茯苓∶气味俱淡，性平。善理脾胃，因脾胃属土，土之味原淡（土味淡之理，徐灵胎曾详论之），是
以《内经》谓淡气归胃，而《慎柔五书》上述《内经》之旨，亦谓味淡能养脾阴。盖其性能化胃中痰饮为
水液，引之输于脾而达于肺，复下循三焦水道以归膀胱，为渗湿利痰之主药。然其性纯良，泻中有补，虽为渗
利之品，实能培土生金，有益于脾胃及肺。且以其得松根有余之气，伏藏地中不外透生苗，故又善敛心气之浮
越以安魂定魄，兼能泻心下之水饮以除惊悸，又为心经要药。且其伏藏之性，又能敛抑外越之水气转而下注，
不使作汗透出，兼为止汗之要药也。其抱根而生者为茯神，养心之力，较胜于茯苓。茯苓若入煎剂，其切作块者，终日
煎之不透，必须切薄片，或捣为末，方能煎透。
【附录】友人竹××曰∶“嵊县吴氏一家，以种苓为业。春间吴氏之媳病，盖产后月余，壮热口渴不引饮，
汗出不止，心悸不寐，延余往治。病患面现红色，脉有滑象，急用甘草、麦冬、竹叶、柏子仁、浮小麦、大
枣煎饮不效；继用酸枣仁汤，减川芎加浮小麦、大枣，亦不效；又用归脾汤加龙骨、牡蛎、萸肉则仍然如故。
当此之时，余束手无策，忽一人进而言曰∶‘何不用补药以缓之’，余思此无稽之谈，所云补药者，心无见识
也，姑漫应之。时已届晚寝之时，至次日早起，其翁奔告曰∶‘予媳之病昨夜用补药医痊矣。’余将信将疑，
不识补药究系何物。乃翁持渣来见，钵中有茯苓四五两，噫！茯苓焉，胡为云补药哉？余半晌不能言。危坐思
之，凡病有一线生机，皆可医治。茯苓固治心悸之要药，亦治汗出之主药。仲景治伤寒汗出而渴者五苓散，不
渴者茯苓甘草汤。伤寒厥而心下悸者宜先治水，当服茯苓甘草汤。可知心悸者汗出过多，心液内涸，肾水上救
入心则悸，余药不能治水，故用茯苓以镇之。是证心悸不寐，其不寐由心悸而来，即心悸亦从汗出而来，其壮
热口渴不引饮、脉滑，皆有水气之象，今幸遇种苓家，否则汗出不止，终当亡阳，水气凌心，必当灭火，是谁
之过欤？余引咎而退。”观竹××此论，不惜暴一己之失，以为医界说法，其疏解经文之处，能将仲景用茯苓
之深意，彰彰表出，固其析理之精，亦见其居心之浓也。
湖北天门县崔××来函云∶一九三○年，李姓妇，头目眩晕、心中怔忡、呕吐涎沫，有时觉气上冲，昏
愦不省人事。他医治以安神之药无效，继又延医十余人皆服药无效，危险已至极点。生诊其脉，浮而无力，视
其形状无可下药。恍悟《衷中参西录》茯苓解中，所论重用茯苓之法，当可挽回此证。遂俾单用茯苓一两煎汤
服之，服后甫五分钟，病即轻减，旋即煎渣再服，益神
清气爽，连服数剂，病即全愈。后每遇类此证者，投此方皆可奏效。
茯苓：气味都非常淡，药性平和。善于调理脾胃，因为脾胃属土，而土的味道原本就是淡的（关于土味淡的道理，徐灵胎曾详细论述过），所以《内经》说淡味的药气归于胃，而《慎柔五书》在阐述《内经》的宗旨时也说，淡味能够滋养脾阴。大概是因为它的性能能够将胃中的痰饮转化为水液，引导其输送到脾并通达于肺，再向下沿着三焦的水道流入膀胱，是渗湿利痰的主要药物。然而它的性质纯良，在泻邪中带有补益作用，虽然属于渗利之品，实际上能培补脾土以生肺金，对脾胃及肺有益。而且因为它吸收了松根余留的气机，潜伏藏在地中而不向外透发生长幼苗，所以又善于收敛心气的浮越以安定魂魄，兼能泻除心下的水饮以消除惊悸，又是心经的重要药物。并且它潜伏收藏的特性，又能收敛抑制外越的水气转而向下注入，不让其化作汗液透出，兼作止汗的重要药物。抱附茯苓根部而生长的称为茯神，其养心的力量比茯苓更强。茯苓如果用于煎煮，切成块状的，即使整天煎煮也无法透入药效，必须切成薄片，或者捣成粉末，才能煎出药效。
【附录】我的朋友竹××说：“嵊县吴姓一家，以种植茯苓为业。春季时，吴家的儿媳妇生病，大概是产后一个多月，出现高热、口渴但不想喝水、出汗不止、心悸且无法入睡，请我去诊治。病人面色发红，脉象有滑象，我急忙用甘草、麦冬、竹叶、柏子仁、浮小麦、大枣煎汤服用，没有效果；接着使用酸枣仁汤，减去川芎，加入浮小麦和大枣，也没有效果；又使用归脾汤加上龙骨、牡蛎、山茱萸，情况依然如故。在这个时候，我束手无策，忽然有人进言说：‘为什么不用补药来缓和病情呢？’我心想这是无稽之谈，所说的补药，心里并没有见识，姑且随意应付他。当时已经到了晚上睡觉的时间，到了第二天早上起床，病人的公公跑来说：‘我儿媳的病昨晚用了补药治好了。’我将信将疑，不知道所谓的补药到底是什么。于是公公拿着药渣来见我，钵中有四五两茯苓，唉！原来是茯苓啊，为什么说它是补药呢？我半天说不出话来。正襟危坐思考，凡是疾病只要还有一线生机，都可以医治。茯苓确实是治疗心悸的重要药物，也是治疗出汗的主药。张仲景治疗伤寒出汗且口渴的，用五苓散；不口渴的，用茯苓甘草汤。伤寒四肢厥冷且心下悸动的，应当先治水，应该服用茯苓甘草汤。可知心悸是因为出汗过多，导致心液内部枯竭，肾水上救入心则产生悸动，其他药物不能治水，所以用茯苓来镇摄它。这个病症的心悸不寐，其不寐是由心悸引起的，即心悸也是从出汗而来，其高热、口渴但不欲饮水、脉滑，都有水气的征象，现在幸好遇到了种茯苓的人家，否则汗出不止，最终会导致亡阳，水气凌心，必然要灭火，这是谁的过错呢？我引咎退下。”看竹××这番言论，不惜暴露自己的失误，为了医学界阐明道理，他在解释经文之处，能将张仲景使用茯苓的深意，清楚地表达出来，这既显示了他分析道理的精细，也可见其用心之诚恳。
