（《唐本草》）
【集解】恭曰∶沙糖，蜀地、西戎、江东并有之。榨甘蔗汁煎成，紫色。瑞曰∶稀者为
蔗糖，干者为沙糖，球者为球糖，饼者为糖饼。沙糖中凝结如石，破之如沙，透明白者，为
糖霜。
时珍曰∶此紫沙糖也。法出西域，唐太宗始遣人传其法入中国。以蔗汁过樟木槽，取而
煎成。清者为蔗糖，凝结有沙者为沙糖。漆瓮造成，如石、如霜、如冰者，为石蜜、为糖霜、
为冰糖也。紫糖亦可煎化，印成鸟兽果物之状，以充席献。今之货者，又多杂以米饧诸物，
不可不知。
【气味】甘，寒，无毒。
恭曰∶冷利过于石蜜。
诜曰∶性温不冷。多食令人心痛，生长虫，消肌肉，损齿，发疳 。与鲫鱼同食，成疳
虫；与葵同食，生流 ；与笋同食，
【主治】心腹热胀，口干渴（《唐本》）。润心肺大小肠热，解酒毒。腊月瓶封窖粪坑中，
患天行热狂者，绞汁服，甚良（大明）。和中助脾
【发明】宗 曰∶蔗汁清，故费煎炼致紫黑色。今医家治暴热，多用为先导；兼啖驼、
马，解热。小儿多食则损齿生虫者，土制水， 虫属土，得甘即生也。
震亨曰∶糖生胃火，乃湿土生热，故能损齿生虫，与食枣病龋同意，非土制水也。
时珍曰∶沙糖性温，殊于蔗浆，故不宜多食。与鱼、笋之类同食，皆不益人。今人每用
为调和，徒取其适口，而不知阴受其害也。但其性能和脾缓肝，故治脾胃及泻肝药用为先导。
本草言其性寒，苏恭谓其冷利，皆昧此理。
【附方】旧一，新五。
下痢禁口∶沙糖半斤，乌梅一个，水二碗，煎一碗，时时饮之。（《摘玄方》）
腹中紧胀∶白糖以酒三升，煮服之。不过再服。（《子母秘录》）
痘不落痂∶沙糖，调新汲水一杯服之（白汤调亦可），日二服。（刘提点方）
虎伤人疮∶水化沙糖一碗服，并涂之。（《摘玄方》）上气喘嗽，烦热，食即吐逆∶用沙
糖、姜汁等分，相和，慢煎二十沸，每咽半匙，取效。
食韭口臭∶沙糖解之。（《摘要方》）
(From *Tang Bencao*)
[Collected Explanations] Su Gong stated: Sha Tang (Brown Sugar) is produced in Shu, Xirong, and Jiangdong. It is made by pressing sugarcane juice and boiling it down; its color is purple. Su Rui stated: The thin variety is Zhe Tang (Cane Sugar), the dry variety is Sha Tang (Brown Sugar), the spherical variety is Qiu Tang (Ball Sugar), and the cake-shaped variety is Tang Bing (Sugar Cake). Sha Tang that condenses like stone but breaks apart like sand, appearing transparent and white, is called Tang Shuang (Sugar Frost).
Li Shizhen stated: This is Zi Sha Tang (Purple Brown Sugar). The method originated from the Western Regions and was introduced to China during the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. Sugarcane juice is filtered through camphor wood troughs, collected, and boiled into sugar. The clear liquid is Zhe Tang (Cane Sugar), while the condensed, sandy-textured substance is Sha Tang (Brown Sugar). Stored in lacquered urns, substances that harden like stone, frost, or ice are referred to as Shi Mi (Rock Honey), Tang Shuang (Sugar Frost), and Bing Tang (Rock Sugar), respectively. Zi Sha Tang can also be melted and molded into shapes of birds, beasts, and fruits to serve as banquet offerings. Current merchants often adulterate it with rice malt and other substances, a fact one must be aware of.
[Flavor and Properties] Sweet, cold, non-toxic.
Su Gong stated: Its cooling and purgative properties exceed those of Shi Mi (Rock Honey).
Su Song stated: Its nature is warm and not cold. Excessive consumption causes heart pain, promotes the growth of parasites, wastes muscle tissue, damages teeth, and induces Gan Ji (Infantile Malnutrition/Parasitic Disease). Consuming it with crucian carp forms Gan Chong (Gan Parasites); consuming it with hibiscus leaves generates flowing sores; consuming it with bamboo shoots... [text cuts off].
[Therapeutic Actions] Treats heat and distension in the heart and abdomen, and dry mouth/thirst (from *Tang Bencao*). Moistens the lungs and heart, clears heat from the large and small intestines, and resolves alcohol toxicity. In the twelfth lunar month, seal bottles in manure pits. For patients suffering from epidemic febrile diseases with delirium, extract the juice and administer orally; this is highly effective (from *Da Ming Bencao*). Harmonizes the middle jiao and assists spleen function.
[Elucidation] Kou Zongshi stated: Because sugarcane juice is clear, it requires extensive boiling to turn purple-black. Modern physicians often use it as a guiding agent for treating sudden high fever; it is also fed to camels and horses to clear heat. If children consume too much, it damages teeth and breeds parasites because Earth controls Water, and parasites belong to Earth, thriving on sweet flavors.
Zhu Zhenheng stated: Sugar generates stomach fire due to damp-earth generating heat; thus, it damages teeth and breeds parasites. This aligns with the theory that eating dates causes dental caries, rather than the "Earth controls Water" theory.
Li Shizhen stated: Sha Tang (Brown Sugar) has a warm nature, distinct from sugarcane syrup, and should not be consumed in excess. Consuming it with fish or bamboo shoots is detrimental to health. People today often use it as a condiment merely for taste, unaware of the hidden harm it causes. However, its mild nature harmonizes the spleen and soothes the liver, making it a useful guiding agent in formulas for spleen-stomach disorders and liver-draining prescriptions. The statement in the Materia Medica that it is cold, and Su Gong’s claim that it is cold and purgative, both misunderstand this principle.
[Attached Prescriptions] One old prescription, five new prescriptions.
Dysentery with inability to eat: 8 ounces of Sha Tang (Brown Sugar), one Wumei (Mume Fruit), two bowls of water. Boil until one bowl remains. Drink frequently throughout the day. (*Zhai Xuan Fang*)
Abdominal tightness and distension: Boil Bai Tang (White Sugar) in three sheng of wine and drink. No more than two doses needed. (*Zimu Milu*)
Pox crusts failing to fall off: Mix Sha Tang (Brown Sugar) with one cup of fresh well water and take orally (white boiled water may also be used). Take twice daily. (Prescription by Liu Tidian)
Wounds from tiger bites: Dissolve one bowl of Sha Tang (Brown Sugar) in water, ingest, and apply topically. (*Zhai Xuan Fang*)
Upper jiao wheezing, cough, irritability, and vomiting after eating: Use equal parts of Sha Tang (Brown Sugar) and ginger juice. Mix and slowly boil for twenty boils. Swallow half a spoonful at a time until efficacy is achieved.
Bad breath from eating leeks: Sha Tang (Brown Sugar) resolves this. (*Zhayao Fang*)