《本经》名百倍
苦酸平，无毒。怀产者长而无傍须，水道涩渗者宜之。川产者
细而微黑，精气不固者宜之。忌牛肉。
《本经》主寒湿痿痹，四肢拘挛，膝痛不可屈伸，逐血气，伤热火烂，坠胎。
发明 牛膝气薄味浓，性沉降泄，乃足厥阴之药。《本经》专主寒湿痿痹，四肢拘挛等
病，不及补养下元之功，岂圣法有所未尽欤。丹溪言∶牛膝能引诸药下行，筋骨痛风在下者
宜加用之，其性虽下行走筋，然滑利之品，精气不固者，终非所宜。得酒蒸则能养筋，生用
则去恶血。其治腰膝痛不可屈伸足痿之病，非取其养血营筋之力欤。其治痈肿恶疮、金疮折
伤、尿血淋痛、妇人经秘不通，非取其活血破瘀之力欤。《外台》以生牛膝一味浓煎，治积
久劳疟。《肘后》以二斤浸酒治卒暴症疾，延年。以之同葵子煎服下胞衣。《卫生》以之捣
罨折伤。《梅师》以之捣涂金疮。《千金》以之捣敷毒肿。《集验》以之通利溺闭。皆取其
性滑利窍，消血解毒之功，虽强阴强筋，而气虚下陷，大便易泄，梦泄遗精，妊娠崩漏，俱
禁用。惟川产者，气味形质与续断仿佛，庶无精滑之虞。盖肾司闭藏，肝司疏泄，此味专
司疏泄，而无固热之功。世俗妄谓益肾而培养下元药中往往用之，与延盗入室何异。其土牛
膝亦能解毒利窍，专治血鼓，一味浓煎，姿意服之。又锁喉风诸治不效，以土牛膝和醋捣绞
取汁，蘸鸡翎探吐稠痰，不过二三次神验。
《神农本草经》中称其为“百倍”。
味苦、酸，性平，无毒。
产自怀庆（今河南焦作一带）的牛膝，根长且没有旁须，适用于水道涩滞、小便淋沥的患者。
产自川地（今四川等地）的牛膝，根细且颜色微黑，适用于精气不固的患者。
忌与牛肉同食。
《神农本草经》记载其主治寒湿引起的痿痹，四肢拘挛，膝盖疼痛不能屈伸，能驱逐血气中的邪气，治疗伤热导致的皮肤溃烂，以及堕胎。
【发明】
牛膝气味淡薄而味道浓厚，性质沉降泄降，是足厥阴肝经的药物。
《神农本草经》专门主治寒湿痿痹、四肢拘挛等疾病，未提及补养下元（肾精）的功效，难道圣人的立法有所未尽吗？
朱丹溪说：牛膝能引导其他药物下行，筋骨痛风位于身体下部的患者适宜加入使用，其性质虽然下行并走筋脉，但作为滑利之品，对于精气不固的人终究不适宜。
用酒蒸制后能滋养筋脉，生用则能去除恶血。
它治疗腰膝疼痛不能屈伸、足部痿弱的疾病，难道不是利用其养血营筋的力量吗？
它治疗痈肿恶疮、金创折伤、尿血淋痛、妇人月经闭阻不通，难道不是利用其活血破瘀的力量吗？
《外台秘要》用生牛膝一味药浓煎，治疗积久不愈的劳疟。
《肘后备急方》用二斤牛膝浸酒，治疗突然发作的疟疾，可延年益寿。
将其与葵子一起煎服，可促使胎盘排出。
《卫生家宝方》将其捣碎外敷治疗折伤。
《梅师集验方》将其捣碎涂抹治疗金创。
《千金方》将其捣碎外敷治疗毒肿。
《集验方》用它来通利小便闭塞。
这些都是取其性滑利窍道、消血解毒的功效。
虽然它能强阴强筋，但对于气虚下陷、大便容易泄泻、梦遗滑精、妊娠崩漏的患者，都禁用。
只有川产的牛膝，其气味形质与续断相似，才几乎没有导致精液滑泄的担忧。
因为肾主管闭藏，肝主管疏泄，这种药专门主管疏泄，而没有固摄清热的作用。
世俗人错误地认为它能益肾，在培养下元的药物中往往使用它，这与引盗贼入室有什么区别呢？
土牛膝也能解毒利窍，专门治疗血鼓（一种腹部胀大如鼓的病证），一味药浓煎，随意服用。
又如有锁喉风（一种急性咽喉肿痛窒息的病证）各种治疗无效时，用土牛膝加醋捣烂绞取汁液，蘸鸡毛探吐稠痰，不过两三次就神效验证。
*Ben Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) refers to it as "Bai Bei" (Hundred Times).
