补、和中
甘平。益气和中，宣脾利胃（陶宏景曰∶稷米，人亦不识。书记多云黍与稷相似，又注
∶黍米云 米。与黍米相似，而粒殊大，食之不宜，人发旧病。《诗》云∶黍稷稻粱，禾麻
菽麦，此八谷也。俗犹不能辨证，况芝英乎？按∶黍、稷辨者颇多，皆无确义。李时珍曰∶
稷、黍一类二种。粘者为黍，不粘者为稷。昂谓∶诗人既云八谷，何必取一类者强分二种？
是仍为七谷矣。盖 、稷同音，故世妄谓 为稷，不知 乃黍类似粟，而粒大疏散，乃北方
下谷，南土全无，北人亦不之重，安能度越粳、糯而高踞八谷之上乎？陶氏所说，因是 黍
，所以疑也。若稷当属高硕如芦，世之所谓芦稷者，实既香美，性复中和，干又高硕，所以
能为五谷之长，而先王以之名官也。况 黍所生不遍，而芦稷薄海蕃滋，《本草》乃指芦稷
为蜀黍，其名义亦不伦矣。此实从来之误，敢为正之，以质明者。又芦稷最能和中，煎汤温
服，治霍乱吐泻如神。昂尝病中啾唧，经两月，有友人见招，饮以芦稷烧酒一醉，而积病畅
然，性之中和，又可见矣）。
补肾
甘咸微寒。养肾益气。治胃热消渴，止霍乱，利二便（《千金方》粟米粉水丸，梧子大
，煮七枚，纳醋中，细吞之，治反胃吐食）。即粱米。有青、黄、赤、白、黑诸色，陈者良
。
补益脾胃，调和中焦。
味甘、性平。能够益气并调和脾胃，宣通脾气、利达胃气（陶宏景说：稷米，人们也不认识。书籍记载大多说黍与稷相似，又注释说：黍米是黏性的。与黍米相似，但颗粒特别大，食用后容易诱发旧疾。《诗经》中说：“黍、稷、稻、粱、禾、麻、菽、麦”，这是八种谷物。世俗之人尚且不能辨别清楚，何况是芝英呢？按：辨别黍和稷的说法很多，都没有确切的定义。李时珍说：稷和黍是同一种类下的两个品种。黏的是黍，不黏的是稷。汪昂认为：诗人既然说了八谷，何必取同一种类的强行分为两种？这样还是只有七谷了。大概是因为“梁”和“稷”读音相同，所以世人错误地把梁当作稷，不知道梁乃是类似黍而颗粒较大且疏散的谷物，它是北方的下等谷物，南方完全没有，北方人也不重视它，怎么能超越粳米、糯米而高居八谷之首呢？陶氏所说的疑惑，是因为混淆了梁和黍。至于稷，应当属于像芦苇一样高大硕壮的植物，世上所谓的芦稷，果实既香甜美味，性质又平和中正，茎干又高大硕壮，所以能成为五谷之长，先王因此用它来命名官职。况且梁黍生长不普遍，而芦稷在海内广泛繁殖，《本草》却指芦稷为蜀黍，其名义也不伦不类了。这实在是历来就有的错误，我敢于纠正它，以请教明白的人。另外芦稷最能调和脾胃，煎汤温服，治疗霍乱引起的呕吐腹泻效果如神。汪昂曾经生病时呻吟不止，持续两个月，有朋友邀请他，让他喝了一杯芦稷烧酒醉了一次，结果陈年的病痛畅快消散，它的中和之性，由此可见）。
补肾。
味甘、咸，微寒。滋养肾脏，补益元气。治疗胃热引起的消渴症，止住霍乱，通利大小便（《千金方》用粟米粉做成水丸，梧桐子大小，煮七枚，放入醋中，细细吞服，治疗反胃吐食）。就是粱米。有青、黄、赤、白、黑各种颜色，陈年的品质好。
Tonify and harmonize the middle.
Sweet, neutral in nature. Benefits Qi and harmonizes the Spleen and Stomach, promotes Spleen function and benefits Stomach function (Tao Hongjing said: Jizi [Millet], people do not recognize it. Books mostly state that Shumi [Glutinous Millet] and Jizi are similar, and annotations say: Shumi is sticky. Similar to Shumi, but the grains are significantly larger; consuming it may trigger old illnesses. The *Book of Songs* states: "Shu, Ji, Dao, Liang, He, Ma, Shu, Mai," these are the eight grains. Common people still cannot distinguish them clearly, let alone Zhiying? According to records: There are many attempts to distinguish between Shu and Ji, but none have a definitive meaning. Li Shizhen stated: Ji and Shu are one species with two varieties. Sticky ones are Shu, non-sticky ones are Ji. Ang opines: Since the poets mentioned eight grains, why force a distinction into two varieties from the same species? This would leave only seven grains. It is likely that because "Liang" and "Ji" sound similar, people mistakenly equate Liang with Ji, unaware that Liang resembles Shu but has larger, looser grains. It is a lower-grade grain in the North, completely absent in the South, and even northerners do not value it highly. How could it surpass Jingmi [Non-glutinous Rice] and Nuomi [Glutinous Rice] to occupy the top position among the eight grains? Tao's confusion arose from conflating Liang and Shu. As for Ji, it should refer to plants tall and sturdy like reeds, known today as Luji [Sorghum]. Its fruit is fragrant and delicious, its nature is balanced and moderate, and its stalks are tall and robust, thus making it the leader of the five grains. The ancient kings named officials after it. Moreover, Liang-Shu does not grow universally, whereas Luji proliferates widely across the seas. Yet the *Bencao* identifies Luji as Shushu [Guinea Corn], which is inconsistent in name and meaning. This is an error existing since antiquity; I dare to correct it for scholars to verify. Furthermore, Luji best harmonizes the Middle Jiao. Decocted and taken warm, it treats vomiting and diarrhea caused by Huoluan [Cholera-like syndrome] with miraculous effect. Ang once suffered from continuous groaning due to illness for two months. A friend invited him to drink a cup of Luji liquor until drunk, after which his accumulated ailments vanished smoothly. Its balancing nature is evident here).
Tonify the Kidney.
Sweet, salty, slightly cold. Nourishes the Kidney and benefits Qi. Treats Xiao Ke [Wasting-Thirst] caused by Stomach Heat, stops Huoluan, and promotes urination and defecation (*Qianjin Fang* uses Sumi [Foxtail Millet] flour made into water pills, size of a wu zi [gooseberry], boiled seven pieces, dipped in vinegar, swallowed slowly, to treat Fanwei [Regurgitation/Vomiting]). It is Liangmi [Millet]. Available in green, yellow, red, white, and black varieties; aged ones are superior.