味甘平。主心腹结气，解枯燥之结气。伤中伤饱，胃络脉绝，补续胃中之阴气。羸
瘦短气。补胃则生肌，清火则益气。久服，轻身耐老，不饥。后天足则体健而能耐饥也。
麦冬甘平滋润，为纯补胃阴之药。后人以为肺药者，盖土能生金，肺气全恃胃阴以生。胃
气
味甘寒。主气癃，止痛，利水道小便，专利下焦气分。除湿痹。湿必由膀胱出，下
焦利则湿气除。久服，轻身耐老。气顺湿除，则肢体康强也。
凡多子之药皆属肾，故古方用入补肾药中。盖肾者，人之子宫也。车前多子，亦肾经
之药。
然以其质滑而气薄，不能全补，则为肾府膀胱之药。膀胱乃肾气输泄之道路也。
味辛。主邪气，辟毒疫温鬼，气极芳烈，能除邪秽不祥也。强志，香气通于心主淋露
。心与小肠为表里，心气下交与小肠，则便得调矣。久服，不梦寐、魇寐。心气通则神魂定
。
木香以气胜，故其功皆在乎气。《内经》云∶心主臭。凡气烈之药皆入心。木香，香而
不散，则气能下达，故又能通其气于小肠也。
味甘微寒。主筋急拘挛，不可屈伸，风湿痹，专除阳明之湿热。下气。直达下焦。
久服，轻身益气。阳明气利则体强而气充也。其根下三虫。除阳明湿热所生之虫。
薏苡仁甘淡冲和，质类米谷，又体重力浓，故能补益胃气，舒筋除湿中虚，故又能通降
湿热使下行。盖凡筋急痹痛等疾，皆痿证之类。《内经》治痿，独取阳明。薏苡为阳明之药，
故能已诸疾也。
味甘平。主治心腹部的结聚之气，解除因枯燥引起的结气。治疗内伤及饮食过饱导致的胃络脉阻滞，补充并接续胃中的阴气。治疗身体消瘦、呼吸短促。补益胃气则能生肌，清除虚火则能益气。长期服用，能使身体轻盈、延缓衰老，且不易感到饥饿。后天脾胃充足，则体质健壮而能耐饥。麦冬味甘性平且滋润，是纯粹补益胃阴的药物。后人将其视为肺经药物，这是因为土能生金，肺气的生成完全依赖于胃阴的滋养。
味甘寒。主治小便不通（气癃），止痛，通利水道和小便，专门通利下焦的气分。治疗湿痹。湿气必然通过膀胱排出，下焦通畅则湿气得以消除。长期服用，能使身体轻盈、延缓衰老。气机顺畅、湿气消除，肢体就会健康强壮。
凡是多子的药物都归属于肾，所以古方中常将其用于补肾药中。肾，相当于人的子宫。车前子多子，也是肾经的药物。然而，因其质地滑利且气味淡薄，不能完全起到补益作用，所以它是肾之府库——膀胱的药物。膀胱是肾气输布和排泄的道路。
味辛。主治邪气，辟除毒疫、温病及鬼祟之气，其气味极其芳香猛烈，能去除邪秽和不祥之气。增强意志，香气通达于心主（心包络）。心与小肠互为表里，心气向下交合于小肠，则大小便得以调畅。长期服用，不做恶梦、不被噩梦惊醒。心气通畅则神魂安定。
木香以气味取胜，所以其功效都体现在气机上。《内经》说：心主嗅觉。凡是气味浓烈的药物都入心经。木香，香气浓郁而不散逸，则气能下达，所以又能将气通导至小肠。
味甘微寒。主治筋脉紧急拘挛，不能屈伸，风湿痹痛，专门清除阳明经的湿热。降气。直达下焦。长期服用，能使身体轻盈、补益元气。阳明经气机通畅则体质强健而元气充沛。其根部能除去三种寄生虫。清除由阳明湿热所生的虫类。薏苡仁味甘淡、性质冲和，质地类似米谷，又体重力厚，所以能补益胃气，舒缓筋脉；因除湿而针对中焦虚弱，所以又能通降湿热使其下行。大凡筋急、痹痛等疾病，都属于痿证的范畴。《内经》治疗痿证，主张独取阳明。薏苡仁是阳明经的药物，所以能治愈这些疾病。
Taste is sweet and neutral. It primarily treats knotting qi in the heart and abdomen, resolving knotting qi caused by dryness. It treats internal injury and overeating leading to the severance of stomach collaterals, replenishing and continuing the yin qi of the stomach. It treats emaciation and shortness of breath. Tonifying the stomach generates flesh; clearing fire benefits qi. Long-term consumption lightens the body, promotes longevity, and prevents hunger. When post-heaven (spleen and stomach) essence is sufficient, the body is healthy and capable of enduring hunger. Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber), with its sweet, neutral, and moistening properties, is a pure herb for tonifying stomach yin. Later generations considered it a lung herb because earth generates metal; lung qi relies entirely on stomach yin for its generation. Stomach qi...