湖北天门县崔××来信说：一九三○年，李姓妇女，头目眩晕、心中怔忡、呕吐涎沫，有时感觉气向上冲，昏愦不省人事。其他医生用安神药物治疗无效，接着又延请十多位医生，服药都无效，危险已到极点。我诊察她的脉象，浮而无力，观察她的形态觉得难以下药。忽然领悟到《衷中参西录》茯苓解中，所论述的重用茯苓的方法，或许可以挽回这个病症。于是让她单用一两茯苓煎汤服用，服后刚五分钟，病情就减轻，随即煎药渣再次服用，更加神清气爽，连续服用几剂，病就全愈了。后来每次遇到类似证候者，投以此方都能奏效。
Poria (Fuling): Its flavor and qi are both extremely light, and its nature is neutral. It is good at regulating the Spleen and Stomach because the Spleen and Stomach belong to Earth, and the flavor of Earth is originally light (the principle of why Earth's flavor is light was discussed in detail by Xu Lingtai). Therefore, the *Neijing* states that the light flavor returns to the Stomach, and the *Shenrou Wushu*, elaborating on the purport of the *Neijing*, also states that a light flavor can nourish Yin of the Spleen. This is likely because its property can transform phlegm-fluids in the Stomach into fluid substances, guide them to transport to the Spleen and reach the Lung, and then descend along the Sanjiao waterways to return to the Bladder, making it the principal herb for leaching out dampness and draining phlegm. However, its nature is purely benign; it contains tonification within its draining action. Although it is a product of leaching and promoting urination, it actually can cultivate Earth to generate Metal, benefiting the Spleen, Stomach, and Lung. Moreover, because it absorbs the residual Qi of pine roots and lies hidden underground without sprouting shoots outward, it is also good at consolidating the floating and dispersing Qi of the Heart to calm the Soul and stabilize the Spirit. It simultaneously drains fluid-phlegm below the Heart to eliminate palpitations and fright, serving as an important herb for the Heart Meridian. Furthermore, its property of lying hidden can also consolidate and suppress the external-dispersing fluid-Qi, turning it downward, preventing it from transforming into sweat and emerging, acting as an important herb for stopping sweating. The part growing while embracing the root is called Poria with Hostwood (Fushen), which has stronger power in nourishing the Heart than Poria (Fuling). If Poria (Fuling) is used in decoction, when cut into blocks, it cannot penetrate even after boiling all day; it must be sliced thinly or pounded into powder to fully extract its efficacy.
