个叫冷饭块，一个叫岐良，这是一种东西五个名字。生长在川蜀的叫萆薢，生长在其他地方的，随俗名之，正不止这五个名字。大约川蜀出产的质量最好，其他地方用一两的，川蜀只需五钱，所以古人取川中的萆薢，而不取其他地方的。然而，生长在其他地方的，也未尝不能解除杨梅结毒，总之产地虽然不同，但药性并没有区别。
Zelan (Ecliptae Herba), with a bitter and sweet taste (the claim that it is pungent is erroneous), slightly warm in nature, and non-toxic. It enters the Liver and Spleen meridians. It regulates postpartum conditions, eliminates edema of the body, face, and four limbs, breaks up old blood stasis, removes masses (Zheng Jia), promotes the circulation of blood stasis, treats traumatic injuries, disperses headache and eye pain caused by Head Wind, expels pus from carbuncles and sores, promotes flesh regeneration, and unblocks orifices. This is an excellent herb for gynecology, yet it serves primarily as an adjuvant drug. The *Bencao* claims it can treat a hundred diseases; this was not verified before being taken as a standard.
One may ask: Zelan is often used for women but rarely for men; is there a reason? Diseases in men and women are fundamentally no different, so why should herbal properties be distinguished? It is merely that women are prone to emotional attachment; when their wishes are unfulfilled, resentment and sorrow in the boudoir cannot resolve their stagnation. Stagnant Qi leads to amenorrhea or painful menstruation, giving rise to myriad strange ailments. Zelan has a mild flavor and is adept at resolving stagnation, making it particularly suitable for women, hence its reputation as a miraculous gynecological herb. It is not that it is unsuitable for men, but rather that it is especially apt for women.
One may ask: Zelan resolves stagnation, yet people today do not know this; did predecessors never use it? I reply: Predecessors frequently used Zelan for resolving stagnation. Modern people fail to recognize it due to imprecise identification. People confuse Zelan with Ze Cao (a generic aquatic herb). Few realize that Zelan is a distinct herbal medicine, not one of the fragrant Orchids (Lan Hui). It grows in the Chu region, has no flowers, leaves resembling those of orchids, and roots similar to orchid roots. While true Orchids grow in mountains, Zelan grows in marshes and wetlands; thus, it is named "Ze Lan" (Marsh Orchid) rather than simply "Lan."
Bixie (Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma), with a bitter and sweet taste, neutral in nature, and non-toxic. Commonly known as Tu Fuling. It enters the Kidney and Liver meridians. It is effective in treating Bi syndrome (Arthralgia), dispelling wind-cold-dampness Bi patterns, alleviating cold pain in the lower back, stopping pulling pain in bones and tendons, reducing urination and brightening vision, expelling long-standing accumulation in joints, and eliminating Yamei Chuang (chancre) toxins. This substance eliminates toxins and pathogenic factors without damaging Yuan Qi (Primary Qi). However, its action is very slow; it is suitable for chronic conditions but not for acute syndromes. Recently, people have used it to treat toxicity resulting from calomel (mercurous chloride), precisely because of its slow resolution without damaging Yuan Qi. Nevertheless, cases showing no effect over years occur because it is used alone in decoction without adding herbs that tonify Qi and Blood. If combined with Qi- and Blood-tonifying herbs such as Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Fuling (Poria), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), Digupi (Lycii Cortex), and Shashen (Glehniae Radix), and using several taels of Bixie, first decocting the Bixie to brew the other medicines, within ten doses, the calomel toxin will be completely eliminated, and the chancre toxin dispersed.
One may ask: Bixie is not Tu Fuling; they are different substances. Bixie grows in Sichuan and Shu, whereas Tu Fuling is found everywhere; they should not be conflated. I reply: Bixie is indeed Tu Fuling. It is not merely one substance with two names; it is also called Baqia, Lengfan Kuai, and Qiliang. It is one substance with five names. Those grown in Sichuan and Shu are called Bixie; those grown elsewhere are known by local common names, which number more than five. Generally, the produce from Sichuan is considered superior. One tael from other regions is equivalent to only half a tael from Sichuan; therefore, ancients preferred Bixie from Sichuan. However, varieties from other regions can still resolve chancre toxins. In essence, although production areas differ, their inherent properties remain the same.