补脾胃，润心肺，和百药
甘油。脾经血分药。补中益气，滋脾土，润心肺，调营卫，缓阴血，生津液，悦颜色，
通九窍，助十二经，和百药。伤寒及补剂加用之，以发脾胃升腾之气。多食损齿（齿属肾，
土克水），中满证忌之（甘令人满。大建中汤心下痞者，减饧、枣与甘草同例。成无己曰∶
仲景治奔豚用大枣者，滋脾土以平肾气也。治水饮胁痛，有十枣汤，益脾土以胜妄水也）。
北产肥润者良（昂按∶金华南枣，更胜于北，徽宁所产，亦有佳者）。杀乌、附毒。忌葱、
鱼同食。
泻，破血，润燥
苦平微甘（孙思邈辛，孟诜温。孙思邈，着《千金方》，孟诜，着《食疗本草》）厥阴（
心包、肝）血分药。苦以泄血滞，甘以缓肝气新血（成无己曰∶肝者，血之源，血聚，则肝
气燥。肝苦急，宜急食甘以缓之）。通大肠血秘。
治热入血室（冲脉），血燥血痞，损伤积血。血痢经闭，咳逆上气（血和则气降），皮肤
血热，燥痒蓄血，发热如狂（仲景治膀胱蓄血，有桃仁承气汤即调胃承气汤加桃仁、桂枝。
抵当汤，用桃仁、大黄、虻虫、水蛭。水蛭，即马蟥。蛭食血之虫，能通肝经聚血，性最难
死。虽炙为末，得水即活，若入腹中，生子为患，田泥和水饮下之。虻虫即蚊虫，因其食血，
故用以治血）。血不足者禁用。行血连皮、尖生用，润燥去皮、尖炒用，俱研碎，或烧存性
用。双仁者有毒，不可食。香附为使。
桃花苦平。下宿水，除痰饮，消积聚，利二便，疗风狂（范纯佑女，丧夫发狂，夜断窗
，登桃树食花几尽，自是遂愈。以能泻痰饮、滞血也）。
桃叶能发汗（凡伤寒、风痹发汗不出，以火 地，用水洒之，铺干桃叶浓二三寸，席卧
，温复取大汗，敷粉极燥，即瘥。麦麸、蚕沙，皆可如此法用。桃为五木之精，其枝、叶、
花、仁，并能辟邪。《食医心镜》桃仁煮粥，治鬼证咳嗽。生桃食多生痈疖）。
补益脾胃，滋润心肺，调和各种药物。
味甘性平如蜜。本品为入脾经血分的药物。能补中益气，滋养脾土，滋润心肺，调和营卫之气，缓和阴血之燥急，生津液，美容颜，通利九窍，助益十二经脉，调和百药。治疗伤寒及各类补益方剂中常加入大枣，以激发脾胃升发清阳之气。多食会损伤牙齿（因为齿属肾，而甘味属土，土克水），患有中满证者忌用（甘味令人气机壅滞而胀满。在大建中汤中出现心下痞塞的情况时，减少饴糖、大枣与甘草的用量是同样的道理。成无己说：张仲景治疗奔豚病使用大枣，是为了滋培脾土以制约肾气。治疗水饮引起的胁痛，有十枣汤一方，也是通过补益脾土来克制妄行之水邪）。北方产的大枣肥厚润泽者为佳（汪昂按语：金华产的南枣，品质更胜北方；徽州、宁国所产的也有很好的）。大枣能解除乌头、附子的毒性。忌与葱、鱼同食。
泻下瘀血，破除血结，润燥通便。
味苦，性平微甘（孙思邈认为味辛，孟诜认为性温。孙思邈著有《千金方》，孟诜著有《食疗本草》）。本品为入厥阴（包括心包络和肝）血分的药物。苦味能泄除血中瘀滞，甘味能缓和肝气。新血生成（成无己说：肝是血的源头，血液瘀聚则肝气干燥。肝气苦于拘急，应当立即食用甘味食物来缓和它）。能通导大肠中的血秘结。
治疗热邪陷入血室（冲脉），血燥血痞，跌打损伤导致的积血。血痢、月经闭止，咳逆上气（血液调和则肺气下降），皮肤血热引起的燥痒蓄血，发热如狂（张仲景治疗膀胱蓄血证，有桃仁承气汤，即调胃承气汤加桃仁、桂枝。抵当汤，使用桃仁、大黄、虻虫、水蛭。水蛭，即马蟥。蛭是吸血的昆虫，能通利肝经的瘀血，性质极难死亡。即使烤干研末，遇水也能复活，若进入腹中，生子为患，可用田泥和水送服解毒。虻虫即牛虻，因为它吸食血液，所以用来治疗血证）。血虚者禁用。行血破瘀宜连皮、尖生用，润燥宜去皮、尖炒用，均需研碎，或烧存性后使用。双仁的桃仁有毒，不可食用。香附为其引经使药。
桃花味苦性平。能泻除体内停积的水饮，消除痰饮，消散积聚，通利大小便，治疗风癫狂症（范纯佑的女儿，丧夫后发狂，夜间剪开窗户，爬上桃树吃花几乎吃完，从此痊愈。因为桃花能泻除痰饮和滞血）。
桃叶能发汗（凡是伤寒、风湿痹痛导致汗出不出的，用火烘暖地面，用水洒湿，铺上厚二三寸的干桃叶，席子卧其上，覆盖衣被取大汗出，待身上敷粉极干燥时，病即痊愈。麦麸、蚕沙也可以采用这种方法。桃树是五木之精，其枝、叶、花、仁都能辟邪。《食医心镜》记载桃仁煮粥，可治鬼疰咳嗽。生吃桃子过多会生痈疖）。
Tonify the Spleen and Stomach, moisten the Heart and Lungs, harmonize all medicines.
Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature. It is a medicine entering the Blood aspect of the Spleen Meridian. It tonifies the Middle Jiao and boosts Qi, nourishes Spleen Earth, moistens the Heart and Lungs, harmonizes Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi, moderates Yin Blood, generates body fluids, enhances complexion, unblocks the nine orifices, assists the twelve meridians, and harmonizes various medicines. In treatments for Taiyang disease (Exterior syndrome of the Taiyang channel) and in tonic prescriptions, it is often added to stimulate the ascending and transformative Qi of the Spleen and Stomach. Excessive consumption damages the teeth (teeth belong to the Kidney; Earth overcomes Water), and it is contraindicated in cases of fullness in the middle jiao (sweet flavors cause distension. In Da Jian Zhong Tang, when epigastric stuffiness occurs, reducing maltose, dates, and Licorice follows the same principle. Cheng Wuji stated: Zhang Zhongjing used dates in treating Ben Tun (running piglet syndrome) to nourish Spleen Earth to pacify Kidney Qi. For water-fluid retention causing hypochondriac pain, Shi Zao Tang was formulated to strengthen Spleen Earth to overcome excessive water). Dates produced in the north that are plump and moist are superior (Wang Ang noted: Nan zao from Jinhua is even better than northern varieties; those from Huizhou and Ningguo are also excellent). Dates can detoxify Wu Tou (Aconiti Radix) and Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata). Contraindicated with green onions and fish.
Purge blood stasis, break blood accumulation, moisten dryness.
Bitter in flavor, neutral with slight sweetness (Sun Simiao considered it pungent; Meng Shen considered it warm. Sun Simiao authored *Qian Jin Fang*; Meng Shen authored *Shi Liao Ben Cao*). It is a medicine entering the Blood aspect of the Jueyin (Pericardium and Liver) meridians. Bitterness drains blood stasis; sweetness moderates Liver Qi. New blood formation (Cheng Wuji stated: The Liver is the source of blood; when blood accumulates, Liver Qi becomes dry. The Liver suffers from urgency, so one should immediately consume sweet substances to moderate it). It unblocks constipation due to blood dryness in the Large Intestine.
It treats heat entering the Blood Chamber (Chong Mai), blood dryness and blood痞 (fullness/stuffiness), trauma-induced blood accumulation, bloody dysentery, amenorrhea, coughing and reverse flow of Qi (when blood is harmonized, Lung Qi descends), skin heat and dryness causing itching and blood accumulation, fever resembling mania (Zhang Zhongjing treated Bladder blood accumulation with Tao Ren Cheng Qi Tang, which is Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang plus Tao Ren and Gui Zhi. Di Dang Tang uses Tao Ren, Da Huang, Meng Chong, and Shui Zhi. Shui Zhi is the leech. Leeches are blood-sucking insects that can unblock Liver meridian blood stasis; they are extremely hard to kill. Even if roasted and powdered, they revive upon contact with water. If ingested into the abdomen, they may reproduce and cause harm; drinking mud-water can resolve this. Meng Chong is the horsefly, named for its blood-sucking habit, thus used to treat blood disorders). Contraindicated in cases of blood deficiency. To promote blood circulation, use raw with peel and tips; to moisten dryness, use stir-fried without peel and tips. Both methods require grinding into powder or burning until carbonized but retaining efficacy. Those with double kernels are toxic and inedible. Xiang Fu acts as an guiding herb.
Tao Hua (Peach Blossom) is bitter and neutral. It purges retained water, eliminates phlegm-fluids, dissipates accumulations, promotes urination and defecation, and treats wind-induced madness (Fan Chunyou’s daughter went mad after her husband’s death, cut open windows at night, climbed a peach tree, ate almost all the flowers, and was subsequently cured. This is because peach blossoms can purge phlegm-fluids and stagnant blood).
Tao Ye (Peach Leaf) induces sweating (For Taiyang disease or wind-bi where sweating fails to occur, warm the ground with fire, sprinkle with water, spread dried peach leaves two to three cun thick, lie on a mat atop them, cover warmly to induce profuse sweating, apply powder until very dry, then the illness resolves. Wheat bran and silkworm feces can be used similarly. The peach tree is the essence of the five trees; its branches, leaves, flowers, and kernels can all dispel evil influences. *Shi Yi Xin Jing* records cooking Tao Ren porridge to treat ghost-related coughs. Eating too many raw peaches causes carbuncles and boils).