〔害〕酸咸为多，能敛肺气。气为卫。若邪风在表，痧疹初发，一切停饮，肺家有实热
者，
皆当禁服之。恐闭其邪气，多致劳嗽虚热，盖收补之骤也。
〔利〕性温，五味具备，酸咸为多。收肺而疗咳定喘，补肾而壮水涩精，酸收而心守其
液，
故为补心猛将。肝肾同源，又为补肝猛将。
〔修治〕八月采实阴干，凡用蜜浸焙干，入补药熟用，入嗽药生用。肺寒气逆，与干姜
同用
。按五味酸敛，如劳损久咳，肺气耗散，非此不能收其耗散之金。
〔害〕凡肝胆心脾有实热邪者，勿用，以其收敛故也。
〔利〕性平能补益肝胆，酸收而心守其液，乃固表虚有汗，肝旺而血归其经，用疗彻夜
无眠
。
〔修治〕八月采实阴干，四十日成。生用疗热好眠。炒香熟用，疗胆虚不寐、烦渴、虚
汗等
症。自汗为阳虚，盗汗为阴虚，敛虚即所以治盗汗也，非敛阳虚自汗也。
〔害〕仁体多油辛润，且滑肠，泄泻者勿服。膈间多痰，及阳道数举，肾家有热，暑湿
作泻
，法在咸禁。
〔利〕甘辛香平，入心养神，入肾定志安神，定悸壮水，强阳，润血而容颜美少，补虚
而耳
目聪明。
〔修治〕九月采子，蒸曝春 ，取仁，酒浸一宿，晒干炒研去油用，油透者，勿入药。
〔害〕此无补性，虚而挟滞者；同养血、补气药用，交通心肾、资其宣导、臻于太和。
不可
多用、独用。纯虚无滞者，误服之，令人空洞悬心痛。凡心经有实火，应用黄连、生地者，
禁与参、术等补阳气药同用也。
〔利〕性温、苦泄辛散、定心气、止惊益智、补肾气，强志益精，善疗痈毒，敷服皆可。
〔修治〕四月采根叶，阴干去心，否则令人烦闷。甘草汤浸焙干，或盐水炒、或姜汁炒、
或
用炭。附小草∶益精补阴气，止虚损遗泄，交通心肾，调平水火之功。
[Schisandrae Fructus]
[Harm] The flavors of sour and salty are predominant, capable of astringing Lung Qi. Qi belongs to Wei (Defensive) Qi. If pathogenic wind is in the exterior, if maculopapular rashes are just erupting, if there is any retention of fluids, or if there is excess heat in the Lungs, its use is contraindicated. It may trap the pathogenic factors, often leading to consumptive cough and deficiency heat, due to the abrupt nature of its astringent tonification.
[Benefit] The nature is warm, possessing all five flavors, with sour and salty being predominant. It astringes Lung Qi to treat cough and calm asthma; tonifies Kidney to strengthen Water and secure essence; through its sour astringency, it helps the Heart retain its fluids, thus serving as a potent general for tonifying the Heart. Since Liver and Kidney share the same source, it is also a potent general for tonifying the Liver.
[Preparation] Harvest the fruits in the eighth lunar month and dry them in the shade. When used with honey-soaked and baked, it should be cooked thoroughly when included in tonic prescriptions, but used raw when included in prescriptions for cough. For Cold-Qi stagnation with rebellious Qi, it can be used together with dried ginger. Note: Schisandra is sour and astringent; in cases of chronic cough due to consumption where Lung Qi is dissipating, this herb is necessary to consolidate the dissipating Metal (Lung).
[Polygalae Radix Cortex]
[Harm] Do not use if there is excess heat and pathogenic factors in the Liver, Gallbladder, Heart, or Spleen, due to its astringent properties.
[Benefit] The nature is neutral, capable of tonifying the Liver and Gallbladder. Its sour astringency helps the Heart retain fluids, thereby securing the exterior to stop sweating due to deficiency; when Liver Yang is hyperactive, it helps blood return to its vessels, and it is used to treat insomnia throughout the night.
[Preparation] Harvest the fruits in the eighth lunar month and dry them in the shade; processing takes forty days. Used raw, it treats heat conditions and promotes sleep. Stir-fried until fragrant and cooked, it treats insomnia due to Gallbladder deficiency, vexation and thirst, and deficiency sweating. Spontaneous sweating is attributed to Yang deficiency, while night sweats are attributed to Yin deficiency. Astringing sweat is used to treat night sweats, not spontaneous sweating due to Yang deficiency.
[Platycladi Semen]
[Harm] The kernel is oily, pungent, and moistening, and tends to loosen the bowels; it is forbidden for those with diarrhea. It is strictly contraindicated for those with excessive phlegm in the chest and diaphragm, frequent erections, Heat in the Kidneys, or diarrhea caused by summerheat-dampness.
[Benefit] The flavor is sweet, pungent, and aromatic, with a neutral nature. It enters the Heart to nourish the Spirit, enters the Kidney to stabilize will and calm the mind, calms palpitations, strengthens Water, boosts Yang, moistens Blood to beautify the complexion and maintain youth, and tonifies deficiency to improve hearing and vision.
[Preparation] Harvest the seeds in the ninth lunar month, steam and sun-dry them, remove the shells to obtain the kernels, soak them in wine for one night, then sun-dry, stir-fry, and grind. Remove the oil; kernels that have leaked oil should not be used in medicine.
[Cognitae Radix]
[Harm] This herb lacks tonifying properties. For deficiency patterns complicated by stagnation, it must be used in combination with blood-nourishing and Qi-tonifying herbs to facilitate communication between the Heart and Kidney, assist dissemination and guidance, and achieve supreme harmony. It should not be used in large doses or alone. If taken mistakenly by those with pure deficiency without stagnation, it causes empty, hanging heart pain. In cases of Excess Fire in the Heart channel requiring Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian) and Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (Shengdi), it is contraindicated to use it together with Qi-warming and tonifying herbs such as Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu).
[Benefit] The nature is warm; bitter drains downward, and pungent disperses outward. It stabilizes Heart Qi, stops fright, enhances intelligence, tonifies Kidney Qi, strengthens will, benefits essence, and is excellent for treating carbuncles and sores, suitable for both internal and external application.
[Preparation] Harvest the roots and leaves in the fourth lunar month, dry in the shade, and remove the woody core, otherwise it causes vexation and stuffiness. It can be soaked in Licorice Decoction and baked dry, or stir-fried with salt water, ginger juice, or charcoal. Fuzi Xiaocao (a related variety): Benefits essence, tonifies Yin Qi, stops leakage due to deficiency, facilitates communication between Heart and Kidney, and harmonizes Water and Fire.