气味苦、寒、无毒。主诸热，黄胆，肠 泄痢，逐水，下血闭，恶疮，疽蚀，火疡。
陈修园曰∶黄芩与黄连、黄柏皆气寒味苦而色黄，主治大略相似。大抵气寒皆能除热，
味苦皆能燥湿，色黄者皆属于土，黄而明亮者则属于金，金借土之色以为色，故五金以黄金
为贵也。但黄芩中空似肠胃，肠为手阳明，胃为足阳明。其主诸热者，指肠胃诸热病而言也。
黄胆为大肠经中之郁热；
肠泄痢者，为大肠腑中之郁热。逐水者，逐肠中之水。下血闭者，
攻肠中之蓄血。恶疮疽蚀火疡者，为肌肉之热毒；阳明主肌肉，泻阳明之火即所以解毒也。
《本经》之言主治如此，仲景于少阳经用之∶于心下悸易茯苓，于腹痛易芍药，又于《本经
》言外别有会悟也。
气味苦、微寒，无毒。主腹中寒热积聚，女子产乳余疾，补肾气，令人明目。
陈修园曰∶元参所以治腹中诸疾者，以其启肾气上交于肺，得水天一气，上下环转之妙
用也
张隐庵注解甚妙，详于丹参注中。其云主产乳余疾者，以产后脱血则阴衰，而火无所制。
治
之以寒凉既恐伤中，加之以峻补又恐拒隔，惟元参清而带微补，故为产后要药。令人目明者
，黑水神光属肾，自能明目也。
气味苦、微寒，无毒。主心腹邪气，肠鸣幽幽如走水，寒热积聚，破症除瘕，止烦满
，益气。
张隐庵曰∶丹参、元参皆气味苦寒，而得少阴之气化。但元参色黑，禀少阴寒水之精而
上通
于天；丹参色赤，禀少阴君火之气而下交于地；上下相交，则中土自和。故元参下交于上，
而治腹中寒热积聚；丹参上交于下，而治心腹寒热积聚。君火之气下交，则土温而水不泛溢
，故治肠鸣幽幽如走水。破症除瘕者，治寒热之积聚也；止烦满益气者，治心腹之邪气也。
夫止烦而治心邪，止满而治腹邪，益正气，所以治邪气也。
陈修园曰∶今人谓一味丹参，功兼四物汤，共认为补血行血之品，为女科之专药，而丹
参之
真功用掩矣。
【黄芩】
气味：苦，寒，无毒。
主治：各种热证，黄疸，肠中泄泻痢疾，逐除水饮，通下血闭，恶疮，疽蚀，火疡。
陈修园说：黄芩与黄连、黄柏都是气寒味苦且颜色发黄，主治功效大致相似。大抵气寒都能清除热邪，味苦都能燥湿，颜色黄的都属于土，黄而明亮的则属于金，金借助土的颜色作为自己的颜色，所以五金之中以黄金为贵。但是黄芩中间空心类似肠胃，大肠属手阳明经，胃属足阳明经。它主治各种热证，指的是肠胃的各种热病而言。黄疸是大肠经中的郁结之热；肠中泄泻痢疾，是大肠腑中的郁结之热。逐水，是驱逐肠中的水饮。通下血闭，是攻逐肠中蓄积的瘀血。恶疮、疽蚀、火疡，是肌肉中的热毒；阳明经主司肌肉，清泻阳明经的火邪就是解毒的方法。《神农本草经》关于主治的说法就是这样，张仲景在少阳经中使用它：如果心下悸动就替换掉茯苓，如果腹痛就替换掉芍药，这在《神农本草经》的主治范围之外另有领悟。
【元参（玄参）】
气味：苦，微寒，无毒。
主治：腹中寒热积聚，妇女产后及哺乳期的余留疾病，补肾气，使人眼睛明亮。
陈修园说：元参之所以能治疗腹中的各种疾病，是因为它能开启肾气上交于肺，获得天水一气的上下环转的妙用。
张隐庵的注解非常精妙，详见丹参注中。他说主治产后及哺乳期余留疾病，是因为产后失血导致阴气衰弱，而火气失去制约。用寒凉药物治疗既担心损伤中气，加上峻猛的补药又担心身体排斥拒受，只有元参性质清凉且带有轻微的补益作用，所以成为产后要药。使人眼睛明亮的原因在于，黑水神光归属于肾，肾气充足自然能明目。
【丹参】
气味：苦，微寒，无毒。
主治：心腹部的邪气，肠鸣声幽深如水流淌，寒热积聚，破除癥瘕，消除痞块，止烦闷胀满，益气。
张隐庵说：丹参、元参都是气味苦寒，并且得少阴经的气化作用。但是元参颜色黑，禀受少阴寒水之精而上通于天；丹参颜色赤，禀受少阴君火之气而下交于地；上下相交，则中焦脾胃自然调和。所以元参下交于上，治疗腹中寒热积聚；丹参上交于下，治疗心腹寒热积聚。君火之气下交，则脾土温暖而肾水不泛溢，所以治疗肠鸣声幽深如水流淌。破除癥瘕，是治疗寒热的积聚；止烦闷胀满并益气，是治疗心腹部的邪气。所谓止烦而治疗心部邪气，止满而治疗腹部邪气，补益正气，以此来治疗邪气。
陈修园说：现在的人认为一味丹参的功效兼有四物汤的作用，共同认为它是补血行血的药物，是妇科的专用药，从而掩盖了丹参真正的功用。
[Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix)]
Odor and Flavor: Bitter, Cold, Non-toxic.
