在天则禀春阳生生之气，在地则感清和稼穑之甘，故甘平微寒无毒。如滋阴润肺去
心生用，如同脾肺药兼用，宜拌米炒黄用。
麦冬，治肺家伏火之邪，肺痿吐脓腥臭。补心脏劳伤虚损，心血错经妄行。益精
强阴，驱烦解渴。心腹结气能散，无克伐太过之伤；脾胃虚滞可消，有宽饱舒怀之益。
和颜色，悦肌肤，清膈上之稠痰；调四肢之经脉，去心下支满，退虚热客邪，经枯乳汁
不行，堪资作引。肺燥咳声连发，须仗为君同人参五味煎，名生脉散，专补元气。共地
黄、阿胶、麻仁用，能润经益血，复脉通心。滋燥金以壮水源，但专泄而不专收。中
寒有湿者少服，脾胃虚寒，产后泄泻者忌之。
主治（痘疹合参） 安五脏，润经益血，清热补心，生脉止烦，清心润肺宣痘，
五六朝肺气虚热，上喘作渴及痘无脓者可用。痘后尤宜，但不可早用，恐引毒内行，
若泄泻者尤忌之。
按∶麦门冬禀秋令之微寒，是以清心润肺之功居多。夫心火焦烦，势如盛暑，秋风
一至，炎蒸若失矣。较之天冬甘味稍多，寒性差减，更胜一筹。火盛气壮者多用、生用
并宜，气弱胃寒者少用、炒用为妙。
正禀大寒初之气以生，得地之阴精，独浓味，苦甘平，其气大寒，其性无毒，阴
也、降也。凡采取阴干去心用。
天冬，补虚损劳伤强髓，润五脏，悦颜色，养肌肤，解渴除烦消痰住嗽，保肺气不
被热扰，通肾气能除热淋，止血溢妄行，润粪燥闭结，同参 煎饮，定虚喘神方。和姜
蜜熬膏，破顽痰癖圣剂。肺痈肺痿能挽回垂绝，吐血吐脓诚夺命再生，苦泄止血，甘助
真元，寒退肺经火热，三者天冬之功焉。虚热人神妙，虚寒人忌投，麦冬清心以保肺，
天冬滋水以涵金，一以救上，一以滋下，其保肺同也。但上下寒热有殊，而天冬之宜禁
亦异矣。
主治（痘疹合参） 泻肺火保肺气，疗热毒上侵气分，吐衄咳逆喘促，兼能润燥而
止消渴，镇心润五脏。然痘以脾胃为主；伤脾寒胃，切勿轻投。若皮虚胃弱之人，尤宜
痛绝。
按∶天冬清金降火，益水之源，故能下通肾气，而滋补肾，主五液燥则凝而为痰，
得润剂则肺不苦燥，而痰自化，故湿火之痰，半夏主之；燥火之痰，天冬主之。若肺
胃虚寒，单服久服，必病肠滑而成痼疾。
在天时，它禀受了春季阳气生生不息的气机；在地时，它感应了清爽温和、适宜谷物生长的甘甜之性，因此味甘、性平、微寒，无毒。如果是为了滋阴润肺、清心火而使用，应当生用；如果作为脾肺两脏的药物兼用，适宜拌入米中炒至黄色后使用。
麦冬，能治疗肺家潜伏之火邪，以及肺痿引起的吐脓且气味腥臭。它能补益心脏因劳伤导致的虚损，调理心血错乱妄行。它能益精强阴，驱除烦热、解除口渴。心腹部的结气能够消散，且没有攻伐太过造成的伤害；脾胃的虚弱停滞可以消除，有宽胸舒怀的益处。它能调和面色，愉悦肌肤，清除膈上浓稠的痰液；调理四肢的经脉，去除心下支撑胀满感，退去虚热和客邪，对于经血枯竭、乳汁不行的情况，可以作为引药使用。肺燥导致咳嗽声连续发作，必须依靠它作为君药，与人参、五味子同煎，名为“生脉散”，专门补益元气。与地黄、阿胶、麻仁共同使用，能够润养经脉、补益血液，恢复脉搏、通利心脉。它能滋助肺金（燥金）以壮旺肾水（水源），但特性专于泄降而不专于收敛。中焦受寒且有湿气的患者应少服，脾胃虚寒及产后泄泻者忌用。
主治（结合痘疹病症参考）：安五脏，润养经脉、补益血液，清热补心，生津止烦，清心润肺以宣发痘毒，适用于痘疹五六天出现肺气虚热、上气喘促、口渴以及痘疮无脓的情况。痘疹后期尤其适宜，但不可以过早使用，恐怕引导毒邪内陷，如果有泄泻症状的患者尤其忌用。
按语：麦门冬禀受秋季令气的微寒，因此清心润肺的功效居多。心火焦躁烦闷，态势如同盛夏酷暑，秋风一到，炎热蒸腾之感便消失了。相比天门冬，它的甘味稍多，寒性略微减弱，更胜一筹。火盛气壮的人多用、生用都适宜，气弱胃寒的人少用、炒用为妙。
天门冬正禀受大寒初之气而生，得到地下的阴精，味道独厚，苦甘平，其气大寒，其性无毒，属于阴、主降。凡是采收后阴干并去掉心部使用。
天门冬，能补益虚损劳伤、强健骨髓，滋润五脏，悦泽面色，滋养肌肤，解渴除烦、消痰止咳，保护肺气不被热邪扰乱，通利肾气以除去热淋，止血溢妄行，润肠通便缓解燥结，与人参同煎饮用，是定止虚喘的神方。与姜蜜熬制成膏，是破除顽痰癖积的圣剂。肺痈肺痿能挽回垂危生命，吐血吐脓确实有起死回生之效，苦味泄热止血，甘味助益真元，寒性退去肺经火热，这三点是天门冬的功效。对虚热体质的人效果神妙，对虚寒体质的人忌用。麦冬清心以保肺，天门冬滋水以涵金（肺），一个用于救上焦，一个用于滋下焦，它们保肺的作用相同。但上下寒热有所不同，因此天门冬的禁忌也与此不同。
主治（结合痘疹病症参考）：泻肺火、保肺气，治疗热毒上侵气分，吐血衄血、咳嗽逆气、喘促，兼能润燥并止消渴，镇心安神、滋润五脏。然而痘疹的治疗以脾胃为主；损伤脾阳、寒凉胃气，切勿轻易投用。如果是皮肤虚浮、胃气虚弱的人，尤其应该痛绝禁用。
按语：天门冬清肃肺金、降泄火邪，补益肾水之源，因此能下通肾气，而滋补肾阴。主管五液，干燥则凝结为痰，得到润剂则肺不感到苦燥，痰自然化解，所以湿火之痰，由半夏主治；燥火之痰，由天门冬主治。如果肺胃虚寒，单服久服，必然导致肠滑腹泻而成顽固疾病。
