味苦温。主风寒湿痹，死肌，气浓而兼卒散，故能除邪而利筋脉肌肤也。痉，平肝风。
疸，去湿。止汗，固肌肤。除热，益脾阴。消食。健脾气。作煎饵久服，轻身延年，不饥。
脾胃充则体强健而不易饥也。
术者，土之精也。色黄，气香，味苦而带甘，性温，皆属于土，故能补益脾土。又其气
甚烈，而芳香四达，故又能达于筋脉肌肤，而不专于建中宫也。
味辛平。主续绝伤，子中有丝不断，故能补续筋骨。补不足，益气力肥健。滑润有
脂膏，自能生精益气而长肌肉也。汁去面 。亦滑泽之功。久服，明目，轻身延年。生精则
目明而强且寿也。
子中之最有脂膏者，莫如菟丝。且炒熟则芳香又润而不滑，故能补益肝脾也。凡药性有
专长
，此在可解不可解之间，虽圣人亦必试验而后知之。如菟丝之去面 ，亦其一端也。以其辛
散邪，则辛散之药甚多；以其滑泽耶，则滑泽之物亦甚多，何以他药皆不能去而独菟丝能之
？盖物之生，各得天地一偏之气，故其性自有相制之理。但显于形质气味者，可以推测，而
知其深藏于性中者，不可以常理求也。故古人有单方及秘方，往往以一二种药治一病而得奇
中。及视其方，皆不若经方之必有经络奇偶配合之道，而效反神速者，皆得其药之专能也。
药中如此者极多，可以类推。
味苦，性温。主治风寒湿邪导致的痹证、肌肉坏死，其气浓郁且能迅速发散，因此能够祛除邪气并疏通筋脉与肌肤。治疗痉挛（筋脉拘急），可平抑肝风。治疗黄疸，可祛除湿邪。止汗，巩固肌肤。清除热邪，补益脾阴。帮助消化食物。健运脾气。制成煎膏或饵剂长期服用，可使身体轻盈、延年益寿，减少饥饿感。脾胃充盛则身体强健且不易感到饥饿。
白术，是土的精华。颜色黄，气味香，味道苦而带甘，性质温，这些都归属于土，因此能够补益脾土。另外，它的气非常猛烈，芳香通达四方，所以又能作用于筋脉和肌肤，而不仅仅局限于建立中焦脾胃的功能。
味辛，性平。主治接续断裂的损伤，因为种子中有丝状物相连不断，所以能够补续筋骨。补充不足，益气力，使身体肥壮强健。质地滑润含有脂膏，自然能够生精益气并促进肌肉生长。汁液去除面部黑斑，也是得益于其滑润的功效。长期服用，明目，身体轻盈，延年益寿。精气充足则眼睛明亮，身体强壮且长寿。
种子中含脂膏最丰富的，没有比得上菟丝子的。而且炒熟后香气更浓且滋润而不滑腻，所以能够补益肝脾。凡是药物的性质都有专长，这处于可理解与不可理解的之间，即使是圣人也必须经过试验后才能知晓。例如菟丝子去除面部黑斑，只是其一例。如果说是因为它辛散邪气，那么辛散的药物很多；如果说是因为它滑泽，那么滑泽的物品也很多，为什么其他药物都不能去除黑斑而唯独菟丝子可以？大概是因为万物生成时，各自禀受了天地偏颇之气，所以其本性自有相互制约的道理。只是在形态、质地、气味上显现出来的，可以推测而知晓；而深藏于本性中的，不能用常理去求索。所以古人有单方及秘方，往往用一两味药治疗一种病而得到奇效。等到查看那些方子，都不像经方那样必有经络、奇偶配合的道理，但疗效反而神速，这都是得到了药物的专长所致。药物中像这样的非常多，可以类推。
Bitter in taste, warm in nature. It primarily treats Bi syndrome (obstruction syndrome caused by wind-cold-dampness) due to wind-cold-damp pathogens, and necrosis of muscle tissue. Its Qi is dense and capable of rapid dispersion; therefore, it can eliminate pathogenic factors and benefit the tendons, vessels, skin, and muscles. For spasms (muscle stiffness and convulsions), it pacifies Liver Wind. For jaundice, it eliminates dampness. It stops sweating and consolidates the skin and muscles. It clears heat and benefits Spleen Yin. It aids digestion. It strengthens Spleen Qi. When prepared as a decoction paste or pill and taken for a long time, it makes the body light, prolongs life, and reduces hunger. When the Spleen and Stomach are abundant, the body becomes strong and less prone to hunger.
Atractylodes (Baizhu) is the essence of Earth. Its color is yellow, its aroma is fragrant, its taste is bitter with a hint of sweetness, and its nature is warm; all these attributes belong to Earth, thus it can tonify Spleen Earth. Furthermore, its Qi is intense and its fragrance permeates widely, so it can also reach the tendons, vessels, skin, and muscles, rather than being limited solely to establishing the Middle Jiao (digestive center).
Pungent in taste, neutral in nature. It primarily treats the healing of severed injuries. Since the seeds contain thread-like structures that do not break easily, it can supplement and reconnect bones and tendons. It supplements deficiencies, boosts Qi and strength, and promotes robust health. Its slippery and moist texture contains lipids, which naturally generates Essence and Qi and promotes muscle growth. The juice removes facial pigmentation (dark spots on the face), also benefiting from its slippery and lubricating properties. Long-term consumption brightens the eyes, makes the body light, and prolongs life. Generating Essence leads to clear vision, physical strength, and longevity.
Among seeds, none contains more lipids than Cuscutae Semen (Dodder Seed). When stir-fried until cooked, it becomes fragrant, moist, yet non-slippery, thus effectively tonifying the Liver and Spleen. The specific properties of any herb possess unique specialties; these lie between what is understandable and what is not. Even sages must verify them through experimentation before knowing. For instance, Cuscutae Semen's ability to remove facial pigmentation is just one example. If it were merely because of its pungency dispersing pathogens, there are many pungent herbs; if it were merely because of its slipperiness, there are many slippery substances. Why can other herbs not remove pigmentation while only Cuscutae Semen can? This is because all things are born receiving a partial Qi of Heaven and Earth, so their natures inherently possess principles of mutual restriction. What is manifest in form, texture, and taste can be inferred and understood; but what is deeply hidden within its nature cannot be sought by ordinary logic. Therefore, ancient practitioners had single-herb prescriptions and secret formulas, often using one or two herbs to treat a disease and achieving miraculous results. Upon examining these formulas, they lacked the systematic meridian and yin-yang pairing found in classic formulas (Jingfang), yet their efficacy was surprisingly rapid. This is because they captured the unique specialty of the herbs. There are extremely many such cases among herbs, which can be extrapolated.