〔害〕甘，令人中满。有湿之人，若误用之，令成肿胀。故凡诸湿肿满胀病，及呕家酒
家，
咸不宜服。
〔利〕甘平，入心肺脾胃。生用气平，补脾胃不足，而泻心火；炙用气温，补三焦元气。
若
入和剂则补益，入汗剂则解肌，入凉剂则泻邪热，入峻剂则缓正气。姜附加之，恐其潜上；
硝黄加之，恐其峻下；皆缓之之意，稍止茎中作痛，节医毒肿诸疮。
〔修治〕以大径寸，而结紧断文者为佳，谓之粉草。细者名统草，补中炙用宜大者，泻
火生
用宜细者。白术、苦参、干漆为使。恶远志，反大戟、芫花、甘遂、海藻，然亦有并用者。
胡洽治痰癖，十枣汤加甘草。东垣治结核，与海藻同用。丹溪治劳瘵，与芫花同行。非妙达
精微者，不能知此理也。余疑远志与甘草相恶，必误载，以远志用甘草水浸用可知。
〔害〕惟专消导，破气损真。丹溪云∶泻痰，有冲墙倒壁之力，其为勇悍之气可知。凡
中气
虚弱，劳倦伤脾发为痞满者，法当调中益气，则食自化，痞自消，若再用此破气，是速其毙
也。胀满，非实邪结于中下焦，手不可按，七八日不更衣者，必不可用。挟热下利，亦非燥
粪留结者，必不可用。伤食停积，多因脾胃虚，不能运化所致，慎勿妄投。如元气壮实，有
积滞者，不得已用一二剂，病已即去之。若不识病之虚实，一概施用，损人真气，为厉不浅
。误投，虽多服参 补剂，亦难挽其克削之害也。故特表以为戒。孕妇尤忌。
〔利〕苦酸微寒，入肺、脾、胃、肝、大肠五经。破积有雷厉风行之势，泻痰有推墙倒
壁之
威。解伤寒结胸，除心下急痞。按枳实枳壳，性效不同。
〔修治〕皮浓而小者为枳实，完大者为枳壳，皆以翻肚如盆口状，陈者为良。采破，除
核，
微炙令干，切片，小麦麸炒焦去麸用。
【危害】甘草味甘，容易使人中焦气机壅滞而感到胀满。体内有湿邪的人，如果误服甘草，会导致身体出现肿胀。因此，凡是患有各种因湿邪引起的肿胀、痞满病症的患者，以及经常呕吐的人、嗜酒的人，都不宜服用甘草。
【功效】甘草性味甘平，归心、肺、脾、胃经。生用甘草气味平和，能补益脾胃的不足，同时清泻心火；炙用（蜜炙）甘草性温，能补益三焦的元气。如果将甘草加入调和药性的方剂中，起到补益作用；加入发汗解表的方剂中，能解除肌表之邪；加入清热凉血的方剂中，能清泻邪热；加入药性峻猛的方剂中，能缓和正气（保护正气不受峻药损伤）。如果在方中加入生姜和附子，担心药力上浮，加入甘草可以制约；如果在方中加入芒硝和大黄，担心药力攻下太猛，加入甘草可以缓和其势。这些用法都体现了“缓”的意思，能稍微缓解尿道中的疼痛，并治疗毒肿等各类疮疡。
【炮制】以直径一寸左右，质地紧密、断面纹理清晰者为佳，称为粉草。细小的称为统草。补中益气且需蜜炙时宜选用大的，清泻心火且生用时宜选用细的。白术、苦参、干漆可作为甘草的辅助药物（使药）。甘草畏远志，与大戟、芫花、甘遂、海藻相反，但也有配合使用的情况。胡洽在治疗痰癖时，在十枣汤中加入甘草。李东垣治疗结核（瘰疬），将甘草与海藻同用。朱丹溪治疗劳瘵（虚劳咳嗽），将甘草与芫花同行使用。如果不是精通医理细微之处的人，不能理解其中的道理。我怀疑远志与甘草相恶的说法是记载错误，因为远志需要用甘草水浸泡后使用，这就可以证明。
【危害】枳实专于消导积滞，破气损真。朱丹溪说：枳实泻除痰饮，有冲墙倒壁的力量，其勇悍之气可想而知。凡是中气虚弱，因劳累倦怠损伤脾胃而引发痞满症状的，治法应当调中益气，这样食物自然能消化，痞满自然消除，如果再使用这种破气的药物，就是加速病人的死亡。对于胀满病，如果不是实邪结聚在中下焦，腹部坚硬拒按，七八天不大便的情况，绝对不可使用。伴有热象的下利（腹泻），如果不是燥屎留结肠道，也绝对不可使用。伤食停积，多是因为脾胃虚弱，不能运化所致，千万不要妄加投用。只有当元气壮实，确实有积滞存在，不得已的情况下使用一两剂，病好后立即停药。如果不辨明疾病的虚实，一概施用，会损害人的真气，造成的危害不浅。一旦误用，即使大量服用人参等补剂，也难以挽回其克削正气带来的伤害。所以特别列出作为警戒。孕妇尤其禁忌使用。
【功效】枳实味苦、酸，微寒，入肺、脾、胃、肝、大肠五经。破除积滞有如雷厉风行之势，泻除痰饮有推墙倒壁的威势。能解除伤寒导致的结胸证，消除心下急迫痞闷的症状。需要注意的是，枳实和枳壳的药性和功效是不同的。
【炮制】皮厚而果实小的称为枳实，完整而较大的称为枳壳，都以翻转过来形状像盆口状的为佳，陈久的品质更好。采摘后剖开，去除果核，微火炙烤至干，切片，用小麦麸皮炒焦后去掉麸皮使用。
[Harm] Licorice Root (Gancao) is sweet in taste and tends to cause fullness and distension in the middle jiao. In individuals with dampness, mistaken use can lead to swelling. Therefore, it is generally unsuitable for those suffering from various swellings and fullness due to dampness, as well as for patients with chronic vomiting or alcoholism.
