味辛性热，有毒，气味俱薄，浮也，阴中之阳也。大都有四等，其在下最浓者曰肉桂，
去其粗皮而留其近木之味浓而最精者云桂心，入二三分于补阴药中，则能行地黄之滞而补肾，
由其味辛属肺，而能生肾水，性温行血，而能通凝滞也，能通血脉凝滞，其能补肾必矣。在
中次浓者曰官桂，主治中焦有寒，在上薄者，走肩臂而行肢节之凝滞，肩臂引经多用之。其
在嫩枝最薄者曰桂枝，伤寒伤风之有汗者宜用之，以解微表也，非固表也。惟有汗者，表虚
邪微，故用此气薄辛甘之剂，以轻散之，则汗自止，岂有辛甘之剂，能固表哉。痘家于活血
药中，少佐薄桂一二分，则血行而痘自通畅矣。又能治冷气肚疼。若体热血妄行者，切宜禁
忌。畏石脂，妊妇戒用。
气热，味大辛，气味俱浓，可升可降，阳也。散肺气，与五味子同用，能治咳嗽。与实
阴药同用，能治血虚发热。入肺药中，能利肺气。入肾药中，能燥下湿。引气药入气分，引
血药入血分。主治沉寒痼冷，肾中无阳，脉气欲绝者，黑附子为使。又云，发散寒邪，不可
多用，多用则耗散元气，辛以散之，是壮火食气故也。见火候、故止而不移，所以能治里寒。
故丹溪曰，生用入发散中，能利肺气而治嗽。熟用入补中药，能和脾家虚寒。既曰理中，又
曰泄脾，何也？盖泄之一字，非泄脾之正气，是泄脾中寒湿之邪，故以辛热之剂燥之，此以
名泄也。痘家灰白之症用之，若实热红紫者，切宜禁忌。孕妇勿用。
肉桂味辛、性热，有毒，气味都较淡薄，性质属浮，是阴中的阳药。肉桂大致分为四个等级，其中位于树皮最下层、气味最浓郁的称为肉桂；去掉粗糙的外皮，保留靠近木质部、气味浓郁且最精纯的部分，称为桂心。在滋阴药物中加入二三分的桂心，就能疏通地黄滋腻的滞碍并起到补肾作用，这是因为它的味道辛入肺经，能滋生肾水，其性温能行血，从而疏通凝滞的血脉，既然能通血脉凝滞，它补肾的功效也就显而易见了。处于中间层次、浓度次之的称为官桂，主要治疗中焦有寒证；位于上部、气味较薄的，能走窜肩臂并疏通肢节的凝滞，在治疗肩臂疾病时多作为引经药使用。位于嫩枝上、气味最薄的称为桂枝，适用于伤寒或伤风且有汗出的情况，用以解除轻微的表邪，并非为了固表。只有那些有汗出、表虚、邪气轻微的患者，才适合使用这种气味淡薄、辛甘的药物，以轻微发散的方式使汗自止，难道辛甘的药物能固表吗？痘疹患者如果在活血药中少量佐以薄桂一二分，就能使血液运行通畅，痘疹自然透发顺畅。此外还能治疗冷气引起的腹痛。如果是体质燥热、血妄行的患者，务必禁忌。肉桂畏恶赤石脂，孕妇禁止使用。
干姜气热，味道大辛，气味都很浓厚，作用既可升又可降，属阳药。它能宣散肺气，与五味子同用，能治疗咳嗽。与滋阴充实的药物同用，能治疗血虚发热。加入治肺的药物中，能利达肺气。加入治肾的药物中，能燥除下焦湿气。它能引导气药进入气分，引导血药进入血分。主要治疗沉寒痼冷、肾中阳气不足、脉气将要断绝的病证，此时以黑附子为使药。又说，发散寒邪时不可多用，多用则会耗散元气，因为“辛以散之”，这是壮火食气的道理。干姜见火候则停止移动而不走窜，所以能治疗里寒。所以朱丹溪说，生用干姜加入发散方剂中，能利肺气而治疗咳嗽；熟用干姜加入补益脾胃的方剂中，能调和脾脏的虚寒。既然叫理中汤（温中），又叫泄脾，为什么呢？这个“泄”字，不是泄脾的正气，而是泄除脾中的寒湿邪气，所以用辛热的药物来燥湿，这就是名为“泄”的原因。痘疹出现灰白色症状时使用干姜，如果是实热导致红紫色的症状，务必禁忌。孕妇不要使用。
Cinnamon Bark (Guipi) possesses a pungent flavor and hot nature, is toxic, has thin scent and taste, floats upward, and belongs to yang within yin. It is generally divided into four grades. The thickest part at the bottom is called Rougui (Cortex Cinnamomi). After removing the rough outer bark and retaining the part close to the wood which is rich in essence and potent, it is called Guixin (Cortex Cinnamomi Cum Ramulis Cortex Exfoliatus). Adding two or three fen of Guixin to Yin-nourishing herbs can resolve the stagnation caused by Dihuang (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata) and tonify the Kidney. This is because its pungent flavor enters the Lung meridian to generate Kidney Water, and its warm nature promotes blood circulation to resolve stagnation. Since it can unblock stagnant blood vessels, its ability to tonify the Kidney is certain. The part with medium thickness is called Guangui (Cortex Cinnamomi), mainly treating Cold in the Middle Jiao. The thinner part at the top travels to the shoulders and arms and resolves stagnation in the joints; it is often used as a guiding herb for shoulder and arm conditions. The thinnest part from tender branches