润燥，泻气，破血
辛苦而甘。入脾经气分。性降下气行水，破血润燥。
治水肿癃急，大肠气滞，关格不通。用酒能入胆，治悸、目张不眠（一妇因大恐而病，
愈后目张不瞑。钱乙曰∶目系内连肝胆，恐则气结，胆横不下。郁李润能散结，随酒入胆，
结去胆下，而目瞑矣）。然治标之剂，多服渗人津液。
去皮、尖，蜜浸研。
涩精，固肠
酸涩。入脾、肺、肾三经。固精秘气。
治梦泄遗精（和芡实为丸，名水陆丹），泄痢便数（丹溪曰∶经络隧道，以通畅为平和，
而昧者以涩性为快，熬膏食之，自作不靖，咎将谁执李时珍曰∶无故而食，以恣欲则不可。
若精气不固者，服之何害）。
似榴而小，黄赤有刺。取半黄，（熟则纯甘）去刺核用。熬膏亦良（《笔谈》云∶熬膏则
甘，全失涩味）。
涩肠，敛肺，泻气
苦以泄气消痰，酸以敛肺降火（东垣曰∶肺苦气上逆，急食苦以泄之，以酸补之。诃子
苦重泄气，酸轻不能补肺，故嗽药中不用），涩以收脱止泻，温以开胃调中。
治冷气腹胀，膈气呕逆，痰嗽喘急（肺挟痰水，或被火伤，故宜苦酸以敛之），泻痢脱
肛，肠风崩带（皆取其酸涩），开音止渴（肺敛则音开，火降则渴止。古方有诃子清音汤）。
然苦多酸少，虽涩肠而泄气，气虚及嗽痢初起者，忌服（同乌梅、倍子，则收敛；同陈皮、
浓朴，则下气。得人参，治肺虚寒嗽；得陈皮、砂仁，治冷气腹胀。佐白术、莲子，治虚寒
久泻；佐樗皮，治肠癖便血。同蛇床、五味、山茱、续断、杜仲，治虚寒带下）。
从番舶来，番名诃黎勒。岭南亦有。六棱黑色，肉浓者良。酒蒸一伏时，去核取肉用，
用肉则去核。生用清金行气，煨熟温胃固肠（海鱼放涎凝滑，船不能行，投诃子汤，寻化为
水，其化痰可知）。
润燥，泻气，破血
味辛苦而甘。归入脾经的气分。其性沉降，能下气行水，破血润燥。
治疗水肿、小便急迫不通，大肠气机阻滞，以及关格（指大小便俱不通的危重证候）不通。若用酒送服，能入胆经，治疗心悸、眼睛睁着无法入睡（有一位妇女因极度恐惧而患病，病愈后眼睛仍睁着不能闭合。钱乙说：目系内部连接肝胆，恐惧会导致气机郁结，胆气横逆不下。郁李仁质地滋润能消散结滞，随酒进入胆经，结滞去除，胆气下行，眼睛就能闭上了）。但这只是治标的方剂，多服用会渗泄人体的津液。
去掉皮和尖，用蜂蜜浸泡后研磨。
涩精，固肠
味酸涩。归入脾、肺、肾三经。具有固摄精气、秘藏元气的作用。
治疗梦遗滑精（与芡实制成丸药，名为水陆丹），泄泻痢疾及大便频数（朱丹溪说：经络隧道，以通畅为平和状态，但无知的人认为收敛涩滞是好事，熬成膏食用，反而导致身体不安宁，这责任归咎于谁？李时珍说：无故进食此类药物以放纵欲望是不可取的。但如果精气不固的人服用，又有什么害处呢）。
外形像石榴但较小，黄红色且有刺。取半成熟的果实（成熟后则纯甜），去掉刺和核使用。熬成膏也很好（《笔谈》记载：熬成膏后变甜，完全失去了涩味）。
涩肠，敛肺，泻气
苦味能泄气消痰，酸味能敛肺降火（李东垣说：肺病苦于气机上逆，急需食用苦味药来泄降肺气，用酸味药来补益。诃子苦味重主要泄气，酸味轻不足以补肺，所以在止咳药中不使用它），涩味能收脱止泻，温性能开胃调中。
治疗冷气导致的腹胀，膈气引起的呕吐逆气，痰嗽喘急（肺部夹杂痰水，或被火热所伤，所以适宜用苦酸之品来收敛），泄痢脱肛，肠风崩漏带下（都是取其酸涩之性），开音止渴（肺气收敛则声音开启，火气下降则口渴停止。古方中有诃子清音汤）。
但是苦味多而酸味少，虽然能涩肠却会泄气，气虚以及咳嗽、痢疾初起者，忌服（同乌梅、倍子一起使用，则起到收敛作用；同陈皮、厚朴一起使用，则能下气。得到人参配合，可治疗肺虚寒咳；得到陈皮、砂仁配合，可治疗冷气腹胀。佐以白术、莲子，可治疗虚寒久泻；佐以樗皮，可治疗肠癖便血。同蛇床子、五味子、山茱萸、续断、杜仲配合，可治疗虚寒带下）。
从海外商船运来，外国名称叫诃黎勒。岭南地区也有出产。六棱黑色，肉质厚实的为好。用酒蒸一个时辰（约两小时），去掉核取肉使用，如果用肉就必须去核。生用能清金行气，煨熟能温胃固肠（海鱼分泌黏液凝固变滑，船只无法行驶，投入诃子汤，很快化为水，由此可见其化痰功效）。
Moisten dryness, drain qi, break blood stasis.
