宣，理气
辛温。调脾肺，利胸膈，去邪恶，能引胃气上升，进饮食，为理气要药（《内典》云∶
旃檀涂身，能除热恼。昂按∶内兴欲念，亦称热恼。盖诸香多助淫火，惟檀香不然，故释氏
焚之。道书又以檀为俗香，不可以供上真）。
重，和血
咸寒。血分之药。和荣气，消肿毒，敷金疮，止血定痛。
焚之能降诸真，故名
宣，辟恶、止血、生肌
辛温。辟恶气怪异，疗伤折金疮，止血定痛，消肿生肌（周崇逐寇被伤，血出不止，敷
花芯石散，不效。军士李高，用紫金藤散敷之，血止痛定，明日结痂无瘢，曾救万人。紫金
藤，即降真香之最佳者也）。
燥，暖胃，补肾
辛温纯阳。泄肺温胃，大能疗肾，壮阳事，暖阴户。治胃冷壅胀，呕哕呃逆（丹溪曰∶
人之阴气，以胃为养。土伤则木挟相火，直冲清道而上作咳逆。古人以为胃寒，用丁香、柿
蒂，不能清痰利气，惟助火而已。按∶呃逆有痰阻、气滞、食塞，不得升降者；有火郁下焦
者；有伤寒汗、吐，下后，中气大虚者；有阳明内热失下者；有痢疾大下，胃虚而阴火上冲
者。时珍曰∶当视虚实阴阳，或泄热，或降气，或温，或补，或吐，或下，可也。古方单用
柿蒂，取其苦温降气。《济生》加丁香、生姜，取其开郁散痰。盖从治之法，亦尝有收效者
矣。朱氏但执以寒治热，矫枉之过矣） 癖奔豚，腹痛口臭（丹溪曰∶脾有郁火，溢入肺中，
浊气上行，发为口气，治以丁香，是扬汤止沸耳，唯香薷甚捷），脑疳齿 ，痘疮胃虚灰白
不发。热证忌用。有雌、雄二种（雌即鸡舌香，力大。若用雄，去丁盖乳子）。畏郁金火。
宣，调理气机
味辛性温。能调和脾肺，疏通胸膈，祛除邪气，引导胃气上升，促进食欲，是调理气机的关键药物。（《内典》记载：旃檀涂抹身体，能消除热恼。汪昂按语：内心的欲望念头，也被称为热恼。大概各种香料大多助长淫欲之火，只有檀香不是这样，所以佛教徒焚烧它。道家书籍又将檀香视为世俗之香，不可以供奉至高真仙）。
重，调和血液
味咸性寒。属于血分药。能调和营气，消除肿胀毒气，敷治金属利器造成的创伤，止血并定痛。
焚烧它能降伏诸神，因此得名
宣，辟除秽恶、止血、生肌
味辛性温。能辟除怪异恶气，治疗跌打损伤及金刃创伤，止血定痛，消肿生肌（周崇在驱逐寇贼时受伤，血流不止，敷用花芯石散，无效。军士李高，用紫金藤散敷治，血止疼痛定，第二天结痂无疤痕，曾救活万人。紫金藤，就是降真香中最好的品种）。
燥，温暖胃腑，补肾
味辛性纯阳。能泄肺气、温胃气，极大能治疗肾脏疾病，壮阳事，温暖阴户。治疗胃冷壅滞胀满，呕吐呃逆（朱丹溪说：人的阴气，依靠胃来滋养。脾胃受损则肝木挟带相火，直冲清道而上引发咳嗽气逆。古人认为是胃寒，使用丁香、柿蒂，不能清除痰浊、利顺气机，只会助长火势罢了。按语：呃逆有因痰阻、气滞、食塞，导致升降失常的；有因火郁于下焦的；有因伤寒经过汗、吐、下法治疗后，中气大虚的；有因阳明内热未及时攻下的；有因痢疾剧烈泻下后，胃虚而阴火上冲的。李时珍说：应当视虚实阴阳情况，或泄热，或降气，或温补，或催吐，或攻下，都可以。古方单用柿蒂，取其苦温降气的作用。《济生方》加入丁香、生姜，取其开郁散痰的作用。大概这种从治的方法，也曾有过收效的。朱氏只执着于以寒治热，是矫枉过正了）脘胁癖块、奔豚气、腹痛口臭（朱丹溪说：脾有郁火，溢入肺中，浊气上行，发为口气，治疗用丁香，这是扬汤止沸的办法，只有香薷非常有效），脑疳齿龋，痘疮因胃虚灰白不出。热证忌用。有雌、雄两种（雌的就是鸡舌香，药力大。如果用雄的，去掉丁盖和乳子）。畏郁金火。
Xuan (Dispersing), Regulating Qi
Pungent and warm. Harmonizes the Spleen and Lung, benefits the chest and diaphragm, expels evil influences, can guide Stomach Qi to ascend, promotes appetite, and is a key herb for regulating Qi. (The "Inner Canon" states: Applying sandalwood to the body can eliminate heat and vexation. Wang Ang's note: Internal desires are also called heat and vexation. Generally, most aromatic herbs assist lustful fire, but sandalwood does not, which is why Buddhists burn it. Daoist texts consider sandalwood a secular incense, unsuitable for offering to supreme deities).
