气味甘酸平，无毒。主下水肿，排痈肿脓血。
（赤豆出江淮间，今关西、河北、汴洛皆有，夏至后下种，苗科高尺许，枝叶似豇豆，
至秋开花淡银褐色，有腐气，
结荚长二三寸，皮色微白带红，豆如绿豆而色赤，可作粥饭，煮熟 黯，可作香豉入药，以
紧小而赤黯者为良。豆谷类
也，赤小豆乃赤豆之小者，今药肆中
知以何物，草子赤黑相间者，伪充赤小豆，其谬已甚。夫既名为豆，岂可于谷外求之耶。）
赤豆煮熟，其味则甘，生时其气微酸，故曰甘酸平。豆者，水之谷也，其性下沉，是主
从上
属火，又主从下而上，由内而外。《本经》主下水肿，乃从上而下，由外而内也。排痈肿脓
血，乃从下而上，由内而外矣。
气味甘平，无毒。主治湿痹、筋挛、膝痛，不可屈伸。
（黑大豆水浸出芽，约五寸长，使干之，名为黄卷。李时珍曰∶一法壬癸日以井华水浸
大豆
《金匮》薯蓣丸治虚劳不足，风气百疾，内用大豆黄卷，义可知矣。
气味苦咸平，无毒。主治暴中风，身热肢满，忽忽不知人，狂惑邪气，寒热酸疼，温
疟洗洗，发作有时。
（白薇《本经》名春生，出陕西及舒、滁、润、辽诸处。其根黄白色，类牛膝，而短小
柔软可曲者，白薇也。坚直
易断者，白前也。《乘雅》云∶根似牛膝而细长尺许，色黄微白，芳
白微黄，折之易断者，白前也。）
凡草木皆感春气而生，唯《本经》号白薇为春生。谓其能启水天之精气，随春气而生升
也。
苦者火也。禀太阳寒水之气在下，标阳之气在上也。根色黄白，又
阳明秋金之气，而秋金之气，合肺气于皮毛，亦太阳之所主也。太阳标阳之气，行于肌表，
故主治暴中风。太阳寒水之气，周于一身，故主治身热。肢满，风邪淫于四末也。忽忽，眩
晕貌。忽忽不知人，风邪行于头目也。夫风者，百病之长，善行数变。狂惑邪气，风淫血分
而涉于心包矣。寒热酸痛，风淫肌腠而涉于经脉矣。白薇禀秋金之气，故治诸风之变证。先
热后寒，名曰温疟。温疟洗洗，如水洒身之寒也。温疟发作有时，白薇禀寒水之气，上行外
达，故治温疟。又得太阳之标阳，故治温疟之洗洗。
【赤小豆】
气味甘、酸，性平，无毒。主要治疗下肢水肿，排出痈肿的脓血。
（赤豆产于江淮之间，如今关西、河北、汴洛等地都有种植。夏至后播种，苗茎高约一尺，枝叶像豇豆。到了秋天开淡银褐色的花，有腐败的气味。结出的荚长二三寸，皮色微白带红，豆子像绿豆但颜色发红，可以煮粥做饭，煮熟后颜色变暗，也可以制成香豉入药。以颗粒紧小而颜色赤暗的为优良品种。豆类属于谷物类，赤小豆是赤豆中较小的一种。如今药店里有人用草子中赤黑相间的种子伪充赤小豆，这种错误非常严重。既然名为豆，怎么能在谷物之外去寻找呢？）
赤豆煮熟后，味道变为甘味；生时其气微酸，所以说是甘、酸、平。豆是水之谷，其性质下沉，因此主治从上属火（指心火或上部热邪），又主从下而上，由内而外（指引导病邪从下向上、从内向外出散）。《神农本草经》说它主治下水肿，这是从上而下，由外向内的作用（指利水下行）；排出痈肿脓血，这是从下而上，由内而外的作用（指托毒外出）。
【大豆黄卷】
气味甘，性平，无毒。主要治疗湿痹、筋脉拘挛、膝痛，导致膝盖不能屈伸。
（黑大豆用水浸泡生出芽，长约五寸，晒干后，称为黄卷。李时珍说：另一种方法是在壬癸日（天干属水的日子）用井华水浸泡大豆。《金匮要略》中的薯蓣丸治疗虚劳不足、风气百疾，方中内服大豆黄卷，其中的义理就可以知道了。）
【白薇】
气味苦、咸，性平，无毒。主要治疗突然发作的中风，身体发热、四肢胀满，神情恍惚不知人事，狂乱迷惑及邪气侵袭，寒热酸痛，以及温疟，感觉如冷水洒身般寒冷，发作有定时。
（白薇在《神农本草经》中名为春生，产于陕西以及舒州、滁州、润州、辽州等地。它的根呈黄白色，形状像牛膝，但短小柔软可弯曲的是白薇；坚硬挺直容易折断的是白前。《乘雅》记载：根像牛膝但细长约一尺，颜色黄微白，芳香，折之易断的是白前。）
凡是草木都感应春天的气息而生，只有《神农本草经》称白薇为“春生”。是说它能开启天水地的精气，随着春气的生发而上升。
苦味属火。禀受太阳寒水之气在下，标阳之气在上。根色黄白，又禀受阳明秋金之气，而秋金之气与肺气合于皮毛，这也是太阳所主管的范畴。太阳标阳之气行于肌表，所以主治突然发作的中风。太阳寒水之气周流于一身，所以主治身体发热。四肢胀满是风邪淫溢于四肢末端。忽忽，是眩晕的样子。忽忽不知人，是风邪行于头目所致。风是百病之长，善于运行且变化多端。狂惑邪气，是风邪淫溢于血分并波及心包。寒热酸痛，是风邪淫溢于肌肉腠理并波及经脉。白薇禀受秋金之气，所以治疗各种风邪的变证。先热后寒，称为温疟。温疟时的“洗洗”感，像水洒在身上一样的寒冷。温疟发作有定时，白薇禀受寒水之气，上行外达，所以治疗温疟。又得太阳的标阳之气，所以治疗温疟时的恶寒战栗症状。
[Chixiaodou / Adzuki Bean]
The flavor is sweet and sour, the nature is neutral, and it is non-toxic. It primarily treats edema of the lower limbs and expels pus and blood from carbuncles and swellings.
