味甘温。主中风伤寒，头痛温疟，发表出汗，去邪热气，凡风寒之在表者，无所不治
，以能驱其邪，使皆从汗出也。止咳逆上气，轻扬能散肺邪。除寒热，散荣卫之外邪。破症
坚积聚。散脏腑之内结。
麻黄，轻扬上达，无气无味，乃气味之最清者，故能透出皮肤毛孔之外，又能深入积痰
凝血之中。凡药力所不到之处，此能无微不至，较之气雄力浓者，其力更大。盖出入于空虚
之地，则有形之气血，不得而御之也。
味苦。主邪气腹痛，肝气乘脾则痛，敛肝气则痛除。除血痹，肝邪凝滞之病。破坚积
，寒热疝瘕，肝邪结聚之气。止痛，血和则痛止。利小便，肝气下达于宗筋，故小便亦利。
益气。肝气敛则受益。
芍药花大而荣，得春气为盛，而居百花之殿，故能收拾肝气，使归根反本，不至以有余
肆暴，犯肺伤脾，乃养肝之圣药也。
味苦微寒。主腹中寒热，积聚，皆火气凝结之疾。女子产乳余疾，产后血亏，冲脉之
火易动。清血中之火，则诸疾平矣。补肾气，令人目明。除阴分之火，则头目清明矣。
玄参色黑属肾而性寒，故能除肾家浮游上升之火。但肾火有阳有阴，阳火发于气分，火
盛则伤气。《内经》所谓壮火食气是也。阴火发于血分，火盛则伤血。《内经》所谓诸寒之而
热
者，取之阴是也。产后血脱则阴衰，而火无所制，又不可以寒凉折之；气血未宁，又不能纳
峻补之剂。惟玄参宁火而带微补，用之最为的当也。
味甘，性温。主治中风、伤寒引起的头痛及温疟，能发散表邪并促使出汗，去除体内的邪热，凡是风寒之邪停留在体表的情况，没有不能治疗的，因为它能够驱散邪气，使邪气全部通过汗液排出。治疗咳嗽气喘，因其质地轻扬，能疏散肺部的邪气。消除寒热症状，疏散营卫之气的外邪。破除症坚和积聚，消散脏腑内部的结滞。
麻黄，质地轻扬向上通达，没有明显的气味，是气味中最清透的，所以能够穿透皮肤毛孔之外，又能深入积痰和凝血之中。凡是药力所不能到达的地方，它能无微不至地发挥作用，比那些气味雄浑、药力浓烈的药物，效力更大。因为它出入于空虚之处，有形的气血无法抵御它。
味苦。主治邪气引起的腹痛，肝气乘袭脾脏则导致疼痛，收敛肝气则疼痛消除。治疗血痹，这是肝邪凝滞导致的疾病。破除坚积，治疗因肝邪结聚之气引起的寒热、疝气和瘕块。止痛，血液调和则疼痛停止。通利小便，肝气向下通达至宗筋，所以小便也能通畅。益气，肝气收敛则受益。
芍药花朵大而繁盛，得春季之气而旺盛，位居百花之首，所以能收摄肝气，使其归根复本，不至于因为肝气有余而肆意暴戾，侵犯肺脏和损伤脾脏，是养肝的圣药。
味苦，微寒。主治腹中的寒热错杂及积聚，这些都是火气凝结导致的疾病。治疗女子产后哺乳期间的余疾，产后血虚，冲脉之火容易妄动。清泄血中的火气，那么各种疾病就能平息。补益肾气，使人目光明亮。清除阴分的火气，头目就会清明。
玄参颜色黑属肾，性质寒凉，所以能清除肾脏中浮游上升的火气。但是肾火分为阳火和阴火，阳火发于气分，火气旺盛则会损伤气。《内经》所说的“壮火食气”就是这种情况。阴火发于血分，火气旺盛则会损伤血。《内经》所说的“诸寒之而热者，取之阴”就是指这种情况。产后血脱导致阴气衰弱，火气失去制约，此时又不可以用寒凉药物强行折服；气血尚未安宁，又不能使用峻猛的补剂。只有玄参既能宁息火气又带有轻微的补益作用，使用最为恰当。
Sweet in taste, warm in nature. It primarily treats headache caused by wind-stroke and cold damage (Shanghan), as well as warm malaria (Wen Nue). It releases the exterior and induces sweating, eliminating pathogenic heat. For any pathogenic cold or wind lingering on the exterior, there is no condition it cannot treat, as it drives out pathogens, causing them to exit through sweat. It stops coughing and rebellious qi rising, for its light and ascending nature can disperse lung pathogens. It eliminates alternating chills and fever, dispersing external pathogens affecting Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) qi. It breaks up masses and accumulations, dissipating internal knotting within the Zang-Fu organs.
Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang, 麻黄) is light, ascending, and penetrating. It has a very faint odor and flavor, being the clearest among substances with aroma and flavor. Therefore, it can penetrate beyond the skin pores and also reach deeply into accumulated phlegm and coagulated blood. In places where the power of other herbs cannot reach, it acts meticulously. Compared to herbs with strong aromas and potent forces, its efficacy is greater. This is because it moves through void spaces, where tangible Qi and Blood cannot obstruct it.
Bitter in taste. It primarily treats abdominal pain caused by pathogens. When Liver Qi invades the Spleen, pain occurs; by astringing Liver Qi, the pain is relieved. It removes blood bi (obstruction), which is a disease of stagnation caused by Liver pathogens. It breaks hard accumulations, treating alternating chills, fever, hernia, and mass formations caused by the aggregation of Liver pathogenic Qi. It stops pain; when Blood harmonizes, pain ceases. It promotes urination; as Liver Qi descends to the Zongjin (tendons/genitals), urination becomes unobstructed. It benefits Qi; when Liver Qi is astringed, benefit is derived.
The flower of Paeoniae Radix Alba (Shaoyao, 芍药) is large and lush, flourishing with Spring Qi, ranking among the foremost of flowers. Thus, it can gather and restrain Liver Qi, causing it to return to its root and origin, preventing it from becoming excessive and violent, thereby invading the Lungs and damaging the Spleen. It is a supreme herb for nourishing the Liver.
Bitter in taste, slightly cold in nature. It primarily treats alternating cold and heat in the abdomen, and accumulations, all of which are diseases caused by the condensation of Fire Qi. It treats residual ailments in women after childbirth and during lactation. After childbirth, Blood deficiency allows Fire in the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) to move easily. By clearing Fire from the Blood, various ailments are pacified. It tonifies Kidney Qi, making the eyes bright. By removing Fire from the Yin aspect, the head and eyes become clear.
Scrophulariae Radix (Xuanshen, 玄参) is black, corresponding to the Kidney, and is cold in nature; thus, it can eliminate floating and ascending Fire from the Kidneys. However, Kidney Fire is divided into Yang Fire and Yin Fire. Yang Fire arises in the Qi aspect; when excessive, it damages Qi. This corresponds to what the *Neijing* (Classic of Internal Medicine) calls "vigorous fire consumes Qi" (Zhuang Huo Shi Qi). Yin Fire arises in the Blood aspect; when excessive, it damages Blood. This corresponds to what the *Neijing* states: "For those whose heat persists despite cooling treatments, treat the Yin." After childbirth, blood loss leads to Yin deficiency, leaving Fire unchecked. At this stage, one cannot use cold and bitter herbs to forcibly suppress it; nor can one use harsh tonics while Qi and Blood are unsettled. Only Scrophulariae Radix (Xuanshen, 玄参) can calm Fire while providing mild tonification, making it the most appropriate choice.