春食则香，夏食则臭，多食则昏神。子，止精滑甚良。未出粪土为韭黄，最不益人，食
之即滞气。盖含噎郁未之气，故如是。孔子曰∶“不时不食”，正为此辈。花，食之动风。
八九月间淹贮之，以备冬月作蔬果。治疗只用生者。
此紫苏也。背面皆紫者佳。其味微辛甘，能散，其气香。今人朝暮汤其汁饮，为无益。
医家以谓芳草致豪贵之疾者，此有一焉。脾胃寒人，饮之多泄滑，往往不觉。子，治肺气喘
急。
气味与紫苏不同，辛而不和，然一如苏，但面不紫，及周遭槎牙如雁齿，香少。
荆芥也，只用穗。治产后血晕，及中风目带上、四肢强直。为末，二三钱，童子小便
一小盏，调，下咽，良久即活，甚有验。又治头目风，荆芥穗、细辛、川芎等为末，饭后汤
点二钱。风搔遍身，浓煎汤淋渫，或坐汤中。
生山野，荆、湖南北、二川皆有。两京作圃种，暑月亦作菜蔬，治霍乱不可阙也，用
之无不效。叶如茵陈，花茸紫，在一边成穗，凡四五十房为一穗。如荆芥穗，别是一种香。
余如经。
世谓之南薄荷，为有一种龙脑薄荷，故言南以别之。小儿惊风、壮热，须此引药。猫
食之即醉，物相感尔。治骨蒸热劳，用其汁与众药熬为膏。
鸡肠草，一物也。今虽分之为二，其鸡肠草条中独不言性味，故知一物也。鸡肠草，
春开小花如绿豆大，茎叶如园荽，初生则直，长大即覆地。小户收之为斋，食之乌髭发。
Eating leeks in spring yields a fragrant flavor, while eating them in summer results in an offensive odor; excessive consumption causes mental confusion. The seeds are highly effective for treating seminal emission and spermatorrhea (精滑). Leeks grown underground without emerging from the soil, known as yellow leeks (韭黄), are most detrimental to human health, as consuming them leads to Qi stagnation (滞气). This is because they contain trapped, stagnant Qi (噎郁未之气), hence such effects. Confucius said, "Do not eat food that is out of season," which precisely applies to these items. Flowering leeks can stir up internal wind (动风) when consumed.
Leeks preserved by pickling between the eighth and ninth lunar months serve as a reserve for winter vegetables. For therapeutic purposes, only fresh leeks are used.
This is Perilla (紫苏). Those with purple coloration on both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves are superior. Its taste is slightly pungent and sweet, possessing dispersing properties, and its aroma is fragrant. Currently, people boil Perilla juice to drink morning and evening, which is of no benefit. Physicians state that aromatic herbs can cause diseases among the wealthy and noble; this is one such instance. Individuals with cold Spleen and Stomach (脾胃寒人) who consume it often experience loose stools or diarrhea (泄滑), frequently without realizing it. The seeds treat pulmonary asthma and rapid breathing (肺气喘急).
The flavor and aroma differ from Perilla; it is pungent but not harmonious, yet similar in nature to Perilla, except the leaf surface is not purple, and the margins are serrated like goose teeth, with less fragrance.
This is Schizonepeta (荆芥); only the flower spikes are used. It treats postpartum blood syncope (产后血晕) and stroke-induced eyelid retraction (中风目带上) and rigidity of the four limbs. Ground into powder, two to three qian mixed with a small cup of urine from an uncircumcised boy (童子小便) is taken orally; consciousness returns after a while, showing significant efficacy. It also treats wind affecting the head and eyes. Powdered Schizonepeta spike, Asarum (细辛), and Ligusticum chuanxiong (川芎) are mixed, and two qian are taken with warm water after meals. For generalized pruritus resembling wind rash, a strong decoction is used for washing or sitz baths.
It grows in wild mountains and hills and is found in the regions north and south of Jinghu and in Sichuan. In the two capitals, it is cultivated in gardens and served as a vegetable during hot months; it is indispensable for treating cholera-like disorders (霍乱), and its use is invariably effective. The leaves resemble Artemisia capillaris (茵陈), the flowers form purple spikes on one side, with each spike comprising forty to fifty locules. It has a distinct fragrance similar to Schizonepeta spikes. The rest conforms to classical descriptions.
Known in the world as Southern Mint (南薄荷), distinguished by adding "Southern" to differentiate it from Brain Mint (龙脑薄荷). It is required to guide medicinal actions in cases of pediatric convulsions (小儿惊风) and high fever (壮热). Cats become intoxicated upon consuming it due to mutual affinity between substances. To treat bone-steaming heat and consumptive disease (骨蒸热劳), its juice is boiled down with other herbs into a paste.
Pilea nummulariifolia (鸡肠草) refers to a single entity. Although currently divided into two types, the description for Pilea nummulariifolia lacks mention of its nature and flavor, indicating they are the same plant. Pilea nummulariifolia blooms with small flowers in spring, sized like mung beans; stems and leaves resemble Coriandrum sativum (园荽/Coriander); initially upright, they spread over the ground as they grow. Common households harvest it as vegetarian fare; consuming it darkens hair and beard.