气寒味苦，气味俱浓，无毒，沉也，阴中阴也。属水与火，入手足阳明经，酒浸入太阳，
酒洗入阳明。通闭结灵丹，驱邪实效方。与桃仁同用，则导瘀血。与枳壳同用，则除积气。
入痰火药，更能滚痰。入消食药，即能推陈。生用则通肠胃壅结热，熟用则治诸毒疮疡，久
不收口。盖以诸毒疮疡，皆属心火，大黄熟用，则能泻心火，且宣气消肿，而除结热之在上
者。其性沉而不浮，其用走而不守，有推陈致新之功，有斩关夺将之能，故名之曰将军。仲
景用之以心气不足而吐衄者，名泻心汤，正是因肾经不足，而本经之阳，亢甚无辅，以至血
妄行飞越，故用大黄泄去亢甚之火，使之和平，则血归经，而自安矣。夫心之阴气不足，非
一日矣，肺与肝俱各受火邪而病作，故芩救肺、连救肝，肺者阴之主，肝者心之母，血之舍
也，肝肺之火既退，宜其阴血自复矣。衍义不明说，而曰邪热因不足而客之，何以明仲景之
意，开后人之盲也。大都寒能冷肠胃，苦能泄实热，必须肠胃有实邪者，方可用之。
气微寒，味辛咸，无毒，沉也，阴也。承气汤用之，去胃中之实邪，而荡肠中之宿垢。
通圣散用之，除胸膈之稠痰，而润下部之结燥。痘家实热便秘者，用之于当归解毒汤中，甚
为得法，取其不损真阴也。妇人胞衣不下，即用童便调二五钱，热服立下。大都寒能泄实，
咸能软坚，辛能散滞，此三者，玄明粉之功也。予用之以代芒硝，虽老弱之人，亦可服之。
大黄气味寒凉而味苦，气味都非常浓厚，没有毒性，性质沉降，属于阴中之阴。它归属于水与火，主要进入手阳明大肠经和足阳明胃经，若用酒浸泡则能入太阳经，若用酒洗过则专入阳明经。它是打通闭塞结滞的灵丹妙药，也是驱除邪气的实效良方。与大桃仁一起使用，就能引导瘀血排出；与枳壳一起使用，就能消除积滞的气机。加入治疗痰火的药物中，更能强力滚涤顽痰；加入消食导滞的药物中，就能推陈出新。生用大黄可以疏通肠胃中的壅塞结聚之热，熟用大黄则可以治疗各种毒疮疡肿，特别是那些长久不能愈合的伤口。因为各种毒疮疡肿，大多属于心火亢盛，大黄经过炮制后使用，能够清泻心火，并且宣通气机、消肿散结，从而清除在上部的结热。大黄的药性沉降而不浮散，药效走窜而不固守，具有推陈致新的功效，有像将军一样斩关夺将的气势，所以得名“将军”。张仲景用它来治疗因心气不足导致的吐血、衄血，名为泻心汤，这正是因为肾经精气不足，导致本经阳气亢盛而无辅助，致使血液妄行飞越，所以用大黄泄去亢盛的火热，使气血恢复平和，血液回归经脉，自然安宁。心之阴气不足并非一日形成，肺和肝也都各自受到火邪侵袭而发病，所以黄芩救肺，黄连救肝，肺是阴气的主宰，肝是心的母脏，也是血液的居所，肝肺之火既已退去，阴血自然就会恢复。《本草衍义》不明确说明这一点，反而说邪热是因为正气不足而客居体内，这怎么能阐明张仲景的本意，并开启后人的蒙昧呢？大体上，寒性能使肠胃冷降，苦性能泄除实热，只有当肠胃中有实邪存在时，才可以服用大黄。
玄明粉气味微寒，味道辛咸，没有毒性，性质沉降，属于阴。承气汤中使用它，是为了去除胃中的实邪，并荡涤肠道中的陈旧积垢。防风通圣散中使用它，是为了清除胸膈间的稠厚痰液，并润燥通便以解除下部的结燥。痘疹患者出现实热便秘的情况，在当归解毒汤中使用它，是非常恰当的方法，这是取其不损伤真阴的特性。妇女产后胞衣不下，立即用童便调服二至五钱，热服后胞衣即可立刻落下。大体上，寒性能泄除实邪，咸性能软化坚硬，辛性能疏散滞气，这三点是玄明粉的功效。我使用玄明粉代替芒硝，即使是年老体弱的人，也可以服用。
Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) has a cold nature and bitter taste, with both scent and flavor being intense. It is non-toxic, sinking in property, and belongs to Yin within Yin. It pertains to Water and Fire, entering the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. When soaked in wine, it enters the Taiyang (Greater Yang) Meridian; when washed with wine, it specifically enters the Yangming (Yang Brightness) Meridian. It is a miraculous pill for unblocking obstructions and consolidating knots, and an effective prescription for expelling pathogens. When used together with Taoren (Persicae Semen), it guides out blood stasis. When used together with Zhike (Aurantii Fructus), it eliminates accumulated Qi stagnation. Added to prescriptions for phlegm-fire, it can vigorously roll down stubborn phlegm; added to digestive prescriptions, it pushes out the old and generates the new. Used raw, it clears heat from gastrointestinal obstruction and accumulation; used cooked/processed, it treats various toxic sores and ulcers that fail to heal over time. This is because most toxic sores and ulcers belong to Heart Fire. When Dahuang is used processed, it can drain Heart Fire, promote Qi circulation, reduce swelling, and eliminate upper-level heat accumulation. Its