胡麻 〔即黑芝麻，一名巨胜。甘平，入脾、肝、肾三经。九蒸九晒研。〕益肝养血，治虚风而
理瘫痪，〔虚风者肝虚血少，热盛生风也。李廷飞云∶患风病患，久食则步履端正，语言不謇。正治
风先治血，血行风自灭之义。〕滋肾润燥，填髓脑而坚筋骨。〔肾恶燥，黑色通肾，而能润燥。肾得滋
补，则髓脑充满，而筋骨坚强。〕补中益气，〔甘能益脾胃也。〕变白还黑，〔黑须发者，补阴养血之
功。〕长肌肉，〔脾主肌肉也。〕明耳目，〔耳为肾窍，目为肝窍也。〕止心惊，〔心血有养也。〕
利大肠，〔多油而滑也。〕润养五脏。入谷之中，惟此最良，故为仙家服饵所须。
麻油〔微寒〕下胞衣，〔同白蜜各一杯，入汤顿服，漏胎难产，胎死腹中俱效。〕利大肠，〔一
方用油一合，和鸡子清二、三枚，量入元明粉一两，搅服即泻，下热毒甚良。〕抹疮肿，〔解毒凉血之功
。〕生秃发，解一切毒，〔热毒食毒虫毒，
若中砒及河豚毒者，多灌取吐出毒物则愈。〕杀一切虫。〔故涂恶疮，疥癣用之。〕
大麻仁 〔甘平，入脾、胃二经。绢包置滚汤中，至冷取出。悬空垂井中一宿。晒干，新瓦上
去壳研。〕润燥通二便，宣风利关节，〔骨髓风毒疼痛不可运动，酒调服之大效。〕产难即下，〔以其滑
利下行也。〕呕逆能除。〔下气之功。〕
滑利下行，走而不守，多食滑精痿阳，损血脉，发带疾。
薏苡仁 〔甘微寒，入肺、脾二经。淘净晒炒。〕燥脾湿而理痹症拘挛，〔地之湿气，感则害人
皮肉筋脉。又风寒湿三气合而成痹，此药性燥能除湿，味甘能补脾，兼淡能渗泄。总之湿邪去则脾胃安
而中焦治，能荣养乎四肢，而通利血脉也。〕祛肺热而治咳嗽肺痈。〔肺痈因肺热极所致。〕止泄泻，
消水肿，〔益脾除湿之功。〕香港脚须用，痿 宜求。〔香港脚痿 ，皆属湿热。〕健脾益胃，补肺清热，
祛风胜湿之品。
大便燥结，因寒转筋者勿用。其根堕胎，妊娠亦忌。
白扁豆 〔甘平，入脾、胃二经，或炒研，或生用。〕善补脾胃，能除湿热，疗霍乱，〔有和中
下气，化清降浊消暑之能。〕治呕逆，〔和中下气之功。〕痢疾须征，〔取其能除湿热，消暑和中。〕泄
泻宜尝，理带下颇验，〔皆补脾除湿之效。〕解诸毒甚良。〔能解酒毒 鱼，诸鸟六畜肉毒，
及一切草木砒霜毒，生研末冷水服〕。补益之品。
寒热外邪方炽者禁用。
绿豆 〔甘寒，入肝、胃二经。连皮用，若去皮令壅气。〕下气压热，〔质重沉而性甘寒故也
。〕解毒止渴，〔解诸热毒之功，过于扁豆、赤豆。丹石药毒发者，磨粉水调服甚效。止渴者除热
之功。〕治头风而除呕逆，〔皆下气压热之功。〕祛浮风而润皮肤。〔浮风风疹，热极则生风也。〕
消水肿，〔能利小便故也，〕浓肠胃。〔味甘入胃，性寒能补〕。
胃寒者不宜食。
黑大豆 〔甘平，入肾经。紧小者尤佳。〕活血而散风，〔产后用之者，取其活血行瘀也，
头风用之者，取其祛风除热下气也，破伤风及产后诸风，风痉用之者，以其活血散风也。〕补肾更
解毒。〔黑色通肾，为肾之谷，故能明目，消水肿，解百药毒，必加甘草神验。〕
小儿十岁以下者，炒豆勿同猪肉食，壅气致死。服蓖麻子，食炒豆胀，服浓朴者亦忌，动气故也。
淡豆豉 〔甘苦微温，入肺、脾二经。江西者佳。炒熟又能止汗。〕能解肌而发汗，头疼寒热同
除；〔伤寒时疾热病，及瘴气恶毒，皆用以发表。因经蒸窨，又能调中下气。〕作宣剂而涌吐，烦躁
满闷可安。〔仲景于汗吐下后，余邪热郁胸中而懊 者，用栀、豉涌吐其邪。若热结胸烦闷，宜陷胸
汤，不宜用此。〕
伤寒直中阴经者勿用。
浮小麦 〔产北方者，入药。以霜雪多而性凉也。〕止盗汗，
〔自汗亦止，煎汤代茶甚佳。〕除虚热。〔治劳热骨蒸有功。〕
麦芽 〔咸温，入脾、胃二经。炒黄研。〕和中下气，消食化积，除烦闷，去胀满。〔消导之功。〕
消化米面诸果食积，无积则消肾气。脾虚有积者，须同气药用。能堕胎，妊娠无故勿服。
谷芽 〔甘苦温。〕快脾开胃，和中下气，消食化积。
神曲 〔辛苦温，入脾、胃二经。炒黄研。古人惟用酒曲。后又以五月五日或六月六日，用白面百
斤，青蒿、苍耳、野蓼自然汁、赤小豆、杏仁泥各三升，以配六神，和匀作饼，麻叶包窨、待生黄衣，
晒干，收之。陈久者良。〕健脾消宿食，下气除痰逆。〔指食积之痰言。〕腹痛能止，胀满可消，
〔消食下气之功。〕治泻殊良，〔亦指停食所致者，〕回乳甚验。〔产后无子食乳，乳胀、发热恶寒者，
炒研和酒服二钱，日二服甚验，麦芽亦效〕。
脾阴虚胃火盛者不宜。服能堕胎，孕妇不得已而应用，宜少食之。
红曲 〔甘温。炒研。〕功专活血，〔赤痢多用之。造法以白米饭，受湿热郁蒸，变而为红，故有
