气温，味苦，无毒，气味俱薄，可升可降，阴中阳也。治霍乱转筋，止呕逆吐酸。与枳
实大黄同用，则泄实满。与陈皮苍术同用，则除湿满。同解利药，兼理头疼。同泄利药，能
浓肠胃。浓朴之味苦也，惟其苦，故能下气去实满，而消腹胀。浓朴之气温也，惟其温，故
能益气除湿满而散结滞。何者？盖浓朴属土，而有火气之温，所以能散能泻胃中之实也。平
胃散佐以苍术，正谓泻上焦之湿，平中焦之土，不使太过，而复其平，以至于和而已。非谓
温补脾胃言也，后人执之以为补剂，误矣。气实者宜用，气虚者少用，恐生胀满。畏硫黄。
气寒，味苦酸，无毒，气浓味薄，沉也，阴也。消心下痞塞之痰，泄腹中滞寒之气。推
胃中隔宿之食，消腹中连年之积。同甘草瘦胎，和黄连减痔。宽大肠结气，泻胁下虚胀。然
味苦带辛，又能治遍身风疹。与枳实同一物也，但有大小之分，枳实小，则性酷而速。枳壳
大，则性宽而缓。大都实症宜用，虚症忌之。如脾胃湿热生痰有食者，入白术四分之一，脾
则用实，胃则用壳，仲景治伤寒仓卒之病，承气汤中用枳实，正取其疏通决泄破结实之义耳。
愚按枳壳，气药也，惟泄胸中至高之气，此便是降火妙剂。不制，通治诸疾。若气虚及年高
者，必须醋拌麸炒，醋能敛表，麸能密腠故也。色苍黑，耐寒怯热者，则用以为君，白茯为
臣，佐半夏、防风为使，治痰壅上急，再以苏子佐之，治诸衄血妄行最捷。若痰在四肢，成
核成癖，并加气药以辅翼之。
气味属温，味道苦，无毒。其气与味都较淡薄，作用趋势既可上升也可下降，属于阴中寓阳的性质。主治霍乱引起的筋脉拘挛抽搐，能止住呕吐、反酸。如果与枳实、大黄一起使用，就能泻除实邪导致的胀满。如果与陈皮、苍术一起使用，就能祛除湿气导致的胀满。配合解表利咽的药物同用，兼治头痛。配合治疗泄泻痢疾的药物同用，能够厚肠胃（增强胃肠功能）。浓朴的味道是苦的，正因为苦，所以能降气、去除实邪胀满，消除腹部胀大。浓朴的气性是温的，正因为温，所以能益气、祛除湿气胀满并消散结滞。为什么呢？因为浓朴五行属土，且具有火的温性，所以能够发散和泻下胃中的实邪。平胃散中佐以苍术，正是为了泻除上焦的湿邪，平和中焦的脾土，防止药力太过，从而恢复平衡，达到和谐的状态。这并不是指温补脾胃的意思，后人固执地把它当作补剂，这是错误的。气实证适宜使用，气虚证应少用，恐怕会产生胀满。畏忌硫黄。
气味属寒，味道苦酸，无毒。其气浓厚而味淡薄，性质沉降，属于阴。能消除心下部痞塞感的痰浊，泻除腹中滞留的寒邪之气。推荡胃中隔宿的食物，消除腹中经年累月的积滞。配合甘草使用能使胎儿瘦小（难产时助产），配合黄连使用能减轻痔疮。能宽畅大肠的气机郁结，泻除胁下的虚胀。然而它味道苦中带辛，又能治疗全身的风疹。它与枳实本是同一植物，只是有大小之分：枳实较小，药性猛烈而迅速；枳壳较大，药性宽缓而温和。大体上实证适宜使用，虚证禁忌。如果是脾胃湿热生痰且伴有食积的情况，加入四分之一的白术，脾病用实（枳实），胃病用壳（枳壳）。张仲景治疗伤寒急症，在承气汤中使用枳实，正是取其疏通、决泄、破除结实的意思。我认为枳壳是气分药，专门泻除胸中至高部位的气滞，这便是降火的妙方。不经过炮制，可以通治各种疾病。如果是气虚及年老体弱者，必须用醋拌后以麦麸炒制，因为醋能收敛表层，麦麸能致密腠理。颜色苍黑、耐寒怕热的药材，可作为君药，以白色茯苓为臣药，佐以半夏、防风为使药，治疗痰壅急迫之症，再辅以紫苏子，治疗各种鼻出血等血妄行症状最为快捷。如果痰在四肢，形成结节或癖块，需再加气分药来辅助。
The thermal nature is warm, the flavor is bitter, and it is non-toxic. Both its qi (vital energy) and flavor are thin; its action can ascend or descend, representing yang within yin. It treats wind-stroke-like convulsions in cholera (Huo Luan), stops vomiting and acid regurgitation. When used together with Zhishi (Immature Bitter Orange Fruit) and Dahuang (Rhubarb Root), it purges excess fullness. When used together with Chenpi (Aged Tangerine Peel) and Cangzhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), it resolves dampness-induced fullness. Combined with exterior-resolving and beneficial herbs, it concurrently addresses headache. Combined with anti-diarrheal herbs, it thickens the intestines and stomach. The bitterness of Houpo (Magnolia Bark) allows it to direct qi downward, remove excess fullness, and dissipate abdominal distension. Its warm nature enables it to benefit qi, resolve dampness-fullness, and scatter stagnation. Why? Because Houpo belongs to Earth and possesses the warmth of Fire, thus enabling it to disperse and purge excess in the Stomach. In Pingwei San (Calm the Stomach Powder), the addition of Cangzhu aims to drain dampness from the Upper Jiao, harmonize the Earth of the Middle Jiao, prevent excessive action, restore balance, and achieve harmony. This does not refer to warming and tonifying the Spleen and Stomach; later practitioners mistakenly regarded it as a tonic formula, which is incorrect. It is suitable for excess qi patterns but should be used sparingly in deficiency qi patterns to avoid generating distension. It is incompatible with Liuhuang (Sulfur).
