味甘咸，平，无毒，补肾健胃，与诸疾无禁，可常食之，大补肾气。空心煮豇豆，
入盐少许，食之甚效。
豇豆，理中益气，补肾健胃，和五脏调营卫，生精止渴，吐逆泻痢，小便涩数，解
鼠莽毒，专治水肿。如人肾形乃肾谷也，每日盐汤食之良。
味甘微温，无毒。
刀豆，温中下气，益肾补元，和脾胃，止呃逆，有病后呃逆声闻邻家者，取刀豆
子，烧存性，白汤调服二钱即止，取其下气归元，故逆即止也。
干姜，禀天地之阳气，故味辛而气温，虽大热而无毒。辛可散邪理结，温可除寒通
气。入发散药用生姜，入辛凉药用姜皮，入温中药用炮姜，系干姜水洗，火炙松黄。入
补血止血，及引火下趋药，用黑姜，系干姜切块炒红，以器闷息为炭。入脾胃止泻药。
用煨姜，系老生姜去皮，湿纸裹煨熟。
生姜，性窜不收，解风寒湿痹，痰痈鼻塞，头痛外感，皮肤间结气，通神明，辟恶
气，霍乱胀满，一切中恶诸毒，疟症痰症，能和营卫，而行脾之津液，入肺而开胃口，
脾胃诸病，皆所重焉。但阴虚火盛汗门血门，心气耗散，火热腹疼，并切忌之。生姜
皮，消浮肿腹胀，煨姜，塞溏泻水泻。干姜，破血消痰，腹痛胃翻均可服，温中下
气， 瘕积胀悉皆除，开胃扶脾，消食去滞，生行则发汗，有灵炮黑，则止血颇验。
炮姜能止而不移，故功专温中，却沉寒痼冷，亡阳绝脉，炒黑止吐血痢血。
主治（痘疹合参） 炮姜能温脾理中，内虚吐利，脏腑沉寒，脾胃虚冷，中气不
足，身凉痘白者，宜用内实，壮热者忌之。煨姜，治痘吐泻，痘疮灰白，不起者用之。
以止吐和中，助阳发表，佐参 之力。生姜隔年老者佳，去寒邪头痛，鼻塞，主咳呕吐
痰解郁开胃，消食散寒，胀满冷痢，腹痛转筋。生用发散，热用温中，要热去皮，要凉
留皮，治痘惟宜于初起，重冒风寒者暂用。
按∶生姜辛温，谓其能除壮热，何也？盖壮热之源，非外感风邪，即内伤饮食以能
发散，又能消导也，东垣曰∶生姜为呕家圣药，润而不燥，盖呕乃气逆不散，辛以散之
也。夜勿食姜者，夜则主敛，反开发之，违天道矣，秋勿食姜，亦同此义，然有病则不
论也。夫辛能入肺，肺旺则一身之气皆为吾用，中焦之元气充，而定脾胃出纳之令，壮
而行邪气，不能容矣。凡中风中暑，中气中毒中酒，食厥痰厥尸厥冷厥霍乱昏晕，一切
暴病，得之立效，早行含姜，不犯雾露之气，及山岚不正之邪，皆以其能开提中正神
明之气，而辟秽恶不正之邪，药中之神圣也。
按∶姜味大辛，辛能僭上，生则逐寒邪而发表，炮则除胃冷而守中，多服久服，散
气耗血损阴，书云∶孕妇食干姜，令胎内消之，语可见矣。凡血虚发热，产后大热，吐
血痢血，须炒黑用、则辛窜上行之势。全无苦咸下走之捷。乃见能引血药入血，气药入
气，去恶生新，有阳生阴长之意，且黑为水色，血不妄行，从治之法也。况干姜苦辛
炮制则苦，守而不移，非若附子。行而不止，若至炒黑，则辛辣变为苦咸，味即下
走，黑又止血，辛热之性虽无，辛凉之性尚
在，故能去血中之郁热而不寒，止吐血之妄行，行而不滞。较之别药，徒以黑为能，止
血为事者，功胜十倍，血寒者可多用，血热者不过三四分，为问导而已。
豇豆：味甘、咸，性平，无毒。具有补肾健胃的功效，患各种疾病时均可食用，没有禁忌，可以经常吃，能大补肾气。空腹煮豇豆，加入少许盐食用，效果很好。豇豆能调理中焦、益气，补肾健胃，调和五脏、调节营卫，生津止渴，治疗呕吐逆气、腹泻痢疾，小便涩滞频数，解除鼠莽草的毒性，专门治疗水肿。因为豇豆的形状像肾脏，所以被称为“肾谷”，每天用盐水送服，很有好处。
刀豆：味甘，微温，无毒。刀豆能温中降气，益肾补元，调和脾胃，止住呃逆。对于病后呃逆声音大到邻居都能听到的情况，取刀豆子烧至存性（保留药性），用白开水调服二钱即可停止，这是利用它下气归元的功效，所以呃逆就能停止。
干姜：禀受天地的阳气，所以味道辛而气温，虽然大热但无毒。辛味可以发散邪气、理顺气结，温性可以驱除寒气、通畅气机。在用于发散的方剂中使用生姜；在用于辛凉性质的方剂中使用姜皮；在用于温中的方剂中使用炮姜（系干姜用水洗过，用火烤至松黄）；在用于补血止血及引火下行的方剂中使用黑姜（系将干姜切块炒红，用容器闷熄成炭）；在用于脾胃止泻的方剂中使用煨姜（系老生姜去皮，用湿纸包裹煨熟）。
生姜：性质走窜而不收敛，能解除风寒湿痹、痰核痈肿、鼻塞、头痛外感、皮肤间的郁结之气，通利神明，辟除恶气，治疗霍乱胀满，以及一切中恶诸毒、疟疾、痰症等。它能调和营卫，运行脾脏的津液，进入肺脏而开启胃口，对于脾胃的各种疾病都非常重要。但是，阴虚火旺、汗孔开泄、血证患者，心气耗散，火热腹痛者，必须切忌使用。生姜皮能消除浮肿腹胀，煨姜能治疗溏泻和水泻。干姜能破血消痰，腹痛胃反都可以服用，温中降气，瘕积胀满都能消除，开胃扶脾，消食去滞。生用则能发汗，经过灵妙炮制变成黑姜，则止血效果显著。炮姜能止住寒邪而不移动，所以功效专于温中，祛除沉寒痼冷、亡阳绝脉，炒黑后能止吐血和痢疾便血。
主治（痘疹合参）：炮姜能温脾理中，适用于内虚吐利、脏腑沉寒、脾胃虚冷、中气不足、身体发凉、痘色苍白者；若体内实热、壮热者忌用。煨姜用于治疗痘疮引起的呕吐腹泻，痘疮颜色灰白、不能起发者使用，以止吐和中，助阳发表，辅助人参的力量。生姜以隔年的为佳，能去除寒邪引起的头痛、鼻塞，主治咳嗽呕吐痰多、解郁开胃、消食散寒、胀满冷痢、腹痛转筋。生用用于发散，热用用于温中，需要清热时去皮，需要清凉时留皮，治疗痘疹只适宜在初起阶段，因重冒风寒而暂时使用。
