（柔滑）通利肠胃热毒
菠 （专入肠胃）。出自西域。（颇棱国。误呼菠 。）何书皆言能利肠胃。盖因滑则通
窍。菠
质滑而利。凡人久病大便不通。及痔漏闭塞之人。宜咸用之。又言能解热毒酒毒。盖因寒
则疗热。菠 气味既冷。凡因痈肿毒发。并因酒湿成毒者。须宜用此以服。且毒与热。未有
不先由胃。而始及肠。故药多从甘入。菠 既滑且冷。而味又甘。故能入胃清解。而使其热
与毒尽从肠胃而出矣。然此服之过多。为害不浅。张璐云。凡菜蔬皆能疏利肠胃。而菠 冷
滑尤甚。又曰。多食令人脚弱。发腰痛。动冷气。与 鱼同食。发霍乱。则知此即可以供蔬
。而用又当斟酌于其中也。（北人多食肉面。食此则平。南人多食鱼鳖水米。食此则冷。）
（柔滑）解心胃大肠热
苦菜（专入心胃大肠）。禀气至阴。故味苦寒而不温。而经所列病症。有言能治五脏邪
气者。
邪热客于心也。胃痹渴热中痰者。热在胃也。肠 者。热在大肠也。恶疮者。热瘀伤血肉也
。苦寒总除诸热。故主之也。热去则神自清。故久服安心益气。聪明少卧也。耐饥耐寒。轻
身不老者。总言其热去阴生。心安气益之神功也。此与苦苣同为一物。而形色稍异。治与苦
苣相同。（宗 曰。苦苣捣汁。敷疔疮殊验。青茵阴干。以备冬月。为末水调敷之。杂记云
。凡病痔者。宜用苦苣菜。或鲜或干。煮至熟烂。连汤置器中。横安一板坐之。先熏后洗。
冷即止。日洗数次。屡用有效。）但脾胃虚人切忌。（张机曰。野苣不可共蜜食。令人作肉痔
。士良曰。蚕蛾出时不可 取。令蛾子青烂。蚕妇亦忌食之。）
（质地柔滑）具有通利肠胃、清除热毒的功效。
菠菜（专门作用于肠胃）。起源于西域。（即颇棱国，被误称为菠菜。）各种书籍都说它能疏通肠胃。这是因为“滑”能通窍，菠菜的质地滑润而有利导作用。凡是久病导致大便不通的人，以及患有痔疮、瘘管闭塞的人，适宜经常食用它。又有说法称它能解除热毒和酒毒。这是因为“寒”能治疗热证，菠菜的气味既寒冷，凡是因痈肿疮毒发作，以及因饮酒湿邪酿成毒邪的情况，都适宜服用此物来解毒。况且毒与热，没有不是先从胃开始，然后才波及肠道的，所以药物大多从甘味入胃。菠菜既滑润又寒冷，且味道甘甜，因此能进入胃部进行清热解郁，使热邪与毒邪全部从肠胃排出。然而，如果服用过多，危害也不小。张璐说：凡是蔬菜都能疏利肠胃，而菠菜的冷滑之性尤为严重。他又说：多吃会让人脚部无力，引发腰痛，触动体内冷气。与鲤鱼同食，会引发霍乱。由此可知，这虽然可以作为蔬菜食用，但使用时应当斟酌其中的利弊。（北方人多吃肉和面食，吃菠菜则性质平和；南方人多吃鱼鳖和水稻米，吃菠菜则显得过于寒凉。）
（质地柔滑）能够解除心、胃、大肠的热邪。
苦菜（专门作用于心、胃、大肠）。禀受至阴之气，所以味道苦寒而不温。经书中列出的病症，有说它能治疗五脏邪气的。邪热客居于心，就是心热；胃痹、口渴、热中痰多，就是胃热；肠澼（痢疾），就是大肠热；恶疮，就是热邪瘀滞损伤血肉。苦寒之性总括起来能清除各种热邪，所以主治这些病症。热邪去除后，神志自然清明，所以长期服用能安心益气，使人耳聪目明、睡眠减少。耐饥耐寒、身体轻便且不衰老，总括来说是因为热去阴生，安心益气的功效所致。这与苦苣是同一种植物，只是形状颜色稍有不同，治疗效果与苦苣相同。（陈藏器说：将苦苣捣碎取汁，外敷疔疮特别有效。将青茵阴干，以备冬季使用，研成粉末用水调匀外敷。杂记中说：凡是患痔疮的人，适宜用苦苣菜，无论是新鲜的还是干燥的，煮至熟烂，连同汤汁放入容器中，横放一块板坐在上面，先熏蒸后清洗，变冷就停止，每天洗几次，多次使用有效。）但是脾胃虚弱的人切忌食用。（张机说：野苣不可与蜂蜜同食，否则会使人长出肉痔。士良说：蚕蛾出现时不可采摘，否则会导致蛾子青烂，养蚕妇女也忌讳食用它。）
(Soft and smooth) Promotes the unblocking of the intestines and stomach, and clears heat toxins.