Indications: Various heat syndromes, jaundice (Huangdan), intestinal diarrhea and dysentery, expelling fluid retention, unblocking blood obstruction, malignant sores, carbuncles with tissue necrosis (Jushi), and fire-induced ulcers.
Chen Xiuyuan stated: Huangqin shares similarities with Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) and Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) in that they are all cold in nature, bitter in flavor, and yellow in color, with roughly similar therapeutic effects. Generally, cold nature clears heat, bitter flavor dries dampness, and yellow color corresponds to the Earth element. Those that are bright yellow correspond to the Metal element. Metal borrows its color from Earth, which is why among the five metals, gold is considered the most precious. However, Huangqin is hollow in the center, resembling the intestines and stomach. The large intestine belongs to the Hand-Yangming meridian, and the stomach belongs to the Foot-Yangming meridian. Its indication for "various heat syndromes" refers specifically to heat diseases of the intestines and stomach. Jaundice is caused by stagnant heat in the Large Intestine meridian; intestinal diarrhea and dysentery are caused by stagnant heat in the Large Intestine fu-organ. Expelling fluid retention refers to draining water-dampness from the intestines. Unblocking blood obstruction refers to attacking accumulated blood stasis within the intestines. Malignant sores, carbuncles with tissue necrosis, and fire-induced ulcers are caused by heat-toxin in the muscles. Since the Yangming meridians govern the muscles, clearing the fire of Yangming is equivalent to detoxification. This is how the *Shennong Bencao Jing* describes its indications. Zhang Zhongjing used it in Shaoyang disorders: replacing Fuling (Poria) when there is palpitation below the heart, and replacing Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix) when there is abdominal pain, demonstrating insights beyond the scope of the *Bencao Jing*.
[Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix)]
Odor and Flavor: Bitter, Slightly Cold, Non-toxic.
Indications: Accumulation of cold and heat in the abdomen, residual diseases after childbirth or during lactation, tonifying Kidney Qi, and improving vision.
Chen Xiuyuan stated: Xuanshen treats various abdominal diseases because it initiates Kidney Qi to ascend and connect with the Lung, achieving the subtle function of the cyclical interaction between Heaven (Water/Kidney) and Earth (Fire/Lung).
Zhang Yinan’s annotation is exquisite, detailed in the commentary on Danshen. He explained that it treats residual postpartum/lactational diseases because postpartum blood loss leads to Yin deficiency, allowing Fire to become unrestrained. Using cold-natured herbs risks damaging the Middle Jiao, while using potent tonics risks rejection. Only Xuanshen, being cooling yet mildly tonifying, serves as a crucial herb for postpartum care. It improves vision because the "Divine Light of Black Water" belongs to the Kidney; sufficient Kidney Qi naturally clarifies the eyes.
[Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma)]
Odor and Flavor: Bitter, Slightly Cold, Non-toxic.
Indications: Pathogenic factors in the heart and abdomen, deep intestinal murmurs sounding like flowing water, accumulation of cold and heat, breaking masses and removing fibroids (Zhengjia), relieving restlessness and fullness, and benefiting Qi.
Zhang Yinan stated: Both Danshen and Xuanshen are bitter and cold in nature and benefit from the Qi transformation of the Shaoyin channel. However, Xuanshen is black, inheriting the essence of Shaoyin Cold Water to connect upward with Heaven; Danshen is red, inheriting the Qi of Shaoyin Ministerial Fire to connect downward with Earth. Their mutual connection harmonizes the Central Earth (Spleen/Stomach). Thus, Xuanshen connects downward to upward, treating abdominal accumulations of cold and heat; Danshen connects upward to downward, treating cardiac and abdominal accumulations of cold and heat. When Ministerial Fire connects downward, the Earth becomes warm and Water does not overflow, thus treating deep intestinal murmurs. Breaking masses removes accumulations of cold and heat; relieving restlessness/fullness and benefiting Qi treats pathogenic factors in the heart and abdomen. Relieving restlessness treats Heart pathogens, relieving fullness treats Abdominal pathogens, and tonifying Righteous Qi thereby eliminates Pathogenic Qi.
Chen Xiuyuan stated: Modern practitioners claim that a single herb, Danshen, possesses the combined efficacy of Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction), regarding it generally as a blood-tonifying and blood-invigorating agent and a specialized medicine for gynecology, thereby obscuring the true therapeutic functions of Danshen.