[Efficacy] Licorice Root (Gancao) is sweet and neutral in nature, entering the Heart, Lung, Spleen, and Stomach meridians. When used raw, its qi is mild; it tonifies Spleen and Stomach deficiency while draining Heart fire. When honey-fried (Zhi Gancao), it becomes warm; it tonifies the Yuan Qi of the San Jiao. When added to harmonizing formulas, it provides tonification; when added to diaphoretic formulas, it releases the muscle layer; when added to cooling formulas, it drains pathogenic heat; when added to drastic formulas, it moderates the Zheng Qi (upright qi). If Ginger (Shengjiang) and Aconite (Fuzi) are added, there is a concern that the medicinal action may float upward; adding Licorice Root moderates this. If Mirabilite (Xiaoshi) and Rhubarb (Dahuang) are added, there is a concern that the purgative action may be too drastic; adding Licorice Root moderates this. These applications reflect the intention of "moderation," slightly relieving pain in the urethra and treating toxic swellings and various sores.
[Processing] The best quality is one with a diameter of about one cun, tight texture, and clear fracture lines, known as Fencao. The thinner ones are called Tongcao. For tonifying the middle and using honey-fried preparations, larger pieces are preferred; for clearing heat and using raw preparations, smaller pieces are preferred. Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome (Baizhu), Sophora Flavescens Root (Kushen), and Dried Lacquer (Ganqi) act as guiding or assisting herbs. It is antagonistic to Polygala Tenuifolia Root (Yuanzhi) and is incompatible with Euphorbia Lathyris Root (Daji), Genkwa Flower (Yuanhua), Kansui Root (Gansui), and Sargassum Thallus (Haizao), though they are sometimes used together. Hu Qia used Licorice Root in Shizao Tang to treat phlegm accumulation. Li Dongyuan used it with Sargassum Thallus (Haizao) to treat scrofula. Zhu Danxi used it with Genkwa Flower (Yuanhua) to treat consumptive disease. Only those who thoroughly understand subtle principles can comprehend this rationale. I suspect the claim that Polygala Tenuifolia Root (Yuanzhi) is antagonistic to Licorice Root is an error, given that Polygala Tenuifolia Root is often soaked in Licorice Root water before use.
[Harm] Zhi Shi (Immature Bitter Orange) specializes in resolving stagnation and breaking qi, thereby damaging true qi. Zhu Danxi stated: Zhi Shi has the power to demolish walls in clearing phlegm, indicating its fierce and aggressive nature. For cases of pi-man (fullness) caused by weak Middle Qi and spleen damage due to fatigue, the treatment should focus on regulating the middle and boosting qi, allowing food to digest naturally and fullness to resolve. Using such qi-breaking drugs in these cases would accelerate death. For distension, if it is not due to excess pathogens knotting in the lower jiao with abdominal rigidity and refusal to pressure, and constipation lasting seven to eight days, it must absolutely not be used. For diarrhea with heat signs, if not due to dry feces retention, it must absolutely not be used. Food stagnation is mostly caused by Spleen and Stomach weakness failing to transform and transport; do not administer recklessly. Only when the Yuan Qi is robust and there is actual stagnation, out of necessity, can one or two doses be used, stopping immediately after the illness resolves. If one fails to distinguish between deficiency and excess and applies it indiscriminately, it damages the body's true qi, causing significant harm. Once mistakenly administered, even large doses of Ginseng (Renshen) tonics cannot reverse the damage caused by its harsh depletion. This is specifically noted as a warning. Pregnant women are especially contraindicated.
[Efficacy] Zhi Shi (Immature Bitter Orange) is bitter and sour, slightly cold, entering the Lung, Spleen, Stomach, Liver, and Large Intestine meridians. It breaks accumulation with the speed of thunder and wind, and clears phlegm with the might of pushing down walls. It resolves chest binding (Jie Xiong) caused by Cold Damage (Shanghan) and eliminates urgent fullness below the heart. Note that Zhi Shi (Immature Bitter Orange) and Zhi Ke (Mature Bitter Orange) have different properties and effects.
[Processing] Those with thick skin and small fruit size are called Zhi Shi (Immature Bitter Orange); those that are complete and large are called Zhi Ke (Mature Bitter Orange). The best quality resembles an inverted bowl rim. Aged material is superior. After harvesting, slice open, remove seeds, lightly roast until dry, slice, and stir-fry with wheat bran until scorched, then remove the bran before use.