气寒，味苦。苦而酸，微寒，味薄气浓，阳也。阴中微阳。无毒。
《象》云∶治脾胃痞塞，泄肺气。麸炒用。
《心》云∶利胸中气，胜湿化痰。勿多用，损胸中至高之气。
《珍》云∶破气。
《本草》云∶主风痒麻痹，通利关节，劳气咳嗽，背膊闷倦。散留结，胸膈痰滞；逐水
，消胀满，大肠风；安胃，止风痛。
《药性论》云∶枳壳，使。味苦、辛。治遍身风疹，肌中如麻豆，恶痒。壳，高，主皮
毛、胸膈之病；实，低，主心胃之病。其主治大同小异。
气寒，味苦、辛。阴中微阳。辛苦微寒。无毒。手厥阴经，足少阴经。
《象》云∶治肠胃积血，及衄血、吐血必用之药。
《珍》云∶凉骨蒸。
《本草》云∶主寒热，中风，螈 ，痉，惊痫邪气。除症坚、瘀血留舍肠胃。安五脏，
疗痈疮，除时气头痛，客热，五劳之气，腰痛，风噤，癫疾。
《易老》云∶治神志不足。神不足者，手少阴；志不足者，足少阴。故仲景八味丸用之。
牡丹乃天地之精，群花之
首。叶为阳，发生；花为阴，成实；丹为赤，即火。故能泻阴中之火。牡丹皮，手厥阴，足
少阴，治无汗骨蒸；地骨皮，
足少阴，手少阳，治有汗骨蒸也。
气寒，味苦，阴也。大寒。无毒。足少阴经，手少阳经。
《象》云∶解骨蒸、肌热，主风湿痹，消渴。坚筋骨。去骨，用根皮。
《心》云∶去肌热及骨中之热。
《珍》云∶凉血、凉骨。
《本草》云∶主五内邪气，热中消渴，周痹风湿，下胸胁气，客热头痛。补内伤大劳嘘
吸，坚筋骨，强阴，利大小肠。
《药性论》云∶根皮细锉，面拌，熟煮吞之。主肾家风，益精气。
《衍义》云∶枸杞当用梗皮，地骨当用根皮。枸杞子当用其红实。实，微寒；皮，寒；
根，大寒。
【枳壳】
性气寒，味苦。味苦兼酸，微寒，气味淡薄而气浓，属阳。为阴中带有微阳之品。无毒。
《象》（张元素《医学启源》）说：治疗脾胃痞满堵塞，宣泄肺气。用麦麸炒制后使用。
《心》（李杲《珍珠囊》）说：疏通胸中气机，胜湿化痰。不可多用，以免损伤胸中至高之气。
《珍》（王好古《汤液本草》引《珍珠囊补遗药性赋》）说：破气。
《本草》（《神农本草经》等早期本草著作）说：主治风痒麻痹，通利关节，劳气咳嗽，背膊闷倦。消散留结，清除胸膈痰滞；逐水饮，消除胀满，治疗大肠风邪；安胃，止风痛。
《药性论》说：枳壳，为使药。味苦、辛。治疗遍身风疹，肌肤中如麻豆般的感觉，恶痒。壳，位置高，主治皮毛、胸膈的疾病；实（枳实），位置低，主治心胃的疾病。它们的主治功效大同小异。
【牡丹皮】
性气寒，味苦、辛。阴中带有微阳。辛苦微寒。无毒。入手厥阴心包经，足少阴肾经。
《象》说：治疗肠胃积血，以及鼻衄、吐血必用的药物。
《珍》说：清退骨蒸潮热。
《本草》说：主治寒热，中风，抽搐，痉挛，惊痫邪气。去除症坚、瘀血停留于肠胃。安五脏，治疗痈疮，去除时气头痛，客热，五劳之气，腰痛，风噤，癫疾。
《易老》（张元素《医学启源》引张元素语）说：治疗神志不足。神不足者，属于手少阴心经；志不足者，属于足少阴肾经。所以张仲景的八味丸中使用它。
牡丹是天地之精华，群花之首。叶为阳，主发生；花为阴，主成实；丹为赤色，即火。所以能泻阴中之火。牡丹皮，入手厥阴、足少阴经，治疗无汗骨蒸；地骨皮，入足少阴、手少阳经，治疗有汗骨蒸也。
【地骨皮】
性气寒，味苦，属阴。大寒。无毒。入足少阴肾经，手少阳三焦经。
《象》说：解除骨蒸、肌热，主治风湿痹证，消渴。坚固筋骨。去掉木质部，只用根皮。
《心》说：去除肌热及骨中之热。
《珍》说：凉血、凉骨。
《本草》说：主治五内邪气，热中消渴，周痹风湿，下胸胁气，客热头痛。补内伤大劳嘘吸，坚固筋骨，强阴，利大小肠。
《药性论》说：根皮细锉，拌面粉，煮熟后吞服。主治肾家风，益精气。
《衍义》（寇宗奭《本草衍义》）说：枸杞应当用梗皮，地骨应当用根皮。枸杞子应当用其红色果实。果实，微寒；皮，寒；根，大寒。
[Zhike (Aurantii Fructus)]
The nature is cold, the flavor is bitter. Bitter and sour, slightly cold, with a thin flavor but strong aroma, it belongs to Yang. It is Yin containing slight Yang. Non-toxic.
