甘平无毒。河西及甘州者良。
《本经》主热中消渴，久服坚筋骨耐寒暑。
发明 枸杞子味甘色赤，性温无疑，根味微苦，性必微寒，缘《本经》根子合论无分，
以致后人或言，子性微寒，根性大寒，或言子性大温，根性苦寒。盖有惑于一，本无寒热两
殊之理。夫天之生物不齐，都有丰于此，而涩于彼者。如山茱萸之肉涩精，核滑精。当归之
头止血，尾破血。橘实之皮涤痰，膜聚痰，不一而足。即炎帝之尝药，不过详气、味、形、
色，安有味甘色赤，形质滋腴之物，性寒之理。《本经》所言主热中消渴，坚筋骨耐寒暑，
是指其子而言，质润味浓，峻补肝肾冲督之精血，精得补益，水旺骨强，而肾虚火炎热中消
渴，血虚目昏，腰膝疼痛悉愈，而无寒暑之患矣。所谓精不足者，补之以味也。古谚有云，
去家千里，勿食枸杞。甚言补益精气之速耳。然无阳气衰，阴虚精滑，及妇人失合，劳嗽蒸
热之人慎用；以能益精血，精旺则思偶，理固然也。
甘淡微寒无毒。泉州者良。
《本经》主五内邪气，周痹风湿，久服坚筋骨，轻身不老。
发明 地骨皮，枸杞根也，三焦气分之药。下焦肝肾虚热、骨蒸自汗者宜之。热淫于内
，泻以甘寒也。人但知芩、连治上焦之火，知、柏治下焦之火，谓之补阴降火。不知地骨之
甘寒平补，有益精气退邪火之妙。时珍尝以青蒿佐地骨退热，屡有殊功。又主骨槽风证，亦
取入足少阴，味薄即通也。《本经》主五内邪气，周痹风湿，轻身不老，取其甘淡化热，苦
寒散湿，湿散则痹着通，化热则五内安。其气清，其味薄，其质轻，诚为修真服食之仙药。
按∶《续仙传》云，朱孺子见溪侧二花犬，逐入枸杞丛下，掘之得根形如二犬，烹而食之，
忽觉身轻，《本经》之轻身不老，可确征矣。则枸杞之滋益不独在子，而根亦止于退热也。
苗叶微苦，亦能降火及清头目。
枸杞子：味甘，性平，无毒。以河西及甘州（今甘肃张掖一带）出产的质量最好。
《神农本草经》记载其主治内热消渴症，长期服用可坚固筋骨，耐受寒暑变化。
【发明】枸杞子的味道甘甜、颜色赤红，性质温热是毫无疑问的；根的味道微苦，性质必定微寒。这是因为《神农本草经》将根和子合并论述而未加区分，导致后人有的说子性微寒、根性大寒，有的说子性大温、根性苦寒。这大概是因为被一种说法所迷惑，其实本没有寒热截然不同的道理。上天生成的万物各不相同，都有在此处丰盛而在彼处欠缺的情况。如山茱萸的肉能涩精止遗，核却滑精；当归的头能止血，尾能破血；橘子的皮能涤痰，膜能聚痰，诸如此类不一而足。即使是炎帝尝百草，也不过是详细考察气味、形状、颜色，哪有味道甘甜、颜色赤红、质地滋润肥厚之物，性质却是寒凉的道理？《神农本草经》所说的主治内热消渴、坚固筋骨、耐受寒暑，是指枸杞子而言。它质地滋润、味道浓郁，峻补肝肾及冲脉、督脉的精血。精血得到补益，水旺则骨强，从而肾虚火旺引起的内热消渴、血虚导致的目昏、腰膝疼痛等病症全部痊愈，也就没有寒暑侵袭的忧患了。这就是所谓“精气不足的人，用味厚的药物来补益”。古谚语说：“离家千里，不要食用枸杞。”这是极力形容其补益精气速度之快罢了。然而，对于阳气衰微、阴虚精液滑泄，以及房事过度、劳嗽蒸热之人，应当慎用；因为枸杞能益精血，精血旺盛就会引发对配偶的欲望，这是理所当然的道理。
地骨皮：味甘淡，性微寒，无毒。以泉州出产的质量最好。
《神农本草经》记载其主治五脏内的邪气，周身痹痛风湿，长期服用可坚固筋骨，使身体轻健而不衰老。
【发明】地骨皮是枸杞的根，是三焦气分的药物。适用于下焦肝肾虚热、骨蒸发热、自汗等症状。体内热邪过盛，应用甘寒的药物来清泻。人们只知道黄芩、黄连治疗上焦之火，知母、黄柏治疗下焦之火，称之为补阴降火。却不知道地骨皮的甘寒平和补益，具有有益精气、退除邪火的妙用。李时珍曾尝试用青蒿辅助地骨皮退热，屡次取得显著功效。此外，地骨皮还主治骨槽风证，也是取其入足少阴肾经，药味淡薄即能通达经络的缘故。《神农本草经》记载其主治五脏邪气、周身痹痛风湿、轻身不老，是取其甘淡能化热，苦寒能散湿，湿气散去则痹阻不通得以通畅，热邪化解则五脏安宁。它的气清，味薄，质轻，确实是修道者服食的仙药。
按语：《续仙传》记载，朱孺子在溪边看见两只花狗，追逐进入枸杞丛下，挖掘后得到形状像两只狗的根，煮熟后吃下，忽然觉得身体轻健，《神农本草经》所说的“轻身不老”，可以确凿证实了。那么枸杞的滋补作用不仅在于子，而根的作用也仅限于退热罢了。枸杞的苗叶味道微苦，也能降火及清利头目。
Gouqi (Lycii Fructus): Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, non-toxic. The best quality comes from Hexi and Ganzhou.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* records that it treats internal heat with thirst (Neire Xiao Ke), and long-term use strengthens the sinews and bones, enabling tolerance to cold and heat.
