（即生干地黄择其沉实者。以陈酒煮小地黄汁。将地黄复入汁内。九蒸九晒。令其脂
体柔润者是也。）
【气味】
甘微苦微温。阴中之阳。沉也。入手足少阴厥阴之经。
【主治】
益肾水真阴。和产后血气。去脐腹急痛。养阴退阳。壮水之源。仲景六味丸以之为
诸药之首。天一所生之源也。汤液四物汤治藏血之脏以之为君者。癸乙同归一治也。又曰生
地黄能生精血。用天门冬可引入所生之处。熟地黄能补精血。用麦门冬可引入所补之处。
忌（萝卜 葱 诸血 蒜）
【气味】
苦平无毒。升而微降。阳中阴也。为手足太阴行经本药。又入肝脾血分。
【主治】
安脾经。治腹痛。固胃气。止泻痢。和血脉。与白术同用则补脾。与川芎同用则补
肝。与人参白术同用则补气。与防风同用则发痘疹。同姜枣用则温经散湿。以酒炒则补阴。
生用之则疗后重。（色白者西方之象。能于土中泻水以益脾。色赤者南方之象。能行血中之
滞以散邪。）
但言芍药而能缓中者。彼之味酸涩收敛。似不相侔。然能损其肝。即以调其血。血调而中自
和
也。又言治伤寒多用白芍。以其主寒热。利小便。彼之味酸涩为收。本经何以言之。然能益
阴滋湿而停津液。故金能生水。小便自利。非彼通利也。
（即选取质地坚实的生干地黄。用陈年黄酒煮出小地黄的汁液，将地黄再次放入汁液中，经过九次蒸制和九次晾晒，使其脂体变得柔润的即是。）
【气味】
味甘、微苦，性微温。属于阴中之阳。性质沉降。归入手经和足经的少阴经与厥阴经。
【主治】
补益肾水真阴。调和产后血气。消除脐腹部的急痛。滋养阴液以制约阳气。壮旺水之源（肾）。张仲景的六味丸以此药作为诸药之首，它是天一之水所生的源头。汤液中的四物汤治疗藏血的脏腑，以此药为君药，这是因为癸水（肾）与乙木（肝）同归于一种治法。又说生地黄能生成精血，使用天门冬可以将其引入生成的部位；熟地黄能补益精血，使用麦门冬可以将其引入补益的部位。禁忌食用萝卜、葱、各种血制品及大蒜。
【气味】
味苦，性平，无毒。作用趋势上升而略微下降。属于阳中之阴。是手足太阴经的本经药物。又进入肝、脾的血分。
【主治】
安定脾经。治疗腹痛。稳固胃气。止住泻痢。调和血脉。与白术同用则补脾。与川芎同用则补肝。与人参、白术同用则补气。与防风同用则促使痘疹发出。与生姜、大枣同用则温通经络、散除湿气。用酒炒制则补阴。生用则治疗里急后重。（颜色白的属于西方的象，能在土中泻水以益脾；颜色赤的属于南方的象，能行血中之滞以散邪。）
只是说芍药能缓解中焦拘急，是因为它的味道酸涩具有收敛作用，似乎与此不符。然而它能损伤（制约）肝气，从而调其血。血调和中自然和谐。又说治疗伤寒多用白芍，因为它主寒热，利小便。它的味道酸涩主收敛，《本经》为何这样说？然而它能益阴滋湿而停留津液，所以金能生水，小便自然通利，并非它本身具有通利的作用。
(Refers to selecting solid-quality dried raw Rehmanniae Radix. Boil small amounts of fresh Rehmanniae Radix in aged yellow wine to extract the juice, then re-immerse the dried Rehmanniae Radix into this juice. After nine cycles of steaming and sun-drying, until its texture becomes soft and moist, this is prepared Rehmanniae Radix [Shu Dihuang].)
[Flavor and Properties]
Sweet, slightly bitter, slightly warm. It belongs to "Yin within Yang." Its nature is sinking (descending). It enters the channels of the Hand and Foot Shaoyin (Kidney/Heart) and Jueyin (Liver/Pericardium).
[Indications]
Tonifies Kidney Water and True Yin. Harmonizes blood and Qi postpartum. Relieves acute pain in the umbilical and abdominal regions. Nourishes Yin to subdue Yang. Strengthens the source of Water (Kidney). In Zhang Zhongjing's Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia), it serves as the chief among all herbs; it is the source generated by Tianyi (Heavenly One/Water). In the Tangye (Decoctions) formula Siwu Tang (Four Substance Decoction), used for treating organs that store blood, it serves as the Jun (Emperor) herb, reflecting that Gui Water (Kidney) and Yi Wood (Liver) share a unified therapeutic approach. It is also stated that Raw Rehmanniae Radix generates Essence and Blood; using Asparagi Radix (Tianmendong) can guide it to the site of generation. Prepared Rehmanniae Radix tonifies Essence and Blood; using Ophiopogonis Radix (Mendong) can guide it to the site of tonification. Contraindications: Radish, Scallion, various blood products, Garlic.
[Flavor and Properties]
Bitter, neutral, non-toxic. Its action ascends but slightly descends. It belongs to "Yang within Yin." It is the principal herb for the Hand and Foot Taiyin (Lung/Spleen) channels. It also enters the Blood aspect of the Liver and Spleen.
[Indications]
Calms the Spleen channel. Treats abdominal pain. Secures Stomach Qi. Stops diarrhea and dysentery. Harmonizes blood vessels. When used with Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu), it tonifies the Spleen. When used with Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong), it tonifies the Liver. When used with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu), it tonifies Qi. When used with Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fangfeng), it promotes the eruption of smallpox/rashes. When used with Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Jiang) and Jujubae Fructus (Dazao), it warms the channels and disperses dampness. Stir-fried with wine, it tonifies Yin. Used raw, it treats tenesmus. (White-colored Paeoniae Radix reflects the image of the West; it can drain water within Earth to benefit the Spleen. Red-colored Paeoniae Radix reflects the image of the South; it can move stasis in the blood to disperse pathogens.)
Merely stating that Paeoniae Radix can relieve central tension seems contradictory due to its sour and astringent, converging flavor. However, by restraining the Liver, it regulates the blood. Once the blood is regulated, the center naturally harmonizes. It is also said that Bai Shao (White Peony Root) is often used in treating Shanghan (Cold Damage) because it governs chills and fever and promotes urination. Although its sour and astringent nature suggests retention, why does the *Ben Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) state otherwise? This is because it benefits Yin, nourishes dampness, and retains body fluids; thus, Metal generates Water, and urination becomes free-flowing naturally, not because the herb itself has a diuretic property.