邹氏云∶人身灵明，犹火蓄石中；人身躯体，犹石能蓄火。假使躯体为寒水所蒙，灵明
为痰涎所壅；则运动不周，视听不协。外之不化，由于内之不出。惟菖蒲生水石间，而辛温
芳烈，有阳毕达，有阴悉布，故凡水液混浊为神明之翳者悉主之。疏极精审，准是以用菖蒲，
始
菖蒲用以开心孔发音声甚效，然须审定病之宜辛温者。王孟英昌阳泻心汤，以菖蒲偶竹
茹枇杷叶等味亦妙。内用仲圣泻心汤三物而以菖蒲代生姜，盖义各有当也。
水萍浮于水面，而味辛气寒，能发皮肤中湿热之邪汗，故本经主暴热身痒。伤寒论云∶
不得小汗出，身必痒。其身痒为有风寒之邪，宜以麻桂取微汗。此则湿热不汗出而痒，故水
萍主之。水萍亦汗药也，而与麻桂有霄壤之殊。丹溪谓发汗胜于麻黄，不加分别。后遂有视
水萍为峻剂而不敢用者矣。
本经以下水气，止消渴，两许水萍。盖以其状外帖水面，内含血络，水不能濡，则水气
自下
本经未尝言风，而后世以风药推之。要知其所治为风热之风，非风寒之风。如古今录验
以水萍与牛蒡子薄荷治风热瘾疹，则药病相当矣。
石斛为肾药、为肺药、为脾药、为肠胃药，诸家论说纷如，而咸未亲切，兼有疏漏。兹
节采诸说，补其不足。仍即本经别录之旨，以疏通而证明之。石斛借水石而生，若石挹水以
溉斛，斛因石以吸水。石属金，内应乎肺，气平亦入肺，水则内应乎肾，其为引肾阴以供肺，
肺得之而通调下降无惑矣。斛之生不资纤土，而味甘淡则得中土之正，色黄又主五金之贵，
合乎胃为戊土而属阳明燥金，与肺皆职司下行，故其为用，每以肺胃相连而着。惟既禀土德，
何能于脾无与，肺胃与大肠皆一气直下，又何能于大肠无与。此石斛入肾入肺入胃而兼入脾
入大肠之所以然也。石斛得金水之专精，本经强阴二字，足赅全量。所谓阴者，非寒亦非温
，用于温而温者寒，用于寒而寒者温。别录逐皮肤邪热痱气，是温者寒也。疗脚膝疼冷痹弱
，是寒者温也。要不出本经除痹补虚两端。痹何以除，运清虚之气，而使肾阴上济，肺阴下
输也。虚何以补，布粘腻之汁，而使撼者遂定，豁者遂弥也。是故肺胃得之则下气平气，脾
得之则长肌肉，肠得之则浓肠，肾得之则益精，大凡证之恰合夫斛者，必两收除痹补虚之益
。若专以之除痹，专以之补虚，则当弃短取长，而制剂之有道可矣。
寇宗 曰∶治胃中虚热有功。雷 曰∶涩丈夫元气。玩此二说，则知有实热与当利小便
者，皆不得用。粗工以内伤外感，悉可倚仗，摇笔辄至。不知施于内伤而误，其失只在寡效；
施
邹氏说：人体的灵明（指精神意识），就像火蕴藏在石头中；人体的躯体，就像石头能够容纳火。假如躯体被寒水所蒙蔽，灵明被痰涎所壅塞；那么肢体运动就不周全，视听功能就不协调。外部的不通畅，是由于内部的气机不能宣发。只有菖蒲生长在水石之间，具有辛温芳烈的气味，能使阳气毕达体表，使阴气遍布全身，所以凡是因水液混浊而遮蔽神明的病症，它都能主治。这种论述疏朗精细审慎，依据这个原则来使用菖蒲，才算是得当。
菖蒲用来开通心窍、改善发音非常有效，但必须审定病情是否适宜用辛温的药物。王孟英创制的昌阳泻心汤，用菖蒲配合竹茹、枇杷叶等药物，也很奇妙。这里借用张仲景的泻心汤方义，用三味药而以菖蒲代替生姜，大概是因为各有所当用的道理。
水萍漂浮在水面上，味道辛凉，能发散皮肤中湿热之邪通过汗液排出，所以《神农本草经》主治突然发热身体瘙痒。《伤寒论》说：如果不能微微出汗，身体一定会痒。这里的身体痒是因为有风寒之邪，适宜用麻黄汤或桂枝汤取微汗。而这里是湿热导致无法出汗而瘙痒，所以用水萍主治。水萍也是发汗药，但与麻黄、桂枝有着天壤之别。朱丹溪说它发汗作用胜过麻黄，不加分别。后来有人就视水萍为峻猛之剂而不敢使用了。
《神农本草经》记载水萍能下利水气，止消渴，用量为二两水萍。大概是因为它的外形贴附水面，内含血络，水不能浸润它，所以水气自然下行。
《神农本草经》并没有提到风，但后世医家用风药来推演它的功效。要知道它所治疗的是风热之风，而非风寒之风。如《古今录验》用水萍配合牛蒡子、薄荷治疗风热引起的瘾疹（荨麻疹），那么药物与病症就相当对应了。
石斛作为补肾药、补肺药、补脾药、补肠胃药，各家论述纷繁杂乱，但都没有切中要害，兼有疏漏之处。现在节选采集诸家之说，补充其不足之处。仍然依据《神农本草经》和《名医别录》的宗旨，加以疏通证明。石斛借水石而生，如同石头汲取水分来灌溉石斛，石斛依靠石头来吸收水分。石头属金，内应于肺，其气平也入肺；水则内应于肾。它是引导肾阴上供于肺，肺得到它就能通调水道、下降无惑。石斛的生长不依赖细小的土壤，但其味甘淡，得中土之正气；颜色黄，又主五金之贵，合乎胃为戊土而属阳明燥金的特性，与肺都职司下行，所以它的作用，往往以肺胃相连而显现。既然禀受了土德，怎么能对脾没有关联呢？肺、胃与大肠都是一气直下，又怎么能对大肠没有关联呢？这就是石斛入肾、入肺、入胃，同时兼入脾、入大肠的原因所在。石斛得金水之专精，《神农本草经》中“强阴”二字，足以概括其全部量效。所谓的阴，既不是寒也不是温，用于温热病而温热者变寒，用于寒性病而寒者变温。《名医别录》记载它能去除皮肤邪热痱气，这是温热者变寒的表现。治疗脚膝疼痛冷痹虚弱，这是寒性病变温的表现。总不出《神农本草经》除痹、补虚两个方面。痹证如何消除？是运化清虚之气，使肾阴上济，肺阴下输。虚损如何补益？是布散粘腻之汁，使动摇者得以安定，豁裂者得以弥合。因此，肺胃得到它则下气平气，脾得到它则生长肌肉，肠得到它则浓厚肠道，肾得到它则增益精气。大凡病症恰好符合石斛特性的，一定能同时收获除痹和补虚的好处。如果专门用它来除痹，或者专门用它来补虚，那么就应当弃短取长，掌握制剂的方法即可。
