醋，味酸、寒，气温，无毒。入胃、大肠，尤走肝脏。散水气，杀邪毒，消痈肿，敛咽
疮，
祛胃脘气疼并坚积症块，治产后血晕及伤损金疮。
按醋乃食物中必需，用之入药绝少。然亦有不得不用之时，其功用必宜知也。故存之以
备稽
考矣。
或问米醋可以入药，不是米醋，亦可入药否？夫醋必米造，始得温热之气，否则，味过于酸
，入肝不能收敛，及走筋而缩涩矣，故入药必取米醋。凡吐血，与肢体肚脐出血，与毛孔标
血者，用醋二升煮滚，倾在盆内，以双足心泡之，少顷即止血。此则不必米醋，凡米醋皆可
用，正取其过酸，易于敛涩而宁谧耳。
冬葵子，味甘，气寒，性滑利，无毒。主五脏六腑寒热、羸瘦五癃，利小便，疗妇人乳
难内
闭。久服，坚骨长肌肉。冬葵子本非佳品，然药笼中必备者，以其能顺胎也。横生倒产，子
死腹中，必借此以滑之也。
或问冬葵子治难产，未见神效，何子独取之？曰∶冬葵子治难产，亦要人必用之耳。当
横生
倒产之时，或却一足下而一足不下，或于一臂伸而一臂不伸，欲开产门而儿头未顺也，不可
遽用柞木枝以先启产户，以针利之而儿已死，疾痛不知，徒刺无益。若不用冬葵子以助其胞
胎之顺利，又何以救危亡于顷刻乎，然而，徒用冬葵子，不知加入人参、当归、川芎之类，
补气血以生水，则胞胎干涸。亦本能活利顺生，变危为安也。
醋，味道酸、性寒，气温，无毒。进入胃和大肠经，尤其作用于肝脏。能疏散水气，杀灭邪毒，消除痈肿，收敛咽部疮口，祛除胃脘部位的气痛以及坚硬的积块症候，治疗产后血晕以及外伤金创。
按语：醋是食物中必需之物，但用于入药的情况极少。然而也有不得不用的时候，其功效必须了解。所以记录下来以备查考。
有人问：米醋可以入药，如果不是米醋，也可以入药吗？醋必须由米酿造，才能获得温热的性质，否则，味道过于酸涩，进入肝脏不能起到收敛作用，反而会使筋脉收缩涩滞，所以入药必须选用米醋。凡是吐血，以及肢体、肚脐出血，还有毛孔渗血的情况，用二升醋煮沸，倒入盆中，将双脚心浸泡其中，片刻即可止血。这种情况不必拘泥于米醋，一般的米醋都可以使用，正是取其过酸的特性，易于收敛涩止而达到安宁的效果。
冬葵子，味道甘甜，气寒，性质滑利，无毒。主治五脏六腑的寒热病症、身体消瘦及五种淋证（癃闭），通利小便，治疗妇人乳汁不通及内部闭塞。长期服用，能坚固骨骼，生长肌肉。冬葵子本不是上品药材，但是药箱中必备的，因为它能顺胎产。遇到横生倒产、胎儿死于腹中的情况，必须借助它来润滑产道。
有人问：冬葵子治疗难产，未见神效，为何您独独推崇它？回答说：冬葵子治疗难产，关键在于人必须使用它。当出现横生倒产时，或者一只脚向下另一只脚不下，或者一只手臂伸出另一只手臂不伸，想要打开产门但胎儿头部尚未顺位时，不可立即用柞木枝先去开启产户，如果用针尖锐刺，胎儿已经死亡，因剧痛无知觉，徒然针刺没有益处。如果不用冬葵子来帮助胞胎顺利产出，又怎么能挽救顷刻间的危亡呢？然而，如果单用冬葵子，不知道加入人参、当归、川芎等药物，补益气血以化生津液，那么胞胎就会干涸。只有如此，才能本能地使生产顺利，转危为安。
Vinegar, with a sour taste and cold nature, possesses warm qi and is non-toxic. It enters the Stomach and Large Intestine meridians, and particularly acts upon the Liver Meridian of Foot-Jueyin (足厥阴肝经). It disperses water qi, eliminates pathogenic toxins, resolves carbuncles and swellings, astringes throat ulcers, expels qi pain in the epigastrium along with hard accumulations and masses, treats postpartum blood fainting, and manages traumatic injuries from metal weapons.
Note: Vinegar is essential in food, but rarely used in herbal medicine. However, there are times when its use is indispensable, and its functions must be understood. Therefore, it is recorded for reference.
One may ask: Rice vinegar can be used in medicine; can non-rice vinegar also be used? Vinegar must be brewed from rice to acquire warm qi; otherwise, its taste becomes excessively sour. Upon entering the Liver, it fails to astringe properly and instead causes contraction and涩滞 (stagnation) in the sinews. Thus, for medicinal use, rice vinegar must be selected. In cases of hematemesis (vomiting blood), bleeding from limbs or umbilicus, or bleeding from pores, boil two sheng (a traditional unit of volume) of vinegar, pour it into a basin, and soak the soles of both feet. Bleeding will stop shortly. For this purpose, specific rice vinegar is not required; any common rice vinegar suffices, precisely because of its excessive sourness, which facilitates astringency and promotes tranquility.
Seeds of Abutilon theophrasti (Dong Kui Zi), with a sweet taste and cold qi, possess a slippery and lubricating nature, and are non-toxic. They primarily treat cold and heat disorders of the five zang and six fu organs, emaciation, and five types of strangury (Liang syndrome 五癃). They promote urination and treat breast engorgement with internal obstruction in women. Long-term consumption strengthens bones and nourishes muscles. Although Dong Kui Zi is not considered a premium herb, it is an essential item in the medicine cabinet because it facilitates smooth delivery. In cases of breech presentation or transverse lie, or fetal death in utero, it is necessary to rely on its lubricating properties.
One may ask: Dong Kui Zi has not shown miraculous effects in treating difficult labor; why do you single it out for praise? I reply: The efficacy of Dong Kui Zi in difficult labor depends on its proper application. When breech presentation or transverse lie occurs, such as one foot descending while the other does not, or one arm extending while the other remains retracted, where the birth canal opens but the fetal head is not yet aligned, one should not immediately use oak branches to dilate the cervix. If sharp needles are used, the fetus may already be dead; due to severe pain and loss of sensation, mere puncturing is of no benefit. If Dong Kui Zi is not used to assist the smooth passage of the fetus, how can one rescue the critical situation within moments? However, if Dong Kui Zi is used alone, without adding herbs such as Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen, 人参), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui, 当归), and Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong, 川芎) to tonify qi and blood and generate fluids, the fetal membranes may become dry. Only by combining these measures can the natural process be facilitated, turning danger into safety.