全禀海中阴气以生，故味苦、咸寒，无毒。气味俱浓，纯阴沉也。苦能泻结，寒能
除血热，咸能软坚润下，故主消瘿病结核瘰 ，破坚散结，十二水肿之要药。宜淡白对
先洗净，再用生乌头并紫背天葵同蒸，一伏时晒干用。
海燥，性反甘草，治项间瘰 ，颈下瘿囊， 瘕痈肿，痰饮湿热，利水通癃闭成
淋，泻水除胀满作肿，辟百邪鬼魅止偏堕疝疼。海带多用催生，亦治风淫，兼下水湿。
功同海藻。昆布顽痰结气，积聚瘿瘤，功同海藻而少滑性雄，故溃疝弥噎，散结溃坚，
并有奇效，多服久服，令人削瘦。
其根皮赤肉白，作连味，实重者良。禀天地阴寒之气以生，味苦气寒而有毒，阴草
也。苦性泄，寒胜热，水属阴，故从其类，直达水气所结之处而泄出之。仲景大陷胸汤
用之以治水结胸也。并元气壮实，而受湿热积饮，水肿蛊胀，疝瘕腹痛咸仗，祛除实为
泄水之圣药，倘脾虚气弱，误用泄之，益虚其虚，水虽暂去，复肿必死，慎之。用后方
治身面洪肿，甘遂未二钱以雄猪腰子一杖，分作十片，入末在内，湿纸包煨令熟，每日
服一片，至四五服当觉腹鸣。小便利是其效也，一方治水肿，以甘遂末涂腹绕脐，内服
甘草汤，其肿便消，二物相反而感应如神。
甘遂与甘草反，破 结积聚如神，退面目浮肿立效，痰饮痞满，水结胸中，并能驱
遂，盖气直透所结之处，专于行水致决，利从谷道而出，大实大水可暂用之。但用斟
酌，切勿妄投，攻逐极效，则损真元亦极速也。
海藻完全禀受海中的阴气而生，因此味道苦、咸，性质寒，无毒。气味都非常浓厚，属于纯阴之物。苦味能泻下结滞，寒性能清除血热，咸味能软化坚硬并引导下行，所以是主治消瘿病（甲状腺肿大）、结核、瘰疬（颈部淋巴结结核），破除坚积、消散结块，以及治疗十二种水肿的重要药物。使用时宜选用淡白色的海藻，先洗净，再用生乌头和紫背天葵一同蒸制，经过一个时辰（约12小时）后晒干使用。
海带性燥，其性质与甘草相反，能治疗颈部的瘰疬、颈下的瘿囊、癥瘕（腹内结块）痈肿，痰饮湿热，通利小便治疗尿闭成淋，泻除水气消除胀满浮肿，辟除各种邪气鬼魅，停止偏坠疝气疼痛。海带多用可催生，也能治疗风邪侵袭，兼能下水湿。功效与海藻相同。昆布能化解顽固痰气和积聚的瘿瘤，功效与海藻相同但滑利之性稍弱而药力更雄健，所以对于溃破疝气、缓解噎膈、消散结块、软化坚硬都有奇效，但多服久服会让人消瘦。
甘遂根皮呈红色，肉质白色，断面呈连珠状，质地沉重的为佳。它禀受天地阴寒之气而生，味道苦，气寒且有毒，属于阴草。苦性具有泄降作用，寒性能胜热，水属阴类，所以甘遂能同类相求，直达水气凝结之处将其泄出。张仲景在大陷胸汤中使用它来治疗水结胸证。对于元气壮实，且遭受湿热、积饮、水肿、蛊胀、疝气腹痛等实证的患者，都依赖它来祛除病邪，实为泻水的圣药。如果脾虚气弱，误用此药泄下，会使虚弱更甚，虽然水气暂时去除，但随后再次出现浮肿必然致死，务必谨慎。使用后方治疗身体面部严重浮肿：取二钱甘遂末，放入一根雄猪腰子中，将腰子切成十片，每片裹入药末，用湿纸包裹煨熟，每天服用一片，服到四五次时应当感觉肠鸣。小便通畅就是药效的表现。另一方治疗水肿，将甘遂末涂抹于腹部环绕肚脐处，内服甘草汤，水肿即可消退，这两味药性质相反但感应如神。
甘遂与甘草相反，破除结块积聚如神，退去面目浮肿立竿见影，对于痰饮痞满、水气结聚胸中，都能驱除。盖因其气机直透结聚之处，专门行水决渎，使水液从谷道（大便）排出，大实大水证可以暂时使用。但用药必须斟酌，切勿妄加投用，攻逐水饮虽然极有效，但损伤人体真元也极其迅速。
Sargassum (Haizao) is generated entirely by imbuing the yin qi of the sea; therefore, its flavor is bitter and salty, its nature is cold, and it is non-toxic. Its aroma and flavor are both dense, belonging purely to yin and descending. Bitterness can purge stagnation, coldness can eliminate blood heat, and saltiness can soften hardness and guide downward; thus, it is a key herb for treating goiter (thyroid enlargement), tubercles, scrofula (cervical lymph node tuberculosis), breaking firm accumulations, dissipating nodules, and is an essential medicine for the twelve types of edema. It should be selected as pale white Sargassum, first washed clean, then steamed together with raw Aconitum carmichaelii root (Fuzi, 附子) [Note: Text says Wutou/乌头, usually processed, but here specifies raw] and Zi Bei Tian Kui (Glehniae Radix or similar local herb, 紫背天葵) for one fu period (approx. 12 hours), then dried in the sun for use.
Kelp (Haidai) has a drying nature, which is contrary to Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Licorice Root, Gancao, 甘草). It treats scrofula in the neck, goiter sacs under the chin, zheng jia (abdominal masses) and carbuncles, phlegm-fluids, damp-heat, promotes urination to treat stranguria caused by urinary retention, drains water to remove distension and swelling, wards off various evil spirits and demons, and stops hernial pain due to testicular descent. Kelp is often used to facilitate childbirth and also treats wind pathogens, while simultaneously draining damp-water. Its efficacy is similar to Sargassum.