寇宗奭说：治疗胃中虚热有功。雷敩说：固涩丈夫元气。玩味这两句话，就知道如果有实热以及应当利小便的情况，都不得使用。粗劣的医生认为内伤外感都可以倚仗此药，提笔就用。不知道施用于内伤而误治，其失误只在于效果寡淡；施用于……
Zou stated: The spiritual clarity (referring to mental consciousness) of the human body is like fire stored within stone; the physical body is like a vessel that can contain fire. If the physical body is obscured by cold water, and the spiritual clarity is congested by phlegm-fluids, then movement will be incomplete, and hearing and vision will not coordinate. The external blockage stems from the internal failure to exhale. Only *Shichangpu* (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma), growing between water and stones, possesses a pungent, warm, fragrant, and potent nature, allowing Yang Qi to reach the exterior completely and Yin Qi to spread throughout. Therefore, it governs all conditions where turbid fluids obscure the spirit. This explanation is thorough and precise; only by applying this principle can *Shichangpu* be used appropriately.
*Shichangpu* is highly effective in opening the orifices of the Heart and improving speech, but one must carefully determine if the condition is suitable for pungent-warm herbs. Wang Mengying’s *Changyang Xiexin Tang* (Caltrop Root Decoction to Drain the Heart), which combines *Shichangpu* with *Zhuru* (Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam, Bamboo Shavings) and *Pipayye* (Eriobotryae Folium, Loquat Leaf), is also excellent. Here, the formulaic intent of Zhang Zhongjing’s *Xiexin Tang* (Decoction to Drain the Heart) is borrowed, using three ingredients but substituting *Shengjiang* (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, Fresh Ginger Root) with *Shichangpu*, as each has its specific appropriateness.