按语：生姜味辛温，为什么说它能清除壮热呢？因为壮热的根源，不是外感风邪，就是内伤饮食，生姜既能发散又能消导。李东垣说：生姜是呕吐患者的圣药，滋润而不燥烈，因为呕吐是气逆不散，用辛味来疏散它。晚上不要食用生姜，因为夜间主收敛，食用生姜反而开发阳气，违背天道了。秋天也不要食用生姜，也是同样的道理，然而如果有病则不论此限。辛味能入肺，肺气旺盛则全身的气都为我所用，中焦的元气充足，就能确立脾胃纳运的指令，壮大正气而使邪气无法容身。凡是中风、中暑、中气、中毒、中酒、食厥、痰厥、尸厥、冷厥、霍乱、昏晕等一切突发急病，服用生姜立刻见效。早晨出行含服生姜，不沾染雾露之气，以及山岚不正的邪气，都是因为它能开提中正神明之气，而辟除秽恶不正之邪，是药物中的神圣之物。
按语：姜味大辛，辛味容易僭越上行，生用时驱逐寒邪而发表，炮制后则去除胃冷而守中。多服久服会散气耗血损阴，书上说：孕妇食用干姜，会导致胎气内消，由此可见其危害。凡是血虚发热、产后大热、吐血、痢血，必须炒黑使用，这样就没有辛窜上行的势头，只有苦咸下走的快捷。于是能看到它能引导血药入血分，气药入气分，去恶生新，有阳生阴长的意思。而且黑色对应水色，血液不妄行，这是从治的方法。况且干姜苦辛，炮制后变苦，守而不移，不像附子那样行而不止。如果炒黑，辛辣变为苦咸，味道即向下走，黑色又止血，虽然失去了辛热的性质，但辛凉的性质还在，所以能去除血中的郁热而不寒凉，止住吐血的妄行，行而不滞。与其他药物仅仅以黑为能事、仅以止血为目的相比，功效胜过十倍。血寒者可以多用，血热者不过三四分，作为向导引导药力而已。
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata): Sweet and salty in flavor, neutral in nature, non-toxic. It benefits the kidneys and strengthens the stomach. There are no contraindications for various diseases, and it can be consumed regularly to greatly tonify Kidney Qi (Kidney Energy). Boiling cowpeas on an empty stomach with a little salt and eating them is very effective. Cowpea regulates the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner), boosts Qi, benefits the kidneys, strengthens the stomach, harmonizes the Five Zang Organs (Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lung, Kidney), regulates Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi), generates fluids, and quenches thirst. It treats vomiting, diarrhea, and dysentery, astringent and frequent urination, resolves toxicity from *Rhus verniciflua* (poison lacquer tree), and specifically treats edema. Since its shape resembles the kidney, it is considered the "grain of the kidney." Consuming it daily with salt water is beneficial.
Jack Bean (*Canavalia gladiata*): Sweet in flavor, slightly warm, non-toxic. Jack bean warms the Middle Jiao, directs rebellious Qi downward, benefits the kidneys, and supplements Yuan Qi (Original Qi). It harmonizes the spleen and stomach and stops hiccups. For post-illness hiccups so loud they can be heard by neighbors, take jack bean seeds, burn them until they retain their medicinal properties (charcoalization), mix with white boiled water, and take two qian (approx. 6-10g) to stop immediately. This utilizes its ability to direct Qi downward to the origin, thus stopping the hiccups.
