白豆蔻，味辛，气大温，阳也，无毒。入手太阴肺经。别有清高之气，非草豆蔻之可比
也。
散
胸中冷滞之气，益心包之元阳，温脾胃，止呕吐翻胃，消积食目翳。但此物尤难识，铺家多
以草豆蔻充之，所以用多不效。总之，必须白者为佳，正不必问真假也。
或问白豆蔻与砂仁相似，用砂仁，可不必用白豆蔻矣，而不知各有功效，砂仁宜用之于
补药
丸中，而白豆蔻宜用之于补剂汤中。盖砂仁性缓，而白豆蔻性急也。
藿香，味辛、甘，气微温，可升可降，阳也，无毒。入肺、脾二经。定霍乱有神，止呕
吐尤
效，开胃消食，去臭气，利水肿。但亦可佐使，而不可为君臣。盖藿香逐邪甚速，未免耗气
亦多，故佐气血之药往往取效，否则，无功耳。
或问藿香散暑气，子未言也？不知藿香虽散暑气，亦散真气也。用藿香以散暑，是犹执
热以
止热，余所以不言耳。虽霍乱亦暑症之一，然用藿香以定霍乱，实取其降气，非取其消暑
，又不可不知也。
或问藿香为定喘奇方，而子何以未言？夫藿香定喘，乃言感暑气而作喘也，非藿香于治
暑之
外而更定喘也。余所以只言其治霍乱逐邪，而不言其定喘。夫喘症多生于虚，误认虚喘为实
喘，下喉即便杀人。故不敢言藿香之定喘，实有微意耳。
白豆蔻，味道辛，气性大温，属于阳药，没有毒性。归入手太阴肺经。它具有清高独特的气味，不是草豆蔻所能比拟的。
它能疏散胸中冷滞的气机，补益心包络的元阳，温暖脾胃，停止呕吐和翻胃（指饮食入胃即吐或朝食暮吐的症状），消除积食以及目翳（眼球表面生成的薄膜）。但是这种药材特别难以辨认，药店里常用草豆蔻来冒充它，所以使用的人往往效果不佳。总之，必须选用白色的为佳，确实不必去追问它是真品还是伪品。
有人问：白豆蔻与砂仁相似，既然用了砂仁，就可以不必用白豆蔻了吧？却不知道它们各有功效。砂仁适宜用于补药的丸剂中，而白豆蔻适宜用于补剂的汤剂中。大概是因为砂仁的药性缓和，而白豆蔻的药性急峻。
藿香，味道辛、甘，气性微温，作用可升可降，属于阳药，没有毒性。归入肺、脾两经。治疗霍乱有神奇的效果，止呕吐尤其有效，能开胃消食，去除臭气，通利水肿。但它只能作为佐使药，而不能作为君臣药。因为藿香驱逐邪气非常迅速，难免也会耗伤正气较多，所以配合气血药物使用时往往能取得疗效，否则就没有功效了。
有人问：藿香能散发暑气，您为什么没有提到呢？不知道藿香虽然能散暑气，同时也散失真气。用藿香来散发暑热，这就好比拿着火把来灭火一样，所以我才没有提及这一点。虽然霍乱也是暑症的一种，然而使用藿香来平定霍乱，实际上是取它降逆气的作用，而不是取它消暑的作用，这也是不可不知道的。
有人问：藿香是平喘的奇方，您为什么没有提到呢？所谓藿香平喘，是指感受暑气而引发的喘息，并不是说藿香在治暑之外还有平喘的功效。我之所以只说它治疗霍乱、驱逐邪气，而不提它平喘，是因为喘息病症多由虚证引起，如果错误地将虚喘认作实喘，药物入口便会致人死亡。因此我不敢轻易谈论藿香的平喘功效，这背后确实有深意。
Bai Doukou (Amomi Fructus Rotundus), with a pungent taste and strongly warm nature, is of the Yang category and non-toxic. It enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. It possesses a pure and lofty aroma, incomparable to Caodoukou (Grass Cardamom).
It disperses cold stagnation in the chest, benefits the primordial Yang of the Pericardium, warms the Spleen and Stomach, stops vomiting and regurgitation, resolves food accumulation, and clears cornea opacity. However, this herb is particularly difficult to identify; apothecaries often substitute it with Caodoukou, leading to frequent inefficacy. In summary, white varieties are superior, and one need not overly concern oneself with authenticity versus imitation.
One may ask: Bai Doukou resembles Sharen (Amomi Fructus); if Sharen is used, is Bai Doukou unnecessary? This overlooks their distinct efficacies. Sharen is suitable for inclusion in tonifying pill formulations, whereas Bai Doukou is suited for tonifying decoctions. This is because Sharen has a mild nature, while Bai Doukou has an urgent/rapid nature.
Huoxiang (Agastache Herba), with a pungent and sweet taste and slightly warm nature, acts on both ascending and descending pathways, belongs to the Yang category, and is non-toxic. It enters the Lung and Spleen meridians. It is miraculous in treating Huoluan (Cholera-like syndrome characterized by sudden vomiting and diarrhea), especially effective in stopping vomiting, opens the appetite, aids digestion, eliminates foul odors, and promotes urination to reduce edema. However, it can only serve as an assistant or guide herb, never as a sovereign or minister herb. This is because Huoxiang expels pathogens rapidly but inevitably consumes Qi significantly; thus, it often yields results when combined with Qi- and Blood-tonifying herbs, otherwise, it is ineffective.
One may ask: Why did you not mention that Huoxiang dissipates summerheat? The reason is that although Huoxiang dissipates summerheat, it also dissipates true Qi. Using Huoxiang to dissipate summerheat is akin to using fire to extinguish fire; hence, I omitted this point. Although Huoluan is one type of summerheat syndrome, the use of Huoxiang to stabilize Huoluan actually relies on its ability to direct Qi downward, not on its summerheat-dissipating property; this distinction must be understood.
One may ask: Is Huoxiang not a miraculous formula for calming asthma? When Huoxiang is said to calm asthma, it refers specifically to asthma caused by contracting summerheat, not implying that Huoxiang calms asthma independently of its summerheat-resolving function. I only mentioned its treatment of Huoluan and expulsion of pathogens, omitting its asthma-calming effect, because asthma syndromes mostly arise from deficiency. Mistaking deficiency asthma for excess asthma can be fatal upon ingestion. Therefore, I dare not lightly speak of Huoxiang’s asthma-calming efficacy, as there is profound reasoning behind this caution.