性味甘平，生用缓中气、泻火；炙用温元气补中，和药解毒，中满忌之。节∶行肢节
头∶入吐剂。梢∶入茎中。
即玉竹。甘平性润，补中益气，为风温咽痛专药。用代参蓍，功力稍缓。
性味甘温，生用托邪实表；炙用补中益气。但其性滞，不似人参之灵活。
苦甘性温，生用豁痰利水；炒焦燥湿健脾；制熟补脾润燥；炒黑止血醒脾。其利腰脐
血，有健脾之功。盖脾健气运，则结血自解。野生者气清；于潜者力倍；种收者气浊。第
调补录用，断难挽回生死。若阴虚燥热、肝肾有动气者均忌。
苦温辛烈，燥胃强脾，发汗除湿，能升发胃中阳气，辟恶解郁。产茅山者，真米泔浸
亦有麻油炒者。燥结多汗忌。
味辛性温，入肝经气分。诸风掉眩，头旋眼黑，属风痰滞伏者，非此不除。湿纸包，
熟用。子名还筒子，能定风益虚。若血液衰少，非真有风邪者，忌用。
辛苦性平，祛风胜湿，活血舒筋，入手足阳明、肝、胆，亦治骨蒸潮热，利大小便。
纹者良。
味苦微寒，生用升阳解表，能引清气上行，而平少阳，厥阴之邪热，止诸疟寒热，入
胆、心包、三焦。酒炒则引入血分，治热入血室；盐水炒除烦热；鳖血炒退骨蒸；醋炒
入肝经而调经散结，为解表和里之专药。性虽上升，多用不能下泄。其梢专于达下；其
汁，滴，治耳聋。若阴虚无邪、气升火炎者，均为切禁。
[Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata (Gancao)]
The flavor is sweet and the nature is neutral. When used raw, it moderates Qi in the middle jiao and clears fire; when honey-fried, it warms primordial Qi, tonifies the middle, harmonizes other herbs, and detoxifies. It is contraindicated in cases of fullness in the middle jiao. The nodes: act on the limb joints. The head: used in emetic formulas. The tips: act on the urethra.
[Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati (Yuzhu)]
Also known as Yuzhu. The flavor is sweet, the nature is neutral and moistening. It tonifies the middle and benefits Qi, and is a specific herb for treating sore throat caused by wind-warmth. If used to replace Ginseng Radix (Renshen) or Astragali Radix (Huangqi), its efficacy is slightly slower.
[Rhizoma Polygonati Sibirici (Huangjing)]
The flavor is sweet and the nature is neutral. It tonifies middle Qi and nourishes essence and blood. Its efficacy is mild and slow, slightly inferior to that of Yuzhu.
[Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen)]
The flavor is sweet and the nature is warm. When used raw, it expels pathogens and secures the exterior; when honey-fried, it tonifies the middle and benefits Qi. However, its nature is stagnant, unlike the flexibility of Renshen (Note: Textual ambiguity in source, translated literally).
[Atractylodis Rhizoma (Cangzhu)]
The flavor is bitter and sweet, the nature is warm. When used raw, it resolves phlegm and promotes urination; when stir-baked until scorched, it dries dampness and strengthens the spleen; when processed thoroughly, it tonifies the spleen and moistens dryness; when stir-baked until charred, it stops bleeding and awakens the spleen. It benefits the blood in the waist and umbilical region and has the effect of strengthening the spleen. Since a strong spleen ensures smooth Qi movement, congealed blood dissolves naturally. Wild ones have pure Qi; those from Yuqian have double potency; cultivated ones have turbid Qi. They are only suitable for regulation and tonification and cannot save lives in critical conditions. Contraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with dry-heat or moving Qi in the liver and kidney.
[Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis (Houpo)]
The flavor is bitter and warm, pungent and acrid. It dries the stomach and strengthens the spleen, induces sweating and removes dampness, can raise the Yang Qi of the stomach, dispel evil and relieve depression. Those produced in Maoshan are authentic. They can be soaked in rice water or stir-fried with sesame oil. Contraindicated in cases of dryness accumulation and excessive sweating.
[Tuber Gastrodiae (Tianma)]
Pungent in flavor and warm in nature, entering the Liver channel Qi level. For various wind diseases causing dizziness, vertigo, and blurred vision due to latent wind-phlegm stagnation, this herb is indispensable. Wrapped in wet paper and cooked before use. Its seed is called Huantongzi, which calms wind and benefits deficiency. Contraindicated in cases of blood deficiency without true wind pathogen.
[Radix Clematidis (Weilingxian)]
Bitter and pungent, neutral in nature. Expels wind and overcomes dampness, invigorates blood and relaxes sinews. Enters the Foot-Taiyang, Hand-Yangming, Liver, and Gallbladder channels. Also treats bone-steaming tidal fever and promotes urination and defecation. Those with clear texture are superior.
[Radix Bupleuri (Chaihu)]
Bitter in flavor and slightly cold in nature. When used raw, it raises Yang and releases the exterior, guides clear Qi upward, and pacifies the pathogenic heat of the Shaoyang and Jueyin channels, stopping chills and fever of various malaria types. Enters the Gallbladder, Pericardium, and Sanjiao. Wine-fried to enter the Blood level, treating heat entering the blood chamber; salt-water fried to relieve irritability and heat; turtle-blood fried to reduce bone-steaming heat; vinegar-fried to enter the Liver channel for regulating menstruation and dissipating nodules, serving as a specific herb for releasing the exterior and harmonizing the interior. Although its nature tends to ascend, excessive use does not promote downward drainage. Its tips specifically reach the lower body; its juice, applied dropwise, treats deafness. Strictly contraindicated in cases of yin deficiency without pathogens or rising Qi with flaming fire.