味甘，性平无毒，入胃大肠二经。发伤寒之表邪，止胃虚之消渴，解中酒之奇毒，治
往来之温疟，解野葛、巴豆、丹石、百药毒。
按∶葛根疗热解表，故入手足阳明，太阳初病未入阳明而头痛者，不可便服以发之，恐
引贼入家也，又表虚多汗者禁用。
味甘，性平，微寒无毒，入肺心二经。退肺中隐伏之火，生肺中不足之金。止消渴，阴
得其养；补虚劳，热不能侵。去心用，地黄、车前为使，恶款冬，苦瓠，畏苦参、青蓑，忌
卿鱼，肥大者佳。
按∶麦门冬阳中微阴，夫阳乃肺药，微阴则去肺中伏火。伏火去，则肺金安而能生水，
水盛则能清心而安神矣。故能治血妄行，调经和脉。
味苦甘，性寒无毒，入肺肾二经。保肺气，不被热扰，定喘促，故得康宁，止消渴，利
小便，强骨髓，悦颜色，杀三虫，去伏尸。去心用，地黄、贝母、垣衣为使，畏曾青，忌鲤
鱼。
按∶天门冬气薄主升，故入肺；味浓为阴，故入肾。虚热者宜之，虚寒者禁用。
雷公云∶采得了，去上皮一重，便劈破去心，用柳木甑，烧柳木柴，蒸一伏时，酒洒令
遍，更添火蒸，出曝，去地二尺以来，作小架，上铺天门叶，将蒸了天门冬摊令干用。
味皮肉甘酸，核中苦辛，且都有咸味，五味俱备，故名。性温无毒，入肺肾二经。滋肾
经不足之水，收肺气耗散之金，除烦热，生津止渴，补虚劳，益气强阴。苁蓉为使，恶葳蕤，
胜乌头，北产者良。
按∶五味属水，而有木火土金，故虽入肺肾，而五脏咸补，乃生津之要药，收敛之妙剂
然多食反致虚热，盖以收补之骤也。如火嗽辄用寒凉，恐致相激，须用此酸敛以降之。亦宜
少用，肺火郁及寒邪初起者禁用，小儿尤甚，以酸能钩痰引嗽也。
雷公云∶凡小颗皮皱泡者，有白扑盐霜一重，其味酸咸苦辛甘味全者真也，凡用以铜刀
劈作两片，用蜜浸蒸，从巳至申，却以浆水浸一宿，焙干用之。
葛根：味甘，性平，无毒，归胃经和大肠经。能发散伤寒在表的邪气，治疗因胃虚引起的消渴症，解除饮酒过量产生的奇毒，治疗往来寒热的温疟，以及解野葛、巴豆、丹石和百药之毒。
按语：葛根善于清热解表，因此主要作用于手阳明大肠经和足阳明胃经。若太阳病初起，邪气尚未传入阳明经而出现头痛者，不可立即服用葛根以发汗解表，恐怕会将外邪引入体内（引贼入家）。此外，表虚且多汗者禁用。
麦门冬（麦冬）：味甘，性平，微寒，无毒，归肺经和心经。能清除肺中隐伏的火邪，滋养肺中不足的阴液。能止消渴，使阴液得到滋养；补益虚劳，使热邪不能侵入。使用时需去心，以地黄、车前子为使药，畏忌款冬花、苦瓠，害怕苦参和青蓑，忌食卿鱼（一种鱼），体型肥大者品质佳。
按语：麦门冬属于阳中带有微阴的性质。阳是肺的用药特性，微阴则能去除肺中的伏火。伏火去除后，肺金得以安宁并能生水，水盛则能清心并安神。因此能治疗血不循经妄行，调理月经和脉象。
天门冬：味苦甘，性寒，无毒，归肺经和肾经。能保护肺气，不被热邪扰乱，平息气喘急促，从而获得康宁；能止消渴，通利小便，强健骨髓，美容悦色，杀灭三虫，去除伏尸（潜伏体内的寄生虫或病灶）。使用时需去心，以地黄、贝母、垣衣（墙上的苔藓或泥土）为使药，畏忌曾青，忌食鲤鱼。
按语：天门冬气味轻薄主升，故入肺经；味道浓厚属阴，故入肾经。适宜虚热体质者，虚寒体质者禁用。
雷公说：采挖回来后，去掉外层皮一层，然后劈开去心，用柳木做的蒸笼，烧柳木柴，蒸一个时辰（12小时），洒酒使其均匀，再加火蒸，取出晾晒，离地二尺以上，做成小架子，上面铺上天门冬叶，将蒸好的天门冬摊开晾干使用。
五味子：果皮和肉味甘酸，核中味苦辛，且都带有咸味，五味俱全，因此得名。性温，无毒，归肺经和肾经。滋补肾经不足的水（阴精），收敛肺气耗散的金属（气），消除烦热，生津止渴，补益虚劳，益气强阴。以肉苁蓉为使药，畏忌葳蕤（玉竹），能克制乌头，北地产的品质好。
按语：五味子属水，但兼具木、火、土、金的性质，因此虽然主要入肺肾二经，但对五脏都有补益作用，是生津的重要药物，也是收敛的妙剂。然而多吃反而会导致虚热，这是因为收敛补益过于急骤所致。如果是火咳，通常使用寒凉药物，恐怕会引起激惹，需要用此酸敛之品来降逆。也应少量使用，肺火郁结及寒邪初起者禁用，小儿尤其如此，因为酸味能钩留痰液引发咳嗽。
雷公说：凡是颗粒小、皮皱起泡的，有一层白色扑盐霜，味道酸、咸、苦、辛、甘齐全的才是真品。凡是用时，用铜刀劈成两片，用蜂蜜浸泡后蒸，从巳时到申时（约6小时），然后用浆水浸泡一夜，焙干使用。
Ge Gen (Kudzu Root): Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Stomach and Large Intestine meridians. It releases exterior pathogens of Shanghan (Cold Damage), treats Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst syndrome) caused by Stomach deficiency, resolves the peculiar toxicity of excessive alcohol consumption, treats Wen Nue (Warm Malaria with alternating chills and fever), and detoxifies Ye Ge (wild kudzu/other toxic plants), Ba Dou (Croton Seed), Dan Shi (mineral drugs), and poisons from various medicines.
