〔害〕纯阳之气，虽除寒湿，散风邪，然肺胃素有火热，或咳嗽生痰，或大肠积热下血，
咸
不宜用。凡泄泻由于火热暴注，而非积寒虚冷者忌之。阴痿脚弱，由于精血耗竭，而非命门
火衰虚冷所致者，不宜入下焦药用。一切阴虚阳盛，火热冲上，头目肿痛，齿浮口疮，衄血
耳聋，咽痛舌赤，消渴、肺痿、咳嗽、咯血、吐血等症，法所咸忌。阴虚火旺之人，在所大
忌。
诜曰∶五月食椒，损气伤心，令人多忘。
别录曰∶大热多食，令人乏气喘促。闭口椒有毒，能杀人。
〔利〕辛热，入脾、肺、右肾、命门，温脾胃而击三焦之冷滞，补元阳而荡六腑之沉寒。
燥
湿发汗，消食除胀；治肾气上逆，能导火归元；止呕吐泻利，消痰饮水肿，通血脉而消痿痹
，行肢节而健机关，破症瘕，安蛔虫，虫闻椒即伏。
椒禀纯阳之性，乃除寒湿，散风邪，温脾胃，暖命门之要药。
椒目苦辛少毒，善消水胀肿满定喘，可塞耳聋。塞耳聋者，通关补肾之功也。
〔修治〕蜀产，肉浓皮皱，为川椒，比秦椒略小。去目及闭口者，微炒去汗，捣去里面
黄壳
，取红用，名椒红，得盐良。中其毒者，用凉水麻仁浆解之。
秦椒，俗名花椒。比川椒味短，纹低，禁忌俱同川椒。
〔害〕按黄 极滞胃口，胸胃不宽，肠胃有积滞者勿用。实表，有表邪及表旺者勿用
。助气
，气实者勿用。病患多怒，则肝气不和勿服。能补阳，阳盛阴虚，上焦热甚，下焦虚寒者均
忌。恐升气于表，而里愈虚耳。痘疮血分热者禁用。
〔利〕甘微温，补脾胃三焦而实肺，生用固表敛汗，熟用益气补中。
〔修治〕八月采根，阴干。达表生用或酒炒，补气水炙捶扁，以蜜水涂炙数次，以熟为
度。
亦有以盐水汤润透熟切用。产山西沁州绵上者，温补。陕西同州白水 ，凉补。味甘，柔软
如绵，能令人肥。今人多以苜蓿根假作黄 。折皮亦似绵，颇能乱真。但坚而脆，俗呼土黄
，能令人瘦，用者宜审。
丹溪云∶肥白而多汗者为宜，若面黑形实而瘦者服之，令胸满。
[Shu Jiao / Sichuan Pepper]
[Harm] Shu Jiao possesses pure Yang Qi. Although it can dispel cold-dampness and scatter wind-pathogens, it should be avoided if the Lung and Stomach already harbor heat-fire, or if there is cough with phlegm production, or lower bowel accumulation of heat leading to bloody stool. It is contraindicated in cases of acute violent diarrhea due to heat-fire, rather than those caused by accumulated cold or deficiency-cold. For impotence and weak legs due to exhaustion of essence and blood, rather than those caused by decline of Mingmen fire and deficiency-cold, it is unsuitable for use in formulas treating the Lower Jiao. All conditions characterized by Yin deficiency with Yang hyperactivity and rising heat-fire, such as swelling and pain of the head and eyes, floating gums and mouth ulcers, epistaxis, deafness, sore throat with red tongue, Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome), Fei Wei (lung atrophy), cough, hemoptysis, and hematemesis, are strictly contraindicated. Individuals with Yin deficiency and fire hyperactivity must strictly avoid it.
Li Xu stated: Consuming pepper in the fifth month damages Qi and harms the Heart, causing forgetfulness.
The Classic of Famous Physicians records: Being extremely hot, excessive consumption causes fatigue, shortness of breath, and panting. Peppers with closed pores are toxic and can cause death.
[Benefit] Pungent and hot, entering the Spleen, Lung, Right Kidney, and Mingmen channels. It warms the Spleen and Stomach while striking cold-stagnation in the San Jiao; supplements Primordial Yang while sweeping away deep-seated cold in the Six Fu Organs. It dries dampness and induces sweating, aids digestion, and relieves distension; treats rebellious Qi of the Kidney, guiding fire back to its source (Dao Huo Gui Yuan); stops vomiting and diarrhea, resolves phlegm-fluid retention and edema, unifies the blood vessels to eliminate Wei Bi (flaccidity and numbness), promotes movement of joints and strengthens mechanical function, breaks up masses (Zheng Jia), and calms roundworms; worms subside upon smelling pepper.
Pepper inherits the nature of pure Yang; it is a crucial herb for dispelling cold-dampness, scattering wind-pathogens, warming the Spleen and Stomach, and warming the Mingmen.
Jiao Mu (Pepper Seeds) are bitter and pungent with slight toxicity. They excel at resolving water-distension, fullness, edema, and stabilizing asthma, and can treat deafness. Treating deafness relies on their ability to open collaterals and tonify the Kidney.
[Processing] Produced in Sichuan, with thick flesh and wrinkled skin, known as Chuan Jiao, slightly smaller than Qin Jiao. Remove the eye (stem scar) and closed-pore peppers. Lightly stir-fry until oil exudes ("sweat"), crush, remove the inner yellow shell, and use the red part, named Jiao Hong. It works best when combined with salt. If poisoned by pepper, antidote with cool water mixed with sesame paste.
Qin Jiao, commonly called Hua Jiao. Its flavor is shorter and texture less pronounced than Chuan Jiao; contraindications are the same as Chuan Jiao.
[Huang Qi / Astragalus Root]
[Harm] Note: Huang Qi tends to stagnate the stomach appetite, causing chest and stomach tightness. It should not be used by those with accumulation and stagnation in the intestines and stomach. It consolidates the exterior (Biao); thus, it is contraindicated in those with exterior pathogens or robust exterior Qi. It boosts Qi; thus, it is contraindicated in those with excess Qi. Patients prone to anger have disharmonious Liver Qi and should not take it. It tonifies Yang; therefore, it is contraindicated in cases of Yang excess with Yin deficiency, severe heat in the Upper Jiao, and deficiency-cold in the Lower Jiao. It may raise Qi to the exterior, further depleting interior Qi. It is strictly forbidden for chickenpox/smallpox cases involving heat in the Blood level.
[Benefit] Sweet and slightly warm. It tonifies the Spleen, Stomach, and San Jiao, thereby solidifying the Lung. Raw usage consolidates the exterior and arrests sweating; cooked usage boosts Qi and tonifies the Middle Jiao.
[Processing] Harvest roots in the eighth month and dry in the shade. For releasing the exterior, use raw or wine-fried. For boosting Qi, steam with water, pound flat, brush with honey-water, and roast repeatedly until thoroughly cooked. Alternatively, soak in salt-water solution until soft, then slice. Those produced in Mianshang, Qinzhou, Shanxi, are mild and tonifying. Those from Baishui, Tongzhou, Shaanxi, are cool-tonifying. The taste is sweet, texture soft like cotton, and it can promote weight gain. Nowadays, many people substitute it with Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) root. Broken skin resembles cotton, easily deceiving the eye. However, Alfalfa root is hard and brittle, commonly called "Tu Huang Qi" (Earth Astragalus). It causes emaciation. Users must discern carefully.
Zhu Danxi said: It is suitable for those who are fat, white-complexioned, and sweaty. If taken by those with dark complexions, solid bodies, and thin frames, it will cause chest fullness.