气味咸、平。主伤中，疝瘕，阴痿，益精生子，女子血闭腰痛，通五淋，利小
便水道。
陈修园曰∶螵蛸，螳螂之子也。气平属金，味咸属水。螳螂于诸虫中，其性最刚；以其
具金性，能使肺之治节申其权，故主疝瘕，女子血闭、通五淋、利水道也。又具水性，能使
肾之作强得其用，故主阴痿、益精生子、腰痛也。其主伤中者，以其生于桑上，得桑气而能
续伤也。今人专取其缩小便，虽曰能开而亦能阖，然要其本性，在此而不在彼。
气味辛、温，无毒。主胸满咳逆上气，温中止血，出汗，逐风湿痹，肠 下痢。
生者尤良。
陈修园曰∶干姜气温，禀厥阴风木之气，若温而不烈，则得冲和之气而属土也；味辛，
得阳明燥金之味，若辛而不偏，则金能生水而转润矣，故干姜为脏寒之要药也。胸中者，肺
之分也，肺寒则金失下降之性，气壅于胸中而满也，满则气上，所以咳逆上气之症生焉，其
主之者，辛散温行也。中者，土也，土虚则寒，而此能温之。止血者，以阳虚阴必走，得暖
则血自归经也。出汗者，辛温能发散也。逐风湿痹者，治寒邪之留于筋骨也。治肠 下痢者
，除寒邪之陷于肠胃也。以上诸治皆取其雄烈之用，如孟子所谓刚大浩然之气，塞于天地之
间也。生则辛味浑全，故又申言曰∶生者尤良。即《金匮》治肺痿用甘草干姜汤自注炮用，
以肺虚不能骤受过辛之味，炮之使辛味稍减，亦一时之权宜；非若后世炮黑、炮灰，全失姜
之本性也。叶天士亦谓炮黑入肾，何其陋欤？
【桑螵蛸】
气味咸、平。主治内伤，疝气积聚，阳痿，补益精气助生育，女子经血闭阻腰痛，通利五淋，通畅小便水道。
陈修园说：螵蛸是螳螂的卵鞘。其气平属于金，味咸属于水。螳螂在各类昆虫中，性情最为刚烈；因为它具备金的特性，能使肺的治节功能发挥其职权，所以主治疝气积聚、女子经血闭阻、通利五淋、通畅水道。又具备水的特性，能使肾的作强功能得其效用，所以主治阳痿、补益精气助生育、腰痛。它主治内伤的原因，是因为它生长在桑树上，得到桑树的气机而能接续修复损伤。现在的人专门用它来缩小便，虽然说是既能开启也能闭合，但探究它的本性，在于前者（续伤）而不在于后者（缩尿）。
【干姜】
气味辛、温，无毒。主治胸满、咳嗽气逆上冲，温中止血，发汗，祛除风湿痹痛，治疗肠中下痢。
鲜品（生干姜）效果更佳。
陈修园说：干姜气温，禀受厥阴风木之气，如果温和而不猛烈，就得到冲和之气而归属于土；味辛，得到阳明燥金之味，如果辛散而不偏颇，那么金就能生水而转为滋润，所以干姜是治疗脏腑寒证的要药。胸中，是肺所分属的部位，肺寒则金失去下降的特性，气壅滞于胸中而导致胀满，胀满则气机上逆，所以产生咳嗽气逆的症状，干姜主治这些症状，依靠的是其辛散温行的作用。中焦，属于土，土虚则寒，而干姜能温补它。止血的作用，是因为阳虚则阴血必妄行，得到温暖则血液自然回归经脉。发汗的作用，是因为辛温能够发散。祛除风湿痹痛的作用，是治疗寒邪留滞于筋骨。治疗肠中下痢的作用，是清除寒邪陷落于肠胃。以上各种治疗作用，都是取用其雄烈之性，就像孟子所说的刚大浩然之气，充满于天地之间一样。生的时候辛味完整保留，所以又特别说明：生干姜效果更好。即如《金匮要略》治疗肺痿使用甘草干姜汤时自注说明用炮制品，是因为肺虚不能骤然承受过于辛烈的味道，炮制使辛味稍减，也是一时的权宜之计；并不是像后世那样炮黑、烧成灰，完全失去了姜的本性。叶天士也说炮黑后入肾，这是多么浅陋啊？
[Sangpiaoxiao (Mantis Egg Case)]
Taste and Nature: Salty, Neutral. Indications: Treats internal injury (Shangzhong), hernia masses (Shanjia), impotence (Yinwei), benefits essence and promotes fertility (Yijing Shengzi), treats women's amenorrhea with lower back pain (Nüzi Xibiyao Tong), unblocks the five types of strangury (Wulin), and promotes urination via the water pathways (Li Xiaobian Shuodao).
