味苦辛，性平有毒，入脾肺二经。主中风牙关紧闭，痰盛麻痹，下气破坚积，消痈肿
，利胸膈，散气坠胎，捣敷疥癣疮毒，并蛇虫咬伤。沸水泡七次，以牛胆汁收其沫入胆，久
悬风处更佳，畏附子干姜、生姜。
按∶肺受风邪，脾多痰饮，南星专主风痰，故并入二经。味辛主散，所以消痈坠胎，及
疗疥癣等疾。大抵与半夏同功，但半夏辛而能守，南星辛而不守，其燥急之性，甚于半夏。
故古方以牛胆苦寒之性制其燥烈，且胆又有益肝镇惊之功，小儿尤为要药。丹溪曰∶南星欲
其下行，以黄 引之。
味苦辛，性微温无毒，入胃大小肠三经。主骨蒸，肠风泻血，活筋血，利大小便，除
风湿，疗黄胆，解酒毒，去头风。菖蒲为使，罗纹者佳。
按∶秦艽苦则涌泄，为阴，故入大小肠以疗诸湿；辛则发散，为阳，故入阳明经以疗诸
风骨蒸之证；亦湿胜风淫所致，宜并理之。
雷公云∶凡使秦艽，须于脚纹处，认取左纹，列为秦，治疾，右纹列为艽，即发香港脚。
凡用秦艽，以布拭去黄白毛尽，然后用还元汤，浸一宿，日曝干用之。
味苦，性温无毒，入心肾二经。补不足，除邪气，益智慧，明耳目，宁怔忡，定惊悸
，利九窍，治健忘，壮阳道，益精气，长肌肉，助筋骨。及妇人血禁失音，小儿惊风客忤，
皮肤热，面目黄，久服悦颜色延年。汤泡，去心用，得茯苓、冬葵子、龙骨良，畏珍珠、藜
芦、蜚蠊齐蛤，忌诸肉、生葱、冷水，杀天雄、附子毒，叶名小草，主萝泄。
按∶远志苦入心经，温能滋肾，而不足等证，咸本二经，故都治之。
雷公云∶远志凡使先须捶去心，若不去心，服之令人闷，去心了，用熟甘草汤浸一宿，
漉出，曝干用之。
南星：味苦、辛，性平，有毒，归脾经和肺经。主治中风引起的牙关紧闭、痰多导致的肢体麻痹，能降气、破除坚积、消散痈肿，通畅胸膈，散气并导致堕胎，捣碎后外敷可治疗疥癣疮毒以及蛇虫咬伤。用沸水浸泡七次，再用牛胆汁吸收其泡沫入胆中，长时间悬挂在通风处效果更佳。畏附子、干姜和生姜。
按语：肺受风邪侵袭，脾多生痰饮，南星专门主治风痰，所以归入脾、肺二经。味辛主发散，因此能消散痈肿、导致堕胎，以及治疗疥癣等疾病。大致与半夏功效相同，但半夏辛而能守（固摄），南星辛而不守（走窜），其燥烈之性比半夏更甚。所以古方利用牛胆的苦寒之性来制约其燥烈，且牛胆又有益肝镇惊的功效，对小儿来说尤为重要的药物。朱丹溪说：南星若要使其药力下行，需用黄柏作为引经药。
秦艽：味苦、辛，性微温，无毒，归胃经、大肠经和小肠经。主治骨蒸潮热、肠风便血，活血通筋，利大小便，祛除风湿，治疗黄疸，解酒毒，去除头风。以菖蒲为引使药为佳，纹理如罗纹者品质较好。
按语：秦艽味苦则涌泄，属阴，所以入大肠、小肠经以治疗各种湿证；味辛则发散，属阳，所以入阳明经以治疗各种风邪及骨蒸潮热的病证；这也多是湿胜风淫所致，适宜一并调理。
雷公说：凡是使用秦艽，必须在根部脚纹处辨认，左边有纹路列为“秦”，用于治疗疾病；右边有纹路列为“艽”，服用后会引发香港脚（足部肿痛）。凡是使用秦艽，需用布擦去表面的黄白色绒毛，然后用还元汤浸泡一夜，日晒干燥后使用。
远志：味苦，性温，无毒，归心经和肾经。补益不足，祛除邪气，增进智慧，使耳目聪明，安定怔忡，镇定惊悸，通利九窍，治疗健忘，壮阳道，益精气，长肌肉，助筋骨。以及妇女血闭失音，小儿惊风客忤，皮肤发热，面目发黄，长期服用可使面色红润延年益寿。用汤泡过，去掉心部使用，与茯苓、冬葵子、龙骨配伍效果好，畏珍珠、藜芦、蜚蠊和齐蛤，忌食各种肉类、生葱、冷水，能解天雄、附子的毒。叶子名叫小草，主要治疗痢疾。
按语：远志味苦入心经，性温能滋肾，而上述不足等证候，根源都在心肾二经，所以都能治疗。
雷公说：远志在使用前必须先捶打去掉心部，如果不去心，服用后会让人胸闷，去掉心后，用熟甘草汤浸泡一夜，捞出，日晒干燥后使用。
Arisaema (Nanxing): Bitter and acrid in flavor, neutral in nature, toxic. Enters the Spleen and Lung meridians. Primarily treats lockjaw due to wind-stroke, paralysis caused by excessive phlegm, descends Qi, breaks up firm accumulations, dissipates carbuncles and swellings, benefits the chest and diaphragm, disperses Qi and causes abortion. When crushed and applied externally, it treats tinea, sores, ulcers, and snake or insect bites. Soak in boiling water seven times, then collect its foam into ox gallbladder bile; hanging it in a windy place for a long time is better. It is incompatible with Aconite Root (Fuzi), Dried Ginger (Ganjiang), and Fresh Ginger (Shengjiang).
