味辛寒。主周痹，风湿，肢节中痛，不可持物，洗洗酸消，味辛则散风，石性燥则除
湿，其治酸痛等疾者，以其能坚筋骨中之正气，则邪气自不能侵也。除大热，寒除热。烦满
，重降逆。及耳聋。肾火炎上则耳聋，此能降火归肾。
凡五行之中，各有五行，所谓物物一太极也。如金一行也，银色白属肺，金色赤属心，
铜色
黄属脾，铅色青属肝，铁色黑属肾。石也者，金土之杂气，而得金之体为多。何以验之？天
文家言星者金之散气，而星陨即化为石，则石之属金无疑。而石之中亦分五金焉，磁石乃石
中之铁精也，故与铁同气，而能相吸，铁属肾，故磁石亦补肾。肾主骨，故磁石坚筋壮骨；
肾属冬令，主收藏，故磁石能收敛正气，以拒邪气。知此理，则凡药皆可类推矣。
味咸微温。主崩中漏下，寒滑之病。破子脏中血，症瘕结气，寒热腹痛，无子，凡
寒凝血滞之病，皆能除之。阴痿不起，补不足。强肾补阳益气。
阳起石得火不燃，得日而飞；硫黄得日无焰，得火而发。皆为火之精，而各不同。盖阳
起石禀日之阳气以成，天上阳火之精也；硫黄禀石之阳气以成，地上阴火之精也。所以硫黄
能益
人身阴火之阳，阳起石能益人身阳火之阳也。五行各有阴阳，亦可类推。
味辛温。主胸满，寒邪之在胸者则散之。咳逆上气，辛能润肺降逆。温中止血，血得
缓而归经。出汗，辛能散逐寒气，使从汗出。逐风湿痹，治寒邪之在筋骨者。肠 下痢，治
寒邪之在肠胃者。生者尤良。辛散之品，尤取其气性之清烈也。久服，去臭气，通神明。辛
甚气烈，故能辟秽通阳。
凡味浓之药主守，气浓之药主散。干姜气味俱浓，故散而能守。夫散不全散，守不全守，
则旋转于经络脏腑之间，驱寒除湿，和血通气，所必然矣。故性虽猛峻，而不妨服食也。
味辛，性寒。主治周痹（全身性的痹痛），风湿之邪，肢体关节疼痛，不能持握物品，身体感觉酸软消沉。味辛能够疏散风邪，石质性质燥烈能够祛除湿气。它治疗酸痛等疾病的原理，在于它能坚固筋骨中的正气，那么邪气自然无法侵入。清除大热，寒性能去除热邪。消除烦闷胀满，具有重镇降逆的作用。以及治疗耳聋。肾火炎上会导致耳聋，此药能降火归肾。
在五行之中，每一行又包含五行，这就是所谓的“物物一太极”。例如金这一行，银色白归属于肺，金色赤归属于心，铜色黄归属于脾，铅色青归属于肝，铁色黑归属于肾。石头，是金和土混合之气，而具备金的形体较多。如何验证这一点呢？天文学家说星星是金的散逸之气，而星体陨落就化为石头，那么石头属于金无疑。而在石头之中也分属五金，磁石乃是石头中的铁精，所以与铁同气，因而能够相互吸引。铁归属于肾，所以磁石也能补肾。肾主骨，所以磁石能坚固筋脉、强壮骨骼；肾归属于冬令，主收藏，所以磁石能收敛正气，以抵御邪气。懂得这个道理，那么凡是药物都可以类推了。
味咸，微温。主治崩中漏下（妇女非经期大量出血或淋漓不尽），寒滑之病。破除子宫中的瘀血，症瘕结气（腹内结块及气机郁结），寒热腹痛，不孕。凡是寒凝血滞的疾病，都能消除。阳痿不起，补益不足。增强肾脏，补阳益气。
阳起石遇火不燃烧，见日光则飞扬；硫黄见日光无火焰，遇火则燃烧。它们都是火的精华，但各不相同。大概阳起石禀受日之阳气而成，是天上的阳火之精；硫黄禀受石之阳气而成，是地上的阴火之精。所以硫黄能补益人身阴火中的阳，阳起石能补益人身阳火中的阳。五行各有阴阳，也可以类推。
味辛，性温。主治胸满，对于停留在胸部的寒邪则将其疏散。咳嗽气逆，辛味能润肺降逆。温中止住出血，血液得到缓和而回归经脉。发汗，辛味能疏散驱逐寒气，使其从汗液排出。驱逐风湿痹痛，治疗停留在筋骨间的寒邪。肠道下痢，治疗停留在肠胃间的寒邪。生用的效果更佳。辛散类的药物，特别取其气性清烈。长期服用，能去除口臭，通利神明。辛味甚烈，所以能辟除秽浊，通达阳气。
凡是味道浓厚的药物主要主守，气味浓厚的药物主要主散。干姜气味都浓厚，所以既能发散又能固守。发散不全散，固守不全守，从而在经络脏腑之间旋转运行，驱寒除湿，调和气血，这是必然的道理。所以虽然药性猛烈峻急，但不妨碍作为食物或药物服用。
Taste pungent, nature cold. It primarily treats Zhou Bi (generalized bi-syndrome characterized by pain throughout the body), wind-dampness, pain in the limbs and joints, inability to hold objects, and a sensation of soreness and weakness. The pungent taste disperses wind; the stony nature is drying and removes dampness. Its efficacy in treating ailments such as soreness and pain lies in its ability to strengthen the upright Qi within the sinews and bones, thereby preventing pathogenic factors from invading. It eliminates excessive heat; the cold nature dispels heat. It relieves vexation and fullness, possessing a heavy, descending, and counterflow-arresting action. It also treats deafness. Deafness results from Kidney fire flaming upward; this herb can descend fire and return it to the Kidney.
