（附∶甘草反鲢鱼之质疑）
甘草∶性微温，其味至甘。能解一切毒性。甘者主和，故有调和脾胃之功，甘者主缓，故虽补脾胃而实非
峻补。炙用则补力较大，是以方书谓胀满证忌之。若轧末生服，转能通利二便，消胀除满。若治疮疡亦宜生用，
或用生者煎服亦可。仲景有甘草泻心汤，用连、苓、半夏以泻心下之痞，即用甘草以保护心主，不为诸药所伤
损也。至白虎汤用之，是借其甘缓之性以缓寒药之侵下。通脉汤、四逆汤用之，是借其甘缓之性，以缓热药之
僭上。与芍药同用，能育阴缓中止疼，仲景有甘草芍药汤。与干姜同用，能逗留其热力使之绵长，仲景有甘草
干姜汤。与半夏、细辛诸药同用，能解其辛而且麻之味，使归和平。惟与大戟、芫花、甘遂、海藻相反，余药
则皆相宜也。
古方治肺痈初起，有单用粉甘草四两，煮汤饮之者，恒有效验。愚师其意，对于肺结核之初期，咳嗽吐
痰，微带腥臭者，恒用生粉甘草为细末，每服钱半，用金银花三钱煎汤送下，日服三次，屡屡获效。若肺病已
久，或兼吐脓血，可用粉甘草细末三钱，浙贝母、三七细末各钱半，共调和为一日之量，亦用金银花煎汤送下。
若觉热者，可再加玄参数钱，煎汤送服。皮黄者名粉甘草，性平不温，用于解毒清火剂中尤良。
愚拟治霍乱两方，一为急救回生丹，一为卫生防疫宝丹，二方中皆重用甘草，则甘草之功用可想也。然
亦多赖将甘草轧细生用，未经蜜炙、水煮耳。诚以暴病传染，皆挟有毒瓦斯流行，生用
则其解毒之力较大，且甘草熟用则补，生用则补中仍有流通之力，故于霍乱相宜也。至于生用能流通之说，可
以事实征之。
【附案】开原王姓幼童，脾胃虚弱，饮食不能消化，恒吐出，且小便不利，周身漫肿，腹胀大，用生甘草
细末与西药百布圣各等分，每服一钱，日三次，数日吐止便通，肿胀皆消。
铁岭友人魏××，其地多甘草，魏××日以甘草置茶壶中当茶叶冲水饮之，旬日其大小便皆较勤，遂不敢饮。
后与愚觌面，为述其事，且问甘草原有补性，何以通利二便？答曰∶“甘草熟用则补，生用则通，以之置茶壶
中虽冲以开水，其性未熟，仍与生用相近故能通也。”
门生李××言，曾有一孺子患腹疼，用暖脐膏贴之，后其贴处溃烂，医者谓多饮甘草水可愈。复因饮甘草水
过多，小便不利，身肿腹胀，再延他医治之，服药无效。其地近火车站，火车恒装卸甘草，其姊携之拾甘草嚼
之，日以为常，其肿胀竟由此而消。观此，则知甘草生用、熟用，其性竟若是悬殊，用甘草者，可不于生、熟
之间加之意乎？
（附：关于甘草与鲢鱼相克的质疑）
甘草：性味微温，味道极甘。能够解除各种毒性。甘味主调和，所以有调和脾胃的功效；甘味主缓急，所以虽然能补益脾胃，但实际上并非峻猛的补药。经过蜜炙后使用，其补益力量较大，因此医方书籍中说腹胀满闷的病症应当忌用。如果轧成粉末生服，反而能通利大小便，消除胀满。如果治疗疮疡，也适宜生用，或者用生的甘草煎汤服用也可以。张仲景在甘草泻心汤中，使用黄连、黄芩、半夏来泻除心下的痞塞感，同时使用甘草来保护心脏君主，不被其他药物所损伤。至于白虎汤中使用它，是借助其甘缓的性质来减缓寒凉药物的侵袭下行之势。通脉汤、四逆汤中使用它，是借助其甘缓的性质，来减缓温热药物的僭越上行之势。与芍药同用，能滋养阴液、缓解痉挛以止痛，张仲景有甘草芍药汤。与干姜同用，能留住其热力使其绵长持久，张仲景有甘草干姜汤。与半夏、细辛等药物同用，能解除它们辛辣且带有麻味的特性，使药性归于平和。唯独与大戟、芫花、甘遂、海藻相反，与其他药物则都相宜。
古代方剂治疗肺痈初起，有用单味粉甘草四两，煮汤饮用的，往往有效验。我效法其意，对于肺结核初期，咳嗽吐痰，微微带有腥臭味的情况，经常使用生粉甘草研为细末，每次服用一钱半，用金银花三钱煎汤送服，每日三次，屡屡获得疗效。如果肺病已久，或者兼有吐脓血的情况，可用粉甘草细末三钱，浙贝母、三七细末各一钱半，共同调和作为一天的用量，也用金银花煎汤送服。如果觉得热象明显，可再加玄参数钱，煎汤送服。表皮黄色的称为粉甘草，性平不温，用于解毒清火的方剂中尤其良好。
我拟定治疗霍乱的两个方子，一个是急救回生丹，一个是卫生防疫宝丹，这两个方中都重用甘草，那么甘草的功效就可以想见了。然而这也多依赖于将甘草轧细生用，未经过蜜炙和水煮的缘故。确实因为暴发性传染病，都挟带有毒瓦斯流行，生用时其解毒力量较大，而且甘草熟用则偏于补益，生用则在补益之中仍有流通之力，所以对霍乱适宜。至于生用能流通的说法，可以通过事实来验证。
【附案】开原县一位王姓幼童，脾胃虚弱，饮食不能消化，经常呕吐，且小便不利，周身漫肿，腹部胀大。使用生甘草细末与西药百布圣（胃蛋白酶）各等分，每次服用一钱，每日三次，数日后呕吐停止，二便通畅，肿胀全部消退。
铁岭的朋友魏××，当地盛产甘草，魏××每天将甘草放在茶壶中当作茶叶冲水饮用，十几天后他的大小便都比以前频繁，于是就不敢再喝了。后来与我见面，讲述此事，并问甘草原本有补性，为什么能通利大小便？我回答说：“甘草熟用则补，生用则通，把它放在茶壶中虽然用开水冲泡，但其性质未熟，仍与生用相近，所以能通。”
门生李××说，曾有一个孩子患腹痛，用暖脐膏贴敷，后来贴敷处溃烂，医生说多喝甘草水可以痊愈。又因喝甘草水过多，导致小便不利，身体浮肿腹胀，再请其他医生治疗，服药无效。当地靠近火车站，火车经常装卸甘草，他的姐姐带着他去捡甘草咀嚼，以此为常，其肿胀竟然由此而消。看这情况，就知道甘草生用和熟用，其性质竟然如此悬殊，使用甘草的人，难道不在生用和熟用之间加以注意吗？
(Attachment: Doubts regarding the incompatibility of Licorice and Silver Carp)