In the heavens, it inherits the vitalizing energy of spring yang; in the earth, it perceives the sweet nature of clear and mild conditions suitable for grain cultivation. Therefore, its taste is sweet, nature is neutral to slightly cold, and it is non-toxic. If used to nourish yin, moisten the lungs, and clear heart fire, it should be used raw; if used as a medicine for both the spleen and lungs, it is suitable to stir-fry with rice until yellow.
Ophiopogon tuber (Maidong), treats latent fire pathogens in the lung house, and pulmonary abscess/withered lung (Fei Wei) causing expectoration of pus with a fishy odor. It supplements heart deficiency and injury caused by overwork, regulates chaotic and reckless bleeding of heart blood. It benefits essence and strengthens yin, dispels vexation and relieves thirst. It can dissipate qi stagnation in the chest and abdomen without causing excessive damage from harsh purgation; it can eliminate deficiency and stagnation in the spleen and stomach, providing the benefit of relieving fullness and soothing the mind. It harmonizes complexion and pleases the skin, clears thick phlegm above the diaphragm; regulates meridians of the four limbs, removes subcostal distension, retreats deficient heat and external pathogens. For cases of dried meridians where lactation does not flow, it serves well as an guiding drug. When lung dryness causes continuous coughing, it must rely on this herb as the sovereign drug, decocted together with Ginseng root (Renshen) and Schisandra fruit (Wuweizi), named "Shengmai San" (Generate the Pulse Powder), specifically to supplement primordial qi. Used together with Rehmannia root (Dihuang), Donkey-hide gelatin (Ejiao), and Sesame seed (Maren), it can moisten meridians and benefit blood, restore the pulse and unblock the heart. It nourishes Lung Metal (Dry Metal) to strengthen Kidney Water, but its nature specializes in draining rather than astringing. Patients with middle jiao cold and dampness should take less; those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold and postpartum diarrhea are forbidden to use it.
