苦微咸寒，无毒。炙黄用。
发明 《药性论》云，入药用苦李根皮。而仲景治奔豚气，奔豚丸用甘李根白皮。时珍
疑为二种，不知仲景言甘，是言李之甘，《药性》言苦是言根之苦。但宜用紫李根，则入厥
阴血分。若黄李根则入阳明气分矣。《别录》治消渴奔豚，《大明》治赤白痢下，《千金》
烧存性敷小儿丹毒，甄权治消渴香港脚，孟诜治妇人赤白带下，皆取苦咸降逆气也。李核仁苦
平入肝，疗僵仆瘀血骨痛，又能清血海中风气，令人有子，故承泽丸用之。其性散结，故能
解硫黄、白石英、附子毒。为末和鸡子白敷面 ，一宿即落，《千金方》也。《黄帝》云，
李子不可和白蜜食，蚀人五内。
苦辛甘温，小毒。汤泡去皮尖，研如泥用，两仁者有毒伤人。凡果花六出者必双
仁，得纯阴之气也。
《本经》主咳逆上气，雷鸣喉痹，下气产乳，金疮寒心奔豚。
发明 杏仁入手太阴经，辛能横行而散，苦能直行而降。遂为散血降气，定喘泄泻，散
结温燥，除肺中风热咳嗽，总不出《本经》主治也。《千金》以童便浸七日研如泥，治咳嗽
寒热。仲景麻黄汤用杏仁者，为其利气泻肺解肌也；至于陷胸、麻仁等圆，皆熬黑，研腻如
油，则知此物之性，愈熬黑愈润下矣。入肺寒喘逆发散药，连皮用之。又能治疮杀虫，用其
毒也。《本经》治金疮寒心者，伤处风藉内入胞络，而心下恶寒，用以涂封疮口，拨散风热
之邪也。言治奔豚者，辛能散结，温能下气也。元素言，润大肠气秘之，才言解邪毒。《别
录》言，杀狗毒，炒香消狗肉及索粉积，故六神曲用之。扁鹊云，杏仁不宜久服，令人面目
须发落，耗气之验也。今人以之混治阴虚喘嗽，转耗胸中大气，为患不浅。亡血家尤为切禁
，以其味辛、性温大能破血也。双仁者捣烂以车脂调涂，针断人肉，及箭镝在咽隔诸隐处，
敷之即出。巴旦杏仁则甘平无毒，能止咳下气，消心腹逆闷。杏实味酸，伤人筋骨，生者尤
甚。
【发明】《药性论》记载，入药使用的是苦李的根皮。而张仲景治疗奔豚气时，在奔豚丸中用的是甘李的根白皮。李时珍怀疑这是两种不同的药材，其实不知道张仲景所说的“甘”，是指李子味甘；《药性论》所说的“苦”，是指李根味苦。但应当使用紫李的根，因为它能进入厥阴经的血分。如果是黄李的根，则进入阳明经的气分。《名医别录》记载其治疗消渴和奔豚，《日华子本草》记载其治疗赤白痢疾，《千金方》记载将其烧存性后敷治小儿丹毒，甄权记载其治疗消渴和香港脚（足部肿痛），孟诜记载其治疗妇人赤白带下，这些都是取其苦、咸之性能降逆气。李核仁味苦、性平，入肝经，治疗跌仆瘀血和骨痛，又能清除血海中的风邪，使人能够生育，所以承泽丸中使用它。它的性质具有散结作用，所以能解除硫黄、白石英、附子的毒性。研成粉末与鸡蛋清调和敷面，一夜之后即可脱落，这是《千金方》的方法。《黄帝内经》说，李子不可与白蜜同食，会腐蚀人的五脏。
【杏仁】
味辛、甘，性温，有小毒。用汤浸泡后去皮尖，研磨如泥状使用，双仁的杏仁有毒，会伤害人体。凡是果实花朵有六瓣的必然会有双仁，这是因为得到了纯阴之气。
《神农本草经》主治咳嗽气逆、喉中鸣响、喉痹、下气、产后乳疾、金疮、寒心、奔豚。
【发明】杏仁归入手太阴肺经，辛味能横行发散，苦味能直行降泄。因此它是散血降气、定喘止泻、散结温燥、清除肺中风热咳嗽的药物，总括起来不出《神农本草经》所述的主治范围。《千金方》用童便浸泡七日，研磨如泥，治疗咳嗽寒热。张仲景在麻黄汤中使用杏仁，是因为它能利气、泻肺、解肌；至于陷胸汤、麻子仁丸等方剂，都将其炒黑，研磨细腻如油，由此可知此物的药性，炒得越黑，润下作用越强。对于肺寒引起的喘逆发散类药物，连皮一起使用。又能治疗疮疡、杀虫，是利用其毒性。《神农本草经》记载治疗金疮寒心，是因为伤口处的风邪借机内侵入胞络，导致心下恶寒，用它涂抹封闭疮口，以拨散风热之邪。说它能治疗奔豚，是因为辛味能散结，温性能下气。李杲（元素）说，它能润大肠，治疗气秘，才说它能解邪毒。《名医别录》说，它能杀狗毒，炒香后可消除狗肉及索粉（米粉类食物）积滞，所以六神曲的制作中使用了它。扁鹊说，杏仁不宜久服，会导致人面目胡须头发脱落，这是耗气的验证。现在有人用它来混合治疗阴虚喘咳，反而耗伤胸中的大气，危害不小。失血患者尤其严格禁止服用，因为其味辛、性温，大能破血。双仁的杏仁捣烂后用车脂调和涂抹，可拔出断绝的人肉，以及咽喉隔间等隐蔽处的箭头，敷上后即可排出。巴旦杏（扁桃仁）味甘、性平、无毒，能止咳下气，消除心腹逆闷。杏果实味酸，伤害筋骨，生用的伤害尤其严重。
[Li Gen Bai Pi (White Bark of Prunus Li Root)]
Bitter, slightly salty, cold in nature, non-toxic. Use after roasting.
