甘淡平无毒。即茯苓中之抱根而生者。
发明 《神农本经》只言茯苓，《名医别录》始添茯神，而主治皆同。后人治心病必用
茯神，故洁古云，风眩心虚非茯神不能除，然茯苓未尝不治心病也。陶弘景始言茯苓赤泻、
白补，此发前人之秘。时珍谓茯苓、茯神只当云赤入血分，白入气分，如牡丹、芍药之义。
茯神中所抱之木，治风湿筋骨挛缩与松节同功。
甘平无毒。出番隅，枫木脂膏所化，俗云茯苓千年化琥珀，此误传也。
发明 古方有琥珀利小便，以燥脾土有功，脾能运化，肺气下降，故小便可通。若阴虚
内热火炎水涸，血少不利者，反致燥结之苦，其消磨渗利之性，非血结膀胱者，不可误投。
和大黄、鳖甲作散，酒下方寸匕。治妇人腹内恶血，血尽则止。血结肿胀，腹大如鼓，而小
便不通者，须兼沉香辈破气药用之。又研细敷金疮则无瘢痕，亦散血消瘀之验。凡阴虚内热
火炎水涸，小便不利者勿服，服之愈损其阴，滋害弥甚。
甘淡微苦平，无毒。
《本经》主 疟，解毒蛊疰不祥，利水道，久服轻身耐老。
发明 猪苓入肾与膀胱血分，性善疏利经府，世人但知为利水专药，不知其有治 疟蛊
疰之
功。仲景治消渴脉浮，小便不利微热者，猪苓散汗之。病欲饮水而复吐，名曰水逆，五
苓散主之。猪苓专司引水之功，久服必损肾气，昏人目，利小便之剂无如此快，故不入补剂
，非泽泻之比也。而《本经》又云，久服轻身耐老，是指素多湿热者而言，不可一律而推。
茯苓：味甘、淡，性平，无毒。它是生长在茯苓菌核内部、包裹着松根的部分。
【发明】《神农本草经》中只记载了茯苓，《名医别录》才开始增加茯神，但两者的主治功效相同。后世在治疗心脏疾病时必定使用茯神，所以张元素（洁古）说：“风眩且心气虚弱之证，非茯神不能消除。”然而，茯苓也并非不能治疗心脏疾病。陶弘景开始提出茯苓色赤者能泻，色白者能补，这是揭示了前人的秘密。李时珍认为，茯苓和茯神只能说赤色入血分，白色入气分，就像牡丹皮和芍药的道理一样。茯神中所包裹的松木部分，治疗风湿引起的筋骨挛缩，其功效与松节相同。
琥珀：味甘，性平，无毒。产于番禺，是由枫树的脂膏转化而成的。民间俗语说“茯苓千年化为琥珀”，这是错误的传闻。
【发明】古方中有用琥珀通利小便的记载，因为它对燥湿健脾土有功，脾脏能够运化水湿，肺气得以肃降，所以小便可以通畅。如果是阴虚内热、火炎上炎导致津液枯竭，或者血少而小便不利的情况，服用后反而会导致干燥结滞的痛苦。琥珀具有消磨积滞和渗湿利尿的性质，如果不是膀胱有瘀血结聚的情况，不可误用。将琥珀与大黄、鳖甲一起研成散剂，用酒送服一方寸匕。用于治疗妇女腹内的恶血（瘀血），直到瘀血排尽为止。对于血结导致的肿胀，腹部胀大如鼓，且小便不通的患者，必须配合沉香等破气药物一起使用。另外，将琥珀研细外敷于金疮（金属利器造成的创伤）上，可以避免留下瘢痕，这也是它散血消瘀功效的验证。凡是阴虚内热、火炎上炎、津液枯竭、小便不利的患者禁止服用，服用后会进一步损伤阴气，使危害更加严重。
猪苓：味甘、淡，微苦，性平，无毒。
《神农本草经》记载其主治疟疾，解除蛊疰（一种由虫毒或邪气引起的慢性消耗性疾病）带来的不祥之气，通利水道，长期服用能使身体轻健、延缓衰老。
【发明】猪苓进入肾与膀胱的血分，性质善于疏通经络和脏腑。世人只知道它是专门利水的药物，却不知道它有治疗疟疾和蛊疰的功效。张仲景治疗消渴病（以多饮、多尿、多食易饥为主要特征的病证）脉浮、小便不利且有轻微发热的症状，使用猪苓散通过发汗来治疗。如果病人想喝水却又呕吐，这种病名叫“水逆”，用五苓散主治。猪苓专门起到引导水液运行的作用，长期服用必然会损伤肾气，损害视力。在利小便的药物中，没有比它更迅速的，因此它不用于补益剂中，这与泽泻不同。而《神农本草经》又说长期服用能轻身耐老，这是针对原本体内湿热较重的人而言的，不能一概而论地推广到所有人身上。
Poria (Fuling): Sweet, bland, neutral in nature, non-toxic. It refers to the part of the Poria sclerotium that grows around and embraces the pine root.
