味酸涩。性温。无毒。禀春初之气。得曲直之化以生。降多于升。阳中阴也。
【主治】主湿痹香港脚。霍乱大吐下转筋不止。（别录） 止吐泻奔豚。及水肿冷热痢心
腹
痛。
治脚
水利
【归经】入脾胃肺肝四经。为利筋骨调营卫之品。（兼补剂 手足太阴血分药）
【前论】孟诜曰。多食木瓜损齿及骨。皆伐肝之明验。而木瓜为脾肺药。非肝药明矣。 时
珍
袭
肝
旺
鳌按、木瓜治转筋。筋急者得之能舒。筋缓者得之能利。
【禁忌】经疏曰。下部腰膝无力。由精血虚。真阴不足。及伤食脾胃未虚。积滞多者。
均忌
味甘。性平。无毒。禀水土之气以生。可升可降。阴也。
【主治】主湿痹腰脊膝痛。补中。除暴疾。益精气。强志。聪耳明目。（本经） 止渴。
益肾
【归经】入脾胃二经。兼入心肾二经。为固本益精之品。（兼补剂）
【前论】张子野曰。人之食芡。必枚啮而细嚼之。使华液流通。转相灌输。其功胜于乳
汁也
【禁忌】经疏曰。生食动风冷气。小儿不宜多食。以难化也。
以上涩剂果部
味甘酸辛。性大热。无毒。禀土金之气而生。色赤又兼火象。降也。阳中阴也。畏
恶大黄、松脂。
【主治】主养心气。明目。益精。疗腹痛肠 下痢赤白。小便利。及痈疽疮痔。及女子
崩漏
浓肠胃
【归经】入心肾大肠三经。为固敛之品。（兼重剂 降而能收直达下焦血分要药）
【前论】东垣曰。赤石脂固肠胃。有收敛之能。下胞衣。无推荡之峻。 仲淳曰。大小
肠下
分。故为久痢泄 要药。又能去恶血。盖恶血化。则胞胎无阻。东垣云。胞胎下不。涩剂可
以下之是也。
【禁忌】经疏曰。凡火热暴注者。不宜用。滞下全是湿热。于法当利。自非的受寒邪下
利白
止
[Quince Fruit / Chaenomeles Speciosa Fruit]
Taste: Sour and astringent. Nature: Warm. Toxicity: Non-toxic. It inherits the Qi of early spring and is generated through the transformation of "curving and straightening" (Wood element). Its descending action predominates over its ascending action; it belongs to Yin within Yang.
【Indications】 Primarily treats damp-bi syndrome, Hong Kong foot (foot disease often associated with dampness or beriberi), Huoluan (cholera-like syndrome) causing severe vomiting and diarrhea, and persistent muscle cramps (Zhuanjin). (From *Bielu*) It stops vomiting, diarrhea, Ben Tun (rushing gas syndrome), edema, cold-heat dysentery, and heart/abdominal pain.
Treats foot edema.
【Meridian Tropism】 Enters the Spleen, Stomach, Lung, and Liver meridians. It is a substance that benefits sinews and bones and regulates Ying and Wei (nutritive and defensive Qi). (Also serves as a tonic; a blood-level medicine for the Hand and Foot Taiyin meridians.)
【Preceding Discussions】 Meng Shen stated: Eating too much Quince damages teeth and bones, which is clear evidence of damaging the Liver. However, Quince is a medicine for the Spleen and Lung, not the Liver, which is evident.
Ao's Commentary: Quince treats muscle cramps; for those with tight/tense sinews, it relaxes them; for those with lax/weak sinews, it strengthens them.
【Contraindications】 According to *Bencao Jing Shu* by Miao Xiyong: For weakness in the lower back and knees due to deficiency of essence and blood, insufficiency of true Yin, or food stagnation where the Spleen and Stomach are not yet deficient but accumulation is heavy, it should be avoided.
[Euryale Seed / Qian Shi]
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Neutral. Toxicity: Non-toxic. It is born from the Qi of Earth and Water. It can ascend and descend; it belongs to Yin.
【Indications】 Primarily treats damp-bi syndrome causing pain in the lower back, spine, and knees. Tonifies the Middle Jiao. Removes acute diseases. Benefits essence and Qi. Strengthens willpower. Improves hearing and vision. (From *Shennong Bencao Jing*) Stops thirst.
Benefits the Kidney.
【Meridian Tropism】 Enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians, and concurrently enters the Heart and Kidney meridians. It is a substance for consolidating the root and benefiting essence. (Also serves as a tonic.)
【Preceding Discussions】 Zhang Ziye said: When people eat Euryale seeds, they must chew each one carefully to allow saliva to flow and nourish the body internally; its efficacy surpasses that of milk.
【Contraindications】 According to *Bencao Jing Shu* by Miao Xiyong: Raw consumption moves wind and cold qi; children should not eat it in large quantities because it is difficult to digest.
(Above are the fruit category of astringent agents)
[Red Kaolin / Chishi Zhi]
Taste: Sweet, sour, and acrid. Nature: Very Hot. Toxicity: Non-toxic. It is born from the Qi of Earth and Metal. Its red color corresponds to the Fire image. It descends; it belongs to Yin within Yang. It is incompatible with Da Huang (Rhubarb Root) and Song Zhi (Pine Resin).
【Indications】 Primarily nourishes Heart Qi. Brightens eyes. Benefits essence. Treats abdominal pain, bloody and purulent dysentery, free passage of urine, as well as carbuncles, sores, hemorrhoids, and metrorrhagia/metrostaxis in women.
Thickens the intestines and stomach.
【Meridian Tropism】 Enters the Heart, Kidney, and Large Intestine meridians. It is a substance for consolidation and astringency. (Also serves as a heavy sedative; a key medicine that descends and collects, reaching directly into the blood level of the Lower Jiao.)
【Preceding Discussions】 Li Dongyuan stated: Chishi Zhi consolidates the intestines and stomach, possessing astringent properties. It expels the placenta without the harsh purgative force of pushing downward.
Zhong Chun stated: [Text fragment missing]... therefore it is a key medicine for chronic dysentery and diarrhea. It can also remove evil blood. Since evil blood dissolves, the uterus/placenta faces no obstruction. Li Dongyuan said: If the placenta does not descend, astringent agents can help descend it; this is the principle.
【Contraindications】 According to *Bencao Jing Shu* by Miao Xiyong: It is unsuitable for cases of sudden violent diarrhea due to fire-heat. Dysentery (Zhi Xia) is entirely due to damp-heat, and according to method, it should be drained/diuresed. Unless it is truly caused by cold pathogen leading to white discharge... [Text cuts off, implying astringents are contraindicated unless cold-dysentery is confirmed].