气薄味甘性温，无毒，升也，阳也。其用有四∶温分肉而实腠理，益元气而补三焦；内
托阴症之疮痍，外固表虚之盗汗。如痈疽已溃者多用，从里托毒而出。又能生肌收口，补表
故也。大都表邪旺者不可用，用之反助邪气。就阴气弱者论之，亦宜少用，若用之以升元气
于表，则内反虚耗矣。又表虚有邪，发汗不出者，服之自汗。此药大益胃气，能解肌热，故
人参黄 甘草三味，退虚热之圣药也。入手少阳足太阴少阴肾命门之剂。蜜炙用之，大能止
汗，生用又能发汗。人参非此则不能补，故为补中益气之要药也。用之于痘家，与前参同，
但实热之症，比参尤加谨焉。恶鳖甲。
气温，味甘苦而甘温，味浓气薄，无毒，可升可降，阴中阳也。入手太阳少阴兼足阳明
太阳少阴厥阴。除湿益燥，和中益气，利腰脐间瘀血，除胃中邪热。利水道、有除湿之功，
强脾胃，有进食之效。佐黄芩有安胎之能，君枳实有消痞之妙。与二陈同用，则化痰除湿，
消食健胃。与白芍当归枳实生地之类同用，则补脾而清脾家湿热。与干姜同用，去脾家寒湿。
与
若见水泡之症，须用麻黄根汁浸透炒之，取其达表以利水道也。
气平味甘，阳也。入足厥阴太阴二经。生用则寒，炙之则温。生用泻火，炙则温中。能
补上中下三焦元气，和诸药解诸急。热药用之缓其热，寒药用之缓其寒。补阳不足，中满禁
用。梢子生用，去茎中之痛。胸中积热，非梢子不能除。节治肿毒，大有奇功。养血补胃，
身实良方。除邪热，利咽痛，理中气。坚筋骨，长肌肉。通经脉，利血气。止咳嗽，润肺道。
又炙之能散表寒，故附子理中用之，恐其僭上也。调胃承气用之，恐其速下也。二药用之，
非和也，皆缓也。小柴胡有柴芩之寒，有参夏之温，其中用甘草者，则有调和之意。中不满
而用甘为之补，中满者而用甘为之泻，此升降浮沉之妙也。经云，以甘补之，以甘泻之，以
甘缓之，此之谓也。痘家用之解毒，以和中健脾，若头面毒盛者，于解毒汤中多用之，取其
缓诸药，使之上攻头面故也。反甘遂大戟芫花海藻。
[Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma)]
The qi is thin, the taste is sweet, the nature is warm, and it is non-toxic. It has an ascending property and belongs to Yang. Its functions are fourfold: it warms the muscles and consolidates the cou li (skin texture and pores), benefits the primordial Qi and tonifies the San Jiao (Triple Burner); internally it supports the sores and ulcers of Yin syndromes, and externally it secures the exterior to stop night sweats caused by exterior deficiency. For carbuncles and sores that have already ulcerated, this herb is used frequently to support the body from within and expel toxicity outward. It can also generate flesh and close wounds, which is due to its ability to tonify the exterior Qi. Generally speaking, if the pathogenic factors on the exterior are vigorous, it should not be used, as doing so would instead assist the pathogenic factors. Regarding those with weak Yin Qi, it should also be used in small amounts; if used to raise the Yuan Qi (Primordial Qi) to the exterior, the interior will conversely become depleted. Furthermore, for those with exterior deficiency accompanied by pathogens who cannot sweat, taking this herb will induce spontaneous sweating. This herb greatly benefits Stomach Qi and can resolve muscular heat. Therefore, Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Huang Qi (Astragali Radix), and Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) are three herbs considered sacred remedies for retreating deficiency heat. This herb enters the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, and Mingmen (Gate of Life). When honey-fried, it greatly stops sweating; when used raw, it induces sweating. Ren Shen cannot effectively tonify without Bai Zhu, thus it is a key herb for tonifying the Middle and benefiting Qi. When used in patients with smallpox, its usage is similar to that of Ren Shen, but for excess-heat syndromes, one must be even more cautious than when using Ren Shen. It is incompatible with Die Jia (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum).
[Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma)]
The temperature is warm, the taste is sweet and bitter, overall possessing a sweet-warm nature. The taste is dense while the qi is thin, and it is non-toxic. It can ascend and descend, belonging to Yang within Yin. It enters the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian, Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, and concurrently the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian, Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian, Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, and Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian. It removes dampness and increases dryness, harmonizes the Middle Jiao and benefits Qi, promotes the circulation of blood stasis between the waist and umbilicus, and clears evil heat from the Stomach. It promotes urination and has the effect of removing dampness; it strengthens the Spleen and Stomach and has the efficacy of promoting appetite. When assisted by Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), it has the ability to calm the fetus; when used as the sovereign herb with Zhi Shi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), it has the wonderful effect of dissipating痞满 (fullness and obstruction). Used together with Er Chen Tang (Two-Cured Decoction), it resolves phlegm and removes dampness, aids digestion, and strengthens the Stomach. Used together with Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Zhi Shi, and Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), it tonifies the Spleen and clears damp-heat in the Spleen. Used together with Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), it removes cold-dampness in the Spleen. If symptoms involving water blisters are seen, Ma Huang Gen (Ephedrae Radix) juice must be used to soak the herb thoroughly before stir-frying, to take advantage of its ability to reach the exterior and promote urination.
[Continuation of Gan Cao]
The qi is neutral, the taste is sweet, and it belongs to Yang. It enters the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian and Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian. When used raw, it is cold; when fried, it is warm. Raw use purges fire, while fried use warms the Middle Jiao. It can tonify the Yuan Qi of the Upper, Middle, and Lower San Jiao, harmonize various herbs, and relieve various emergencies. When added to hot-natured drugs, it moderates their heat; when added to cold-natured drugs, it moderates their cold. It tonifies insufficient Yang, but is contraindicated in cases of fullness in the Middle Jiao. Gan Cao Shao (the tips of the root) used raw removes pain in the stems (referring to the penis or extremities). Heat accumulated in the chest cannot be cleared except by Gan Cao Shao. Gan Cao Jie (the nodes of the root) treats swelling and toxins, achieving great miraculous results. It nourishes blood and tonifies the Stomach, serving as a good prescription for strengthening the body. It eliminates evil heat, benefits the throat and relieves pain, regulates Middle Jiao Qi, strengthens sinews and bones, promotes muscle growth, unblocks meridians, benefits blood and Qi, stops coughing, and moistens the lung passages. Additionally, honey-fried Gan Cao can disperse exterior cold; therefore, it is used in Fu Zi Li Zhong Wan (Aconite Pill to Regulate the Middle) to prevent the medicinal force from overstepping upwards; it is used in Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang (Regulate the Stomach and Direct Downward Decoction) to prevent rapid purgation. In these two formulas, Gan Cao is used not for "harmonizing" (He), but for "moderating/slacking" (Huan). Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) contains the coldness of Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix) and Huang Qin, and the warmth of Ren Shen and Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma); the inclusion of Gan Cao therein implies the intent to harmonize. If the Middle Jiao is not full, using sweet herbs serves to tonify; if the Middle Jiao is full, using sweet herbs serves to purge. This is the subtlety of ascending, descending, floating, and sinking. The Classic states: "Tonify with sweet, purge with sweet, moderate with sweet." This is what is meant. In pediatric smallpox treatment, it is used to detoxify, harmonize the Middle, and strengthen the Spleen. If toxins are abundant on the head and face, it is used in large doses in Jie Du Tang (Detoxification Decoction) to take advantage of its ability to moderate other herbs, allowing their action to attack upward toward the head and face. It is antagonistic to Gan Sui (Kansui Radix), Da Ji (Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix), Yuan Hua (Genkwa Flos), and Hai Zao (Sargassum).