气味甘平，无毒。主五脏六腑寒热邪气，坚筋骨，长肌肉，倍气力，金疮 ，解
毒。久服轻身延年。（生用清火，炙用补中。）
陈修园曰∶物之味甘者，至甘草为极。甘主脾，脾为后天之本，五脏六腑皆受气焉。脏
腑之本气，则为正气；外来寒热之气，则为邪气；正气旺则邪气自退也。筋者，肝所主也；
骨者，肾所主也；肌肉者，脾所主也；气者，肺所主也；力者，心所主也；但使脾气一盛，
则五脏皆循环受益，而皆得其坚之、长之、倍之之效矣。金疮者，为刀斧所伤而成疮，疮甚
而肿。脾得补而肉自满也。能解毒者，如毒物入土，则毒化也。土为万物之母，土健则轻身
延年也。
气味甘、平，无毒。主伤中，补虚羸，除寒热邪气，补中，益气力，长肌肉，强
阴。久服耳目聪明，轻身，不饥，延年。
陈修园曰∶此药因唐代宗名蓣，避讳改为山药。山药气平入肺，味甘无毒入脾。脾为中
州而统血，血者阴也，中之守也；唯能益血，故主伤中。伤中愈，则肌肉丰，故补虚羸。肺
主气，气虚则寒邪生；脾统血，血虚则热邪生；血气充而寒热邪气除矣。脾主四肢，脾血足
则四肢健；肺主气，肺气充则气力倍也。且此物生捣，最多津液而稠粘，又能补肾而填精，
精足则强阴。目明、耳聪、不饥，是脾血之旺；轻身是肺气之充；延年是夸其补益之效也。
凡上品，俱是寻常服食之物，非治病之药，故神农另提出“久服”二字。可见今人每服
上品之药，如此物及人参、熟地、葳蕤、阿胶、菟丝子、沙苑蒺藜之类，合为一方，以治大
病，误人无算。盖病不速去，元气日伤，伤及则死。凡上品之药，法宜久服，多则终身，少
则数年，与五谷之养人相佐，以臻寿考。若大病而需用此药，如五谷为养脾第一品。脾虚之
人
，强令食谷，即可毕补脾之能事，有是理乎？然操此技者，未有不得盛名。薛立斋、张景岳
、冯楚瞻辈，倡之于前。而近日之东延西请、日诊百人者，无非是术，诚可慨也！
【甘草】
气味甘平，无毒。主治五脏六腑的寒热邪气，坚固筋骨，促进肌肉生长，倍增气力，治疗金创（金属利器造成的创伤），解除毒素。长期服用可使身体轻盈，延年益寿。（生用可清火，炙用可补中焦脾胃。）
陈修园说：药物味甘的，以甘草为极致。甘味入脾，脾是后天之本，五脏六腑都依赖它来受纳水谷之气。脏腑的本元之气，就是正气；外来侵袭的寒热之气，就是邪气；正气旺盛则邪气自然消退。筋由肝所主；骨由肾所主；肌肉由脾所主；气由肺所主；力由心所主。只要脾气一盛，那么五脏都会循环受益，从而都得到坚固、生长、倍增的效果。金创，是由刀斧等利器伤害而形成的疮口，疮势严重且肿胀。脾得到补益，肌肉自然丰满。能解毒的原因，就像毒物落入土中，毒性就会化解。土是万物的母亲，土气健旺则身体轻盈，延年益寿。
【薯蓣（山药）】
气味甘平，无毒。主治内伤，补益虚弱消瘦的身体，消除寒热邪气，补益中焦，益气力，促进肌肉生长，强壮阴精。长期服用可使耳目聪明，身体轻盈，不感到饥饿，延年益寿。
陈修园说：这种药因为唐代宗名叫李豫，为了避讳改名为山药。山药气平入肺经，味甘无毒入脾经。脾居中州而统摄血液，血属于阴，是中焦的守持者；只有能益血，所以主治内伤。内伤痊愈，则肌肉丰满，所以能补益虚弱消瘦。肺主气，气虚则寒邪产生；脾统血，血虚则热邪产生；气血充盛则寒热邪气得以清除。脾主四肢，脾血充足则四肢强健；肺主气，肺气充盛则气力倍增。况且此物生捣后，含有最多津液且稠粘，又能补肾而填精益髓，精足则阴精强壮。目明、耳聪、不饿，这是脾血旺盛的表现；身体轻盈是肺气充盛的表现；延年是夸大其补益的功效。凡是上品药材，都是日常服食之物，不是用来治急病的药，所以神农特意提出“久服”二字。可见现在的人每次服用上品的药，像山药及人参、熟地黄、玉竹、阿胶、菟丝子、沙苑蒺藜这类，合在一起组成一方，用来治疗大病，误人无数。因为病邪如果不迅速去除，元气一天天受损，损伤到极点就会死亡。凡是上品的药，法度适宜久服，多的可以终身服用，少的也要数年，与五谷养人的作用相辅相成，以达到长寿。如果大病需要用这些药，就像五谷是养脾的第一品。脾虚的人，强行让他吃谷物，就能完成补脾的所有功能吗？有这种道理吗？然而掌握这种技术的人，没有不得到盛名的。薛立斋、张景岳、冯楚瞻等人，在前面倡导。而近日那些东奔西走求诊、每天诊治上百人的医生，无非都是这种方法，实在令人感慨！
[Codonopsis / Licorice]
The flavor is sweet and neutral, non-toxic. It primarily treats cold and heat pathogenic factors in the five zang organs and six fu organs, strengthens sinews and bones, promotes muscle growth, doubles strength and energy, treats metal wounds (injuries caused by metal weapons), and resolves toxins. Long-term consumption lightens the body and prolongs life. (Raw use clears fire; honey-fried use tonifies the middle jiao.)