*Xiang* (Zhang Yuansu's *Yixue Qiyuan*) states: Treats spleen and stomach fullness and obstruction, diffuses Lung Qi. Use after stir-frying with wheat bran.
*Xin* (Li Dongyuan's *Zhenzhunang*) states: Promotes the movement of Qi in the chest, overcomes dampness and transforms phlegm. Do not use in large doses, as it may damage the supreme Qi in the chest.
*Zhen* (Wang Haogu's *Tangye Bencao* citing *Zhenzhunang Buyi Yaoxing Fu*) states: Breaks Qi.
*Bencao* (Early pharmacopoeias such as *Shennong Bencao Jing*) states: Primarily treats wind-itch and numbness, unblocks and benefits the joints, labor-Qi cough, stuffiness and fatigue in the back and shoulders. Scatters retained accumulations, clears phlegm stagnation in the chest and diaphragm; drives out water retention, reduces distension and fullness, treats Large Intestine wind; calms the Stomach, stops wind-pain.
*Yaoxing Lun* states: Zhike serves as an envoy herb. Flavor is bitter and pungent. Treats generalized wind-rash, sensations in the skin like hemp seeds or beans, and intense itching. The peel (Zhike), being higher, treats diseases of the hair, skin, chest, and diaphragm; the fruit (Zhishi), being lower, treats diseases of the Heart and Stomach. Their therapeutic indications are largely similar with minor differences.
[Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex)]
The nature is cold, the flavors are bitter and pungent. Yin containing slight Yang. Bitter, pungent, and slightly cold. Non-toxic. Enters the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian and Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian.
*Xiang* states: A necessary herb for treating accumulated blood in the intestines and stomach, as well as epistaxis and hematemesis.
*Zhen* states: Clears bone-steaming heat.
*Bencao* states: Primarily treats chills and fever, wind-stroke, convulsions, spasms, and evil Qi from fright and epilepsy. Removes hard masses and blood stasis lodged in the intestines and stomach. Calms the Five Viscera, treats carbuncles and sores, removes headache due to seasonal pathogens, external heat, Qi of the Five Exhaustions, lower back pain, wind-lockjaw, and manic depression.
*Yilao* (Zhang Yuansu's *Yixue Quan* citing Zhang Yuansu) states: Treats insufficiency of Shen (Spirit) and Zhi (Will). Insufficiency of Shen pertains to the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian; insufficiency of Zhi pertains to the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Therefore, it is used in Zhang Zhongjing's Bawei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill).
Mu Dan is the essence of Heaven and Earth, the head of all flowers. Leaves represent Yang and growth; flowers represent Yin and fruition; red represents Fire. Thus, it can drain fire within Yin. Mudanpi enters the Hand-Jueyin and Foot-Shaoyin meridians and treats bone-steaming without sweating; Digupi enters the Foot-Shaoyin and Hand-Shaoyang meridians and treats bone-steaming with sweating.
[Digupi (Lycii Cortex)]
The nature is cold, the flavor is bitter, belonging to Yin. Greatly cold. Non-toxic. Enters the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian.
*Xiang* states: Resolves bone-steaming and muscular heat, primarily treats wind-damp bi-syndrome and Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome). Strengthens sinews and bones. Remove the woody core, using only the root bark.
*Xin* states: Removes muscular heat and heat within the bones.
*Zhen* states: Cools Blood and cools the bones.
*Bencao* states: Primarily treats evil Qi in the Five Viscera, internal heat with wasting-thirst, generalized bi-syndrome and wind-damp, directs Qi downward from the chest and hypochondrium, and treats external heat headache. Tonifies internal injury from severe labor and panting, strengthens sinews and bones, nourishes Yin, and promotes urination and bowel movements.
*Yaoxing Lun* states: Finely chop the root bark, mix with flour, cook thoroughly, and swallow. Primarily treats Wind of the Kidney, benefiting Essence and Qi.
*Yanyi* (Kou Zongshi's *Bencao Yanyi*) states: For Gouqi (Lycii Fructus), one should use the stem bark; for Digupi, one should use the root bark. For Gouqizi, one should use the red fruit. The fruit is slightly cold; the bark is cold; the root is greatly cold.