苦甘微寒,泻热清神,善消油腻,为清利头目专药。空腹忌之。茶子∶捣汁,洗衣去
腻。
性味苦寒,入阳明而能吐风热痰涎,上膈宿食。无实邪者忌之。甜瓜∶性冷,过食
性味甘寒,清暑除烦,泻热止渴,有天生白虎汤之名。然生冷之物过饵,亦能损脾。
瓜皮∶能泻皮间湿热;治肤黄、肤肿并效。西瓜子仁∶性能涤垢,善消暑烦,结燥之痰。
性味甘寒,清热润燥,和中止渴。生嚼可以发越热邪。捣汁能止火逆呕哕。若阴虚火
气分无热者非宜。青皮蔗∶性更清烈,功力不甚相远,而有入肝之用。
即雪花糖,又名冰花。性味甘平,缓中和脾,润肺益气。红糖∶甘温入血分,缓中
能助湿热,中满者均当忌之。凝结如石者,名石蜜,俗名冰糖,为缓中消积专药。
甘温微咸,入血分而散瘀和血,止痛缓中。炒黑最能清瘀止血,产后及寻常血滞并
古名藕实。甘平性涩,清心醒脾,涩精浓肠,为交媾水火之专药。去心、衣用。莲心
苦寒,专清心热。莲之沉水色黑者,名石莲,性味苦寒,清心除烦,开胃进食,为禁口痢
专药。有一种树莲,大苦,不入汤药。
[Cha] (Fine Tea): Bitter, sweet, and slightly cold in nature. It clears heat and calms the spirit, excels at resolving greasy food stagnation, and is a specific drug for clearing and benefiting the head and eyes. Contraindicated on an empty stomach. Cha Zi (Tea Seeds): Crushed to extract juice, used for washing clothes and removing grease.
[Cha Zi] (Tea Seeds): Bitter and cold in nature. Enters the Yangming channel to induce vomiting of wind-heat phlegm-saliva and old food retention in the upper diaphragm. Contraindicated in those without excess pathogens.
[Tian Gua] (Sweet Melon): Cold in nature; excessive consumption... [Text implies continuation of description] Sweet and cold in nature. Clears summerheat and relieves irritability, purges heat and stops thirst, earning the name "Natural Baihu Decoction" (White Tiger Decoction). However, excessive intake of raw and cold substances can damage the Spleen.
[Gua Pi] (Melon Rind): Can purge damp-heat from the skin; effective in treating cutaneous jaundice and cutaneous edema.
[Xigua Zi Ren] (Watermelon Seed Kernel): Its nature cleanses filth, excels at relieving summerheat irritability, and resolves dry-stagnant phlegm.
[Ganzhe] (Sugarcane): Sweet and cold in nature. Clears heat, moistens dryness, harmonizes the middle, and stops thirst. Chewing raw can disperse heat pathogens. Extracting juice can stop vomiting and hiccups caused by rebellious fire. Not suitable for those with Yin deficiency with fire hyperactivity or those lacking heat in the Qi level. Qingpi Zhe (Green-skinned Sugarcane): Its nature is even more clearing and intense. Its efficacy is not far different, but it has the function of entering the Liver channel.
[Yitang/Baitang category]: Refers to Xuehua Tang (Snowflake Sugar), also known as Binghua (Ice Flower). Sweet and neutral in nature. Harmonizes the middle and strengthens the Spleen gently, moistens the Lungs and benefits Qi.
[Hongtang] (Brown Sugar): Sweet and warm in nature. Enters the Blood level. While gentle, it can assist damp-heat. Contraindicated in cases of fullness in the middle jiao. Those that solidify like stone are named Shimii (Stone Honey), commonly known as Bingtang (Rock Sugar). They are specific drugs for harmonizing the middle and resolving accumulation.
[Ou] (Lotus Root): Sweet, warm, and slightly salty in nature. Enters the Blood level to dissipate stasis and harmonize blood, stops pain, and moderates urgency. Charred (stir-fried until black), it best clears stasis and stops bleeding. Indicated for postpartum conditions and ordinary blood stasis.
Anciently named Oushi (Lotus Fruit). Sweet, neutral, and astringent in nature. Clears the Heart and awakens the Spleen, secures essence and thickens the intestines. It is a specific drug for the interaction of Water and Fire (Heart-Kidney intersection). Use after removing the lotus plumule and skin. Lianxin (Lotus Plumule): Bitter and cold in nature. Specifically clears Heart heat. Those lotus seeds that sink in water and are black in color are named Shilian (Stone Lotus). Bitter and cold in nature. Clears the Heart, relieves irritability, opens the stomach, and promotes appetite. It is a specific drug for Jin Kou Li (Anorectic Dysentery). There is a type of Tree Lotus which is extremely bitter and is not used in decoctions.
[Lianrou] (Lotus Seed Flesh): Sweet, neutral, and astringent in nature. Secures essence and consolidates Qi. It is a specific drug for nocturnal emission and spermatorrhea.
[Sheng Ou] (Raw Lotus Root): Used raw, sweet and cold in nature. Cools blood and dissipates stasis. Extracting juice stops hematemesis and epistaxis very rapidly. Cooked, it becomes sweet and neutral in nature. Nourishes the Heart and benefits the Stomach. Boiling in soup contributes to nourishing blood. Oufen (Lotus Root Powder) clears the Stomach and calms the Spirit. Contraindicated in those without heat.