补气，固表，泻火
甘温。生用固表，无汗能发，有汗能止（丹溪云∶黄 大补阳虚自汗，若表虚有邪，
发汗不出者，服此又能自汗。朱震亨，号丹溪，着《本草补遗》）。温分肉，实腠理，泻阴火
，解肌热。炙用补中，益元气，温三焦，壮脾胃（脾胃一虚，土不能生金，则肺气先绝。脾
胃缓和，则肺气旺而肌表固实。补中即所以固表也）。生血生肌（气能生血、血充则肉长，
经曰∶血生肉），排脓内托，疮痈圣药（毒瓦斯化则成脓，补气故能内托。痈疽不能成脓者，
死不治，毒瓦斯盛而元气衰也，痘症亦然）。痘症不起，阳虚无热者宜之（新安汪机治痘症虚
寒不起，用四君子汤加黄 、紫草多效，间有枯萎而死者，自咎用药之不精，思之至忘寝食，
忽悟曰∶白术燥湿，茯苓渗水，宜痘浆之不行也。乃减去二味，加官桂、糯米，以助其力，
因名保元汤。人参、白术、茯苓、甘草，名四君子汤。王好古曰∶黄 实卫气，是表药；益
脾胃，是中州药；治伤寒尺脉不至，补肾元，是里药。甄权谓∶其补肾者，气为水母也。日
华谓∶其止崩带者，气盛则无陷下之忧也。《蒙筌》曰∶补气药多，补血药亦从而补气，补
血药多，补气药亦从而补血。益气汤虽加当归，因势寡，功被参、 所据；补血汤数倍于当
归，亦从当归所引而补血。黄 一两、当归二钱，名补血汤。气药多而云补血者，气能生血，
又有当归为引也。表旺者不宜用，阴虚者宜少用，恐升气于表，而里愈虚矣。汪机，号石山，
着《本草会编》。王好古，号海藏，着《汤液本草》。甄权，着《药性论》。日华，着《大
明本草》。陈嘉谟，着《本草蒙筌》）。为补药之长，故名耆（俗作 ）。
皮黄肉白，坚实者良。入补中药槌扁，蜜炙。达表生用（或曰，补肾及治崩带淋浊，宜
盐水浸炒。昂按∶此说非也。前症用黄 ，非欲抑黄 使入肾也。取其补中升气，则肾受荫
，而带浊崩淋自止。即日华∶气盛自无陷下之忧也。有上病而下取，有下病而上取，补彼经
而益及此经者，此类是也）。茯苓为使。恶龟甲、白鲜皮。畏防风（东垣曰∶黄 得防风，
其功益大，乃相畏而更以相使也。李东垣，着《用药法篆》）。
补气，固护肌表，清泻火热。
味甘、性温。生用可固护肌表，无汗时能发汗，有汗时能止汗（朱震亨说：黄芪大补阳虚导致的自汗，如果是表虚且有外邪，导致发汗不出的情况，服用此药又能使其自汗而出。朱震亨，号丹溪，著有《本草补遗》）。温暖肌肉，充实腠理，清泻阴火，解除肌热。蜜炙后使用可补益中气，增益元气，温暖三焦，强壮脾胃（如果脾胃虚弱，土不能生金，则肺气先绝。脾胃功能缓和正常，则肺气旺盛而肌表坚固充实。补中气即是为了固护肌表）。促进血液生成，生长肌肉（气能生血，血液充足则肌肉生长，医经中说：血生肉），排脓并内托疮毒，是治疗疮痈的圣药（毒气化为脓液，补气故能内托。痈疽不能化脓的，属于死症难以治愈，这是因为毒气盛而元气衰，痘症也是如此）。痘疹不起发，属于阳虚无热的情况适宜使用（新安人汪机治疗痘症虚寒不起的情况，使用四君子汤加黄芪、紫草，多有效验，间或有枯萎而死的，自己责怪用药不精，思考至废寝忘食，忽然领悟说：白术燥湿，茯苓渗利水湿，不利于痘浆的运行。于是减去这两味药，加入官桂、糯米，以助其力量，因此命名为保元汤。人参、白术、茯苓、甘草，名为四君子汤。王好古说：黄芪实卫气，是治表的药物；益脾胃，是中焦的药物；治疗伤寒尺脉不至，补肾元，是治里的药物。甄权说：它补肾的原因，是因为气为水之母。日华子说：它止崩漏带下的原因，是因为气盛就没有下陷的忧虑了。《本草蒙筌》说：补气药多，补血药也从而补气；补血药多，补气药也从而补血。益气汤虽然加了当归，但因为量少，功效被人参、黄芪所占据；补血汤中当归数量数倍于其他药，也是跟随当归的引导而补血。黄芪一两、当归二钱，名为补血汤。说是补气药多却称其为补血，是因为气能生血，又有当归作为引经药。体表亢盛者不宜使用，阴虚者宜少用，恐怕升提气机于体表，而使里气更虚。汪机，号石山，著有《本草会编》。王好古，号海藏，著有《汤液本草》。甄权，著有《药性论》。日华子，著有《大明本草》。陈嘉谟，著有《本草蒙筌》）。作为补药中的首领，所以名叫“耆”（俗写作“芪”）。
皮色黄、肉质白，质地坚实者为佳。用于补益中药时捣扁，用蜂蜜炙烤。达表宜生用（有人说，补肾及治疗崩漏、带下、淋浊，宜用盐水浸炒。我按语：这种说法不对。上述病症使用黄芪，并非想要抑制黄芪使其入肾经。而是取其补中气、升阳气的作用，则肾脏受其荫庇，而带下、浊淋、崩漏自然停止。正如日华子所说：气盛自然没有下陷的忧虑。治病有上病下取，有下病上取，补益他经而惠及本经的情况，就是这一类）。以茯苓为使药。忌与龟甲、白鲜皮同用。畏防风（李东垣说：黄芪得到防风，功效更大，这是相畏而又相互使用的关系。李东垣，著有《用药法篆》）。
Tonifies Qi, consolidates the exterior, and drains fire.
