气味甘平涩，无毒。主湿痹，腰脊膝痛，补中，除暴疾，益精气，强志，令耳目聪明
，久服轻身不饥，耐老神仙。
（芡始出雷池池泽，今处处有之，武林者最胜。三月生叶贴水，似荷而大，皱纹如谷，
蹙衄如沸，面青背紫，茎叶皆有刺。五六月开花，紫色，花必向日，结苞处有青刺，如 刺
及
芡实气味甘平，子黄仁白，生于水中，花开向日，乃阳引而上，阴引而下，故字从欠，
得阳
明少阴之精气。主治湿痹者，阳明之上，燥气治之也。治腰脊膝痛者，少阴主骨，外合腰膝
也。补中者，阳明居中土也。除暴疾者，精气神三虚相搏，则为暴疾。芡实生于水而向日，
得水之精，火之神。茎刺肉白，又禀秋金收敛之气，故治三虚之暴疾。益精气，强志，令耳
目聪明者，言精气充益，则肾志强。肾志强则耳目聪明。盖心肾开窍于耳，精神共注于目也
。久服则积精全神，故轻身不饥，耐老神仙。
气味甘平，无毒。主补中，养神、益气力、除百疾。久服轻身耐老，不饥延年。
（莲始出汝南池泽，今所在池泽皆有。初夏其叶出水，渐长如扇。六七月间开花，有红、
白、粉红三色，香艳可爱。花心有黄须，花褪房成，房外青内白，子在房中，如蜂子在窠之
状。六七月采嫩者，生食鲜美，至秋房枯子黑、壳坚而硬，谓之石莲子。今药肆中一种石莲
子形长味苦，肉内无心，生于树上，系苦珠之类，不堪入药，宜于建莲子中拣带壳而黑色者，
用之为真。）
莲生水中，茎直色青，具风木之象，花红，须黄，房白，子黑，得五运相生之气化，气
味甘
平。主补中，得中土之精气也。养神，得水火之精气也。益气力，得金木之精气也。百疾之
生，不离五运，莲禀五运之气化，故除百疾，久服且轻身不饥延年。
芡实：气味甘平而涩，无毒。主治湿痹，腰脊膝痛，补益中气，祛除突发疾病，增益精气，强健意志，使耳目灵敏聪明。长期服用可身体轻盈、不感饥饿，抗老如神仙。
（芡实最初产于雷池的池塘沼泽，如今各地都有，以武林所产最为优良。三月生出叶片贴于水面，形状像荷叶但更大，叶面皱纹如同谷粒，褶皱起伏如同沸腾的水，正面青色背面紫色，茎和叶上都有刺。五六月开花，花色紫色，花朵必定朝向太阳，结苞处有青色的刺。芡实气味甘平，子仁黄色外皮白色，生长在水中，花朵朝向太阳，这是阳气牵引向上，阴气牵引向下，所以“芡”字从“欠”，得阳明经与少阴经的精气。主治湿痹，是因为阳明经之上，由燥气主司。治疗腰脊膝痛，是因为少阴经主骨，外合腰膝。补益中气，是因为阳明经居中属土。祛除突发疾病，是因为精气神三者虚弱相互搏结，就会形成突发疾病。芡实生长在水中却朝向太阳，得到水的精华和火的元神。茎刺肉白，又禀受秋季金气收敛的特性，所以能治疗三虚导致的突发疾病。增益精气，强健意志，使耳目灵敏聪明，是说精气充盛，则肾志强。肾志强则耳目灵敏。因为心肾开窍于耳，精神共同注于目。长期服用则积聚精血保全神气，所以身体轻盈不饿，抗老如神仙。）
莲实：气味甘平，无毒。主治补益中气，养神，益气力，祛除百病。长期服用可身体轻盈抗老，不饿延年。
（莲子最初产于汝南的池塘沼泽，如今各地的池塘沼泽都有。初夏时叶片出水，逐渐长大如扇子。六七月间开花，有红、白、粉红三种颜色，香气艳丽可爱。花心有黄色的须，花谢后房成，房外青内白，子在房中，像蜜蜂在蜂巢里的样子。六七月采摘嫩者，生食鲜美，到了秋天房枯子黑、壳坚硬，称为石莲子。现在药铺中的一种石莲子形状长味道苦，肉内无心，生长在树上，属于苦珠之类，不堪入药，应该在建莲子中挑选带壳且黑色的作为真品使用。）
莲子生长在水中，茎直色青，具有风木之象，花红，须黄，房白，子黑，得五行相生之气化，气味甘平。主治补益中气，是得中土的精气。养神，是得水火精气。益气力，是得金木精气。各种疾病的产生，离不开五行运化，莲子禀受五行气化，所以能祛除百病，长期服用还能身体轻盈不饿延年。
Euryale Seed (Qianshi): Flavor sweet, neutral, and astringent; non-toxic. Primarily treats damp-bi syndrome (obstruction caused by dampness), pain in the lower back, spine, knees, tonifies the middle jiao (digestive system), eliminates acute illnesses, benefits essence and qi, strengthens willpower, and makes the ears and eyes clear and bright. Long-term consumption leads to a light body, freedom from hunger, anti-aging effects, and immortality-like vitality.
