味甘咸，性温无毒，入脾胃二经，主温中下气，开胃健脾，催生下胎，去宿食，除胀满，
止吐逆，破症结，消痰痞，炒去芒，再炒焦黄研用，蜜为之使。
按∶麦芽甘而且温，宜职中州。夫麦性泥滞，不过水浸生芽，气虽少清，性犹未化。功
效何若是殊哉？全在多炒，使其性枯尔，不然是积食矣，岂复能消耶？丹溪云∶大麦有火，
能
生热病，其芽能行上焦滞血，除腹内寒鸣，然多用久服，令人消肾。
味甘性温无毒，入脾胃二经，主调中止泻，开胃消食，破症结，逐积痰，除胀满，又主
胎上抢心，血流不止，亦能下鬼胎。
按∶神曲甘温，为脾胃所喜，故两入之，本小麦面造成，须得六神气者良，不尔，与面
饼何异？其法于六月六日用面五斤，象白虎；苍耳草、自然汁一碗，象勾陈；野藜自然汁一
碗，象 蛇；青蒿自然汁一碗，象青龙；杏仁去皮尖五两，及北方河水，象玄武；赤小豆煮
熟
雷公云∶凡使捣作末后，掘地坑深二尺，用物裹纳坑中，经宿取出，焙干用。
味苦甘，性大热有毒，入十二经。主驱邪气，辟秽恶，御雾露，解瘴疠，温脾胃，破症
结，助药力。浓肠胃，驻颜色，通行血脉，荣养肌肤，忌诸甜物及乳同食。
按∶酒之为用，无微不达，故诸经皆入之。主疗虽宏，能发湿中之热，过饮则相火冒炎，
肺经受烁，辄致痰嗽。脾因火而困倦，胃因火而呕吐，心因火而昏狂，肝因火而善怒，胆因
火
死亡立至，可不谨乎？
麦芽：味甘、咸，性温，无毒。归脾、胃二经。主要功效为温中降气，开胃健脾，催产下胎，消除积食，去除胀满，止住呕吐逆气，破除症结，消散痰痞。炒制可去除其升散之性（芒），再次炒至焦黄后研碎使用，蜂蜜是其引经药。
按语：麦芽味甘且温，适宜调理中焦脾胃。麦子的本性黏滞，不过是通过水浸泡生出芽来，气味虽然稍微清利，但药性尚未转化。功效为何如此显著不同呢？全在于多经过炒制，使其药性变得枯涩，否则就会成为积食，哪里还能起到消食的作用呢？朱丹溪说：大麦有火气，能引发热病，它的芽能通行上焦的瘀血，消除腹内的寒鸣声，然而如果多用或久服，会损伤肾气。
神曲：味甘，性温，无毒。归脾、胃二经。主要功效为调和中焦止泻，开胃消食，破除症结，驱逐积痰，去除胀满，又主治胎气上冲心胸，血流不止，也能排出“鬼胎”（指难以确诊的腹部包块或假孕现象）。
按语：神曲味甘温，是脾胃所喜爱的药物，所以能同时入脾胃二经。它本是用小麦面制成的，必须得具备“六神之气”才算好药，否则，与普通面饼有什么区别呢？其制作方法是在六月六日这一天，用五斤面粉象征白虎；苍耳草的自然汁一碗象征勾陈；野藜的自然汁一碗象征螣蛇；青蒿的自然汁一碗象征青龙；去皮尖的杏仁五两，以及北方的河水，象征玄武。
雷公炮制法说：凡是使用时，捣成粉末后，挖掘深二尺的地坑，用物体包裹放入坑中，过夜后取出，焙干后使用。
酒：味苦、甘，性大热，有毒。归十二经脉。主要功效为驱除邪气，辟除秽恶之气，抵御雾露湿气，解除瘴疠，温暖脾胃，破除症结，辅助药力，浓固肠胃，驻留容颜，通行血脉，荣养肌肤。忌与各种甜食及乳制品同食。
按语：酒的作用，无微不著，所以能进入所有经脉。虽然主治范围广泛，但能激发湿中之热，过量饮用则会导致相火冒炎，肺经受灼烧，往往导致痰嗽。脾因火而困倦，胃因火而呕吐，心因火而昏狂，肝因火而易怒，胆因火……死亡立即到来，能不谨慎吗？
Maiya (Hordei Fructus Germinatus): Sweet and salty in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians. Its main functions are to warm the middle and direct Qi downward, open the stomach and strengthen the spleen, induce labor and expel the fetus, remove retained food, eliminate distension and fullness, stop vomiting and regurgitation, break up mass formations, dissipate phlegm and痞 (痞证: sensation of fullness or obstruction without tangible mass), stir-frying removes its ascending properties (芒: sharp/ascending nature), and further stir-frying until scorched yellow for grinding; Honey is its guiding substance.
Commentary: Maiya is sweet and warm, suitable for managing the Middle Jiao (central digestive system). Wheat's nature is sticky and obstructive; merely soaking it in water to sprout makes its Qi slightly clear, but its nature remains untransformed. Why are its effects so significantly different? It lies entirely in extensive stir-frying, which renders its nature dry and astringent; otherwise, it would become retained food itself, how could it possibly digest food? Zhu Danxi said: "Barley has fire, capable of generating heat diseases; its sprouts can move stagnant blood in the Upper Jiao and eliminate cold rumbling in the abdomen, however, excessive use or long-term consumption damages the Kidney essence."
Shenqu (Medicated Leaven): Sweet in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians. Its main functions are to harmonize the middle and stop diarrhea, open the stomach and digest food, break up mass formations, drive out accumulated phlegm, eliminate distension and fullness. It also mainly treats fetal Qi rushing to the heart region, continuous bleeding, and can also expel "ghost fetus" (a term for abdominal masses or pseudocyesis).
Commentary: Shenqu is sweet and warm, beloved by the Spleen and Stomach, thus entering both meridians. It is originally made from wheat flour; it must possess the "Qi of the Six Deities" to be considered good; otherwise, what difference is there between it and ordinary bread? The method involves using five jin of flour on the sixth day of the sixth month to symbolize White Tiger (Baihu); one bowl of natural juice from Xanthium strumarium (Cang Er Cao) to symbolize Gouchen; one bowl of natural juice from Chenopodium album var. hybridum (Ye Li) to symbolize Tengshe; one bowl of natural juice from Artemisia annua (Qing Hao) to symbolize Qinglong; five liang of Almond seeds (Xing Ren) with skin and tips removed, along with northern river water, to symbolize Xuanwu.
Leigong's processing method states: Whenever used, after pounding into powder, dig a pit two chi deep, wrap the material and place it in the pit, leave overnight, then take out and bake dry for use.
Jiu (Alcohol/Wine): Bitter and sweet in flavor, extremely hot in nature, toxic. Enters the Twelve Meridians. Its main functions are to drive away pathogenic factors, ward off foul odors, resist mist and dew, resolve miasma and pestilence, warm the Spleen and Stomach, break up mass formations, assist medicinal potency, thicken the intestines and bowels, preserve complexion, promote blood circulation, and nourish the skin and muscles. Avoid consuming with various sweet foods and dairy products simultaneously.
Commentary: The application of Alcohol is pervasive, penetrating every detail, thus entering all meridians. Although its therapeutic scope is broad, it can ignite heat within dampness; excessive drinking causes Ministerial Fire to flare up, scorching the Lung meridian, often leading to phlegm and cough. The Spleen becomes fatigued due to fire, the Stomach vomits due to fire, the Heart becomes confused and manic due to fire, the Liver becomes prone to anger due to fire, the Gallbladder... death follows immediately. Can one not be cautious?