*Shuiping* (Lemnae Herba, Duckweed) floats on the water surface, has a pungent flavor and cold nature, and can induce sweating to disperse damp-heat pathogens from the skin. Thus, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) states it treats sudden fever and itching. The *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders) says: "If slight sweating cannot be achieved, the body will inevitably itch." In that context, the itching is due to wind-cold pathogens, and one should use *Mahuang Tang* (Ephedra Decoction) or *Guizhi Tang* (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) to induce slight sweating. However, here the itching arises from damp-heat preventing sweating, so *Shuiping* is indicated. *Shuiping* is also a diaphoretic herb, but it differs vastly from *Mahuang* and *Guizhi*. Zhu Danxi claimed its diaphoretic power surpasses *Mahuang*, without distinction. Consequently, later practitioners viewed *Shuiping* as a harsh agent and dared not use it.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* records that *Shuiping* promotes the downward movement of water-Qi and stops thirst, using two *liang* (approx. 30g) of *Shuiping*. This is likely because its shape adheres to the water surface while containing blood vessels internally; since water cannot moisten it, the water-Qi naturally descends.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* does not mention wind, but later generations interpreted it through the lens of wind herbs. One must understand that it treats wind-heat, not wind-cold. For instance, *Gujin Luyian* uses *Shuiping* combined with *Niubangzi* (Arctii Fructus, Burdock Fruit) and *Bohe* (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba, Mint) to treat wind-heat urticaria, matching the herb to the disease accurately.
*Deshu* (Dendrobii Caulis, Dendrobium Stem) is regarded as a herb for the Kidney, Lung, Spleen, and Stomach/Intestines. Various theories are abundant yet lack precision and have omissions. I will excerpt these views to supplement their deficiencies, relying on the principles of the *Shennong Bencao Jing* and *Mingyi Bielu* (Record of Famous Physicians) to clarify and prove them. *Deshu* grows by borrowing water and stone; just as stone draws water to irrigate *Deshu*, *Deshu* relies on stone to absorb water. Stone belongs to Metal, corresponding internally to the Lung; its neutral nature also enters the Lung. Water corresponds internally to the Kidney. It guides Kidney Yin to nourish the Lung, ensuring the Lung can regulate water passages and descend smoothly. *Deshu* does not rely on fine soil for growth, but its sweet and bland flavor obtains the upright Qi of Central Earth; its yellow color signifies the nobility of the five metals, aligning with the Stomach as Wu-Earth belonging to Yangming Dry Metal. Like the Lung, it governs descending functions, so its effects often manifest through the connection of Lung and Stomach. Since it embodies Earth virtue, how could it have no relation to the Spleen? Lung, Stomach, and Large Intestine share a direct downward flow, so how could it have no relation to the Large Intestine? This explains why *Deshu* enters the Kidney, Lung, and Stomach, while also affecting the Spleen and Large Intestine. *Deshu* captures the essence of Metal and Water; the phrase "strengthen Yin" in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* covers its entire efficacy. The term "Yin" here is neither cold nor warm; when applied to heat conditions, it cools the hot; when applied to cold conditions, it warms the cold. The *Mingyi Bielu* states it clears pathogenic heat and feiqi (wind-rash) from the skin, representing the cooling of heat. It treats pain, cold, bi-syndrome, and weakness in the feet and knees, representing the warming of cold. These fall under the two aspects of the *Shennong Bencao Jing*: dispelling bi-syndrome and tonifying deficiency. How is bi-syndrome dispelled? By circulating clear and empty Qi, allowing Kidney Yin to ascend and Lung Yin to descend. How is deficiency tonified? By distributing viscous juices, stabilizing trembling and healing fissures. Thus, the Lung and Stomach benefit by calming Qi; the Spleen benefits by generating flesh; the Intestines benefit by thickening the bowel lining; the Kidney benefits by augmenting Essence. Generally, conditions that precisely match *Deshu* will reap both the benefits of dispelling bi-syndrome and tonifying deficiency. If used solely for dispelling bi-syndrome or solely for tonifying deficiency, one should discard its shortcomings, utilize its strengths, and master formulation methods.
Kou Zongshi said: It is effective in treating deficiency-heat in the Stomach. Lei Xiao said: It secures the Yuan-Qi of men. Reflecting on these two statements, one knows that cases involving excess-heat or those requiring promotion of urination should not use it. Incompetent physicians assume it applies to both internal injury and external contraction, prescribing it casually. They do not realize that misapplying it to internal injuries results only in ineffectiveness; applying it...