is called Guizhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi), suitable for cases of Shanghan (Cold Damage) or Shangfeng (Wind Strike) with sweating, to resolve mild exterior pathogens, not to consolidate the exterior. Only when there is sweating, indicating deficient exterior and slight pathogen, should this agent with thin scent, pungent and sweet flavors be used to gently disperse, causing sweat to stop naturally. How could a pungent-sweet agent consolidate the exterior? For patients with smallpox, adding one or two fen of thin Cinnamon Twig to blood-invigorating herbs allows blood to flow smoothly, ensuring the rash erupts freely. It also treats abdominal pain caused by Cold Qi. It is strictly contraindicated for those with hot constitution and reckless bleeding. It is incompatible with Chishizhi (Lapis Kaolinis), and pregnant women should avoid it.
Dried Ginger (Ganjiang) has a hot nature and strongly pungent flavor, with thick scent and taste, capable of ascending and descending, belonging to Yang. It disperses Lung Qi; when used with Wuweizi (Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis), it treats cough. When used with Yin-filling herbs, it treats fever due to Blood deficiency. When added to Lung-targeting herbs, it benefits Lung Qi. When added to Kidney-targeting herbs, it dries Dampness in the Lower Jiao. It guides Qi-acting herbs into the Qi level and Blood-acting herbs into the Blood level. It mainly treats deep-seated Cold and stubborn chill, absence of Yang in the Kidney, and impending cessation of pulse qi, using Heifuzi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata) as an assistant. It is said that when dispersing Cold pathogens, it should not be overused, as excessive use depletes Yuan Qi. "Pungency disperses," which aligns with the principle that "Strong Fire consumes Qi." Upon exposure to heat/fire, it becomes stationary and does not wander, thus treating Interior Cold. Therefore, Zhu Danxi stated: Raw Ganjiang used in dispersing formulas benefits Lung Qi and treats cough; cooked Ganjiang used in Spleen-tonifying formulas harmonizes Spleen deficiency-Cold. Why is it called Lizhong (Regulating the Middle) yet also Xiepi (Draining the Spleen)? The term "Xie" (Drain) here does not refer to draining the Spleen's healthy Qi, but rather draining the Cold-Damp pathogen within the Spleen. Thus, pungent-hot agents are used to dry it, hence the name "Draining." It is used for grayish-white rashes in smallpox cases. It is strictly contraindicated for excess Heat presenting as red or purple rashes. Pregnant women should avoid it.