甘咸微温，无毒。酒洗去甲及腐，切片焙用。
《本经》主五劳七伤，补中，除茎中寒热痛，养五脏，强阴益精气，多子，妇人症瘕。
发明 肉苁蓉与锁阳，总是一类，味浓性降，命门相火不足者宜之。峻补精血，骤用反
动大便滑泄。《本经》主劳伤补中者，是火衰不能生土，非中气之本虚也。治妇人症瘕者，
咸能软坚而走血分也。又苁蓉止泄精遗沥，除茎中寒热痛，以其能下导虚火也。锁阳治腰膝
软弱，以其能温补精血也。总皆滋益相火之验。老人燥结，宜煮粥食之，但胃气虚者，服之
令人呕吐泄泻。强阳易兴而精不固者忌之。
《本经》名离母，一名定风草，茎名赤箭
辛平微温，无毒。湿纸裹煨熟，切
片用。
《本经》主杀鬼精物，蛊毒恶气。久服益气力，长阴肥健。
发明 天麻味辛浓浓，性升，属阳，为肝家气分药。故肝虚不足，风从内生者，天麻、
芎以补之。诸风掉眩，眼黑头旋，风虚内作，非天麻不治。小儿惊痰风热，服天麻即消。
天麻乃定风草，久服则遍身发出红斑，是驱风之验也。按∶天麻性虽不燥，毕竟风剂，若血
虚无风，火炎头痛，口干、便闭者，不可妄投。《本经》言杀鬼精物蛊毒恶气者，以其能定
风、镇八方之邪气也。久服益气力、长阴肥健者，其性属阳，阳生则阴长也。
肉苁蓉：味甘、咸，性微温，无毒。用酒清洗以去除甲壳状部分及腐烂处，切片后焙干使用。
《神农本草经》记载其主治五劳七伤（泛指多种慢性虚损性疾病），补益中气，消除尿道中的寒热疼痛，滋养五脏，强壮阴精并增益精气，促进生育能力，治疗妇女腹内结块（症瘕）。
【发明】肉苁蓉与锁阳属于同一类药物，味道浓厚，药性沉降，适用于命门相火不足者。它能峻猛地补益精血，但若突然大量使用，反而会导致大便滑泄。《神农本草经》所说的“主劳伤补中”，是指命门火衰不能生养脾土，并非指中气本身的真正虚弱。治疗妇女腹内结块，是因为咸味药物能软化坚硬之物并进入血分运行。此外，肉苁蓉能止住遗精和尿后余沥，消除尿道中的寒热疼痛，这是因为它能向下引导虚火。锁阳治疗腰膝软弱无力，是因为它能温补精血。这些都证明了它们具有滋益相火的功效。老年人因肠燥引起的便秘，适宜煮粥食用；但胃气虚弱的人服用，会引起呕吐和腹泻。阳气易举但精关不固者忌服。
天麻：《神农本草经》名为离母，又名定风草，茎称为赤箭。
味辛，性平偏温，无毒。用湿纸包裹后煨熟，切片使用。
《神农本草经》记载其能杀灭鬼魅精怪之物、蛊毒及恶气。长期服用可益气力，增长阴精，使身体肥壮强健。
【发明】天麻味道辛烈浓厚，药性升散，属阳，是入肝经气分的药物。因此，对于肝虚不足、风气从内生发的情况，可用天麻配合川芎来补益。各种风病引起的肢体震颤眩晕、眼前发黑、头晕目眩，若由内风引起，非天麻不能治愈。小儿惊风、痰热，服用天麻即可消散。天麻被称为定风草，长期服用会使全身发出红斑，这是其驱除风邪的验证。按语：天麻的药性虽然不燥烈，但终究属于风剂，若是血虚无风、火炎头痛、口干、便秘者，不可随意投用。《神农本草经》说它能杀鬼精物、蛊毒恶气，是因为它能平息内风、镇伏八方之邪气。长期服用能益气力、长阴肥健，是因为其性属阳，阳生则阴长。
Cistanche (Rou Cong Rong): Sweet, salty, slightly warm, non-toxic. Wash with wine to remove the scale-like parts and rotten areas, slice, and bake for use.
*Shennong Bencao Jing* states it treats five types of exhaustion and seven kinds of injuries, tonifies the middle jiao, eliminates cold-heat pain in the urethra, nourishes the five zang organs, strengthens yin and benefits essence and qi, promotes fertility, and treats abdominal masses (zheng jia) in women.
[Invention] Cistanche and Cynomorium are of the same category; their taste is rich and their nature is descending, making them suitable for cases of deficiency of Mingmen ministerial fire. They vigorously tonify essence and blood, but sudden heavy use may instead cause loose stools. The statement in *Shennong Bencao Jing* regarding "treating exhaustion and tonifying the middle" refers to the failure of Mingmen fire to generate spleen earth, rather than a fundamental deficiency of middle qi. Its treatment of abdominal masses is due to the salty flavor's ability to soften hardness and enter the blood level. Furthermore, Cistanche stops spermatorrhea and post-micturition dribbling, and eliminates cold-heat pain in the urethra, because it can guide deficient fire downward. Cynomorium treats weakness of the waist and knees because it warms and tonifies essence and blood. All these demonstrate their efficacy in nourishing ministerial fire. For the elderly with dry constipation, it is suitable to be cooked into porridge; however, those with weak stomach qi should avoid it as it may induce vomiting and diarrhea. It is contraindicated for those whose yang energy easily rises but whose essence gate is not secure.
Gastrodia (Tian Ma): Named Limu in *Shennong Bencao Jing*, also known as Dingfeng Cao (Wind-Calming Grass), its stem is called Chijian.
Pungent, neutral to slightly warm, non-toxic. Wrap in wet paper and bake until cooked, then slice for use.
*Shennong Bencao Jing* states it kills demonic spirits, gu poison, and evil qi. Long-term consumption boosts qi and strength, increases yin, and makes the body robust and strong.
[Invention] Gastrodia has a pungent and rich taste, and an ascending nature; it belongs to yang and is a herb entering the qi level of the liver. Therefore, for liver deficiency and internal generation of wind, Gastrodia combined with Ligusticum chuanxiong (Chuanxiong) is used to tonify. For various wind disorders causing tremors and vertigo, blackouts, and dizziness arising from internal wind, Gastrodia is indispensable. For pediatric convulsions, phlegm, and wind-heat, Gastrodia causes symptoms to dissipate. Gastrodia is called Wind-Calming Grass; long-term use results in red spots appearing all over the body, which is evidence of its wind-dispelling action. Note: Although Gastrodia is not drying, it is ultimately a wind-moving agent. It should not be indiscriminately prescribed for patients with blood deficiency without wind, fire-flaring headache, dry mouth, or constipation. The statement in *Shennong Bencao Jing* about killing demonic spirits and poisons is because it calms wind and suppresses evil qi from all directions. Long-term consumption boosts qi and strength and increases yin because its nature is yang; when yang grows, yin grows.