气温。味甘无毒。主风寒湿痹。死肌痉疸。止汗除热。消食。作煎饵久服。轻身延年
不饥。
术性温。禀天阳明之燥气。入足阳明胃经。味甘无毒。禀地中正之土味。入足太阴脾经。气
味俱升。阳也。风寒湿三者合成痹。痹者拘挛而麻木也。盖地之湿气。感则害人皮肉筋骨也
。死肌者。湿邪侵肌肉也。痉者。湿流关节而筋劲急也。疸者。湿乘脾土肌肉发黄也。皆脾
胃湿症。术性甘燥。所以主之。胃土湿。则湿热交蒸而自汗发热。术性燥湿。故止汗除热也
。脾者为胃行其津液者也。脾湿。则失其健运之性而食不消矣。术性温益阳。则脾健而食消
也。煎饵久服。则胃气充足。气盛则身轻。气充则不饥。气纳则延年。所以轻身延年不饥也
。
制 方:
术同枳实作汤。治水饮。作丸。名枳术丸。治面黄食不化。同人参。治脾肺俱虚。同白
芍、
白茯、甘草。治脾虚肌热。同泽泻。治心下有水。同牡蛎、浮麦、石斛。治脾虚盗汗。同姜
酒煎。治产后呕逆。同陈皮。治脾虚胀满。同谷芽、猪肚丸。治脾虚少食而瘦。同白芍、肉
果
炮姜
暑泻
。同苦参、牡蛎、猪肚丸。治胃湿热而瘦。同麦冬、石斛、黄柏、白芍、木瓜、苡仁、北味。
治
痿。
气平。味甘。无毒。主五脏六府寒热邪气。坚筋骨。长肌肉。倍气力。金疮 。解
毒。久服轻身延年。（生用清火炙用补中）
甘草气平。禀天秋凉之金气。入手太阴肺经。味甘无毒。禀地和平之土味。入足太阴脾
经。
气降味升。阳也。肺主气。脾统血。肺为五脏之长。脾为万物之母。味甘可以解寒。气平可
以清热。甘草甘平。入肺入脾。所以主五脏六腑寒热邪气也。肝主筋。肾主骨。肝肾热而筋
骨
。气平入肺。平肝生肾。筋骨自坚矣。脾主肌肉。味甘益脾。肌肉自长。肺主周身之气。
气平益肺。肺益则气力自倍也。金疮热则 。气平则清。所以治 。味甘缓急。气平清热。
故又解毒。久服肺气清。所以轻身。脾气和。所以延年也。
制 方:
甘草佐黄 、防风。治气虚痘症。同白芍、黄芩。名黄芩汤。治痢。同白芍。名甲己汤。
治
泄。同人参、炮姜、肉桂。则温中。同麦冬、枇杷叶、苏子。则下气。同川莲、白芍、升麻
、滑石。治热痢。同人参、菖蒲、益智、圆肉、枣仁、远志。治健忘。同桔梗、元参、牛蒡、
花粉。利咽喉。同麦冬、石膏、竹叶、知母。名竹叶石膏汤。治烦闷燥渴。同川莲、木通、
赤茯、生地。泻心火。同桂枝、人参、生地、麦冬、阿胶、麻仁、姜、枣、酒。名复脉散。
治心脾血枯。甘草一味。水炙熬膏。治悬痈如神。
【白术】
气味：气温，味甘，无毒。
功效：主治风寒湿痹证、肌肉萎缩、痉挛、黄疸；能止汗、退热、消食。制成煎剂或饵剂长期服用，可使人身体轻健、延年益寿、不感饥饿。
解析：白术性温，禀受自然界阳明燥金之气，入足阳明胃经；味甘，禀受大地中正之土味，入足太阴脾经。其气与味均主升发，属阳。风、寒、湿三者结合形成痹证，痹证表现为肢体拘挛麻木。大地的湿气侵袭人体，会伤害皮肉筋骨。所谓“死肌”，是指湿邪侵入肌肉所致；“痉”，是指湿气流注关节导致筋脉劲急僵硬；“疸”，是指湿气乘袭脾土，致使肌肉发黄。这些都属于脾胃湿症。白术性味甘燥，因此能主治上述病症。胃中湿盛，则湿热交蒸而自汗发热，白术性燥能祛湿，故能止汗除热。脾脏的功能是为胃传输津液，脾湿则失去健运的特性而导致食物不消化。白术性温能补益阳气，使脾脏健运从而促进消化。将白术制成煎剂或饵剂长期服用，能使胃气充足，气盛则身体轻健，气充则不感饥饿，气机纳藏则延年益寿，这就是它能轻身延年不饥的原因。
制方应用：
白术同枳实煮汤，治疗水饮停聚；制成丸剂，名为枳术丸，治疗面色萎黄、食物不化。
与人参同用，治疗脾肺俱虚。
同白芍、白茯苓、甘草同用，治疗脾虚引起的肌肤发热。
同泽泻同用，治疗心下有水气。
同牡蛎、浮小麦、石斛同用，治疗脾虚盗汗。
同姜酒煎服，治疗产后呕吐逆气。
同陈皮同用，治疗脾虚胀满。
同谷芽、猪肚制成丸剂，治疗脾虚少食且形体消瘦。
同白芍、肉豆蔻、炮姜（用于暑天腹泻）同用。
同苦参、牡蛎、猪肚制成丸剂，治疗胃湿热导致的形体消瘦。
同麦冬、石斛、黄柏、白芍、木瓜、薏苡仁、五味子同用，治疗痿证。
【甘草】
气味：气平，味甘，无毒。
功效：主治五脏六腑的寒热邪气；坚固筋骨，生长肌肉，倍增气力；治疗金创（金属利器造成的创伤），解毒。长期服用可使人身体轻健、延年益寿。（生用清热泻火，炙用补益中气）
解析：甘草气平，禀受自然界秋季清凉的金气，入手太阴肺经；味甘，禀受大地和平之土味，入足太阴脾经。其气主降，味主升，属阳。肺主气，脾统血，肺为五脏之长，脾为万物之母。味甘可以解寒，气平可以清热。甘草甘平，入肺入脾，所以能主治五脏六腑的寒热邪气。肝主筋，肾主骨，肝肾有热则筋骨受损。甘草气平入肺，能平肝生肾，筋骨自然坚固。脾主肌肉，味甘能益脾，肌肉自然生长。肺主周身之气，气平能益肺，肺功能增强则气力自然倍增。金创受热则溃烂，甘草气平能清热，所以能治疗金创。味甘能缓急，气平能清热，所以又能解毒。长期服用使肺气清肃，所以身体轻健；脾气调和，所以延年益寿。
制方应用：
甘草佐以黄芪、防风，治疗气虚痘症。
同白芍、黄芩同用，名为黄芩汤，治疗痢疾。
同白芍同用，名为甲己汤，治疗泄泻。
同人参、炮姜、肉桂同用，则能温中。
同麦冬、枇杷叶、苏子同用，则能降气。
同黄连、白芍、升麻、滑石同用，治疗热痢。
同人参、石菖蒲、益智仁、桂圆肉、酸枣仁、远志同用，治疗健忘。
同桔梗、玄参、牛蒡子、天花粉同用，利咽喉。
同麦冬、石膏、竹叶、知母同用，名为竹叶石膏汤，治疗烦闷燥渴。