治脾胃营血之功，酿酒破血。〕亦可消食。〔有健脾燥胃之能。〕
饧糖 〔甘温，入肺、脾二经〕。补脾治腹痛，〔米麦熬造，故能补脾虚腹痛。〕润肺止嗽痰。
凡中满牙疳，呕家酒家俱忌。
酒 〔辛甘苦热，有毒，入肺、胃二经，醇者为良，冷冻饮料有益〕，宣通血脉，辟除邪恶，〔
昔三人冒雾晨行，空腹者死，饱食者病，饮酒者健。此酒力辟邪恶毒瓦斯之效。〕善行药势，〔用为引导
，可上至巅顶，外走皮肤，横行经络。凡服石药，不可长用酒下，能引入四肢，滞血化为痈疽，故一
切毒因酒得者难治。〕可御风寒。少饮和血行气，壮神消愁，过饮则烂胃腐肠，耗血损精，生痰动火。
故夫醉以为常者，轻则致疾，重则亡身，不可畏欤！
烧酒久饮烂肺，害人更甚。
Sesamum Indicum (Huma, 胡麻) [Also known as Black Sesame (Heizhima), one name is Jusheng (Giant Victory). Sweet and neutral in nature, enters the Spleen, Liver, and Kidney meridians. Requires nine steaming and nine sun-drying processes before grinding.] Benefits the Liver and nourishes Blood, treats paralysis caused by Deficient Wind (Wind generated from Liver deficiency and Blood insufficiency with excessive heat). Li Tingfei stated: Patients suffering from Wind diseases, if they consume it for a long time, will walk steadily and speak clearly without slurring. This embodies the principle that "to treat Wind, first treat the Blood; when Blood flows, Wind extinguishes itself." Moistens the Kidney and unblocks dryness, fills the Marrow and Brain, and strengthens sinews and bones. [The Kidney detests dryness; the black color connects to the Kidney and can moisten dryness. When the Kidney is nourished, the Marrow and Brain are filled, and sinews and bones become strong.] Tonifies the Middle and augments Qi. [Sweet flavor tonifies the Spleen and Stomach.] Turns white hair back to black. [Blackening hair is the merit of nourishing Yin and Blood.] Promotes muscle growth. [The Spleen governs muscles.] Brightens eyes and ears. [Ears are the orifices of the Kidney, eyes are the orifices of the Liver.] Stops palpitations. [Heart Blood is nourished.] Facilitates the Large Intestine. [Rich in oil and slippery.] Nourishes the Five Zang organs. Among grains, this is the best, hence required for Daoist elixir consumption.