It has a bitter and sour taste, is neutral in nature, and non-toxic.
The variety produced in Huaiqing (modern-day Jiaozuo, Henan) is long without lateral roots, making it suitable for patients with obstructed urinary tract and dribbling urine.
The variety produced in Sichuan is thin and slightly black, making it suitable for patients with insecure essence and qi.
Beef should be avoided.
*Ben Jing* states that it primarily treats cold-dampness-induced flaccidity and bi-syndrome, limb contracture, knee pain with inability to flex or extend, expels blood and qi [pathogens], treats heat-injury causing skin ulceration, and induces abortion.
[Invention/Commentary]
Niu Xi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) has a thin aroma and strong flavor, with a descending and draining nature, serving as a herb for the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. *Ben Jing* specifically addresses diseases such as cold-dampness flaccidity and limb contracture, omitting its efficacy in nourishing the lower origin (Kidney essence). Was the sage's method incomplete? Zhu Danxi stated: Niu Xi can guide other herbs downward; it is appropriate to add it for wind-bi affecting the tendons and bones in the lower body. Although its nature descends and enters the tendons, as a slippery and lubricating agent, it is ultimately unsuitable for those with insecure essence. When steamed with wine, it can nourish the tendons; when used raw, it removes bad blood. Does its treatment of waist and knee pain with inability to flex/extend and foot flaccidity not rely on its power to nourish blood and tendons? Does its treatment of carbuncles, malignant sores, metal wounds, fractures, hematuria, strangury, and amenorrhea in women not rely on its power to invigorate blood and break stasis? *Waitai Mi Yao* uses a single dose of raw Niu Xi decocted thickly to treat chronic labor-malaria. *Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang* uses two jin of Niu Xi soaked in wine to treat sudden malaria, promoting longevity. Decocted with Abelmoschus manihot seeds, it helps expel the placenta. *Weisheng Baojia Fang* applies crushed Niu Xi externally to treat fractures. *Meishi Jiyian Fang* applies crushed Niu Xi topically to metal wounds. *Qianjin Fang* applies crushed Niu Xi topically to toxic swellings. *Jiyian Fang* uses it to relieve urinary retention. All these utilize its properties of lubricating orifices, resolving blood stasis, and detoxifying. Although it strengthens Yin and tendons, it is strictly contraindicated for Qi deficiency with sinking, easy diarrhea, nocturnal emission, seminal leakage, pregnancy, and metrorrhagia. Only the Sichuan-produced variety, whose aroma, flavor, form, and substance resemble Dipsaci Radix (Xuduan), avoids the risk of essence slipping. The Kidney governs closure and storage, while the Liver governs dispersion and drainage. This herb specifically governs dispersion but lacks the function of securing heat. Laypeople erroneously believe it benefits the Kidney and often use it in formulas that tonify the lower origin; this is no different from inviting thieves into one's home. Tu Niu Xi (Achyranthes bidentata root) also detoxifies and unblocks orifices, specifically treating Blood Drum (abdominal distension resembling a drum). A single dose decocted thickly can be taken freely. Furthermore, in cases of Lock-Throat Wind where other treatments fail, crushing Tu Niu Xi with vinegar, extracting the juice, dipping a chicken feather in it, and using it to induce vomiting of thick phlegm yields miraculous results within two or three applications.