Dried Ginger (*Zingiberis Rhizoma*): Endowed with the Yang Qi of Heaven and Earth, it is pungent in flavor and warm in nature. Although greatly hot, it is non-toxic. Pungency can disperse pathogens and resolve stagnation; warmth can dispel cold and unblock Qi. In dispersing formulas, use Fresh Ginger (*Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens*). In pungent-cooling formulas, use Ginger Peel. In warming-the-Middle formulas, use Processed Ginger (Pao Jiang), which is Dried Ginger washed with water and roasted over fire until loose and yellow. In blood-tonifying and hemostatic formulas, or those guiding Fire downward, use Black Ginger (Hei Jiang), made by cutting Dried Ginger into blocks, stir-frying until red, and extinguishing in a container to form charcoal. In spleen-stomach anti-diarrheal formulas, use Baked Ginger (Wei Jiang), made by peeling old fresh ginger, wrapping it in wet paper, and baking until cooked.
Fresh Ginger (*Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens*): Its nature is penetrating and not astringent. It resolves wind-cold-damp bi-syndrome, phlegm nodules, nasal congestion, headache due to external contraction, qi stagnation in the skin, clears the mind, expels evil qi, treats cholera-like distension and fullness, all cases of sudden evil poisoning, malaria, and phlegm syndromes. It harmonizes Ying and Wei, circulates the fluids of the Spleen, enters the Lungs to open the appetite, and is highly valued for various spleen and stomach diseases. However, it must be strictly avoided in cases of Yin deficiency with hyperactive fire, open sweat pores, blood disorders, scattered Heart Qi, and abdominal pain due to excessive heat. Ginger Peel reduces edema and abdominal distension. Baked Ginger treats loose stools and watery diarrhea. Dried Ginger breaks blood stasis and resolves phlegm; it can be taken for abdominal pain and gastric reversal. It warms the middle, directs Qi downward, eliminates masses and distension, opens the stomach, supports the spleen, removes food stagnation, and promotes digestion. Raw use induces sweating; cleverly processed black ginger is very effective for stopping bleeding. Processed Ginger (Pao Jiang) stops symptoms without moving, so its function specializes in warming the middle, dispelling deep-seated cold and chronic cold, Yang collapse, and faint pulse. Charred black ginger stops hematemesis and bloody dysentery.
