楮实子，味甘，气微寒，无毒。入肾、肝二经。阴痿能强，水肿可退，充肌肤，助腰膝，
益
气力，补虚劳，悦颜色，轻身壮筋骨，明目，久服滑肠。此物补阴妙品，益髓神药。世人弃
而不用者，因久服滑肠之语也。凡药俱有偏胜，要在制之得宜。楮实滑肠者，因其润泽之故
，非嫌其下行之速也。防其滑，而先用茯苓、薏苡仁、山药同施，何惧其滑乎。
或问楮实子入于打老之丸，自是延年之物，何独不言其益算耶？曰∶延年益寿，亦在人
之服
药何如耳。吞添精填髓之神丹，而肆然纵欲，欲其周花甲之年而不得，况楮实子庸庸者乎。
苟节房帏而慎起居，损饮食而戒气恼，即不用楮实，亦可长年。余所以略而不谈也。
淡竹叶，味甘、淡，气平寒，阴中微阳，无毒，入心、脾、肺、胃。逐上气咳喘，散阳
明
之邪热，亦退虚热烦燥不眠，专凉心经，尤祛风痉。
竹茹，主胃热呃逆，疗噎膈呕哕，尤止心烦。
竹沥，却阴虚发热，理中风噤口。小儿天吊惊痫，入口便定。妇人胎产闷晕，下喉即苏。止
惊怪却
痰。痰在手足四肢，非此不达；痰在皮里膜外，非此不却。世俗以大寒置之。不知竹沥系火
烧出沥，佐之姜汁，水火相宜，又何寒哉。以上三味，总皆清痰泻火之药，因其气味寒，不
伤元气，可多用，以佐参、苓、 、术健脾开胃也。
或疑竹叶、竹茹、竹沥，同一物也，何必强分其功效？不知有不可不分者在也。竹叶轻
于竹
茹，虽凉心而清肺；竹茹轻于竹沥，虽清心而清胃；若竹沥则重于竹叶、竹茹，虽清心而兼
补阴也。
或问古人以竹沥治中风，似于中风皆痰也，痰生于风乎？曰∶中风未有不成于痰者也，
非痰
成之于风也。使果成于风，似外邪之中矣，古人何以复用此甘寒滑利之竹沥，以化消其痰哉
。
或问淡竹叶世疑是草本，是耶非耶？曰∶即竹叶耳，但不可用苗竹、紫竹之叶。盖二叶
之味
多苦，不堪入药，其余诸竹之叶，味皆淡者也，故以淡名之，非草本之叶也。若草本之叶，
非是竹叶，乃俗名畅脚者也，其性虽寒，能止咳嗽，然而终不能入心以消痰也。
楮实子，味道甘甜，性质微寒，没有毒性。归入肾、肝二经。它能增强阳痿者的性功能，消除水肿，使肌肤丰满，辅助腰膝有力，增加气力，补益虚损劳伤，美容养颜，使身体轻便并强壮筋骨，明目，长期服用会导致滑肠（大便稀溏）。这是补阴的妙品，是益髓的神药。世人抛弃它而不使用，是因为“久服滑肠”这句话的缘故。凡是药物都有偏性，关键在于炮制和使用得当。楮实子导致滑肠，是因为其质地润泽的原因，并非嫌弃它下行速度太快。为了防止其滑肠，可以先用茯苓、薏苡仁、山药一同施用，还怕什么滑肠呢？
有人问：楮实子加入打老丸中，自然是延年的物品，为什么唯独不谈它增加寿命的功效呢？回答说：延年益寿，也在于人如何服药罢了。吞服那些添精填髓的神丹妙药，却肆意放纵性欲，想要活过六十岁都做不到，何况是平庸的楮实子呢？如果节制房事并谨慎起居，饮食清淡并戒除愤怒恼怒，即使不用楮实子，也可以长寿。我所以简略不谈这一点。
淡竹叶，味道甘、淡，性质平寒，属于阴中有微阳，没有毒性，归入心、脾、肺、胃经。它能驱逐上逆之气引起的咳喘，疏散阳明经的邪热，也能退去虚热、烦躁和不眠，专门清凉心经，尤其能祛除风痉（因风邪引起的痉挛抽搐）。
竹茹，主治胃热引起的呃逆，治疗噎膈（吞咽困难）和呕吐，尤其能止住心烦。
竹沥，能去除阴虚发热，调理中风导致的口噤不开。小儿患天吊惊痫（一种惊风病症），入口就能定惊。妇人胎产时出现的闷晕，下喉即苏醒。它能止惊怪、驱除痰浊。痰在手脚四肢，非此药不能到达；痰在皮里膜外，非此药不能清除。世俗之人认为它大寒而弃置不用。不知道竹沥是用火烧竹子沥出的汁液，佐以姜汁，水火相宜，又有什么大寒的呢？以上三味药，全都是清痰泻火的药物，因为它们的性质寒凉但不损伤元气，可以多用，用来辅助人参、茯苓、白术健脾开胃。
有人怀疑竹叶、竹茹、竹沥，是同一物，何必强行区分它们功效？不知道其中有不可不分的道理。竹叶比竹茹轻清，虽然能凉心但主要清肺；竹茹比竹沥轻清，虽然能清心但主要清胃；至于竹沥则重于竹叶、竹茹，虽然能清心且兼有补阴的作用。
有人问：古人用竹沥治疗中风，似乎中风都是由于痰引起的，痰是生于风吗？回答说：中风没有不是由痰形成的，但并不是痰由风产生的。如果真是由风产生，就像是外邪侵袭了，古人为什么还要复用这种甘寒滑利的竹沥来化解消散它的痰呢？
有人问：淡竹叶世人怀疑它是草本植物，是这样吗？回答说：就是竹叶罢了，只是不能用苗竹、紫竹的叶子。大概这两种竹子的叶子味道多苦，不堪入药，其余各种竹子的叶子，味道都是淡的，所以用“淡”字命名，并不是草本植物的叶子。如果是草本植物的叶子，就不是竹叶，而是俗名畅脚的植物，它的性质虽然寒凉，能止咳嗽，然而终究不能入心经来消除痰浊。
Corylopsis Fructus (Chushizi), sweet in taste, slightly cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Kidney and Liver meridians. It can strengthen impotence, reduce edema, plump the skin and flesh, assist the waist and knees, boost qi and strength, tonify deficiency and exhaustion, beautify complexion, lighten the body, strengthen sinews and bones, improve vision, and long-term use may cause loose stools. This substance is a superb product for nourishing Yin and a divine medicine for benefiting marrow and spirit. The world discards it and does not use it because of the phrase "long-term use causes loose stools." All medicines have biases; the key lies in appropriate processing and administration. Chushizi causes loose stools due to its moistening nature, not because we dislike its rapid downward action. To prevent sliding, one can first administer Poria (Fuling), Coix Seed (Yiyiren), and Chinese Yam (Shanyao) together; what fear is there of loose stools?
