味苦平。主妇人阴中肿痛，男子阴痿、湿痒，皆下体湿毒之病。除痹气，利关节，
除湿痰在筋骨之证。癫痫，除湿痰在心之证。恶疮。亦湿毒所生。久服轻身。湿去则身轻。
蛇床生阴湿卑下之地，而芬芳燥烈，不受阴湿之气，故入于人身，亦能于下焦湿气所归
之处
味苦，微寒。主血积，肺气上逆之血。惊气，心火犯肺。除寒热，肺家失调之寒热。
补中，肺主气，肺气和则气充而三焦实也。益肺气。色白体轻故入肺也。久服利人。肺
气清和之效。
肺主气，故肺家之药气胜者为多。但气胜之品必偏于燥，而能滋肺者，又腻滞而不清虚，
惟沙参为肺家气分中理血之药，色白体轻，疏通而不燥，润泽而不滞，血阻于肺者，非此不
能清也。
味辛温。主百病，言百病用之得宜皆有益也。养精神，通达脏腑，益在内也。和颜色
，调畅血脉，益在外也。为诸药先聘，通使。辛香四达，引药以通经络。久服，轻身不老，
血脉通利之效。面生光华，媚好常如童子。血和则润泽也。
寒气之郁结不舒者，惟辛温可以散之。桂性温补阳，而香气最烈则不专于补，而又能驱
逐阴
人身有气中之阳，有血中之阳。气中之阳，走而不守；血中之阳，守而不走。凡药之气
胜者
，往往补气中之阳；质胜者，往往补血中之阳。如附子暖血，肉桂暖气，一定之理也。然气
之阳胜则能动血，血之阳胜则能益气，又相因之理也。桂气分药也，而其验则见于血，其义
不晓然乎。
[Shechuangzi (Cnidii Fructus)]
Bitter, neutral. Primarily treats swelling and pain in the female genitalia, impotence, and damp-itching in the male genitalia; these are all diseases caused by damp-toxin in the lower body. It removes bi-syndrome qi, benefits the joints, and treats conditions of damp-phlegm in the tendons and bones. It treats epilepsy by removing damp-phlegm from the heart. It treats foul sores, which are also generated by damp-toxin. Long-term use makes the body feel light because removing dampness results in a feeling of lightness. Shechuang grows in dark, damp, and low-lying places, yet its fragrance is dry and pungent, resisting the influence of yin-dampness. Therefore, when entering the human body, it can also act where dampness gathers in the lower jiao.
[Shashen (Adenophorae Radix or Glehniae Radix)]
Bitter, slightly cold. Primarily treats blood accumulation and blood cough due to rebellious lung qi. It calms fright/qi, addressing heart fire invading the lungs. It eliminates chills and fever, which are chills and fevers resulting from lung dysfunction. It tonifies the middle; since the lung governs qi, harmonized lung qi leads to abundant qi and a filled sanjiao. It benefits lung qi; its white color and light texture cause it to enter the lung meridian. Long-term use benefits the person, reflecting the effect of clear and harmonious lung qi.
The lung governs qi, so herbs for the lung often have strong qi properties. However, herbs with strong qi tend to be drying, while those that nourish the lung tend to be sticky and stagnant rather than clear and empty. Only Shashen is an herb that regulates blood within the qi aspect of the lung. Its white color and light texture allow it to unblock without being drying, and moisten without being stagnant. For obstructions of blood in the lung, no other herb can clear it as effectively.
[Jungui (Cinnamomi Ramulus or Cortex Cinnamomi)]
Pungent, warm. Treats a hundred diseases, meaning that if used appropriately for various ailments, it provides benefit. It nourishes the spirit by penetrating the zang-fu organs, benefiting the interior. It harmonizes the complexion by regulating the blood vessels, benefiting the exterior. It acts as the pioneer envoy among herbs; its pungent fragrance spreads in all directions, guiding other herbs to unblock the meridians. Long-term use makes the body light and prevents aging, which is the effect of unblocked and smooth blood vessels. The face radiates luster and beauty, resembling that of a child, because harmonized blood provides moisture and luster.
For the stagnation and discomfort of cold qi, only pungent-warm herbs can disperse it. Gui has a warm nature and tonifies yang, but its intense fragrance means it does not merely tonify; it also drives out yin pathogens.
In the human body, there is yang in qi and yang in blood. Yang in qi moves and does not stay; yang in blood stays and does not move. Herbs with strong aromatic properties often tonify yang in qi; herbs with substantial/heavy textures often tonify yang in blood. For example, Fuzi warms the blood, and Rougui warms the qi; this is a fixed principle. However, excessive yang in qi can move blood, and excessive yang in blood can generate qi; this is a mutually dependent principle. Gui is an herb for the qi aspect, but its efficacy is seen in the blood aspect; is not its meaning obvious?