同黄连、木通、赤茯苓、生地黄同用，泻心火。
同桂枝、人参、生地黄、麦冬、阿胶、火麻仁、生姜、大枣、酒同用，名为复脉散，治疗心脾血枯。
单用甘草一味，用水炙后熬成膏状，治疗悬痈（一种生于会阴部的痈疽），效果如神。
[Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma)]
Flavor and Nature: Warm in nature, sweet in flavor, non-toxic.
Efficacy: Mainly treats Bi syndrome (obstruction syndrome) caused by wind-cold-dampness, muscle atrophy, spasms, and jaundice; can stop sweating, reduce fever, and aid digestion. Taken long-term as decoctions or pills, it makes the body light, prolongs life, and prevents hunger.
Analysis: Bai Zhu is warm in nature, inheriting the dry qi of Yangming from heaven, entering the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. It is sweet in flavor, inheriting the central earth taste from earth, entering the Foot-Taic Yin Spleen Meridian. Both its qi and flavor are ascending, belonging to Yang. Wind, cold, and dampness combine to form Bi syndrome, characterized by stiffness and numbness. Dampness from the earth, when affecting humans, harms the skin, flesh, tendons, and bones. "Dead flesh" refers to muscle damage caused by dampness pathogens. "Spasm" refers to tendon stiffness caused by dampness flowing into joints. "Jaundice" refers to yellowing of the muscles caused by dampness attacking Spleen Earth. All these are Spleen-Stomach dampness syndromes. Bai Zhu's sweet and drying nature allows it to treat these conditions. When Stomach Earth is damp, damp-heat steams internally causing spontaneous sweating and fever; Bai Zhu's drying nature removes dampness, thus stopping sweating and reducing fever. The Spleen transports fluids for the Stomach. When the Spleen is damp, it loses its healthy transportation function, leading to indigestion. Bai Zhu's warm nature tonifies Yang, strengthening the Spleen and aiding digestion. Long-term consumption of decoctions or pills suffices Stomach Qi. Abundant Qi makes the body light;充盈 Qi prevents hunger; stored Qi prolongs life. This is why it lightens the body, prolongs life, and prevents hunger.
Prescription Applications:
Bai Zhu combined with Zhi Shi (Immature Bitter Orange) as a decoction treats water retention. Made into pills, named Zhizhu Wan (Atractylodes and Immature Bitter Orange Pill), it treats sallow complexion and food stagnation.
