味咸平。主青盲，目淫肤赤白膜，眼赤痛，泪出。凡目病内外等证，无所不治。久
服，益精光，不但能治目邪，而且能补目之精也，其咸降清火功。轻身。火清则体健也。
决明生于秋，得金气之正。其色极黄，得金之色，其功专于明目，详上扁青条内。夫金
之正色，白而非黄，但白为受色之地，乃无色之色耳。故凡物之属金者，往往借土之色以为
色，即五金亦以黄金为贵。子肖其母也，草木至秋，感金气则黄落，故诸花实之中，凡色黄
而耐久者，皆得金气为多者也。
味苦微寒。主心腹邪气，赤走心，故能逐心腹之邪。肠鸣幽幽如走水，心与脾不和则
鸣。寒热积聚，破症除瘕，赤走血，凡血病凝结者无不治之。止烦满，心气不舒。益气。益
心气。
此以色为治也，赤走心，心主血，故丹参能走心以治血分之病。又辛散而润泽，故能通
利而涤邪也。
味酸温。主益气，气敛则益。咳逆上气，肺主气，肺气敛则咳逆除，而气亦降矣。
劳伤羸瘦，补不足，气敛藏，则病不侵而身强盛矣。强阴，气敛则归阴。益男子精。肾主收
藏，而精者肾之所藏者也，故收敛之物无不益肾。五味形又似肾，故为补肾之要药。
此以味为治也，凡酸味皆敛，而五味酸之极，则敛之极，极则不止于敛，而且能藏矣。
藏者冬之令，属肾，故五味能补肾也。
【决明子】
味道咸，性平。主治青盲（视力减退或失明），眼睑浮肿、眼白充血及角膜云翳，眼睛红肿疼痛，流泪。凡是眼部内外各种病症，没有不能治疗的。长期服用，能增强视力和精神，不仅能治疗眼部的邪气，还能补益眼睛的精气，这是因为它具有咸味下行、清降虚火的功效。能使身体轻健。因为火气清除后，身体自然健壮。
决明子在秋季生长，禀受了金气的纯正性质。它的颜色极黄，获得了金的色泽，其功效专门在于明目，详细内容见前文“扁青”条中。金的正色是白色而非黄色，但白色是接受颜色的底色，也就是无色的颜色。所以凡是属于金行的事物，往往借用土的颜色作为自己的颜色，即使是五金之中，也以黄金为贵。种子像母亲一样，草木到了秋天，感应到金气就会变黄落叶，所以在所有的花实之中，凡是颜色黄且经久耐看的，都是禀受金气较多的。
【丹参】
味道苦，微寒。主治心腹部的邪气，红色入心，所以能驱逐心腹部的邪气。肠鸣声幽幽如同水流流动，心和脾不和就会产生鸣响。寒热积聚，破除癥瘕（腹部结块），红色入血，凡是血液凝结的病症没有不能治疗的。止烦闷胀满，舒缓心气郁结。补益元气。补益心气。
这是以颜色来治病，红色入心，心主血脉，所以丹参能入心经以治疗血分的疾病。又因其辛散而润泽，所以能通利经络并涤除邪气。
【五味子】
味道酸，性温。主治补益气，气收敛则得以补益。咳逆上气，肺主气，肺气收敛则咳逆消除，气也就下降了。劳损受伤导致的消瘦，补充不足，气收敛潜藏，则病邪不侵而身体强盛。强壮阴精，气收敛则归于阴。补益男子的精气。肾主收藏，而精气是肾所藏的，所以收敛性质的药物没有不补益肾脏的。五味子的形状又像肾，所以是补肾的重要药物。
这是以味道来治病，凡是酸味都能收敛，而五味子是酸味的极致，那么收敛到了极致，就不只限于收敛，而且能够固藏了。藏是冬季的时令特点，归属于肾，所以五味子能补益肾脏。
[Sho Saitaku (Cassiae Semen)]
Taste: Salty. Nature: Neutral. Indications: Mainly treats Qingmang (blindness or severe visual impairment), eye conditions involving eyelid edema, redness of the sclera, and corneal opacities; redness and pain of the eyes with tearing. It is effective for all internal and external eye disorders. Long-term consumption enhances visual acuity and spirit. Not only can it eliminate pathogenic factors from the eyes, but it also tonifies the essence of the eyes, owing to its salty nature which descends and clears fire. It lightens the body. When fire is cleared, the physique becomes robust.
Sho Saitaku grows in autumn, possessing the pure Qi of Metal. Its color is extremely yellow, reflecting the hue of Metal. Its efficacy is specifically focused on brightening the eyes (see details under the entry "Bianqing"). The true color of Metal is white, not yellow; however, white is the receptive base for colors, essentially a colorless state. Therefore, things belonging to Metal often borrow the color of Earth. Even among the five metals, gold is esteemed. Seeds resemble their mothers; plants turn yellow and shed leaves in autumn upon sensing Metal Qi. Thus, among flowers and fruits, those that are yellow and durable possess abundant Metal Qi.
[Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma)]
Taste: Bitter. Nature: Slightly Cold. Indications: Mainly treats pathogenic factors in the heart and abdomen. Red enters the Heart, thus it can expel pathogens from the heart and abdomen. Intestinal borborygmus sounding like flowing water occurs when the Heart and Spleen are disharmonious. It resolves cold-heat accumulations and breaks up zheng and jia (abdominal masses). Red enters the Blood; therefore, it treats all blood stasis and coagulation disorders. It stops irritability and fullness by soothing stagnant Heart Qi. It benefits Qi, specifically tonifying Heart Qi.
This treatment principle utilizes color: Red enters the Heart, and the Heart governs Blood; thus, Danshen enters the Heart meridian to treat diseases of the Blood level. Furthermore, its pungent dispersing and moistening properties allow it to promote circulation and cleanse pathogens.
[Wuweizi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus)]
Taste: Sour. Nature: Warm. Indications: Mainly tonifies Qi; Qi is benefited through astringency. It treats cough with rebellious Qi ascending. The Lung governs Qi; when Lung Qi is astringed, cough and rebellious Qi cease, and Qi descends. It treats emaciation due to劳伤 (fatigue and injury) by supplementing deficiencies. When Qi is astringed and stored, pathogens cannot invade, and the body becomes strong. It strengthens Yin; Qi astringed returns to Yin. It benefits the essence of men. The Kidney governs storage, and essence is what the Kidney stores; therefore, astringent substances benefit the Kidney. Wuweizi resembles the shape of the Kidney, making it an essential herb for tonifying the Kidney.
This treatment principle utilizes taste: All sour flavors have an astringent property. Wuweizi represents the extreme of sourness; when astringency reaches its extreme, it not only astringes but also stores. Storage corresponds to the season of Winter and belongs to the Kidney; thus, Wuweizi can tonify the Kidney.