〔害〕虽能补血，长于行血。设经早期，或无血经阻，及血少不能养胎，而胎不安，与
产后
血已畅者，皆不可犯，犯之，则成崩漏之患。凡温热病，邪在气分，而误用之，则反引邪入
营，不可不慎之。久服多眼赤，故应性热。本经云微寒，恐谬也。孕妇无故，及阴虚之人忌
用。
〔利〕苦、微寒、入心主血，去瘀生新，安神养阴，安生胎，落死胎，胎前产后，带下
崩中
需之。
〔修治〕北方产者良，五月采根曝干，猪心血拌炒，或酒炒用。
〔利〕甘平，补心虚而长智，悦胃气以培脾，除倦忘与怔忡，能安神而熟寐。道家服龙
眼肉
，细嚼千余，待满口津生，和津 而咽，此即服玉泉之法也。
〔修治〕七月实熟，白露后，方可采摘，晒干，焙。生者，沸汤瀹过，食不动脾。其核
去黑
壳研末，止金疮出血。
〔害〕性润动脾，便滑者忌。
〔害〕性寒而润，寒多人禁服。凡虚寒泄泻，及痘疮虚寒作泄，产后虚寒泄泻者，咸忌
之。
徐洄溪批叶按虚劳咳嗽部云∶麦冬能闭肺窍，遂致失音。愚谓咳嗽，因于湿者，湿为重浊之
邪，以麦冬能腻隔，势必湿热壅滞、肺失清肃。肺为声音门户，金实则无声也。
〔利〕甘、微寒、清心泻热、滋燥金而清水源。又为凉三焦次将，地黄车前为使，脉气
欲绝
者，加五味子、人参，三味合名生脉散，补中元气不足。（盖心主脉，肺朝百脉，补肺清心
，则气充脉复）。
〔修治〕浙产甚良，四月初采根栽，夏至前一日取根晒干，收之抽心用，不尔令人烦。
近时
多连心用。恐滑肠，用米炒黄。宁心，用辰砂少许拌。入丸散须瓦焙熟，即于风中吹冷，如
此三四次，即易燥而不损药力。（麦冬之功，在润燥，非在滋阴。盖肺热而喜润，故曰∶清
金保肺，肺与大肠相表里。故曰∶滑肠、泄泻者忌用。）
【丹参】
【危害】丹参虽然能够补血，但更擅长于行血。如果月经期提前，或者没有经血而因瘀阻导致闭经，以及血少不能滋养胎元导致胎动不安，还有产后血液已经通畅的情况，都不可使用丹参。一旦误用，就会造成崩漏（非经期大量出血或淋漓不尽）的祸患。凡是温热病，邪气在气分，如果误用丹参，反而会引导邪气进入营分，对此必须谨慎。长期服用会导致眼睛发红，因此认为其性质偏热。《神农本草经》说它微寒，恐怕是错误的。孕妇无故，以及阴虚体质的人忌用。
【功效】味苦，微寒，入心经主司血液，能去除瘀血、生成新血，安神养阴，安固活胎，堕下死胎，胎前产后及带下、崩中（妇女非经期阴道大量出血）等症都需要用到它。
【炮制】北方出产的质量好，五月采集根部晒干，可用猪心血拌炒，或用酒炒后使用。
【龙眼肉】
【功效】味甘，性平，补益心虚并增长智慧，愉悦胃气以培补脾土，消除疲倦健忘与心悸怔忡，能够安神并帮助熟睡。道家服用龙眼肉，细细咀嚼一千多粒，等到满口津液产生，混合津液一起咽下，这就是服用“玉泉”的方法。
【炮制】七月果实成熟，白露节气之后，才可以采摘，晒干，焙干。生用的话，用沸水冲泡过，食用时不伤脾。它的果核去掉黑色外壳研成粉末，可以止住金创（刀箭创伤）出血。
【麦门冬】
【危害】性质滋润容易滑利脾胃，大便滑泄者忌用。
【危害】性质寒凉而滋润，寒气重的人禁止服用。凡是虚寒导致的泄泻，以及痘疮因虚寒引起的泄泻，产后因虚寒导致的泄泻，都忌用。
徐洄溪批注叶天士医案关于虚劳咳嗽部分时说：麦冬能闭塞肺窍，从而导致失音。我认为咳嗽如果是由于湿邪引起的，湿是重浊的邪气，因为麦冬性质腻膈，势必导致湿热壅滞，使肺失去清肃功能。肺是声音发出的门户，肺气实盛则无声。
【功效】味甘，微寒，清心泻热，滋润燥金的肺脏并清水源（肾）。又是凉三焦的次要将领，以地黄、车前子为使药，脉气将要断绝的时候，加入五味子、人参，这三味药合起来名为生脉散，补益中焦元气不足。（大概是因为心主血脉，肺朝百脉，补肺清心，则气充脉复）。
【炮制】浙江出产的质量很好，四月初采集根栽，夏至前一天取根晒干收藏，抽去心使用，否则会让人烦躁。近来多连心中使用。担心滑肠，用米炒至黄色。为了宁心，用少许辰砂拌和。入丸散剂需要瓦器焙熟，即在风中吹冷，如此三四次，就容易干燥且不损伤药力。（麦冬的功效，在于润燥，不在于滋阴。因为肺热喜欢滋润，所以说：清金保肺，肺与大肠相表里。所以说：滑肠、泄泻者忌用。）
[Salvia Miltiorrhiza (Danshen)]
[Harm] Although it can nourish blood, it excels at promoting blood circulation. If menstruation occurs early, or if there is amenorrhea due to blood stasis without bleeding, or if blood deficiency fails to nourish the fetus leading to fetal restlessness, and also in cases where postpartum blood flow has already been smooth, Danshen must not be used. Violating this rule will result in the disaster of metrorrhagia and metrostaxis (non-menstrual heavy bleeding or prolonged spotting). In warm-heat diseases, when the pathogen is in the Qi level, mistaken use of Danshen will instead draw the pathogen into the Ying (Nutritive) level; one must be extremely cautious. Long-term consumption often causes red eyes, suggesting its nature is actually hot. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it is slightly cold, which is likely erroneous. Pregnant women without specific indications, and individuals with Yin deficiency, should avoid using it.
