味酸、咸，平，无毒。主安五脏，益精气，长阴令坚，强志，倍力，有子。又治暴中
风，身热大惊。久服轻身，不老。一名覆盆，一名陵累，一名阴累。生荆山平泽及宛朐。李
云即是人所食莓尔。（《新修》二四三页，《大观》卷二十三，《政和》四六四页）
味甘，平，无毒。主益气轻身，令发不白。五月采实。
蓬 是根名，方家不用，乃昌容所服，以易颜色者也。覆盆是实名，李云是莓子。乃似
覆盆之形，而以津汁为味，其核甚微细，药中所用覆盆子小异。此未详孰是？（《新修》二
四四页，《大观》卷二十三，《政和》四六五页）
味甘，平，无毒。主治心腹邪气，安中，养脾，助十二经，平胃气，通九窍，补少气少
津，身中不足，大惊，四肢重，和百药。补中益气，强力，除烦闷，心下悬，肠 。久服轻
身，长年，不饥神仙。一名干枣，一名美枣，一名良枣。八月采，曝干。三岁陈核中人∶燔
之，味苦，主腹痛，邪气。生枣∶味甘、辛，多食令人多寒热，羸瘦者，不可食。叶∶覆麻
黄，能令出汗。生河东平泽。（大枣杀乌头毒。）
旧云河东猗氏县枣特异，今出青州、彭城，枣形小，核细，多膏，甚甜。郁州互市亦得
之，而郁州者亦好，小不及尔。江东临沂金城枣，形大而虚少脂，好者亦可用。南枣大恶，
殆不堪啖。道家方药以枣为佳饵，其皮利，肉补虚，所以合汤皆擘用之。（《新修》二四五页
，《大观》卷二十三，《政和》四六二页）
Sour and salty in taste, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Primarily serves to calm the five Zang organs (Five Viscera), benefit essence and qi, firm the yin (genital area), strengthen willpower, increase strength, and facilitate conception. It also treats sudden wind-stroke (acute stroke-like symptoms), fever of the body, and severe fright. Long-term consumption makes the body light and delays aging. Also known as Fupen, Linglei, or Yinlei. Grows in the plains and marshes of Jingshan and Wanqu. Li Yun states that it is the berry eaten by people. (Xinxiu Bencao, p. 243; Daguan Bencao, Vol. 23; Zhenghe Bencao, p. 464)
Sweet in taste, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Primarily serves to tonify qi, lighten the body, and prevent graying of hair. The fruit is harvested in May.
"Peng" refers to the root name, which is not used in medical prescriptions; it was what Chang Rong consumed to alter her complexion. "Fupen" is the proper name for the fruit. Li Yun's "Meizi" (berry) resembles the shape of Fupen but has a flavor dominated by juice/saliva, with very minute and fine seeds, differing slightly from the Fupenzi (Rubus fruit) used in materia medica. It is unclear here which one is correct. (Xinxiu Bencao, p. 244; Daguan Bencao, Vol. 23; Zhenghe Bencao, p. 465)
Sweet in taste, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Treats pathogenic factors in the heart and abdomen, calms the middle jiao (middle burner), nourishes the spleen, assists the twelve meridians, regulates stomach qi, opens the nine orifices, supplements deficient qi and fluids, addresses bodily insufficiency, severe fright, heaviness of the four limbs, and harmonizes various medicines. Tonifies the middle and benefits qi, strengthens physical power, removes irritability and oppression, treats a sensation of emptiness in the epigastrium, and intestinal rumbling/diarrhea. Long-term consumption makes the body light, prolongs life, prevents hunger, and leads to an immortal state. Also known as Gan Zao (Dried Date), Mei Zao, or Liang Zao. Harvested in August and dried by exposure. The kernel inside the three-year-old aged date: when calcined/burned, its taste becomes bitter, treating abdominal pain and pathogenic factors. Fresh dates: sweet and acrid in taste; excessive consumption causes cold-heat alternating symptoms; emaciated persons should not consume them. Leaves: when covering Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang), it induces sweating. Grows in the plains and marshes of Hedong. (Jujube kills the toxicity of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata [Wutou].)
Old texts claim that dates from Yishi County in Hedong are particularly superior. Currently, dates produced in Qingzhou and Pengcheng are small in shape, fine in seed, rich in pulp, and very sweet. They can also be obtained through inter-provincial trade in Yuzhou, and those from Yuzhou are also good, merely slightly smaller. Dates from Jincheng in Linyi, Jiangdong, are large in shape but hollow with little pulp; the good ones are still usable. Southern dates are very poor and almost inedible. In Daoist prescriptions, dates are considered the best dietary aid; their skin has draining properties, while the flesh tonifies deficiency; therefore, when preparing decoctions, they are always split open. (Xinxiu Bencao, p. 245; Daguan Bencao, Vol. 23; Zhenghe Bencao, p. 462)