[Invention] Gouqi has a sweet taste and red color; its warm nature is undeniable. The root has a slightly bitter taste and must be slightly cold in nature. This confusion arises because the *Shennong Bencao Jing* discusses the root and fruit together without distinction, leading later authors to claim either that the fruit is slightly cold and the root greatly cold, or that the fruit is greatly warm and the root bitter-cold. This stems from being misled by one perspective; there is no inherent logic for such a stark dichotomy of cold and heat. Nature produces diverse entities, often abundant in one aspect and deficient in another. For instance, the flesh of Cornus officinalis (Shanzhuyu) astringes essence while the seed causes seminal emission; the head of Angelica sinensis (Danggui) stops bleeding while the tail invigorates blood and breaks stasis; the peel of Citrus reticulata (Chenpi) clears phlegm while the membrane gathers phlegm—such examples are numerous. Even when the Yan Emperor tasted herbs, he detailed only their qi, flavor, shape, and color. How could an item with a sweet taste, red color, and nourishing, plump texture possess a cold nature? The indications in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* regarding treating internal heat with thirst, strengthening sinews and bones, and tolerating cold and heat refer specifically to the fruit. Its moist texture and rich flavor vigorously tonify the essence and blood of the Liver, Kidney, Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel), and Du Mai (Conception Vessel). When essence and blood are replenished, water becomes abundant and bones become strong. Consequently, conditions arising from Kidney deficiency with hyperactive fire, such as internal heat with thirst, blurred vision due to Blood deficiency, and pain in the lower back and knees, are all cured, eliminating vulnerability to cold and heat. This aligns with the principle: "For those lacking sufficient essence, tonify with substantial flavors." An ancient proverb states, "Traveling a thousand miles from home, do not eat Gouqi," emphasizing the rapidity of its essence and qi tonification. However, it should be used with caution in cases of Yang Qi deficiency, Yin deficiency with seminal slipperiness, sexual exhaustion, and consumption fever with dry cough; this is because it benefits essence and blood, and abundant essence naturally increases libido, which is logical.
Digupi (Lycii Cortex): Sweet and bland in flavor, slightly cold in nature, non-toxic. The best quality comes from Quanzhou.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* records that it treats pathogenic factors within the five zang organs, generalized bi syndrome with wind-dampness, and long-term use strengthens sinews and bones, lightening the body and preventing aging.
[Invention] Digupi is the root of Gouqi and acts on the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) qi level. It is suitable for deficiency-heat in the Lower Jiao involving the Liver and Kidney, bone-steaming fever, and spontaneous sweating. When excessive heat lurks internally, it should be purged with sweet-cold substances. People generally know that Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) and Lianzi (Coptidis Rhizoma) treat Upper Jiao fire, and Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) and Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) treat Lower Jiao fire, calling this tonifying Yin and descending fire. They do not realize that Digupi’s sweet-cold nature provides a balanced tonification, possessing the subtle efficacy of benefiting essence and qi while retreating pathogenic fire. Li Shizhen once used Qinghao (Artemisiae Annuae Herba) to assist Digupi in reducing fever, achieving remarkable results repeatedly. Furthermore, it treats Gucaofeng (bone槽风, a type of osteomyelitis or chronic ulcer), owing to its entry into the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and its thin flavor allowing easy penetration. The *Shennong Bencao Jing*’s indications for treating pathogenic factors in the five viscera, generalized bi with wind-dampness, lightening the body, and preventing aging rely on its sweet-bland property to transform heat and its bitter-cold property to disperse dampness. When dampness disperses, bi obstruction unblocks; when heat transforms, the five viscera are pacified. Its qi is clear, its flavor is thin, and its substance is light; it is truly an immortal herb for cultivation and ingestion.
Note: The *Xu Xian Zhuan* records that Zhu Ruzi saw two spotted dogs by a stream, chased them into a Gouqi thicket, dug up roots shaped like the two dogs, cooked and ate them, and suddenly felt his body become light. This confirms the *Shennong Bencao Jing*’s statement about "lightening the body and preventing aging." Thus, the nourishing benefits of Gouqi are not limited to the fruit, but the root’s function is primarily to reduce heat. The leaves and shoots have a slightly bitter taste and can also descend fire and clear the head and eyes.