Sesame Oil (Ma You) [Slightly cold] Expels the placenta. [Mix one cup with White Honey (Bai Mi), decoct and take in one dose; effective for retained placenta, difficult labor, and fetal death in utero.] Facilitates the Large Intestine. [One prescription uses one he of oil mixed with two or three egg whites, add one liang of Yuanming Powder (Mirabilite), stir and take to induce diarrhea; excellent for clearing Heat toxins.] Smears on sores and swellings. [Merit of detoxifying and cooling Blood.] Grows bald hair, resolves all toxins. [Heat toxins, food poisoning, insect bites; if poisoned by Arsenic (Pi) or Pufferfish (Hetun),灌ing large amounts to induce vomiting of toxins cures it.] Kills all parasites. [Thus used for smearing malignant sores, scabies, and tinea.]
Cannabis Fructus (Dama Ren, 大麻仁) [Sweet and neutral, enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians. Wrap in silk cloth, place in boiling water until cool, take out, hang in a well overnight. Sun-dry, shell on new tile, and grind.] Moistens dryness and unblocks both bowels, disseminates Wind and benefits joints. [For severe pain and immobility due to Wind toxin in bone marrow, mixing with wine and taking orally is highly effective.] Assists delivery in dystocia. [Due to its slippery and descending nature.] Removes vomiting and regurgitation. [Merit of directing Qi downward.] However, it is slippery and descending, moves without staying, and excessive consumption causes seminal emission and impotence, damages blood vessels, and triggers leukorrhea.
Coix Seed (Yiyi Ren, 薏苡仁) [Sweet and slightly cold, enters the Lung and Spleen meridians. Wash clean, sun-dry, and stir-fry.] Dries Spleen dampness and manages spasm in Bi syndrome (Bi Zheng, obstruction syndrome). [Earth's dampness, when invading, harms skin, flesh, sinews, and vessels. Wind, Cold, and Dampness combine to form Bi; this drug's drying nature removes dampness, sweet flavor tonifies Spleen, and bland flavor promotes leaching. Ultimately, removing Damp evil stabilizes the Spleen and Stomach, regulates the Middle Jiao, nourishes the four limbs, and unblocks blood vessels.] Clears Lung Heat and treats cough and Lung Abscess (Fei Yong). [Lung Abscess is caused by extreme Lung Heat.] Stops diarrhea, reduces edema. [Merit of tonifying Spleen and drying dampness.] Essential for Hong Kong Foot (Xianggangjiao, gouty arthritis/foot swelling), suitable for Wei syndrome (Wu Fei, flaccidity syndrome). [Hong Kong Foot and Wei syndrome both belong to Damp-Heat.] This is a herb that tonifies Spleen and benefits Stomach, supplements Lung and clears Heat, dispels Wind and overcomes Dampness. Contraindicated for dry stool constipation due to Cold causing cramps. Its root causes abortion, so pregnant women should avoid it.
