味苦。性寒。无毒。禀天地至阴之气而生。降也。阴也。得黄柏及酒良。伏盐、硼砂
。忌铁器。
【主治】主消渴热中。除邪气。肢体浮肿。下水。补不足。益气。（本经）疗伤寒久疟
烦
热。
蓐劳。
凉心
清肺金。
【归经】入肺肾二经。为泻火滋水之品。（兼补剂滑剂 肺肾气分药 专泻肾家有余之
火）
【前论】东垣曰。凡热在上焦气分。便秘而渴。乃肺中伏热。不能生水。膀胱绝其化源。
宜用淡渗之品。泻火清金。滋水之化源。热在下焦
涸。无阴则阳无以化
知母入肺肾气分。
【禁忌】经疏曰。阳痿。及易举易痿。泄泻。脾弱饮食不消化。胃虚不思食。肾虚溏泄。
均
【炮制】时珍曰。凡使。欲引经上行。酒浸焙。欲下行。盐水润焙。
味苦咸。性微寒。无毒。正禀北方水气。兼得春阳之和以生。可升可降。阴也。恶黄
、干姜、茴香、山萸。反藜芦。勿犯铜铁。
【主治】主腹中寒热积聚。女子产乳余疾。补肾气。令人明目。（本经）暴中风伤寒。
身
热支
痈
心
【归经】入肾经。为壮水制火之品。（兼补剂 肾家君药散无根浮游之火）
【前论】河间曰。此乃枢机之剂。管领诸气。上下清肃而不浊。风药中多用之。故活人
书治
论之
阳无
结核
【禁忌】经疏曰。凡血少目昏。停饮支满。血虚腹痛。脾虚泄泻。均忌。
【炮制】备要曰。凡使。蒸过晒干焙用。
【知母】
味苦。性寒。无毒。禀受天地至阴之气而生。主降。属阴。与黄柏及酒配伍效果良好。忌用盐、硼砂（此处原文可能有误，通常指伏盐、硼砂为畏恶之物，或指炮制相关，依原文直译：畏伏盐、硼砂）。忌用铁器。
【主治】主要治疗消渴热中（内热消渴病）。祛除邪气。肢体浮肿。通利小便。补益不足。益气。（出自《本经》）治疗伤寒日久疟疾烦热。产后劳损。清心。清肺金。
【归经】入肺、肾二经。是泻火滋水（滋阴降火）的药物。（兼作补剂、滑剂。是肺肾气分的药物。专门泻除肾脏有余之火。）
【前论】李东垣说。凡是热邪在上焦气分。大便秘结且口渴。这是肺中有潜伏的热邪。不能生养肾水。膀胱失去了化源。适宜使用淡渗利湿的药物。泻火清金。滋补水液的化源。热邪在下焦枯竭。没有阴液则阳气无法化生。知母进入肺、肾气分。
【禁忌】缪希雍说。阳痿。以及容易勃起也容易痿软。泄泻。脾弱导致饮食不消化。胃虚不想进食。肾虚导致的便溏泄泻。均（需慎用/禁用，原文此处似有缺字，依语境补全逻辑：均忌用）。
【炮制】李时珍说。凡是用知母。想要引导药力上行。用酒浸泡后焙干。想要药力下行。用盐水润湿后焙干。
【元参】
味苦、咸。性微寒。无毒。正禀受北方水气。兼得春阳的和煦之气而生。可升可降。属阴。畏恶黄芩、干姜、茴香、山萸肉。反藜芦。不要接触铜铁器。
【主治】主要治疗腹中寒热积聚。女子产后余疾。补肾气。使人眼睛明亮。（出自《本经》）突发中风伤寒。身体发热。胸胁支撑胀满。痈肿。心痛。
【归经】入肾经。是壮水制火（滋阴降火）的药物。（兼作补剂。是肾脏的主药。能消散无根浮游之火。）
【前论】刘河间说。这是枢机之剂。统领诸气。使上下清肃而不浑浊。风药中多用它。所以《活人书》治疗（某些病症）论述它。阳无（根/制等，原文残缺，依语境推测：阳无根则浮越）。结核（瘰疬等）。
【禁忌】缪希雍说。凡是血少目昏。停饮导致胸胁胀满。血虚腹痛。脾虚泄泻。均忌用。
【炮制】《本草备要》说。凡是用元参。蒸过后晒干再焙干使用。
[Anemarrhena Rhizome (Zhimu)]
Bitter in taste. Cold in nature. Non-toxic. Born from the supreme Yin Qi of Heaven and Earth. Descending. Yin in nature. Harmonizes well with Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai) and wine. Averse to salt and borax. Avoid iron vessels.
