味辛温。主咳逆，散肺经之风。头痛脑动，散头风。百节拘挛，风湿痹痛，死肌。散
筋骨肌肉之风。久服，明目，利九窍，散诸窍之风。轻身长年。风气除，则身健而寿矣。
此以气为治也，凡药香者，皆能疏散风邪。细辛气盛而味烈，其疏散之力更大。且风必
挟寒以来，而又本热而标寒。细辛性温，又能驱逐寒气，其疏散上下之风邪，能无微不入，
无处不到也。
石斛其说不一，出卢江六安者色青，长三二寸，如钗股，世谓之金钗石斛，折之有肉
而实，咀之有腻涎粘齿，味甘淡，此为最佳。如市中长而黄色及枯槁无味者，皆木斛也。因
近日无不误用，故附记于此。味甘平。主伤中，培脾土。除痹，治肉痹。下气，使中气不失
守。补五脏虚劳，后天得养，则五脏皆补也。羸瘦，长肌肉。强阴。补脾阴。久服，浓肠胃
，肠胃为中脏之府。轻身延年。补益后天之效。
凡五味各有所属，甘味属土，然土实无味也。故洪范论五行之味，润下作咸，炎上作苦，
曲
直作酸，从革作辛，皆即其物言之。惟于土则曰稼穑作甘，不指土，而指土之所生者，可知
土本无味也，无味即为淡，淡者五味之所从出，即土之正味也，故味之淡者，皆属土。石斛
味甘而实淡，得土味之全，故其功专补脾胃，而又和平不偏也。
[Asarum]
Taste: pungent. Nature: warm. It primarily treats cough and rebellious qi, disperses wind from the Lung meridian. It treats headache and throbbing pain in the head, dispersing wind from the head. It treats spasms and contracture of all joints, bi-syndrome caused by wind-dampness, and dead flesh (referring to numbness or atrophy of skin and muscles). It disperses wind within the sinews, bones, and muscles. Long-term consumption brightens the eyes, benefits the nine orifices, and disperses wind from various orifices. It lightens the body and prolongs life. Once wind-pathogens are eliminated, the body becomes healthy and long-lived. This treatment utilizes the aroma and nature of the herb; generally, herbs with strong aromas can disperse wind-pathogens. Asarum has a potent aroma and pungent taste, giving it a greater power of dispersion. Furthermore, wind pathogens often accompany cold, and while wind's root may be heat, its manifestation is cold. Asarum is warm in nature and can also drive out cold pathogens. Its ability to disperse wind-pathogens throughout the upper and lower body penetrates every crevice and reaches everywhere.
[Dendrobium]
Descriptions of Dendrobium vary. Those originating from Lujiang, Lu'an, are green in color, two to three cun in length, shaped like the shaft of a hairpin, and are known in the world as Jinchai Dendrobium (Gold Hairpin Dendrobium). When broken, the flesh is solid and substantial; when chewed, it produces a sticky saliva that adheres to the teeth. Its taste is sweet and bland, making it the best variety. Those found in markets that are long, yellow, withered, and tasteless are Mu Huo (Wood Dendrobium). Because they are frequently misused recently, this note is appended here. Taste: sweet. Nature: neutral. It primarily treats internal injury to the Middle Jiao, nourishing Spleen Earth. It removes bi-syndrome, treating flesh-bi. It directs Qi downward, preventing the loss of control over Central Qi. It tonifies deficiency-wasting conditions of the Five Zang organs; once the Post-Heaven foundation is nourished, all Five Zang organs are benefited. It treats emaciation and promotes muscle growth. It strengthens Yin. It tonifies Spleen Yin. Long-term consumption thickens the stomach and intestines; the stomach and intestines are the mansions of the middle Zang organs. It lightens the body and prolongs life. This represents the efficacy of tonifying the Post-Heaven foundation.
Each of the Five Flavors has its corresponding element. Sweet flavor corresponds to Earth, yet Earth itself is flavorless. Therefore, in the *Hong Fan* chapter discussing the flavors of the Five Elements, Water’s moistening downward makes it salty, Fire’s flaming upward makes it bitter, Wood’s bending and straightening makes it sour, and Metal’s changing and transforming makes it acrid. These descriptions refer directly to the substances themselves. Only regarding Earth does it state that "planting and harvesting make it sweet," referring not to Earth itself but to what Earth produces. This indicates that Earth is inherently flavorless; being flavorless means it is bland. Blandness is the source from which the five flavors emerge and is the true flavor of Earth. Thus, herbs with a bland taste belong to Earth. Dendrobium tastes sweet but is actually bland, possessing the complete characteristic of Earth's flavor. Therefore, its function specializes in tonifying the Spleen and Stomach, and its action is peaceful and unbiased.