Zhong (Heavy), Harmonizing Blood
Salty and cold. A medicine entering the Blood level. Harmonizes Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi), reduces swelling and toxicity, applies to metal wounds, stops bleeding, and relieves pain.
Burning it can subdue various deities, hence the name
Xuan (Dispersing), Expelling Evil, Stopping Bleeding, Generating Flesh
Pungent and warm. Expels strange and foul odors, treats fractures and metal wounds, stops bleeding, relieves pain, reduces swelling, and generates flesh. (Zhou Chong was injured while driving away bandits, with unceasing blood loss; applying Huaxin Stone Powder was ineffective. Soldier Li Gao applied Zijin Vine Powder, stopping the bleeding and pain, forming scabs without scars the next day, having saved ten thousand people. Zijin Vine is the best variety of Jiangzhen Xiang/Dragon's Blood Incense).
Zao (Drying), Warming the Stomach, Tonifying the Kidney
Pungent and purely Yang. Drains Lung Qi and warms the Stomach, greatly treats Kidney conditions, strengthens sexual function, and warms the Yin cavity. Treats cold stagnation and distension in the Stomach, vomiting, hiccups, and belching. (Zhu Danxi said: Human Yin Qi is nourished by the Stomach. When Earth [Spleen/Stomach] is damaged, Wood [Liver] carries Ministerial Fire to rush up the clear pathways, causing cough and counterflow qi. Ancients believed this was Stomach cold, using Dingxiang/Clove and Shidi/Kaki Calyx, which cannot clear phlegm or promote Qi flow, but only assist fire. Note: Hiccups may be caused by phlegm obstruction, Qi stagnation, or food impaction preventing ascending and descending; by Fire depression in the Lower Jiao; by severe deficiency of Middle Qi after sweating, vomiting, or purging treatments for Cold Damage; by failure to purge interior Heat in the Yangming stage; or by Yin Fire rushing up due to Stomach deficiency after severe diarrhea from dysentery. Li Shizhen said: One should assess deficiency/excess and Yin/Yang, then either drain heat, direct Qi downward, warm, tonify, induce vomiting, or purge. Ancient formulas used only Shidi for its bitter-warm Qi-directing property. The "Jisheng Fang" added Dingxiang/Clove and Shengjiang/Fresh Ginger to open depression and scatter phlegm. This method of treating contrary symptoms has indeed been effective. Zhu's insistence on using cold to treat heat was an overcorrection) Hypochondriac masses, Ben Tun (Rushing Pig) syndrome, abdominal pain, and bad breath. (Zhu Danxi said: Depressed Fire in the Spleen overflows into the Lung, turbid Qi ascends, causing halitosis. Treating with Dingxiang/Clove is like stirring boiling water to stop it; Xiangru/Elatostema is very effective.) Brain gangrene and dental caries, acneiform eruptions that are gray-white and fail to erupt due to Stomach deficiency. Contraindicated in Heat syndromes. There are female and male varieties (Female is Jiti Xiang/Clove Bud, with strong potency. If using male, remove the clove cap and bud base). Incompatible with Yujin/Turmeric Fire.