Indications (referencing smallpox/variolae): Calms the five zang organs, moistens meridians and benefits blood, clears heat and supplements the heart, generates fluids and stops vexation, clears heart and moistens lungs to vent rashes. It can be used when, on the fifth or sixth day of rash, there is lung qi deficiency with heat, upper asthma, thirst, and pustules that do not form pus. It is especially suitable after the rash, but should not be used early, lest it guide toxins inward. It is particularly contraindicated in patients with diarrhea.
Note: Ophiopogon tuber (Maimendong) inherits the slight cold of autumn regulations, thus having mostly the effects of clearing the heart and moistening the lungs. Heart fire causing焦烦 (scorching vexation) is like midsummer heat; once the autumn wind arrives, the hot steaming sensation disappears. Compared with Asparagus tuber (Tiandong), it has slightly more sweet taste and slightly less cold nature, making it superior. Those with abundant fire and strong qi may use it more and raw; those with weak qi and cold stomach should use it sparingly and stir-fried.
Asparagus tuber (Tiandong) is born precisely inheriting the initial qi of great cold, obtaining the yin essence of the earth, possessing a rich flavor. Its taste is bitter and sweet, nature is neutral, its qi is greatly cold, and its nature is non-toxic. It belongs to yin and descending. Generally, it is harvested, dried in shade, and the core removed before use.
Asparagus tuber (Tiandong), supplements deficiency and injury, strengthens marrow, moistens the five zang organs, beautifies complexion, nourishes skin, relieves thirst and vexation, eliminates phlegm and stops cough, protects lung qi from heat disturbance, unblocks kidney qi to remove painful urinary dysfunction (Lin syndrome), stops reckless bleeding, moistens stool to relieve dry constipation. Decocted and drunk with Ginseng root (Renshen), it is a divine prescription for stabilizing deficiency asthma. Boiled into paste with ginger and honey, it is a holy remedy for breaking stubborn phlegm and masses. It can rescue critical cases of lung abscess and withered lung; stopping vomiting of blood and pus truly saves lives. Bitterness drains and stops bleeding, sweetness assists true yuan, coldness retreats lung meridian fire—these three are the merits of Asparagus tuber (Tiandong). It works miraculously for people with deficiency-heat, but is contraindicated for those with deficiency-cold. Ophiopogon clears the heart to protect the lungs; Asparagus nourishes water to contain metal. One saves the upper, one nourishes the lower; their function of protecting the lungs is the same. However, the cold and heat of the upper and lower differ, so the contraindications for Asparagus also differ.
Indications (referencing smallpox/variolae): Drains lung fire and protects lung qi, treats heat toxin invading the qi level, epistaxis/hematemesis, cough, counterflow, and asthma. It also moistens dryness and stops polydipsia, calms the heart and moistens the five zang organs. However, rash treatment focuses on the spleen and stomach; damaging spleen yang and chilling the stomach, one must not lightly administer it. For those with flaccid skin and weak stomach qi, it should be strictly avoided.
Note: Asparagus tuber (Tiangdong) clears Lung Metal and descends fire, benefiting the source of Kidney Water. Thus, it can descend to unblock kidney qi and nourish the kidneys. It governs the five fluids; when dry, they congeal into phlegm. With moistening agents, the lungs no longer suffer from dryness, and phlegm transforms naturally. Therefore, Phlegm from damp-fire is treated by Pinellia ternata (Banxia); Phlegm from dry-fire is treated by Asparagus tuber (Tiandong). If the lungs and stomach are deficient and cold, taking it alone for a long time will inevitably cause intestinal sliding and diarrhea, becoming a chronic disease.