薄荷，味辛、苦，气温，浮而升，阳也。无毒。入肺与包络二经，又能入肝、胆。下气
冷胀
满，解风邪郁结，善引药入营卫，又能退热，但散邪而耗气，与柴胡同有解纷之妙。然世人
只知用柴胡，不知薄荷者，以其入糕饼之中，轻其非药中所需也。不知古人用入糕饼中，正
取其益肝而平胃，况薄荷功用又实奇乎。惟前人称其退骨蒸之热，解劳乏之困，乃未免虚张
其辞。余尝遇人感伤外邪，又带气郁者，不肯服药，劝服薄橘茶立效。方用薄荷一钱、茶一
钱、橘皮一钱，滚茶冲一大碗服。存之，以见薄荷之奇验也。
或问薄荷实觉寻常，子誉之如此，未必其功之果效也？曰∶余通薄荷之实耳。薄荷不特
善解
风邪，尤善解忧郁。用香附以解郁，不若用薄荷解郁更神也。
或问薄荷解风邪郁结，古人之有用之否？昔仲景张夫子尝用之，以解热入血室之病，又
用之
以
治胸腹胀满之症，子未知之耳。夫薄荷入肝、胆之经，善解半表半里之邪，较柴胡更为轻清
。木得风乃条达，薄荷散风，性属风，乃春日之和风也。和风，为木之所喜，故得其气，肝
中之热不知其何以消，胆中之气不知其何以化。世人轻薄荷，不识其功用，为可慨也。
香薷，味辛，气微温，无毒。入脾、胃、心、肺四经。主霍乱，中脘绞痛，治伤暑如神，
通
小便，散水肿，去口臭，解热除烦，调中温胃，有彻上彻下之功，拨乱反正之妙，能使清气
上升，浊气下降也。但宜冷冻饮料，而不可热饮，宜少用，不可大用。少用，助气以祛邪；大用
，乃助邪以耗气。冷冻饮料，乃顺邪解暑；热饮，乃拒邪以格热。此又用香薷者所宜知也。
或问香薷解暑，宜有暑气，尽可解之，何以有解有不解也？岂多用之故，抑热饮之故耶？
夫香薷热饮、多用，固难见效，然又有冷冻饮料、少用又不效者。盖香薷止能散暑气之邪，不能
助正气之乏也。正气虚，而后暑邪中，祛暑不补正气，焉能效耶。故香薷饮，宜多加参、术
为妙矣。
或疑香薷祛暑，必须补正气，然有补正气以祛暑，而暑邪愈炽者，岂香薷不可用乎？抑
正气
不可补乎？曰∶补正祛邪，王道也；单祛邪不补正，霸道也。补正多于祛邪，王道之纯也；
祛邪多于补正，霸道之谲也。补正不敢祛邪，学王道误者也；祛邪又敢于泻正，学霸道之忍
者。以上六者，皆能去暑。今谓补正气以祛暑气，是王霸兼施之道也，焉有暑气之不解，反
谓暑邪愈炽，疑于正气之不可补哉。香薷用于补正之中，正千古不易之论也。
或问香薷用于补正之中，毕竟宜多宜少？曰∶香薷解暑，感暑症者，自宜以香薷为君，
多用
之。倘元气素虚，又宜以香薷为佐，以补气之药为君，倘元气大虚，又不可以香薷为臣，以
香薷为使，少少入之。总在人临症善用之也。
或疑香薷解暑之外无他用，《本草》称其功用甚多，又可信之乎？此固不可尽信也。然
暑
症多端，凡与暑症同时病者，香薷但有以治之，乃又不可谓香薷于解暑外，竟无他用矣。
薄荷，味道辛、苦，药性温，作用趋势浮而上升，属于阳。没有毒性。进入肺经和心包络经，又能进入肝经、胆经。能降气，治疗因冷气引起的腹胀满闷，解除风邪郁结，善于引导药物进入营卫二经，又能退热，但发散邪气的同时会耗伤正气，与柴胡一样具有解决纷争（调和表里）的妙处。然而世人只知道使用柴胡，不知道使用薄荷，是因为薄荷常被加入糕饼之中，人们轻视它，认为不是药物所需。却不知道古人将其加入糕饼中，正是利用它益肝和平胃的功效，况且薄荷的实际功用确实奇妙。只是前人称赞它能退除骨蒸潮热，解除疲劳乏力的困顿，这未免有些夸大其辞。我曾经遇到有人感受外邪，又带有气机郁滞，不肯服药，我劝他服用薄橘茶，立刻见效。方子用薄荷一钱、茶一钱、橘皮一钱，用滚开的茶水冲成一大碗服用。记录下来，以显示薄荷的神奇疗效。
有人问：薄荷实在觉得平常，您却如此赞誉它，未必它的功效真的那么有效吧？我说：我是通晓薄荷的真实情况罢了。薄荷不仅善于解除风邪，尤其善于解除忧郁。用香附来解郁，不如用薄荷解郁更神奇。
有人问：薄荷解除风邪郁结，古人有用过吗？从前张仲景先生曾经使用过它，用来治疗热邪陷入血室的病证，又用它来治疗胸腹胀满的症状，是您不知道罢了。薄荷进入肝、胆二经，善于解除半表半里的邪气，比柴胡更为轻清。树木得到风才能舒展通达，薄荷疏散风邪，其性质属风，是春日温和的风。和风，是木所喜欢的，所以得到薄荷的气，肝中的热不知为何消散，胆中的气不知为何化行。世人轻视薄荷，不识得它的功用，真是令人感慨啊。
香薷，味道辛，药性微温，没有毒性。进入脾、胃、心、肺四经。主治霍乱，脘腹绞痛，治疗伤暑如神，通利小便，消散水肿，去除口臭，解除热邪消除烦闷，调理中焦温暖胃腑，有彻上彻下的功效，拨乱反正的妙用，能使清气上升，浊气下降。但适宜冷冻后饮用，不可热饮；适宜少量使用，不可大量使用。少量使用，能助正气以祛除邪气；大量使用，则是助长邪气而耗伤正气。冷冻后饮用，是顺应邪气以解散暑热；热饮，则是拒绝邪气而导致格拒热邪。这也是使用香薷的人应该知道的。
有人问：香薷解暑，应当有暑气，完全可以解除，为什么有的能解，有的不能解呢？难道是多用的缘故，还是热饮的缘故吗？香薷热饮、多用，固然难以见效，但也有冷冻后饮用、少用却不生效的情况。大概香薷只能散发暑气之邪，不能帮助正气的匮乏。正气虚弱，然后暑邪才侵入，祛暑而不补正气，怎么能见效呢。所以香薷饮，适宜多加人参、白术为好。
