味苦寒。主心腹结气，苦入心，以散热结之气。症瘕积聚，苦极则能泄。黄胆，寒能
除郁热。溺有余沥，心通于小肠，心火除则小肠郁塞之气通矣。逐水，小肠通则水去。除痈
肿诸疮皆属心火，心火清则痈肿自去也。补中，《内经》云∶脾苦湿，急食苦以燥之，即此
义也。明目止泪。寒清肝火，苦除肝湿。
此以味为治也，苦入心，寒除火，故苦参专治心经之火，与黄连功用相近。但黄连似去
心脏之火为多，苦参似去心腑小肠之火为多。则以黄连之气味清，而苦参之气味浊也。
味甘温。主咳逆上气，润肺气。温疟寒热，洗洗在皮肤中，皆风寒在血中之病。妇人
漏下绝子，荣血不足之病。诸恶疮疡，金疮，荣血火郁及受伤之病。煮饮之。煮饮则能四达
以行诸经。
按血在经络之中行不流息。故凡用行血补血之药，入汤剂者为多，入丸散者绝少。故古
人治病，不但方不可苟，即法亦不可易也。当归辛香而润，香则走脾，润则补血，故能透入
中焦荣气之分，而为补荣之圣药。当归为血家必用之药，而《本经》无一字及于补血养血者，
何也？盖气无形可骤生，血有形难速长。凡通闭顺气，和阴清火，降逆生津，去风利窍，一
切滋润通和之品，皆能令阴气流通，不使亢阳致害，即所以生血也。当归辛芳温润，兼此数
长，实为养血之要品，惟着其血充之效，则血之得所养，不待言而可知。此等当参全经而悟
其理。
【苦参】
味苦，性寒。主治心腹部的结滞之气，苦味入心经，能疏散热邪郁结之气。治疗症瘕积聚（腹内肿块），苦味至极则能泄降实邪。治疗黄疸，寒性能清除郁积的热邪。治疗小便淋漓不尽，因为心与小肠相表里，心火清除后，小肠中郁塞的气机就能通畅。驱逐水湿，因为小肠通畅则水湿得以排出。消除痈肿，各种疮疡都属于心火为患，心火清除了，痈肿自然消退。补益中气，《黄帝内经》说：“脾脏厌恶湿气，急需食用苦味食物来燥湿”，就是这个道理。明目止泪，寒性能清肝火，苦性能除肝湿。
这是以药味的作用来解释疗效，苦味入心，寒性除火，所以苦参专门治疗心经的火邪，功效与黄连相近。但是黄连似乎更多去除心脏本身的火邪，而苦参似乎更多去除心腑（小肠）的火邪。这是因为黄连的气味清纯，而苦参的气味浑浊。
【当归】
味甘，性温。主治咳嗽气逆，能润肺气。治疗温疟引起的寒热往来，以及皮肤中战栗不适的感觉，这些都是风寒邪气在血分中的病证。治疗妇女崩漏不止、不孕症，这是营血不足的病证。治疗各种恶疮疡、金创（金属利器造成的创伤），这是营血火邪郁结或受伤导致的病证。煮水饮用。煮水饮用能使药力通达四肢百骸，运行于各条经脉。
按语：血液在经络中运行，不能停滞。所以凡是使用行血或补血的药物，多用于汤剂中，极少用于丸散剂中。所以古人治病，不仅方剂不可草率，治疗方法也不可轻易改变。当归气味辛香且滋润，香气能走窜入脾，滋润能补血，所以能透入中焦营气所在的层次，成为补益营气的圣药。当归是血病患者的必用之药，但《神农本草经》中没有一字提到它补血养血的功效，为什么呢？大概是因为气是无形的，可以迅速生成；血是有形的，难以快速生长。凡是能够通闭塞、顺气机、调和阴液、清火邪、降逆气、生津液、祛风邪、利窍道，以及一切滋润通和的药物，都能使阴气流通，不让亢盛的阳气造成危害，这就是生血的原理。当归辛、芳、温、润，兼具上述多种长处，确实是养血的要品，只记载了它使血液充盈的效果，那么血液得到滋养的道理，不言而喻。这类问题应当参考整本经典来领悟其中的医理。
[Kushen]
Taste: Bitter; Nature: Cold.
Indications: Primarily treats Qi stagnation in the heart and abdomen. Bitter taste enters the Heart (Heart) to dissipate Qi constrained by heat. Treats Zheng Jia Ji Ju (masses and accumulations); extreme bitterness can drain excess. Treats Jaundice (Huang Dan); cold nature removes stagnant heat. Treats residual dribbling of urine (Niao You Yu Li); since the Heart communicates with the Small Intestine (Xiao Chang), clearing Heart Fire allows the stagnant Qi in the Small Intestine to flow freely. Drains water retention; once the Small Intestine is unobstructed, water is eliminated. Removes carbuncles and swellings; all sores and ulcers belong to Heart Fire, and when Heart Fire is cleared, carbuncles and swellings naturally subside. Tonifies the Middle Jiao (Zhong Jiao); as stated in the *Neijing* (Inner Canon): "The Spleen (Pi) dislikes dampness, urgently consume bitter substances to dry it," which is the principle here. Brightens the eyes and stops tearing; cold clears Liver Fire, and bitterness eliminates Liver dampness.
This section explains efficacy based on taste. Bitter enters the Heart, and cold dispels fire; thus, Kushen specifically treats Fire in the Heart channel, with functions similar to Huanglian. However, Huanglian seems to remove Fire from the Heart organ more, while Kushen seems to remove Fire from the Heart fu-organ (Small Intestine) more. This is because Huanglian's aroma and flavor are pure, whereas Kushen's are turbid.
[Danggui]
Taste: Sweet; Nature: Warm.
Indications: Primarily treats coughing and rebellious Qi, moistening Lung Qi. Treats Wen Nue (warm malaria) with alternating chills and fever, and the shivering sensation in the skin; these are diseases where Wind-Cold resides in the Blood level. Treats women with metrorrhagia (Lou Xia) and infertility (Jue Zi); these are diseases of deficient Ying Blood. Treats various malignant sores and ulcers, and metal wounds (Jin Chuang); these are diseases caused by Ying Blood fire stagnation or injury. Decoct and drink. Decoction allows the medicinal power to reach everywhere and circulate through the meridians.
Note: Blood flows within the meridians without stopping. Therefore, herbs that move or tonify blood are mostly used in decoctions, rarely in pills or powders. Thus, ancient physicians treated diseases not only with careful prescription formulation but also with steadfast methods. Danggui is pungent, aromatic, and moistening. Aromaticity travels to the Spleen, and moistening tonifies Blood; thus, it can penetrate into the realm of Ying Qi in the Middle Jiao, becoming a supreme herb for tonifying Ying. Danggui is an essential herb for blood disorders, yet the *Benjing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) contains no mention of its ability to tonify or nourish blood. Why? Because Qi is formless and can be generated rapidly, while Blood is substantial and difficult to grow quickly. Any substance that opens blockages, smooths Qi, harmonizes Yin, clears fire, directs rebellious Qi downward, generates fluids, expels wind, benefits orifices, or possesses any moistening and harmonizing properties, can cause Yin Qi to flow smoothly, preventing hyperactive Yang from causing harm; this is precisely how Blood is generated. Danggui is pungent, aromatic, warm, and moist, possessing several of these virtues, making it a key product for nourishing Blood. It records only the effect of filling the blood; the fact that blood receives nourishment is self-evident. Such matters should be understood by contemplating the entire classic.