味苦酸，性温无毒，入肝脾二经。主破滞气，愈用而愈效；削坚积，愈下而愈良。引诸
药至厥阴之分，下饮食入太阴之仓，消温疟热甚结母，止左胁郁怒作痛，去肉微炒用。
按∶青皮即橘之小者，酸能泻水，宜走肝经，温能辅导，宜归脾部。其性峻削，多服伤
脾虚羸。
味辛苦酸，性微寒无毒，入肺、肝、胃、大肠四经。主下胸中至高之气，消心中痞塞之
痰，泄腹中滞塞之气，去胃中隔宿之食，削腹内连年之积，疏皮毛胸膈之病，散风气痒麻，
通大肠闭结，止霍乱，疗肠风，攻痔疾，消水肿，除风痛。去瓤核麸炒，用陈久者良。
按∶枳壳辛归于肺，酸归于肝，大肠者肺之腑也，胃者上焦之腑也，故均入之。刮下枳
茹，其效更速。
雷公云∶凡使勿用枳实，缘性效不同，若使枳壳，取辛苦酸，并有油，能消一切癖块，
陈久年深者为上，用时先去瓤，麸炒过，待麸焦黑取出，用布拭去焦黑，后再捣如粉用之。
味苦酸，性微寒无毒，入心脾二经。主消胸中之癖满，逐心下之停水，化日久之稠痰，
削年深之坚积，除腹胀，消宿食，定喘咳，下气逆。麸炒用。
按∶枳实，即枳壳之小者，苦宜于心，脾者心之子也，故并入之。其性猛烈，有冲墙倒
壁之功，气弱者忌之。考青皮陈皮同一种，枳壳枳实同一种，但采有迟早，分老嫩而名也。
四者主治，咸以导滞为功，然嫩者性酷治下，老者性缓治高之别尔。
【青皮】
味苦、酸，性温，无毒。归肝经、脾经。主要功效是破除滞气，使用越多效果越好；消除坚硬的积块，泻下作用越强疗效越佳。能引导其他药物到达厥阴经的分布区域，帮助饮食进入太阴脾脏的仓储功能，消除因温热疟疾高热导致的结聚病根，停止左侧胁肋部因郁怒引起的疼痛。入肉部分需微炒后使用。
按语：青皮就是较小的橘子皮，酸味能泻水湿，适宜走窜肝经；温性能辅助阳气，适宜归于脾部。其药性峻猛削伐，多服会损伤脾气，导致身体虚弱消瘦。
【枳壳】
味辛、苦、酸，性微寒，无毒。归肺经、肝经、胃经、大肠经。主要功效是降下胸中至高之气，消除心中痞塞的痰浊，泄除腹中滞塞的气机，去除胃中隔夜的宿食，削去腹内连年形成的积块，疏通皮毛及胸膈部位的病症，疏散风气引起的瘙痒麻木，通畅大肠的闭结，止住霍乱，治疗肠风（便血），攻治痔疾，消除水肿，祛除风痛。需去除瓤核后用麦麸炒制，以陈久者为佳。
按语：枳壳辛味归于肺经，酸味归于肝经，大肠是肺的腑，胃是上焦的腑，所以都归属于这些经络。刮去下层的枳茹（果皮下层组织），药效更迅速。
雷公说：凡使用时不要用枳实，因为它们的药性和功效不同。如果使用枳壳，取其辛、苦、酸味，且含有油脂，能消除各种癖块，以陈久年深者为上品。使用时先去除瓤核，用麦麸炒过，等到麦麸变成焦黑色时取出，用布擦去焦黑的麦麸，然后再捣成粉末使用。
【枳实】
味苦、酸，性微寒，无毒。归心经、脾经。主要功效是消除胸中的癖满（积聚胀满），驱逐心下的停水，化解日久形成的稠痰，削去年深日久的坚硬积块，消除腹胀，消化宿食，平定喘咳，降逆气。用麦麸炒制后使用。
按语：枳实就是小的枳壳，苦味适宜于心，脾是心的子脏（五行相生关系），所以一并归入这两经。其药性猛烈，有冲墙倒壁般的强大力量，气虚者忌用。考证发现，青皮和陈皮来源于同一种植物，枳壳和枳实也来源于同一种植物，只是采摘时间有早有晚，根据老嫩不同而命名。这四者的主治功效，都以导滞消积为功，但嫩者（如青皮、枳实）药性酷烈，主治下部病变；老者（如陈皮、枳壳）药性缓和，主治上部病变的区别罢了。
[Qingpi (Green Tangerine Peel)]
Taste: bitter, sour. Nature: warm. Non-toxic. Meridian tropism: Liver, Spleen. It primarily breaks stagnant Qi; the more it is used, the more effective it becomes. It reduces hard accumulations; the stronger its purgative action, the better the therapeutic outcome. It guides other herbs to the Jueyin (Liver/Pericardium) level, assists food and drink in entering the Taiyin (Spleen) storage, eliminates heat-induced nodular roots in warm malaria, stops pain in the left hypochondrium caused by depression and anger. The fleshy part should be slightly stir-fried before use.
