沙参，味苦而甘，气微寒。无毒。入肺、肝二经。治诸毒，排脓消硬，宁五脏，益肺补
肝，
止
疝气绞疼实神，散淫风瘙痒，除邪热，去惊烦。可为君药，但其功甚缓，必须多用分量为得
。易老用代人参，乃过矣。说者论其能安五脏，与人参同功，又云人参补五脏之阳，沙参补
五脏之阴，皆不知沙参之功用而私臆之也。夫沙参止入肺、肝二经，诸经不能俱入也。既不
能俱入，何以《本草》言其能安五脏。不知人身肺、肝病，乃五脏不安矣。沙参能滋肺气，
乃上焦宁谧，而中、下二焦安有乱动之理。沙参又能通肝气，肝气通，乃中、下二焦之气又
通。下气既通，岂有逆之犯之变哉。此上焦又安其位，无浮动之病也。安五脏之义如此，古
今
差会其意，谓沙参能安五脏，用之以代人参，误矣。然乃沙参非补阴之物乎？沙参不补阴，
何如能入肝、肺之经。沙参益肝、肺二脏之阴，非补心、脾、肾三脏之阴也，且阴阳之功用
不同，人参补阳，能回阳于顷刻。沙参补阴，乃不能回阳于须臾。故人参少用，可以成功；
而沙参非多用，必难取效。是沙参不可以代人参，又明矣。
或问沙参益阴，何以能治疝气？前人但言其功，未彰其义也。夫沙参治疝，此缪仲醇之
言也
。其所以能治之故，仲醇又未明言，余当畅其故。凡疝病，成于湿者居其六，成于房劳而得
风者居其三，成于胎气者居其一，然皆阴虚邪中之也。沙参补阴，阴足，邪自难留。况沙参
又善消诸硬，疝症之不能久愈者，正以腹中有硬也。沙参消硬，而疝无巢穴，不攻自散矣。
沙参治疝之义如此，而余更有说焉。沙参治疝，必须多用以益阴，少加野杜若根佐之，乃奏
功更神。有沙参补阴为君，又得杜若根攻邪为佐，乃攻补并用，又何各疝病之不尽拔其根株
哉。
或疑沙参益阴，为补阴圣药，何以仲景张公不入之于地黄丸中？夫地黄丸中之若干药，
皆并
入阴之中，沙参止补肝、肺之阴，所以仲景夫子不取也。虽肺为肾之母，肝为肾之子，子母
可以同治。然而既欲独补肾，又顾母补肺，又顾子而补肝、胆， 于子母之间，补肾功力反
分纷而不全，故弃不用也。倘或肺气大虚，不妨加沙参，同麦冬、五味，入之丸中，为肺肾
之两治；倘或肝气大伤，不妨加沙参，同芍药、当归，入之丸中，为肝肾之双疗也。
或问沙参补五脏之阴，先生谓只补肺、肝之二脏，与前人之论大殊，何也？曰∶沙参固
能补
五脏之阴，何以治肺、肝乃效，而治心、脾、肾则不效。安与补，各有义也。安者，宁静之
辞；补者，滋润之谓。用沙参五脏宁静者，连心、脾、肾言。用沙参而滋润者，主肺、肝而
言之也。用药先不知五脏之所益，何以治病哉。
或疑沙参补阴，不必论其补脏也。嗟乎。用药不知脏腑，又何以用药乎。知脏腑而用药，
尚
有不能取胜之时，况不知是补何脏之药，而昧昧从事，毋怪其用药之无功也。
沙参，味道苦而甘，药性微寒。没有毒性。归入肺、肝两经。治疗各种毒邪，排出脓液消除硬结，使五脏安宁，补益肺脏和肝脏，停止疝气引起的剧烈绞痛非常灵验，驱散风湿引起的瘙痒，清除邪热，去除惊恐烦躁。可以作为君药使用，但是它的功效非常缓慢，必须加大用量才能见效。易老（张元素）用它代替人参，这是错误的。评论者说它能安定五脏，与人参功效相同；又说人参补五脏之阳，沙参补五脏之阴，这都是不了解沙参的真实功用而主观臆断的。沙参只进入肺、肝两经，不能同时进入所有经络。既然不能全部进入，为什么《本草》说它能安定五脏呢？不知道人身体的肺、肝发生病变，就会导致五脏不安宁。沙参能滋养肺气，上焦因此宁静安谧，那么中焦和下焦怎么会有乱动的道理呢？沙参又能疏通肝气，肝气通畅了，中焦和下焦的气机也就随之通畅。下焦之气既然通畅，哪里还会有逆乱侵犯的变化呢？这样上焦又安守其位，没有浮动的病证了。所谓“安定五脏”的意义就是这样，古今之人没能领会其中的意思，认为沙参能安定五脏，用它可以代替人参，这是错误的。然而沙参不是补阴的药物吗？沙参如果不补阴，怎么能进入肝、肺二经呢？沙参补益肝、肺两脏的阴分，并不是补心、脾、肾三脏的阴分。况且阴阳的功效不同，人参补阳，能在顷刻间挽回阳气；沙参补阴，却不能在一瞬间挽回阳气。所以人参少量使用就能成功；而沙参不大量使用，很难取得疗效。因此沙参不可以代替人参，这也很明白了。
有人问：沙参益阴，为什么能治疗疝气？前人只说了它的功效，没有阐明其中的原理。沙参治疗疝气，这是缪仲醇的说法。他之所以能治疗的缘故，缪仲醇也没有明确说明，我应当详细阐述其中的原因。大凡疝病，由湿气形成的占六成，由房劳后受风形成的占三成，由胎气形成的占一成，但这些都是阴虚导致邪气入侵的缘故。沙参补阴，阴气充足，邪气自然难以停留。况且沙参又善于消除各种硬结，疝症不能长久痊愈的原因，正是因为腹中有硬结。沙参消除硬结，疝气就没有巢穴，不用攻伐也会自行消散。沙参治疗疝气的原理就是这样，而我还有进一步的见解。沙参治疗疝气，必须多用以益阴，少加野杜若根作为佐药，这样才能发挥更神奇的疗效。有沙参补阴作为君药，又有杜若根攻邪作为佐药，于是攻补兼施，还有什么疝病不能彻底拔除病根的呢？
有人怀疑：沙参益阴，是补阴的圣药，为什么张仲景先生不把它放入地黄丸中？地黄丸中的若干药物，都是并入阴分的整体调理，沙参只补肝、肺之阴，所以张仲景不采用它。虽然肺为肾之母，肝为肾之子，子母可以同治。然而既然想要单独补肾，又要顾及母亲补肺，还要顾及儿子补肝、胆，在子母之间，补肾的力量反而分散而不纯粹，所以弃之不用。如果肺气大虚，不妨加入沙参，同麦冬、五味子一起，放入丸药中，作为肺肾两治的方法；如果肝气大伤，不妨加入沙参，同芍药、当归一起，放入丸药中，作为肝肾双疗的方法。
有人问：沙参补五脏之阴，先生却说只补肺、肝两脏，与前人的论述大不相同，为什么呢？回答说：沙参固然能补五脏之阴，为什么治疗肺、肝就有效，而治疗心、脾、肾就没效呢？“安”与“补”，各有含义。“安”是宁静的意思；“补”是滋润的意思。说沙参使五脏安宁，是连同心、脾、肾来说的。说沙参具有滋润作用，主要是针对肺、肝而言的。用药如果先不知道对五脏的具体益处，怎么能治病呢？
有人怀疑：沙参补阴，不必讨论它是补哪一脏的。唉！用药如果不知道脏腑，又怎么能用药呢？知道脏腑而用药，尚且有不能取胜的时候，何况不知道这是补哪一脏的药，而糊里糊涂地从事，难怪用药没有功效了。