Chen Xiuyuan states: Sangpiaoxiao is the egg case of the mantis. Its neutral nature belongs to Metal, and its salty taste belongs to Water. Among all insects, the mantis has the most rigid nature; because it possesses the properties of Metal, it enables the Lung's governance and regulation (Zhi Jie) to exert its authority, thus treating hernia masses, women's amenorrhea, unblocking the five types of strangury, and promoting water pathways. Furthermore, possessing the properties of Water, it enables the Kidney's function of strength and ingenuity (Zuoqiang) to be effective, thus treating impotence, benefiting essence for fertility, and lower back pain. Its treatment of internal injury is because it grows on mulberry trees, absorbing the Qi of the mulberry to repair injuries. Nowadays, people specifically use it to reduce urination frequency. Although it can both open and close, investigating its inherent nature, its primary function lies in repairing injuries rather than reducing urination.
[Ganjiang (Dried Ginger Rhizome)]
Taste and Nature: Pungent, Warm, Non-toxic. Indications: Treats chest fullness, coughing with rebellious Qi ascending (Xiongman Keni Shangqi), warms the middle and stops bleeding (Wenzhong Zhixue), induces sweating (Chuhan), expels wind-damp bi syndrome (Zhufengshi Bi), and treats intestinal dysentery (Changxia Li).
Raw Ganjiang is particularly effective.
Chen Xiuyuan states: Ganjiang has a warm temperature, inheriting the Qi of Jueyin Wind-Wood. If it is warm but not fierce, it attains the harmonious Qi and belongs to Earth. It has a pungent taste, acquiring the flavor of Yangming Dry-Metal. If the pungency is not excessive, Metal can generate Water and transform into moisture. Therefore, Ganjiang is a key herb for treating cold syndromes of the Zang organs. The chest is the domain of the Lung. When the Lung is cold, Metal loses its descending nature, causing Qi to stagnate in the chest leading to fullness. Fullness causes Qi to rebel upward, resulting in symptoms of coughing and rebellious Qi. Ganjiang treats these through its pungent dispersing and warming moving actions. The Middle Jiao belongs to Earth; when Earth is deficient, it becomes cold, and this herb warms it. The hemostatic effect occurs because when Yang is deficient, Yin blood must wander; warmth allows the blood to return to its vessels. The sweating effect is due to the pungent-warm nature being able to disperse. The expulsion of wind-damp bi is due to treating cold pathogens lingering in the sinews and bones. The treatment of intestinal dysentery is due to removing cold pathogens trapped in the intestines and stomach. All these therapeutic effects utilize its vigorous and potent nature, akin to Mencius's description of the "great and flowing vigor" (Gangda Haoran zhi Qi) that fills heaven and earth. When raw, the pungent flavor is complete, hence it is further stated: Raw Ganjiang is superior. For instance, in *Jingui Yaolue*, Ganjiang is used in Gancao Ganjiang Tang for lung wasting-heat, with a note to use processed ginger. This is because a deficient Lung cannot suddenly tolerate strong pungency; processing slightly reduces the pungency as a temporary expedient. This is not like the later practice of charring or burning to ash, which completely destroys the original nature of ginger. Ye Tianshi also claimed that charred ginger enters the Kidney, which is how shallow!