Licorice (Gancao, 甘草): Its nature is slightly warm, and its taste is extremely sweet. It can resolve all kinds of toxicity. Sweetness governs harmony; therefore, it has the function of harmonizing the Spleen and Stomach. Sweetness governs moderation/relaxation; therefore, although it tonifies the Spleen and Stomach, it is actually not a drastic tonic. When used after honey-frying (Zhi), its tonifying power is greater; hence, medical formularies state that it should be avoided in cases of abdominal distension and fullness. If crushed into powder and taken raw, it instead promotes the free flow of urine and stool, eliminating distension and fullness. When treating sores and ulcers, it is also suitable to use raw, or one may decoct the raw herb for oral administration. Zhang Zhongjing, in Ganxie Xiexin Tang (Licorice Decoction for Draining the Epigastrium), uses Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome), Huangqin (Scutellaria Root), and Banxia (Pinellia Tuber) to drain the palpitations/fullness in the epigastrium, while simultaneously using Gancao (Licorice) to protect the Heart (the Monarch organ) from injury by the other drugs. In Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction), it is used to borrow its sweet-moderating nature to slow down the invasive downward action of cold-natured drugs. In Tongmai Tang (Pulse-Regulating Decoction) and Sini Tang (Frigid Extremities Decoction), it is used to borrow its sweet-moderating nature to slow down the rebellious upward action of heat-natured drugs. When used with Shaoyao (Peony Root), it nourishes Yin, moderates spasms, and stops pain; Zhang Zhongjing formulated Gancao Shaoyao Tang (Licorice and Peony Decoction). When used with Ganjiang (Dried Ginger), it retains its thermal energy, making it last longer; Zhang Zhongjing formulated Gancao Ganjiang Tang (Licorice and Dried Ginger Decoction). When used with Banxia (Pinellia Tuber), Xixin (Asarum Root), and other drugs, it resolves their pungent and numbing tastes, bringing the medicinal properties to a state of peace. It is incompatible only with Daji (Euphorbia Lathyris Root), Yuanhua (Kadua Flower), Gansui (Kansui Root), and Haizao (Sargassum Thallus); with other drugs, it is generally compatible.
