味苦甘平，性微温无毒，入小肠膀胱二经。散入表风邪，利周身即痛，排巨阳腐肉之疽，
除新旧风湿之证，紫色而节密者为羌活。
按∶羌活气清属阳，善行气分，舒而不敛，升而能沉，雄而善散，可发表邪，故入手太
阳小肠，足太阳膀胱，以理游风。其功用与独活虽若不同，实互相表里，用者审之。
雷公云∶采得后细锉，拌淫羊藿，蒸二日后，曝干去淫羊藿用，免烦人心。
味苦，性微寒无毒，入肝胆心胞络三焦胃大肠六经。主伤寒心中烦热，痰实肠胃中，结
气积聚，寒热邪气，两胁下痛，疏通肝木，推陈致新。半夏为使，恶皂荚，畏女菀、藜芦，
犯火无效。
按∶柴胡气味升阳，能提下元清气上行，以泻三焦火。补中益气汤用之，亦以其能提肝
气之陷者，由左而升也。凡胸腹肠胃之病因热所致者，得柴胡引清去浊而病谢矣，故入肝胆
等经。《衍义》曰∶《本经》并无一字言及治劳，今治劳多用之，误人不小，劳有一种真脏虚
损，复受邪热，邪因虚而致劳者，宜用，后世得此数言，凡遇劳证，概不敢用，此所谓侏儒
观场，随众喧喝矣。惟劳证不犯实热者，用之亦能杀人，诚所当慎，咳嗽气急痰喘呕逆者禁
用，以其上升也。伤寒初起忌之，恐引邪入少阳经也。
雷公云∶凡使茎长软皮赤，黄髭须，出在平川平县，即今银州银县也。西畔生处，多有
白鹤绿鹤于此翔处，是柴胡香直上云间，若有过往，闻者皆气爽。凡采得后，去髭并头，用
银刀削去赤薄皮少许，却以粗布拭净，细锉用之，勿令犯火，立便无效也。注云∶柴胡乃少
阳经药也，久服令人肝胆平。
【羌活】
味苦、甘，性平，微温，无毒。归小肠经和膀胱经。能疏散侵入肌表的风邪，通利周身疼痛，排出太阳经腐肉形成的疽疮，消除新发或久患的风湿病症。其中，颜色紫暗且节段紧密的是羌活。
按语：羌活性味清轻属阳，善于行走在气分，舒展而不收敛，升散中兼能沉降，雄烈而善于发散，能够发表邪气，因此入足太阳小肠经和足太阳膀胱经，以治理游走不定的风邪。它的功效虽然与独活看似不同，但实际上二者互为表里，使用者需仔细辨别。
雷公记载：采收后将其细细切碎，拌入淫羊藿，蒸制两天后，晒干并去掉淫羊藿使用，以避免使人烦躁。
【柴胡】
味苦，性微寒，无毒。归肝、胆、心包络、三焦、胃、大肠六经。主治伤寒引起的心中烦热，肠胃中的痰饮实邪，结聚之气及积聚肿块，寒热往来等邪气，疏通肝木之气，推陈出新。以半夏为引药，忌与皂荚同用，畏惧女菀和藜芦，遇到火炒则无效。
按语：柴胡气味具有升提阳气的作用，能提升下元的清气上行，从而清泻三焦之火。在补中益气汤中使用它，也是因为它能提升陷入下的肝气，使其从左路上升。凡是胸腹肠胃因热邪导致的病因，借助柴胡引导清气上升、浊气下降，疾病即可痊愈，所以它入肝胆等经。《衍义》说：《本经》中并没有一个字提到治疗虚劳病，如今治疗虚劳多用柴胡，这会对人造成不小的误害。虚劳有一种属于真脏虚损，又感受了邪热，因虚致劳的情况，适宜使用柴胡。后世的人得到这几句话，凡遇到虚劳证，一概不敢使用，这就是所谓的“矮个子看戏，跟着别人瞎起哄”。只有那些虚劳证不夹杂实热的患者，使用柴胡也会杀人，确实应当谨慎。对于咳嗽、气急、痰喘、呕吐逆气的患者禁用，因为柴胡具有上升之性。伤寒初起时忌用柴胡，恐怕会将邪气引入少阳经。
雷公记载：凡是使用的柴胡，茎长而软，皮色赤红，有黄色的须根，产于平原县的，就是现在的银州银县。在西边生长的地方，常有白鹤和绿鹤在此飞翔，这是因为柴胡的香气直冲云霄，如果有路过的人闻到，都会感到神清气爽。凡是采收后，去掉须根和头部，用银刀削去少许红色的薄皮，然后用粗布擦拭干净，细细切碎使用，不要让火接触，否则立刻就会失效。注释说：柴胡是少阳经的药物，长期服用能使肝胆平和。
[Qianghuo]
Bitter, sweet, neutral in nature, slightly warm, non-toxic. Enters the Small Intestine and Bladder meridians. Disperses wind pathogens invading the exterior, relieves pain throughout the body, expels abscesses formed by rotting flesh in the Taiyang (Greater Yang) channel, and eliminates rheumatic conditions of both new and old onset. Those that are purple in color with dense nodes are Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix).
