\r前胡\pj214.bmp\r
味苦，气微寒。无毒。山谷多产，秋月采根。色白兼黄，气香甚窜。凡用入药，须日
曝干。畏藜芦，恶皂荚。以半夏为使，去痰实如神。胸胁中痞满立除，心腹内结气即逐。治
伤寒寒热，又推陈致新。消风止头疼，保婴利疳气。
\r旋覆花\pj215.bmp\r
味咸、甘，气温。无毒。一云冷利。有小毒。丛生深谷中，又名金沸草。颜色深黄如菊，
人又呼金钱花。七月采收，
曝干入药。治头风明目，逐水湿通便。去心满噫气痞坚，
兼除。倘病者稍涉虚羸，防
损气不宜多服。叶理金疮止血
，根主风湿续筋。
\r大黄\pj216.bmp\r
味苦，气大寒。味极浓。阴中之阴，降也。无毒。形同牛舌，产自蜀川。必得重实锦
纹，勿用轻松朽黑。使黄芩一味，入阳明二经。欲使上行，须资酒制。酒浸达巅顶上，酒洗
至胃脘中。并载舟楫（桔梗）少停，仍缓国老（甘草）不坠。有斯佐助，才去病邪。如欲下
行
，务分缓速。欲速生使，投滚汤一泡便吞；欲缓熟宜，同诸药久煎方服。入剂多寡，看人实
虚。盖性惟沉不浮，故用直走莫守。调中化食，霎时水谷利通；推陈致新，顷刻肠胃荡涤。
夺土郁，无壅滞，定祸乱，建太平。因有峻烈威风，特加将军名号。仍导瘀血，更滚顽痰。
破症坚积聚止疼，败痈疽热毒消肿。勿服太过，下多亡阴。若研末鸡清调稠，可敷上火疮取
效。
（谟）按∶大黄极寒，硫黄极热。二黄气味悬隔，何号将军相同？盖硫黄系至阳之精，
大黄乃
至阴之类。一能破邪归正，挺出阳精；一能推陈致新，戡定祸乱。并有过乎诸药之能，宜其
同得居上之号也。
前胡
味苦，气微寒。无毒。山谷中多产，秋季采挖根部。颜色白中带黄，气味香烈且窜透。凡入药使用，必须经过日晒干燥。畏忌藜芦，厌恶皂荚。以半夏为引经药，去除痰实之邪效果如神。胸胁部的痞满感立即消除，心腹内的结聚之气随即驱散。治疗伤寒引起的寒热往来，又能推陈出新。消散风邪止头痛，保护婴幼儿，利于疳积气的调理。
旋覆花
味咸、甘，气温。无毒。另一种说法认为其性冷利。有小毒。丛生在深谷之中，又名金沸草。颜色深黄像菊花，人们又称呼它为金钱花。七月采收，晒干后入药。治疗头风明目，逐除水湿使大便通畅。去除心胸满闷、嗳气和痞块坚硬的症状，一并消除。如果病人稍微涉及虚弱消瘦，担心损伤正气，不宜多服。叶子能理金疮止血，根主治风湿并接续筋骨。
大黄
味苦，气大寒。味道极浓。属于阴中之阴，主降。无毒。形状像牛舌，产自蜀川。必须选用质地沉重、有锦纹的药材，不要使用轻松、朽黑者。若配伍黄芩一味，可入阳明二经。想要药物上行，必须借助酒制。酒浸可使药力到达头顶，酒洗可使药力到达胃脘中部。并配合桔梗（载舟楫）稍作停留，仍缓用甘草（国老）防止药力下坠过快。有了这些辅助，才能祛除病邪。如果想要下行，务必区分缓急速度。想要快速起效用生大黄，投入滚水中浸泡片刻即吞服；想要缓和药效用熟大黄，与其他药物久煎后服用。入药的多少，要看人的虚实情况。因为药性只沉不浮，所以作用直趋而下，不可固守。调和中焦，消化食物，霎时间水谷排泄通畅；推陈出新，顷刻间肠胃荡涤干净。解除土郁，没有壅滞，平定祸乱，建立太平。因为有峻烈的威风，特意加上将军的名号。仍能引导瘀血，更冲刷顽痰。破除症坚积聚以止痛，败坏痈疽热毒以消肿。不要服用过量，泻下过多会亡失阴液。如果研成粉末用鸡蛋清调成稠状，可以敷在火疮上取效。
（陈嘉谟）按语：大黄极寒，硫黄极热。两种“黄”的气味悬殊，为何都号称将军？大概硫黄是至阳的精粹，大黄是至阴的一类。一个能破邪归正，挺出阳精；一个能推陈出新，戡定祸乱。都有超过其他药物的能力，适宜它们同得居上的称号。
Qianhu (Peucedani Radix)
Bitter in taste, slightly cold in nature. Non-toxic. Abundantly produced in mountain valleys; roots are harvested in autumn. The color is white mixed with yellow, and the aroma is strong and penetrating. When used in medicine, it must be dried by sun exposure. It is incompatible with Luli (Veratrum nigrum Rhizome) and dislikes Zaojia (Gleditsiae Sinensis Fructus). With Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) as an guiding herb, it removes phlegm and excess like magic. It immediately eliminates fullness and stuffiness in the chest and hypochondrium, and drives out stagnant Qi in the heart and abdomen. It treats alternating chills and fever caused by Shanghan (Cold Damage), and promotes the elimination of the old and generation of the new. It dissipates wind, stops headaches, protects infants, and benefits Gan syndrome (childhood malnutrition due to spleen deficiency).