[Appendix] My friend Zhu XX said: "A family surnamed Wu in Sheng County made a living by cultivating Poria (Fuling). In spring, the daughter-in-law of the Wu family fell ill. It had been more than a month since her postpartum period. She suffered from high fever, thirst but no desire to drink, incessant sweating, palpitations, and insomnia. I was invited to treat her. Her face appeared red, and her pulse showed a slippery quality. I urgently prescribed a decoction of Licorice Root (Gancao), Ophiopogon Tuber (Maidong), Bamboo Leaf (Zhuye), Biota Seed (Baiziren), Floating Wheat (Fuxiaomai), and Jujube Date (Dazao), but it was ineffective. Subsequently, I used Suanzaoren Tang, removing Ligusticum Rhizome (Chuanxiong) and adding Floating Wheat (Fuxiaomai) and Jujube Date (Dazao), which was also ineffective. Then I used Guipi Tang plus Dragon Bone (Longgu), Oyster Shell (Muli), and Cornus Fruit (Yurou), yet the condition remained unchanged. At this time, I was at my wit's end. Suddenly, someone stepped forward and said, 'Why not use tonic herbs to缓 (slow/relax) it?' I thought this was nonsense; the so-called tonic herbs indicated a lack of insight in the heart. I merely responded casually. It was already time for evening rest. The next morning upon waking, the patient's father-in-law rushed to tell me, 'My daughter-in-law's illness was cured last night using tonic herbs.' I was skeptical and did not know what the so-called tonic herb was. The father-in-law brought the dregs to see me. In the bowl were four or five taels of Poria (Fuling). Alas! It was Poria (Fuling); why call it a tonic herb? I could not speak for half a day. Sitting upright and pondering, I realized that any disease with a thread of vitality can be treated. Poria (Fuling) is indeed an important herb for treating palpitations and the main herb for treating sweating. Zhang Zhongjing treated Taiyang disease with sweating and thirst using Wuling San; if there was no thirst, he used Fuling Gancao Tang. For Taiyang disease with cold extremities and palpitations below the Heart, one should first treat the water retention and administer Fuling Gancao Tang. It can be known that palpitations arise from excessive sweating leading to internal depletion of Heart fluids; when Kidney Water rises to rescue the Heart, palpitations occur. Other herbs cannot treat water retention, so Poria (Fuling) is used to pacify it. In this case, the insomnia stems from palpitations, and the palpitations stem from sweating. The high fever, thirst without desire to drink, and slippery pulse all present signs of fluid-Qi. Fortunately, we encountered a family that cultivates Poria (Fuling); otherwise, incessant sweating would eventually lead to collapse of Yang, and fluid-Qi overwhelming the Heart would extinguish Fire. Whose fault is this? I accepted the blame and withdrew." Observing Zhu XX's discussion, he did not hesitate to expose his own failure to speak for the medical community. In his explanation of the classics, he clearly brought out the profound meaning behind Zhang Zhongjing's use of Poria (Fuling). This demonstrates not only his precision in analyzing principles but also his sincere intention.
Cui XX from Tianmen County, Hubei Province, wrote a letter stating: In 1930, a woman surnamed Li suffered from dizziness and vertigo of the head and eyes, palpitations (Zhongchong), vomiting of saliva and froth, and occasionally felt Qi rushing upward, leading to stupor and loss of consciousness. Other doctors treated her with sedative herbs without effect. Subsequently, over ten other doctors were consulted, and none of the prescriptions worked; the danger reached an extreme point. Upon examining her pulse, I found it floating and weak. Observing her physical state, I felt it difficult to prescribe medication. Suddenly, I recalled the method of heavily using Poria (Fuling) discussed in the "Explanation of Poria" section of *Yixue Zhongzhong Canxi Lu*. I believed this might save the case. Thus, I instructed her to take a decoction of single-ingredient Poria (Fuling), one liang. Five minutes after ingestion, the symptoms alleviated. Immediately, the dregs were decocted and taken again, resulting in enhanced clarity of spirit and freshness. After taking several doses, the illness was completely cured. Since then, whenever encountering similar cases, administering this formula has always been effective.