味甘咸微寒。入手足太阴阳明经。功专补虚劳。壮血脉。益颜色。实五脏。益气调
中。除热止泄。疗消渴。化谷食。石蜜为使。面平胃宽胸。下气消积。疗缠喉风作粥食良。
得针砂没石子能染须杆。得 豆荸荠煮食。治春夏受湿渐成胸闷肚大如鼓神效。
味咸。入足太阴少阴厥阴经。功专消食下气。产后退乳。得川椒干姜治谷劳嗜卧。
得蜜能下胎乳胀欲成痈。单用一二两炒煎服立消。并消果食积。
味甘凉。入手足太阴厥阴经。功专和五脏。调经络。醋熬成膏。消一切痈肿。汤火
伤
。俗名小粉。面筋味甘凉。性粘泞。食之难消。炒煎熏炙。助火伤阴。病患及小儿宜忌。
味甘微寒。入手足太阴经。功专补中除热。久服力健。
味甘寒。入手足太阴
阳明经。功专降气宽肠。治肠胃沉积。泄痢带浊。敷痘疮溃烂
汤火伤。虚寒者忌食。以荸荠汁同荞麦调敷脚鸡眼三日。鸡眼疔即拔出甚验。头风风眼荞麦
粉作饼贴眼四角。以米大艾炷灸之神效。
味甘辛。入足少阴手阳明经。功专润燥。得桑叶逐风湿。坚筋骨。得苦参蒺藜。治
大疯疥癞屡验。皮肉俱黑者良。精气不固者宜忌。一名脂麻。一名巨胜子。又有所谓壁虱胡
麻者。一名亚麻。治大疯疥癞。以此为最。
味甘。入手阳明足太阴经。功专缓脾润燥。得当归浓朴等辛药。乃能利大肠。卒
被毒箭。捣烂煮汁饮。赤游丹以之涂敷均效。并能催生通乳。惟肠滑者忌服。畏牡蛎白薇茯
苓。一名火麻。
大麦味甘、咸，性微寒。归手太阴肺经、手阳明大肠经、足太阴脾经、足阳明胃经。功效专于补益虚劳，强壮血脉，改善面色，充实五脏，益气调和中焦，清除内热并止泻，治疗消渴病，促进谷物消化。以石蜜为引药。其粉末可平复胃部宽胸，下气消积，治疗缠喉风，煮粥食用效果良好。与针砂、没石子同用能染黑头发。与大豆、荸荠同煮食用，对春夏季节受湿邪侵袭逐渐形成的胸闷、腹部胀大如鼓之症有显著疗效。
大麻仁味咸。归足太阴脾经、足少阴肾经、足厥阴肝经。功效专于消食下气，用于产后回乳。与川椒、干姜同用，可治疗谷劳病（因饮食不节导致的倦怠嗜卧）。与蜂蜜同用，能促进胎衣排出，缓解乳房胀痛以防成痈。单用一两至二两炒后煎服，立见成效。并能消除水果及肉食积滞。
荞麦味甘凉。归手太阴肺经、手阳明大肠经、足太阴脾经、足厥阴肝经。功效专于调和五脏，疏通经络。醋熬成膏状，可消除各种痈肿及汤火烫伤。俗称小粉。面筋味甘凉，性质黏腻，食用后难以消化。经炒、煎、熏、炙等加工后，易助火伤阴，病患及小儿应当忌食。
薏苡仁味甘微寒。归手太阴肺经、手阳明大肠经。功效专于补中气、除虚热，长期服用可使身体强健。
赤小豆味甘寒。归手太阴肺经、足太阴脾经、手阳明大肠经、足阳明胃经。功效专于降气宽肠，治疗肠胃积滞，泄痢带浊。外敷可用于痘疮溃烂及汤火烫伤，虚寒体质者忌食。用荸荠汁调和荞麦粉敷于脚鸡眼处，三日即可拔出，效果极佳。头风、风眼可用荞麦粉做饼贴于眼角四角，再用米粒大小的艾炷施灸，神效。
胡麻（黑芝麻）味甘辛。归足少阴肾经、手阳明大肠经。功效专于润燥。与桑叶同用可祛除风湿，坚固筋骨。与苦参、蒺藜同用，治疗大麻风、疥癣癞疾屡见奇效，皮肤肌肉俱黑者适用。精气不固者宜忌。又名脂麻、巨胜子。另有壁虱胡麻，即亚麻，也用于治疗大麻风、疥癣癞疾，以此最为适宜。
火麻仁味甘。入手阳明大肠经、足太阴脾经。功效专于缓和脾气、润燥。得当归、厚朴等辛温药物配合，方能通利大肠。被毒箭射伤，捣烂煮汁饮用有效；赤游丹毒外用涂抹亦有效。并能催生、通乳。唯肠滑者忌服。畏牡蛎、白薇、茯苓。又名火麻。
Barley (Damai) is sweet, salty, and slightly cold in nature. It enters the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, and Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian. Its efficacy is specialized in tonifying deficiency and exhaustion, strengthening blood vessels, improving complexion, solidifying the Five Zang Organs, benefiting Qi, regulating the Middle Jiao, clearing heat, stopping diarrhea, treating Xiao Ke (Wasting and Thirsting Syndrome), and promoting the digestion of grains. Rock sugar (Shimi) serves as a guiding drug. Its flour can soothe the stomach, broaden the chest, direct Qi downward, and resolve accumulation; it treats Chan Hou Feng (Strangling Throat Wind) and is beneficial when cooked as porridge. When combined with Zhensha (Needle Sand) and Meishizi (Medusa Head Fruit), it can dye hair black. Boiled with soybeans and Water Chestnut, it is highly effective for chest tightness and abdominal distension resembling a drum caused by dampness acquired in spring and summer.
