得地之燥气，兼禀天之秋气，故味甘淡微寒，无毒。阳中之阴，降也。入脾、肺二
经。入肺门、足门，并宜生用；入脾门、虚门，并宜炒用。
米仁祛风湿而疗湿痹，保燥金而治痿痈，筋急拘挛，屈伸不便，咳嗽涕唾。脓血
并来，除筋骨邪，入作疼，皮肤水溢发肿，利肠胃，止消渴，开胃进食，健脾保肺，少则力
缓，难于见功，故用须当倍于他药。
主治（痘疹合参） 益气助胃，除风湿，理香港脚，利脓浆下行。治脾虚水泡，泄泻脾
弱，疮湿难靥皆用。
按∶薏苡仁属土，本是脾药，虚则补母，故肺病之用。筋骨之病，亦以治阳明为
本，故筋病用之。土能胜水，故泻利水肿用之。但性主下行，虚而下陷者，非其所宜。
妊娠禁服。
一名薯蓣，味甘兼咸，温平无毒。一云微寒。专入心、脾、肾三经。滋阴药中宜生
用入剂，健脾药中宜炒黄入剂，如合入养胃培元药中，宜囫囵大者饭内蒸透，切片晒干
炒黄。
山药，诸虚百损，五劳七伤，益气力，润泽皮肤，长肌肉，坚强筋骨，除寒热邪气
烦热，兼除却头面游风，风眩总却，羸瘦堪补，肿硬能消，开心孔聪明，涩精管遗滑，
理脾伤止泻，参苓白术散频加。逐腰痛强阴，六味地黄丸必用。色白甘润又能益肺。
主治（痘疹合参） 补中益气，开胃健脾，能滋阴而更能除湿，止泻泄而兼进食。
凡自痘将灌脓，以及痘后补虚，俱所必用。气虚之症尤所重焉。
按∶山药得土之冲气，禀春之和气，比之金玉君子，无往不宜。但性缓，非多用不
效，大虚危症投之，难图近功，因性太和平宽缓耳。与面同食，不能益人。
【薏苡仁】
薏苡仁禀受大地干燥之气，又兼得秋季清肃之气，因此味道甘淡，性质微寒，无毒。它属于阳中之阴，作用趋势是向下的。归入脾经和肺经。用于入肺经或治疗足部疾病时，适宜生用；用于入脾经或治疗虚证时，适宜炒用。
薏苡仁能祛除风湿，治疗湿痹（因湿邪阻滞经络导致的关节疼痛重着）；保护燥金（肺）之气，治疗痿证（肢体软弱无力）和痈肿；缓解筋脉拘急挛缩、屈伸不利，以及咳嗽、流涕、吐唾等症状；若脓血并下，可去除筋骨间的邪气；对于侵入筋骨引起的疼痛、皮肤水肿溢水等症有效；还能通利肠胃，止消渴，开胃进食，健脾保肺。但用量少则药力缓和，难以见效，所以使用时剂量应当加倍于其他药物。
主治（结合痘疹病症参考）：益气助胃，祛除风湿，调理脚气（香港脚），促使脓浆下行。治疗脾虚引起的水泡、脾弱泄泻、疮疡湿气难愈合等情况均适用。
按语：薏苡仁五行属土，本是补脾的药物，根据“虚则补其母”的理论，故也可用于治疗肺病。筋骨方面的疾病，也应以治疗阳明经为本，所以筋病使用它。土能克水，所以对于腹泻、水肿可用它。但其药性主下行，对于正气虚弱且伴有下陷症状者，不适宜使用。孕妇禁止服用。
【山药】
山药又名薯蓣，味道甘中带咸，性质温平，无毒。有一种说法认为其性微寒。专入心、脾、肾三经。在滋阴方剂中适宜生用入药；在健脾方剂中适宜炒至黄色入药；如果配合养胃培元的药物使用，宜选用个头大的整块山药，放在饭内蒸透，切片晒干后炒黄。
山药能治疗各种虚损、五劳七伤，增强体力，润泽皮肤，促进肌肉生长，强壮筋骨，消除寒热邪气和烦热，同时也能去除头面部的游风（游走不定的风邪），总治风眩，身体消瘦者可用来进补，肿块坚硬者可用来消散，开启心窍使人聪明，固涩精气防止遗精滑脱，调理脾伤止住腹泻，常加入参苓白术散中使用。治疗腰痛、强阴，六味地黄丸中必用。其色白味甘润，又能益肺。
主治（结合痘疹病症参考）：补中益气，开胃健脾，既能滋阴又能除湿，既能止泻又能增进食欲。凡是痘疹即将灌脓期，以及痘后调理虚损，都是必须使用的药物。对于气虚病症尤其重视。
按语：山药禀受土地冲和之气，兼得春季温和之气，如同金玉君子，无处不宜。但其药性缓和，如果不大量使用则无效，对于大虚危重的病症投用它，难以取得快速疗效，是因为它的性质太过平和宽缓。与面食同食，不能起到滋补作用。
[Coix Seed]
Coix seed (Yiyiren) absorbs the dry qi of the earth and the autumn qi of heaven; therefore, its flavor is sweet and bland, its nature is slightly cold, and it is non-toxic. It belongs to yin within yang, and its action is descending. It enters the Spleen and Lung meridians. When entering the Lung gate or treating foot conditions, it should be used raw; when entering the Spleen gate or treating deficiency conditions, it should be stir-fried.
