甘平，无毒。勿误用钩吻，钩吻即野葛，叶头尖有毛钩子，又名断肠草，误服杀
人。黄精则茎紫花黄，叶似竹叶也。
发明 黄精为补中宫之胜品，宽中益气，使五脏调和，肌肉充盛，骨髓坚强，皆是补阴
之功。但阳衰阴盛人服之，每致泄泻痞满。不可不知。
《本经》名女葳，又名玉竹
甘平，无毒。肥白者良。入发散风热药生用。入
补药蜜水拌，饭上蒸熟用。
《本经》主中风暴热，不能动摇，跌筋结肉诸不足，久服去面黑 ，好颜色润泽，轻身
不老。
发明 葳蕤甘润性平，滋肺益肾，补而不壅，善调厥阴久袭之风，故《本经》治中风暴
热等病，皆取其养正祛邪之力也。《别录》主心腹结气虚热，腰痛、茎中寒，目痛 烂泪出
。甄权主内补不足，去虚劳客热，头痛不安。《千金》治风温，自汗身重，语言难出。葳蕤
汤以之为君，其源本诸麻黄升麻汤，深得仲景之奥。时珍用治虚劳寒热， 疟不足之证，用
代参 ，不寒不燥，大有殊功，不止于去风热温毒而已。又主小便卒淋，发热口干，眼黑头
眩，目赤涩痛，其性虽润，而无伤犯脾胃夺食泄泻之虞。但其性之缓耳。
苦平寒，无毒。肥白者良。盐、酒炒用。
《本经》主消渴热中除邪气，肢体浮肿下水，补不足益气。
发明 知母沉降入足少阴气分，及足阳明，手足太阴，能泻有余相火，理消渴烦蒸。仲
景白虎汤、酸枣汤皆用之，下则润肾燥而滋阴，上则清肺热而除烦。但外感表证未除、泻痢
燥渴忌之，脾胃虚热人误服，令人作泻减食，故虚损大忌。近世误为滋阴上剂、劳瘵神丹，
因而夭枉者多矣。《本经》言除邪气，肢体浮肿，是指湿热水气而言。故下文云，下水补不
足，益气，乃湿热相火有余，烁灼精气之候，故用此清热养阴，邪热去则正气复矣。
黄精：味甘，性平，无毒。切勿误用钩吻，钩吻即野葛，其叶尖有带毛的钩状物，又名断肠草，误服可致人死亡。黄精则是茎呈紫色、花为黄色，叶片形状像竹叶。
发明（按语）：黄精是补益中焦脾胃的佳品，能宽畅中气、益气，使五脏功能调和，肌肉丰满充实，骨髓坚固，这些都是其补阴的功效。但是，对于阳气衰弱、阴寒内盛的人服用，往往会导致腹泻和脘腹胀满。这一点不可不知。
玉竹（葳蕤）：味甘，性平，无毒。以肥大洁白者为佳。若入发散风热的药方中则生用；若入补益药方中，则用蜜水拌匀，在饭上蒸熟后使用。
《神农本草经》记载：主治中风引起的暴热，身体不能动摇，以及筋脉拘挛、肌肉消瘦等各种不足之证。长期服用可使面色黑斑消退，容颜美好、光泽润泽，身体轻盈，延缓衰老。
发明（按语）：葳蕤味甘润、性平，能滋养肺肾，补益而不滞塞，善于调理厥阴经受邪日久所致之风邪，所以《神农本草经》治疗中风暴热等病，都是取其扶正祛邪的作用。《名医别录》主治心腹结气、虚热、腰痛、阴茎中寒冷、眼睛疼痛流泪。甄权主治内部亏损不足，去除虚劳客热、头痛不安。《千金方》治疗风温病，症见自汗、身体沉重、言语困难。葳蕤汤以此药为君药，其源头本于张仲景的麻黄升麻汤，深得仲景医理的精奥。李时珍用它治疗虚劳寒热、疟疾等不足之证，用以代替人参，既不寒凉也不燥烈，功效显著，不仅仅局限于去除风热温毒。此外还主治小便突然淋沥、发热口干、眼前发黑头晕、眼睛红赤涩痛。虽然其性质滋润，但没有损伤脾胃、导致食欲减退和腹泻的顾虑，只是药效较为缓和而已。
知母：味苦，性平偏寒，无毒。以肥大洁白者为佳。用盐或酒炒制后使用。
《神农本草经》记载：主治消渴病（糖尿病类症状）、热中症，去除邪气，消除肢体浮肿，利水，补益不足，益气。
发明（按语）：知母性质沉降，入足少阴肾经气分，以及足阳明胃经、手太阴肺经、足太阴脾经，能泻除有余的相火，调理消渴烦热。张仲景的白虎汤、酸枣仁汤都使用它。在下则滋润肾燥而滋阴，在上则清泄肺热而除烦。但是，外感表证未解者、患有腹泻痢疾及燥渴者忌用。脾胃虚热之人误服，会导致腹泻、食欲减退，因此虚损之人是大忌。近代人错误地将其视为滋阴上品、治疗痨瘵（肺结核类疾病）的神丹妙药，因而导致早逝的人很多。《神农本草经》所说的“除邪气，肢体浮肿”，是指湿热和水气而言。所以下文说“下水补不足，益气”，是针对湿热相火有余，灼烧精气的情形，因此用此药清热养阴，邪热去除则正气恢复。
**Polygonatum Rhizome (Huangjing)**: Sweet, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Do not mistake it for *Gougen* (Aconitum coreanum), which is also known as *Yege* (Wild Gelsemium) or *Duanchangcao* (Intestine-Cutting Grass); its leaves have hairy hooks at the tips, and accidental ingestion can be fatal. *Huangjing* has purple stems, yellow flowers, and leaves resembling those of bamboo.
