宣，发表，散寒
味辛入气分，色紫入血分。香温散寒，通心利肺，开胃益脾（气香入胃），发汗解肌，
和血下气，宽中消痰，祛风定喘，止痛安胎，利大、小肠，解鱼、蟹毒。多服泄人真气（时
珍曰∶同陈皮、砂仁，行气安胎；同霍香、乌药，温中止痛；同香附、麻黄，发热解肌；同
芎、当归，和血散血；同桔梗、枳壳，利膈宽肠；同卜子、杏仁，消痰定喘；同木瓜、浓
朴，散温解暑治霍乱香港脚）。
气香者良。宜橘皮。忌鲤鱼。
苏子与叶同功。润心肺，尤能下气定喘，止嗽消痰，利膈宽肠，温中开郁（有苏子降气
汤）。
苏梗下气稍缓，虚者宜之（叶发汗散寒、梗顺气安胎，子降气开郁、消痰定喘。表弱气
虚者忌用叶，肠滑气虚者忌用子），炒、研用。
轻，宣，散风热
辛能散，凉能清（本经温，盖体温而用凉也），升浮能发汗。搜肝气而抑肺盛，消散风
热，清利头目。
治头痛头风，中风失音，痰嗽口气，语涩舌胎（含漱），眼耳咽喉，口齿诸病（辛香通
窍，而散风热），皮肤瘾疹，瘰 疮疥，惊热（凡小儿治惊药，俱宜薄荷汤调），骨蒸。破血
止痢（能治血痢。血痢病在凝滞，辛能散，凉能清）。虚人不宜多服（能发汗疏表，夏月多
服，泄人元气）。
苏产气芳者良（薄荷，猫之酒也；犬，虎之酒也；蜈蚣，鸡之酒也；桑椹，鸠之酒也；
莽草，鱼之酒也，食之皆醉。被猫伤者，薄荷汁涂之）。
宣散，发表，散寒。
味辛入气分，色紫入血分。香气温热能散寒，通心利肺，开胃益脾（气味芳香入胃），发汗解肌，和血下气，宽中消痰，祛风定喘，止痛安胎，利大、小肠，解鱼、蟹毒。多服会耗泄人体真气（李时珍说：同陈皮、砂仁配伍，可行气安胎；同藿香、乌药配伍，可温中止痛；同香附、麻黄配伍，可发热解肌；同川芎、当归配伍，可和血散血；同桔梗、枳壳配伍，可利膈宽肠；同萝卜子、杏仁配伍，可消痰定喘；同木瓜、厚朴配伍，可散温解暑治霍乱香港脚）。
气味芳香的紫苏品质优良。适宜与橘皮搭配。忌与鲤鱼同食。
紫苏子与紫苏叶功效相同。润心肺，尤其能下气定喘，止嗽消痰，利膈宽肠，温中开郁（有苏子降气汤）。
紫苏梗下气作用稍缓，体虚者适宜使用（紫苏叶发汗散寒、紫苏梗顺气安胎，紫苏子降气开郁、消痰定喘。表弱气虚者忌用紫苏叶，肠滑气虚者忌用紫苏子），需炒制、研碎后使用。
轻清，宣散，散风热。
辛能发散，凉能清热（《本经》记载其性温，大概是气温而效用偏凉），升浮之性能发汗。搜肝气而抑制肺气过盛，消散风热，清利头目。
治疗头痛头风，中风失音，痰嗽口气，语涩舌苔（含漱），眼耳咽喉，口齿诸病（辛香通窍，而散风热），皮肤瘾疹，瘰疬疮疥，惊热（凡是小儿治惊药，都宜用薄荷汤调服），骨蒸。破血止痢（能治血痢。血痢病在凝滞，辛能散，凉能清）。体虚之人不宜多服（能发汗疏表，夏季多服，会泄人元气）。
产于苏州、气味芳香的薄荷品质优良（薄荷，是猫的“酒”；犬，是虎的“酒”；蜈蚣，是鸡的“酒”；桑椹，是斑鸠的“酒”；莽草，是鱼的“酒”，吃了都会醉。被猫抓伤，用薄荷汁涂抹）。
Dispersing, releasing the exterior, dispelling cold.