(Euryale seed originally appeared in the ponds and marshes of Leichi, and is now found everywhere, with those from Wulin being the best. In the third lunar month, leaves emerge贴 on the water surface, resembling lotus leaves but larger, with wrinkles like grains, creases rising like boiling water, green on the front and purple on the back, with thorns on both stems and leaves. Flowers bloom in the fifth and sixth months, purple in color, always facing the sun. The place where buds form has green thorns. Euryale seed has a sweet and neutral flavor; the kernel is yellow and the skin white. Growing in water but facing the sun, it represents yang guiding upward and yin guiding downward. Hence, the character 'Qian' contains the component 'qian' (lack/lean), deriving its essence from the Yangming and Shaoyin meridians. It treats damp-bi because the upper aspect of the Yangming meridian is governed by dryness qi. It treats lower back, spine, and knee pain because the Shaoyin meridian governs bones and externally connects to the waist and knees. It tonifies the middle because the Yangming meridian resides in the center and belongs to Earth. It eliminates acute illnesses because when essence, qi, and spirit are all deficient and interact violently, acute illness arises. Euryale grows in water yet faces the sun, obtaining the essence of water and the divine spirit of fire. Its stem and thorns are white, inheriting the contracting nature of autumnal metal qi, thus treating acute illnesses caused by the tri-deficiency of essence, qi, and spirit. Benefiting essence and qi, strengthening willpower, and making ears and eyes bright means that when essence and qi are abundant, kidney willpower becomes strong. When kidney willpower is strong, ears and eyes become clear. This is because the Heart and Kidney open into the ears, and spirit jointly focuses on the eyes. Long-term consumption accumulates essence and preserves spirit, leading to a light body, lack of hunger, and longevity akin to immortals.)
Lotus Seed (Lianzi): Flavor sweet and neutral; non-toxic. Primarily tonifies the middle, nourishes the spirit, boosts energy and strength, and eliminates myriad diseases. Long-term consumption leads to a light body, anti-aging, freedom from hunger, and extended lifespan.
(Lotus seeds originally appeared in the ponds and marshes of Runan, and are now found in ponds and marshes everywhere. In early summer, leaves emerge from the water, gradually growing large like fans. Between the sixth and seventh lunar months, flowers bloom in red, white, and pink colors, fragrant and beautiful. The flower heart has yellow stamens. After petals fall, the receptacle forms, green outside and white inside, with seeds inside the receptacle, resembling bees in a hive. Tender ones harvested in the sixth and seventh months are delicious when eaten raw. By autumn, the receptacle dries, seeds turn black, and the shell becomes hard, called "Stone Lotus Seeds." Some Stone Lotus Seeds currently sold in pharmacies are long, bitter, have no heart in the flesh, grow on trees, belong to the category of bitter pearls, and are unsuitable for medicinal use. One should select those with shells that are black among Jian lotus seeds as authentic.)
Lotus seeds grow in water. The stem is straight and green, possessing the image of wind-wood. The flowers are red, stamens yellow, receptacles white, and seeds black. They obtain the transformative qi of the mutual generation of the Five Elements, resulting in a sweet and neutral flavor. Tonifying the middle obtains the essence of central Earth. Nourishing the spirit obtains the essence of Water and Fire. Boosting energy and strength obtains the essence of Metal and Wood. The origin of myriad diseases lies in the movement of the Five Elements. Lotus inherits the qi transformation of the Five Elements, thus eliminating myriad diseases. Long-term consumption also leads to a light body, freedom from hunger, and extended lifespan.