Hemp Seed (Dama Ren) is salty in taste. It enters the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, and Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian. Its efficacy is specialized in digesting food, directing Qi downward, and suppressing lactation postpartum. Combined with Sichuan Pepper (Chuanjiao) and Dried Ginger (Ganjiang), it treats Gu Lao (Grain Fatigue characterized by drowsiness). Combined with honey, it promotes the expulsion of the placenta and relieves breast distension to prevent abscess formation. Used alone (1-2 liang) stir-fried and decocted, it acts immediately. It also resolves accumulation from fruits and meats.
Buckwheat (Qiaomai) is sweet and cool in nature. It enters the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, and Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian. Its efficacy is specialized in harmonizing the Five Zang Organs and regulating meridians. Boiled with vinegar into a paste, it resolves all types of carbuncles and sores, and burns/scalds. Commonly known as "Xiao Fen" (Small Powder). Wheat Gluten (Mianjin) is sweet and cool, sticky in nature, difficult to digest, and should be avoided by patients and children after being stir-fried, boiled, smoked, or roasted as it aids fire and damages Yin.
Coix Seed (Yiyi Ren) is sweet and slightly cold in nature. It enters the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Its efficacy is specialized in tonifying the Middle Jiao and clearing deficiency heat; long-term use strengthens the body.
Red Bean (Chixiaodou) is sweet and cold in nature. It enters the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, and Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian. Its efficacy is specialized in descending Qi, widening the intestines, treating intestinal stagnation, dysentery, leukorrhea, and turbid urine. Topical application is used for ulcerated smallpox lesions and burns/scalds; those with deficiency-cold constitution should avoid eating it. Applying buckwheat powder mixed with water chestnut juice to corns on the feet for three days effectively extracts them. For Head Wind and Wind Eyes, buckwheat powder made into cakes applied to the four corners of the eyes, followed by moxibustion with mugwort cones the size of rice grains, is highly effective.
Sesame (Huma/Heizhima) is sweet and acrid in nature. It enters the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Its efficacy is specialized in moistening dryness. Combined with Mulberry Leaf (Sangye), it dispels wind-dampness and strengthens bones and tendons. Combined with Sophora Root (Kushen) and Tribulus Fruit (Jili), it frequently cures Leprosy and scabies. It is particularly good for cases where skin and flesh are black. Those with insecure Essence and Qi should avoid it. Also known as Zhima (Fat Sesame) and Jushengzi. There is also Bishi Huma, i.e., Flaxseed (Yama), which is best for treating Leprosy and scabies.
Hemp Seed (Huoma Ren) is sweet in taste. It enters the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian and Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian. Its efficacy is specialized in moderating the Spleen and moistening dryness. Only when combined with pungent herbs like Angelica Sinensis (Danggui) and Magnolia Bark (Houpo) can it benefit the Large Intestine. If shot by a poisoned arrow, crushing and boiling it for drinking is effective; applying it topically is also effective for Chi You Dan (Red Roaming Carbuncle). It can induce labor and promote lactation. However, those with slippery intestines should avoid it. It is incompatible with Oyster Shell (Muli), Anemone Root (Baiwei), and Poria (Fuling). Also known as Huoma.