味甘，性微温无毒，入脾经。主补脾益气，和中止泻，醋制能疗霍乱转筋，解酒毒及河
毒，一切草木毒。叶主蛇虫咬伤，花主赤白带下。
按∶扁豆性味，皆与脾家相得，宜独入之，然此剂最为泥膈，惟入健脾药中，则能补脾，
若
味甘酸，性平无毒，入心经，主消热毒，排痈肿，解烦热，补血脉，止泄泻，下水气，
利小便，除大便血，解小麦毒。
按∶赤小豆，南方心火之色也，故独入之。经曰∶诸疮痛痒，皆属心火，又曰∶心主血
也，故主疗如上。小肠者，即受盛而与心应者，故亦能利之。衍义曰；久服令人黑瘦结燥，
亦以利小便之故耳。
味甘。性温无毒，入胃大小肠三经。主行风气，通血脉，滑肠胃，润肌肤，生嚼可敷小
儿头疮，麻油主治相同，能杀虫治疥癣，解百毒。
按∶芝麻味甘，宜归胃腑，性滑利，宜入大小肠。总是润泽之剂，故能通血脉，血脉通
则风气自行，肌肤自润矣。乳母食之，令儿无热病，不宜久食，令人滑精消瘦，发渴困脾，
有牙疼及脾胃疾者，尤所当戒。
味苦，性寒无毒，入肺经。主伤寒头痛寒热，恶毒瘴气，烦躁满闷，虚劳喘吸。
按∶豉之入肺，所谓肺苦气上逆，急食苦以泄之之意也。伤寒瘴气，肺先受之，喘吸烦
闷，亦肺气有余耳，向弗治耶。
白扁豆：味道甘甜，性质微温，无毒，归入脾经。主要功效是补益脾气、调和脾胃、止住腹泻；经过醋制后能治疗霍乱引起的筋脉抽搐，解除酒毒以及河豚毒素，还有各种草木类的毒素。其叶子主要用于治疗蛇虫咬伤；花朵主要用于治疗赤白带下（阴道分泌物异常）。
按语：扁豆的性味与脾脏的功能需求相契合，适宜单独入脾经使用。然而此药质地较为黏腻，容易阻碍气机运行，因此只有在配合健脾药物使用时，才能发挥补脾的作用，如果……
赤小豆：味道甘酸，性质平和，无毒，归入心经。主要功效是消除热毒、排出痈肿、解除烦热、补益血脉、止住泄泻、下行水气、通利小便、清除大便出血、解除小麦中毒。
按语：赤小豆呈现南方心火对应的红色，所以专门入心经。《内经》说：“所有的疮疡疼痛瘙痒，都归属于心火”，又说：“心主司血液”，所以主治上述病症。小肠是接受和盛纳食物并与心脏相表里的脏腑，所以也能通利小肠。《衍义》说：长期服用会让人变得黑瘦且大便干结，这也是因为通利小便的缘故。
黑芝麻：味道甘甜，性质温和，无毒，归入胃、大肠、小肠三经。主要功效是驱散风气、通畅血脉、滑润肠胃、滋润肌肤，生嚼后可以外敷治疗小儿头部疮疡，用麻油炒制后的主治效果相同，能杀虫治疗疥癣，解除百种毒素。
按语：芝麻味道甘甜，适宜归入胃腑；性质滑利，适宜入大肠和小肠。它总是属于润泽类的药剂，所以能通畅血脉，血脉通畅则风气自然消散，肌肤自然滋润。乳母食用后，能使婴儿不患热病，但不宜长期食用，否则会使人滑精消瘦，引发口渴并困阻脾运，有牙痛及脾胃疾病的人，尤其应当禁忌。
淡豆豉：味道苦，性质寒凉，无毒，归入肺经。主要功效是治疗伤寒引起的头痛、寒热往来、恶毒瘴气、烦躁胸闷、虚劳导致的喘息急促。
按语：豆豉入肺经，正符合“肺脏厌恶气机上逆，急需食用苦味药物来宣泄肺气”的意思。伤寒和瘴气，肺脏最先受到侵害，喘息急促、烦躁胸闷，也是肺气有余的表现，如果不加以治疗会怎样呢？
White Hyacinth Bean (Baidou): Sweet in taste, slightly warm in nature, non-toxic, enters the Spleen Meridian. Its primary functions are tonifying Spleen Qi (Spleen energy), harmonizing the Middle Jiao (middle burner/ digestive system), and stopping diarrhea. When processed with vinegar, it can treat cholera-associated muscle cramps (spasms of the tendons), resolve alcohol toxicity, pufferfish poison, and all kinds of plant and herb toxins. The leaves are primarily used for snake and insect bites; the flowers are primarily used for leukorrhea (abnormal vaginal discharge) presenting as red or white discharge.
Commentary: The nature and flavor of the bean align well with the physiological needs of the Spleen, making it suitable for targeting the Spleen specifically. However, this agent is cloying and tends to obstruct the chest/diaphragm area. It can only tonify the Spleen when incorporated into formulas that strengthen the Spleen; otherwise...
Red Adzuki Bean (Chixiaodou): Sweet and sour in taste, neutral in nature, non-toxic, enters the Heart Meridian. Its primary functions are eliminating heat toxins, draining abscesses and swelling, relieving irritability and heat, nourishing blood vessels, stopping dysentery/diarrhea, directing water qi downward, promoting urination, clearing blood from the stool, and resolving wheat toxicity.
Commentary: The Red Adzuki Bean exhibits the color corresponding to the Heart Fire of the South, thus entering the Heart exclusively. The Classics state: "All sores, ulcers, pain, and itching belong to Heart Fire," and also: "The Heart governs Blood." Therefore, it treats the aforementioned conditions. The Small Intestine is the organ that receives and holds contents and corresponds to the Heart via interior-exterior relationship; thus, it can also benefit the Small Intestine. *Yanyi* states: Long-term consumption causes one to become dark-skinned, thin, and constipated, which is due to its diuretic effect.
Black Sesame (Zhimai): Sweet in taste, warm in nature, non-toxic, enters the Stomach, Large Intestine, and Small Intestine meridians. Its primary functions are dispersing wind pathogens, unblocking blood vessels, lubricating the intestines, and moistening the skin. Chewing raw and applying externally can treat infantile head sores; processing with sesame oil yields similar therapeutic effects, allowing it to kill parasites, treat scabies and tinea, and resolve hundred poisons.
Commentary: Sesame is sweet in taste, making it suitable for the Stomach organ; its slippery and lubricating nature makes it suitable for the Large and Small Intestines. As a moistening agent, it unblocks blood vessels; once blood vessels are unblocked, wind pathogens dissipate naturally, and the skin becomes moist. If nursing mothers consume it, their infants will be free from heat diseases, but it should not be consumed long-term as it may cause seminal emission, emaciation, thirst, and spleen fatigue. Those suffering from toothache or spleen-stomach disorders should strictly avoid it.
Fermented Soybean (Danshi): Bitter in taste, cold in nature, non-toxic, enters the Lung Meridian. Its primary functions are treating headache and alternating chills and fever caused by Cold Damage (Shanghan), toxic miasma, irritability and chest fullness/oppression, and wheezing/shortness of breath due to deficiency consumptive disease.
Commentary: Danshi entering the Lung Meridian reflects the principle that "the Lung dislikes rebellious Qi, and bitter substances should be eaten urgently to drain it." In Cold Damage and miasma, the Lung is affected first; wheezing, irritability, and chest oppression indicate excess Lung Qi. What would happen if left untreated?