The thermal nature is cold, the flavor is bitter and sour, and it is non-toxic. Its qi is dense while its flavor is thin; it sinks and represents yin. It eliminates phlegm causing epigastric stuffiness, drains stagnant cold qi in the abdomen, pushes out overnight food retention in the Stomach, and dissipates chronic accumulations in the abdomen. Combined with Gancao (Licorice Root), it thins the fetus (facilitates delivery); combined with Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome), it reduces hemorrhoids. It widens qi stagnation in the Large Intestine and drains empty distension in the hypochondrium. However, its bitter flavor accompanied by acridity also treats generalized urticaria. It originates from the same plant as Zhishi (Immature Bitter Orange Fruit), differing only in size: Zhishi is smaller, possessing a fierce and rapid nature; Zhike (Mature Bitter Orange Pericarp) is larger, possessing a broad and slow nature. Generally, excess patterns are suitable for use, while deficiency patterns are contraindicated. In cases of Spleen-Stomach damp-heat generating phlegm and food retention, adding one-quarter Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) makes the Spleen use Zhishi, while the Stomach uses Zhike. Zhang Zhongjing used Zhishi in Chengqi Tang (Gut-Purging Decoction) to treat acute Shaoyang/Taiyang diseases, precisely to utilize its properties of unblocking, draining, and breaking up solid accumulation. I observe that Zhike is a qi-regulating herb, specifically draining qi in the highest part of the chest; this is an excellent method for descending fire. Without processing, it treats various diseases. For those with qi deficiency or advanced age, it must be stir-fried with wheat bran after being mixed with vinegar, because vinegar can astringe the exterior, and wheat bran can consolidate the pores. Herbs that are dark green-black, cold-resistant, and heat-intolerant serve as the Sovereign herb, with Bai Fu Ling (Poria) as the Minister herb, assisted by Banxia (Pinellia Tuber) and Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root) as the Assistant/Envoy herbs, treating urgent phlegm obstruction; adding Zijie (Perilla Seed) further treats sudden bleeding such as epistaxis most rapidly. If phlegm resides in the four limbs, forming nodules or masses, qi-regulating herbs should be added to assist.