感秋燥之令，得地之火金，味大辛，气大温，无毒。味薄气浓，轻清而升，阳也，
浮也。
白豆蔻，入手太阴肺。别有清高之气，散胸中冷滞，益膈上元阳，温脾土却痛，退
目云去障，止翻胃呕，消食积膨。若火升作呕，因热腹痛，肺火痰嗽者忌服。
得地二之火气而有金，复兼感乎夏未秋初之令以生，故大辛热无毒，阳也，浮也。
草豆蔻，行经惟脾胃。去膈下寒，止霍乱吐逆；驱脐上痛，逐客忤邪伤；酒毒尤
消，口臭即解；破滞散郁，消食化痰，祛寒燥湿。久服过服，耗阴伤肺。有血症而阴不
足者切戒。
一名莎草根。禀天地湿燥之气，兼得乎土金之味，故味苦甘、苦辛微温，无毒。入
足厥阴气分，亦入手太阴经。气浓于味，阳中之阴，降也。血中之气药，能行十二经八
脉气分。入凉血药，宜童便浸透，炒黑；入行血气药，宜酒浸透炒；调敛气血药，宜醋
浸炒黑；入消食去滞药，不制炒黄，捣碎。
香附子，快气开郁，逐瘀调经，霍乱吐逆，疏肝运脾。宿食可消，泄泻能固便。
制，调血热经瘀；炒黑禁崩漏下血，妇人血气方中所常用者也。开郁散滞则有功，精血
枯闭所当忌。若月事先期，血虚内热者禁用。时珍曰∶生则上行胸膈，外达皮肤；熟
则下走肝肾，外彻腰足；炒黑则止血∶童便浸炒则入血分而补虚；盐水浸炒则入血分而
润燥；青盐炒则补肾气；酒浸炒则行经络；醋浸炒则消积聚；姜汁炒则化痰饮。得参术
则补气，得归地则补血，得木香则疏滞和中，得檀香则理气醒脾，得沉香则升降诸
气；得川芎苍术则总解诸郁；得栀子、黄连则能降火热，得茯神则交济心肾，得茴香、
破故纸则引气归元，得三棱、蓬术则消磨积块，得浓朴半夏则决壅消胀，得紫苏，葱白
则解散邪气，得艾叶则暖子宫。乃气病之总司；而俗有耗气之说，宜于女人而不宜于男
子者非也。
主治（痘疹合参） 开郁行滞气消食，助胃调经，兼能逐去凝血。炒黑又能止血，
能引血药至气分而生血。凡血气药中所必用，妇人之要药也。但性燥而香，味辛而
苦，独用久用，甚能动火耗血，不可不知。
按∶香附子女科仗为主药者，以妇人多郁多滞耳。然味辛性燥，多服久服，必损气
血。若调经药中用之，必童便浸炒稍差，更兼归地，方无虑也。
感秋燥之令，得地之火金，味大辛，气大温，无毒。味薄气浓，轻清而升，阳也，浮也。
感受秋季燥气的时令，禀受大地火与金的性质，味道极其辛辣，药性极其温热，没有毒性。气味淡薄而药力浓厚，质地轻盈清澈且向上提升，属于阳，具有浮散的特性。
白豆蔻，入手太阴肺。别有清高之气，散胸中冷滞，益膈上元阳，温脾土却痛，退目云去障，止翻胃呕，消食积膨。若火升作呕，因热腹痛，肺火痰嗽者忌服。
白豆蔻，归入手太阴肺经。它拥有独特清高之气，能消散胸中的寒冷停滞，补益膈膜以上的元阳，温暖脾土以消除疼痛，去除眼部的云雾遮蔽（白内障等眼疾），停止反胃呕吐，消除饮食积滞引起的腹胀。如果是虚火上炎导致的呕吐，因热邪引起的腹痛，以及肺火旺盛导致的咳嗽有痰者，禁止服用。
得地二之火气而有金，复兼感乎夏未秋初之令以生，故大辛热无毒，阳也，浮也。
草豆蔻禀受大地二之气（少阴君火或阳明燥金等，此处指代特定的五行生成之气）的火气并带有金的性质，又兼受夏末秋初的时令气候而生，因此味道大辛、药性大热、没有毒性，属于阳，具有浮散的特性。
草豆蔻，行经惟脾胃。去膈下寒，止霍乱吐逆；驱脐上痛，逐客忤邪伤；酒毒尤消，口臭即解；破滞散郁，消食化痰，祛寒燥湿。久服过服，耗阴伤肺。有血症而阴不足者切戒。
草豆蔻，主要作用于脾胃经络。它能去除膈膜以下的寒气，停止霍乱引起的呕吐逆气；驱除肚脐上方的疼痛，驱逐外来的邪气伤害；尤其能消除酒毒，立即缓解口臭；能破除气滞、疏散郁结，消化食物、化解痰液，祛除寒气、燥化湿气。长期服用或过量服用，会消耗阴液、损伤肺脏。患有血证且阴液不足的人务必禁忌。
一名莎草根。禀天地湿燥之气，兼得乎土金之味，故味苦甘、苦辛微温，无毒。入足厥阴气分，亦入手太阴经。气浓于味，阳中之阴，降也。血中之气药，能行十二经八脉气分。入凉血药，宜童便浸透，炒黑；入行血气药，宜酒浸透炒；调敛气血药，宜醋浸炒黑；入消食去滞药，不制炒黄，捣碎。