White Hyacinth Bean (Baibian Dou, 白扁豆) [Sweet and neutral, enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians, can be stir-fried and ground, or used raw.] Excellent at tonifying Spleen and Stomach, can resolve Damp-Heat, treats Cholera-like disease (Huo Luan). [Has ability to harmonize Middle, direct Qi downward, transform clear Yang, descend turbid Yin, and dissipate summerheat.] Treats vomiting and regurgitation. [Harmonizing Middle and directing Qi downward.] Required for Dysentery (Li Ji). [Taking advantage of its ability to resolve Damp-Heat, dissipate summerheat, and harmonize Middle.] Suitable for Diarrhea (Xie Xie), quite effective for Leukorrhea (Dai Xia). [All are effects of tonifying Spleen and drying dampness.] Resolves various toxins very well. [Can resolve alcohol toxicity, fish toxicity, toxicity from birds and livestock meat, and all plant, wood, arsenic, and frost toxins; taken raw as powder with cold water.] It is a tonic. Contraindicated when external Cold-Heat pathogens are raging.
Mung Bean (Lv Dou, 绿豆) [Sweet and cold, enters the Liver and Stomach meridians. Use with skin; removing skin causes Qi stagnation.] Descends Qi and suppresses Heat. [Due to heavy texture and sweet-cold nature.] Detoxifies and stops thirst. [Resolving various Heat toxins is superior to Hyacinth Bean and Adzuki Bean. For toxicity from Dan-Shi medicines, grinding into powder and mixing with water is very effective. Stopping thirst is due to clearing Heat.] Treats Head Wind (Tou Feng) and removes vomiting/regurgitation. [Both are effects of descending Qi and suppressing Heat.] Dispels floating Wind and moisturizes skin. [Floating Wind refers to wind-rash; extreme Heat generates Wind.] Reduces edema. [Due to promoting urination.] Thickens intestines and stomach. [Sweet flavor enters Stomach, cold nature can tonify.] Not suitable for those with Stomach Cold.
Black Soybean (Heidaxiao Dou, 黑大豆) [Sweet and neutral, enters the Kidney meridian. Tight and small ones are better.] Invigorates Blood and disperses Wind. [Used postpartum for invigorating Blood and moving stasis; used for head wind for dispelling Wind, clearing Heat, and directing Qi downward; used for traumatic tetanus and postpartum wind syndromes/spasms for invigorating Blood and dispersing Wind.] Tonifies Kidney and further detoxifies. [Black color enters Kidney, is the grain of the Kidney, thus brightens eyes, reduces edema, resolves hundred drug toxins; must add Licorice (Gan Cao) for miraculous effect.] Children under ten years old should not eat stir-fried beans with pork, as it causes Qi stagnation leading to death. After taking Castor Seed (Bimazi), eating stir-fried beans causes bloating; also contraindicated with Magnolia Bark (Houpo), as it moves Qi.
Fermented Soybean Paste (Dandouchi, 淡豆豉) [Sweet, bitter, slightly warm, enters Lung and Spleen meridians. One from Jiangxi is best. Stir-fried, it can stop sweating.] Can release muscle layer and induce sweating, simultaneously resolving headache, Cold, and Heat. [For Cold Damage (Shang Han), epidemic febrile diseases, and miasma/toxicity, used to release exterior. Due to steaming and fermenting, it also harmonizes Middle and directs Qi downward.] As an emetic agent, calms irritability and fullness/oppression. [Zhang Zhongjing, after sweating, vomiting, or purging, if residual Heat toxin remains stagnant in chest causing restlessness (Ao Nan), uses Gardenia (Zhizi) and Fermented Soybean Paste to vomit out the pathogen. If Heat binds in chest causing oppression, use Xuanfu Da Huang Zhe Lang Tang (Trichosanthes, Magnolia, and Rhubarb Decoction), do not use this.] Contraindicated in Cold Damage directly entering Yin meridians.
Floating Wheat (Fuxiaomai, 浮小麦) [Northern production enters medicine. Because of frequent frost/snow, nature is cool.] Stops night sweats. [Daytime spontaneous sweating also stops; decocting as tea is excellent.] Clears Deficient Heat. [Effective for consumptive fever and bone-steaming heat.]
