（山草类）
大补，能回元气于无有，性味甘温，肺家专药。功用灵活，五脏之虚，随所引而至。
五脏之阳，生阴生血，阳自生而阴自长。退虚火，止烦渴，所谓甘温能除大热也。若大虚
衄，生噙咽汁，乃气不摄血，血脱益气耳。参条∶补力稍减，有横行手臂之功。参芦∶涌
虚痰。参须∶降泄虚逆。有一种小者，名太子参。气质稍嫩，其用不下大参。参叶∶苦寒
虽有泻热生津之用，而苦寒之性，不甚益人。虚甚者，忌之。
甘寒微苦，入肺而泻热，补虚用代沙参之不及。性味稍沉，胃虚者，不宜多用。
补虚功在珠参之上，力近东洋。元虚挟微热而消渴者，较胜，其性甘凉可知。
味甘微温，补益中气。脏平无火，元气微虚者宜之。有一种西党参，微甘带辛，宜
托药用。白党参∶气味辛劣，用之发散虚邪，不入补剂。红党参∶味甘性润，益血补虚
为平稳，但力薄耳。
苦寒微甘，补气清肺，气味浓浓，功在珠参之上。胃虚不耐寒凉者，宜久制用。
气味甘平，力能补虚退热，无寒凉损胃之虞，殊胜西洋，足称良剂。惟产虚羸弱，
忌。
甘淡性凉，补虚退热，益五脏之阴，肺虚劳热者，最宜之。伤寒、温疫、肺虚挟热
亦可暂用。
辛苦性平，色白入肺，力能清咽利膈，表散外邪，肺气滞于大肠者，宜桔梗开之，为
药舟楫，能引沉降之品至于至高之分成功。有一种甜者，兼能解毒，又名荠 ，亦可伪参
（山草类）
大补元气，能在元气极度虚弱时将其挽回，药性味甘、温，是肺经的专用药物。功效运用灵活，五脏的虚损，能随着引经药的作用到达相应部位。
五脏的阳气，能够化生阴液和血液，阳气自生则阴液自然生长。可退去虚火，止住烦渴，这就是所谓的“甘温能除大热”。如果是元气大虚导致的鼻出血，含服其汁液咽下，是因为气不能统摄血液，属于血脱证需通过补气来治疗。（人参条）：补益力量稍减，但有横行于手臂的功效。（人参芦）：涌吐虚痰。（人参须）：降泄虚逆之气。有一种较小的参，名叫太子参。气质稍嫩，其效用不亚于大人参。（参叶）：苦寒，虽然有用以泻热生津的功效，但其苦寒的性质，不太有益于人。虚损严重的患者，忌用。
（沙参）：味甘、寒，微苦，入肺经而泻热，在补虚方面可替代南沙参的不足之处。药性味稍沉，胃虚的患者，不宜多用。
（西洋参）：补虚的功效在珠参之上，药力接近东洋参（高丽参）。对于元气虚损兼有轻微发热及消渴症的患者，效果较好，可知其药性甘凉。
（党参）：味甘、微温，补益中气。脏腑平和无火，元气轻微虚损者适宜服用。有一种西党参，味微甘带辛，适宜用于托毒排脓的药物配伍。白党参：气味辛劣，用于发散虚邪，不进入补益药剂。红党参：味甘性润，益血补虚较为平稳，但力量薄弱罢了。
（玄参）：味苦、寒，微甘，补气清肺，气味浓厚，功效在珠参之上。胃虚不耐受寒凉的患者，宜经过久制后使用。
（甘草）：气味甘平，力量能补虚退热，没有寒凉损伤胃气的忧虑，远胜于西洋参，足以称为良剂。只有体质虚弱羸弱的人，忌用。
（黄芪）：性温气浮，味甘纯补，大能退去表虚引起的寒热，只是在引经作用的灵活性上稍逊于人参。
（麦冬）：味甘淡、性凉，补虚退热，益养五脏之阴，肺虚劳热者，最为适宜。伤寒、温疫、肺虚挟热者，也可暂时使用。
（桔梗）：味辛苦、性平，色白入肺，力量能清咽利膈，表散外邪，肺气滞于大肠者，适宜用桔梗开宣，作为药舟楫，能引导沉降的药物到达至高之处从而取得成功。有一种甜的桔梗，兼能解毒，又名荠苨，也可以伪充人参。
(Mountain Grass Category)
Greatly tonifies, can restore Yuan Qi (Original Qi) when it is nearly exhausted. Its nature is sweet and warm; it is a specialized medicine for the Lung organ. Its functions are flexible; deficiencies of the Five Zang organs can be treated as it follows the guiding properties to reach the respective locations.