香附子，又名莎草根。禀受天地间湿与燥的气，兼得土与金的味，所以味道苦中带甘、苦中带辛，药性微温，没有毒性。进入足厥阴肝经的气分，也进入手太阴肺经。药气比药味浓厚，属于阳中之阴，具有沉降的特性。它是血分中的理气药，能够运行十二经脉和奇经八脉的气分。如果配合凉血药使用，适宜用童子尿浸泡透彻后炒黑；如果配合行血理气药使用，适宜用酒浸泡透彻后炒制；如果配合调理收敛气血的药使用，适宜用醋浸泡后炒黑；如果配合消食去滞的药使用，不需要特殊炮制，只需炒黄并捣碎即可。
香附子，快气开郁，逐瘀调经，霍乱吐逆，疏肝运脾。宿食可消，泄泻能固便。制，调血热经瘀；炒黑禁崩漏下血，妇人血气方中所常用者也。开郁散滞则有功，精血枯闭所当忌。若月事先期，血虚内热者禁用。时珍曰∶生则上行胸膈，外达皮肤；熟则下走肝肾，外彻腰足；炒黑则止血∶童便浸炒则入血分而补虚；盐水浸炒则入血分而润燥；青盐炒则补肾气；酒浸炒则行经络；醋浸炒则消积聚；姜汁炒则化痰饮。得参术则补气，得归地则补血，得木香则疏滞和中，得檀香则理气醒脾，得沉香则升降诸气；得川芎苍术则总解诸郁；得栀子、黄连则能降火热，得茯神则交济心肾，得茴香、破故纸则引气归元，得三棱、蓬术则消磨积块，得浓朴半夏则决壅消胀，得紫苏，葱白则解散邪气，得艾叶则暖子宫。乃气病之总司；而俗有耗气之说，宜于女人而不宜于男子者非也。
香附子，能畅达气机、开解郁结，驱逐瘀血、调理月经，治疗霍乱呕吐逆气，疏理肝气、运化脾气。宿食可以消除，泄泻能够固涩大便。经过炮制的香附子，能调理血热和月经瘀阻；炒黑后用于制止崩漏下血，是妇科调治气血方剂中常用的药物。在开郁散滞方面它有功效，但在精血枯竭闭阻的情况下应当禁忌。如果月经提前来潮，属于血虚内热的患者禁止使用。李时珍说：生的香附子上行至胸膈，向外通达皮肤；熟的香附子下行至肝肾，向外通达腰足；炒黑后能止血；用童子尿浸泡炒制则进入血分并能补虚；用盐水浸泡炒制则进入血分并能润燥；用青盐炒制则补肾气；用酒浸泡炒制则通行经络；用醋浸泡炒制则消除积聚；用姜汁炒制则化解痰饮。与人参、白术同用则补气，与当归、地黄同用则补血，与木香同用则疏通滞气、调和脾胃，与檀香同用则理气、唤醒脾运，与沉香同用则调节全身气机的升降；与川芎、苍术同用则全面解除各种郁结；与栀子、黄连同用则能降低火热，与茯神同用则交通心肾，与小茴香、补骨脂（破故纸）同用则引导气机回归本源，与三棱、莪术同用则消磨积块，与厚朴、半夏同用则开通壅塞、消除胀满，与紫苏、葱白同用则解散邪气，与艾叶同用则温暖子宫。它是治疗气病的总管统帅；而世俗有说法认为它耗气，只适合女性而不适合男性，这是错误的。
主治（痘疹合参） 开郁行滞气消食，助胃调经，兼能逐去凝血。炒黑又能止血，能引血药至气分而生血。凡血气药中所必用，妇人之要药也。但性燥而香，味辛而苦，独用久用，甚能动火耗血，不可不知。
主治（结合痘疹病症参考）：开解郁结、运行滞气、消化食物，帮助胃部、调理月经，同时能驱逐凝结的血块。炒黑后又能止血，能引导血药进入气分从而促进生血。凡是涉及气血的药物中必须使用的，是女性的关键药物。但是它的性质燥烈而芳香，味道辛辣而苦涩，单独使用或长期使用，很容易动火耗伤血液，这一点不可不知道。
按∶香附子女科仗为主药者，以妇人多郁多滞耳。然味辛性燥，多服久服，必损气血。若调经药中用之，必童便浸炒稍差，更兼归地，方无虑也。
按语：香附子在妇科倚仗作为主药，是因为女性大多容易气郁、气滞。然而它味道辛、性质燥，大量服用或长期服用，必定会损伤气血。如果在调经药中使用它，必须用童子尿浸泡炒制稍微缓和其性，再加上当归、地黄，才不用担心副作用。