[Benefit] Bitter, slightly cold, enters the Heart channel governing blood. It removes blood stasis and generates new blood, calms the spirit and nourishes Yin, stabilizes a living fetus, and expels a dead fetus. It is needed for conditions before and after childbirth, leukorrhea, and metrorrhagia.
[Processing] Those produced in the North are superior. Roots are harvested in May and sun-dried. They may be stir-fried with pig heart blood or stir-fried with wine before use.
[Dry Longan Aril (Longyan Rou)]
[Benefit] Sweet, neutral. It tonifies Heart deficiency and enhances wisdom, harmonizes Stomach Qi to cultivate Spleen, eliminates fatigue and forgetfulness, and palpitations, calming the spirit to promote sound sleep. Daoists consume Dry Longan Aril by chewing thoroughly over a thousand grains, waiting until saliva fills the mouth, then swallowing mixed with saliva. This is the method of consuming "Yu Quan" (Jade Spring).
[Processing] Fruits ripen in July. Harvesting can begin after the White Dew solar term. Sun-dry and roast. When used raw, blanch in boiling water before eating to prevent damaging the Spleen. Remove the black shell from the seeds, grind into powder, and it can stop bleeding from traumatic injuries.
[Ophiopogon Tuber (Maidong)]
[Harm] Its moistening nature moves the Spleen; those with loose stools should avoid it.
[Harm] Cold and moistening in nature; those with excess cold must not take it. All cases of deficiency-cold diarrhea, diarrhea caused by deficiency-cold in smallpox/variolous eruptions, and postpartum deficiency-cold diarrhea are contraindicated.
Xu Huixi, commenting on Ye Tianshi's medical records regarding consumptive cough, stated: "Maidong can close the Lung orifices, thereby causing loss of voice." I argue that if cough is caused by Dampness, which is a heavy and turbid pathogen, Maidong's cloying nature will inevitably lead to stagnation of Damp-Heat and loss of Lung's clear descending function. The Lung is the portal for voice production; when Metal (Lung) is full/excess, there is no voice.
[Benefit] Sweet, slightly cold. Clears Heat from the Heart and drains fire, moistens dry Metal (Lung) and clears the water source (Kidney). It serves as a secondary commander for cooling the Triple Burner. With Rehmannia Root (Dihuang) and Plantago Seed (Cheqianzi) as guides, when pulse Qi is about to cease, add Schisandra Berry (Wuweizi) and Ginseng Root (Renshen). These three herbs combined form Shengmai San (Generate the Pulse Powder), which tonifies insufficient Yuan Qi in the Middle Jiao. (Since the Heart governs the vessels and the Lung faces all vessels, tonifying the Lung and clearing the Heart replenishes Qi and restores the pulse.)
[Processing] Those produced in Zhejiang are excellent. Rhizomes are planted in early April. On the day before Summer Solstice, harvest roots, sun-dry, and store. Remove the core for use; otherwise, it causes irritability. Recently, many use it with the core intact. To prevent slippery intestines, stir-fry with rice until yellow. For calming the Heart, mix with a small amount of Cinnabar (Chensha). For pills and powders, roast in earthenware until cooked, cool in the wind, repeat this process three or four times to ensure dryness without damaging medicinal potency. (The efficacy of Maidong lies in moistening dryness, not in nourishing Yin. Since Lung heat prefers moisture, it is said: "Clear Metal and protect the Lung." As the Lung and Large Intestine are exterior-interior paired, it is said: "Contraindicated for those with slippery bowels and diarrhea.")