[Invention] The *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) only mentions Poria (Fuling), while the *Mingyi Bielu* (Record of Famous Physicians) first added Shenmi (Fu Shen). Their therapeutic indications are identical. Later physicians always used Fu Shen for treating Heart diseases; thus, Zhang Yuansu (Jiegu) stated, "For vertigo due to wind and Heart deficiency, only Fu Shen can eliminate it." However, Fuling is not incapable of treating Heart diseases. Tao Hongjing was the first to state that red-colored Poria drains (Xie), while white-colored tonifies (Bu); this revealed the secrets of predecessors. Li Shizhen argued that regarding Fuling and Fu Shen, one should only say that red enters the Blood level, and white enters the Qi level, similar to the principle of Mudan Pi (Cortex Moutan Radicis) and Shaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra/Lactiflorae). The pine wood embraced within Fu Shen has the same efficacy as Songjie (Arboris Massinae Ramulus) in treating wind-dampness-induced spasms and contractures of muscles and bones.
Amber (Hupo): Sweet, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Produced in Panyu, it is transformed from the resinous sap of maple trees. The folk saying "Poria turns into amber after a thousand years" is a misinterpretation.
[Invention] Ancient formulas utilized Amber to promote urination, attributing its success to drying dampness and strengthening the Spleen Earth. When the Spleen functions in transformation and transportation, Lung Qi descends, allowing urine to flow freely. However, in cases of Yin deficiency with internal heat, flaming fire, and dried-up fluids, or when blood is scanty leading to difficult urination, it may instead cause suffering from dryness and constipation. Due to its properties of dissolving accumulation and promoting diuresis, it must not be mistakenly administered unless there is blood stasis congealed in the Bladder. To treat evil blood (stasis) in the abdomen of women, mix Amber with Dahuang (Rhizoma Rhei Palmati) and Biejia (Carapax et Plastrum Testudinis) into a powder, and take one cunbi (a measure of volume) with wine. Stop once the blood is exhausted. For swelling caused by blood stasis, where the abdomen is distended like a drum and urination is blocked, it must be used in conjunction with Qi-breaking herbs such as Chenxiang (Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum). Additionally, applying finely ground Amber externally to metal wounds prevents scarring, verifying its ability to dissipate blood and resolve stasis. Do not administer to patients with Yin deficiency, internal heat, flaming fire, dried fluids, and difficult urination, as it will further damage Yin and exacerbate harm.
Polyporus (Zhuling): Sweet, bland, slightly bitter, neutral in nature, non-toxic.
The *Bencao Jing* states it treats malaria, detoxifies Gu Zhu (a chronic wasting disease caused by insect toxins or evil qi) and its ominous effects, promotes water passages, and long-term use lightens the body and delays aging.
[Invention] Zhuling enters the Blood levels of the Kidney and Bladder. Its nature is good at unblocking meridians and organs. People generally know it as a specialized drug for promoting diuresis but do not know its efficacy in treating malaria and Gu Zhu. Zhang Zhongjing treated Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst) with floating pulse, difficult urination, and slight fever using Zhuling San to induce sweating. If a patient desires to drink water but vomits immediately, this condition is named Shui Ni (Water Reversal), primarily treated with Wuling San. Zhuling specializes in guiding water metabolism. Long-term use inevitably damages Kidney Qi and clouds vision. Among diuretic agents, none acts as swiftly as Zhuling; therefore, it is not included in tonic formulas, unlike Zexie (Rhizoma Alismatis). The statement in the *Bencao Jing* that long-term use lightens the body and delays aging applies specifically to those who already have excessive damp-heat in their constitution, and cannot be universally generalized.