味苦平。主风，头眩肿痛，目欲脱，泪出，芳香上达，又得秋金之气，故能平肝风而
益金水。皮肤死肌，清肺疏风。恶风湿痹。驱风散湿。久服，利血气，轻身、耐老延年。菊
花晚开晚落，花中之最寿者也，故其益人如此。
凡芳香之物，皆能治头目肌表之疾。但香则无不辛燥者，惟菊得天地秋金清肃之气，而
不甚燥烈，故于头目风火之疾，尤宜焉。
味甘，微寒。主补五脏，安精神，定魂魄，止惊悸，有形无形，无一之不补也。除邪
气，正气充则邪气自除。明目，五脏六腑之精皆上注于目，此所云明乃补其精之效，非若他
药，专有明目之功也。开心益智。人参气盛而不滞，补而兼通，故能入心孔而益神明也。久
服，轻身延年。补气之功。
人参得天地精英纯粹之气以生，与人之气体相似，故于人身无所不补。非若他药有偏长
而治
病各有其能也。凡补气之药皆属阳，惟人参能补气，而体质属阴，故无刚燥之病，而又能入
于
阴分，最为可贵。然力大而峻，用之失宜，其害亦甚于他药也。今医家之用参救人者少，杀
人者多。盖人之死于虚者，十之一二，死于病者，十之八九。人参长于补虚，而短于攻疾。
医家不论病之已去未去，于病久或体弱，或富贵之人，皆必用参。一则过为谨慎，一则借以
塞责，而病家亦以用参为尽慈孝之道。不知病未去而用参，则非独元气不充，而病根遂固，
诸药罔效，终无愈期。故曰杀人者多也。
或曰仲景伤寒方中病未去而用参者不少，如小柴胡、新加汤之类，何也？曰∶此则以补
为泻
古人曲审病情至精至密，知病有分有合。合者邪正并
居，当专于攻散；分者邪正相离，有虚有实。实处宜泻，虚处宜补。一方之中，兼用无碍，
且能相济，则用人参以建中生津，托出邪气，更为有力。若邪气尚盛而未分，必从专治，无
用参之法也。况用之亦皆入疏散药中，从无与熟地、萸肉等药同入感证方中者。明乎此，而
后能不以生人者杀人矣。人参亦草根耳，与人殊体，何以能骤益人之精血。盖人参乃升提元
气之药，元气下陷，不能与精血流贯，人参能提之使起，如火药藏于炮内不能升发，则以火
发之。若炮中本无火药，虽以炮投火中不发也，此补之义也。
菊花，味道苦而性平。主治风邪引起的疾病，以及头部眩晕、肿胀疼痛，眼睛感觉要脱出，流泪等症状。菊花气味芳香且能向上通达头部，又禀受了秋季金气的特性，因此能够平息肝风并补益肺（金）和肾（水）。对于皮肤干枯死肌，它能清肺疏风；对于恶风湿痹，它能驱散风邪、祛除湿气。长期服用，可以通利血气，使身体轻盈，延缓衰老，延长寿命。菊花在百花中开得最晚、落得也最晚，是花卉中最长寿的，所以它对人的益处如此之大。
凡是具有芳香性质的药物，都能治疗头目和肌肤体表的疾病。但香气浓郁的药物大多辛温燥烈，只有菊花禀受了天地秋季金气清肃的特性，而不甚燥烈，所以对于头目风火类的疾病，尤其适宜。
人参，味道甘，性微寒。主治补益五脏，安定精神，镇定魂魄，停止惊悸，无论是有形的还是无形的亏损，没有一样不能补益的。它能祛除邪气，正气充足则邪气自然消除。它能明目，因为五脏六腑的精气都上注于眼睛，这里所说的“明”，是补益精气的效果，不像其他药物专门有明目的功效。它能开心益智。人参气盛而不滞涩，补益的同时兼有疏通的作用，所以能进入心窍而益助神明。长期服用，能使身体轻盈，延年益寿。这是其补气的作用。
人参禀受天地精英纯粹之气而生，与人的形体气质相似，所以对人身无所不补。不像其他药物各有偏长，治病各有特定的功能。凡是补气的药物都属于阳，只有人参既能补气，体质却属阴，所以没有刚燥的弊端，而且能进入阴分，最为珍贵。然而药力大而峻猛，如果用药不当，其危害甚至比其它药物更严重。现在的医生用参救人者少，害死人者多。大概人死于虚损的，十之一二，死于实病的，十之八九。人参擅长补虚，但不擅长攻逐病邪。医生不论病邪是否已去，只要病程久或体质弱，或是富贵之人，必定使用人参。一是过于谨慎，二是借以推卸责任，而病人家属也认为用人参是尽到了慈孝之道。不知道病邪未去而用人参，不仅元气不能充实，反而使病根牢固，各种药物都无效，最终没有痊愈的日期。所以说害死人者多。
有人问：张仲景的伤寒方中，病邪未去而用人参的情况不少，如小柴胡汤、新加汤等，这是为什么呢？回答说：这是以补为泻的方法。古人仔细审察病情，极其精密，知道病邪有分有合。合是指邪气与正气并存，应当专注于攻散；分是指邪气与正气分离，有的部位虚，有的部位实。实的部位宜泻，虚的部位宜补。在一个方剂中，兼用补泻没有妨碍，且能相互济助，那么用人参来建立中气、滋生津液，托举排出邪气，力量更为有力。如果邪气尚盛且未分离，必须从专治角度考虑，就没有用人参的方法了。况且使用人参也都是加入疏散药中，从来没有与熟地黄、山茱萸等滋补药一同进入外感病方中的。明白了这一点，然后才能不把救人的药变成害人的药。人参也只是草根罢了，与人体不同，为什么能迅速增益人的精血？原来人参是升提元气的药物，当元气下陷，不能与精血流贯时，人参能将其提升起来，就像火药藏在炮内不能自行升发，需要用火点燃它一样。如果炮中没有火药，即使把炮投入火中也不会发射，这就是补的意义。
Chrysanthemum Flower, with a bitter taste and neutral nature. It primarily treats wind pathogens, dizziness, swelling and pain of the head, a sensation that the eyes are about to protrude, and tearing. Its aromatic fragrance ascends to the head, and it inherits the Qi of Autumn Metal (Metal element associated with Autumn), thus it can pacify Liver Wind and benefit Lung Metal and Kidney Water. For dead skin and muscle, it clears the Lungs and disperses wind. For aversion to wind-dampness and bi-syndrome, it drives away wind and scatters dampness. Long-term consumption promotes the flow of blood and Qi, lightens the body, enhances longevity, and extends life. Chrysanthemum blooms late and fades late, being the most long-lived among flowers; hence its beneficial effects on humans are so significant.
