莲子，味甘涩，气平、寒，无毒。入心、脾、肝、肾四脏，养神定志，能交君相二火，
善止
泄精，清心气，去腰疼，禁痢疾。
花心，益肾，涩精，固髓。
藕，甘寒。主血多验，治瘀血，逐散不凝，止吐衄溢妄行，破产后血积烦闷，解酒却热，治
金疮生肌。
按∶莲子、花、藕，俱能益人，而莲子之功尤胜。世人谓莲子不宜食心，恐成卒暴霍乱。
不
知莲子去心用之，全无功效，其妙全在于心，不特只产后消渴也。莲子之心，清心火，又清
肾火。二火炎，则心肾不交。二火清，则心肾自合。去莲心，而止用莲肉，徒能养脾胃，而
不益心肾矣。莲子心单用入之于参、苓、 、术之中，治梦遗尤神，取其能交心肾也。故用
莲子断不可去心，一去心，则神不能养，而志不能定，精泄不能止，而腰痛不能除矣。
或问莲子清心汤，前人用之，未闻用心也。曰∶莲子而不用心，此清心汤之所以不效也。
前
人制方，未必不单用莲心，岁久失传，人不知用，致清心汤神效竟为无用之方。此铎所以三
叹也。原世人用清心汤者，用莲子心一钱以清心，未有不效应如响者矣。石莲子，树上者，
不可入药也。
芡实，味甘，气平，无毒。入脾、肾二经。主湿痹，止腰膝疼痛，益精，令耳目聪明，
强志
补中，除暴疾，久食延龄益寿。视之若平常，用之大有利益。可君可臣，而又可佐使者也。
其功全在补肾去湿。夫补肾之药，大都润泽者居多，润泽则未免少湿矣。芡实补中去湿，性
又不燥，故能去邪水而补神水，与诸补阴之药同用，尤能助之以添精，不虑多投以增湿也。
或问芡实平平无奇，而子偏誉之为益精补中之药，何也？曰∶芡实不特益精，且能涩精，补
肾
至妙药也，子不信其功效乎？夫芡实与山药并用，各为末，日日米饮调服，虽遗精至衰惫者
，不旬日而精止神旺矣。至平之药，而实有至奇之功，非世人所能测也。
或问芡实性实平淡，吾子誉其功用，不识益肾补精之外，更有何病可大用乎？曰∶芡实，
无
症不可大用，而尤可大用者，开胃气耳。胃气大开，何病不藉之以得利。平而实奇，淡而无
厌，殆芡实之谓乎。
或问芡实平淡无奇而益人，如若，何不日食之作饭乎？曰∶芡实虽不可作饭，然日用之
固宜
。我有一方，在家、作客，两食之而咸宜。方用芡实二斤、山药二斤、白糯米四斤、白糖一
斤、花椒二两，去核，各为末。每日白滚水冲调服一两，最能开胃生精，并无梦遗之病，可
服至百岁也。
或疑芡实但能止精，而不能益精，虽精止即是益精，而终不可谓精得芡实而生也，曰∶
芡实
岂但止精哉。夫遗精之病，必能补而后能止。使芡实不能益精，又何能止精。况芡实不但止
精，而亦能生精也。去脾胃中之湿痰，即生肾中之真水。芡实益精，又何疑乎。
莲子，味道甘甜且带涩味，药性平和偏寒，无毒。进入心、脾、肝、肾四个脏腑，能滋养心神、安定意志，能够交通君火（心火）与相火（命门之火），善于制止遗精滑泄，清泄心气，去除腰部疼痛，禁止痢疾发作。
藕，味甘性寒。主治血热妄行导致的出血，治疗瘀血，驱散使其不凝结，停止吐血、鼻衄等血液溢出妄行的症状，破除产后因血积引起的烦闷，解除酒毒并清除热气，治疗金疮（金属利器造成的创伤）以促进肌肉生长。
按语：莲子、莲心、莲藕，都能对人有益，但莲子的功效尤其显著。世人认为莲子不宜食用莲心，担心会导致突然爆发的霍乱症。却不知道莲子如果去掉莲心使用，完全没有功效，其奥妙全在于莲心，不仅限于治疗产后消渴症。莲子的心，能清泄心火，又能清泄肾火。如果二火炎上，则心肾不能相交。如果二火被清泄，则心肾自然契合。去掉莲心而只使用莲肉，只能滋养脾胃，而不能补益心肾。单用莲子心配合人参、茯苓、[缺失药材]、白术一起使用，治疗梦遗特别神效，就是利用它能交通心肾的特性。所以使用莲子绝对不能去掉莲心，一旦去掉了莲心，就不能滋养心神，也不能安定意志，无法制止精液外泄，也无法消除腰痛。
有人问：前人使用的莲子清心汤，并没有听说使用莲心。回答说：莲子如果不使用莲心，这就是莲子清心汤之所以无效的原因。前人制定方剂时，未必不是单独使用莲心，只是年代久远失传了，人们不知道使用，导致莲子清心汤原本的神效竟然变成了无用的方子。这就是我陈士铎再三叹息的原因。原来世人使用莲子清心汤时，如果用一钱莲子心来清心，没有不立刻见效的。石莲子（老熟落地的莲子），如果是树上结的（指未脱落或特定品种），不可入药。