(Adzuki beans grow in the Jianghuai region, and are now also cultivated in Guanxi, Hebei, Bianluo, etc. Sown after the Summer Solstice, the seedlings are about one chi tall, with leaves and branches resembling Vigna unguiculata (cowpea). In autumn, they bear pale silver-brown flowers with a putrid odor. The pods are two to three cun long, with skin slightly white tinged with red. The beans resemble mung beans but are red in color; they can be used for porridge or rice. When cooked, they turn dark. They can also be processed into Xiangchi (Fermented Soybean) for medicinal use. Those that are tight, small, and dark red are considered superior. Beans belong to the grain category. Chixiaodou is the smaller variety of Chi Dou. Nowadays, some pharmacies falsely pass off grass seeds with intermixed red and black colors as Chixiaodou, which is a serious error. Since it is named "bean," how can it be sought outside the grain category?)
When Chixiaodou is cooked, its flavor becomes sweet; when raw, its qi is slightly sour, hence described as sweet, sour, and neutral. Beans are grains of water, possessing a sinking nature. Thus, it treats conditions originating from the upper Fire organ (Heart), guiding pathogenic factors upward from below and outward from within. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it treats lower limb edema, which acts downward from above and inward from the exterior (promoting diuresis). Expelling pus and blood from carbuncles acts upward from below and outward from within (expelling toxins).
[Dahuangjuan / Soybean Sprout]
The flavor is sweet, the nature is neutral, and it is non-toxic. It primarily treats Bi syndrome caused by dampness, tendon spasms, knee pain, and inability to flex or extend the knees.
(Black soybeans are soaked in water until sprouts grow to about five cun in length, then dried, known as Huangjuan. Li Shizhen stated: Another method involves soaking soybeans on Ren-Gui days (days associated with Water in the Heavenly Stems) using well water. In the *Jin Gui Yao Lue*, the Shuyu Wan formula treats deficiency labor and various wind diseases, internally using Dahuangjuan, the rationale of which can be understood.)
[Baiwei / Cynanchum Atratum Root]
The flavor is bitter and salty, the nature is neutral, and it is non-toxic. It primarily treats sudden onset of stroke, feverish body and fullness of the limbs, mental confusion and loss of consciousness, mania, delirium, and invasion by pathogenic factors, alternating chills and fever with soreness and pain, and warm malaria characterized by a sensation like cold water sprinkling on the body, with paroxysms occurring at regular intervals.
(Baiwei was named Chunsheng in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*. It grows in Shaanxi and places such as Shuzhou, Chuzhou, Runzhou, and Liaozhou. Its root is yellowish-white. Those resembling Achyranthes bidentata (Niuxi) but shorter, softer, and flexible are Baiwei. Those that are hard, straight, and easily broken are Baiqian. *Chengya* records: Roots resembling Niuxi but slender and about one chi long, yellowish-white in color, aromatic, and easily broken upon snapping are Baiqian.)
All herbs and trees grow by sensing the Qi of Spring. Only the *Shennong Bencao Jing* refers to Baiwei as "Chunsheng" (Spring Birth), implying it can initiate the essence and Qi of Heaven and Earth, rising with the generating force of Spring.
Bitterness belongs to Fire. It inherits the Cold-Water Qi of Taiyang (Greater Yang) below and the Marking-Yang Qi above. The root's yellowish-white color indicates it also inherits the Autumn-Metal Qi of Yangming. The Metal Qi harmonizes with Lung Qi in the skin and hair, which is also governed by Taiyang. The Marking-Yang Qi of Taiyang circulates in the muscle and surface, thus treating sudden stroke. The Cold-Water Qi of Taiyang circulates throughout the body, thus treating fever. Limb fullness results from Wind pathogen overflowing into the four extremities. "Huhu" describes dizziness. Confusion and loss of consciousness result from Wind pathogen affecting the head and eyes. Wind is the leader of all diseases, good at moving and changing. Mania and delirious pathogenic factors indicate Wind overflowing into the Blood level and involving the Pericardium. Alternating chills, fever, and soreness indicate Wind overflowing into the muscle-cou li and involving the meridians. Baiwei inherits the Autumn-Metal Qi, thus treating various transformations of Wind diseases. Fever followed by chills is called Warm Malaria. The "xixi" sensation in Warm Malaria feels like cold water sprinkled on the body. Since Warm Malaria has regular paroxysms, and Baiwei inherits Cold-Water Qi, ascending and reaching outward, it treats Warm Malaria. Furthermore, inheriting the Marking-Yang of Taiyang, it treats the chills/shivering aspect of Warm Malaria.