精不足而以事味投补。是亏已在于精。而补不当用以平剂矣！气不足而以轻清投补。是
亏已
在于气。而补亦不当用以平剂矣。惟于补气而于血有损。补血而于气有窒。补上而于下有碍
。补下而于上有亏。其症似虚非虚。似实非实。则不得不择甘润和平之剂以进。如葳蕤人乳
。是补肺阴之至平者也。山药黄精羊肉猪肉甘草。是补脾阴之至平者也。柏子合欢皮阿胶。
是补心阴之至平者也。冬青子桑寄生桑螵蛸狗脊。是补肝肾阴之至平者也。燕窝鸽肉鸭肉。
是补精气之至平者也。但阿胶人乳。则令肝肾与肺而皆润。合欢则令脾阴五脏而皆安。山药
则令肺肾而俱固。桑螵蛸则能利水以交心。至于仓米扁豆。一能养胃以除烦。一能舒脾以利
脾。皆为轻平最和之味。余则兼苦兼辛兼淡。平虽不失。而气味夹杂。未可概作平补论耳。
（山草）补肺阴止嗽兼祛风湿
葳蕤（专入肺。兼入肝脾肾）。一名玉竹。味甘性平。质润。据书载能补肺阴。及入肝
脾肾以
祛风湿。与人参地黄称为补剂上品。（如本经所论。以治中风暴热等病。别录所论。以治
心腹结气。虚热腰痛。茎中寒。目痛 烂泪出。甄权所论。以治内虚不足。去虚痨客热。头
痛不安。千金以治风温。自汗身重。语言难出。时珍以治寒疟 疟不足。皆以葳蕤为主。）
并云可以当参。其说未尝不是。但此气平力薄。既与人参力浓不若。复与地黄味浓不合。即
使用至斤许。未有奇功。较之人参之补元。地黄之滋阴。不啻天渊矣。矧可用此当参以挽垂
绝之倾乎？况书载云祛风除湿。不无疏泄于补。更云不及。曷云可称上剂耶？肥白者良。似
黄精而差小。黄白多须。竹刀刮去皮节。发散用生。补剂用蜜水拌。饭上蒸熟用。
精气亏虚时，应当用味道厚重的药物来进补。既然亏损已经在于精，那么就不应当使用平和的药剂来补益了！气机不足时，应当用质地轻清的药物来进补。既然亏损已经在于气，那么也不应当使用平和的药剂来补益了。只有在补气却损伤了血，补血却阻碍了气，补上焦却对下焦有妨碍，补下焦却对上焦有亏欠的情况下，其症状看起来像虚证又不是虚证，像实证又不是实证，这时才不得不选择甘润和平的药物来服用。比如葳蕤、人乳，是补益肺阴最为平和的药物。山药、黄精、羊肉、猪肉、甘草，是补益脾阴最为平和的药物。柏子仁、合欢皮、阿胶，是补益心阴最为平和的药物。冬青子、桑寄生、桑螵蛸、狗脊，是补益肝肾之阴最为平和的药物。燕窝、鸽肉、鸭肉，是补益精气最为平和的食物。但是阿胶和人乳，能使肝、肾和肺都得到滋润；合欢皮能使脾阴及五脏都安宁；山药能使肺和肾都坚固；桑螵蛸能通利小便以交通心肾。至于仓米（陈米）和扁豆，一种能养胃除烦，一种能舒展脾气以利脾运化，都是性质轻平最温和的食物。其他的药物则兼有苦味、辛味或淡味，虽然性质平和，但气味混杂，不可以一概而论作为平补药看待。
（山草注）补肺阴、止咳嗽兼祛风湿
葳蕤（专门入肺经，兼入肝、脾、肾经）。又名玉竹，味甘，性平，质地润泽。据书籍记载，它能补益肺阴，并进入肝、脾、肾经以祛除风湿。与人参、地黄并称为补剂中的上品。（如《本经》论述，用于治疗中风暴热等疾病；《别录》论述，用于治疗心腹结气、虚热腰痛、茎中寒、目痛流泪等症；甄权论述，用于治疗内虚不足、去除虚劳客热、头痛不安；《千金方》论述，用于治疗风温、自汗身重、语言难出；李时珍论述，用于治疗寒疟、疟疾不足等症，都是以葳蕤为主药。）并且说它可以代替人参，这种说法并非没有道理。但是此药气平力薄，既不如人参药力浓厚，又不像地黄味道浓郁，即使使用到一斤之多，也没有奇效。与人参补元气、地黄滋阴相比，简直有天壤之别。况且怎么可以用它来代替人参以挽救垂危的生命呢？何况书中记载它能祛风除湿，在补益之中难免有疏泄的作用，更显得力量不足，怎么能称得上是上品药剂呢？体型肥白的人适合使用。外形类似黄精但较小，颜色黄白且多须根。用竹刀刮去外皮和节，发散表邪时用生品，用于补益时用蜜水拌润，放在饭上蒸熟后使用。
When essence (Jing) is deficient, supplementation should be achieved with substances of heavy flavor. Since the deficiency lies in essence, it is inappropriate to use mild agents for tonification! When Qi is deficient, supplementation should be achieved with light and clear substances. Since the deficiency lies in Qi, it is also inappropriate to use mild agents for tonification. Only when tonifying Qi damages Blood, or tonifying Blood obstructs Qi; when tonifying the Upper Jiao hinders the Lower Jiao, or tonifying the Lower Jiao creates a deficit in the Upper Jiao—where symptoms appear as deficiency yet are not true deficiency, and as excess yet are not true excess—must one select sweet, moistening, and mild agents for administration. For instance, Zhe Be Mu (Zhedu, *Polygonatum odoratum*) and human milk are the mildest agents for tonifying Lung Yin. Shan Yao (Chinese Yam, *Dioscorea opposita*), Huang Jing (Rhizoma Polygonati), mutton, pork, and Gan Cao (Licorice Root, *Glycyrrhiza uralensis*) are the mildest agents for tonifying Spleen Yin. Bai Zi Ren (Biota Seed, *Platycladi Semen*), He Huan Pi (Albizia Bark, *Albiziae Cortex*), and E Jiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin, *Colla Corii Asini*) are the mildest agents for tonifying Heart Yin. Dong Qing Zi (Ilex Seeds, *Ilicis Fructus*), Sang Ji Sheng (Taxillus Stem, *Taxilli Caulis*), Sang Piao Xiao (Mantis Egg-case, *Ooecoproducts Mantidis), and Gou Ji (Cibotium Rhizome, *Cibotii Rhizoma*) are the mildest agents for tonifying Liver and Kidney Yin. Yan Wo (Swallow's Nest, *Nestorum