气微寒，味酸苦，气薄味浓，有小毒，可升可降，阴也。入手足太阴二经。生用则降，
酒浸可升。其用有赤白之异，赤者泻热，白者补虚，赤者能泻肝家火，故暴赤眼洗与服同。
白者佐炙草，能治腹痛，但夏月少加黄芩，如恶寒者，加肉桂一钱、白芍三钱、炙草钱半，
此仲景之神方也。与白术同用，则能补脾。与川芎同用，则能泻肝。与人参白术同用，则补
益元气。又下痢腹痛者宜用，盖由肠胃湿热，故用此收敛之剂，则脾胃得正，而邪毒不能作
祸矣。腹中有寒而疼，当煨用之。妇人产后，及血虚之人，必须酒炒。古人四物汤用此剂之
寒酸，以收当归之辛散耳。痘家血热，及血不归根者，用此酸寒之剂，以敛血归根极妙，但
血寒痘不发者勿用。反藜芦。
气寒，味甘苦，无毒，气薄味浓，沉也，阴中阳也。惟其性寒泥滞，故用醇酒洗过，或
姜汁炒过，或同附子用，不惟行滞，且能导引入肾，下元血虚者，必须用之。又能填骨髓、
长肌肉。尺脉微者，桂附相宜。尺脉旺者，宜用黄柏知母，则滋阴降火补肾。善黑须发。佐
鹿角胶极能补血。但此剂泥膈，不宜独用。若犯铁器，令人消肾。忌莱菔子，恐耗诸血。痘
家匀气药中用之，便泄则禁。
气寒，味甘苦，无毒，气薄味浓，沉也，阴中阳也。性虽大寒，较熟地则犹宣通而不泥
膈，故能凉心火之血热，泻脾土之湿热，止鼻中之衄热，除五心之烦热。其或虚而生热者，
不可多用，以性大寒故也。惟劳倦伤脾热者当用，以脾经大络之血损也。女人崩中血不止，
产后血上攻心，胎动下血，老人津液枯绝，大肠燥结不润者，皆当用之。又实脾药中用二三
分，以固脾气，使脾家永不受邪，但不可多用，以大寒恐倒脾气也。或用姜汁炒，或用醇酒
洗，或用砂仁酒浸，皆制其寒性，免泥滞也。忌铁器。痘家血热之症，宜用之以凉血解毒，
便滑者禁用。
芍药：气味微寒，味道酸苦，气薄味浓，有小毒，作用趋势可升可降，属性为阴。归入手经和足经的太阴经。生用时作用趋势向下，用酒浸泡后作用趋势向上。其功效有赤芍和白芍的区别，赤芍能泻热，白芍能补虚。赤芍能泻肝脏的火邪，所以治疗突发性的红眼病时，外洗和内服的方法相同。白芍配合炙甘草，能治疗腹痛；但在夏季使用时需少量加入黄芩。如果有恶寒症状，加入一钱肉桂、三钱白芍、半两炙甘草，这是张仲景的神效方剂。与白术同用，能补益脾脏。与川芎同用，能泻肝火。与人参、白术同用，能补益元气。另外，对于下痢伴有腹痛的情况适宜使用，这是因为肠胃有湿热，使用这种收敛的药物，能使脾胃功能恢复正常，而邪毒就不能作乱了。如果腹中有寒气导致疼痛，应当煨制后使用。妇女产后以及血虚的人，必须用酒炒制。古人使用的四物汤利用此药的寒凉酸涩之性，来收敛当归的辛散之性。患痘疹者若血热，以及血液不能归根的情况，使用这种酸寒的药物来收敛血液使其归根非常巧妙，但如果是血寒导致痘疹不发者则不要使用。与藜芦相反。
熟地黄：气味寒，味道甘苦，无毒，气薄味浓，性质沉降，属于阴中之阳。正因为其性质寒凉且滋腻滞碍，所以要用纯酒清洗过，或用姜汁炒过，或者同附子一起使用，不仅能行滞，还能引导药物进入肾脏，下元血虚的人必须使用它。又能填补骨髓、生长肌肉。尺脉微弱者，适合配合桂枝、附子使用。尺脉旺盛者，适合使用黄柏、知母，这样能滋阴降火补肾。能使胡须头发变黑。配合鹿角胶使用极能补血。但这种药物滋腻碍胃，不宜单独使用。如果接触铁器，会损伤肾脏。忌食莱菔子（萝卜籽），恐怕会耗损各种血液。在痘疹家调理气机的药物中使用它，如果出现腹泻则禁止使用。
生地黄：气味寒，味道甘苦，无毒，气薄味浓，性质沉降，属于阴中之阳。虽然性质大寒，但比起熟地黄来说更加宣通而不滋腻碍胃，所以能清冷却心火的血热，泻除脾土的湿热，止住鼻中的衄血热，去除五心烦热。如果是因虚而生热的情况，不可多用，因为其性质大寒的缘故。只有因劳倦损伤脾气导致发热时才应当使用，因为这是脾经大络的血分受损。女人崩中出血不止，产后血液上冲攻心，胎动下血，老人津液枯竭绝少，大肠干燥结滞不润泽的情况，都应当使用它。又在健脾药中加入二三分，以巩固脾气，使脾脏永远不受邪气侵犯，但不可多用，因为大寒恐怕会损伤脾气。可以用姜汁炒制，或用纯酒清洗，或用砂仁酒浸泡，都是为了制约其寒性，避免滋腻滞碍。忌铁器。痘疹家若有血热的症状，适宜使用它来凉血解毒，大便滑泄者禁用。
Shao Yao (Radix Paeoniae Alba/Rubra): The qi is slightly cold, the flavor is sour and bitter. The qi is thin and the flavor is strong; it has slight toxicity. Its action can ascend or descend, and its nature is Yin. It enters the Hand Taiyin and Foot Taiyin meridians. When used raw, its action descends; when soaked in wine, its action ascends. There are differences between red and white varieties: Red Shao Yao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra) clears heat, while White Shao Yao (Radix Paeoniae Alba) tonifies deficiency. Red Shao Yao can drain fire from the Liver, so for sudden acute red eyes, external washing and internal administration use the same method. White Shao Yao combined with Zhi Cao (Honey-fried Licorice Root) treats abdominal pain; however, in summer, a small amount of Huang Qin (Scutellaria Root) should be added. If there is aversion to cold, add 1 qian Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark), 3 qian Bai Shao (White Peony Root), and half a liang Zhi Cao (Honey-fried Licorice Root); this is Zhang Zhongjing's divine prescription. Used with Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), it tonifies the Spleen. Used with Chuan Xiong (Szechwan Lovage Rhizome), it drains Liver fire. Used with Ren Shen (Ginseng Root) and Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), it tonifies Yuan Qi (Primary Qi). Furthermore, it is suitable for dysentery with abdominal pain, as this arises from damp-heat in the intestines and stomach; using this astringent agent restores proper Spleen and Stomach function, preventing evil toxins from causing harm. If abdominal pain is caused by cold in the abdomen, it should be used after baking (wei). For women postpartum and those with