Bai Doukou (Amomi Fructus Rotundus) is influenced by the seasonal command of autumn dryness, and acquires the nature of fire and metal from the earth. Its taste is extremely pungent, its qi is extremely warm, and it is non-toxic. The taste is thin while the qi is dense; it is light, clear, ascending, yang, and floating.
Bai Doukou enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. It possesses a uniquely pure and lofty qi, disperses cold stagnation in the chest, benefits the primal yang above the diaphragm, warms the spleen earth to relieve pain, clears visual obscurations (cataracts), stops regurgitation and vomiting, and resolves food accumulation causing distension. However, it should be avoided in cases of vomiting due to rising fire, abdominal pain caused by heat, or cough with phlegm due to lung fire.
Cao Doukou (Arecae Semen Preparatum / Areca Seed) acquires the fire qi of the earth's second phase along with metal, and is further generated by the seasonal influence of late summer and early autumn. Therefore, it is extremely pungent, hot, and non-toxic; it is yang and floating.
Cao Doukou primarily circulates through the Spleen and Stomach meridians. It removes cold below the diaphragm, stops cholera-like vomiting and regurgitation; drives away pain above the navel, expels external pathogenic influences; particularly eliminates alcohol toxicity, and immediately relieves bad breath; breaks stagnation, disperses depression, digests food, transforms phlegm, dispels cold, and dries dampness. Long-term or excessive consumption consumes yin and damages the lungs. It is strictly contraindicated for those with blood disorders and insufficient yin.
Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma), also known as Sha Cao Gen, inherits the damp and dry qi of heaven and earth, and combines the flavors of earth and metal. Thus, its taste is bitter-sweet and bitter-pungent, its nature is slightly warm, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Qi aspect of the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian and also the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Its qi is denser than its taste; it is yin within yang, and descending. It is a qi-moving herb within the blood aspect, capable of circulating the qi of the twelve regular meridians and eight extraordinary vessels. When used with blood-cooling herbs, it should be soaked thoroughly in urine from an uncircumcised boy and stir-fried until black; when used with herbs that promote blood and qi circulation, it should be soaked in wine and stir-fried; when used with herbs that regulate and astringe qi and blood, it should be soaked in vinegar and stir-fried until black; when used with herbs that digest food and remove stagnation, it need not be specially processed, but simply stir-fried until yellow and crushed.
Xiangfu rapidly moves qi, opens depression, expels stasis, regulates menstruation, treats cholera vomiting, soothes the liver, and promotes spleen function. It can resolve retained food and consolidate stools in diarrhea. Processed Xiangfu regulates blood heat and menstrual stasis; when stir-fried until black, it stops metrorrhagia and bleeding, making it a commonly used herb in gynecological formulas regulating qi and blood. It is effective in opening depression and dissipating stagnation, but contraindicated in cases of dried-up essence and blood obstruction. It is strictly forbidden for women with early menstruation due to blood deficiency and internal heat. Li Shizhen stated: Raw Xiangfu ascends to the chest and diaphragm and reaches the skin externally; cooked Xiangfu descends to the liver and kidneys and reaches the waist and feet externally; stir-fried until black, it stops bleeding; soaked in boy's urine and stir-fried, it enters the blood aspect and tonifies deficiency; soaked in salt water and stir-fried, it enters the blood aspect and moistens dryness; stir-fried with green salt, it tonifies kidney qi; soaked in wine and stir-fried, it unblocks meridians; soaked in vinegar and stir-fried, it resolves accumulations; stir-fried with ginger juice, it transforms phlegm-fluids. Combined with Ginseng and Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome, it tonifies qi; combined with Angelica Sinensis Root and Rehmannia Root, it tonifies blood; combined with Aucklandiae Radix, it vents stagnation and harmonizes the middle jiao; combined with Sandalwood, it regulates qi and awakens the spleen; combined with Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum, it regulates the ascending and descending of all qi; combined with Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome and Atractylodes Lancea Rhizome, it resolves various depressions; combined with Gardeniae Fructus and Coptidis Rhizome, it reduces fire-heat; combined with Poria, it connects the heart and kidneys; combined with Fennel Fruit and Psoraleae Fructus, it guides qi back to its origin; combined with Bupleuri Radix and Curcumae Zedoariae Rhizome, it dissolves masses; combined with Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex and Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum, it resolves obstruction and reduces distension; combined with Perillae Folium and Allii Fistulosi Bulbus, it releases pathogenic factors; combined with Artemisiae Argyi Folium, it warms the uterus. It is the general commander for treating qi diseases. The common belief that it depletes qi and is suitable only for women but not men is incorrect.
Indications (Integrated with Smallpox/Chickenpox references): Opens depression, moves stagnation, digests food, assists the stomach, regulates menstruation, and simultaneously expels coagulated blood. When stir-fried until black, it stops bleeding and guides blood-invigorating herbs into the qi aspect to generate blood. It is essential in all qi and blood formulas and is a key herb for women. However, its nature is dry and aromatic, and its taste is pungent and bitter. Used alone or for a long time, it can easily stir up fire and consume blood, which must be noted.
Commentary: Xiangfu is relied upon as a principal herb in gynecology because women are prone to depression and stagnation. However, since it is pungent and dry, excessive or long-term use will inevitably damage qi and blood. If used in menstruation-regulating formulas, it should be soaked in boy's urine and stir-fried to moderate its harshness, and combined with Angelica Sinensis Root and Rehmannia Root, so that there is no cause for concern.