〔害〕多食壅气，患寒热者不可食，盖邪疟未尽，及伤寒外邪方炽，不可服此补益之物
耳。
如脾胃虚及伤食，劳倦，发寒热者，不忌。
〔利〕甘温，补脾胃，降浊升清，消暑除湿，止渴止泻，专治中宫之病。衣，清皮肤之
湿热
。叶，利暑湿。
〔修治〕炒研，或生用，或去皮炒。时珍曰∶凡用取硬壳扁豆子，连皮炒熟入药。
一名米仁
〔害〕此除湿燥脾之药，凡病患大便燥结，小水短少，因寒转筋，脾虚无湿者忌。妊妇
禁用
。
〔利〕甘淡微寒，入胃土胜水，淡渗湿泻水，故能健脾。香港脚疝气，泄痢热淋，益土所
以生
金，故补肺清热，治肺痈、肺痿、咳吐脓血等症。
〔修治〕凡使每一两，以糯米一两同炒熟，去糯米用。亦有更以盐汤煮过者，或炒，或
生用
。
〔害〕虽能补中而益气，然味过于甘，甘令人满，脾必病也。故中满勿服。凡风痰、痰
热及
齿痛，俱非所宜。小儿疳病亦禁。生者尤为不利，多食致寒热。热渴膨胀，动脏腑，损脾元
，助湿热。凡形羸瘦者，不可食。杀乌附毒。忌葱鱼同食。
〔利〕甘平，调中益气，滋脾土，润心肺，和营卫，缓阴血，生津液，悦颜色，和百药。
红
枣，功用相仿，差不及尔。
〔修治〕擘去核用，青州枣，核细形大，多膏甚甜特佳。晒。晋州枣，肥大甘美，次之。
频
食生虫损齿，贻害多矣。红枣益脾胃，余者止可充食。入和解药，姜汁炒香，入醒胃药，但
去核炒香糊丸，药蒸透，乘热去皮核捣烂。
【危害】多食会导致气机壅滞，患有寒热往来症状者不可食用，这是因为邪疟之邪未尽，以及伤寒外邪正盛之时，不可服用这种补益的药物罢了。
如果是脾胃虚弱以及因伤食、劳倦导致发寒热者，则不忌口。
【功效】味甘性温，能补益脾胃，降浊升清，消暑除湿，止渴止泻，专门治疗中焦脾胃的疾病。其果皮，可清除皮肤湿热；其叶片，可利暑湿。
【炮制】炒后研碎，或生用，或去皮后炒。李时珍说：凡入药取硬壳扁豆，连皮炒熟使用。
薏苡仁（一名米仁）
【危害】这是除湿燥脾的药物，凡是病人大便干燥秘结，小便短少，因寒邪导致的筋脉拘挛抽搐，以及脾虚无湿者忌用。孕妇禁用。
【功效】味甘淡微寒，入胃经以制约水邪，味淡能渗湿利水，所以能健脾。对于脚气病、疝气、泄泻痢疾、热淋等症，通过益土（健脾）来生金（补肺），所以能补肺清热，治疗肺痈、肺痿、咳吐脓血等症状。
【炮制】凡使用一两药材，需用糯米一两同炒熟，去掉糯米只用薏苡仁。也有用盐汤煮过的，或者炒用，或者生用。
大枣
【危害】虽然能补中益气，但味道过于甘甜，甘味令人产生胀满感，必然损伤脾气。所以中焦痞满者勿服。凡是风痰、痰热以及齿痛，都不适宜服用。小儿疳积病也禁止服用。生枣尤为不利，多食会导致寒热症状。引起热渴、腹胀，扰动脏腑，损伤脾元，助长湿热。凡是形体羸瘦的人，不可食用。能杀乌头、附子的毒性。忌与葱、鱼同食。
【功效】味甘平，调和中焦益气，滋润脾土，润养心肺，调和营卫，缓急阴血，生津液，美容颜，调和各种药物。红枣的功效与此相似，只是稍差一些。
【炮制】掰开去核使用。青州枣，核小形大，肉厚极甜，特别佳美。晒干。晋州枣，肥大甘美，次之。频繁食用生枣会生虫损齿，带来很多危害。红枣有益脾胃，其余的只可充饥食用。入和解类方剂，用姜汁炒香；入醒胃类方剂，仅去核炒香糊丸，药蒸透后，趁热去皮核捣烂。
[Harm] Excessive consumption leads to Qi stagnation. It is contraindicated for those suffering from alternating chills and fever, because when the pathogenic factor of malaria has not yet been fully eliminated, or when the external pathogen of Cold Damage (Shanghan) is vigorous, one should not take this tonifying substance.