有人怀疑：香薷祛暑，必须补正气，但是有补正气以祛暑，而暑邪更加炽盛的，难道香薷不可用吗？还是正气不可补呢？我说：补正气以祛邪，是王道；单祛邪不补正气，是霸道。补正气多于祛邪，是王道的纯正；祛邪多于补正气，是霸道的权变。只敢补正气不敢祛邪，是学习王道而误入歧途者；祛邪又敢于泻损正气，是学习霸道而残忍者。以上六种情况，都能去暑。现在说补正气以祛暑气，这是王霸兼施的方法，怎么会有暑气不解，反而说暑邪更炽盛，怀疑正气不可补的呢。香薷用于补正气之中，正是千古不变的论断。
有人问：香薷用于补正气之中，究竟适宜多还是少？我说：香薷解暑，感受暑症的人，自然适宜以香薷为君药，多用之。如果元气素来虚弱，又适宜以香薷为佐药，以补气药为君药；如果元气大虚，又不可以把香薷作为臣药，而以香薷为使药，少量加入。总在于医生临症时善于运用罢了。
有人怀疑：香薷除了解暑之外没有其他用途，《本草》称它的功用很多，又可信吗？这固然不能完全相信。然而暑症多种多样，凡是与暑症同时发生的疾病，香薷只要有能够治疗的，就不能说香薷在解暑之外，竟然没有其他用途了。
Menthae Haplocalycis Herba (Bohe, 薄荷), with pungent and bitter tastes, is warm in nature. Its action floats upward, belonging to Yang. It is non-toxic. It enters the Lung Meridian and Pericardium Meridian, and can also enter the Liver Meridian and Gallbladder Meridian. It directs Qi downward, treats abdominal distension and fullness caused by cold Qi, resolves stagnation due to Wind pathogen, and is good at guiding other herbs into the Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) levels. It can also reduce fever. However, while dispersing pathogens, it consumes Qi. Like Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), it has the wonderful effect of resolving conflicts (harmonizing the exterior and interior). Yet, people only know to use Chaihu and do not know Bohe, because Bohe is often added to pastries and cakes; they despise it, thinking it is not needed in medicine. They do not know that the ancients added it to pastries precisely to benefit the Liver and harmonize the Stomach. Moreover, the actual functions of Bohe are truly remarkable. Only did predecessors claim it could relieve bone-steaming heat and resolve fatigue-induced exhaustion, which was somewhat exaggerated. I once encountered a person who had contracted external pathogens and suffered from Qi stagnation, who refused to take medicine. I advised him to drink Bohe-Ju Tea, and he recovered immediately. The prescription uses one qian of Bohe, one qian of tea leaves, and one qian of Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium). Brew with boiling water to make a large bowl and drink. I record this to demonstrate the miraculous efficacy of Bohe.