Malt (Maiya, 麦芽) [Salty and warm, enters Spleen and Stomach meridians. Stir-fry until yellow and grind.] Harmonizes Middle and directs Qi downward, transforms food accumulation, removes irritability, eliminates distension/fullness. [Merit of digestion and guidance.] Digests accumulation of rice, wheat, fruits, etc.; without accumulation, it consumes Kidney Qi. For Spleen deficiency with accumulation, must be combined with Qi-tonifying herbs. Causes abortion, pregnant women should not take unless necessary.
Sprouted Barley (Guya, 谷芽) [Sweet, bitter, warm.] Quickens Spleen and opens appetite, harmonizes Middle and directs Qi downward, transforms food accumulation.
Medicated Leaven (Shenqu, 神曲) [Pungent, bitter, warm, enters Spleen and Stomach meridians. Stir-fry until yellow and grind. Ancients only used wine leaven. Later, on May 5th or June 6th, use 100 jin of white flour, natural juices of Mugwort (Qinghao), Cocklebur (Canger), Wild Polygonum (Yeliao), 3 sheng of Adzuki Beans, 3 sheng of Almond paste, mix with six divine spirits, form into cakes, wrap in hemp leaves to ferment, wait for yellow mold to grow, sun-dry and store. Aged is better.] Tonifies Spleen and digests retained food, directs Qi downward and eliminates rebellious Phlegm. [Refers to Phlegm from food retention.] Stops abdominal pain, eliminates distension/fullness. [Merit of digesting food and directing Qi downward.] Excellent for treating diarrhea. [Also refers to cases caused by food stagnation.] Very effective for weaning (stopping lactation). [Postpartum women with no infant suckling, experiencing breast distension, fever, and aversion to cold: take 2 qian of stir-fried and ground powder mixed with wine, twice daily, very effective; Malt is also effective.] Not suitable for Spleen Yin deficiency with Stomach Fire excess. Causes abortion; if pregnant women must use it, consume sparingly.
Red Yeast Rice (Hongqu, 红曲) [Sweet and warm. Stir-fry and grind.] Function specializes in invigorating Blood. [Often used for bloody dysentery. Made by letting white rice undergo damp-heat fermentation until turning red, thus has merit for regulating Spleen/Stomach Ying-Blood; brewing wine breaks Blood.] Can also digest food. [Has ability to tonify Spleen and dry Stomach.]
Maltose (Yingtang, 饧糖) [Sweet and warm, enters Lung and Spleen meridians.] Tonifies Spleen and treats abdominal pain. [Made from rice and wheat, thus tonifies Spleen deficiency abdominal pain.] Moistens Lung and stops cough with phlegm. Contraindicated for fullness in middle jiao, gum rot, vomiting patients, and drinkers.
Alcohol (Jiu, 酒) [Pungent, sweet, bitter, hot, toxic, enters Lung and Stomach meridians. Pure is good, chilled drink is beneficial.] Unblocks and circulates blood vessels, wards off evil influences. [Three people walked in morning fog; the empty-stomached died, the full-bellied got sick, the drinking remained healthy. This shows Alcohol's power to ward off evil and toxic vapors.] Good at guiding medicinal potency. [Used as a guide, can reach the vertex, move externally to skin, traverse collaterals. For those taking Stone Medicines (Shi Yao), do not long-term use wine to swallow, as it guides drugs to limbs, stagnates blood turning into carbuncles/ulcers; thus all toxins induced by wine are hard to treat.] Can resist Wind-Cold. Small amounts harmonize Blood and move Qi, strengthen spirit, relieve sorrow; excessive drinking rots stomach and guts, consumes Blood and essence, generates Phlegm and moves Fire. Thus, making drunkenness a habit leads to illness or death; is this not to be feared! Long-term consumption of distilled liquor (Shao Jiu) rots lungs, harming people even more.