荆芥，味辛、苦，气温，浮而升，阳也，无毒。能引血归经，清头目之火，通血脉，逐
邪气
，化瘀血，除湿痹，破结聚，散疮痍。治产后血晕有神，中风强直，亦能见效。但入之血分
之药中，使血各归经，而不至有妄行之虞；若入之于气分药中，反致散气之失。荆芥性升，
与柴胡、升麻相同，乃柴胡、升麻入之补气之中，能提气以升阳，而荆芥独不能者，以荆
芥虽升而性浮动，补阳之药，尤恶动也，血过凝滞，荆芥之浮动则易流，所以可引之以归经
。气易散乱，荆芥之不更助其动乎。气过动必散，此所以不可用之于补气之药耳。
或问荆芥引经，走血分甚速，走气分甚迟，前人言之，而子尚未阐扬，愿畅谈之。曰∶
荆芥
本阳药，而非阴药。阳入阴则行速，阳入阳则行迟。夫阳属气，而阴属血。血行迟，而气行
速。荆芥入血而速者，乃血行迟，而若见荆芥之行速也；荆芥入气而迟者，乃气行速，若见
荆芥则行迟也。非荆芥走血分甚速，气分独迟也。
或问荆芥引血归经，亦有引之而不归经者乎？夫荆芥炒黑，则引血归经，生用则引气归
经。
引血归经者，有益于血者；引气归经者，有益于气。有益于血者，血无乱动之虞；益于气者
，气有过动之失。气过动，而血不能静矣，故用荆芥必须黑炒也，炒黑以治，无不归经也。
或问荆芥亦能入肾乎？荆芥何能入肾也。虽然用之补肾药中，未尝不可入肾，但必须炒至纯
黑，则肾属黑，正可同色以相入。夫荆芥之药，本不必引入肾经。盖肾有补而无泻也，虽肾
亦有感邪之日，祛肾中之风邪，风药原无几味，与其药用 、防己之类以伐肾中之邪，不
若用炒黑荆芥，虽散邪，而不十分耗正之为得也。
荆芥，味道辛、苦，药性温，作用趋势浮而上升，属于阳药，没有毒性。能够引导血液回归经脉，清除头目部的火热之邪，疏通血脉，驱逐邪气，化解瘀血，祛除湿痹，破除结聚，消散疮疡。治疗产后血晕有显著疗效，中风引起的肢体强直也能见效。但是，将其放入调理血分的药物中，能使血液各自回归经脉，从而避免妄行出血的担忧；如果放入调理气分的药物中，反而会导致耗散元气的过失。荆芥药性升散，与柴胡、升麻相同，但柴胡、升麻放入补气药中，能提升清气以升举阳气，而荆芥却做不到这一点，因为荆芥虽然具有升散之性，但其性质浮动，补阳的药物尤其厌恶扰动，血液如果过于凝滞，荆芥的浮动特性就容易使其流动，所以可以引导血液回归经脉。气容易散乱，荆芥如果不加重其动荡呢？气如果过度动荡必然散失，这就是为什么不能将荆芥用于补气药物的原因。
有人问：荆芥引导药力进入经脉，走血分非常快，走气分非常慢，前人已经说过，但我尚未详细阐述，希望您能畅谈一下。回答说：荆芥本是阳药，而不是阴药。阳药进入阴分则运行迅速，阳药进入阳分则运行缓慢。气属于阳，血属于阴。血行缓慢，而行气迅速。荆芥进入血分显得迅速，是因为血行本慢，相比之下显得荆芥运行快；荆芥进入气分显得缓慢，是因为气行本快，相比之下显得荆芥运行慢。并不是说荆芥走血分特别快，而走气分特别慢。
有人问：荆芥引导血液回归经脉，也有引导了却不回归经脉的情况吗？回答说：荆芥炒黑后，能引导血液回归经脉；生用时，能引导气回归经脉。引导血液回归经脉，是对血有益；引导气回归经脉，是对气有益。对血有益，血就没有乱动的担忧；对气有益，气就没有过度动荡的过失。气如果过度动荡，血就不能安静了，所以使用荆芥必须炒黑，炒黑后进行治疗，没有不回归经脉的。
有人问：荆芥也能入肾经吗？荆芥怎么能入肾经呢。回答说：虽然将其放入补肾药中，未尝不可以入肾，但必须炒至纯黑色，因为肾对应黑色，正好可以同色相入。荆芥这种药，本来不必引入肾经。因为肾只有补益而没有泻法，虽然肾也有感受邪气的时候，祛除肾中的风邪，风药原本就很少，与其用羌活、防己之类的药物来攻伐肾中的邪气，不如使用炒黑的荆芥，虽然能疏散邪气，但不会过分消耗正气，这样更为得当。
Jingjie (Schizonepetae Herba), with pungent and bitter flavors, is warm in nature. It floats and ascends, belonging to Yang, and is non-toxic. It can guide blood back to the meridians, clear fire from the head and eyes, unblock blood vessels, expel pathogenic factors, resolve stasis, dispel damp-bi, break up accumulations, and dissipate sores. It is effective in treating postpartum syncope due to blood deficiency and stiffness caused by wind-stroke. However, when combined with herbs that regulate the Blood level, it helps blood return to its proper channels, preventing reckless bleeding; if combined with herbs that regulate the Qi level, it may instead cause the dispersion of Qi. Jingjie has an ascending nature, similar to Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) and Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma). While Chaihu and Shengma, when added to tonifying Qi formulas, can lift clear Yang, Jingjie cannot do so because, although it ascends, its