山药∶色白入肺，味甘归脾，液浓益肾。能滋润血脉，固摄气化，宁嗽定喘，强志育神，性平可以常服多
服。宜用生者煮汁饮之，不可炒用，以其含蛋白质甚多，炒之则其蛋白质焦枯，服之无效。若作丸散，可轧细
蒸熟用之（医方篇一味薯蓣饮后，附有用山药治愈之验案数则可参观）。
【附案】法库万××之母，自三十余岁时，即患痰喘咳嗽，历三十年百药不效，且年愈高，病亦愈进，至
一九二一年春，又添发烧、咽干、头汗出、食不下等证。延医诊视，云是痰盛有火，与人参清肺汤加生地、丹
皮等味，非特无效，反发热如火，更添泄泻，有不可终日之势。后忽见《衷中参西录》一味薯蓣饮，遂用生
怀山药四两，加玄参三钱，煎汤一大碗，分数次徐徐温服，一剂即见效，至三剂病愈强半，遂改用生怀山药细
末一两，煮作粥服之，日两次，间用开胃药，旬余而安，宿病亦大见轻，大约久服宿病亦可除根。又∶万××妻，
大便泄泻数年不愈，亦服山药粥而愈。
按∶山药之功效，一味薯蓣饮后曾详言之。至治泄泻，必变饮为粥者，诚以山药汁本稠粘，若更以之作
粥，则稠粘之力愈增，大有留恋肠胃之功也。忆二十年前，岁试津门，偶患泄泻，饮食下咽，觉与胃腑不和，
须臾肠中作响，遂即作泻。浓煎甘草汤，调赤石脂细末，服之不效。乃用白粳米，慢火煮烂熟作粥，尽量食之，
顿觉脾胃舒和，腹中亦不作响，泄泻遂愈。是知无论何物作粥，皆能留恋肠胃。而山药性本收涩，故煮粥食之，
其效更捷也。且大便溏泻者，多因小便不利。山药能滋补肾经，使肾阴足，而小便自利，大便自无溏泻之患。
山药：颜色白入肺经，味道甘归脾经，汁液浓稠益肾。能够滋润血脉，固摄气化功能，平息咳嗽安定喘息，增强意志培育神气，药性平和可以长期服用、多次服用。适宜使用生山药煮汁饮用，不可炒制使用，因为其中含有大量蛋白质，炒制后其蛋白质会焦枯，服用则无效。如果制作成丸剂或散剂，可以研磨成细粉蒸熟后使用（在《医方篇》一味薯蓣饮之后，附有数例用山药治愈的验案可供参考）。
【附案】法库县万××的母亲，从三十多岁时起，就患有痰喘咳嗽，历经三十年各种药物均无效，而且年龄越高，病情越加重，到一九二一年春天，又增添了发烧、咽干、头部出汗、无法进食等症状。请医生诊治，说是痰盛有火，给人参清肺汤加生地、丹皮等药味，不仅无效，反而发热如火，更增添了泄泻，有性命垂危之势。后来忽然看到《医学衷中参西录》中的一味薯蓣饮，于是使用生怀山药四两，加玄参三钱，煎汤一大碗，分几次慢慢温服，一剂即见效，到三剂时病愈大半，于是改用生怀山药细末一两，煮成粥服用，每天两次，间或用开胃药，十几天后安稳下来，宿疾也大大减轻，大约长期服用宿疾也可以除根。另外：万××的妻子，大便泄泻数年不愈，也是服用山药粥而痊愈。
按语：山药的功效，在一味薯蓣饮之后曾详细论述过。至于治疗泄泻，必须将汤剂改为粥剂，确实是因为山药汁本来稠粘，如果再用来煮粥，那么稠粘的力量更加增加，大有留恋肠胃的作用。回忆二十年前，在天津参加岁试时，偶然患泄泻，饮食下咽，感觉与胃腑不和，一会儿肠中作响，随即作泻。浓煎甘草汤，调赤石脂细末服用，无效。于是用白粳米，慢火煮烂熟作粥，尽量食用，顿时觉得脾胃舒和，腹中也不作响，泄泻遂愈。由此可知无论什么东西做成粥，都能留恋肠胃。而山药性本收涩，所以煮粥食用，效果更快捷。并且大便溏泻的人，多因小便不利。山药能滋补肾经，使肾阴充足，而小便自然通利，大便自然没有溏泻的隐患。
Chinese Yam (Shanyao): Its white color enters the Lung Meridian (Lung Channel), its sweet taste returns to the Spleen, and its thick fluid benefits the Kidney. It can moisten the blood vessels, secure Qi transformation, calm cough and stabilize panting, strengthen will and nourish spirit. Its nature is neutral, so it can be taken frequently and in large doses over a long period. It is suitable to use fresh yam boiled for drinking; it should not be stir-fried, because it contains much protein, and if fried, its protein becomes scorched and dry, rendering it ineffective when consumed. If made into pills or powders, it can be ground into fine powder and steamed before use (after the formula Yiwai Shuyu Yin [Single-Ingredient Dioscorea Decoction] in the "Medical Formulas" section, several verified cases of cure using Chinese Yam are attached for reference).