Commentary: Qianghuo has a clear aroma and belongs to Yang. It excels at moving Qi, is expansive rather than constrictive, ascending yet capable of descending, vigorous and good at dispersing. It can release exterior pathogens; therefore, it enters the Foot-Taiyang Small Intestine and Foot-Taiyang Bladder meridians to treat wandering wind. Although its functions appear different from Duhuo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix), they are actually interior-exterior counterparts; users should examine this carefully.
Leigong states: After harvesting, finely chop it, mix with Xinyangyexiao (Epimedii Folium), steam for two days, sun-dry, remove Xinyangyexiao, and use. This prevents causing mental restlessness.
[Chaihu]
Bitter, slightly cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Liver, Gallbladder, Pericardium, Sanjiao (Triple Burner), Stomach, and Large Intestine meridians. Primarily treats vexation and heat in the heart caused by Shanghan (Cold Damage), phlegm-solidities in the intestines and stomach, knotted Qi and accumulations, pathogenic factors of alternating chills and fever, unblocks Liver Wood Qi, pushes out the stale and brings forth the new. Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) serves as an assistant herb. It is incompatible with Zaojia (Gleditsiae Sinensis Spina), fears Nüwan (Adenophorae Radix) and Lilu (Veratri Rhizoma), and becomes ineffective when exposed to fire processing.
Commentary: Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) has an ascending and Yang-lifting aroma. It can raise the clear Qi from the lower origin upwards to drain Fire from the Sanjiao. In Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction), it is used because it can lift the sinking Qi of the Liver, raising it from the left side. For any pathological causes in the chest, abdomen, intestines, and stomach resulting from Heat, Chaihu guides the Clear upward and the Turbid downward, allowing the disease to resolve; thus, it enters the Liver, Gallbladder, and other meridians. *Yanyi* states: The *Benjing* (Shennong Bencao Jing) contains not a single word regarding the treatment of Lao (Consumption/Deficiency Fatigue). Today, Chaihu is widely used to treat Lao, which misleads people significantly. There is a type of Lao characterized by true Zang-Fu deficiency damage, complicated by exogenous Heat. In cases where Lao arises due to deficiency, Chaihu is suitable. Later generations, having read these few words, dare not use Chaihu for any Lao syndrome, which is like "a dwarf watching a play, shouting along with the crowd." However, if a patient with Lao does not have excess Heat, using Chaihu can also be fatal; caution is indeed necessary. It is contraindicated for cough, rapid breathing, phlegm-wheezing, vomiting, and regurgitation, due to its ascending nature. It is taboo in the initial stage of Shanghan, lest it draw pathogens into the Shaoyang (Lesser Yang) meridian.
Leigong states: When using Chaihu, select those with long, soft stems, reddish skin, and yellow rootlets, produced in Pingchuan County, which is present-day Yin County in Yinzhou. In areas growing on the western side, white cranes and green cranes often soar there, because the fragrance of Chaihu rises straight into the clouds. Passersby who smell it feel refreshed. After harvesting, remove the rootlets and head, use a silver knife to shave off a small amount of the red thin skin, wipe clean with coarse cloth, finely chop, and use. Do not allow contact with fire, or it will immediately become ineffective. Annotation states: Chaihu is a medicine of the Shaoyang meridian; long-term consumption harmonizes the Liver and Gallbladder.