气平，微温，味酸涩，无毒。入足厥阴少阴经药也。温胆补肾，而兴阳道。固精暖腰，
而助水脏。通九窍，匀经候。仲景八味丸以此剂为君主者，盖为滑则气脱，涩则所以收之，
故以此剂之涩，以收其滑。其曰止小便者，亦为其补肾添精，味酸能收也。
气温，味酸，无毒。气薄味浓，降也，阴也。肺肾二经药也。主滋肾水，收肺气。除
烦止渴生津，补虚益气强阴。霍乱泻利可止，水肿腹胀能消。冬月咳嗽肺寒，加干姜肉桂治
效。夏季神力困乏，同参 麦 服良。其曰能强筋者，以其酸入筋也。又曰能消酒毒者，何
哉？盖酒毒伤肺而肺热，得此收敛，则肺气敛而热邪释矣。又曰下气者，何哉？盖肺苦气上，
惟
引其盛也，肺邪盛者，莫如用黄五味子，取其辛甘稍重，而能散也。
气微寒，味甘苦，无毒。补肾明耳目，安神耐寒暑。延寿添精，固髓健骨。滋阴不致阴
衰，兴阳常使阳举。并麦冬同生地入葙子，治肾虚目疾如神。佐杜仲同芡实加牛膝，疗房劳
腰疼甚捷。
气寒，味甘，无毒。补阴气之要药也。主明目聪耳，除胸中烦热，又治头眩头痛。此数
症者，皆由水不足，而风火上盛，得补阴之剂，则水盛而火自息矣。抑且肾窍通耳目，肾气
胜则窍通精明，清气升则头目爽快，此烦热除而眩痛止也。又变老人皓首成黑，同地黄酿酒。
解
冬取根，四时频服，大有奇功。但黄菊不如白菊佳，白属水，黄属土也。野菊不可入药，用
之令人目昏。
【山茱萸】
药性气平，微温，味酸涩，无毒。归入足厥阴肝经和足少阴肾经。能温养胆腑、补肾益精，并振奋性功能（兴阳道）。能固摄精气、温暖腰部，从而辅助肾脏（水脏）的功能。能疏通九窍，调节月经周期。张仲景在八味丸中以本品为君药，是因为滑泄会导致气机脱失，而涩味药物可以收敛固摄，所以利用本品的涩性来收摄滑泄之气。文中说它能止小便，也是因为它能补肾添精，且其酸味具有收敛作用。
【甘菊】
药性气温，味酸，无毒。气薄味浓，性质沉降，属阴。归肺、肾二经。主要功效是滋补肾水、收敛肺气。能消除烦热、止渴生津，补虚益气、强壮阴精。霍乱引起的腹泻痢疾可以止住，水肿腹胀能够消除。冬季因肺寒引起的咳嗽，加入干姜、肉桂治疗见效。夏季神疲乏力时，与人参、麦冬同服效果良好。文中说它能强筋，是因为酸味入筋。又说它能解酒毒，为什么呢？因为酒毒损伤肺部导致肺热，得到这种收敛之品，肺气得以收敛，热邪自然解除。还说它能降气，为什么呢？因为肺喜肃降而恶气上逆，只有引导其下行才能平息盛气；对于肺邪盛的情况，没有比用五味子更好的了，取其辛甘稍重，能够发散邪气。
【枸杞子】
药性微寒，味甘苦，无毒。能补肾益精、明目聪耳，安神定志，适应寒暑变化。能延年益寿、增添精髓，坚固骨髓、强健骨骼。滋阴而不会导致阴气衰竭，助阳而常能使阳气举发。与麦冬、生地黄一同装入纱袋煎服，治疗肾虚引起的眼疾如神效。佐以杜仲、芡实，加入牛膝，治疗房劳过度引起的腰痛非常快捷有效。
【黄菊】
药性寒，味甘，无毒。是补阴气的重要药物。主要功效是明目聪耳，清除胸中烦热，又治疗头晕头痛。这几种症状，都是由肾水不足，导致风火之邪亢盛所致，得到补阴的药物后，肾水旺盛，火邪自然平息。况且肾开窍于耳目，肾气充盛则窍道通畅、目光精明，清气上升则头脑眼睛清爽，这样烦热消除，眩晕疼痛也就停止了。又能使老人白发变黑，可与生地黄一起酿酒饮用。冬天采集根部，四季频繁服用，大有奇效。但是黄菊不如白菊好，因为白菊属水，黄菊属土。野菊不可入药，使用它会导致视力模糊。
[Shanzhuyu / Corni Fructus]
The qi is neutral, slightly warm; the taste is sour and astringent; it is non-toxic. It enters the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian and the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. It warms the Gallbladder and tonifies the Kidney, thereby stimulating sexual function (Xing Yang Dao). It consolidates essence and warms the waist, assisting the Water Organ (Kidney). It unblocks the nine orifices and regulates menstruation. Zhang Zhongjing uses this herb as the Sovereign drug in Ba Wei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia), because sliding/looseness leads to Qi depletion, while astringency serves to consolidate it; thus, the astringency of this herb is used to restrain sliding Qi. The statement that it stops frequent urination is also due to its ability to tonify the Kidney and replenish essence, and its sour taste having a收敛 (astringent) effect.