[Invention/Commentary] *Yao Xing Lun* (Treatise on the Properties of Medicinals) states that the bark of the bitter plum root is used medicinally. However, Zhang Zhongjing, when treating Ben Tun Qi (Rushing Pig Gas), used the white bark of the sweet plum root in Ben Tun Wan. Li Shizhen suspected these were two different species, not realizing that when Zhang Zhongjing said "sweet," he referred to the sweetness of the plum fruit; when *Yao Xing Lun* said "bitter," it referred to the bitterness of the root. However, the purple plum root should be used, as it enters the blood aspect of the Jueyin channel. If the yellow plum root is used, it enters the qi aspect of the Yangming channel. *Mingyi Bielu* (Record of Famous Physicians) records its use for treating Xiao Ke (Wasting and Thirsting) and Ben Tun; *Ri Hua Zi Ben Cao* records its use for Chi Bai Li Xia (Dysentery with red and white discharge); *Qianjin Fang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) records burning it until carbonized but retaining its nature (Cun Xing) to apply externally for Xiao Er Dan Du (Infantile Erysipelas); Zhen Quan records its use for Xiao Ke and Hong Xiang Jiao (Hong Kong Foot/Foot Swelling); Meng Shen records its use for Fu Ren Chi Bai Dai Xia (Red and White Leukorrhea in Women). All these utilize its bitter and salty properties to descend rebellious Qi. The kernel of the plum pit is bitter and neutral, enters the Liver channel, treats traumatic blood stasis from falls and bone pain, clears Wind pathogen from the Blood Sea, promotes fertility, and is thus used in Cheng Ze Wan. Its nature disperses nodules, so it can detoxify Sulfur, Baimingshi (Quartz), and Fuzi (Aconite Root). Ground into powder and mixed with egg white for facial application, it detaches overnight, according to *Qianjin Fang*. *Huangdi Neijing* states that plums should not be eaten with white honey, as it corrodes the Five Viscera.
[Xing Ren (Apricot Seed)]
Acrid, sweet, warm in nature, slightly toxic. Soak in hot water, remove skin and tips, grind into a paste. Seeds with two kernels are toxic and harmful. Generally, fruits with six-petaled flowers necessarily have double kernels, possessing pure Yin Qi.
*Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) treats cough with rebellious Qi, roaring sounds in the throat, Hou Bi (Sore Throat/Glotitis), descending Qi, postpartum conditions, Jin Chuang (Metal Wounds/Traumatic Injuries), Han Xin (Cold Heart sensation), and Ben Tun.
[Invention/Commentary] Xing Ren enters the Hand Taiyin Lung Channel. Acridity allows it to move horizontally and disperse; bitterness allows it to move vertically and descend. Thus, it is a herb for dispersing blood, descending Qi, calming asthma, stopping diarrhea, dispersing nodules, warming and drying, and clearing Wind-Heat cough from the Lungs. This overall scope does not exceed the indications in *Shennong Bencao Jing*. *Qianjin Fang* uses child's urine to soak for seven days, then grinds into a paste to treat cough with alternating chills and fever. Zhang Zhongjing uses Xing Ren in Ma Huang Tang because it benefits Qi, drains the Lungs, and releases the muscle layer; in formulas like Xiong Bi Tang and Ma Ren Wan, it is roasted black and ground finely like oil, indicating that the darker it is roasted, the stronger its moistening and purgative action. For formulas treating Cold-Asthma-Rebellious Qi that involve dispersion, use the seed with the skin. It can also treat sores and kill parasites, utilizing its toxicity. *Shennong Bencao Jing*'s indication for Jin Chuang Han Xin implies that wind pathogens enter the Bao Luo (Pericardium Collaterals) through the wound site, causing cold sensation below the heart; applying it to seal the wound dispels Wind-Heat pathogens. Its ability to treat Ben Tun is due to acridity dispersing nodules and warmth descending Qi. Li Gao (Zi Yuan) stated it moistens the Large Intestine and treats Qi constipation, hence its description as resolving pathogenic toxins. *Mingyi Bielu* states it kills dog venom and, when roasted fragrant, resolves accumulation of dog meat and rice noodles; thus, it is used in Liu Shen Qu (Six Spirit Fermented Dough). Bian Que stated Xing Ren should not be taken long-term, as it causes hair loss on the face and body, verifying its Qi-consuming nature. Currently, some use it indiscriminately for Yin-Deficiency Asthma-Cough, which inadvertently depletes the Great Qi in the Chest, causing significant harm. Patients with blood loss are strictly contraindicated, as its acrid taste and warm nature strongly break blood. Double-kernel seeds, pounded and mixed with cartilage grease, can extract severed human flesh or arrowheads hidden in the throat or other concealed areas upon application. Badam Xing Ren (Almond) is sweet, neutral, non-toxic, calms cough, descends Qi, and resolves chest/abdominal fullness/rebellion. Apricot fruit is sour, damages sinews and bones, especially when raw.