禀天地清和之气，入脾、肺、肝、肾四经，味甘、平，无毒。
葳蕤，一名玉竹。润肺而止嗽痰，补脾而祛湿热，养肝而理 伤泪出，益肾而除腰
痛，肺寒调养气血，逐风淫四末成痹，益气补中，去心腹结气阴烦，入脾肺以长气分之
阳，入肝肾以滋阴分之血，但性缓力薄，难取近功。
按∶葳蕤虽曰滋益阴精，与地黄同功，增长阳气，与人参同力，润而不滑，和而不
偏，譬诸盛德之人，无处不宜，故神农收为上品。但汁薄而不能如地黄之浓浓，力小而
不能如人参之大补，性平和缓，难图急效，阴阳并资，示有专功，较之地黄之滋阴，人
参之补元，已属霄壤矣。岂可仗此以代挽回垂绝之药乎！
味苦微寒无毒，能治软脚，可逐奔马，又名奔马草。清心除热宜生用。养心血，止
心痛，猪心血拌炒用。和心阴，理心气，蜜酒拌炒。
丹参，专调经脉平补，善理骨节疼痛，生新血，去恶血，落死胎，安生胎，破积聚
坚，止血崩带下，脚痹软能健，眼赤肿可消，安神散结，益气强阴，散瘿赘恶疮，排
脓生肉，辟鬼祟精魅，养正驱邪，更治肠鸣幽幽，滚下如走水状。功虽多于血，然更长
于行血，心与心包络及肝经三家药也。
按∶丹参，色合南离，独人心家，专主心血，古人称丹参一味，兼四物之功，嘉其
补阴也。虽能补血，然长于行血，故胃气虚寒者少投，妊娠无故者勿服。
葳蕤，又名玉竹。能润肺并止住咳嗽痰多，补益脾气并祛除湿热，滋养肝脏并调理因肝伤导致的流泪，益肾并消除腰痛，肺寒时调养气血，驱除风邪侵袭四肢导致的风湿痹痛，益气补中，消除心腹部的结聚之气和阴分烦热，入脾肺经以助长气分的阳气，入肝肾经以滋养阴分的血液，但药性缓和、力量薄弱，难以取得迅速的功效。
按语：葳蕤虽然说是滋益阴精，功效与地黄相同，增长阳气，力量与人参相当，滋润而不滑腻，调和而不偏颇，就像品德高尚的人，无处不适宜，所以神农将其收录为上品。但葳蕤汁液稀薄，不能像地黄那样浓稠厚重，力量小，不能像人参那样大补元气，药性平和缓慢，难以谋求急效，阴阳双补，显示没有专门的奇功，比起地黄的滋阴、人参的补元，已经相差甚远了。怎么可以依靠它来代替挽回垂危绝症的药物呢！
味苦微寒，无毒，能治疗脚软无力，可驱逐如奔马般的疾风（指风湿痹痛），又名奔马草。清心除热宜生用。养心血，止心痛，用猪心血拌炒后使用。调和心阴，理顺心气，用蜜酒拌炒后使用。
丹参，专门调理经脉，平补，善于治理骨节疼痛，生成新血，去除瘀血，使死胎脱落，安固活胎，破除积聚坚块，止血崩和带下病，脚部痹痛软弱能使腿脚强健，眼睛红肿可消退，安神散结，益气强阴，消散瘿瘤赘疣恶疮，排脓生肌，辟除鬼祟精魅，扶正祛邪，还能治疗肠鸣幽幽，声音滚动向下如同水流走动的样子。功效虽然多在血分，然而更擅长于行血，是心、心包络及肝经三家的药物。
按语：丹参，颜色符合南方离火之色，独入人心家，专门主管心血，古人称丹参一味药，具有四物汤的功效，是赞美其补阴的作用。虽然能补血，然而更擅长于行血，所以胃气虚寒者少量投服，孕妇无故不要服用。
Receiving the clear and harmonious Qi of Heaven and Earth, it enters the Spleen, Lung, Liver, and Kidney meridians. Its taste is sweet and level (neutral), non-toxic.
Weirui (Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma), also known as Yuzhu. It moistens the Lung and stops cough with phlegm, tonifies the Spleen and dispels damp-heat, nourishes the Liver and regulates tearing due to Liver injury, benefits the Kidney and eliminates lower back pain. In cases of Lung cold, it regulates Qi and Blood, expels wind-pathogen invading the four extremities causing Bi-syndrome (wind-dampness obstruction), tonifies Qi and strengthens the Middle Jiao, removes stagnation of Qi in the heart and abdomen and Yin-deficiency vexation. Entering the Spleen and Lung meridians, it augments Yang Qi of the Qi aspect; entering the Liver and Kidney meridians, it nourishes Blood of the Yin aspect. However, its nature is slow and its power weak, making it difficult to achieve rapid results.
Commentary: Although Weirui is said to nourish and benefit Yin essence, sharing the same function as Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata) in augmenting Yang Qi, and possessing strength comparable to Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), it is moistening yet not slippery, harmonizing yet not biased. Like a person of great virtue, it is suitable everywhere. Therefore, Shennong classified it as a Superior Grade herb. However, its juice is thin and cannot be as thick and rich as Dihuang; its power is small and cannot provide major tonification like Renshen. Its nature is peaceful and slow, making it hard to seek urgent effects. It supplements both Yin and Yang but shows no specialized efficacy. Compared to Dihuang’s specific action of nourishing Yin or Renshen’s specific action of tonifying Primordial Qi, the difference is vast. How can one rely on this to replace herbs that rescue critical conditions!
Bitter in taste, slightly cold, non-toxic. It can treat soft legs and drive away wind resembling galloping horses, also known as Benma Cao. To clear the Heart and eliminate heat, use raw. To nourish Heart Blood and stop chest pain, stir-fry with Pig Heart Blood. To harmonize Heart Yin and regulate Heart Qi, stir-fry with Honey and Wine.
Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) specializes in regulating meridians and providing balanced tonification. It excels at managing joint pain, generating new blood, removing bad blood (blood stasis), expelling dead fetus, calming living fetus, breaking down accumulations and hardness, stopping metrorrhagia and leukorrhea, strengthening legs affected by Bi-syndrome and weakness, reducing redness and swelling of the eyes, calming the Spirit and dissipating nodules, tonifying Qi and strengthening Yin, dispersing goiters, warts, and malignant sores, discharging pus and generating flesh, warding off evil spirits and demons, nurturing righteousness and driving out pathogens, and treating intestinal murmurs that sound rolling downward like flowing water. Although its functions are numerous regarding Blood, it excels more in promoting Blood circulation. It is a herb for the Heart, Pericardium, and Liver meridians.
Commentary: Danshen’s color corresponds to the South Li Fire, entering exclusively into the Heart domain, specializing in governing Heart Blood. The ancients stated that Danshen alone possesses the efficacy of Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction), praising its ability to nourish Yin. Although it can tonify Blood, it excels in moving Blood. Therefore, those with deficient-cold Stomach Qi should take it sparingly, and pregnant women should not take it without cause.