甘寒，无毒。
发明 性味滑。常食发气，令关节急。患痔漏、香港脚、积聚，皆不可食，为其寒滑伤
津也。《千金方》治热泻呕逆漏气，泽泻汤、麦门冬汤并用之。取其清胃脘之热逆也。又能
压丹石，解百药毒。
苦咸寒，小毒。反甘草。
《本经》主瘿瘤结气，散颈硬核，疗痈肿症瘕坚气，腹中上下雷鸣，下十二种水肿。
发明 海藻咸能润下，寒能泄热利水，故《本经》主瘿瘤结核，痈肿症瘕，散十二经
水及除浮肿、香港脚留饮痰气之湿热，使邪从小便而出。《经》云∶咸能软坚。营气不从，外
为浮肿，随各引经药治之。凡海中诸药性味相近，主疗一致，虽有不同，亦无大异。
咸寒滑，小毒。
发明 咸能软坚，故瘿坚如石者，非此不能除。能破阳邪水肿，与海藻同功。然此物下
气，久服瘦人，海岛人常食之，水土不同故耳。凡海中菜皆损人，不独昆布、海藻为然。
甘淡微苦咸平，无毒。酒浸用。种类最多，惟川者味甘淡、色黄、无岐，可无伤
胃之虞。古称金钗者为最，以其色黄如金，旁枝如钗，故有是名。近世绝无此种，川者差堪
代用。其余杂产、味苦色晦、中虚多岐者，味皆极苦，误用损人。凡入汤药酒浸晒干入丸剂
，薄切，米饮浆晒干磨之。
《本经》主伤中除痹下气，补五脏，虚劳羸瘦，强阴益精，久服浓肠胃。
发明 石斛足太阴、少阴脾肾之药。甘可悦脾，故浓肠胃而治伤中。咸能益肾，故益精
气而补虚羸，为治胃中虚热之专药；又能坚筋骨，强腰膝，骨痿痹弱，囊湿精少，小便余沥
者宜之。
Dendrobii Caulis (Shihu): Sweet, cold, non-toxic.
[Invention] Its nature is slippery. Long-term consumption depletes Qi and causes joint stiffness. It should not be consumed by patients with hemorrhoids and fistulas, Hong Kong foot (swelling and pain in the feet), or accumulations, because its cold and slippery nature damages body fluids. In *Qianjin Fang*, Ze Xie Tang (Alisma Decoction) and Mai Men Dong Tang (Ophiopogon Decoction) are used together to treat heat-type diarrhea, vomiting, regurgitation, and leaking Qi. This utilizes its ability to clear heat and rebellious Qi in the stomach cavity. Furthermore, it can suppress the harshness of cinnabar and stone medicines and detoxify various drugs.
Sargassum (Haizao): Bitter, salty, cold, slightly toxic. Incompatible with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao).
*Shennong Ben Cao Jing* states it treats goiter and knotted Qi, dissipates hard lumps in the neck, treats carbuncles, swelling, zheng jia (abdominal masses) and firm accumulation Qi, eliminates borborygmus above and below in the abdomen, and reduces twelve types of edema.
[Invention] Sargassum is salty, which moistens and directs downward; cold, which drains heat and promotes diuresis. Therefore, *Shennong Ben Cao Jing* records it as treating goiter and tubercles, carbuncles, swelling, and zheng jia, dissipating water-dampness in the twelve meridians, removing edema, and clearing damp-heat from retained fluid and phlegm-Qi in Hong Kong foot, allowing pathogens to exit via urination. The *Neijing* states: "Salty softens hardness." When Ying Qi fails to circulate properly, it manifests externally as edema; treatment should follow the channel-guiding herbs according to the specific condition. Generally, marine medicinal materials have similar properties and flavors, and their therapeutic effects are consistent. Although there are minor differences, they are not significant.
Laminariae Thallus (Kunbu): Salty, cold, slippery, slightly toxic.
[Invention] Salty substances soften hardness; therefore, for goiters that are hard as stone, this herb is indispensable for elimination. It can break Yang-pathogen-induced edema and shares the same efficacy as Sargassum. However, Laminariae directs Qi downward; long-term use may cause emaciation in thin individuals. People on islands consume it frequently due to differences in water and soil conditions. All marine vegetables damage the human body, not just Laminariae and Sargassum.
Dendrobii Nobile Caulis (Jinchai Shihu): Sweet, bland, slightly bitter and salty, neutral, non-toxic. Use after soaking in wine. There are many varieties; only those from Sichuan, which are sweet and bland, yellow in color, and without branches, can be used without fear of damaging the Stomach Qi. Ancient texts considered "Golden Hairpin" (Jinchai) the best because its color is yellow like gold and its side branches resemble hairpins, hence the name. Such specimens are extremely rare nowadays; Sichuan-produced ones can barely serve as substitutes. Other miscellaneous productions, which are bitter, dull in color, hollow inside, and multi-branched, have an extremely bitter taste and harm humans if misused. For decoctions, soak in wine and sun-dry; for pills, slice thinly, sun-dry with rice water slurry, and grind into powder.
*Shennong Ben Cao Jing* states it treats internal injury, removes bi-syndrome, directs Qi downward, tonifies the Five Zang organs, treats deficiency-wasting syndrome with emaciation, strengthens Yin and benefits Essence, and long-term consumption thickens the intestines and stomach.
[Invention] Dendrobii Caulis enters the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian and Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Sweet flavor pleases the Spleen, thus thickening the intestines and stomach to treat internal injury. Salty flavor benefits the Kidney, thus benefiting Essence and Qi and tonifying deficiency-wasting, making it a specialized herb for treating deficiency-heat in the Stomach. It also strengthens bones and tendons, strengthens the waist and knees, and is suitable for bone-withering bi-syndrome, weakness, damp scrotum, scanty essence, and dribbling urine.