Coix seed dispels wind-dampness and treats damp-bi (painful obstruction syndrome caused by dampness); protects the Metal element (Lung) and treats flaccidity syndromes (Wei syndrome) and carbuncles; relieves tendon spasm and contracture, difficulty in flexion and extension, coughing, rhinorrhea, and expectoration; if pus and blood appear together, it removes pathogenic factors from bones and tendons; it treats pain invading bones and tendons, skin edema with fluid overflow, benefits the intestines and stomach, stops thirst, opens the appetite, strengthens the Spleen and protects the Lung. However, a small dose results in weak efficacy and slow effect, so the dosage must be doubled compared to other herbs.
Indications (referencing Smallpox/Rash patterns): Tonifies Qi and assists the Stomach, dispels wind-dampness, regulates podagra (Hong Kong foot), and promotes the downward discharge of pus. It is used for blisters due to Spleen deficiency, diarrhea due to Spleen weakness, and sores that are difficult to heal due to dampness.
Commentary: Coix seed belongs to Earth and is fundamentally a Spleen herb. According to the principle "tonify the mother when deficient," it is also used for Lung diseases. Diseases of bones and tendons are treated based on the Yangming meridian, hence it is used for tendon diseases. Earth overcomes Water, so it is used for diarrhea and edema. However, its nature is primarily descending, making it unsuitable for cases of deficiency with sinking Qi. It is contraindicated during pregnancy.
[Dioscorea Opposita / Chinese Yam]
Dioscorea opposita (Shanyao), also known as Shuyu, has a sweet and salty flavor, a warm and neutral nature, and is non-toxic. Some sources state it is slightly cold. It specifically enters the Heart, Spleen, and Kidney meridians. In nourishing Yin formulas, it should be used raw; in strengthening Spleen formulas, it should be stir-fried until yellow. If combined with herbs that nourish the Stomach and cultivate Yuan Qi, large whole tubers should be steamed thoroughly in rice, sliced, dried, and then stir-fried until yellow.
Dioscorea opposita treats various deficiencies and hundred damages, five labors, and seven injuries; enhances strength, moistens the skin, promotes muscle growth, strengthens bones and tendons, eliminates cold-heat pathogenic factors and vexatious heat, removes wandering wind from the head and face, cures dizziness due to wind, tonifies emaciation, dissipates hard swellings, opens the heart orifice to improve intelligence, astringes essence to prevent seminal emission and sliding, regulates Spleen injury to stop diarrhea (often added to Shenling Baizhu San), treats lower back pain and strengthens Yin (essential in Liuwei Dihuang Wan). Its white color and sweet, moist nature also benefit the Lung.
Indications (referencing Smallpox/Rash patterns): Tonifies the Middle and boosts Qi, opens the appetite and strengthens the Spleen, nourishes Yin while resolving Dampness, stops diarrhea while promoting food intake. It is essential during the pustule formation stage of rash diseases and for post-rash deficiency recovery. It is particularly important for Qi deficiency conditions.
Commentary: Dioscorea opposita absorbs the harmonious Qi of the earth and the gentle Qi of spring, comparable to a gentleman of gold and jade, suitable for all situations. However, its action is slow; without a large dose, it is ineffective. For critical deficiency conditions, it cannot achieve rapid results because its nature is too mild and gentle. Consuming it with wheat flour products does not provide nutritional benefits.