Ecklonia cava (Kunbu, 昆布) resolves stubborn phlegm and stagnant qi, accumulations, goiters, and tumors. Its efficacy is similar to Sargassum but with slightly less slippery nature and more vigorous action; thus, it has miraculous effects in resolving hernias, relieving dysphagia, dissipating nodules, and softening hardness. However, long-term and heavy consumption may cause emaciation.
Kansui (Gansui) root bark is red, flesh is white, and the cross-section resembles linked beads; those that are heavy in weight are superior. It is generated by imbuing the yin-cold qi of heaven and earth. Its flavor is bitter, its nature is cold, and it is toxic, belonging to the category of yin herbs. The bitter nature has a purgative effect, and coldness overcomes heat. Since water belongs to yin, Gansui follows its own kind, reaching directly to where water qi is knotted and draining it out. Zhang Zhongjing used it in Da Xianxiong Tang (Major Intractable Chest Decoction) to treat water-knotting in the chest syndrome. For patients with robust yuan qi who suffer from damp-heat, accumulated fluids, edema, gu distension, hernias, and abdominal pain, reliance is placed on it to dispel these excesses; it is truly the holy medicine for draining water. If used mistakenly to purge patients with spleen deficiency and weak qi, it will exacerbate their deficiency. Although the water may temporarily leave, subsequent recurrence of edema will lead to death; caution is required. To treat severe edema of the body and face using the following prescription: take two qian of Gansui powder, insert it into one male pig kidney, slice the kidney into ten pieces, wrap each piece with the powder, wrap in wet paper, and bake until cooked. Take one piece daily. After four or five doses, bowel sounds should be heard. Free urination indicates efficacy. Another prescription for edema involves applying Gansui powder around the navel on the abdomen while internally administering Glycyrrhiza decoction; the edema will subside. These two herbs are contrary yet their interaction is miraculous.
Gansui is incompatible with Glycyrrhiza. It breaks up knots and accumulations with divine efficacy, immediately reduces facial and ocular edema, and drives out phlegm-fluids, epigastric fullness, and water knotting in the chest. Its qi penetrates directly to the site of knotting, specifically promoting water movement and drainage, causing water to exit via the intestinal tract (bowels). It can be used temporarily for severe excess and massive water retention. However, dosage must be carefully considered; do not administer recklessly. While its attack and drainage are extremely effective, damage to the true yuan qi is also extremely rapid.