味苦甘，性寒有小毒，入肝脾二经。主活血通经，治金疮诸疮疖，取汁和酒服。
按∶肝，藏血者也；脾，裹血者也。马鞭专主血分，故入是二经。
味甘，性寒无毒，入肺胃二经。主消渴客热，止小便利，治五噎膈气，烦闷吐逆，以芦
根五两，水三盏煮一盏服，甚效。
按∶芦根主气逆呕哕，故入太阴阳明。消渴之证，亦以气化不及故也。今得芦根以下太
阴，而津液之生必矣。
味苦辛甘，性平有小毒，入肺肾二经。主风寒湿痹，诸恶疮癣，妇人阴中肿痛，男子阴
痿湿痒，久服驻颜轻身，令人有子。酒浸一宿，地黄汁拌蒸，焙干用，恶牡丹皮、巴豆、贝
母。
按∶蛇床理风湿，宜入太阴，补虚痿，宜入少阴。
味苦甘，性平微寒无毒，入肺经。主热毒血痢，消痈散毒，补虚疗风，久服延年。
按∶金银花解肌肤之毒，故入肺经，为疮科要药。陶隐居云∶常服益寿，人多忽之，更
求难得者，是贵远贱近，庸人之情乎！
味甘，性寒无毒，入心肺二经。主解诸药毒，止咽喉痛，退热消痈。
按∶山豆根性寒，专泻心火，心火去则金无所损，金得其保，而热伤之虞，吾知免矣。
味苦，性微温无毒，入肝脾二经，主灸百病，温中理气，开郁调经，安胎种子，止崩漏，
除久痢，辟鬼邪，定霍乱，生捣汁，理吐衄血。
按∶艾叶温能令肝脾疏畅，而无壅瘀之患。夫人之一身，惟兹气血两端，今土木既调，
则营卫和而百病自却矣。至于湿中等效，又举其偏长耳。煎服者宜新鲜，灸火者宜陈久。生
用则寒，熟用则热。
马鞭草：味苦、甘，性寒，有小毒，归肝经和脾经。主要功效是活血通经，治疗金创（金属利器造成的创伤）及其他疮疖，取汁液与酒混合服用。
按语：肝是藏血的脏腑；脾是统摄血液的脏腑。马鞭草专门主治血分疾病，所以归入这两条经络。
芦根：味甘，性寒，无毒，归肺经和胃经。主要功效是消除消渴病中的客热（外感或继发之热），止住小便频数，治疗五噎膈气（五种噎膈病症引起的气机阻滞）、烦闷呕吐逆气。用法是用芦根五两，加水三盏煮至一盏，服用效果显著。
按语：芦根主要治疗气逆导致的呕吐呃逆，所以归入太阴肺经和阳明胃经。消渴病的证候，也是因为气化功能不能及于下焦的缘故。现在借助芦根来降泄太阴肺气，那么津液的生成就必然恢复了。
蛇床子：味苦、辛、甘，性平，有小毒，归肺经和肾经。主要功效是治疗风寒湿痹（风寒湿邪闭阻经络关节引起的疼痛麻木）、各种恶疮癣疾、妇女外阴肿痛、男子阳痿及阴部湿痒。长期服用可以驻颜轻身，使人容易受孕。用法是用酒浸泡一夜，用地黄汁拌匀后蒸制，焙干使用。忌与牡丹皮、巴豆、贝母同用。
按语：蛇床子调理风湿，适宜归入太阴经；补虚治痿，适宜归入少阴经。
金银花：味苦、甘，性平微寒，无毒，归肺经。主要功效是治疗热毒血痢，消散痈肿毒素，补虚祛风，长期服用可以延年益寿。
按语：金银花能解除肌肤之毒，所以归入肺经，是疮疡科的重要药物。陶隐居说：经常服用有益长寿，人们往往忽视它，反而去追求难得的药物，这是重视远方轻视近处，是庸人的常情啊！
山豆根：味甘，性寒，无毒，归心经和肺经。主要功效是解各种药物中毒，止咽喉痛，退热消痈。
按语：山豆根性寒，专门清泻心火。心火去除则肺金不受损伤，肺金得到保护，那么热邪伤害的忧虑，我就知道可以避免的了。
艾叶：味苦，性微温，无毒，归肝经和脾经。主要功效是灸治百病，温中理气，开郁调经，安胎种子，止崩漏（非经期大量出血或经期淋漓不尽），除久痢，辟鬼邪（驱除邪祟），定霍乱（一种上吐下泻的急性胃肠病），生捣汁液可治疗吐血衄血。
按语：艾叶的温性能使肝脾疏畅，而没有壅滞瘀血之患。人的全身，只有气和血两端，现在土木（肝属木，脾属土）既已调和，那么营卫和谐而百病自然退却了。至于治疗湿中等效，只是列举其特长罢了。煎服者宜用新鲜的，灸火者宜用陈久的。生用则性寒，熟用则性热。
Mabiancao (Verbena officinalis): Bitter and sweet in flavor, cold in nature, slightly toxic. Enters the Liver and Spleen meridians. Primarily activates blood and unblocks menstruation; treats metal wounds (trauma caused by sharp instruments) and various sores/boils. Extract juice and mix with wine for oral administration.