Shashen (Glehniae Radix), with a bitter and sweet taste, has a slightly cold nature. It is non-toxic. It enters the Lung and Liver meridians. It treats various toxins, expels pus, resolves hard masses, calms the five Zang organs, tonifies the Lungs and Liver, stops severe colicky pain caused by hernia effectively, disperses itching due to wind-dampness, clears pathogenic heat, and removes fright and restlessness. It can serve as the Sovereign herb, but its action is very slow; therefore, a large dosage must be used to achieve efficacy. Yi Lao (Zhang Yuansu) used it to replace Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), which was incorrect. Commentators argue that it can calm the five Zang organs, having the same effect as Renshen; they also state that Renshen tonifies the Yang of the five Zang organs, while Shashen tonifies their Yin. These views demonstrate a lack of understanding of Shashen's true functions and are merely subjective speculations. Shashen only enters the Lung and Liver meridians and cannot enter all meridians simultaneously. Since it does not enter all meridians, how can the *Bencao* (Materia Medica) claim it can calm the five Zang organs? The reality is that when the Lungs and Liver in the human body are diseased, the five Zang organs become unsettled. Shashen nourishes Lung Qi, thereby calming the Upper Jiao; consequently, there is no reason for the Middle and Lower Jiao to be in chaos. Furthermore, Shashen unblocks Liver Qi; once Liver Qi flows freely, the Qi of the Middle and Lower Jiao also becomes unblocked. Once the lower Qi is unblocked, how can rebellious or invasive changes occur? Thus, the Upper Jiao remains in its proper position without floating pathology. This is the meaning behind "calming the five Zang organs." Ancients and moderns alike failed to grasp this intent, believing Shashen could calm the five Zang organs and thus replace Renshen, which is a mistake. However, is Shashen not a Yin-tonifying substance? If Shashen did not tonify Yin, how could it enter the Liver and Lung meridians? Shashen tonifies the Yin of the Liver and Lungs, not the Yin of the Heart, Spleen, and Kidneys. Moreover, the functions of Yin and Yang differ: Renshen tonifies Yang and can restore Yang within an instant; Shashen tonifies Yin and cannot restore Yang in a moment. Therefore, a small dose of Renshen can achieve success, whereas Shashen requires a large dose to be effective. Hence, it is clear that Shashen cannot replace Renshen.
