补气、除肺火。
苦寒微甘。味浓体重。补肺降火。肺热者宜之。脏寒者服之。即作腹痛。郁火服之。火
不透
发。反生寒热。其性大约与西洋人参相同。不过清热之功。热去则火不刑金。而肺脏受益。
非真能补也。出闽中。须多去皮。再用滚水泡。以其苦劣之味在外皮。近中心则苦味减而稍
甘。
补中气、生津。
甘平补中。益气。和脾胃。除烦渴。中气微虚。用以调补。甚为平妥。按古本草云。参
须
上党者佳。今真党参久已难得。肆中所卖党参。种类甚多。皆不堪用。唯防风党参。性味和
平
硬纹者伪也。（白党、味微甘而甚淡、功力远不及尔。）
补肺气、通下行。
甘微寒。（蒸之极透、则寒性去。）气香味淡。性善下降。能伸肺经治节。使清肃下行。
补气
生津。治咳嗽喘逆。痰壅火升。久疟淋沥。难产经闭。泻痢由于肺热。反胃噎膈由于燥涩。
凡有升无降之证。每见奇效。（其参一直下行、入土最深。）脾虚下陷。滑精梦遗。俱禁用。
以其下行而滑窍也。孕妇亦忌。出江浙。俗名粉沙参。（红党参、即将此参去皮净、煮极熟
、阴干而成者、味淡无用。）
补肺降火。
苦寒微甘。味浓气薄。补肺降火。生津液。除烦倦。虚而有火者相宜。出大西洋佛兰西。
（
形似辽东糙人参、煎之不香、其气甚薄、禁忌与珠参同。）
Tonify Qi, clear Lung fire.
Bitter, cold, slightly sweet. The flavor is strong and the substance heavy. It tonifies the Lung and descends fire. It is suitable for those with Lung heat. If taken by those with internal Cold, it will cause abdominal pain. If taken by those with constrained fire, the fire will not be vented out, but instead generate alternating chills and fever. Its nature is roughly the same as that of American Ginseng (Xi Yang Shen), but its function lies in clearing heat. Once the heat is removed, fire no longer overacts on Metal (Lung), thereby benefiting the Lung organ. This is not true tonification. It originates from central Fujian. The skin should be peeled off extensively, then soaked in boiling water, because its bitter and inferior taste resides in the outer skin; closer to the center, the bitterness decreases and becomes slightly sweet.
Tonify Middle Qi, generate fluids.
Sweet, neutral. It tonifies the Middle Jiao Qi, benefits Qi, harmonizes the Spleen and Stomach, and eliminates vexation and thirst. For slight deficiency of Middle Qi, using it for regulation and tonification is very mild and appropriate. According to ancient Materia Medica, Codonopsis Radix (Dang Shen) from Shangdang is superior. Today, genuine Shangdang Codonopsis is hard to obtain. The Codonopsis sold in markets comes in many varieties, none of which are usable. Only Fangfeng Dangshen, which has a mild nature and flavor and a hard texture with distinct rings, is authentic. (White Dangshen has a slightly sweet but very bland taste, and its efficacy is far inferior.)
Tonify Lung Qi, promote downward movement.
Sweet, slightly cold. (After thorough steaming, the cold nature is eliminated.) The aroma is light and the taste bland. Its nature favors descending. It can extend the regulatory function of the Lung meridian, allowing clear and肃 (descending) energy to move downward. It tonifies Qi and generates fluids. It treats cough, asthma, and rebellious Qi; phlegm obstruction and rising fire; chronic malaria with lingering symptoms; difficult labor and amenorrhea. For diarrhea and dysentery caused by Lung heat, and regurgitation and dysphagia caused by dryness and obstruction, conditions characterized by ascending without descending often show miraculous effects. (This rhizome grows straight downward, penetrating deepest into the soil.) It is strictly contraindicated for Spleen Qi sinking with prolapse, seminal emission, and nocturnal emissions, because it moves downward and lubricates the orifices. Pregnant women should also avoid it. It originates from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, commonly known as Fen Shashen. (Red Dangshen is made by peeling this rhizome cleanly, boiling it until thoroughly cooked, and drying it in the shade; it is bland and useless.)
Tonify Lung and descend fire.
Bitter, cold, slightly sweet. The flavor is strong but the aroma is thin. It tonifies the Lung, descends fire, generates body fluids, and eliminates vexation and fatigue. It is suitable for deficiency with fire. It originates from France in the Atlantic Ocean. (Its shape resembles coarse Ginseng from Liaodong; when decocted, it lacks fragrance and has a very thin aroma. Its contraindications are the same as those for Zhuer Shen.)