All aromatic substances can treat diseases of the head, eyes, skin, and surface. However, aromatic substances are invariably pungent and drying, whereas Chrysanthemum inherits the clear and肃 (solemn/drying) Qi of Autumn Metal from Heaven and Earth, without being excessively drying or fierce. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for diseases of wind and fire affecting the head and eyes.
Ginseng Root, with a sweet taste and slightly cold nature. It primarily tonifies the Five Zang Organs, calms the Spirit (Shen), stabilizes the Ethereal Soul (Hun), stops palpitations and fright, and provides nourishment for both tangible and intangible deficiencies. It eliminates pathogenic factors; when Righteous Qi (Zheng Qi) is sufficient, pathogenic factors naturally dissipate. It brightens the eyes. Since the essence of all Five Zang and Six Fu Organs ascends to the eyes, the "brightening" mentioned here is the effect of tonifying essence, unlike other herbs that have specific functions solely for brightening the eyes. It opens the mind and benefits wisdom. Ginseng has abundant Qi but does not cause stagnation; it tonifies while also unblocking, thus it can enter the heart orifice and benefit the Divine Light (Ming). Long-term consumption lightens the body and extends life. This is its function of tonifying Qi.
Ginseng is born inheriting the pure and exquisite Qi of Heaven and Earth, resembling human constitution, thus it tonifies everything in the human body. Unlike other herbs that have specific strengths and treat diseases with particular capabilities. All Qi-tonifying herbs belong to Yang, yet Ginseng tonifies Qi while its substance belongs to Yin; therefore, it lacks rigid and drying properties, and can enter the Yin aspect, making it most precious. However, its power is great and峻 (steep/fierce); if used improperly, its harm may be greater than that of other herbs. Currently, doctors use Ginseng to save people rarely, but to kill many. Generally, one or two out of ten die from deficiency, while eight or nine out of ten die from disease. Ginseng excels at tonifying deficiency but is short in attacking pathogens. Doctors, regardless of whether the pathogen remains, will inevitably use Ginseng for prolonged illness, weak constitutions, or wealthy individuals. This is due to excessive caution or using it as an excuse to shirk responsibility, while patients' families believe using Ginseng fulfills filial piety. They do not realize that using Ginseng when the pathogen has not left not only fails to replenish Yuan Qi (Original Qi) but also consolidates the root of the disease, rendering all other medicines ineffective, with no hope of recovery. Hence, it is said that it kills more people.
One might ask: In Zhang Zhongjing's formulas for Cold Damage (Shanghan), there are many instances where Ginseng is used even when the pathogen has not left, such as in Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) and Xin Jia Tang (Newly Added Decoction). Why? The answer is: this employs tonification as purgation. Ancients scrutinized pathological conditions with extreme precision, knowing that pathogens have states of combination and separation. Combination means pathogen and Righteous Qi coexist, requiring focused attack and dispersion; separation means pathogen and Righteous Qi are apart, with some areas deficient and some excess. Excess areas should be purged, deficient areas should be tonified. Within one formula, combining them causes no harm and they can mutually assist. Thus, using Ginseng to establish Middle Qi and generate fluids helps push out the pathogen with greater force. If the pathogen is still abundant and not separated, one must focus on specific treatment, with no method for using Ginseng. Moreover, when Ginseng is used, it is always included in dispersing formulas, never combined with tonics like Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia Root) or Yu Rou (Cornus Fruit) in formulas for exogenous syndromes. Understanding this allows one to avoid turning a life-saving herb into a killer. Ginseng is merely a root, different in form from humans; how can it suddenly benefit human essence and blood? Actually, Ginseng is a herb that lifts and raises Yuan Qi. When Yuan Qi sinks and cannot circulate with essence and blood, Ginseng can lift it up, just as gunpowder hidden in a cannon cannot rise spontaneously until ignited by fire. If there is no gunpowder in the cannon, throwing it into fire will not cause an explosion. This is the meaning of tonification.