nature is floating and unstable. Tonifying Yang herbs particularly dislike instability. When blood is stagnant, Jingjie's floating nature facilitates flow, allowing it to guide blood back to the channels. Qi is prone to dispersion; Jingjie's lack of stability would further exacerbate this. If Qi moves excessively, it disperses; thus, Jingjie should not be used in tonifying Qi formulas.
One asked: "Jingjie guides medicinal action into the meridians very quickly in the Blood level but slowly in the Qi level. This was stated by predecessors, but you have not elaborated on it. Please explain." The response was: "Jingjie is fundamentally a Yang herb, not a Yin herb. When Yang enters Yin, movement is fast; when Yang enters Yang, movement is slow. Qi belongs to Yang, and Blood belongs to Yin. Blood moves slowly, while Qi moves quickly. Jingjie appears fast in the Blood level because Blood moves slowly, making Jingjie seem fast by comparison. Jingjie appears slow in the Qi level because Qi moves quickly, making Jingjie seem slow by comparison. It is not that Jingjie moves very fast in the Blood level and exclusively slow in the Qi level."
One asked: "Does Jingjie sometimes fail to guide blood back to the meridians?" The response was: "When Jingjie is stir-fried until black, it guides blood back to the meridians; when used raw, it guides Qi back to the meridians. Guiding blood back benefits the Blood, preventing reckless movement. Guiding Qi back benefits the Qi, preventing excessive agitation. If Qi agitates excessively, Blood cannot remain calm. Therefore, Jingjie must be stir-fried until black for treatment, ensuring all actions return to the proper channels."
One asked: "Can Jingjie enter the Kidney meridian? How can Jingjie enter the Kidney?" The response was: "Although it can enter the Kidney when added to Kidney-tonifying formulas, it must be stir-fried until pure black, as the Kidney corresponds to the color black, allowing entry through similarity of color. Jingjie does not inherently need to be guided into the Kidney meridian. The Kidney is only suited for tonification, not purgation. Although the Kidney can be affected by pathogens, there are few wind-dispelling herbs suitable for the Kidney. Rather than using herbs like Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix) or Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix) to attack pathogens in the Kidney, it is better to use stir-fried black Jingjie. It disperses pathogens without excessively depleting healthy Qi, which is more appropriate."