nature is sinking and not floating; its action moves and does not stay fixed. It possesses the merit of pushing out the old and generating the new, and the ability to breach gates and capture generals, hence its name "General" (Jiangjun). Zhang Zhongjing used it to treat hematemesis and epistaxis due to insufficient Heart Qi, naming the formula Xiexin Tang (Drain the Heart Decoction). This is precisely because of insufficiency in the Kidney Meridian, leading to hyperactive Yang in this meridian without assistance, causing blood to act recklessly and fly away. Thus, Dahuang is used to drain the hyperactive fire, restoring peace, so that blood returns to its vessels and settles naturally. The insufficiency of Yin Qi in the Heart has not occurred in just one day; both the Lung and Liver have been affected by Fire pathogens and disease arises. Therefore, Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) saves the Lung, and Lianhua (Loti Flos) or Lianzi (Nelumbinis Semen) [Note: Text says 'Lian', likely referring to Lianzi or related herb, but context implies clearing Liver fire, often Huanglian/Lianzi heart] saves the Liver. The Lung is the master of Yin; the Liver is the mother of the Heart and the residence of Blood. Once the Fire in the Liver and Lung recedes, Yin Blood should naturally recover. *Bencao Yan Yi* fails to state this clearly, instead saying that pathogenic heat lodges due to insufficiency. How can this clarify Zhang Zhongjing's intent and enlighten later generations? Generally, Cold cools the intestines and stomach; Bitter drains excess heat. It can only be used when there is excess pathogen in the intestines and stomach.
Xuanmingfen (Natrii Sulfas Praeparatus) has a slightly cold nature and pungent-salty taste, is non-toxic, and sinks in property, belonging to Yin. In Chengqi Tang (Harmonizing the Stomach Decoction), it is used to remove excess pathogens in the Stomach and sweep away old filth in the intestines. In Fengtu Tongsheng San (Wind-Dispersing and Unobstructed Powder), it is used to clear thick phlegm in the chest and diaphragm and moisten dryness in the lower body. For patients with smallpox/variolae presenting with excess heat and constipation, using it in Danggui Jiedu Tang (Angelica Decoction for Resolving Toxicity) is very appropriate, taking advantage of its property of not damaging True Yin. For women with retained placenta, mixing two to five qian with child's urine and administering hotly will cause the placenta to fall immediately. Generally, Cold drains excess; Salty softens hardness; Pungent disperses stagnation. These three are the merits of Xuanmingfen. I use it to replace Mangxiao (Glauberitum); even for elderly and weak persons, it can be taken.