Someone asked: "Bohe seems quite ordinary, yet you praise it so highly. Is its efficacy really as effective as you say?" I replied: "I understand the true nature of Bohe. Bohe is not only good at resolving Wind pathogens, but especially good at resolving depression (emotional stagnation). Using Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma) to resolve depression is not as miraculous as using Bohe."
Someone asked: "Did the ancients use Bohe to resolve Wind pathogen stagnation?" In the past, Zhang Zhongjing used it to treat diseases where Heat entered the Blood Chamber (Xue Shi), and also used it to treat symptoms of chest and abdominal distension and fullness. You were simply unaware of this. Bohe enters the Liver and Gallbladder meridians and is good at resolving pathogens in the Shaoyang stage (half-exterior, half-interior), being lighter and clearer than Chaihu. Wood needs wind to grow smoothly and freely. Bohe disperses Wind, and its nature belongs to Wind, representing the gentle breeze of spring. Gentle breeze is what Wood delights in. Therefore, upon receiving the Qi of Bohe, the Heat in the Liver dissipates unknowingly, and the Qi in the Gallbladder transforms unknowingly. People despise Bohe and fail to recognize its functions, which is truly lamentable.
Elsholtziae Herba (Xiangru, 香薷), with a pungent taste and slightly warm nature, is non-toxic. It enters the Spleen, Stomach, Heart, and Lung meridians. It primarily treats Huoluan (cholera-like syndrome with vomiting and diarrhea), colicky pain in the epigastrium, and is miraculous in treating Summerheat injury. It promotes urination, dissipates edema, removes bad breath, resolves Heat and relieves irritability, regulates the Middle Jiao and warms the Stomach. It has the function of penetrating from top to bottom and the wonder of restoring order from chaos, enabling Clear Qi to ascend and Turbid Qi to descend. However, it should be drunk cold (chilled) and not hot; it should be used in small doses, not large ones. A small dose assists Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) to expel pathogens; a large dose aids pathogens and consumes Zheng Qi. Drinking it chilled follows the pathogen to resolve Summerheat; drinking it hot rejects the pathogen and causes gridlock of Heat. This is something those who use Xiangru should know.
Someone asked: "Xiangru resolves Summerheat. If there is Summerheat, it should be resolvable. Why does it work in some cases but not others? Is it due to excessive use or hot drinking?" Indeed, hot drinking and excessive use of Xiangru make it difficult to see effects. However, even when drunk chilled and used in small doses, it may still be ineffective. This is because Xiangru can only disperse the pathogenic factor of Summerheat, but cannot supplement the deficiency of Zheng Qi. When Zheng Qi is deficient, Summerheat pathogen invades. If one dispels Summerheat without tonifying Zheng Qi, how can it be effective? Therefore, in Xiangru Yin (Decoction), it is advisable to add more Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma).
Someone doubts: "If dispelling Summerheat requires tonifying Zheng Qi, but there are cases where tonifying Zheng Qi to dispel Summerheat makes the Summerheat pathogen more intense, does this mean Xiangru should not be used? Or that Zheng Qi should not be tonified?" I say: Tonifying Zheng Qi to expel pathogens is the King's Way (Wangdao); expelling pathogens alone without tonifying Zheng Qi is the Hegemon's Way (Badao). Tonifying Zheng Qi more than expelling pathogens is the pure King's Way; expelling pathogens more than tonifying Zheng Qi is the cunning Hegemon's Way. Those who dare only to tonify Zheng Qi but not expel pathogens have misunderstood the King's Way; those who expel pathogens and dare to drain Zheng Qi are cruel practitioners of the Hegemon's Way. All six of these approaches can remove Summerheat. Now, saying that tonifying Zheng Qi to dispel Summerheat is a method combining King's and Hegemon's ways. How can there be unresolved Summerheat, leading to the suspicion that Summerheat pathogen becomes more intense and thus questioning whether Zheng Qi can be tonified? Using Xiangru within the context of tonifying Zheng Qi is an unchangeable principle for all time.
Someone asks: "When using Xiangru to tonify Zheng Qi, should the dose be large or small?" I say: For resolving Summerheat, in cases of Summerheat syndrome, it is appropriate to use Xiangru as the Jun (Emperor) herb, using a larger dose. If Yuan Qi (Original Qi) is inherently deficient, it is appropriate to use Xiangru as the Chen (Minister) herb, using herbs that tonify Qi as the Jun herb. If Yuan Qi is severely deficient, Xiangru should not be used as the Chen herb, but rather as the Shi (Envoy) herb, added in very small amounts. Ultimately, it depends on the physician's skillful application during clinical practice.
Someone suspects: "Does Xiangru have no other uses besides resolving Summerheat? Bencao (Materia Medica) claims many functions. Can this be trusted?" This certainly cannot be fully believed. However, Summerheat syndromes are diverse. Whenever diseases occur simultaneously with Summerheat syndrome, if Xiangru can treat them, one cannot say that Xiangru has no other uses outside of resolving Summerheat.