[Indications] Primarily treats Xiao Ke Re Zhong (internal heat diabetes). Eliminates pathogenic factors. Limb edema. Promotes urination. Tonifies deficiencies. Benefits Qi. (From *Shennong Bencao Jing*) Treats lingering malaria with irritability and fever after prolonged Shang Han (cold damage). Postpartum consumptive disease. Clears Heart. Clears Lung Metal.
[Meridian Tropism] Enters the Lung and Kidney meridians. It is a substance that clears fire and nourishes water (nourishes yin and descends fire). (Also serves as a tonic and lubricant. It is a drug for the Qi level of the Lung and Kidney. Specifically clears excess fire in the Kidney.)
[Preliminary Discussion] Li Dongyuan said: Whenever heat resides in the Qi level of the Upper Jiao, accompanied by constipation and thirst, it indicates latent heat in the Lung that fails to generate Kidney Water, causing the Bladder to lose its source of transformation. It is appropriate to use bland and permeating substances to clear fire, purify metal, and nourish the source of water transformation. When heat depletes the Lower Jiao, without Yin, Yang cannot transform. Anemarrhena Rhizome enters the Qi level of the Lung and Kidney.
[Contraindications] Miao Xiyong said: Impotence. Conditions where erection occurs easily but impotence follows easily. Diarrhea. Spleen deficiency leading to indigestion. Stomach deficiency leading to anorexia. Kidney deficiency leading to loose stools. All are contraindicated.
[Processing] Li Shizhen said: When using it, if one wishes to guide the medicinal action upward, soak it in wine and bake it. If one wishes the action to descend, moisten it with salt water and bake it.
[Scrophulariae Radix (Xuanshen)]
Bitter and salty in taste. Slightly cold in nature. Non-toxic. Correctly inherits the Qi of Water from the North, combined with the harmonious Qi of Spring Yang to be born. Capable of ascending and descending. Yin in nature. Averse to Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin), Dried Ginger (Ganjiang), Fennel (Huixiang), and Cornus Officinalis Fruit (Shanyuzi). Incompatible with Veratrum Root (Lilu). Do not come into contact with copper or iron.
[Indications] Primarily treats abdominal accumulations of cold and heat. Residual diseases in women after childbirth. Tonifies Kidney Qi. Enhances vision. (From *Shennong Bencao Jing*) Sudden stroke or Shang Han. Body heat. Chest and hypochondriac distension and fullness. Carbuncles. Heart pain.
[Meridian Tropism] Enters the Kidney meridian. It is a substance that strengthens water to control fire (nourishes yin to subdue hyperactive fire). (Also serves as a tonic. It is the sovereign drug for the Kidney. It dissipates rootless floating fire.)
[Preliminary Discussion] Liu Wansu said: This is a pivot agent. It manages all Qi, keeping the upper and lower parts clear and pure without turbidity. It is frequently used in wind-dispelling drugs. Therefore, *The Book That Keeps People Alive* discusses its application in treating [conditions involving]. When Yang lacks [root/control], [it floats]. Tubercles [scrofula].
[Contraindications] Miao Xiyong said: Blood deficiency with blurred vision. Fluid retention causing chest and hypochondriac fullness. Blood deficiency with abdominal pain. Spleen deficiency with diarrhea. All are contraindicated.
[Processing] *Bencao Beiyao* said: When using it, steam it, dry it, and then bake it for use.