〔害〕纯阴至静之品，若虚寒人服之，则腹痛作泻。
〔利〕苦甘凉，益肝肾，补中，黑须发，明目，养精神。
〔修治〕立冬后采取，阴干，去梗叶，酒浸一日夜，袋擦去皮，蒸透晒干用。
〔害〕小儿以豆与猪肉同食，必壅气致死，十有八九。如十岁以上，则无害也。服萆麻
子者
，终身忌炒豆，犯之胀满致死。服浓朴者亦忌之，最能动气故也。
〔利〕甘平，补心肾而明目，活血散风，除热解毒，能消水肿，可稀痘疮。
黑豆之小者，曰马料豆，盐水煮食，尤能补肾。料豆之皮，曰 豆衣，补肾凉血止汗，亦称
黑豆衣。
〔修治〕九月采取大豆荚，用生豆。炒食极热，煮食甚寒，作豉极冷，造酱及生黄卷则
平，
牛食之则温，马食之冷，一体之中，用之数变。
〔害〕海味咸温，血病多热者勿用。
〔修治〕辽海产者良，胶州所出，生北海咸水中，色又黑，以滋肾水，从其类也。有刺
者名
刺参，无刺者名光参。以水瀹胖，剖开去肚中杂泥沙用。
〔害〕淡渗利湿，引水有功，多用能亡津液，久服必损肾气，昏人眼目，无湿证者勿服。
〔利〕甘淡平，入肾、膀胱二经。分消水肿，淡渗湿痰，利水诸药，无如此快。
〔修治〕是枫树下苓，其皮黑色，肉白而实者佳。二八月采阴干，铜刀削去粗皮，薄切。
[Harm] Nü Zhen Zi (Ligustri Lucidi Fructus) is a substance of pure Yin and extreme stillness. If taken by individuals with deficiency-cold constitutions, it may induce abdominal pain and diarrhea.
[Benefits] It is bitter, sweet, and cool in nature. It benefits the Liver and Kidney, tonifies the Middle Jiao, darkens beard and hair, brightens the eyes, and nourishes the spirit.
[Preparation] Harvest after Start of Winter. Dry in the shade, remove stems and leaves, soak in wine for one day and night, rub in a bag to remove the skin, steam thoroughly, and dry in the sun for use.
[Harm] If children consume black soybeans together with pork, it will inevitably cause Qi stagnation leading to death; this occurs in eight or nine out of ten cases. However, if the child is over ten years old, there is no such harm. Individuals taking Bi Ma Zi (Ricini Semen) must avoid fried beans for life; violating this leads to fatal abdominal distension. Those taking Hou Po (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) should also avoid fried beans, as they easily disturb Qi.
[Benefits] Black soybeans are sweet and neutral. They tonify the Heart and Kidney, brighten the eyes, invigorate blood, dispel wind, clear heat, resolve toxicity, reduce edema, and can help dilute smallpox lesions.
Smaller varieties of black soybeans are called "Ma Liao Dou" (Horse Feed Beans). Boiled in salt water, they are particularly effective in tonifying the Kidney. The skin of these beans is called "Dou Yi" (Bean Coat) or "Hei Dou Yi" (Black Bean Coat), which tonifies the Kidney, cools blood, and stops sweating.
[Preparation] Harvest soybean pods in the ninth lunar month using raw beans. Fried consumption is extremely hot; boiled consumption is very cold; fermented into Dou Chi (Fermented Soybean) it becomes extremely cold; made into paste or Sheng Huang Juan (Raw Soybean Sprout) it is neutral. When fed to cattle, it is warm; when fed to horses, it is cold. Within the same substance, its properties vary significantly depending on preparation.
[Harm] Sea cucumber is salty and warm. It should not be used by patients with blood disorders characterized by excessive heat.
[Preparation] Those produced in Liaodong coastal areas are superior. Those from Jiaozhou grow in the saline waters of the North Sea and are black in color. This aligns with the principle that black enters the Kidney Water, following its kind. Those with spines are named Ci Shen (Spiny Sea Cucumber); those without spines are named Guang Shen (Smooth Sea Cucumber). Boil in water until swollen, cut open, remove internal sand and mud impurities, and prepare for use.
[Harm] Zhu Ling (Polyporus) has a light, leaching effect to promote dampness drainage and guide water out. However, excessive use can deplete body fluids, and long-term use inevitably damages Kidney Qi, causing blurred vision. It should not be taken by those without dampness patterns.
[Benefits] It is sweet, bland, and neutral. It enters the Kidney and Bladder meridians. It differentiates and eliminates edema, leaches damp-phlegm, and among diuretic herbs, none acts as swiftly as this.
[Preparation] Polyporus growing under maple trees, with black skin and white, solid flesh, is of superior quality. Harvest in the second or eighth lunar months, dry in the shade, scrape off the rough outer skin with a copper knife, and slice thinly.