气寒，味苦酸，气浓味薄，无毒，沉也阴也。能消胃中之虚痞，逐心下之停水。化日久
之稠痰，削年深之坚积。仲景加承气汤内，取疏通破结之功。丹溪入泻痰药中，有推墙倒壁
之能。欲益气，则佐以参术。欲破气，则佐以硝黄。此与枳壳有高下缓急之异，壳主高，实
主下，高者主气，下者主血。主气者在胸膈，主血者在心腹。故胸中痞，肺气结也，有桔梗
枳壳汤之名。心下痞，脾血积也，有白术枳实汤之用。气虚则忌。
气寒，味苦辛，气味俱浓，无毒，沉也阴也。足厥阴引药也。破滞气，愈低而愈效。削
坚积，愈下而愈良。引诸药至厥阴之分，下饮食入太阴之仓。又少阴经下药也。陈皮治高气，
青皮治低气。佐柴胡，能治两胁刺痛，醋炒为佳。君芍药，又伏胆家动火，胆制为良。劫疝
疏肝，消食宽胃。惊家诸药，用一二分为妙。
气微热，味甘辛，气重味轻，乃血中气药，诸血气方中所必用者也。快气开郁，逐瘀调
经。除皮肤瘙痒外邪，止霍乱吐逆内证。炒黑色，禁崩漏下血。醋调敷，治乳肿成痈。又能
引血药至气分而生血。醋炒理气疼为妙，盐制治肾痛为良。酒炒则热，便煮则凉。同气药则
入气分，同血药则入血分，女科之圣药也。大都甘能理气和血，辛能散滞消食。此药能疏气
散郁，气疏郁散，则新血生而百体和矣。然此剂性热多燥，必须童便浸炒，乌药为其佐使也。
（枳实）气性寒，味道苦酸，气味浓重而质地轻清，无毒，性质沉降，属阴。能够消除胃中的虚性痞满，驱除心下的停积水饮。化解日久形成的稠痰，削减年深积累的坚硬积滞。张仲景将其加入承气汤中，是取其疏通肠道、破除结聚的功效。朱丹溪将其纳入泻痰药物中，具有推墙倒壁般的强力作用。如果想要益气，则配合人参、白术使用；如果想要破气，则配合芒硝、大黄使用。此药与枳壳相比，有高下、缓急的区别：枳壳主治上部，枳实主治下部；治上者主要调理气分，治下者主要调理血分。调理气分的部位在胸膈，调理血分的部位在心腹。因此，胸中痞塞，属于肺气郁结，有用桔梗配伍枳壳的桔梗枳壳汤之名；心下痞塞，属于脾血积滞，有用白术配伍枳实的白术枳实汤之效。气虚者忌用。
（青皮）气性寒，味道苦辛，气味都非常浓重，无毒，性质沉降，属阴。是足厥阴肝经的引经药。能破除滞气，位置越低效果越好；能削减坚硬积滞，位置越下疗效越佳。引导其他药物到达厥阴经的分野，将饮食引入太阴脾经的仓库。也是少阴经的下行药物。陈皮治疗高位的病气，青皮治疗低位的病气。配合柴胡，能治疗两胁部的刺痛，以醋炒为佳。作为君药配合芍药，又能制约胆腑的动火，由胆经制约为良方。能劫散疝气，疏理肝气，消食宽胃。对于惊悸患者使用的药物，用量一两分为妙。
（香附）气微热，味道甘辛，气味沉重而味道轻清，是血中的气药，在各种调理气血的方剂中都是必用的药物。能快利气机，开解郁结，驱逐瘀血，调理月经。能去除皮肤瘙痒的外邪，止住霍乱吐逆的内证。炒成黑色，可禁止崩漏下血。用醋调敷，可治疗乳房肿胀形成痈肿。又能引导血药进入气分从而生血。醋炒用于治疗气痛最为巧妙，盐制用于治疗肾痛最为良好。酒炒则性热，便煮则性凉。同气药一起使用则入气分，同血药一起使用则入血分，是妇科的圣药。大抵甘味能调理气和血，辛味能疏散滞气、消食化积。此药能疏理气机、消散郁结，气机疏畅、郁结消散，则新血生成而身体各部调和。然而此药性质偏热且多燥，必须用童便浸泡后炒制，并以乌药作为其佐使药。
(Artemisiae Argyi Fructus / Zhi Shi) The qi is cold, the flavor is bitter and sour. The qi is dense and the flavor is thin. It is non-toxic, sinking and yin. It can eliminate deficiency-type fullness in the stomach and drive away stagnant water under the heart. It transforms thick phlegm formed over a long period and cuts down hard accumulations that have persisted for years. Zhang Zhongjing adds it to Chengqi Tang (Cathartic Decoction), utilizing its merit of unblocking and breaking up knots. Zhu Danxi includes it in phlegm-draining formulas, possessing the ability to push down walls and tear down battlements. If one wishes to tonify qi, it is assisted by Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma). If one wishes to break qi stagnation, it is assisted by Xiaoshi (Natrii Sulfas) and Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma). Compared with Zhike (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), this herb differs in terms of high/low and slow/fast action: Zhike governs the upper part, while Zhi Shi governs the lower part; governing the upper relates to qi, governing the lower relates to blood. Governing qi pertains to the chest and diaphragm, governing blood pertains to the heart and abdomen. Therefore, fullness in the chest is due to lung qi stagnation, hence the name Jiegeng Zhike Tang (Platycodon and Aurantium Decoction). Fullness under the heart is due to spleen blood accumulation, hence the use of Baizhu Zhi Shi Tang (Atractylodes and Aurantium Decoction). It is contraindicated in cases of qi deficiency.
