味苦平。主妇人阴中肿痛，男子阴痿、湿痒，皆下体湿毒之病。除痹气，利关节，
除湿痰在筋骨之证。癫痫，除湿痰在心之证。恶疮。亦湿毒所生。久服轻身。湿去则身轻。
蛇床生阴湿卑下之地，而芬芳燥烈，不受阴湿之气，故入于人身，亦能于下焦湿气所归
之处
味苦，微寒。主血积，肺气上逆之血。惊气，心火犯肺。除寒热，肺家失调之寒热。
补中，肺主气，肺气和则气充而三焦实也。益肺气。色白体轻故入肺也。久服利人。肺
气清和之效。
肺主气，故肺家之药气胜者为多。但气胜之品必偏于燥，而能滋肺者，又腻滞而不清虚，
惟沙参为肺家气分中理血之药，色白体轻，疏通而不燥，润泽而不滞，血阻于肺者，非此不
能清也。
味辛温。主百病，言百病用之得宜皆有益也。养精神，通达脏腑，益在内也。和颜色
，调畅血脉，益在外也。为诸药先聘，通使。辛香四达，引药以通经络。久服，轻身不老，
血脉通利之效。面生光华，媚好常如童子。血和则润泽也。
寒气之郁结不舒者，惟辛温可以散之。桂性温补阳，而香气最烈则不专于补，而又能驱
逐阴
人身有气中之阳，有血中之阳。气中之阳，走而不守；血中之阳，守而不走。凡药之气
胜者
，往往补气中之阳；质胜者，往往补血中之阳。如附子暖血，肉桂暖气，一定之理也。然气
之阳胜则能动血，血之阳胜则能益气，又相因之理也。桂气分药也，而其验则见于血，其义
不晓然乎。
【蛇床子】
味苦，性平。主治妇女外阴肿痛，男子阳痿、阴部湿痒，这些都是下焦湿毒引起的疾病。能祛除痹阻之气，通利关节，治疗筋骨间有湿痰的证候。治疗癫痫，是清除心经的湿痰。治疗恶疮，也是由湿毒所生。长期服用能使身体轻盈，因为湿气去除后身体自然感到轻快。蛇床生长在阴暗潮湿的低洼之地，但气味芬芳且燥烈，不受阴湿之气的侵染，所以进入人体后，也能在下焦湿气汇聚的地方发挥作用。
【沙参】
味苦，性微寒。主治血积（瘀血停滞），以及肺气上逆导致的咳血。安神定惊，针对心火犯肺的情况。祛除寒热症状，这是肺部功能失调引起的寒热交替。补益中气，因为肺主气，肺气调和则气机充盛，三焦也就充实了。补益肺气，因为沙参色白且质地轻，所以入肺经。长期服用对人有益，这是肺气清和的效果。
肺主气，所以入肺的药物大多气性强。但是气强的药物往往偏于干燥，而能滋润肺部的药物又往往黏腻滞重而不清虚。只有沙参是肺经气分中调理血液的药物，它色白体轻，疏通而不燥烈，润泽而不滞涩，对于肺部因血阻引起的病症，非此药不能清除。
【菌桂】
味辛，性温。主治百病，意思是各种疾病如果用药得当，使用桂枝都有益处。养精神，是因为它能通达脏腑，作用在内；和颜色，是因为它能调畅血脉，作用在外。它是诸药的先导使者，辛香之气四处通达，引导药物通行经络。长期服用，能使身体轻盈、延缓衰老，这是血脉通畅的结果。面色产生光华，美丽好看，常常像童子一样，这是因为血液调和所以肌肤润泽。
寒气郁结不畅的，只有辛温的药物才能发散它。桂的性质温和并能补阳，但其香气最烈，所以不专门用于补益，还能驱逐阴邪。
人体内有气中的阳气，有血中的阳气。气中的阳气，特点是运行不息而不固守；血中的阳气，特点是固守一处而不运行。凡是药物气味强烈的，往往补益气中的阳气；药物质地厚重的，往往补充血中的阳气。比如附子温暖血液，肉桂温煦气机，这是确定的道理。然而气中的阳气胜则能推动血液运行，血中的阳气胜则能化生气机，这也是相互关联的道理。桂是气分的药物，但其疗效却体现在血分上，其中的道理不是很明显吗？
[Shechuangzi (Cnidii Fructus)]
Bitter, neutral. Primarily treats swelling and pain in the female genitalia, impotence, and damp-itching in the male genitalia; these are all diseases caused by damp-toxin in the lower body. It removes bi-syndrome qi, benefits the joints, and treats conditions of damp-phlegm in the tendons and bones. It treats epilepsy by removing damp-phlegm from the heart. It treats foul sores, which are also generated by damp-toxin. Long-term use makes the body feel light because removing dampness results in a feeling of lightness. Shechuang grows in dark, damp, and low-lying places, yet its fragrance is dry and pungent, resisting the influence of yin-dampness. Therefore, when entering the human body, it can also act where dampness gathers in the lower jiao.
[Shashen (Adenophorae Radix or Glehniae Radix)]
Bitter, slightly cold. Primarily treats blood accumulation and blood cough due to rebellious lung qi. It calms fright/qi, addressing heart fire invading the lungs. It eliminates chills and fever, which are chills and fevers resulting from lung dysfunction. It tonifies the middle; since the lung governs qi, harmonized lung qi leads to abundant qi and a filled sanjiao. It benefits lung qi; its white color and light texture cause it to enter the lung meridian. Long-term use benefits the person, reflecting the effect of clear and harmonious lung qi.
The lung governs qi, so herbs for the lung often have strong qi properties. However, herbs with strong qi tend to be drying, while those that nourish the lung tend to be sticky and stagnant rather than clear and empty. Only Shashen is an herb that regulates blood within the qi aspect of the lung. Its white color and light texture allow it to unblock without being drying, and moisten without being stagnant. For obstructions of blood in the lung, no other herb can clear it as effectively.
[Jungui (Cinnamomi Ramulus or Cortex Cinnamomi)]
Pungent, warm. Treats a hundred diseases, meaning that if used appropriately for various ailments, it provides benefit. It nourishes the spirit by penetrating the zang-fu organs, benefiting the interior. It harmonizes the complexion by regulating the blood vessels, benefiting the exterior. It acts as the pioneer envoy among herbs; its pungent fragrance spreads in all directions, guiding other herbs to unblock the meridians. Long-term use makes the body light and prevents aging, which is the effect of unblocked and smooth blood vessels. The face radiates luster and beauty, resembling that of a child, because harmonized blood provides moisture and luster.
For the stagnation and discomfort of cold qi, only pungent-warm herbs can disperse it. Gui has a warm nature and tonifies yang, but its intense fragrance means it does not merely tonify; it also drives out yin pathogens.
In the human body, there is yang in qi and yang in blood. Yang in qi moves and does not stay; yang in blood stays and does not move. Herbs with strong aromatic properties often tonify yang in qi; herbs with substantial/heavy textures often tonify yang in blood. For example, Fuzi warms the blood, and Rougui warms the qi; this is a fixed principle. However, excessive yang in qi can move blood, and excessive yang in blood can generate qi; this is a mutually dependent principle. Gui is an herb for the qi aspect, but its efficacy is seen in the blood aspect; is not its meaning obvious?