Commentary: Qingpi is the peel of immature citrus fruits. Sourness can drain water-dampness, making it suitable for traversing the Liver meridian; warmth can assist Yang, making it suitable for returning to the Spleen region. Its nature is harsh and reducing; excessive use damages Spleen Qi, leading to physical weakness and emaciation.
[Zhiqiao (Aurantium Fructus Immaturus - Shell)]
Taste: pungent, bitter, sour. Nature: slightly cold. Non-toxic. Meridian tropism: Lung, Liver, Stomach, Large Intestine. It primarily descends the high-lying Qi in the chest, eliminates phlegm causing epigastric fullness and obstruction, drains stagnant Qi in the abdomen, removes overnight retained food in the Stomach, reduces year-long accumulations within the abdomen, unblocks disorders of the skin, hair, and thoracic diaphragm, disperses wind-induced itching and numbness, unblocks constipation of the Large Intestine, stops cholera-like vomiting and diarrhea, treats intestinal wind (hematochezia), attacks hemorrhoids, eliminates edema, and removes wind-pain. The pith and seeds should be removed, and it should be stir-fried with bran; aged specimens are superior.
Commentary: The pungent quality of Zhiqiao enters the Lung meridian, and the sour quality enters the Liver meridian. Since the Large Intestine is the Fu organ of the Lung, and the Stomach is the Fu organ of the Upper Jiao, it enters these meridians. Scraping off the lower layer of the peel (Zhiru) makes its effect more rapid.
Leigong stated: When using, do not employ Zhishi, as their nature and effects differ. If using Zhiqiao, utilize its pungent, bitter, and sour qualities, which contain oils capable of eliminating all types of fixed masses (Pike). Specimens that are aged and old are best. Before use, remove the pith, stir-fry with bran until the bran turns dark brown/black, remove from heat, wipe off the charred bran with a cloth, and then grind into powder.
[Zhishi (Aurantium Fructus Immaturus - Fruit)]
Taste: bitter, sour. Nature: slightly cold. Non-toxic. Meridian tropism: Heart, Spleen. It primarily eliminates fullness and accumulation in the chest, drives away retained water beneath the heart, transforms thick phlegm formed over long periods, reduces hard accumulations formed over many years, eliminates abdominal distension, digests retained food, calms wheezing and cough, and directs rebellious Qi downward. Stir-fried with bran before use.
Commentary: Zhishi is the smaller version of Zhiqiao. Bitterness suits the Heart; since the Spleen is the "child" organ of the Heart (in Five Element theory), it enters both meridians. Its nature is fierce and potent, possessing the power to break through walls and topple battlements; those with weak Qi must avoid it. Research shows that Qingpi and Chenpi come from the same species, and Zhiqiao and Zhishi come from the same species; they are named differently based on whether they are harvested early or late, and whether they are young or mature. The therapeutic functions of these four items all rely on guiding stagnation, but there is a distinction: the young ones (Qingpi, Zhishi) have a harsh nature and treat lower-level disorders, while the mature ones (Chenpi, Zhiqiao) have a milder nature and treat upper-level disorders.