**Commentary**: *Huangjing* is an excellent substance for tonifying the Middle Jiao (Spleen and Stomach). It expands the middle and benefits Qi, harmonizing the Five Viscera, making muscles full and robust, and strengthening the bone marrow. These are all effects of its Yin-nourishing function. However, for individuals with Yang deficiency and Yin excess, taking it often leads to diarrhea and abdominal distension/fullness. This must be known.
**Polygonatum Odoratum Rhizome (Weirui / Yuzhu)**: Sweet, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Those that are plump and white are superior. When used in formulas for dispersing wind-heat, use it raw. When used in tonifying formulas, mix with honey water and steam over rice until cooked.
**Shennong Bencao Jing states**: It treats sudden heat from wind-stroke, inability to move, and various deficiencies such as knotted sinews and emaciated flesh. Long-term consumption removes dark spots on the face, improves complexion and luster, lightens the body, and delays aging.
**Commentary**: *Weirui* is sweet, moist, and neutral in nature. It nourishes the Lungs and Kidneys, tonifying without causing stagnation. It is particularly effective in regulating wind pathogens lingering in the Jueyin Liver channel over a long period. Therefore, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* uses it for conditions like sudden heat from wind-stroke, relying on its power to support healthy Qi and expel pathogens. The *Bielu* states it treats Qi binding in the chest and abdomen, deficient heat, lower back pain, coldness in the penis, eye pain, and tearing. Zhen Quan states it tonifies internal deficiencies, removes deficient labor and guest heat, and alleviates headache and restlessness. The *Qianjin Fang* uses it for wind-warmth disease characterized by spontaneous sweating, heavy body, and difficulty speaking. *Weirui Tang* uses it as the sovereign herb; its origin lies in Zhang Zhongjing’s *Mahuang Shengma Decoction*, deeply capturing the profound principles of Zhang Zhongjing. Li Shizhen used it to treat deficient labor with alternating chills and fever, and insufficiency due to malaria, substituting it for Renshen (Ginseng). It is neither cold nor drying and yields great merit, extending beyond merely dispelling wind-heat and warm toxins. It also treats sudden strangury, fever with dry mouth, blackening vision, dizziness, red and gritty eyes. Although its nature is moist, it does not damage the Spleen and Stomach or cause loss of appetite and diarrhea; its action is simply slow.
**Anemarrhena Rhizome (Zhimu)**: Bitter, neutral and cold in nature, non-toxic. Those that are plump and white are superior. Use after stir-frying with salt or wine.
**Shennong Bencao Jing states**: It treats Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst) and heat in the middle, eliminates pathogenic factors, reduces limb edema, promotes urination, tonifies deficiencies, and benefits Qi.
**Commentary**: *Zhimu* has a sinking and descending nature, entering the Qi aspect of the Foot Shaoyin Kidney meridian, as well as the Foot Yangming Stomach meridian, Hand Taiyin Lung meridian, and Foot Taiyin Spleen meridian. It can drain excessive Minister Fire and regulate Wasting-Thirst and vexatious steaming. Zhang Zhongjing uses it in *Baihu Tang* (White Tiger Decoction) and *Suanzaoren Tang* (Zizyphus Seed Decoction). Lower down, it moistens Kidney dryness and nourishes Yin; upper up, it clears Lung heat and relieves vexation. However, it is contraindicated when exterior syndrome patterns are unresolved, and for patients with diarrhea, dysentery, and dry thirst. If mistakenly taken by individuals with deficient heat in the Spleen and Stomach, it causes diarrhea and reduced appetite; thus, it is strictly forbidden for those with severe deficiency. In recent times, people have erroneously regarded it as a supreme agent for nourishing Yin and a miraculous pill for treating Lao Zhai (consumption/tuberculosis), leading to many premature deaths. The *Shennong Bencao Jing*'s mention of "eliminating pathogenic factors" and "limb edema" refers to damp-heat and water qi. Hence, the subsequent text says "promotes urination, tonifies deficiencies, benefits Qi," addressing the condition where damp-heat and minister fire are excessive, scorching and consuming essential Qi and Essence. Therefore, this herb is used to clear heat and nourish Yin; once the pathogenic heat is removed, healthy Qi recovers.