味甘、咸，寒，无毒。主治风寒湿痹，乳难，消水，养五脏，益气力，肥健。补虚损五
劳，除五脏痞满，起阴气，止泄精、消渴、淋沥，逐膀胱三焦停水。久服耳目聪明，不饥，
延年，轻身，面生光，能行水上。扁鹊云∶多服病患眼。一名水泻，一名及泻，一名芒芋，
一名鹄泻。生汝南池泽。五月、六月、八月采根，阴干。畏海蛤、文蛤。叶，味咸，无毒。
主大风，乳汁不出，产难，强阴气。久服轻身。五月采。实，味甘，无毒。主风痹，消渴，
益肾气，强阴，补不足，除邪湿。久服面生光，令人无子。九月采。
汝南郡属豫州。今近道亦有，不堪用。惟用汉中、南郑、青、代，形大而长，尾间必有
两歧为好。此物易朽蠹，常须密藏之。叶狭长，丛生诸浅水中。《仙经》服食断谷皆用之。
亦云身轻，能步行水上。（《大观》卷六，《政和》一六二页）
味甘，温、平，无毒。主治伤中，补虚羸，除寒热邪气，补中，益气力，长肌肉。主头
面游风，风头目眩，下气，止腰痛，补虚劳羸瘦，充五脏，除烦热，强阴。久服耳目聪明，
轻身，不饥，延年。一名山芋，秦楚名玉延，郑越名土薯。生嵩山山谷。二月、八月采根，
曝干。（紫芝为之使，恶甘遂。）
今近道处处有，东山、南江皆多掘取食之以充粮。南康间最大而美，服食亦用之。（《大
观》卷六，《政和》一六○页）
泽泻：味甘、咸，性寒，无毒。主治风寒湿痹（由风、寒、湿邪侵袭经络关节所致的肢体疼痛、麻木、屈伸不利等病证），乳难（乳汁分泌不畅或不通），消水（消除体内停聚的水液），养五脏，益气力，使身体肥壮健实。补虚损五劳（指久视伤血、久卧伤气、久坐伤肉、久立伤骨、久行伤筋五种劳损），除五脏痞满（脏腑气机阻滞导致的胀满感），起阴气（激发肾阴之气），止泄精（治疗遗精滑精）、消渴（口渴多饮之症）、淋沥（小便淋漓不尽），逐膀胱三焦停水（驱除膀胱和三焦中停滞的水湿）。长期服用可使耳目聪明，不感到饥饿，延年益寿，身体轻便，面色光泽，甚至能在水上行走。扁鹊说：多服此药会导致患者眼睛患病。又名水泻，又名及泻，又名芒芋，又名鹄泻。产于汝南的池塘沼泽。五月、六月、八月采集根部，阴干。畏海蛤、文蛤。叶，味咸，无毒。主治大风（严重的风邪致病，如麻风或严重的皮肤瘙痒风疹），乳汁不出，产难（分娩困难），强阴气。长期服用可轻身。五月采集。果实，味甘，无毒。主治风痹，消渴，益肾气，强阴，补不足，除邪湿。长期服用面色光泽，但令人无子（导致不育）。九月采集。
汝南郡属豫州。如今附近道路也有出产，但质量不堪使用。只有汉中、南郑、青州、代州的泽泻，形体大而长，尾部必有分叉为佳品。这种药物容易腐朽生虫，必须经常密封储藏。叶片狭长，丛生于各种浅水中。《仙经》中服食断谷（辟谷）的方法都使用它。也说身体轻便，能步行水上。（出自《大观本草》卷六，《政和本草》一六二页）
薯蓣：味甘，性温、平，无毒。主治伤中（脾胃受损），补虚羸（补充虚弱消瘦的身体），除寒热邪气，补中（补益中焦脾胃），益气力，长肌肉。主治头面游风（头部面部游走不定的风邪所致病症），风头目眩（头部受风引起的头晕目眩），下气（降逆气），止腰痛，补虚劳羸瘦，充五脏，除烦热，强阴。长期服用可使耳目聪明，身体轻便，不感到饥饿，延年益寿。又名山芋，秦楚地区叫玉延，郑越地区叫土薯。产于嵩山山谷。二月、八月采集根部，晒干。（紫芝为其使药，恶甘遂。）
如今附近道路处处都有，东山、南江等地大量挖掘食用以充饥粮。南康间最大且美味，服食也使用它。（出自《大观本草》卷六，《政和本草》一六○页）
Alisma Rhizome (Zexie, 泽泻): Sweet and salty in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. It treats wind-cold-damp bi syndrome (painful obstruction caused by invasion of wind, cold, and damp pathogens into meridians and joints), difficulty in lactation (poor or absent milk secretion), promotes diuresis (elimination of retained body fluids), nourishes the five zang organs, tonifies qi and strengthens physical strength, and makes the body robust and healthy. It supplements deficiency and damage from the five types of labor (five kinds of overstrain: prolonged viewing damages blood, prolonged lying down damages qi, prolonged sitting damages flesh, prolonged standing damages bones, prolonged walking damages tendons), removes fullness and stagnation in the five zang organs, stimulates yin qi (kidney yin energy), stops seminal emission (treatment of nocturnal emission and spermatorrhea), treats xiao ke (wasting-thirst syndrome characterized by excessive thirst and urination), and relieves strangury (dribbling urine). It expels stagnant water from the bladder and san jiao (triple burner). Long-term consumption makes ears and eyes clear and bright, prevents hunger, prolongs life, lightens the body, gives luster to the face, and enables one to walk on water. Bian Que said: Excessive consumption causes eye diseases in