芡实，味道甘甜，药性平和，无毒。进入脾、肾两条经络。主治湿痹，停止腰膝疼痛，补益精气，使耳目聪明，坚定意志，补益中气，祛除突发疾病，长期服用可以延年益寿。看起来似乎很平常，使用时却大有利益。可以作为君药，也可以作为臣药，还可以作为佐使药。它的作用全在于补肾祛湿。大凡补肾的药物，大多性质润泽，润泽则难免带有湿气。芡实既能补中气又能祛湿，性质又不燥烈，所以能祛除邪水（病理性的水湿）而补益神水（生理性的真阴），与其他滋阴药物同用，更能帮助它们增添精气，不用担心多服用会增加湿气。
有人问：芡实平平无奇，为什么您偏偏赞誉它是益精补中的药物呢？回答说：芡实不仅能益精，还能涩精，是补肾的绝妙药物，您不相信它的功效吗？芡实与山药同时使用，各自研成粉末，每天用米汤调服，即使是因遗精导致极度衰弱的人，不到十天就能止住遗精，精神旺盛。这是极其平和的药物，却有着极其奇妙的功效，不是世人所能测度的。
有人问：芡实性质实在平淡无奇，我赞誉它的作用，不知除了益肾补精之外，还有什么病可以大量使用呢？回答说：芡实没有哪种病症不可以大量使用，而尤其可以大量使用的是开胃气。胃气大开，什么病不借助它来获得疗效呢？平淡中蕴含奇妙，清淡而不令人厌烦，大概说的就是芡实吧。
有人问：芡实平淡无奇却对人有益，既然如此，为什么不每天做饭吃呢？回答说：芡实虽然不能直接用来做饭，但日常使用确实适宜。我有一个方子，在家或在外出差，两种情况下食用都适宜。方子用芡实二斤、山药二斤、白糯米四斤、白糖一斤、花椒二两，去掉花椒核，各自研成粉末。每天用开水冲调服用一两，最能开胃生精，如果没有梦遗的病，可以一直服用到百岁。
有人怀疑芡实只能止精，而不能益精，虽然止精即是益精，但最终不能说精液是因为芡实而生长的。回答说：芡实难道仅仅只能止精吗？遗精的疾病，必须能够补益后才能止住。如果芡实不能益精，又怎么能止精呢？况且芡实不仅能止精，也能生精。去除脾胃中的湿痰，就是生成了肾中的真水。芡实益精，又有什么可怀疑的呢。
Lotus seeds (Lianzi), with a sweet and astringent taste, are neutral in nature and slightly cold, and non-toxic. They enter the Heart, Spleen, Liver, and Kidney organs, nourish the Shen (Spirit) and stabilize the Zhi (Willpower), facilitate the interaction between the Ministerial Fire (Xianghuo) and the Sovereign Fire (Junhuo), effectively stop seminal emission, clear Heart Qi, relieve lower back pain, and arrest dysentery.
The flower heart (Lotus plumule/Lianxin) benefits the Kidney, astringes essence, and consolidates marrow.
Lotus root (Ou), with a sweet taste and cold nature, primarily treats excessive bleeding due to blood heat, resolves blood stasis, disperses stagnation to prevent coagulation, stops hematemesis (vomiting blood) and epistaxis (nosebleed) caused by reckless blood flow, breaks down postpartum blood accumulation causing irritability, detoxifies alcohol, clears heat, and promotes tissue regeneration for traumatic injuries.
