气味苦平，无毒。炼服保中不饥，忍风寒。（《别录》附。）
（桃茂盛时，以刀割树皮，久则胶溢出，采收以桑灰汤浸过晒干用。）
气味酸温平涩，无毒。主治下气，除热，烦满，安心，止肢体痛，偏枯不仁，死肌，
去青黑志，蚀恶肉。（志痣同。）
（梅实将熟时，采微黄者，篮盛于突上熏黑，若以稻灰淋汁，润湿蒸过，则肥泽不蛀。）
梅花放于冬，而实熟于夏，独得先春之气，故其味酸，其气温平而涩，涩附于酸也。主
下气
者，得春生肝木之味，生气上升，则逆气自下矣。除热烦满者，禀冬令水阴之精，水精上滋
，则烦热除而胸膈不满矣。安心者，谓烦热除而胸膈不满，则心气亦安。肢体痛，偏枯不仁
，死肌，皆阳气虚微，不能熏肤充身泽毛，若雾露之溉。梅实结于春而熟于夏，主敷布阳气
于肌腠，故止肢体痛，及偏枯不仁之死肌。阳气充达，则其颜光，其色鲜，故去面上之青黑
痣，及身体虫蚀之恶肉。
愚按∶乌梅味酸，得东方之木味，放花于冬，成熟于夏，是禀冬令之水精而得春生之上
达也
物理，但以乌梅为酸敛收涩之药，而春生上达之义未之讲也，惜哉
气味苦寒，无毒。主治大风在皮肤中，如麻豆苦痒，除寒热结，止痢，长肌肉，利五
脏，益气，轻身。
（枳实出河内洛西及江湖州郡皆有。近时出于江西者为多，其木如橘而小，高五七尺，
叶如
橙，多刺，春开白花结实，至秋始成。《周礼》云∶橘逾淮而北为枳，今江南枳橘皆有，江
北有枳无橘，此是种类各别，非逾淮而变也。七八月采者为枳实，九十月采者为枳壳。愚按
∶实者乃果实之通称，言实壳亦在其中矣。）
枳实气味苦寒，冬不落叶，禀少阴标本之气化，臭香形圆，花白多刺，穣肉黄白。又得
阳明
金土之气化，主治大风在皮肤中。如麻豆苦痒者，得阳明金气而制风，禀少阴水气而清热也
。除寒热结者，禀少阴本热之气而除寒，标阴之气而除热也。止痢，长肌肉者，得阳明中土
之气也。五脏发原于先天之少阴，生长于后天之阳明，故主利五脏，得少阴之阴，故益气，
得阳明之气，故轻身。
仲祖本论，有大承气汤，用炙浓朴，炙枳实。小承气汤，用生浓朴，生枳实，生熟之间，
有意存焉。学人不可不参。
[Prunus Persica Gum]
Odor and Flavor: Bitter, neutral, non-toxic.
Efficacy: Taken after refining, it protects the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner) preventing hunger and enables endurance against wind and cold. (From *Bie Lu*, appended.)
(Collection method: When the peach tree is lush, cut the bark with a knife; gum will overflow after a long time. Collect it, soak it in ash water from mulberry branches, and dry it in the sun for use.)
[Wumei / Smoked Plum Fruit]
Odor and Flavor: Sour, warm, neutral, astringent, non-toxic.
Indications: Directs Qi downward, eliminates heat, relieves irritability and fullness, calms the mind, stops limb pain, treats hemiplegia and numbness, cures dead flesh (necrotic tissue), removes blue-black moles on the face, and erodes foul flesh. ("Zhi" is synonymous with "Zhi" meaning mole.)
(Processing method: When plums are nearly ripe, pick those that are slightly yellow, place them in baskets to smoke black over the stove flue. If rinsed with juice leached from rice husk ashes and steamed while moist, they become plump, lustrous, and resistant to insect damage.)