(Qingpi / Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride) The qi is cold, the flavor is bitter and pungent. Both qi and flavor are dense. It is non-toxic, sinking and yin. It is the guiding herb for the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. It breaks stagnant qi; the lower the location, the more effective it is. It cuts down hard accumulations; the lower the location, the better the efficacy. It guides other herbs to the divisions of the Jueyin meridian and directs food and drink into the granary of the Taiyin (Spleen) meridian. It is also a descending herb for the Shaoyin meridian. Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) treats high qi, while Qingpi treats low qi. Assisted by Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), it can treat stabbing pain in both hypochondria; vinegar-frying is best. As the sovereign herb paired with Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), it subdues the moving fire of the Gallbladder; being controlled by the Gallbladder is excellent. It attacks hernias, soothes the liver, promotes digestion, and relaxes the stomach. For patients with fright, using 1-2 fen is wonderful.
(Xiangfu / Cyperi Rhizoma) The qi is slightly hot, the flavor is sweet and pungent. The qi is heavy and the flavor is light. It is the qi herb within the blood category and is essential in all formulas regulating blood and qi. It rapidly moves qi, opens depression, expels blood stasis, and regulates menstruation. It eliminates external pathogens causing skin itching and stops internal symptoms of cholera-like vomiting and regurgitation. Charred black, it stops metrorrhagia and bleeding from the uterus. Mixed with vinegar and applied externally, it treats breast swelling turning into abscesses. It can also guide blood-invigorating herbs into the qi level to generate blood. Vinegar-frying is best for treating qi-pain; salt-processing is excellent for treating kidney pain. Wine-frying makes it hot; boiling in urine makes it cool. Paired with qi herbs, it enters the qi level; paired with blood herbs, it enters the blood level. It is the holy medicine of gynecology. Generally, sweetness regulates qi and blood, while pungency disperses stagnation and promotes digestion. This herb can soothe qi and dissipate depression; when qi is soothed and depression dissipated, new blood is generated and the body harmonizes. However, this herb is mostly hot and dry; it must be fried after soaking in child's urine, with Wuyao (Tso-wu's Root) as its assistant and guide.