The Yang Qi of the Five Zang organs generates Yin fluids and Blood; when Yang Qi arises naturally, Yin fluids grow accordingly. It reduces deficiency fire and stops irritability and thirst, which is referred to as "sweet and warm can eliminate great heat." In cases of severe deficiency with epistaxis (nosebleed), holding the juice in the mouth and swallowing it addresses the issue where Qi fails to control blood, constituting a case of blood loss requiring Qi supplementation.
Ren Shen Tiao (Ginseng Root): The tonifying power is slightly reduced, but it has the effect of moving horizontally into the arms.
Ren Shen Lu (Ginseng Stem): Induces vomiting to expel deficiency phlegm.
Ren Shen Xu (Ginseng Fibrous Roots): Descends and drains deficiency rebellious Qi.
There is a smaller variety named Tai Zi Shen (Pseudostellaria Root). Its temperament is slightly tender, and its usage is not inferior to that of Ren Shen (Panax Ginseng).
Shen Ye (Ginseng Leaf): Bitter and cold. Although it has uses for clearing heat and generating fluids, its bitter-cold nature is not very beneficial to people. Those with severe deficiency should avoid it.
Sha Shen (Adenophorae Radix or Glehniae Radix): Sweet, cold, and slightly bitter. Enters the Lung meridian to clear heat; used for tonifying deficiency where Sha Shen falls short. Its nature and flavor are slightly sinking; those with Spleen/Stomach deficiency should not use it excessively.
Xi Yang Shen (American Ginseng): Its efficacy in tonifying deficiency surpasses that of Zhu Shen (Cultivated Ginseng), and its strength is comparable to Dong Yang Shen (Korean Ginseng). It is superior for cases of Yuan Qi deficiency accompanied by slight heat and Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst syndrome); its nature is known to be sweet and cool.
Dang Shen (Codonopsis Radix): Sweet and slightly warm; tonifies and supplements Middle Qi. Suitable for those with balanced Zang organs without fire and mild Yuan Qi deficiency.
There is a variety called Xi Dang Shen (Western Codonopsis), slightly sweet with a pungent note, suitable for use in formulas aimed at expelling toxins.
Bai Dang Shen (White Codonopsis): Pungent and inferior in aroma; used to disperse deficiency pathogens, not included in tonifying prescriptions.
Hong Dang Shen (Red Codonopsis): Sweet in taste and moistening in nature; benefits blood and tonifies deficiency steadily, though its power is weak.
Xuan Shen (Scrophulariae Radix): Bitter, cold, and slightly sweet; tonifies Qi and clears the Lungs. With strong aroma and flavor, its efficacy surpasses that of Zhu Shen. Those with Stomach deficiency who cannot tolerate cold should use it after prolonged processing.
Gan Cao (Licorice Radix): Sweet and neutral in aroma and flavor; its power can tonify deficiency and reduce fever without the risk of damaging the Stomach with coldness. It far surpasses Xi Yang Shen and deserves the title of an excellent remedy. However, those with deficiency and emaciation should avoid it.
Huang Qi (Astragali Radix): Warm in nature and floating in Qi; sweet in taste and purely tonifying. It greatly reduces exterior deficiency cold and heat, though slightly inferior to Ren Shen in terms of flexibility in guiding other herbs.
Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix): Sweet, bland, and cool in nature; tonifies deficiency, reduces fever, and benefits the Yin of the Five Zang organs. Most suitable for Lung deficiency with labor fever. It can also be temporarily used in Shang Han (Cold Damage), Wen Yi (Warm Epidemic), or Lung deficiency with accompanying heat.
Jie Geng (Platycodonis Radix): Pungent, bitter, and neutral in nature; white in color entering the Lung. Its power can clear the throat and benefit the diaphragm, and release exterior pathogens. When Lung Qi is stagnant in the Large Intestine, Jie Geng should be used to open it. As the "boat and oar" of medicines, it can guide descending substances to the highest parts to achieve success. There is a sweet variety that also detoxifies, named Qi Ni (also known as Platycodon root or similar), which can sometimes be passed off as Ren Shen.