patients. Also known as Shuixie, Jixie, Mangyu, and Hexie. Grows in ponds and marshes of Runan. The roots are harvested in May, June, and August, and dried in the shade. It is incompatible with Haige (Seashell) and Wen Ge (Clam Shell). The leaves are salty in flavor and non-toxic. They treat severe wind conditions (severe wind-pathogen diseases such as leprosy or severe pruritic skin rashes), absence of milk secretion, dystocia (difficult childbirth), and strengthen yin qi. Long-term use lightens the body. Harvested in May. The fruits are sweet in flavor and non-toxic. They treat wind-bi, wasting-thirst, benefit kidney qi, strengthen yin, supplement deficiencies, and eliminate pathogenic dampness. Long-term consumption gives luster to the face but may cause infertility. Harvested in September.
Runan Commandery belongs to Yuzhou Province. Currently, it is also produced in nearby areas, but the quality is unsatisfactory. Only Alisma from Hanzhong, Nanzheng, Qingzhou, and Daizhou, which are large and long in shape with a bifurcated tail, are considered superior. This material is prone to rotting and insect damage and must be stored tightly sealed. The leaves are narrow and long, growing in clusters in various shallow waters. The "Immortal Classics" for fasting (bigu, grain avoidance) all use it. It is also said to lighten the body and enable walking on water. (From *Daguan Bencao*, Vol. 6; *Zhenghe Bencao*, p. 162)
Dioscorea Rhizome (Shuyu, 薯蓣): Sweet in flavor, warm and neutral in nature, non-toxic. It treats middle-jiao injury (damage to the spleen and stomach), supplements deficiency and emaciation, eliminates pathogenic cold-heat, tonifies the middle jiao (spleen and stomach), benefits qi and strengthens strength, and promotes muscle growth. It treats wandering wind on the head and face (wind-pathogen disorders causing migratory symptoms on the head and face), dizziness due to wind attacking the head, directs rebellious qi downward, stops lower back pain, supplements deficiency and emaciation from chronic fatigue, fills the five zang organs, clears vexing heat, and strengthens yin. Long-term consumption makes ears and eyes clear and bright, lightens the body, prevents hunger, and prolongs life. Also known as Shanyu, Yuyan in the Qin-Chu region, and Tushu in the Zheng-Yue region. Grows in the valleys of Mount Song. The roots are harvested in February and August, and sun-dried. (Zizhi [Ganoderma] acts as its assistant herb; it is antagonistic to Gansui.)
Currently, it is found everywhere in nearby areas. Dongshan and Nanjiang regions dig up large quantities for food to serve as grain. Those from Nankang are the largest and most delicious, and are also used for fasting/tonic purposes. (From *Daguan Bencao*, Vol. 6; *Zhenghe Bencao*, p. 160)