Plum blossoms open in winter, while the fruit ripens in summer; it alone receives the Qi of early spring growth. Therefore, its flavor is sour, its temperature is neutral and astringent, with astringency attached to sourness.
Regarding "directing Qi downward": It obtains the flavor of Liver Wood associated with spring growth. As the generating Qi ascends, rebellious Qi naturally descends.
Regarding "eliminating heat, irritability, and fullness": It inherits the essence of Winter Water Yin. As the Water essence nourishes upward, heat and irritability are eliminated, and chest/diaphragm fullness resolves.
Regarding "calming the mind": Once heat/irritability resolve and chest fullness clears, the Heart Qi becomes tranquil.
Limb pain, hemiplegia with numbness, and dead flesh are all due to deficiency and weakness of Yang Qi, which fails to warm the skin, fill the body, and moisten the hair, akin to mist or dew irrigation. Plum fruit forms in spring and ripens in summer; its main function is to distribute Yang Qi into the muscle layers and interstices. Thus, it stops limb pain and treats hemiplegia, numbness, and dead flesh. When Yang Qi is abundant and unobstructed, the complexion becomes radiant and fresh, thus removing facial blue-black moles and foul flesh resembling insect erosion.
My Commentary: Wumei is sour, obtaining the Wood flavor of the East. It flowers in winter and matures in summer, embodying the principle of inheriting Winter Water's essence to achieve Spring growth and upward movement. People merely regard Wumei as an astringent and收敛 (consolidating) herb, neglecting its meaning of spring generation and upward ascent. What a pity!
[Zhishi / Immature Bitter Orange Fruit]
Odor and Flavor: Bitter, cold, non-toxic.
Indications: Treats severe wind pathogens in the skin, causing itching and discomfort like hemp seeds or beans; eliminates cold-heat nodules; stops dysentery; promotes muscle growth; benefits the Five Zang Organs; tonifies Qi; makes the body light.
(Source: Zhishi is produced in Henei Luoxi and various prefectures along the rivers and lakes. Recently, those from Jiangxi are most common. The tree resembles a citrus but is smaller, 5-7 chi high, leaves resemble orange leaves, thorny, blooms white flowers in spring bearing fruit, maturing in autumn. *Zhou Li* states: "Oranges crossing north of the Huai River turn into Zhi." Currently, both Zhi and Ju exist in Jiangnan, while only Zhi exists in Jiangbei without Ju. This indicates distinct species, not transformation across the river. Harvested in July-August is Zhishi; harvested in September-October is Zhike. My Commentary: 'Shi' is a general term for fruit; stating 'Shi' implies 'Qiao' (shell) is included within it.)
Zhishi has a bitter-cold odor and flavor, does not shed leaves in winter, inheriting the Qi transformation of Shaoyin (Lesser Yin) Biaoben (Root and Branch). Its odor is fragrant, shape round, flowers white and thorny, pulp yellowish-white. It also obtains the Qi transformation of Yangming (Bright Yang) Metal and Earth.
It treats severe wind pathogens in the skin. The itching/discomfort like hemp seeds/beans results from Yangming Metal Qi controlling Wind and Shaoyin Water Qi clearing Heat.
Eliminating cold-heat nodules results from inheriting Shaoyin Root Heat Qi to eliminate Cold, and Branch Yin Qi to eliminate Heat.
Stopping dysentery and promoting muscle growth results from obtaining Yangming Central Earth Qi.
The Five Zang Organs originate from congenital Shaoyin and grow via postnatal Yangming; thus, it benefits the Five Zang Organs. Obtaining Shaoyin Yin, it tonifies Qi; obtaining Yangming Qi, it makes the body light.
In Zhang Zhongjing's *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage), Da Chengqi Tang uses roasted Houpo (Magnolia Bark) and roasted Zhishi. Xiao Chengqi Tang uses raw Houpo and raw Zhishi. There is profound intent between raw and roasted preparations. Students must carefully consider this.