气寒，味苦甘，气薄味浓，升也，阴也，无毒。入手太阴足少阴之剂也。疗风淫湿痹，
补虚损劳伤。且强骨髓，润五脏，悦颜色，养肌肤。解渴除烦，消痰住嗽，保肺气不被热扰，
通肾气能除热淋。止血溢妄行，润粪燥闭结。同参 煎服，定虚喘促神方。和姜蜜熬膏，破
顽痰癖劫剂。与百协议用，能除肺痿。与片芩同用，能除肺痈。未溃用藕叶枳壳为佐，已破
用贝母白芷为辅。大要，苦能泄滞血，甘能助元气，寒能去肺热，此三者，天冬之功也。虚
热者用之，虚寒者禁忌，何也？盖味之苦者，但泄而不收故耳。予尝用天冬四两、生地六两，
将醇酒煮汁熬胶，入炼蜜四两，滚水调服，大补阴虚。入柿霜四两，大能止嗽。入枸杞四两，
治肾嗽神验。入阿胶一两
气平，味苦甘，气味俱薄，无毒，升也，阴中之阳也。治肺痿吐脓血，古人犀角地黄汤，
每用之以代犀角者，止是引地黄等药同入阳明耳。与葱白同用，则能引之以散手阳明之风邪。
与石膏同用，则能引之以止足阳明之头疼。补中益气汤用之，提元气从右而上。升麻葛根汤
用之，驱邪热从表而散。惟其能解脾胃肌肉间热，故能散手足阳明经邪。诸方书以为元气不
足者用之，阴中升阳，则谬矣。盖阳气下陷者，可升提之，若元气不足者，升之则下益虚，
而元气益不足矣。盐水浸炒，则提肾气。甘草汁制，则提脾胃之气。若痰壅气上有汗者，勿
用。
天冬：
气味寒，味苦、甘，气薄味浓，具有升浮之性，属阴，无毒。归入手太阴肺经和足少阴肾经。治疗风邪与湿邪导致的痹证，补益虚损劳伤。并且能强健骨髓，滋润五脏，美容悦色，滋养肌肤。解除口渴，消除烦热，消痰止咳，保护肺气不被热邪扰乱，通利肾气以消除热淋。止血妄行，润燥通便。与人参同煎服用，是定止虚喘急促的神效方剂。与生姜、蜂蜜熬制成膏，是破除顽固痰癖的劫剂。与百合同用，能治疗肺痿。与黄芩同用，能治疗肺痈。未溃破时用藕叶、枳壳作为佐药，已溃破时用贝母、白芷作为辅药。大抵而言，苦味能泄滞血，甘味能助元气，寒性能去肺热，这三者是天冬的功效。阴虚发热者使用它，阴虚寒盛者禁忌，为什么呢？因为苦味的药物，只泄而不收敛的缘故。我曾使用天冬四两、生地黄六两，用纯酒煮汁熬成胶，加入炼蜜四两，用滚水调服，大补阴虚。加入柿霜四两，能大大止咳。加入枸杞四两，治疗肾虚咳嗽神验。加入阿胶一两
升麻：
气味平，味苦、甘，气味都淡薄，无毒，具有升浮之性，属于阴中之阳。治疗肺痿吐脓血，古人犀角地黄汤中，每用升麻代替犀角，只是引导地黄等药一同进入阳明经罢了。与葱白同用，则能引导它疏散手阳明大肠经的风邪。与石膏同用，则能引导它停止足阳明胃经的头痛。补中益气汤中使用它，提升元气从右侧向上。升麻葛根汤中使用它，驱散邪热从体表发散。正因为能解除脾胃肌肉间的热邪，所以能疏散手足阳明经的邪气。许多方书认为元气不足的人使用它，说是阴中升阳，这是错误的。大概阳气下陷者，可以升提，如果元气不足者，升提则下部更加虚弱，而元气更加不足了。用盐水浸炒，则提升肾气。用甘草汁炮制，则提升脾胃之气。如果痰壅气逆上有汗出者，不要用。
Tian Dong (Asparagi Radix):
The qi is cold, the taste is bitter and sweet. The qi is thin and the taste is strong; it ascends and belongs to Yin. It is non-toxic. It enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. It treats bi syndrome caused by wind and dampness pathogenic factors, and tonifies deficiency and damage from overwork. Furthermore, it strengthens bone marrow, moistens the five zang organs, beautifies the complexion, and nourishes the skin and muscles. It relieves thirst and eliminates irritability, resolves phlegm and stops coughing, protects Lung Qi from disturbance by heat pathogens, and unblocks Kidney Qi to eliminate painful urinary dysfunction with heat (Re Lin). It stops bleeding due to reckless flow and moistens dry stool constipation. Decocted and taken with Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), it is a miraculous formula for stabilizing deficiency-type panting and shortness of breath. Boiled into a paste with Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) and Fengmi (Honey), it is a potent agent for breaking stubborn phlegm masses. Used together with Baihe (Lilii Bulbus), it can treat Fei Wei (lung atrophy/withering). Used together with Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), it can treat Fei Yong (lung abscess). If not ulcerated, Ouye (Nelumbinis Folium) and Zhike (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus) are used as assistant herbs; if ulcerated, Beimu (Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus) and Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix) are used as auxiliary herbs. Generally speaking, bitterness can drain stagnant blood, sweetness can assist primordial Qi, and coldness can remove Lung heat; these three aspects constitute the efficacy of Tian Dong. It is used for deficiency-heat conditions, but is contraindicated for deficiency-cold conditions. Why? Because bitter substances only drain and do not consolidate. I once used four liang of Tian Dong and six liang of Shengdi Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), boiled them in pure wine to extract the juice and boil it into a gelatin, added four liang of Lianmi (Refined Honey), and took it mixed with boiling water, which greatly tonified Yin deficiency. Adding four liang of Shishuang (Diospyri Fructus Frost) greatly stops coughing. Adding four liang of Gouqi (Lycii Fructus) is miraculously effective for treating Kidney-type cough. Adding one liang of Ejiao (Colla Corii Asini)
Sheng Ma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma):
The qi is neutral, the taste is bitter and sweet. Both qi and taste are thin. It is non-toxic. It ascends and belongs to Yang within Yin. It treats Fei Wei (lung atrophy/withering) with expectoration of pus and blood. In ancient times, Xijiao Dihuang Tang (Rhinoceros Horn and Rehmannia Decoction) used Sheng Ma to replace Rhinoceros Horn, merely to guide Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix) and other herbs to enter the Yangming Meridian. When used with Congbai (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus), it guides the action to disperse Wind pathogens of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. When used with Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), it guides the action to stop headache of the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. In Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction), it is used to lift Primordial Qi upward from the right side. In Shengma Gegen Tang (Cimicifuga and Pueraria Decoction), it is used to drive away pathogenic heat so it disperses from the exterior. Precisely because it can resolve heat between the Spleen and Stomach and the muscles, it can disperse pathogens of the Hand and Foot Yangming meridians. Many medical texts claim that it should be used when Primordial Qi is insufficient, stating that it lifts Yang from Yin; this is erroneous. Generally, if Yang Qi has sunk, it can be lifted; however, if Primordial Qi is insufficient, lifting it will cause further deficiency in the lower part, making Primordial Qi even more insufficient. Soaked and stir-fried with salt water, it lifts Kidney Qi. Processed with Licorice juice, it lifts Spleen and Stomach Qi. If there is phlegm obstruction with rebellious Qi and sweating on the upper body, it should not be used.