Taste is sweet and cold. It primarily treats urinary retention due to qi stagnation, relieves pain, promotes urination and water passages, specifically benefiting the qi level of the lower jiao. It treats damp bi syndrome. Dampness must exit via the bladder; when the lower jiao is unobstructed, dampness is eliminated. Long-term consumption lightens the body and promotes longevity. When qi flows smoothly and dampness is removed, the limbs become strong and healthy.
All herbs with many seeds belong to the Kidney, hence ancient formulas used them in kidney-tonifying prescriptions. The Kidney is akin to the uterus of the human body. Che Qian Zi (Plantago Seed), having many seeds, is also an herb of the Kidney meridian. However, due to its slippery texture and thin qi, it cannot fully tonify; thus, it acts as an herb for the Bladder, which is the residence of the Kidney. The Bladder is the pathway for the distribution and excretion of Kidney qi.
Taste is pungent. It primarily treats pathogenic factors, repels toxins, epidemics, warm diseases, and malevolent influences. Its aroma is extremely fragrant and potent, capable of removing evil filth and inauspiciousness. It strengthens willpower; the aromatic qi penetrates the Xin Zhu (Heart Master/Pericardium). The Heart and Small Intestine are exterior-interior partners. When Heart qi descends to communicate with the Small Intestine, urination and defecation become regulated. Long-term consumption prevents nightmares and sleep terrors. When Heart qi is unobstructed, the spirit and soul are stabilized.
Mu Xiang (Aucklandia Root) excels through its qi/aroma, so its functions all reside in regulating qi. The *Nei Jing* states: "The Heart governs smell." All herbs with potent aromas enter the Heart. Mu Xiang has a rich aroma that does not dissipate easily, allowing its qi to descend; thus, it can also conduct qi to the Small Intestine.
Taste is sweet and slightly cold. It primarily treats muscle tension and spasms, inability to flex or extend, and wind-damp bi syndrome, specifically clearing damp-heat from the Yangming channel. It directs qi downward, reaching the lower jiao directly. Long-term consumption lightens the body and benefits qi. When Yangming qi flows freely, the body becomes strong and qi abundant. Its root eliminates three types of parasites, removing worms generated by Yangming damp-heat. Yi Yi Ren (Coix Seed) is sweet, bland, and harmonious in nature. Its texture resembles grain, and it is heavy and dense in power, thus it can tonify Stomach qi and relax sinews. By eliminating dampness, it addresses middle-jiao deficiency, thereby facilitating the descending of damp-heat. Generally, diseases such as muscle tension and bi pain belong to the category of Wei syndrome (flaccidity syndrome). The *Nei Jing* advises treating Wei syndrome by focusing exclusively on the Yangming channel. Since Yi Yi Ren is an herb of the Yangming channel, it can cure these various ailments.