Note: Ge Gen treats heat and releases the exterior, thus entering the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine and Foot-Yangming Stomach meridians. If a Taiyang disease (disease of the Taiyang channel) begins with headache before the pathogen enters the Yangming stage, it should not be taken immediately to induce sweating, as this may "invite the thief into the house" (draw the pathogen deeper). Furthermore, it is contraindicated for those with exterior deficiency and profuse sweating.
Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber): Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, slightly cold, non-toxic. Enters the Lung and Heart meridians. It clears latent fire in the Lung and generates insufficient Metal (Lung Yin) in the Lung. It stops Wasting-Thirst, allowing Yin to receive nourishment; it tonifies deficiency and exhaustion, preventing heat from invading. The heart must be removed. It acts as an assistant with Di Huang (Rehmannia Root) and Che Qian Zi (Plantago Seed). It is incompatible with Kuan Dong Hua (Coltsfoot Flower) and Ku Hu (Bitter Gourd variety), fears Ku Shen (Sophora Root) and Qing Suo, and avoids eating Qing Yu (a type of fish). Those that are plump and large are superior.
Note: Mai Men Dong is Yang with slight Yin. Yang is the nature of Lung medicine; slight Yin removes latent fire from the Lung. Once latent fire is removed, Lung Metal is peaceful and can generate Water (Kidney Yin). Abundant Water can clear the Heart and calm the Spirit. Thus, it treats blood running wild (hemorrhage), regulates menstruation, and harmonizes the pulse.
Tian Men Dong (Asparagus Tuber): Bitter and sweet in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Lung and Kidney meridians. It protects Lung Qi from disturbance by heat, calms panting and shortness of breath, thereby ensuring health and peace. It stops Wasting-Thirst, promotes urination, strengthens bone marrow, beautifies complexion, kills three types of parasites, and eliminates Fu Shi (latent corpses/parasites). The heart must be removed. It acts as an assistant with Di Huang, Bei Mu (Fritillaria Bulb), and Yuan Yi (Wall Moss/Mud). It fears Zeng Qing (Azurite) and avoids eating Li Yu (Carp).
Note: Tian Men Dong has a light scent and ascending property, thus entering the Lung; its strong taste is Yin, thus entering the Kidney. It is suitable for deficiency-heat conditions but contraindicated for deficiency-cold conditions.
Lei Gong said: After harvesting, remove one layer of the outer skin, split open, and remove the heart. Steam for one Fu period (approx. 12 hours) using a willow wood steamer and willow fire. Sprinkle with wine evenly, add more fire to steam again, take out and dry in the sun. Place on a small rack covered with Tian Men Dong leaves, at least two chi above the ground, and spread the steamed tubers to dry.
Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Berry): The peel and flesh are sweet and sour, the seed is bitter and pungent, and all parts have a salty taste. Possessing all five flavors, hence the name. Warm in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Lung and Kidney meridians. Nourishes the insufficient Water (Yin) of the Kidney meridian, consolidates the dissipating Metal (Qi) of the Lung meridian, removes vexation and heat, generates fluids and stops thirst, tonifies deficiency and exhaustion, benefits Qi and strengthens Yin. Cong Rong (Cistanche) acts as an assistant. It is incompatible with Wei Rui (Polygonatum Rhizome), overcomes Wu Tou (Aconite Root), and those produced in the North are superior.
Note: Wu Wei Zi belongs to Water but contains Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal. Although it enters the Lung and Kidney meridians, it tonifies all five Zang organs. It is a crucial herb for generating fluids and a wonderful agent for astringency. However, excessive consumption may lead to deficiency-heat due to sudden and intense astringent tonification. For coughs due to fire, cold-natured herbs are usually used, but this might cause agitation; therefore, this sour-astringent herb should be used to descend the rebellious Qi. It should be used in small doses. It is contraindicated for Lung fire stagnation and early-stage exterior cold pathogens, especially in children, because the sour flavor can trap phlegm and induce coughing.
Lei Gong said: Those that are small, wrinkled, and bubbly, with a layer of white salt-like frost on the surface, possessing complete sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and sweet flavors, are authentic. When used, split into two halves with a copper knife, soak in honey, steam from Si hour to Shen hour (approx. 6 hours), then soak in grain water overnight, and bake dry for use.