味辛苦，性微温无毒，入肝经。治一切冷热气血凝滞，吐衄血瘀积血，跌扑伤血，产后
恶血。通月经，除风痹，催产难。畏菟丝子，忌蒜。
按∶丹皮主用，无非辛温之功，禹锡等言其治冷，当矣。本草曰性寒，不亦误耶！夫肝
为血舍，丹皮乃血剂，固宜入之，本功专行血，不能补血，而东垣以此治无汗骨蒸，六味丸
及补心丹皆用之，盖以血患火烁则枯，患气郁则新者不生。此剂苦能泻阴火，辛能疏结气，
故为血分要药。
雷公云∶凡采后日干，用铜刀劈破，去骨细锉，如大豆许，用清酒浸蒸，从巳至未，出
日晒干用。
味甘辛，性平无毒，入肾经。主男子肾虚精寒，腰膝冷痛，茎中寒，精自出，溺有余沥，
鬼交泄精，久服强阴坚骨，驻颜明目轻身，令人多子。浸五宿，蒸熟，杵作饼，晒干研用。
山药，松脂为使，恶藿菌。
按∶雷公云∶菟丝子禀受中和，凝正阳气，故宜入补少阴，温而不燥，不助相火，至和
至美之剂，宜常用之。
雷公云∶凡使勿用天碧草子，其样真相似。只是天碧草子，味酸涩，并粘，不入药用，
其菟丝子禀中和正阳之气所结，补卫气，助人筋脉。采得去粗薄壳，用苦酒浸二日，漉出，
用黄精自然汁浸一宿，至明，微用火煎至干，入臼中热烧，铁杵三千余成粉，并黄精自然汁
与菟丝子相对用之。
牡丹皮：味辛、苦，性微温，无毒，归入肝经。主治各种因冷或热导致的气血凝滞，以及吐血、衄血（鼻出血）、瘀血积聚、跌打损伤引起的出血、产后恶露不尽。能通调月经，祛除风痹，促进难产分娩。忌与菟丝子同用，忌食大蒜。
按语：丹皮的主要功效，无非是辛温的作用，禹锡等人说它能治疗寒证，是正确的。《本草》记载其性寒，难道不是错误吗？肝为藏血之舍，丹皮是活血之剂，自然适宜入肝经。它的主要功能专门在于行血，而不能补血。李东垣用它来治疗无汗骨蒸（阴虚发热），六味地黄丸及补心丹中都使用了它，大概是因为血液受火热煎熬则干枯，受气机郁结则新血不生。此药苦味能泻阴火，辛味能疏解结聚之气，因此成为血分的重要药物。
雷公云：凡是采挖后晒干，用铜刀劈开，去掉木质部细锉，如大豆大小，用清酒浸泡蒸制，从巳时到未时，取出日晒干燥后使用。
菟丝子：味甘、辛，性平，无毒，归入肾经。主治男子肾虚精冷，腰膝冷痛，阴茎中寒冷，遗精滑精，小便淋漓不尽，鬼交（梦遗泄精），长期服用可强阴坚骨，驻颜明目轻身，使人多子。浸泡五宿，蒸熟，捣碎做成饼，晒干研末使用。山药、松脂为其使药，畏藿菌。
按语：雷公云：菟丝子禀受中和之气，凝聚纯正阳气，所以适宜入补少阴经，温而不燥，不助相火，是至和至美的药剂，适宜经常使用。
雷公云：凡使用时不要用天碧草子，其形状与真品非常相似。只是天碧草子味酸涩且粘，不入药用。菟丝子是禀受中和正阳之气所结，能补卫气，助人筋脉。采得后去掉粗糙薄壳，用苦酒浸泡两天，捞出，用黄精自然汁浸泡一夜，到第二天早晨，用微火煎至干燥，放入臼中热烧，用铁杵捣三千余次成粉，并将黄精自然汁与菟丝子相对使用。
**Mudanpi (Cortex Moutan):**
Pungent and bitter in taste, slightly warm in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Liver Meridian. It treats all types of Qi and Blood stagnation caused by cold or heat, as well as hematemesis (vomiting blood), epistaxis (nosebleed), blood stasis accumulation, bleeding from traumatic injuries, and lochia retention postpartum. It promotes menstruation, dispels wind-bi syndrome, and facilitates difficult labor. It is incompatible with Tusizi (Cuscutae Semen) and should be avoided with garlic.
Commentary: The primary efficacy of Mudanpi lies in its pungent-warm properties. Yu Xi and others stated that it treats cold conditions, which is correct. The *Bencao* records its nature as cold; is this not an error? The Liver is the residence of Blood. Since Mudanpi is a blood-moving agent, it naturally enters the Liver Meridian. Its function is specifically to move Blood but not to tonify Blood. Li Dongyuan used it to treat bone-steaming fever without sweating. It is also used in Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) and Buxin Dan (Heart-Tonifying Pill). This is likely because when Blood is scorched by fire, it becomes dry; when affected by Qi stagnation, new Blood cannot be generated. The bitterness of this herb can drain Yin-fire, and its pungency can disperse constrained Qi, thus making it an essential herb for the Blood level.
Lei Gong states: After harvesting, dry it in the sun. Split it with a copper knife, remove the woody core, and finely chop it into pieces the size of soybeans. Soak it in clear wine, steam it from Si hour (9–11 AM) to Wei hour (1–3 PM), then take it out, dry it in the sun, and use it.
**Tusizi (Cuscutae Semen):**
Sweet and pungent in taste, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Kidney Meridian. It primarily treats male Kidney deficiency with cold essence, cold pain in the lower back and knees, coldness in the penis, spontaneous emission of semen, dribbling after urination, nocturnal emission due to "ghost intercourse" (dream emission), and long-term use strengthens Yin, hardens bones, preserves youthfulness, improves vision, lightens the body, and increases fertility. Soak it for five nights, steam until cooked, pound into cakes, dry in the sun, and grind for use. Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) and Songzhi (Pinus Resina) act as guiding herbs. It is adverse to Huojun.
Commentary: Lei Gong states: Tusizi inherits the harmonious and balanced Qi, condensing pure Yang Qi. Therefore, it is suitable for tonifying the Shaoyin (Kidney/Heart) meridian. It is warming but not drying, does not assist Ministerial Fire, and is a most harmonious and excellent formula suitable for regular use.
Lei Gong states: When using it, do not use Tianbicaozi (seeds of *Boehmeria nivea* or similar look-alikes), as they resemble the true herb closely. However, Tianbicaozi tastes sour and astringent, is sticky, and is not used medicinally. Tusizi is formed from the harmonious and positive Yang Qi, tonifies Wei-Qi (Defensive Qi), and assists the tendons and vessels. After harvesting, remove the coarse thin shells. Soak it in bitter vinegar (Ku Jiu) for two days, strain it out, soak it in the natural juice of Huangjing (Polygonati Rhizoma) overnight. By dawn, simmer gently over low heat until dry. Place it in a mortar, heat-roast it, and pound it with an iron pestle for over three thousand times until it becomes powder. Use it in conjunction with the natural juice of Huangjing.