味咸平。主青盲，目淫肤赤白膜，眼赤痛，泪出。凡目病内外等证，无所不治。久
服，益精光，不但能治目邪，而且能补目之精也，其咸降清火功。轻身。火清则体健也。
决明生于秋，得金气之正。其色极黄，得金之色，其功专于明目，详上扁青条内。夫金
之正色，白而非黄，但白为受色之地，乃无色之色耳。故凡物之属金者，往往借土之色以为
色，即五金亦以黄金为贵。子肖其母也，草木至秋，感金气则黄落，故诸花实之中，凡色黄
而耐久者，皆得金气为多者也。
味苦微寒。主心腹邪气，赤走心，故能逐心腹之邪。肠鸣幽幽如走水，心与脾不和则
鸣。寒热积聚，破症除瘕，赤走血，凡血病凝结者无不治之。止烦满，心气不舒。益气。益
心气。
此以色为治也，赤走心，心主血，故丹参能走心以治血分之病。又辛散而润泽，故能通
利而涤邪也。
味酸温。主益气，气敛则益。咳逆上气，肺主气，肺气敛则咳逆除，而气亦降矣。
劳伤羸瘦，补不足，气敛藏，则病不侵而身强盛矣。强阴，气敛则归阴。益男子精。肾主收
藏，而精者肾之所藏者也，故收敛之物无不益肾。五味形又似肾，故为补肾之要药。
此以味为治也，凡酸味皆敛，而五味酸之极，则敛之极，极则不止于敛，而且能藏矣。
藏者冬之令，属肾，故五味能补肾也。
[Sho Saitaku (Cassiae Semen)]
Taste: Salty. Nature: Neutral. Indications: Mainly treats Qingmang (blindness or severe visual impairment), eye conditions involving eyelid edema, redness of the sclera, and corneal opacities; redness and pain of the eyes with tearing. It is effective for all internal and external eye disorders. Long-term consumption enhances visual acuity and spirit. Not only can it eliminate pathogenic factors from the eyes, but it also tonifies the essence of the eyes, owing to its salty nature which descends and clears fire. It lightens the body. When fire is cleared, the physique becomes robust.
Sho Saitaku grows in autumn, possessing the pure Qi of Metal. Its color is extremely yellow, reflecting the hue of Metal. Its efficacy is specifically focused on brightening the eyes (see details under the entry "Bianqing"). The true color of Metal is white, not yellow; however, white is the receptive base for colors, essentially a colorless state. Therefore, things belonging to Metal often borrow the color of Earth. Even among the five metals, gold is esteemed. Seeds resemble their mothers; plants turn yellow and shed leaves in autumn upon sensing Metal Qi. Thus, among flowers and fruits, those that are yellow and durable possess abundant Metal Qi.
[Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma)]
Taste: Bitter. Nature: Slightly Cold. Indications: Mainly treats pathogenic factors in the heart and abdomen. Red enters the Heart, thus it can expel pathogens from the heart and abdomen. Intestinal borborygmus sounding like flowing water occurs when the Heart and Spleen are disharmonious. It resolves cold-heat accumulations and breaks up zheng and jia (abdominal masses). Red enters the Blood; therefore, it treats all blood stasis and coagulation disorders. It stops irritability and fullness by soothing stagnant Heart Qi. It benefits Qi, specifically tonifying Heart Qi.
This treatment principle utilizes color: Red enters the Heart, and the Heart governs Blood; thus, Danshen enters the Heart meridian to treat diseases of the Blood level. Furthermore, its pungent dispersing and moistening properties allow it to promote circulation and cleanse pathogens.
[Wuweizi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus)]
Taste: Sour. Nature: Warm. Indications: Mainly tonifies Qi; Qi is benefited through astringency. It treats cough with rebellious Qi ascending. The Lung governs Qi; when Lung Qi is astringed, cough and rebellious Qi cease, and Qi descends. It treats emaciation due to劳伤 (fatigue and injury) by supplementing deficiencies. When Qi is astringed and stored, pathogens cannot invade, and the body becomes strong. It strengthens Yin; Qi astringed returns to Yin. It benefits the essence of men. The Kidney governs storage, and essence is what the Kidney stores; therefore, astringent substances benefit the Kidney. Wuweizi resembles the shape of the Kidney, making it an essential herb for tonifying the Kidney.
This treatment principle utilizes taste: All sour flavors have an astringent property. Wuweizi represents the extreme of sourness; when astringency reaches its extreme, it not only astringes but also stores. Storage corresponds to the season of Winter and belongs to the Kidney; thus, Wuweizi can tonify the Kidney.