Xuanfuhua (Inulae Flos)
Salty and sweet in taste, warm in nature. Non-toxic. Another view states it is cold and purgative. Slightly toxic. It grows in clusters in deep valleys, also known as Jinfeicao (Golden Boiling Grass). Its color is deep yellow like chrysanthemum, so people also call it Jinqianhua (Gold Coin Flower). Harvested in July, dried by sun exposure for medicinal use. It treats Toufeng (wind affecting the head) and brightens the eyes, expels water-dampness, and unblocks bowels. It removes fullness in the chest and heart, belching, and hard痞 (masses/stagnation), eliminating them simultaneously. If the patient shows slight weakness and emaciation, caution is needed as it may damage Qi; it should not be taken in large doses. The leaves treat traumatic injuries and stop bleeding; the root treats wind-dampness and reconnects tendons.
Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma)
Bitter in taste, greatly cold in nature. The flavor is extremely concentrated. It belongs to Yin within Yin, and its action is descending. Non-toxic. Its shape resembles a cow's tongue, and it originates from Shuchuan (Sichuan). One must select those that are heavy and dense with brocade-like patterns; do not use those that are light, loose, rotten, or black. When combined with Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), it enters the Yangming channels. To direct the action upward, alcohol processing is required. Alcohol soaking reaches the top of the head; alcohol washing reaches the middle jiao (stomach region). Combined with Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix, metaphorically "boat and oar") to stay suspended, and moderated by Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, metaphorically "old man of the state") to prevent falling too quickly. With these assistants, pathogenic factors can be expelled. To direct the action downward, one must distinguish between rapid and slow methods. For rapid effect using raw Dahuang, soak it in boiling water for a moment and swallow; for a slower, milder effect using cooked Dahuang, decoct it with other herbs for a long time before taking. The dosage depends on the patient's excess or deficiency. Its nature is only sinking, not floating, so its action goes straight down without staying put. It harmonizes the middle, transforms food, and causes immediate passage of water and grain; it pushes out the old and generates the new, cleansing the intestines and stomach in an instant. It resolves Earth stagnation, removes obstruction, pacifies chaos, and establishes peace. Due to its fierce and potent power, it is specially given the title "General." It still guides out blood stasis and washes away stubborn phlegm. It breaks masses and accumulations to stop pain, and defeats carbuncles, ulcers, heat toxins, and reduces swelling. Do not take excessively; excessive purgation leads to loss of Yin. If ground into powder and mixed with egg white to a thick consistency, it can be applied to fire sores (burns/inflammation) for effect.
(Chen Jiamo) Commentary: Dahuang is extremely cold, while Liuhuang (Sulfur) is extremely hot. The qi and taste of these two "Huang"s are vastly different; why are they both called "General"? It is because Liuhuang is the essence of extreme Yang, while Dahuang is a category of extreme Yin. One breaks pathogens and returns to righteousness, bringing forth Yang essence; the other pushes out the old and generates the new, quelling chaos. Both have abilities surpassing other herbs, making it appropriate that they share this high-ranking title.