Ancient formulas for treating early-stage Lung Abscess (Fei Yong, 肺痈) included using single-ingredient Fen Gancao (Powdered Licorice) four liang, decocted as soup for drinking, which often yielded effective results. I followed this intent: for early-stage Pulmonary Tuberculosis presenting with coughing and expectoration that is slightly fishy-smelling, I frequently use raw Fen Gancao ground into fine powder, taking 1 qian per dose, delivered with a decoction of Jinyinhua (Honeysuckle Flower) three qian, administered three times daily, repeatedly achieving efficacy. If the lung disease has persisted for a long time, or if there is concomitant expectoration of pus and blood, one can use three qian of Fen Gancao fine powder, mixed with 1.5 qian each of Zhe Beimu (Zhejiang Fritillary Bulb) and Sanqi (Notoginseng Root) fine powder, combined as a daily dosage, also delivered with a Jinyinhua decoction. If heat sensation is prominent, add several qian of Xuanshen (Scrophularia Root) to the decoction for delivery. The variety with yellowish skin is called Fen Gancao; its nature is neutral and not warm, making it particularly excellent in detoxifying and clearing fire formulations.
I devised two formulas for treating Cholera (Huoluan, 霍乱): one is Jijiu Huisheng Dan (Emergency Life-Recovery Pill), and the other is Weisheng Fangyi Bao Dan (Hygiene Epidemic-Prevention Precious Pill). Both formulas heavily emphasize the use of Licorice, allowing one to infer its functions. However, this relies largely on crushing the Licorice finely and using it raw, without honey-frying or water-decocting. Indeed, acute infectious diseases are accompanied by the prevalence of toxic miasmas; when used raw, its detoxifying power is greater. Moreover, when cooked, Licorice tonifies; when raw, it tonifies while still possessing a circulating force. Thus, it is suitable for Cholera. The claim that raw usage promotes circulation can be verified by factual evidence.
[Attached Case] A young boy surnamed Wang from Kaiyuan had weak Spleen and Stomach, unable to digest food, resulting in frequent vomiting. He also suffered from difficult urination, generalized edema, and abdominal distension. He was treated with equal parts of raw Licorice fine powder and Western medicine Pepsin (Baibusheng), taking 1 qian per dose, three times daily. After several days, vomiting ceased, urination and defecation became smooth, and swelling subsided completely.
A friend from Tieling, Mr. Wei, lived in an area abundant in Licorice. Mr. Wei placed Licorice in his teapot daily, brewing it like tea. After ten days, his urination and defecation became more frequent, causing him to stop drinking it. Later, upon meeting me, he recounted this incident and asked why Licorice, which originally has a tonifying nature, could promote the free flow of urine and stool. I replied: "When cooked, Licorice tonifies; when raw, it promotes circulation. Although brewed with boiling water in a teapot, its nature remains uncooked, similar to raw usage, thus promoting circulation."
Student Li stated that he once knew a child suffering from abdominal pain who applied Nuan Qi Gao (Umbilical-Warming Plaster). The application site later ulcerated. The physician advised drinking plenty of Licorice water to heal. However, excessive consumption led to difficult urination, body swelling, and abdominal distension. Other physicians were consulted, but medications were ineffective. The locality was near a railway station where trains frequently unloaded Licorice. His sister took him to gather Licorice to chew on daily as a habit. Consequently, his swelling disappeared. Observing this, we know that the nature of Licorice differs drastically between raw and cooked states. Those using Licorice must pay attention to whether it is raw or cooked.