味甘辛寒有小毒。入手足阳明经。功专浓肠胃。生研水服解药毒。俗名香芋。
味甘。入足太阴经。功专健脾。得羊肉补脾阴。得熟地固肾精。以矾水煮山药晒干
。同茯苓等分为末。治小便数。山药半生半炒米饮下。治噤口痢。忌与面同食。
味甘平。入足太阴经。功专补虚乏。益气力。健脾胃。强肾阴。即山薯。
味甘苦。入手少阴太阴经。功专清肺。得款冬花治痰嗽带血。独用煎服。治百合病
及吐血。
味甘微寒。入手太阴足阳明经。功专利膈下气化热。爽胃消痰。虚人及小儿不宜多
吃。因其滑肠。痘症尤宜忌之。
味甘寒而利。入手足太阴阳明经。功专散血宽肠。动风发病。多食伤子宫。老黄茄
子治乳头裂。根煎汁洗冻疮。折蒂烧灰治口疮。俱获奇效。以鲜茄蒂鲜首乌等分煮饮。治对
口疮神验。以马尿浸根三日。酒炒为末。点牙即落。一名落苏。
味甘平滑。入手太阴足阳明经。功专利水通小便。治腹胀黄肿。以亚腰壶卢。连子
烧存性。每服一个。食前温服或白汤下。十余日必愈。一名匏瓜。俗名葫芦。
味甘寒。入手太阴足太阳经。功专泻热益脾。利二便。消水肿。止消渴。散热毒痈
肿。去皮切片。酒水煮烂。去渣熬浓。每夜涂面。变黑为白。光泽异常。子补肝明目。疟疾
寒热。肠胃内壅。最为要药。叶焙研敷多年恶疮。一名白瓜。
[Tu Yu (Chinese Taro)]
The flavor is sweet, pungent, and the nature is cold with slight toxicity. It enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. Its function is specifically to thicken and nourish the intestines and stomach. When ground raw and taken with water, it can detoxify medicinal poisons. Commonly known as Xiang Yu.
[Shan Yao (Dioscorea Opposita Rhizome)]
The flavor is sweet. It enters the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. Its function is specifically to strengthen the spleen. When combined with mutton, it tonifies Spleen Yin. When used with Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia Root), it consolidates Kidney Essence. If Shan Yao is boiled in alum water, dried, and powdered equally with Fu Ling (Poria), it treats frequent urination. If half raw and half stir-fried Shan Yao is taken with rice decoction, it treats Jin Kou Li (Anorexia-associated dysentery). It should be avoided to eat together with wheat flour products.
[Shan Shu]
The flavor is sweet and neutral. It enters the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. Its function is specifically to tonify deficiency and fatigue, boost Qi and strength, strengthen the spleen and stomach, and strengthen Kidney Yin. This refers to Shan Shu.
[Bai He (Lilium Bulb)]
The flavor is sweet and bitter. It enters the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian and Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Its function is specifically to clear the lungs. When combined with Kuan Dong Hua (Fritillaria Thunbergii Bud), it treats cough with blood-streaked sputum. Used alone and decocted for oral administration, it treats Bai He Bing (Lily Disease) and hematemesis.
[Bai Gua / Dong Gua Category]
The flavor is sweet and slightly cold. It enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. Its function is specifically to promote the transformation of Qi and clear heat below the diaphragm, refresh the stomach, and eliminate phlegm. Individuals with deficiency or children should not consume it in excess because it causes loose stools. Patients with smallpox/rashes should especially avoid it.
[Qie Zi (Eggplant)]
The flavor is sweet, cold, and promoting. It enters the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian, Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, and Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Its function is specifically to dissipate blood stasis and relax the intestines. However, excessive consumption may stir up wind and trigger diseases, and damage the uterus. Old yellow eggplants treat cracked nipples; root decoction washes frostbite; stem tips burned to ash treat mouth ulcers, all yielding miraculous effects. Fresh eggplant stems and fresh He Shou Wu (Polygonum Multiflorum Root) boiled equally in water treat Dui Kou Chuang (angular cheilitis/perioral ulcer) with divine efficacy. Roots soaked in horse urine for three days, stir-fried with wine and powdered, applied to teeth cause them to fall out. Also known as Luo Su.
[Hu Lu (Calabash/Gourd)]
The flavor is sweet, smooth, and flat. It enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. Its function is specifically to promote water metabolism and unblock urination, treating abdominal distension and yellow edema. Take Ya Yao Hu Lu (gourd with a waist), burn the seeds until carbonized but retaining their nature, take one per dose, warm before meals or with plain water, and it will surely heal within ten-plus days. Also known as Bao Gua, commonly called Hu Lu.
[Tian Gua / Bai Gua]
The flavor is sweet and cold. It enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Foot-Taiyin Bladder Meridian. Its function is specifically to purge heat and benefit the spleen, promote urination and defecation, reduce edema, stop thirst, and dissipate heat toxins and carbuncles. Peel and slice, boil thoroughly in water and wine, remove dregs, and boil down to a thick paste. Apply to the face every night to turn dark skin white with abnormal luster. Seeds tonify the liver and brighten the eyes. It is a crucial herb for treating malaria chills and fever, and internal stagnation of the intestines and stomach. Leaves roasted and powdered are applied to chronic malignant sores. Also known as Bai Gua.