气平，味甘淡，气味俱薄，无毒，降也，阳中之阴也。主治膈中痰火，驱水肿，除淋结。
开胃腑，调脏气，伐肾邪。和中益气，利窍宁心。除湿之圣药也。经曰，赤者向丙丁，白者
向壬癸。又曰，赤者能利水，白者能补脾。是知赤者泻小肠之火，而利水矣。不知白者润肺
生津，而能分利也。此剂皆主分利，但不如用白为良。大都淡能利窍，甘能助阳，衍义补遗
以为阴虚，未为相宜，以其淡渗也。孰知气重者主气，味重者助血，茯苓虽曰淡渗，然味尚
甘美，于阴虚者，亦无妨也。臣升 而上行，固能补气。兼当归枣仁，又养心血。佐参术而
下行，亦能补血。加枸杞仙茅，又固肾气。四君汤用之以补气，地黄丸用之以补血。痘家灌
浆之时禁用，恐水利而浆不能灌也。若见有水白泡，即取升麻汁制用，取其散表以利水也。
若见有红紫泡，即取茜草汁制用，取其行血以利水也。
气温，味辛微苦，气薄味浓，无毒，可升可降，阳中之阴也。必须年久者为美。去白性
热，能除寒发表。存白性温，能补胃和中。与白术半夏同用，则渗湿而健胃。与甘草白术同
用，则补脾而益胃。有白术则补脾胃，无白术则泻脾胃，有甘草则补肺，无甘草则泻肺。故
补中汤用之以益气，平胃散用之以消谷，二陈汤用之以除痰，干葛汤用之以醒酒。予尝用陈
皮一斤，滚水泡去白令极净，乌梅大草青盐各四两，浓煎取汁浸透，晒半干，再入白糖六两
拌匀，用紫苏叶薄荷叶上盖，蒸一炷香，每用少许，不拘时常服，治久嗽痰火，长服健胃和
中，解酒毒。
茯苓：药性平和，味甘淡，气味都很淡薄，无毒，作用趋势为下降，属于阳中的阴类。主治胸膈间的痰火，驱除水肿，消除淋证结滞。能开胃腑，调和脏气，祛除肾邪。能和中益气，通利窍道，宁心安神。是除湿的圣药。医经说，色赤的药趋向于丙丁（南方火），色白的药趋向于壬癸（北方水）。又说，色赤的药能利水，色白的药能补脾。由此可知，色赤的药泻小肠之火，从而利水。如果不了解色白的药润肺生津，从而能分利水道。这两种情况都主要在于分利，但不如使用白色茯苓为好。大抵淡味能通利窍道，甘味能助长阳气，《衍义补遗》认为它适用于阴虚，并不十分恰当，因为它的性质是淡渗的。哪里知道气重的药主理气，味重的药辅助血，茯苓虽然说是淡渗，但味道尚且甘美，对于阴虚的人，也没有妨碍。它能升提而上行，固然能补气。配合当归、酸枣仁，又能滋养心血。配合人参、白术而下行，也能补血。加入枸杞、仙茅，又能固护肾气。四君子汤用它来补气，六味地黄丸用它来补血。痘疹患者在灌浆阶段禁用，恐怕因利水而导致脓浆不能灌注。如果见到有水白色的水泡，就取升麻汁炮制后使用，取其发散表邪以利水的作用。如果见到有红紫色的水泡，就取茜草汁炮制后使用，取其活血以利水的作用。
陈皮：药性温，味辛微苦，气薄味浓，无毒，作用趋势既可升也可降，属于阳中的阴类。必须存放年份久远的才算是上品。去掉白色内层则药性热，能祛除寒邪、发表散邪。保留白色内层则药性温，能补益胃气、调和脾胃。与白术、半夏同用，则能渗湿而健胃。与甘草、白术同用，则能补脾而益胃。有白术配合则补益脾胃，没有白术则泻损脾胃；有甘草配合则补益肺脏，没有甘草则泻损肺脏。所以补中益气汤用它来益气，平胃散用它来消食化谷，二陈汤用它来除痰，干葛汤用它来解酒醒神。我曾经用陈皮一斤，用滚开水泡洗去掉白色内层直至极其洁净，再用乌梅、大草果、青盐各四两，浓煎取汁浸泡透，晒至半干，再放入白糖六两拌匀，用紫苏叶和薄荷叶覆盖在上面，蒸一炷香的时间，每次服用少许，不拘泥时间经常服用，治疗久咳痰火，长期服用能健胃和中，解除酒毒。
Poria (Fuling): The medicinal nature is neutral, the taste is sweet and bland, the aroma and flavor are both thin, it is non-toxic, its action trend is descending, and it belongs to Yin within Yang. It mainly treats phlegm-fire in the chest diaphragm, drives out edema, and eliminates strangury with accumulation. It opens the stomach fu, regulates the zang organs' qi, and subdues kidney pathogenic factors. It harmonizes the middle and boosts qi, benefits orifices, and calms the heart. It is a sacred herb for removing dampness. The classics state: those that are red tend towards Bing-Ding (South Fire), and those that are white tend towards Ren-Gui (North Water). It also states: red ones can promote urination, while white ones can tonify the spleen. From this, we know that red ones drain fire from the small intestine, thereby promoting urination. If one does not understand that white ones moisten the lungs and generate fluids, thereby facilitating separation and drainage, they might miss the point. Both agents primarily focus on separation and drainage, but using white Poria is considered superior. Generally, bland flavors benefit orifices, and sweet flavors assist Yang. *Yanyi Buyi* considers it suitable for Yin deficiency, which is not entirely appropriate due to its bland and leaching nature. Who knows that herbs with heavy Qi govern Qi, and herbs with heavy Flavor assist Blood? Although Poria is described as bland and leaching, its flavor is still sweet and pleasant, so it poses no hindrance even for those with Yin deficiency. It ascends and moves upward, certainly capable of boosting Qi. When combined with Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) and Suanzaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen), it nourishes Heart blood. When assisted by Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) to move downward, it can also tonify Blood. Added with Gouqi (Lycii Fructus) and Xianmao (Curculiginis Rhizoma), it consolidates Kidney Qi. Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) uses it to boost Qi, and Di Huang Wan (Rehmannia Pill) uses it to tonify Blood. It is contraindicated during the pustule-filling stage of variola (smallpox/varioloid), fearing that promoting urination will prevent the filling of pus. If water-white blisters are seen, take Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) juice to process it, utilizing its ability to disperse the exterior and promote urination. If red-purple blisters are seen, take Qiancao (Rubiae Cordifoliae Radix et Rhizoma) juice to process it, utilizing its ability to invigorate blood and promote urination.
Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium): The medicinal nature is warm, the taste is pungent and slightly bitter, the aroma is thin and the flavor is strong, it is non-toxic, its action trend can be ascending or descending, and it belongs to Yin within Yang. Those that have been aged for many years are considered superior. Removing the white pith makes it hot-natured, capable of dispelling cold and releasing the exterior. Retaining the white pith makes it warm-natured, capable of tonifying the Stomach and harmonizing the middle. When used together with Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) and Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), it drains dampness and strengthens the Stomach. When used together with Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), it tonifies the Spleen and benefits the Stomach. With Baizhu, it tonifies the Spleen and Stomach; without Baizhu, it purges the Spleen and Stomach. With Gancao, it tonifies the Lung; without Gancao, it purges the Lung. Therefore, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) uses it to augment Qi, Ping Wei San (Powder for Peaceful Stomach) uses it to digest food, Er Chen Tang (Two-Aged Decoction) uses it to resolve phlegm, and Gan Ge Tang (Puerariae Radix Decoction) uses it to sober up from alcohol. I once used one jin (approx. 500g) of Chenpi, soaked in boiling water to remove the white pith until extremely clean, then added four liang (approx. 125g each) of Wumei (Mume Fructus), Da Cao Guo (Tsaoko Fructus), and Qing Yan (Green Salt). Decocted strongly to extract the juice, soaked the Chenpi thoroughly, sun-dried until half-dry, then mixed in six liang (approx. 375g) of Bai Tang (White Sugar). Covered with Zisu Ye (Perillae Folium) and Bohe Ye (Menthae Haplocalycis Folium), steamed for the time it takes to burn one incense stick. Take a small amount each time, taking it regularly at any time, to treat chronic cough with phlegm-fire. Long-term use strengthens the Stomach, harmonizes the middle, and resolves alcohol toxicity.