\r丹参\pq2a1.bmp\r
功同四物。能去瘀以生新。色合南离。善疗风而散结。性平和而走血。须知两达乎心
肝。味甘苦以调经。不过专通于营分。（丹参虽有参名。但补血之力不足。活血之功有余。
为调理血分之首药。其所以疗风痹去结积者。亦血行风自灭。血行则积自行耳。）
\r沙参\pq2a.bmp\r
补肺阴之不足。甘苦微寒。降金令之有余。整肃上热。疏痰利咳。南参力薄形松。体
润质坚。北者功优性滑。（沙参处处山原沙地皆有之。古无南北之分。然观各家本草云。其
色白。其根多汁等语。似指北参而言。若南参则质粗大而松。气薄味淡。大抵甘寒入肺。清
养之功。北逊于南。其润降之性。南不及北耳。南北之分。亦各随地土之所出。故大小不同
。质坚质松有异也。）
\r元参\pq2.bmp\r
入肾滋阴。皆取咸寒归下部。清咽利膈。都因润降引浮阳。故又兼达肺经。除上焦之
烦热。且可潜消 毒。退时气之温邪。性滑色玄。滞脾妨胃。（元参一名黑参。其色玄。
其质润。甘咸而寒。功专入肾。其种种治法。皆不外乎壮水潜阳。肺不受火刑逼之意。至于
温疫 疹。皆恐热伤肾水。故可用之。古人有五参之名。以五色配五脏。此亦其一也。近道
山谷处处有之。）
丹参
功效与四物汤相当。能够祛除瘀血以生成新血。颜色对应南方离火（红色）。善于治疗风邪并消散结块。药性平和而作用于血分。须知它能同时通达心和肝两经。味道甘苦以调理月经。不过它专门通行于营分。（丹参虽然名字中带有“参”字，但补血的力量不足，活血的功效有余。它是调理血分的首选药物。它之所以能治疗风痹、去除积聚，也是因为血行则风自灭，血行则积滞自行消除的道理。）
沙参
补充肺阴的不足。味甘、苦，微寒。制约肺气（金）的有余。清除上部的热邪。疏通痰液，利于止咳。南沙参力量薄弱，质地疏松。体态滋润，质地坚硬。北沙参功效更优，性质滑利。（沙参在各地的山野沙地都有生长。古代没有南北之分。然而观察各家本草著作中的描述，如“其色白，其根多汁”等话语，似乎是指北沙参而言。如果是南沙参，则质地粗大而疏松，气味淡薄味道清淡。大致来说，南沙参甘寒入肺，清养的功效，北方不及南方；其润降的性质，南方也不及北方罢了。南北沙参的区别，也是各自随产地土壤不同，所以大小不同，质地有坚有松的差异。）
玄参
进入肾脏滋阴。都是取其咸寒之性归于下部。清利咽喉，通畅膈部。都因为润降之性引导浮越的阳气回归。所以又能兼达肺经。清除上焦的烦热。并且可以潜消毒邪。退去时气温病的热邪。药性滑利，颜色黑。容易阻滞脾气，妨碍胃功能。（玄参又名黑参。它的颜色黑。它的质地滋润。味甘、咸，性寒。功效专门入肾。它的各种治疗方法，都不外乎壮水制阳、防止肺受火刑逼迫的意思。至于温疫、疹病，都担心热邪损伤肾水，所以可以使用它。古人有“五参”的名称，用五色配五脏，这也是其中之一。近代在山谷各处都有生长。）
Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma)
Its efficacy is comparable to Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction). It can remove blood stasis to generate new blood. Its color corresponds to the South Li Fire (red). It is good at treating wind pathogens and dissipating nodules. Its nature is mild and it acts on the blood level. It must be known that it simultaneously reaches the Heart and Liver meridians. Its sweet and bitter taste regulates menstruation. However, it specifically circulates through the Ying (Nutritive) level. (Although Danshen bears the name "Shen" (Ginseng), its power to tonify blood is insufficient, while its merit in invigorating blood is abundant. It is the premier herb for regulating the blood level. The reason it treats wind-bi [wind-dampness obstruction] and removes accumulations is also based on the principle that when blood flows, wind extinguishes itself; when blood flows, accumulations move naturally.)
Shashen (Adenophorae Radix or Glehniae Radix)
Tonifies the insufficiency of Lung Yin. Sweet, bitter, slightly cold. Restrains the excess of Metal (Lung Qi). Clears upper heat. Disperses phlegm and benefits cough. Nan Shen (Southern Shashen) has weak efficacy and loose texture. Its body is moist and its substance is firm. Bei Shen (Northern Shashen) has superior efficacy and a slippery nature. (Shashen grows in mountains, plains, and sandy soils everywhere. In ancient times, there was no distinction between North and South. However, observing various Bencao [Materia Medica] texts, descriptions such as "its color is white, its root is juicy" seem to refer to Bei Shen. If referring to Nan Shen, then its texture is coarse and large, yet loose, with faint qi and bland taste. Generally speaking, Nan Shen is sweet and cold, entering the Lung meridian; its function of clearing and nourishing is inferior to Bei Shen; its property of moistening and descending is also inferior to Bei Shen. The distinction between North and South arises from their respective origins in different soils, hence differences in size and firmness versus looseness.)
Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix)
Enters the Kidney to nourish Yin. All rely on its salty and cold nature to descend to the lower part. Clears the throat and benefits the diaphragm. This is all due to its moistening and descending nature guiding floating Yang back down. Thus, it also reaches the Lung meridian. It eliminates irritability and heat in the Upper Jiao. Furthermore, it can subdue toxins and retreat the warm pathogens of seasonal epidemics. Its nature is slippery, its color is dark/black. It may obstruct Spleen Qi and hinder Stomach function. (Xuanshen is also named Hei Shen (Black Shen). Its color is black. Its texture is moist. It is sweet, salty, and cold. Its efficacy specializes in entering the Kidney. Its various therapeutic methods are none other than strengthening Water to subdue Yang, preventing the Lung from being constrained by Fire. Regarding warm epidemics and rashes, there is fear that heat damages Kidney Water, so it can be used. The ancients had the name "Five Shens," matching five colors to five Zang organs; this is one of them. In recent times, it grows everywhere in valleys and mountains.)