Hirundinis*), pigeon meat, and duck meat are the mildest foods for tonifying essence and Qi. However, E Jiao and human milk can moisten the Liver, Kidneys, and Lungs simultaneously; He Huan Pi can soothe Spleen Yin and calm the Five Viscera; Shan Yao can consolidate both the Lungs and Kidneys; Sang Piao Xiao can promote urination to facilitate communication between the Heart and Kidneys. As for Cang Mi (Aged Rice, *Oryzae Sativa Preparata*) and Bian Dou (Broad Bean, *Viciae Faba Semen*), one nourishes the Stomach to relieve irritability, while the other soothes the Spleen to benefit its transportive function; both are among the lightest, mildest, and most harmonious flavors. Others possess bitter, acrid, or bland properties mixed within; although their nature may be mild, their flavors are complex, and thus they cannot generally be classified as mild tonics.
(Shancao Note) Tonifies Lung Yin, stops cough, and expels wind-dampness.
Zhe Be Mu (Zhedu, *Polygonatum odoratum*) (Primarily enters the Lung Meridian, and also enters the Liver, Spleen, and Kidney Meridians). Also known as Yu Zhu (Jade Bamboo). It has a sweet taste and neutral nature, with a moist texture. According to texts, it can tonify Lung Yin and enter the Liver, Spleen, and Kidney meridians to expel wind-dampness. It is regarded as a top-grade tonic alongside Ren Shen (Ginseng Root, *Panacis Quinquefolii Radix* or *Panacis Ginseng Radix*) and Di Huang (Rehmannia Root, *Rehmanniae Radix*). (As discussed in *Ben Cao Jing*, it treats stroke-like heat conditions; as discussed in *Bie Lu*, it treats qi stagnation in the chest and abdomen, deficiency-heat, lower back pain, cold in the penis, eye pain, and tearing; Zhen Quan discusses its use for internal deficiency, eliminating deficiency-fire and pathogenic heat from consumption, headache, and restlessness; *Qian Jin Fang* discusses its use for wind-warmth, spontaneous sweating, heaviness of the body, and difficulty in speech; Li Shizhen discusses its use for cold malaria and insufficiency due to malaria, all primarily relying on Zhe Be Mu.) It is also said that it can serve as a substitute for Ren Shen, which is not entirely incorrect. However, its qi action is mild and its strength is weak. It does not match the potency of Ren Shen, nor the rich flavor of Di Huang. Even if used up to a jin (approx. 500g), no miraculous effect would be seen. Compared to Ren Shen's tonification of Primordial Qi and Di Huang's nourishment of Yin, the difference is like heaven and earth. How could one use this to replace Ren Shen to save a life on the verge of collapse? Furthermore, since texts record its ability to expel wind and remove dampness, it inevitably involves some dispersing action that may counteract tonification, making it even less effective. How can it be called a superior agent? It is suitable for individuals who are fat and fair-skinned. It resembles Huang Jing but is smaller, yellowish-white in color, and has many rootlets. Scrape off the skin and nodes with a bamboo knife. Use the raw herb for releasing the exterior; for tonification, mix with honey water, steam over rice until cooked, and then use.