Pungent in flavor enters the Qi level; purple in color enters the Blood level. Fragrant and warm to dispel cold, unblocks the Heart and benefits the Lungs, opens the Stomach and enriches the Spleen (fragrant Qi enters the Stomach), induces sweating and releases the muscle layer, harmonizes the Blood and directs Qi downward, broadens the Middle Jiao and transforms phlegm, expels wind and calms wheezing, stops pain and calms the fetus, benefits the Large and Small Intestines, and resolves fish and crab toxicity. Excessive consumption depletes true Qi (Shizhen said: combined with Chenpi [Tangerine Peel] and Sharen [Amomum Fruit], it moves Qi and calms the fetus; combined with Huoxiang [Patchouli] and Wuyao [Lindera Root], it warms the Middle and stops pain; combined with Xiangfu [Cyperus Rhizome] and Mahuang [Ephedra], it induces fever to release the muscle layer; combined with Xiong [Ligusticum Rhizome] and Danggui [Angelica Sinensis], it harmonizes and disperses Blood; combined with Jiegeng [Platycodon Root] and Zhike [Aurantii Fructus], it benefits the diaphragm and broadens the intestines; combined with Bobo [Radish Seed] and Xingren [Apricot Seed], it transforms phlegm and calms wheezing; combined with Mugua [Chaenomeles Fruit] and Houpo [Magnolia Bark], it disperses warmth and resolves summerheat to treat cholera and Hong Kong foot]).
Those with fragrant Qi are of superior quality. Suitable to be paired with Jupi [Tangerine Peel]. Avoid eating with Carp.
Suzi [Perilla Seed] has the same efficacy as the leaves. It moistens the Heart and Lungs, and is particularly effective in directing Qi downward and calming wheezing, stopping cough and transforming phlegm, benefiting the diaphragm and broadening the intestines, warming the Middle and resolving stagnation (there is Suzi Jiangqi Tang [Perilla Seed Decoction for Directing Qi Downward]).
Sugeng [Perilla Stem] directs Qi downward slightly more slowly, making it suitable for those with deficiency (Ye [Leaves] induce sweating and dispel cold; Geng [Stems] smooth Qi and calm the fetus; Zi [Seeds] direct Qi downward, resolve stagnation, transform phlegm, and calm wheezing. Those with weak exterior and deficient Qi should avoid using Ye [Leaves]; those with slippery bowels and deficient Qi should avoid using Zi [Seeds]). Use after stir-frying and grinding.
Light and clear, dispersing, dispelling wind-heat.
Pungency can disperse; coolness can clear (The Classic states it is warm, implying its nature is warm but its function is cool); ascending and floating properties can induce sweating. It searches Liver Qi and suppresses excessive Lung Qi, dissipates wind-heat, and clears and benefits the head and eyes.
Treats headache and cephalalgia due to wind, stroke with aphasia, phlegm-cough with foul breath, slurred speech and tongue coating (for gargling), diseases of the eyes, ears, throat, and teeth (pungent and fragrant to open orifices and dispel wind-heat), skin urticaria, scrofula, sores, and scabies, fright-heat (all pediatric medicines for treating fright should be mixed with Bohe Tang [Mint Decoction]), bone-steaming fever. Breaks blood stasis and stops dysentery (can treat bloody dysentery. Bloody dysentery involves stagnation; pungency disperses, coolness clears). Those with deficiency should not take it in excess (it induces sweating and releases the exterior; taking too much in summer depletes Yuan Qi [Original Qi]).
Bohe [Mint] produced in Suzhou with fragrant Qi is of superior quality (Bohe [Mint] is the "wine" of cats; Dog is the "wine" of tigers; Centipede is the "wine" of chickens; Mulberry fruit is the "wine" of doves; Mangcao [Dichroa Root] is the "wine" of fish; consuming any of these causes intoxication. For injuries caused by cats, apply Bohe juice).