（本经上品）
【气味】甘涩平，无毒。
【主治】主湿痹，腰脊膝痛，补中，除暴疾，益精气，强志，令耳目聪明。久服轻身，
不饥，耐老神仙。
【核】曰∶出雷池池泽，处处亦有，武林者最胜。土人善纪孕实时日，如期采取，则壳
柔肉糯，早则壳烂肉未凝，迟则壳坚肉粳老矣。三月生苗，茎在水中，叶贴水面，茎叶多有
芒刺，茎长丈余者，中必有孔有丝，软者剥皮可食。叶似荷而大，皱纹如 ，蹙衄如沸，
面青背紫。五六月作花紫色，花开向日。向日结苞，外有青刺如 ，形如栗球，花出苞顶，
形如鸡喙，剥之内有斑驳软肉裹子，累累如珠玑。壳内有白米，状如鱼目。根作三棱，煮食
如芋。尔雅翼曰∶枚食细嚼，能致上池之津，故主益人。犹如马啮短草则肥悦，与小儿食，
不易长大，故主驻年。芡与菱，皆水物而性异。芡花向日，菱花背日，其阴阳向背有不同，
则损益阴阳亦别异矣。埤雅云∶荷华日舒夜敛，芡华昼合宵炕，此亦阴阳之异也。修治，先
蒸熟，日中晒裂取仁亦可，舂取粉用。暇日记云∶芡实一斗，以防风四两煎汤浸过，经久不
坏。
【 】曰∶芡生水中，华实向日，具既济水火义。又草木类，全藉水土，吮抽发育，芡
则更藉日中火，为先后身，亦具木胎火里义。又叶上蹙衄如沸，连茎刺棘如 ，实皮实壳如
介，亦具金胎水中义。诚互交木金火水之驻形物也。如益精强志不饥，即驻形之里应；目明
耳聪轻身耐老，即驻形之外合；飞行神仙，即驻形之行圆功满也。未有形已驻，而中央之基
不筑已不炼者；若湿痹之腰脊膝痛，及卒暴疾，即驻形物之主治功能也。先人博议云∶芡乃
大中之小，粗中之精，涩中之甘，荆棘中之软美，壅滞中之流行，意阑中之气悟，疲惫中之
强武。然于精细甘美之间，所含畜力，且刚且久，故饵食者，贵细贵长，毋贵多贵数也。
（龙从火里得，金向水中求，寻胞胎秘旨也。大中粗中，荆棘壅滞，意阑疲惫之流，望
之无不抛却，若非前人具眼，几至当面错过。）
【神农本草经上品】
【气味】味甘、涩，性平，无毒。
【主治】主要治疗湿痹（因湿气阻滞经络引起的肢体疼痛麻木），腰脊及膝盖疼痛；补益中气，祛除突发急病，增益精气，坚定意志，使耳聪目明。长期服用可使身体轻盈，不感饥饿，延缓衰老，达到神仙般的境界。
【核析】曰：芡实产于雷池及沼泽地带，各地也有生长，但以武林（今杭州一带）所产最为优良。当地百姓善于记录怀孕结果的时间，按时采收，则外壳柔软、果肉糯软；采早了则壳烂肉未凝固；采晚了则壳坚硬、肉粗糙老硬。三月生苗，茎在水中，叶片贴于水面，茎叶多有芒刺，茎长一丈多者，中间必有孔且有丝，柔软的剥皮后可食用。叶片像荷叶但更大，皱纹如褶皱，皱缩如沸腾之水，正面青色背面紫色。五六月开花，花色紫红，花朵朝向太阳。花谢后结苞，外包青色刺状物如刺猬，形状如栗子球，花从苞顶伸出，形状如鸡嘴，剥开内有斑驳的软肉包裹种子，累累如珍珠。壳内有白米，形状如鱼眼。根部呈三棱形，煮熟后食用口感如芋头。《尔雅翼》说：细嚼芡实，能产生上池之水（指唾液或津液），所以对人有益。就像马吃短草则肥美悦乐，给小儿食用，不易快速长大，所以能驻留年华。芡与菱，都是水生植物但性质不同。芡花向阳，菱花背阳，其阴阳向背的不同，导致调节阴阳的作用也各异。《埤雅》说：荷花白天舒展夜晚收敛，芡花白天闭合夜晚张开，这也是阴阳的差异。炮制方法，先蒸熟，在日下晒裂取仁也可以，舂碎取粉使用。《暇日记》说：一斗芡实，用四两防风煎汤浸泡，可经久不坏。
【玄览】曰：芡生长在水中，花果向阳，具备水火既济的含义。又是草木类，完全依赖水土，吸取发育，芡则更借助日中的火，作为先后身，也具备木胎火里的含义。另外叶面皱缩如沸水，连茎带刺如荆棘，果实外皮果壳如介甲，也具备金胎水中的含义。确实是交互结合木、金、火、水的驻留形体之物。如增益精气、坚定意志、不饥，就是驻留形体的内在响应；耳目聪明、身体轻盈、耐受衰老，就是驻留形体的外在符合；飞行成仙，就是驻留形体之行圆满功满。没有形体已驻留，而中央根基不修筑不锻炼的；若湿痹导致的腰脊膝痛，以及突发急病，就是驻留形体之物的主治功能。先人广泛议论说：芡是大中的小，粗中的精，涩中的甘，荆棘中的软美，壅滞中的流行，意阑中的气悟，疲惫中的强武。然而在精细甘美之间，所含蓄的力量，既刚健又持久，所以服用者，贵在细致、贵在长久，不要贵在多、贵在次数多。
（龙从火里得，金向水中求，探寻胞胎的秘密旨意。大、中、粗、中，荆棘、壅滞，意阑、疲惫这类事物，望去无不抛弃，如果不是前人具有慧眼，几乎会当面错过。）
[Shennong Bencao Jing, Upper Grade]
[Taste and Property] Sweet and astringent, neutral in nature, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats damp-bi (joint pain and numbness caused by dampness obstruction), pain in the lower back, spine, and knees; tonifies the Middle Jiao (digestive system), eliminates sudden acute diseases, benefits essence and qi, strengthens willpower, and makes the ears clear and eyes bright. Long-term consumption lightens the body, prevents hunger, delays aging, and achieves a state akin to immortality.