However, it is not contraindicated for those with Spleen-Stomach deficiency, or those developing chills and fever due to food retention or fatigue.
[Benefits] Sweet and warm in nature, it tonifies the Spleen and Stomach, descends turbidity and ascends clarity, dissipates summerheat and dampness, stops thirst and diarrhea, and specifically treats diseases of the Middle Jiao (Central Palace). The husk clears damp-heat from the skin. The leaves promote the discharge of summerheat-dampness.
[Processing] Stir-fry and grind, or use raw, or remove the skin and stir-fry. Li Shizhen stated: For medicinal use, select hard-shelled white hyacinth beans, stir-fry until cooked with the skin intact, and then use.
Coix Seed (also known as Mi Ren)
[Harm] This is a herb that drains dampness and dries the Spleen. It is contraindicated for patients with dry and constipated stools, scanty urine, muscle cramps caused by cold, and Spleen deficiency without dampness. It is strictly prohibited for pregnant women.
[Benefits] Sweet, bland, and slightly cold in nature, it enters the Stomach Earth to overcome Water. Its bland flavor promotes diuresis and drains water, thereby strengthening the Spleen. It treats podagra (Hongjiaojing), hernia, dysentery, and hot strangury. By benefiting Earth (Spleen) to generate Metal (Lung), it tonifies the Lung and clears heat, treating lung abscess, lung flaccidity, coughing up pus and blood, etc.
[Processing] When using one tael of the herb, stir-fry it together with one tael of glutinous rice until cooked, then discard the glutinous rice and use only the Coix seed. Some are boiled in salt water, or stir-fried, or used raw.
Jujube (Da Zao)
[Harm] Although it can tonify the Middle and benefit Qi, its taste is overly sweet. Sweetness causes fullness, which inevitably harms the Spleen. Therefore, it should not be taken by those with Middle Jiao fullness. It is unsuitable for wind-phlegm, phlegm-heat, and toothache. It is also forbidden for children with infantile malnutrition (Gan disease). Raw jujubes are particularly detrimental; excessive consumption leads to chills and fever. It causes heat-thirst, abdominal distension, disturbs the Zang-Fu organs, damages Spleen Yuan Qi, and aids damp-heat. It is inadvisable for emaciated individuals. It can neutralize the toxicity of Aconitum carmichaelii (Wutou) and Aconitum kusnezoffii (Fuzi). It is contraindicated to consume with green onions and fish.
[Benefits] Sweet and neutral in nature, it harmonizes the Middle and benefits Qi, moistens Spleen Earth, nourishes the Heart and Lungs, harmonizes Ying and Wei, moderates Yin Blood, generates body fluids, enhances complexion, and harmonizes various medicines. Red jujubes have similar functions but are slightly inferior.
[Processing] Split open and remove the pit. Qingzhou jujubes have small pits, large shape, thick flesh, and are extremely sweet, making them excellent. Sun-dry them. Jinzhou jujubes are plump, sweet, and delicious, ranking second. Frequent consumption of raw jujubes causes worms and dental damage, bringing much harm. Red jujubes benefit the Spleen and Stomach; others are merely suitable for food. For harmonizing formulas, stir-fry with ginger juice until fragrant. For stomach-arousing formulas, simply remove the pit, stir-fry until fragrant, make into pills with paste, steam the medicine thoroughly, peel and remove the pit while hot, and mash.