Note: Lotus seeds, lotus plumules, and lotus roots all benefit humans, but the efficacy of lotus seeds is particularly superior. People generally believe that lotus seeds should not be consumed with the plumule, fearing it may cause sudden cholera-like symptoms. However, if the plumule is removed from the lotus seed before use, it loses all efficacy; its miraculous power lies entirely within the plumule, not merely in treating postpartime thirst. The lotus plumule clears both Heart fire and Kidney fire. When these two fires flare up, the Heart and Kidney fail to interact. When these two fires are cleared, the Heart and Kidney naturally harmonize. Removing the plumule and using only the lotus seed meat can only nourish the Spleen and Stomach, failing to benefit the Heart and Kidney. Using lotus plumule alone combined with Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Fuling (Poria), [missing herb], and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) is particularly effective for treating nocturnal emission, precisely because it facilitates the communication between the Heart and Kidney. Therefore, one must never remove the plumule when using lotus seeds. Once removed, it cannot nourish the Shen or stabilize the Zhi, cannot stop seminal leakage, nor eliminate lower back pain.
One might ask: In the past, people used Lianzi Qingxin Tang (Lotus Seed Decoction to Clear the Heart), but there is no record of them using the plumule. I reply: If Lianzi Qingxin Tang does not use the plumule, this is why it fails to be effective. It is possible that ancient prescriptions did use the plumule alone, but over time, this knowledge was lost, and people forgot to use it, rendering the originally miraculous formula useless. This is why I sigh repeatedly. Originally, when people used Lianzi Qingxin Tang, using one qian of lotus plumule to clear the Heart fire invariably produced immediate results. Stone lotus seeds (Shi lianzi), specifically those matured on the tree, should not be used in medicine.
Euryale seeds (Qianshi), with a sweet taste and neutral nature, are non-toxic. They enter the Spleen and Kidney meridians. They treat damp-bi syndrome (painful obstruction due to dampness), stop lower back and knee pain, benefit essence, enhance hearing and vision, strengthen willpower, tonify the Middle Jiao, eliminate acute diseases, and prolong life and health with long-term consumption. Though appearing ordinary, they offer significant benefits. They can serve as a Jun (Monarch), Chen (Minister), or Zuo-Shi (Assistant-Guide) herb. Their primary function is tonifying the Kidney and dispelling dampness. Most herbs that tonify the Kidney have moistening properties, which inevitably introduce some dampness. Qianshi, however, tonifies the Middle while dispelling dampness without being drying. Thus, it can expel pathogenic water (excess dampness) and tonify vital fluids (true yin). When used with other yin-tonifying herbs, it further assists in generating essence without the risk of increasing dampness even with high doses.
One might ask: Qianshi seems unremarkable; why do you praise it so highly as an herb that benefits essence and tonifies the middle? I reply: Qianshi not only benefits essence but also astringes essence; it is a miraculous herb for tonifying the Kidney. Do you doubt its efficacy? When Qianshi is used together with Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), each ground into powder and taken daily with rice water decoction, even patients severely debilitated by nocturnal emission will stop leaking essence and regain vigor within ten days. This is an extremely mild herb with extraordinary effects, beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.
One might ask: Since Qianshi is so plain yet beneficial, besides tonifying the Kidney and benefiting essence, what other conditions can it be used extensively for? I reply: There is no condition where Qianshi cannot be used extensively, especially for opening the Stomach Qi. When Stomach Qi is greatly opened, how could any disease not benefit from it? It is plain yet miraculous, bland yet never tiresome; this describes Qianshi perfectly.
One might ask: Qianshi is plain yet beneficial. If so, why not eat it daily as a staple food? I reply: Although Qianshi is not suitable for making staple rice, it is indeed suitable for daily use. I have a prescription suitable for both home and travel. It uses 2 jin of Qianshi, 2 jin of Shanyao, 4 jin of white glutinous rice, 1 jin of white sugar, and 2 liang of Huajiao (Zanthoxylum pericarpium), removing the cores of the Huajiao. Each ingredient is ground into powder. Take one liang daily mixed with boiling water. It best opens the Stomach and generates essence. For those without nocturnal emission, it can be taken until the age of one hundred.
One might suspect that Qianshi only stops essence but does not generate it. Although stopping essence is a form of benefiting essence, one cannot say that essence is generated *by* Qianshi. I reply: Does Qianshi only stop essence? To stop seminal emission, one must first tonify. If Qianshi could not benefit essence, how could it stop emission? Moreover, Qianshi not only stops essence but also generates it. By removing damp-phlegm from the Spleen and Stomach, it generates true water in the Kidney. How can there be any doubt that Qianshi benefits essence?