Spinach (Bo Cai) (Specifically enters the Stomach and Intestines). Originates from the Western Regions. (Namely Bolan Country, mistakenly called Bo Cai.) All books state that it can benefit the intestines and stomach. This is because "slippery" substances open orifices; Spinach has a slippery and purgative quality. For those suffering from chronic constipation due to long-term illness, as well as individuals with blocked hemorrhoids and fistulas, it is suitable for frequent consumption. It is also said to resolve heat toxins and alcohol toxins. This is because "cold" treats heat conditions; given that Spinach's nature and aroma are cold, it should be used for treating carbuncles, sores, and toxic eruptions caused by heat, as well as toxicity arising from damp-heat induced by alcohol. Moreover, toxins and heat typically originate in the Stomach before spreading to the Intestines; thus, medicines often enter via the Stomach through the sweet flavor. Since Spinach is slippery, cold, and sweet, it can enter the Stomach to clear heat and resolve toxicity, allowing heat and toxins to exit entirely through the intestines and stomach. However, excessive consumption causes significant harm. Zhang Lu stated: "All vegetables can loosen and promote intestinal movement, but Spinach is particularly cold and slippery." He further added: "Excessive consumption leads to weak legs, lower back pain, and agitates internal cold qi. Consuming it with carp induces cholera-like disorders." Thus, while it serves as a vegetable, its use requires careful consideration. (Northern people, who consume more meat and wheat noodles, find this vegetable neutral in nature; Southern people, who consume more fish, shellfish, and rice, find this vegetable too cold.)
(Soft and smooth) Clears heat from the Heart, Stomach, and Large Intestine.
Bitter Vegetable (Ku Cai) (Specifically enters the Heart, Stomach, and Large Intestine). Endowed with extreme Yin Qi, its taste is bitter and cold without warmth. The classic texts mention it treats evil qi in the five Zang organs. Evil heat lodging in the Heart indicates Heart heat; gastric obstruction, thirst, heat in the middle jiao, and phlegm indicate Stomach heat; Chang Pi (dysentery) indicates Large Intestine heat; malignant ulcers indicate heat stasis damaging flesh and blood. The bitter-cold nature generally eliminates various heats, hence it is indicated for these conditions. When heat is removed, the spirit naturally clarifies; thus, long-term consumption calms the mind, benefits Qi, enhances hearing and vision, and reduces sleep needs. Enduring hunger and cold, lightening the body, and preventing premature aging all summarize the divine efficacy of generating Yin after heat removal, calming the mind, and benefiting Qi. This plant is the same species as Lactuca sativa var. crispa (Ku Ju), differing only slightly in shape and color, with identical therapeutic effects. (Chen Cangqi stated: Crushing Ku Ju and applying the juice externally is highly effective for carbuncles. Drying Qingyin for winter use, grinding into powder, and mixing with water for external application. Miscellaneous records state: Those suffering from hemorrhoids should use Ku Ju vegetable, fresh or dried, boiled until soft. Place the broth in a vessel, position a board across it, sit on it to fumigate first then wash, stop when cool, wash several times daily; repeated use is effective.) However, individuals with Spleen and Stomach deficiency must strictly avoid it. (Zhang Ji stated: Wild lettuce should not be eaten with honey, as it causes flesh hemorrhoids. Shi Liang stated: Do not harvest when silkworm moths emerge, lest the moths become green and rot; silk farmers also avoid consuming it.)