One might ask: Since Shashen benefits Yin, why can it treat hernia? Predecessors stated its efficacy but did not elucidate its principle. The assertion that Shashen treats hernia comes from Miao Zhongchun. He did not explicitly explain the reason for its efficacy, so I shall elaborate. Generally, hernias arise from dampness in 60% of cases, from sexual exhaustion followed by wind invasion in 30%, and from congenital factors in 10%. In all these cases, it is Yin deficiency allowing pathogenic factors to invade. Shashen tonifies Yin; when Yin is sufficient, pathogens find it difficult to remain. Additionally, Shashen excels at resolving hard masses. The reason hernias fail to heal for long periods is precisely because of hardness in the abdomen. By resolving this hardness, Shashen leaves the hernia without a foothold, causing it to dissipate spontaneously without aggressive treatment. This is the rationale for Shashen treating hernia. I have further insights: To treat hernia with Shashen, one must use a large dose to benefit Yin, adding a small amount of Yeduorogen (Radix Belamcandae or similar wild herb, specifically *Rhizoma Belamcandae* or *Radix Smilacis Chinae* depending on context, here referred to as Ye Dueruo Gen) as an Assistant herb to enhance efficacy. With Shashen tonifying Yin as the Sovereign and Dueruo Gen attacking pathogens as the Assistant, both tonification and purgation are employed simultaneously. Under such conditions, what hernia would not have its root completely eradicated?
Some may doubt: Shashen benefits Yin and is a sacred medicine for tonifying Yin; why did Zhang Zhongjing not include it in Dihuang Wan (Rehmanniae Pill)? The herbs in Dihuang Wan collectively enter the Yin aspect for holistic regulation. Shashen only tonifies the Yin of the Liver and Lungs, which is why Zhang Zhongjing did not adopt it. Although the Lung is the Mother of the Kidney, and the Liver is the Child of the Kidney, allowing for simultaneous treatment of mother and child, if the goal is solely to tonify the Kidney, while also attending to the Mother (Lung) and the Child (Liver/Gallbladder), the power to tonify the Kidney becomes scattered and impure. Therefore, it is omitted. However, if Lung Qi is severely deficient, Shashen may be added along with Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix) and Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus) into the pill formula to treat both Lungs and Kidneys. If Liver Qi is severely damaged, Shashen may be added along with Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) and Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) into the pill formula to treat both Liver and Kidneys.
One might ask: You stated that Shashen tonifies the Yin of the five Zang organs, yet you claimed it only tonifies the Lungs and Liver, which differs significantly from previous theories. Why? I reply: Shashen indeed can tonify the Yin of the five Zang organs, but why is it effective for the Lungs and Liver but ineffective for the Heart, Spleen, and Kidneys? The terms "An" (calm/stabilize) and "Bu" (tonify/nourish) have distinct meanings. "An" refers to tranquility; "Bu" refers to moistening and nourishing. When we say Shashen stabilizes the five Zang organs, we refer to the Heart, Spleen, and Kidneys in the context of tranquility. When we say Shashen provides nourishment/moistening, we refer primarily to the Lungs and Liver. If one does not first understand the specific benefits to each Zang organ when prescribing herbs, how can one treat diseases?
Some may suspect: Regarding Shashen tonifying Yin, there is no need to discuss which Zang organ it tonifies. Alas! If one prescribes herbs without understanding the Zang organs, how can one prescribe correctly? Even when one understands the Zang organs and prescribes accordingly, there are times when victory is not achieved. How much more so when one is ignorant of which Zang organ the herb tonifies and proceeds blindly? No wonder such prescriptions yield no results.