得地之阴，兼乎天之阳气，故味酸微苦咸气温，味兼五而无毒，阴中微阳，入足少
阴、手太阴血分，足少阴气分，为摄气归元强阴益精之要药。每个铜刀切为二片，蜜酒
拌蒸晒干，焙用。
五味子，补虚损劳伤，收瞳神散大，味酸而敛肺气耗散之金。性补而滋肾经不足之
水，生津止渴，益气强阴，涩精定喘，敛汗固阳，补虚明目，除烦热而补元阳，解酒毒
而壮筋骨。同干姜煎，治冬月咳嗽，肺寒神效。同黄 、人参、麦冬、黄柏，治夏季神
力困乏殊功。或热嗽而火气太盛者，不可骤用寒凉，必资此酸敛。然不宜多用，反致闭
遏。诚纳气归元，收肺保肾之要药也。
主治（痘疹合参） 敛肺气生津止渴，除咳嗽驱热滋阴。然味酸而收敛，痘中不
宜，惟痘后毒尽可用。至于火盛未清之咳嗽，有此敛遏，亦非所宜。
按∶五味子肉酸有余而甘不足哉。中苦辛而咸。古人制法，击碎，拌以蜜酒蒸之，
正补其甘之不足，而少解其酸敛之峻骤也。洁古云∶夏服五味，使人精神顿加，两足筋
力涌出，盖取五味酸，辅人参能泻丙火，而补庚金，收敛耗散之气也。东垣云∶收瞳神
散大，乃火热必用之药，有外邪者不可骤用。丹溪云∶收肺补肾，乃火嗽必用之药。
寇氏谓其食之多虚热者，盖以其收补之骤也。若风邪在表，痧疹初形，一切停饮，肺
有实热者，皆当禁绝。
五味子汲取了地之阴气，又兼具天之阳气，因此其味酸、微苦、咸，性温。它兼备五味而无毒，属于阴中带有微阳之品，归入足少阴肾经和手太阴肺经的血分及气分，是摄纳元气归于本源、强壮阴精的重要药物。使用时，用铜刀将每颗切成两半，用蜂蜜和酒拌匀后蒸制，晒干，再焙干备用。
五味子能补益虚损和劳伤，收敛散大的瞳孔，以其酸味收敛肺气耗散（中医五行中肺属金）。其性补益，能滋补肾经不足之水液，生津止渴，益气强阴，涩精定喘，敛汗固阳，补虚明目，清除烦热并补益元阳，解除酒毒并强壮筋骨。与干姜同煎，治疗冬季咳嗽，对肺寒引起的咳嗽有显著疗效。与人参、麦冬、黄柏等同用，治疗夏季因暑热导致的神力困乏，功效显著。如果是热咳且火气过盛者，不可突然使用寒凉药物，必须借助此药的酸敛之性。但不宜多用，否则反而会导致邪气闭遏。这确实是纳气归元、保肺护肾的关键药物。
主治（结合痘疹病症参考）：收敛肺气，生津止渴，消除咳嗽，驱除热邪，滋阴。然而因其味酸且具有收敛作用，在出痘期间不宜使用，只有在痘疹消退、毒素排尽后才可使用。至于火气旺盛尚未清解的咳嗽，若使用此药收敛，也不适宜。
按语：五味子的果肉酸味有余而甘味不足，中间含有苦、辛、咸味。古人炮制方法是将果实击碎，拌以蜜酒蒸制，正是为了补充其甘味的不足，并稍微缓解其酸敛作用的峻烈急促。张洁古说：夏季服用五味子，能使精神顿时振奋，两腿筋力涌现，这是取其酸味辅助人参，能够泻丙火（心火），补庚金（肺金），收敛耗散之气。李东垣说：收敛散大的瞳孔，是火热证必用的药物，但有外邪者不可突然使用。朱丹溪说：收肺补肾，是火嗽（热咳）必用的药物。寇宗奭认为多吃五味子会产生虚热，大概是因为其收敛补益作用过于急骤。如果风邪在表，痧疹初起，一切停饮（水湿停滞），肺有实热者，都应绝对禁止使用。
Wuweizi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus) absorbs the Yin energy of the earth and combines with the Yang Qi of heaven; therefore, its taste is sour, slightly bitter, and salty, and its nature is warm. It encompasses all five flavors without toxicity, belonging to a category that is Yin containing slight Yang. It enters the blood aspect and Qi aspect of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. It is a crucial herb for grasping Qi and returning it to its origin, strengthening Yin, and benefiting Essence. For preparation, each berry is cut in half with a copper knife, mixed with honey and wine, steamed, sun-dried, and then baked before use.
Wuweizi tonifies deficiency damage and labor injuries, contracts dilated pupils, and uses its sour flavor to astringe the dispersal of Lung Qi (Lung corresponds to Metal in Five Elements). Its nature is tonifying and nourishes the insufficiency of Water in the Kidney Meridian. It generates fluids, relieves thirst, benefits Qi, strengthens Yin, secures Essence, calms asthma, arrests sweating, consolidates Yang, tonifies deficiency to improve vision, eliminates vexation and heat while supplementing Original Yang, resolves alcohol toxicity, and strengthens sinews and bones. Decocted together with Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), it treats winter coughs caused by Lung Cold with miraculous effect. Combined with Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), and Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), it shows remarkable efficacy in treating summer fatigue and weakness. In cases of hot cough with excessive Fire Qi, cold-natured drugs should not be used abruptly; instead, this sour-astringent property must be utilized. However, it should not be used in large doses, as this may cause pathogenic closure. Indeed, it is a key herb for guiding Qi back to its origin and protecting the Lung and Kidney.
Indications (Reference combined with Smallpox/Rash diseases): Astringes Lung Qi, generates fluids, relieves thirst, eliminates cough, drives out heat, and nourishes Yin. However, due to its sour taste and astringent nature, it is unsuitable during the eruption phase of rashes; it can only be used after the rash has subsided and toxins are cleared. For coughs where Fire is abundant but not yet cleared, using this astringent herb is also inappropriate.
Commentary: The flesh of Wuweizi has an excess of sourness and insufficient sweetness, while containing bitterness, pungency, and saltiness. Ancient processing methods involved crushing the fruit and steaming it with honey and wine, precisely to supplement its lack of sweetness and slightly mitigate the harshness and abruptness of its astringent action. Zhang Jiegu stated: "Taking Wuweizi in summer causes spirit to instantly improve and sinew strength to surge in the legs." This utilizes its sour flavor to assist Renshen in draining Bing Fire (Heart Fire) and supplementing Geng Metal (Lung Metal), thereby converging dispersed Qi. Li Dongyuan stated: "Contracting dilated pupils requires this herb for Heat-Fire conditions; however, it should not be used abruptly if external pathogens are present." Zhu Danxi stated: "Astringing the Lung and tonifying the Kidney makes this a necessary herb for Fire Cough." Kou Zongshi claimed that consuming too much Wuweizi causes deficient heat, likely because its astringent and tonifying action is too rapid. If Wind-Pathogen remains on the exterior, if rashes are just beginning, or in cases of fluid retention and Excess Heat in the Lung, its use is strictly contraindicated.