blood deficiency, it must be stir-fried with wine. In the ancient Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction), the cold and sour properties of this herb are used to restrain the acrid and dispersing nature of Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis). For patients with pox who have blood heat or whose blood fails to return to its root, using this sour-cold agent to astringe blood and guide it back to its root is excellent; however, it should not be used if the pox fail to erupt due to blood cold. It is incompatible with Li Lu (Veratrum Root).
Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia Root): The qi is cold, the flavor is sweet and bitter, non-toxic. The qi is thin and the flavor is strong; it sinks. It is Yin within Yang. Because its nature is cold and cloying/stagnant, it should be washed with pure wine, stir-fried with ginger juice, or used together with Fu Zi (Aconite Lateral Root). This not only moves stagnation but also guides the drug into the Kidney; it is essential for deficiency of blood in the lower origin. It can fill the marrow and grow muscles. If the Chi Mai (Radial Pulse at the Cinnabar position) is weak, Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) and Fu Zi are appropriate. If the Chi Mai is vigorous, Huang Bo (Phellodendron Bark) and Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizome) are suitable to nourish Yin, descend fire, and tonify the Kidney. It promotes blackening of beard and hair. Combined with Lu Jiao Jiao (Deer Antler Glue), it greatly tonifies blood. However, this agent is cloying and obstructs the chest/stomach, so it should not be used alone. Contact with iron vessels causes "Xiao Shen" (Kidney consumption). Radish seeds (Lai Fu Zi) are contraindicated as they may deplete various types of blood. In formulas for regulating Qi in pox cases, it is used; however, if diarrhea occurs, it is prohibited.
Sheng Di Huang (Raw Rehmannia Root): The qi is cold, the flavor is sweet and bitter, non-toxic. The qi is thin and the flavor is strong; it sinks. It is Yin within Yang. Although its nature is severely cold, compared to Shu Di Huang, it is more unblocking and less cloying to the chest/stomach. Thus, it can cool blood heat in the Heart Fire, drain damp-heat in the Spleen Earth, stop nasal bleeding due to heat, and remove vexatious heat in the five centers (palms, soles, and chest). If heat arises from deficiency, it should not be used in large amounts due to its severe cold nature. It is indicated specifically for heat arising from fatigue damaging the Spleen Qi, as this involves damage to the blood of the great collaterals of the Spleen meridian. It is indicated for women with metrorrhagia (profuse uterine bleeding), postpartum blood rushing to attack the Heart, fetal restlessness with vaginal bleeding, elderly people with exhaustion of body fluids, and dry constipation of the Large Intestine without lubrication. Adding two or three fen to spleen-fortifying drugs consolidates Spleen Qi, ensuring the Spleen remains free from evil pathogens; however, do not use in large amounts, as severe cold may invert/damage Spleen Qi. It can be stir-fried with ginger juice, washed with pure wine, or soaked in wine with Sha Ren (Amomum Fruit) to restrain its cold nature and avoid cloying stagnation. Iron vessels are contraindicated. For pox cases with blood heat symptoms, it is suitable for cooling blood and resolving toxicity; it is prohibited for those with loose stools.