[Analysis] It is stated: Qianshi (Euryale Seed) grows in Leichi and marshes, and is found everywhere, but those from Wulin (modern Hangzhou area) are superior. Locals are skilled at recording the timing of fruit development and harvest accordingly. If harvested on time, the shell is soft and the flesh glutinous; if harvested too early, the shell rots and the flesh has not coagulated; if harvested too late, the shell becomes hard and the flesh coarse and old. Sprouts appear in the third lunar month; stems grow underwater with leaves floating on the surface. Stems and leaves have many prickles. Stems over three meters long have hollow centers and silk-like fibers; the soft parts can be eaten after peeling. Leaves resemble lotus leaves but are larger, with wrinkles like folds and convolutions like boiling water; the upper surface is green and the underside purple. Flowers bloom in the fifth and sixth lunar months, are purplish-red, and face the sun. After flowering, buds form, covered externally by green spines resembling hedgehogs, shaped like chestnut burrs. Flowers emerge from the top of the bud, resembling a chicken's beak. Inside, mottled soft flesh wraps the seeds, clustered like pearls. Inside the shell are white grains resembling fish eyes. The root is triangular; when boiled, it tastes like taro. *Erya Yi* states: Chewing Qianshi finely generates "water from above" (referring to saliva or body fluids), thus benefiting humans. Just as horses eating short grass become fat and joyful, giving it to children prevents rapid growth, hence it preserves youth. Qian (Euryale) and Ling (Water Caltrop) are both aquatic plants but differ in nature. Qian flowers face the sun, while Ling flowers turn away from it. Their differing orientation towards yin and yang results in different effects on regulating yin and yang. *Pi Ya* states: Lotus flowers expand during the day and contract at night; Qian flowers close during the day and open at night, which is another difference in yin and yang. Processing methods include steaming until cooked, then sun-drying until cracked to extract the kernel, or pounding into powder for use. *Xia Riji* states: One dou of Qianshi soaked in decoction made from four liang of Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root) can be preserved for a long time without spoiling.
[Mystical Contemplation] It is said: Qian grows in water, yet its flowers and fruits face the sun, embodying the meaning of Water and Fire already interacting (Ji Ji). Among herbs and trees, growth relies entirely on earth and water; however, Qian additionally relies on the fire of the sun as a precursor and successor, also embodying the concept of Wood embryo within Fire. Furthermore, the leaf surface convulses like boiling water, stems and thorns resemble brambles, and the fruit skin/shell resembles armor, thus embodying the concept of Metal embryo within Water. It is truly an object that interchanges Wood, Metal, Fire, and Water to preserve physical form. Benefits such as enriching essence, strengthening will, and preventing hunger are the internal responses of preserving form; clarity of vision and hearing, lightness of body, and resistance to aging are the external correspondences; flying and becoming immortal represent the completion of the practice of preserving form. There is no case where the form is preserved while the central foundation is not built and refined. Conditions such as damp-bi causing pain in the waist, spine, and knees, as well as sudden acute diseases, are the therapeutic functions of this form-preserving substance. Ancestors discussed broadly: Qian is the small within the large, the essence within the coarse, the sweetness within the astringency, the soft beauty within thorns, the flow within stagnation, the qi-insight within mental barriers, and the strength within fatigue. However, between its fine and sweet qualities, the stored power is both firm and enduring. Therefore, those who consume it should value subtlety and longevity, not quantity or frequency.
(Dragon is obtained from fire, Metal is sought from water; this seeks the secret principle of the embryo. Things like Large, Medium, Coarse, Thorny, Stagnant, Mental Barrier, and Fatigue are usually discarded at a glance. If not for the ancestors' keen insight, one would almost miss them face-to-face.)