Commentary: The Liver stores blood; the Spleen manages blood. Mabiancao specifically governs the blood aspect, hence it enters these two meridians.
Lugen (Reed Rhizome): Sweet in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Lung and Stomach meridians. Primarily eliminates residual heat in polydipsia (wasting-thirst syndrome), stops frequent urination, treats five types of dysphagia with qi stagnation, irritability, and vomiting/regurgitation. Usage: Decoct 5 liang of Lugen in 3 cups of water until 1 cup remains, then take orally; highly effective.
Commentary: Lugen primarily addresses vomiting and hiccups due to rebellious qi, hence it enters the Taiyin (Lung) and Yangming (Stomach) meridians. The pathology of polydipsia also arises because qi transformation fails to reach the lower jiao. By using Lugen to descend Taiyin lung qi, the generation of body fluids is thereby ensured.
Shechuangzi (Cnidium Fruit): Bitter, pungent, and sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, slightly toxic. Enters the Lung and Kidney meridians. Primarily treats wind-cold-damp bi obstruction, various malignant sores and tinea, swelling and pain in the female vulva, male impotence with damp-itching in the genital area. Long-term use preserves youthfulness and lightens the body, facilitating conception. Usage: Soak in wine overnight, mix with Rehmanniae Radix (Shengdi Huang) juice, steam, and dry in shade. Avoid using with Moutan Cortex (Mu Dan Pi), Crotonis Fructus (Ba Dou), and Fritillariae Bulbus (Bei Mu).
Commentary: Shechuangzi regulates wind-dampness, suitable for entering the Taiyin meridian; tonifies deficiency and treats flaccidity, suitable for entering the Shaoyin meridian.
Jinyinhua (Honeysuckle Flower): Bitter and sweet in flavor, neutral and slightly cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Lung meridian. Primarily treats bloody dysentery due to heat-toxin, dissipates carbuncles and disperses toxins, tonifies deficiency and dispels wind. Long-term use promotes longevity.
Commentary: Jinyinhua resolves toxins in the skin and muscles, hence it enters the Lung meridian and is a crucial herb for dermatological conditions. Tao Hongjing stated: Regular consumption benefits longevity, yet people often overlook it, seeking instead rare herbs. This reflects the common tendency to value distant things over nearby ones.
Shandougen (Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma): Sweet in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Heart and Lung meridians. Primarily detoxifies various medicinal poisons, relieves sore throat, reduces fever and dissipates carbuncles.
Commentary: Shandougen is cold in nature and specifically purges Heart fire. Once Heart fire is eliminated, Metal (Lung) is not damaged; with Metal protected, the risk of heat injury is avoided.
Aiye (Mugwort Leaf): Bitter in flavor, slightly warm in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Liver and Spleen meridians. Primarily used for moxibustion to treat myriad diseases, warms the middle and regulates qi, opens depression and regulates menstruation, calms the fetus and facilitates conception, stops metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, cures chronic dysentery, expels evil influences, stabilizes cholera-like symptoms (acute gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhea). Freshly crushed juice treats hematemesis and epistaxis.
Commentary: The warming property of Aiye allows the Liver and Spleen to flow smoothly, preventing stagnation and blood stasis. In the human body, only Qi and Blood are paramount. Now that Wood (Liver) and Earth (Spleen) are harmonized, Ying and Wei (nutritive and defensive qi) become balanced, and myriad diseases naturally recede. As for its efficacy in treating dampness, this merely highlights its specific strengths. For decoction, fresh leaves are preferred; for moxibustion, aged leaves are preferred. Raw use implies cold nature; cooked/roasted use implies warm nature.