（本经上品）
近取诸身，远取诸物。
【气味】苦酸，平，无毒。
【主治】主益气，充肌肤明目，聪慧先知，久服不饥，不老延年。
【核】曰∶生少室山谷，及蔡县白龟祠旁。春时宿根再发，端直无枝，末大于本，一本
一二十茎，或四五十茎，经百岁者，茎亦百，茎虽多，总一本也。秋后花出茎端，红紫色；
实褐色，如艾实。吕氏春秋云∶蓍满百茎，所在之处，兽无虎野狼，虫无蛇螫，其下便有神龟
守之，其上常有青云覆之。传云∶天下和平，王道得而蓍茎长丈。又云∶天子蓍长九尺，诸
侯七尺，大夫五尺，士庶三尺，设有僭用，便失灵异。埤雅云∶此神草也。亦草中之
多寿者也。故蓍从耆。
【 】曰∶悉一根抽发，原具生生变化之数，而末大于本，所谓知来者逆也。明目者，
字从目，即默识精明，条分缕析之征也。聪慧先知者，字从老，即更事久，尽知之征也。气
味苦酸平，得木火升出之机，故益气熏肤充肌、根繁余百，行地无疆，故不饥不老。
（神物考云∶蓍，天所生之神物也。其法始于伏羲，今唯文王孔子墓间生之。其茎长丈，
一年长寸，百年长丈，自丈后，则不长矣。其丛满百数，止百茎，无多寡也。覆以紫云，
守以灵龟，祥瑞之物，气类之感耳。）
（尔雅翼云∶圣人幽赞于神明而生蓍。蓍，草也，初不待圣人而生，盖通天之道，穷物
之
（易曰∶蓍之德圆而神，卦之德方以智。又云∶神以知来，智以藏往，其孰能与此。）
（记载于《神农本草经》上品）
近处取法于人体，远处取法于万物。
【气味】味苦、酸，性平，无毒。
【主治】主要功效为补益元气，充盈肌肤，明亮双目，使人聪慧并具有预知能力，长期服用可不觉饥饿，延缓衰老，延年益寿。
【考证】曰：蓍草生长于少室山谷，以及蔡县白龟祠旁边。春季时，去年的老根再次萌发，茎干端正笔直且无分枝，末端比根部粗大，一株植物有一二十根茎，或者四五十根茎，经过百年岁月的，茎也有百根，虽然茎多，但总归属于同一根系。秋季后花朵从茎端长出，呈红紫色；果实褐色，形状像艾草的果实。《吕氏春秋》说：“蓍草长满一百根茎的地方，所在之处野兽中没有老虎和野狼，昆虫中没有毒蛇咬伤，其下方常有神龟守护，上方常有青云覆盖。”传说中说：“天下太平，王道得行，则蓍草茎长一丈。”又说：“天子种植的蓍草长九尺，诸侯七尺，大夫五尺，士人和平民三尺，如果有僭越使用的情况，就会失去灵异特性。”《埤雅》说：“这是神草。也是草中长寿的种类。所以‘蓍’字从‘耆’（年老）。”
【释义】曰：全部由一根抽出萌发，原本具备生生不息变化的数理，而且末端比根部粗大，这就是所说的“预知未来者逆向推演”。所谓“明目”，“明”字从“目”，即默默识记、精明敏锐、条理分明、分析细致的征兆。所谓“聪慧先知”，“慧”字从“老”（此处指繁体或古义关联），即经历世事长久、无所不知的征兆。气味苦、酸、平，得木火上升外达之机，所以能补益元气，熏蒸皮肤，充盈肌肉；根基繁茂余百，运行大地无边无际，所以不饥不老。
（《神物考》说：“蓍，是上天所生的神物。其用法始于伏羲，现在只有文王、孔子墓间才生长。其茎长一丈，一年长一寸，百年长一丈，自一丈之后，就不再长了。其丛集满百数，止于一百根茎，没有多少之分。上面覆盖紫云，下面由灵龟守护，是祥瑞之物，只是气类相感罢了。”）
（《尔雅翼》说：“圣人在神明深处赞助而产生了蓍草。蓍，是草，起初并不依赖圣人而生，大概是通晓天道，穷尽物性的……”）
（《易经》说：“蓍草的德性是圆融而神妙的，卦象的德性是方正而智慧的。又说：‘神妙以预知未来，智慧以收藏过往，谁能与此相比呢？’”）
(Recorded in the Superior Grade of the *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
From near, one takes reference from the human body; from far, one takes reference from all things.
[Flavor and Properties] Bitter and sour, neutral in nature, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily tonifies Qi, fills the flesh and skin, brightens the eyes, endows wisdom and precognition. Long-term consumption prevents hunger, delays aging, and prolongs life.
[Examination] It is stated: It grows in the valleys of Mount Shaoshi and beside the White Turtle Shrine in Cai County. In spring, the perennial roots sprout again; the stems are upright, straight, and branchless, with the tip thicker than the base. One plant may have ten to twenty stems, or forty to fifty stems. For those that have endured a hundred years, there may be a hundred stems, but although numerous, they all belong to a single root system. After autumn, flowers emerge from the stem tips, appearing red-purple; the fruits are brownish, resembling those of mugwort (*Artemisia argyi*). The *Lüshi Chunqiu* states: "Wherever yarrow (*Yi Cao*) has a hundred stems, tigers and wild wolves will not exist among the beasts there, nor will venomous snakes bite among the insects. Beneath it, divine turtles guard it; above it, green clouds constantly cover it." Legends say: "When the world is peaceful and the Kingly Way prevails, yarrow stems grow to a zhang (approx. 3.3 meters) in length." It is also said: "The Son of Heaven's yarrow grows nine chi, feudal lords seven chi, high officials five chi, scholars and commoners three chi. If used improperly (beyond rank), the spiritual efficacy is lost." The *Piya* states: "This is a divine herb. It is also among the longest-lived herbs. Hence, 'yarrow' (Shi) derives from 'elderly' (Qi)."
[Interpretation] It is stated: All stems sprout from a single root, inherently possessing the numerical logic of continuous generation and transformation. The tip being thicker than the base signifies that "knowing the future involves reverse deduction." Regarding "brightening the eyes," the character for "ming" (bright) contains the radical for "eye," signifying silent memorization, sharp perception, and clear, analytical distinction. Regarding "wisdom and precognition," the character relates to "old age" (in ancient etymological contexts implying experience), signifying profound knowledge gained through long experience of worldly affairs. The bitter, sour, and neutral flavors align with the mechanism of Wood and Fire ascending and emerging. Thus, it tonifies Qi, steams the skin, and fills the muscles. With roots spreading over hundreds of units and extending boundlessly across the earth, it prevents hunger and aging.
(The *Shenwu Kao* states: "Yarrow is a divine object created by Heaven. Its divination method originated with Fuxi. Currently, it only grows in the tombs of King Wen and Confucius. Its stems reach one zhang, growing one cun per year, reaching one zhang after a hundred years, and ceasing growth thereafter. A clump consists of exactly one hundred stems, without variation in number. Covered by purple clouds and guarded by spiritual turtles, it is an auspicious object, resulting merely from the resonance of similar energies.")
(The *Erya Yi* states: "Sages assisted the mysterious workings of the Spirit and Divine, thereby generating yarrow. Yarrow is a grass; initially, it did not wait for sages to generate it. It likely embodies the Way connecting to Heaven and exhausting the nature of things...")
(The *I Ching* states: "The virtue of yarrow is round and spiritual; the virtue of hexagrams is square and wise. It further says: 'Spirituality knows the future; Wisdom stores the past. Who can match this?'" )