Someone asked: Chushizi is included in Da Lao Wan (Anti-Aging Pill), naturally a longevity item, why do you specifically not mention its benefit to lifespan? I replied: Longevity and health depend on how one takes medicine. Even if one swallows divine pills that replenish essence and fill marrow, but indulges in lust, one cannot even reach sixty years of age, let alone rely on ordinary Chushizi. If one restrains sexual activity, maintains careful daily routine, eats moderately, and avoids anger and irritation, one can live a long life even without Chushizi. Therefore, I briefly omit discussing this point.
Lophatherum Herb (Dan Zhuye), sweet and bland in taste, neutral-cold in nature, containing slight Yang within Yin, non-toxic. Enters the Heart, Spleen, Lung, and Stomach meridians. It expels rebellious Qi causing cough and asthma, disperses pathogenic heat in the Yangming channel, also clears deficient heat, irritability, and insomnia, specifically cools the Heart meridian, and especially dispels wind-induced spasms.
Bambusa Caulis Intercortex (Zhuru), primarily treats stomach-heat hiccups, manages dysphagia and vomiting, and especially stops mental restlessness.
Bambusa Cautis Succus (Zhuli), eliminates fever due to Yin deficiency, regulates mouth-locking in stroke. For children suffering from Tian Diao epilepsy (a type of convulsive disorder), it settles immediately upon entry. For women experiencing fainting during pregnancy or childbirth, consciousness returns immediately upon swallowing. It stops fright and expels phlegm. Phlegm in the limbs requires this herb to reach; phlegm in the subcutaneous tissue and intermuscular spaces requires this herb to eliminate. Secular people discard it considering it extremely cold. They do not know that Zhuli is extracted by fire from bamboo, and when assisted by Ginger Juice (Jiangzhi), water and fire are harmonized, so how can it be considered extremely cold? These three substances are all herbs that clear phlegm and drain fire. Because their properties are cold but do not damage Yuan Qi (Original Qi), they can be used in large doses to assist Ginseng (Renshen), Poria (Fuling), Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome (Baizhu), and Atractylodes Rhizome (Cangzhu) in strengthening the Spleen and opening the stomach.
Some doubt that Lophatherum Herb, Bambusa Caulis Intercortex, and Bambusa Cautis Succus are the same substance, so why insist on distinguishing their effects? There are reasons why they must not be conflated. Lophatherum Herb is lighter than Bambusa Caulis Intercortex; although it cools the Heart, it primarily clears the Lungs. Bambusa Caulis Intercortex is lighter than Bambusa Cautis Succus; although it clears the Heart, it primarily clears the Stomach. As for Bambusa Cautis Succus, it is heavier than both; although it clears the Heart, it also supplements Yin.
Someone asked: Ancients used Bambusa Cautis Succus to treat Stroke (Zhong Feng); does this imply Stroke is always caused by phlegm? Is phlegm generated by wind? I replied: Stroke invariably involves phlegm formation, but phlegm is not generated by wind. If it were truly generated by wind, it would resemble external pathogenic invasion. Why would ancients then reuse this sweet, cold, and slippery Bambusa Cautis Succus to dissolve and eliminate the phlegm?
Someone asked: People suspect Lophatherum Herb is a herbaceous plant. Is this true or false? I replied: It is simply Bamboo Leaf. However, leaves from Miao Zhu (Moso Bamboo) or Zi Zhu (Purple Bamboo) should not be used. Generally, the leaves of these two species are bitter and unsuitable for medicinal use. Leaves from other bamboo species are bland in taste, hence named "Dan" (bland). They are not herbaceous leaves. If it were a herbaceous leaf, it would not be Bamboo Leaf, but a plant commonly called Chang Jiao (Smooth-leaf Grass), which, although cold in nature and able to stop cough, ultimately cannot enter the Heart meridian to eliminate phlegm.