[Attached Case] The mother of Wan XX from Faku County suffered from phlegm-panting and cough since she was in her thirties. For thirty years, various medicines were ineffective. Moreover, as she grew older, the disease worsened. In the spring of 1921, she developed additional symptoms such as fever, dry throat, sweating on the head, and inability to eat. A physician diagnosed it as excessive phlegm with fire and prescribed Ren Shen Qing Fei Tang [Ginseng Lung-Clearing Decoction] added with Sheng Di [Rehmanniae Radix] and Dan Pi [Moutan Cortex]. This was not only ineffective but also caused intense fever like fire and added diarrhea, leading to a critical condition. Later, she suddenly saw Yiwai Shuyu Yin [Single-Ingredient Dioscorea Decoction] in *Yixue Zhongzhong Canxi Lu* [Record of Medical Practice Integrating Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine]. She then used four liang (approx. 150g) of raw Huai Shan Yao [Dioscorea opposita] and three qian (approx. 11g) of Xuan Shen [Scrophulariae Radix], decocted in a large bowl of water, and took it slowly in warm portions several times. One dose showed effect; after three doses, the illness improved by more than half. Then, she switched to taking one liang (approx. 37.5g) of fine powder of raw Huai Shan Yao [Dioscorea opposita] cooked as porridge, twice daily, occasionally using stomach-opening medicines. Within ten days, she stabilized, and the chronic disease greatly lightened. It is estimated that long-term consumption may eradicate the root cause of the chronic disease. Another case: The wife of Wan XX suffered from loose stools/diarrhea for several years without cure, which was also cured by consuming Shan Yao [Chinese Yam] porridge.
Commentary: The efficacy of Shan Yao [Chinese Yam] has been discussed in detail after Yiwai Shuyu Yin [Single-Ingredient Dioscorea Decoction]. Regarding the treatment of diarrhea, changing the decoction to porridge is necessary indeed, because Shan Yao [Chinese Yam] juice is naturally thick and sticky. If further cooked into porridge, this thickening and sticking power increases significantly, possessing great ability to retain substances in the intestines and stomach. I recall twenty years ago, while participating in the annual examination in Tianjin, I accidentally suffered from diarrhea. After swallowing food, I felt discomfort in the stomach, followed by rumbling in the intestines and immediate diarrhea. I decocted Gan Cao [Licorice Root] soup strongly and took Chi Shi Zhi [Halloysitum Rubrum] fine powder mixed with it, but it was ineffective. Then I used white Jing Mi [Oryza Sativa Var. Glutinosa] and cooked it thoroughly over low heat into porridge, eating it as much as possible. Immediately, my spleen and stomach felt comfortable, abdominal rumbling ceased, and the diarrhea healed. Thus, we know that whatever substance is made into porridge can retain content in the gastrointestinal tract. Since Shan Yao [Chinese Yam] has an inherent astringent nature, cooking it into porridge yields even faster results. Furthermore, those with loose stools/diarrhea often have difficulty with urination. Shan Yao [Chinese Yam] can nourish the Kidney Meridian (Kidney Channel); when Kidney Yin is sufficient, urination becomes smooth naturally, and there is no risk of loose stools/diarrhea.