Main Indications (Integrating Smallpox and Rash Diseases): Processed Ginger warms the spleen and regulates the middle. It is suitable for internal deficiency with vomiting and diarrhea, deep cold in the zang-fu organs, cold deficiency of the spleen and stomach, insufficient Central Qi, cool body temperature, and pale smallpox lesions. It is contraindicated in cases of internal excess and high fever. Baked Ginger treats vomiting and diarrhea associated with smallpox, and grayish-white, non-elevating smallpox lesions. It stops vomiting, harmonizes the middle, assists Yang to release the exterior, and complements the power of Ginseng. Old fresh ginger (from the previous year) is best. It removes cold pathogens causing headache and nasal congestion, treats cough, vomiting, and phlegm, resolves depression, opens the stomach, removes food stagnation, dispels cold, treats distension and cold dysentery, and abdominal pain with muscle twitching. Raw use is for dispersion; heat application is for warming the middle. Remove the peel for clearing heat; keep the peel for cooling effects. For smallpox, it is only suitable in the early stages for temporary use when heavily exposed to wind and cold.
Commentary: Fresh ginger is pungent and warm. Why is it said to clear high fever? The source of high fever is either external wind-pathogen invasion or internal dietary injury. Ginger can both disperse and digest. Li Dongyuan stated: "Ginger is the sacred medicine for vomiters." It is moistening rather than drying. Vomiting is caused by stagnant rebellious Qi; pungency disperses it. One should not eat ginger at night because night governs consolidation/astringency; eating ginger opposes this by promoting dispersion, violating the Way of Heaven. Autumn consumption of ginger is also discouraged for the same reason, unless one is ill, in which case these rules do not apply. Pungency enters the Lungs. When Lung Qi is prosperous, the Qi of the whole body serves us. When the Original Qi of the Middle Jiao is sufficient, it establishes the command of spleen and stomach intake and output. Strong Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) cannot tolerate pathogenic factors. For all sudden acute diseases such as wind-stroke, heat-stroke, Qi obstruction, poisoning, alcohol intoxication, food syncope, phlegm syncope, corpse syncope, cold syncope, cholera, and fainting, ginger produces immediate results. Chewing ginger in the morning while walking prevents exposure to fog, dew, and mountain miasma. This is because it can elevate the upright, bright spirit Qi and repel foul and abnormal pathogens. It is the divine and sacred among medicines.
Commentary: Ginger has a strong pungent flavor. Pungency tends to ascend excessively. Raw ginger drives out cold pathogens and releases the exterior; processed ginger removes stomach cold and secures the middle. Long-term and heavy consumption scatters Qi, consumes Blood, and damages Yin. Books state that pregnant women eating dried ginger causes fetal resorption, illustrating its danger. For Blood deficiency with fever, postpartum high fever, hematemesis, and bloody dysentery, it must be charred black. This eliminates its ascending and penetrating momentum, leaving only the descending effect of bitter and salty flavors. Thus, it can guide blood-invigorating herbs into the Blood level and Qi-regulating herbs into the Qi level, removing evil and generating new, embodying the principle of Yang generating Yin. Moreover, black corresponds to the Water element; if Blood does not flow recklessly, this is a method of treating contrary to the disease's manifestation. Furthermore, Dried Ginger is bitter and pungent; processing makes it bitter. It remains fixed and does not move, unlike Aconite (*Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata*), which moves without staying. If charred black, the pungent-spicy flavor becomes bitter-salty, directing downward. Black also stops bleeding. Although the pungent-hot nature is gone, the pungent-cool nature remains. Therefore, it can remove stagnant heat in the Blood without being cold, stop reckless hematemesis, and move without stagnation. Compared to other drugs that merely use charring for hemostasis, its efficacy is ten times greater. For Blood cold, it can be used in larger doses; for Blood heat, only 3-4 fen (approx. 1-1.2g) is needed as a guiding agent.