气味辛、平，无毒。主续绝伤，益气力，补不足，肥健人，汁去面 。久服明
目，轻身，延年。
陈修园曰∶菟丝气平禀金气，味辛得金味，肺药也。然其用在肾而不在肺。子中脂膏最
足，绝类人精，金生水也。主续绝伤者，子中脂膏，如丝不断，善于补续也。补不足者，取
其最足之脂膏，以填补其不足之精血也。精血足，则气力自长，肥健自增矣。汁去面 者，
言不独内服得其填补之功，即外用亦得其滑泽之效也。久服，肾水足则目明，肾气壮则身轻
。华元化云，肾者，性命之根也。肾得补则延年。
气味甘、平，无毒。主中风暴热，不能动摇，跌筋结肉，诸不足。久服去面 黑
，好颜色，润泽，轻身不老。
张隐庵曰∶葳蕤气味甘平，质多津液，禀太阴湿土之精以资中焦之汁。主中风暴热不能
摇动者，以津液为邪热所灼也。跌筋者，筋不柔和也。结肉者，肉无膏泽也。诸不足者，申
明以上诸证皆属津液不足也。久服则津液充满，故去面上之黑 ，好颜色而肌肤润泽，且轻
身不老也。
又曰∶阴柔之药，岂堪重用？古人除治风热以外，绝不敢用。自李时珍有不寒不燥，用
代参 之说，时医信为补剂，虚证服此，百无一生，咎其谁职耶？
气味苦、微寒，无毒。主血结，惊气，除寒热，补中，益肺气。
（参叶天士） 沙参气微寒，禀水气而入肾；味苦无毒，得火味而入心。谓其得水气，
以
泻心火之有余也。心火亢，则所主之血不行而为结，而味之苦可以攻之；心火亢，则所藏之
神不宁而生惊，而气之寒可以平之。心火禀炎上之性，火郁则寒，火发则热，而苦寒能清心
火，故能除寒热也。阴者，所以守中者也，苦寒益阴，所以补中；补中则金得土生，又无火
克，所以益肺气也。
气味辛、平，无毒。主要治疗续接断裂的损伤，增强气力，补充亏虚，使身体丰满健壮，汁液能去除面部黑斑。长期服用可以明目，使身体轻盈，延年益寿。
陈修园说：菟丝子（Cuscutae Semen, 菟丝子）气平禀受金气，味辛得金之味，是入肺经的药物。然而它的作用在于肾而不在于肺。其种子中的脂膏最为充足，极像人的精液，这是金生水的道理。所谓“主续绝伤”，是因为种子中的脂膏如丝线般连绵不断，善于补续接续。所谓“补不足”，是取其最充足的脂膏，来填补人体不足的精血。精血充足，则气力自然增长，身体自然丰满健壮。所谓“汁去面黚（黑色斑点）”，是说不仅内服能得到填补的功效，即使外用也能得到滑润泽肤的效果。长期服用，肾水充足则眼睛明亮，肾气强壮则身体轻盈。华元化（华佗）说，肾是生命的根本。肾得到补益就能延年益寿。
气味甘、平，无毒。主要治疗中风引起的风暴热邪，导致身体不能动摇，以及筋脉拘挛结聚、肌肉消瘦等诸般不足之证。长期服用可以去除面部黑斑，使面色红润光泽，肌肤润泽，身体轻盈不老。
张隐庵说：葳蕤（Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma, 玉竹）气味甘平，质地多津液，禀受太阴湿土的精气以资助中焦的津液。所谓“主中风暴热不能摇动”，是因为津液被邪热灼烧所致。“跌筋”是指筋脉不柔和。“结肉”是指肌肉没有膏泽滋润。“诸不足”是申明以上各种症状都属于津液不足。长期服用则津液充满，所以能去除面上的黑斑，使面色好而肌肤润泽，并且身体轻盈不老。
又说：阴柔性质的药物，怎能堪当重用？古人在除了治疗风热之外，绝不敢使用。自从李时珍提出它不寒不燥，可以用它代替人参的说法后，当时的医生相信它是补剂，虚证患者服用此药，百无一活，这责任归咎于谁呢？
气味苦、微寒，无毒。主要治疗血结，惊悸之气，去除寒热，补益中焦，益肺气。
（参叶天士）沙参（Glehniae Radix, 沙参）气微寒，禀受水气而入肾；味苦无毒，得火之味而入心。说它得水气，是用来泻除心火的有余。心火亢盛，则所主的血液运行不畅而形成结滞，其味之苦可以攻逐之；心火亢盛，则所藏的神志不宁而产生惊悸，其气之寒可以平抑之。心火禀受炎上的本性，火郁结则寒，火发作则热，而苦寒能清心火，所以能去除寒热。阴的作用是守持中焦，苦寒益阴，所以能补中；补中则金（肺）得土（脾）相生，又没有火克金，所以能益肺气。
Taste and Nature: Pungent, Neutral, Non-toxic. Primarily treats the repair of severed injuries, enhances Qi and strength, supplements deficiencies, makes the body plump and robust, and its juice removes facial dark spots. Long-term consumption clarifies the eyes, lightens the body, and prolongs life.