Sweet and warm in nature. Raw use consolidates the exterior; it can induce sweating when there is no sweat, and stop sweating when there is sweat (Zhu Zhenheng stated: Huangqi significantly tonifies Yang deficiency causing spontaneous sweating. If there is exterior deficiency with pathogenic factors, leading to an inability to sweat, taking this herb can again induce spontaneous sweating. Zhu Zhenheng, courtesy name Danxi, authored *Bencao Buyi*). It warms the muscles, solidifies the cou li (pores and interstices), drains Yin fire, and resolves muscle heat. Honey-fried use tonifies the middle Jiao, benefits Yuan Qi, warms the Triple Burner, and strengthens the Spleen and Stomach (If the Spleen and Stomach are deficient, Earth fails to generate Metal, causing Lung Qi to fail first. When the Spleen and Stomach function harmoniously, Lung Qi becomes robust and the muscular exterior becomes solid. Tonifying the middle is equivalent to consolidating the exterior). It generates blood and promotes tissue growth (Qi generates blood; when blood is abundant, flesh grows. The classics state: Blood generates flesh). It expels pus and provides internal support for sores, making it a supreme remedy for carbuncles and ulcers (Toxic heat transforms into pus; tonifying Qi enables internal support. If a carbuncle or ulcer cannot form pus, it is a fatal condition difficult to cure, due to excessive toxic heat and depleted Yuan Qi; the same applies to smallpox). It is suitable for cases where smallpox lesions do not erupt, characterized by Yang deficiency without heat (Wang Ji from Xin'an treated smallpox cases of deficiency-cold with non-erupting lesions using Sizijunzi Tang [Four Gentlemen Decoction] added with Huangqi and Zicao [Arnebiae Radix et Rhizoma], achieving many effective results. Occasionally, patients withered and died, and he blamed himself for imprecise prescription, thinking so hard he forgot sleep and food. He suddenly realized: Baizhu dries dampness, Fuling leaches out water, which hinders the formation of smallpox fluid. Thus, he removed these two herbs, adding Guirou [Cinnamomi Ramulus] and Nuomi [Oryza Sativa Germis] to assist its power, naming it Baoyuan Tang [Preserve Origin Decoction]. Renshen, Baizhu, Fuling, and Gancao constitute Sizijunzi Tang [Four Gentlemen Decoction]. Wang Haogu stated: Huangqi solidifies Wei Qi, acting as an exterior-resolving drug; it benefits the Spleen and Stomach, acting as a Middle Jiao drug; it treats absent Chi pulse in Shanghan [Cold Damage], tonifying Kidney Yuan, acting as an interior drug. Zhen Quan said: Its ability to tonify the Kidney lies in the fact that Qi is the mother of Water. Ri Hua Zi said: Its ability to stop metrorrhagia and leukorrhea lies in the fact that abundant Qi eliminates the worry of sinking. *Bencao Mengquan* states: There are many Qi-tonifying drugs, and Blood-nourishing drugs also benefit Qi; there are many Blood-nourishing drugs, and Qi-tonifying drugs also benefit Blood. Yiqi Tang adds Danggui, but due to its small dosage, its effect is overshadowed by Renshen and Huangqi; in Buxue Tang, Danggui's dosage is several times greater, yet it still follows Danggui's guidance to nourish blood. Huangqi 1 qian and Danggui 2 qian constitute Buxue Tang [Blood-Nourishing Decoction]. Although called Blood-nourishing despite being mostly Qi-tonifying, it is because Qi generates Blood, and Danggui serves as a guiding herb. It should not be used when the exterior is hyperactive; those with Yin deficiency should use it sparingly, lest it raise Qi to the exterior and further deplete the interior. Wang Ji, courtesy name Shishan, authored *Bencao Huibian*. Wang Haogu, courtesy name Haicang, authored *Tangye Bencao*. Zhen Quan authored *Yaoxing Lun*. Ri Hua Zi authored *Daming Bencao*. Chen Jiamo authored *Bencao Mengquan*). As the leader among tonifying drugs, it is named "Qi" (commonly written as "Qi").
The bark is yellow and the flesh is white; those that are firm and solid are superior. For inclusion in tonifying prescriptions, it is pounded flat and honey-fried. To reach the exterior, use raw (Some say that for tonifying the Kidney and treating metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, stranguria, and turbidity, it should be stir-fried after soaking in salt water. My note: This view is incorrect. In the aforementioned conditions, Huangqi is used not to suppress it into the Kidney channel, but to take advantage of its ability to tonify the middle and raise Qi, thereby benefiting the Kidney through influence, causing leukorrhea, turbidity, and metrorrhagia to stop naturally. As Ri Hua Zi said: Abundant Qi eliminates the worry of sinking. Treating disease involves taking the lower to treat the upper, and the upper to treat the lower; tonifying one channel to benefit another is of this category). Fuling [Poria] is used as an envoy. It is incompatible with Guijia [Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum] and Baixianpi [Dictamni Cortex]. It fears Fangfeng [Saposhnikoviae Radix] (Li Dongyuan stated: When Huangqi meets Fangfeng, its efficacy increases greatly; this is a relationship of mutual inhibition yet mutual assistance. Li Dongyuan authored *Yong Yao Fa Zhuan*).