Within the Five Phases, each phase contains the Five Phases, which is referred to as "each entity possesses a Taiji." For instance, among the Metal phase: silver is white and corresponds to the Lung; gold is red and corresponds to the Heart; copper is yellow and corresponds to the Spleen; lead is green and corresponds to the Liver; iron is black and corresponds to the Kidney. Stones are a mixture of Metal and Earth Qi, but they predominantly possess the form of Metal. How can this be verified? Astronomers state that stars are scattered Qi of Metal, and when stars fall, they transform into stones; thus, it is undeniable that stones belong to Metal. Furthermore, within stones, there are distinctions corresponding to the Five Metals. Ci Shi (Magnetite) is the essence of Iron within stones; therefore, it shares the same Qi as Iron and can attract it. Since Iron corresponds to the Kidney, Ci Shi also tonifies the Kidney. The Kidney governs the bones; thus, Ci Shi strengthens sinews and fortifies bones. The Kidney corresponds to the Winter season and governs storage; thus, Ci Shi can gather and secure upright Qi to repel pathogenic factors. Understanding this principle allows one to extrapolate regarding all other herbs.
Taste salty, nature slightly warm. It primarily treats Beng Zhong Lou Xia (uterine bleeding with profuse flow or prolonged dripping), and diseases characterized by cold and slipping. It breaks up blood stasis in the Zi Zang (uterus), Zheng Jia Jie Qi (abdominal masses and qi stagnation), alternating cold and hot sensations, abdominal pain, and infertility. It can eliminate any disease caused by cold coagulation and blood stasis. It treats impotence (failure of erection) and tonifies deficiencies. It strengthens the Kidney, tonifies Yang, and benefits Qi.
Yang Qi Shi (Stilbite) does not burn when exposed to fire, but flies when exposed to sunlight; Liu Huang (Sulfur) produces no flame under sunlight but ignites upon contact with fire. Both are essences of Fire, yet they differ. Generally, Yang Qi Shi is formed by inheriting the Yang Qi of the Sun, making it the essence of celestial Yang Fire; Liu Huang is formed by inheriting the Yang Qi of stone, making it the essence of terrestrial Yin Fire. Therefore, Liu Huang can benefit the Yang within the human body's Yin Fire, while Yang Qi Shi can benefit the Yang within the human body's Yang Fire. Each of the Five Phases contains both Yin and Yang, which can also be extrapolated.
Taste pungent, nature warm. It primarily treats chest fullness, dispersing cold pathogens residing in the chest. It treats cough and rebellious Qi; the pungent flavor moistens the Lung and directs Qi downward. It warms the Middle Jiao and stops bleeding; blood returns to its vessels when eased. It induces sweating; the pungent flavor disperses and expels cold pathogens, allowing them to exit via sweat. It expels wind-damp bi-syndrome, treating cold pathogens residing in the sinews and bones. It treats intestinal dysentery, treating cold pathogens residing in the intestines and stomach. Raw usage is particularly effective. Pungent and dispersing herbs are valued for their clear and potent aromatic properties. Long-term consumption removes foul odors and clarifies the Shen (Spirit). Due to its intense pungency and potency, it can dispel turbidity and unblock Yang Qi.
Herbs with strong flavors primarily have a stabilizing (Shou) effect, while herbs with strong aromas primarily have a dispersing (San) effect. Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger) has both strong flavor and aroma; thus, it can disperse while simultaneously stabilizing. Since its dispersion is not total and its stabilization is not absolute, it rotates between the meridians and zang-fu organs, inevitably driving out cold, removing dampness, harmonizing blood, and promoting Qi circulation. Therefore, although its nature is fierce and峻 (urgent/strong), it does not hinder its use as food or medicine.