Chen Xiuyuan said: Among substances with a sweet flavor, Licorice (Gancao) is the ultimate. Sweetness enters the Spleen, which is the foundation of acquired constitution; the five zang organs and six fu organs all receive qi from it. The original qi of the zang and fu organs constitutes the righteous qi (Zhengqi); external invading cold and heat constitute pathogenic qi (Xieqi). When righteous qi is vigorous, pathogenic qi naturally recedes. Sinews are governed by the Liver; bones by the Kidney; muscles by the Spleen; qi by the Lung; strength by the Heart. If Spleen qi becomes vigorous, the five zang organs will benefit cyclically, achieving effects of strengthening, growing, and doubling. Metal wounds are sores formed by injuries from knives or axes, characterized by severe swelling. When the Spleen is tonified, flesh naturally fills out. Its ability to resolve toxins is like poison entering the earth, where it transforms and dissipates. Earth is the mother of all things; when Earth qi is robust, the body becomes light and life is prolonged.
[Dioscorea / Yam]
The flavor is sweet and neutral, non-toxic. It primarily treats internal injury, tonifies deficiency and emaciation, eliminates cold and heat pathogenic factors, tonifies the middle jiao, benefits qi and strength, promotes muscle growth, and strengthens yin essence. Long-term consumption makes the eyes clear and ears sharp, lightens the body, reduces hunger, and prolongs life.
Chen Xiuyuan said: This herb was renamed Shan Yao (Chinese Yam) due to the taboo avoidance for the name Yu during the reign of Emperor Daizong of the Tang Dynasty. Shan Yao has a neutral nature entering the Lung meridian and a sweet, non-toxic flavor entering the Spleen meridian. The Spleen resides in the central region and governs blood; blood belongs to yin and serves as the stabilizer of the interior. Only by benefiting blood can it treat internal injury. Once internal injury heals, muscles become plump, thus tonifying deficiency and emaciation. The Lung governs qi; qi deficiency generates cold pathogens; the Spleen governs blood; blood deficiency generates heat pathogens. When qi and blood are abundant, cold and heat pathogens are eliminated. The Spleen governs the four limbs; when Spleen blood is sufficient, the limbs are strong. The Lung governs qi; when Lung qi is充盈 (full), strength is doubled. Moreover, when this herb is crushed raw, it contains abundant fluid essence and is viscous; it also tonifies the Kidney and replenishes essence. When essence is sufficient, yin essence is strengthened. Clear vision and acute hearing, along with lack of hunger, indicate vigorous Spleen blood; a light body indicates充盈 Lung qi; prolonging life exaggerates its tonifying efficacy. All first-grade herbs are items for daily dietary consumption, not medicines for treating acute diseases. Therefore, Shennong specifically highlighted the phrase "long-term consumption." It is evident that modern practitioners often combine first-grade herbs such as Shan Yao, Renshen (Ginseng), Shudi (Prepared Rehmannia Root), Weihuang (Polygonatum Rhizome), Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin), Tusizi (Cuscuta Seed), and Shayuan Jili (Astragalus Complanatus Seed) into a single prescription to treat major illnesses, causing countless errors. If pathogens are not expelled quickly, primordial qi is damaged day by day; once severely damaged, death ensues. The principle for first-grade herbs dictates long-term consumption—either lifelong or for several years—complementing the nourishing effect of grains to achieve longevity. If major illnesses require these herbs, it would be akin to using grains as the primary tonic for the Spleen. Would forcing a person with Spleen deficiency to eat grains suffice to complete the task of tonifying the Spleen? Is there any logic in this? Nevertheless, those who employ this technique invariably gain great fame. Xue Lizhai, Zhang Jingyue, and Feng Chuzhan pioneered this approach. Today's physicians who travel east and west, diagnosing hundreds of patients daily, rely on this same method, which is truly lamentable!