Commentary: The Lungs are affected by Wind pathogenic factors, and the Spleen often generates Phlegm-fluids. Arisaema specifically targets Wind-Phlegm, hence it enters the two meridians. Its acrid flavor governs dispersion, thus it can dissipate carbuncles, cause abortion, and treat diseases such as tinea. Generally, it has similar functions to Pinellia Tuber (Banxia), but while Pinellia is acrid yet stabilizing (retaining), Arisaema is acrid yet not stabilizing (dispersing). Its drying and urgent nature is more severe than that of Pinellia. Therefore, ancient formulas use the bitter-cold nature of Ox Gallstone (Niuhuang) to restrain its dryness and heat, and since Gallstone also benefits the Liver and calms fright, it is particularly important medicine for children. Zhu Danxi said: To make Arisaema descend, use Anemarrhena Rhizome (Zhimu) as a guiding herb.
Gentian Macrophylla (Qinjiao): Bitter and acrid in flavor, slightly warm in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Stomach, Large Intestine, and Small Intestine meridians. Primarily treats bone-steaming fever, intestinal wind with bloody stool, activates sinews and blood, promotes urination and defecation, removes Wind-Dampness, treats jaundice, resolves alcohol toxicity, and eliminates Head-Wind. Acorus Tatarinowii Rhizome (Changpu) serves as an assistant herb; those with rosette patterns are superior.
Commentary: Gentian Macrophylla is bitter, leading to upward and downward discharge, belonging to Yin, thus entering the Large and Small Intestines to treat various dampness conditions; it is acrid, leading to dispersion, belonging to Yang, thus entering the Yangming Meridian to treat various Wind syndromes and bone-steaming fever. These conditions are often caused by excess dampness and rampant Wind, so they should be treated together.
Lei Gong stated: When using Gentian Macrophylla, one must identify the root markings. Those with left-side markings are classified as "Qin" and are used to treat diseases; those with right-side markings are classified as "Jiao," and taking them will trigger gouty arthritis (Honggangjiao). When using Gentian Macrophylla, wipe off all yellow-white hairs with cloth, then soak in Huanyuan Decoction overnight, sun-dry, and use.
Polygala Tenuifolia (Yuanzhi): Bitter in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Heart and Kidney meridians. Tonifies deficiencies, dispels evil Qi, enhances wisdom, clarifies ears and eyes, calms palpitations and anxiety, stabilizes fright and panic, unblocks the nine orifices, treats forgetfulness, strengthens the male organ, benefits Essence and Qi, grows muscle, assists sinews and bones. Also treats women's amenorrhea with aphonia, pediatric convulsions and alienation syndrome, skin heat, yellow complexion of face and eyes. Long-term consumption beautifies the complexion and prolongs life. Soak in decoction, remove the heart/core, and use. It works well when combined with Poria (Fuling), Okra Seed (Dongkuizi), and Dragon Bone (Longgu). It is incompatible with Pearl (Zhenzhu), Veratrum Rhizome (Lilu), Cockroach (Feileng), and Clam shells (Qige). Avoid all meats, raw green onions, and cold water. It can detoxify Aconitum Carmichaelii Lateralis Radix Preparata (Tianxiong) and Aconite Root (Fuzi). The leaves are named Xiao Cao, primarily treating dysentery.
Commentary: Polygala Tenuifolia is bitter and enters the Heart Meridian; its warmth can nourish the Kidney. Since the aforementioned deficiency syndromes originate from these two meridians, it treats them all.
Lei Gong stated: Before using Polygala Tenuifolia, one must first crush it to remove the heart. If the heart is not removed, ingestion causes chest stuffiness. After removing the heart, soak it in cooked Licorice Root (Gancao) decoction overnight, drain, sun-dry, and use.