远志∶味酸微辛，性平。其酸也能 ，其辛也能辟，故其性善理肺，能使肺叶之 辟纯任自然，而肺中之
呼吸于以调，痰涎于以化，即咳嗽于以止矣。若以甘草辅之，诚为养肺要药，至其酸敛之力，入肝能敛戢肝火，
入肾能固涩滑脱，入胃又能助生酸汁，使人多进饮食，和平纯粹之品，夫固无所不宜也。若用水煎取浓汁，去
渣重煎，令其汁浓若薄糊，以敷肿疼疮疡及乳痈甚效，若恐其日久发酵，每一两可加蓬砂二钱溶化其中。
愚初次细嚼远志尝之，觉其味酸而实兼有矾味，西人谓其含有林檎酸，而林檎酸中固无矾也。后乃因用
此药，若末服至二钱可作呕吐，乃知其中确含有矾味，因悟矾能利痰，其所以能利痰者，亦以其含有矾味也。
矾能解毒，《本草纲目》谓其解天雄、附子、乌头毒，且并能除疮疡肿疼者，亦以其兼有矾味也。是以愚用此
药入汤剂时，未尝过二钱，恐多用之亦可作呕吐也。
龙胆草∶味苦微酸，性寒，色黄属土，为胃家正药。其苦也
能降胃气、坚胃质，其酸也能补益胃中酸汁、消化饮食，凡胃热气逆、胃汁短少、不能食者，服之可以开胃进
食，西人浑以健胃药称之，似欠精细。为其微酸属木，故又能入胆肝、滋肝血、益胆汁、降肝胆之热使不上炎，
举凡目疾、吐血、衄血、二便下血、惊痫、眩晕、因肝胆有热而致病者，皆能愈之。其泻肝胆实热之力，数倍
于芍药，而以敛戢肝胆虚热，固不如芍药也。
远志：味道酸而微带辛，药性平和。它的酸味能够收敛，它的辛味能够发散，所以它善于调理肺脏，能使肺叶的舒张与收缩完全顺应自然规律，从而使得肺中的呼吸得以调和，痰涎得以化解，咳嗽也就随之停止了。如果用甘草来辅助它，这确实是滋养肺脏的重要药物。至于它酸敛的力量，进入肝脏能收敛抑制肝火，进入肾脏能固涩防止滑脱（如遗精、滑泄等），进入胃又能帮助生成酸性消化液，使人增加食欲。这是一种和平纯粹的药材，确实没有什么不适合应用的。如果用水煎煮取浓汁，去掉药渣后再次煎煮，使药汁浓稠如薄糊状，用来外敷肿胀疼痛的疮疡以及乳痈（急性乳腺炎）非常有效。如果担心它放置久了会发酵变质，每一两药中可加入硼砂二钱溶解在其中。
我初次细细咀嚼远志品尝时，觉得它味道酸，但实际上兼有明矾的味道。西方人认为它含有苹果酸，但苹果酸中本来就没有明矾的成分。后来因为使用此药，如果是粉末服用达到二钱，会引起呕吐，这才知道其中确实含有明矾的味道。由此领悟到明矾能利化痰涎，它之所以能利痰，也是因为它含有明矾的味道。明矾能解毒，《本草纲目》说它能解天雄、附子、乌头的毒，并且也能消除疮疡肿痛，也是因为其中兼有明矾的味道。因此，我在将远志用于汤剂时，从未超过二钱，恐怕多用也会引起呕吐。
龙胆草：味道苦而微酸，药性寒凉，颜色黄属土，是治疗胃病的正药。它的苦味能降逆胃气、坚固胃体，它的酸味能补益胃中的酸性消化液、帮助消化饮食。凡是胃中有热、气机上逆、胃中津液短少、不能进食的人，服用它可以开胃进食。西方人笼统地称之为健胃药，似乎不够精细。因为它微酸属木，所以又能进入胆和肝，滋养肝血、增加胆汁、降低肝胆的热邪使其不向上熏蒸。大凡眼疾、吐血、鼻出血、大小便下血、惊风癫痫、眩晕等症状，如果是因肝胆有热而导致的疾病，都能治愈。它泻除肝胆实热的力量，是芍药的数倍；但在收敛抑制肝胆虚热方面，却不如芍药。
Polygala Radix (Yuanzhi): It tastes sour with a slight pungency and has a neutral nature. Its sour property can astringe, and its pungent property can disperse; therefore, it is good at regulating the Lung, allowing the expansion and contraction of lung tissue to follow natural laws, thereby harmonizing respiration within the lungs, transforming phlegm and saliva, and stopping cough. When assisted by Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), it is indeed an essential herb for nourishing the Lung. Regarding its astringent power, when entering the Liver, it can restrain Liver Fire; when entering the Kidney, it can consolidate and prevent slipping (such as seminal emission or incontinence); when entering the Stomach, it can assist in generating acidic digestive juices, promoting appetite. It is a mild and pure substance, suitable for almost all conditions. If decocted in water to obtain a thick liquid, filtered, and then re-decocted until the liquid is thick like a thin paste, it is very effective for applying externally to swollen, painful sores and mastitis (Ru Yong). If concerned about fermentation over time, two qian of Borax (Pengsha) can be added per liang of the herb to dissolve within it.
When I first chewed Polygala Radix carefully, I found it tasted sour but actually had a flavor resembling alum. Westerners claim it contains malic acid, but malic acid does not contain alum components. Later, upon using this herb, if taken as powder up to two qian, it could induce vomiting, leading me to realize it indeed contains alum-like properties. From this, I deduced that alum can benefit the expulsion of phlegm, and its ability to do so is due to its alum-like content. Alum can detoxify; *Bencao Gangmu* states it resolves the toxicity of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Tianxiong), Aconiti Radix (Fuzi), and Aconiti Radix (Wutou), and can also eliminate swelling and pain from sores, precisely because it possesses these alum-like properties. Therefore, when I use this herb in decoctions, I never exceed two qian, fearing that excessive use might induce vomiting.
Gentianae Radix (Longdancao): It tastes bitter with a slight sourness and has a cold nature. Its yellow color corresponds to Earth, making it a primary herb for treating the Stomach. Its bitterness can descend Stomach Qi and strengthen Stomach substance; its sourness can replenish acidic juices in the Stomach and aid digestion. For cases of Stomach Heat with rebellious Qi, insufficient Stomach fluids, and inability to eat, taking it can open the appetite and promote food intake. Westerners generally classify it merely as a stomachic, which seems imprecise. Because its slight sourness corresponds to Wood, it can also enter the Gallbladder and Liver, nourish Liver Blood, increase bile secretion, and descend Gallbladder and Liver heat to prevent it from flaring upward. It can cure eye diseases, hematemesis, epistaxis, bleeding from the lower orifices, convulsions, epilepsy, and vertigo caused by Gallbladder and Liver heat. Its power to drain excess heat from the Gallbladder and Liver is several times that of Paeoniae Radix Alba (Shaoyao); however, in restraining deficient heat of the Gallbladder and Liver, it is inferior to Shaoyao.