[Ganju / Chrysanthemi Flos (Yellow)]
The qi is warm; the taste is sour; it is non-toxic. Its qi is thin and its taste is strong; it descends and belongs to Yin. It enters the Lung and Kidney meridians. It primarily nourishes Kidney Water and consolidates Lung Qi. It eliminates vexation, stops thirst, generates fluids, tonifies deficiency, benefits Qi, and strengthens Yin. It can stop dysentery and diarrhea caused by Huoluan (Cholera-like syndrome), and resolve edema and abdominal distension. For coughs due to Lung Cold in winter, adding Ganjiang (Dried Ginger) and Rougui (Cinnamon Bark) yields good results. In summer, for divine spirit fatigue, taking it with Renshen (Ginseng) and Maidong (Ophiopogon Tuber) is beneficial. The statement that it strengthens sinews is because the sour taste enters the sinews. Why does it say it can eliminate alcohol toxicity? Because alcohol toxicity damages the Lung causing Lung Heat; obtaining this astringent property allows Lung Qi to consolidate, and the heat pathogen is released. It also says it directs Qi downward; why? Because the Lung suffers from Qi ascending, and only by guiding the excess downward can it be calmed; for cases of excessive Lung pathogen, there is none better than using Wuweizi (Schisandra Berry), taking advantage of its slightly heavy acrid-sweet nature to disperse.
[Gouqi / Lycii Fructus]
The qi is slightly cold; the taste is sweet and bitter; it is non-toxic. It tonifies the Kidney, brightens the eyes and ears, calms the Spirit, and adapts to cold and heat. It extends life, adds essence, consolidates marrow, and strengthens bones. It nourishes Yin without causing Yin decline, and stimulates Yang so that Yang is often raised. When decocted together with Maidong (Ophiopogon Tuber) and Shengdihuang (Rehmanniae Radix) in a muslin bag, it treats eye diseases due to Kidney deficiency with miraculous efficacy. Assisted by Duzhong (Eucommia Bark) and Qianshi (Euryale Seed), added with Niuxi (Achyranthes Root), it treats lower back pain from sexual exhaustion very rapidly.
[Huangju / Chrysanthemi Flos (Yellow)]
The qi is cold; the taste is sweet; it is non-toxic. It is an essential herb for tonifying Yin Qi. It primarily brightens the eyes and ears, eliminates vexation and heat in the chest, and treats dizziness and headache. These symptoms are all caused by insufficient Water (Kidney Yin), leading to flourishing Wind-Fire; upon receiving Yin-tonifying agents, Water becomes abundant and Fire naturally subsides. Moreover, the Kidney opens into the eyes and ears; when Kidney Qi is sufficient, the orifices are clear and vision is sharp; when Clear Qi ascends, the head and eyes feel refreshed, thus eliminating vexation and stopping dizziness and pain. It can also turn white hair black in the elderly; it can be brewed into wine with Dihuang (Rehmannia). Harvesting the root in winter and taking it frequently throughout the four seasons yields great miraculous effects. However, Huangju (Yellow Chrysanthemum) is not as good as Baiju (White Chrysanthemum), because White belongs to Water and Yellow belongs to Earth. Yeju (Wild Chrysanthemum) should not be used in medicine, as using it causes dimness of vision.