Pungent, bitter, and sweet in flavor. Enters the Qi aspect of the Spleen meridian. Its nature is descending; it directs qi downward, promotes water metabolism, breaks blood stasis, and moistens dryness.
Indicated for edema, urgent difficulty in urination (Lingji), stagnation of qi in the Large Intestine, and Guan Ge syndrome (a critical condition characterized by simultaneous obstruction of vomiting and defecation). When administered with wine, it enters the Gallbladder meridian to treat palpitations and insomnia with eyes open (A woman fell ill due to extreme fear; after recovery, her eyes remained open and could not close. Qian Yi stated: The visual system internally connects to the Liver and Gallbladder. Fear causes qi stagnation, leading to rebellious Gallbladder qi that fails to descend. Durian plum kernel [Yuli Ren], being moist, can dissipate stagnation. Accompanied by wine entering the Gallbladder, the stagnation is resolved, Gallbladder qi descends, and the eyes close). However, this is a symptomatic treatment; excessive consumption may deplete body fluids.
Remove the peel and tips, soak in honey, and grind.
Astringe essence, consolidate intestines.
Sour and astringent in flavor. Enters the Spleen, Lung, and Kidney meridians. It consolidates essence and secures primordial qi.
Indicated for nocturnal emission and spermatorrhea (combined with Euryale Seed [Qianshi] to form pills, named Shuilu Dan), diarrhea, dysentery, and frequent stools (Zhu Danxi stated: Meridians and collaterals are in a state of peace when unobstructed. Ignorant people mistakenly believe that astringency is beneficial and consume boiled pastes, causing internal unrest. Who bears the responsibility? Li Shizhen stated: Consuming these without cause to indulge desires is inadvisable. However, if taken by those with insecure essence and qi, what harm would there be?).
Resembles a pomegranate but smaller, yellowish-red with thorns. Harvest when half-ripe (fully ripe ones become purely sweet), remove thorns and seeds for use. Boiling into a paste is also effective (Bi Tan records: Once boiled into a paste, it becomes sweet, completely losing its astringent flavor).
Astringe intestines, astringe lungs, drain qi.
Bitter flavor drains qi and eliminates phlegm; sour flavor astringes the lungs and descends fire (Li Dongyuan stated: The Lung dislikes upward rebellion of qi; urgently administer bitter substances to drain it, and sour substances to tonify it. Hezi has heavy bitter properties that primarily drain qi, while its light sour property is insufficient to tonify the Lung; therefore, it is not used in cough remedies). Astringent flavor stops collapse and diarrhea; warm nature opens the stomach and regulates the middle jiao.
Indicated for abdominal distension due to cold qi, regurgitation and vomiting due to diaphragmatic qi stagnation, and cough with phlegm and asthma (The Lung harbors phlegm and fluid or is injured by fire, so bitter and sour astringents are suitable); prolapse of the rectum due to diarrhea/dysentery, wind in the intestines, metrorrhagia, and leukorrhea (all utilizing their sour-astringent properties); voice restoration and thirst relief (When Lung qi is astringed, voice clears; when fire descends, thirst ceases. Ancient formulas include Hezi Qingyin Tang).
However, since bitter flavor predominates over sour, although it astringes the intestines, it drains qi. It is contraindicated for patients with qi deficiency and those in the early stages of cough or dysentery (Combined with Mume Fructus [Wumei] and Myrobalan [Beizi], it enhances astringency; combined with Tangerine Peel [Chenpi] and Magnolia Bark [Houpo], it directs qi downward. Combined with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma [Renshen], it treats cold cough due to Lung deficiency; combined with Chenpi and Amomum Fruit [Sharen], it treats abdominal distension due to cold qi. Assisted by Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome [Baizhu] and Lotus Seed [Lianzi], it treats chronic diarrhea due to deficiency-cold; assisted by Bignay Bark [Chupi], it treats dysentery with bloody stool. Combined with Cnidium Fruit [Shechuangzi], Schisandra Berry [Wuweizi], Cornus Fruit [Shanzhuyu], Dipsacus Root [Xuduan], and Eucommia Bark [Duzhong], it treats leukorrhea due to deficiency-cold].
Imported via foreign merchant ships; the foreign name is Haritaki. Also found in the Lingnan region. Those with six ridges, black color, and thick flesh are superior. Steam with wine for one double-hour (approx. 2 hours), remove seeds, and use the flesh. If using the flesh, seeds must be removed. Raw usage clears Metal and moves qi; roasted usage warms the Stomach and consolidates the intestines (Sea fish secrete mucus that solidifies and makes them slippery, preventing boats from moving; adding Hezi decoction dissolves them into water, demonstrating its phlegm-resolving efficacy).