Combined with Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), it treats deficiency of both Spleen and Lung.
Combined with Baishao (White Peony Root), Baifu Ling (Poria), and Gancao (Licorice Root), it treats Spleen deficiency with muscular heat.
Combined with Zexie (Alisma Rhizoma), it treats fluid accumulation below the heart.
Combined with Muli (Ostreae Concha), Fumai (Triticum Vulgare Fructus Imparatus), and Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis), it treats night sweats due to Spleen deficiency.
Decocted with ginger wine, it treats postpartum vomiting and reflux.
Combined with Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), it treats Spleen deficiency with distension and fullness.
Combined with Guya (Sprouted Grain) and pig stomach made into pills, it treats Spleen deficiency with poor appetite and emaciation.
Combined with Baishao (White Peony Root), Rougu (Nutmeg), and Paojiang (Prepared Ginger) for summer diarrhea.
Combined with Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix), Muli (Ostreae Concha), and pig stomach made into pills, it treats emaciation due to Stomach damp-heat.
Combined with Maidong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), Baishao (White Peony Root), Mugua (Chaenomelis Fructus), Yiren (Coicis Semen), and Beiwei (Schisandrae Fructus), it treats Wei syndrome (flaccidity syndrome).
[Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma)]
Flavor and Nature: Neutral in nature, sweet in flavor, non-toxic.
Efficacy: Mainly treats cold and heat pathogenic factors in the five zang and six fu organs; strengthens sinews and bones, nourishes muscles, and increases strength; treats metal wounds, detoxifies. Long-term consumption makes the body light and prolongs life. (Raw use clears fire; roasted use tonifies the Middle Jiao.)
Analysis: Gan Cao is neutral in nature, inheriting the cool Metal qi of autumn from heaven, entering the Hand-Taic Yin Lung Meridian. It is sweet in flavor, inheriting the peaceful Earth taste from earth, entering the Foot-Taic Yin Spleen Meridian. Its qi descends while its flavor ascends, belonging to Yang. The Lung governs Qi, the Spleen controls blood; the Lung is the leader of the five zang organs, and the Spleen is the mother of all things. Sweet flavor can resolve cold; neutral nature can clear heat. Gan Cao is sweet and neutral, entering the Lung and Spleen, thus treating cold and heat pathogens in the five zang and six fu organs. The Liver governs sinews, the Kidney governs bones; heat in the Liver and Kidney damages sinews and bones. Gan Cao's neutral nature enters the Lung, pacifies the Liver, and generates the Kidney, thereby strengthening sinews and bones. The Spleen governs muscles; sweet flavor benefits the Spleen, thereby nourishing muscles. The Lung governs Qi throughout the body; neutral nature benefits the Lung, and a healthy Lung naturally increases strength. Heat in metal wounds causes suppuration; Gan Cao's neutral nature clears heat, thus treating metal wounds. Sweet flavor relieves urgency, and neutral nature clears heat, so it also detoxifies. Long-term consumption clears Lung Qi, making the body light; harmonizes Spleen Qi, thus prolonging life.
Prescription Applications:
Gan Cao assisted by Huangqi (Astragali Radix) and Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) treats Qi-deficiency acne/pox.
Combined with Baishao (White Peony Root) and Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), named Huangqin Tang (Scutellaria Decoction), it treats dysentery.
Combined with Baishao (White Peony Root), named Jiaji Tang, it treats diarrhea.
Combined with Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Paojiang (Prepared Ginger), and Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex), it warms the Middle Jiao.
Combined with Maidong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), Pipaye (Loquat Leaf), and Suzi (Perillae Fructus), it directs Qi downward.
Combined with Chuanlian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Baishao (White Peony Root), Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), and Huashi (Talcum), it treats heat dysentery.
Combined with Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Changpu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma), Yizhi (Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus), Yuanrou (Longan Aril), Zaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen), and Yuanzhi (Polygalae Radix), it treats forgetfulness.
Combined with Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Yuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), Niubang (Arctii Fructus), and Huafen (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), it benefits the throat.
Combined with Maidong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Zhuye (Bambusae Folium), and Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), named Zhuye Shigao Tang (Bamboo Leaf and Gypsum Decoction), it treats irritability, oppression, dryness, and thirst.
Combined with Chuanlian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Mutong (Akebiae Caulis), Chifu (Poria Coccodrum cum Lignum), and Shengdi (Rehmanniae Radix), it drains Heart Fire.
Combined with Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Shengdi (Rehmanniae Radix), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), Ejiao (Asini Corii Colla), Mahren (Cannabis Semen), Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), Zao (Jujubae Fructus), and Wine, named Fumai San (Pulse-Recovery Powder), it treats Heart and Spleen blood exhaustion.
Using only Gan Cao (Licorice Root), roasted in water and boiled into a paste, it treats Xuan Yong (a carbuncle occurring in the perineal region) with miraculous effect.