Chen Xiuyuan states: Tu Si Zi (Cuscutae Semen) has a neutral nature inheriting Metal Qi and a pungent taste deriving from Metal's flavor; it is a herb entering the Lung meridian. However, its function lies in the Kidney rather than the Lung. Its seeds contain abundant oleaginous essence, resembling human essence, illustrating the principle that Metal generates Water. "Treating severed injuries" refers to the seed's essence being continuous like silk threads, excelling in repairing and connecting. "Supplementing deficiencies" involves using this abundant essence to fill the deficient Jing and Blood. When Jing and Blood are sufficient, Qi and strength naturally increase, and the body becomes plump and robust. "Juice removing facial dark spots" means that not only does internal administration achieve filling benefits, but external application also provides slippery and moisturizing effects. Long-term consumption ensures sufficient Kidney Water, leading to clear vision, and strong Kidney Qi, leading to a light body. Hua Yuanhua (Hua Tuo) said, "The Kidney is the root of life." Nourishing the Kidney prolongs life.
Taste and Nature: Sweet, Neutral, Non-toxic. Primarily treats wind-stroke with stormy heat causing immobility, contracted tendons with knotted flesh, and various deficiency syndromes. Long-term consumption removes facial blackness, improves complexion, moistens the skin, lightens the body, and prevents aging.
Zhang Yin'an states: Wei Rui (Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma) has a sweet and neutral taste and a texture rich in fluids, inheriting the essence of Taiyin Damp Earth to nourish the fluids of the Middle Jiao. "Treating wind-stroke with stormy heat causing immobility" occurs because fluids are scorched by pathogenic heat. "Contracted tendons" refers to tendons lacking flexibility. "Knotted flesh" refers to flesh lacking nourishment and moisture. "Various deficiencies" clarifies that all aforementioned symptoms belong to fluid deficiency. Long-term consumption fills the fluids, thus removing facial blackness, improving complexion and skin moisture, and keeping the body light and youthful.
He further states: How can Yin-nourishing and softening herbs be used heavily? Ancients dared not use them except for treating wind-heat. Since Li Shizhen proposed that it is neither cold nor dry and can replace Ren Shen (Ginseng Root), contemporary physicians believed it to be a tonic. Patients with deficiency syndromes taking this herb rarely survive; who bears the responsibility?
Taste and Nature: Bitter, Slightly Cold, Non-toxic. Primarily treats blood stagnation, frightful Qi, eliminates chills and fever, tonifies the Middle, and benefits Lung Qi.
(Referencing Ye Tianshi) Sha Shen (Glehniae Radix) has a slightly cold nature inheriting Water Qi to enter the Kidney; it has a bitter and non-toxic taste deriving from Fire's flavor to enter the Heart. It is said that inheriting Water Qi allows it to drain excess Heart Fire. When Heart Fire is hyperactive, the blood it governs fails to circulate, forming stagnation; its bitter taste can attack this stagnation. When Heart Fire is hyperactive, the Shen it houses becomes unsettled, causing fright; its cold nature can pacify this. Heart Fire inherits the nature of flaming upward; when Fire is constrained, there is cold; when Fire erupts, there is heat. Bitter-Cold clears Heart Fire, thus eliminating chills and fever. Yin serves to guard the Middle; Bitter-Cold nourishes Yin, thus tonifying the Middle; tonifying the Middle allows Metal (Lung) to be generated by Earth (Spleen), and without Fire overcoming Metal, it thereby benefits Lung Qi.