补骨脂，即破故纸也。味苦、辛，气温，无毒。入脾、肾二经。治男子劳伤，疗妇人血
气，
止腰膝酸疼，补髓添精，除囊涩而缩小便，固精滑而兴阳事，去手足冷疼，能定诸逆气。但
必下焦寒虚者，始可久服。倘虚火太旺，只可暂用，以引火归原，否则，日日服之，反助其
浮
游之火上升矣。古人用破故纸，必用胡桃者，正因其性过于燥，恐动相火，所以制之使润，
非故纸必须胡桃也。
或问补骨脂既不可轻用，而青娥等丸，何以教人终日吞服，又多取效之神耶？不知青娥
丸，
治下寒无火之人也。下寒无火者，正宜久服，如何可禁其少用乎。命门火衰，以致腰膝之酸
疼，手足之逆冷。甚则阳痿而泄泻。苟不用补骨脂，急生其命门之火，又何以回阳而续命乎
。
且补骨脂尤能定喘，肾中虚寒，而关元真气上冲于咽喉，用降气之药不效者，投之补骨
脂，
则气自归原，正藉其温补命门，以回阳而定喘也。是补骨脂，全在审其命门之寒与不寒而用
之耳，余非不教人之久服也。
或问破故纸虽善降气，然亦能破气，何子未言也？曰∶破故纸，未尝破气，人误见耳。
破故
纸，乃纳气归原之圣药，气之不归者，尚使之归，岂气之未破者而使之破乎？惟是性过温，
恐动命门之火，火动而气动，气动而破气者有之。然而用故纸者，必非单用，得一、二味补
阴之药以济之，则火且不动，又何能破气哉？（〔批〕破故纸纳气，而非破气，前人虽言之
矣
，但无此痛快耳。）
或问补骨脂治泻有神，何以脾泻有宜有不宜乎？不知补骨脂，非治泻之药，不治泻而治
泻者
，非治脾泄，治肾泄也。肾中命门之火寒，是脾气不固，至五更痛泻者，必须用补骨脂，以
温补其命门之火，而泻者不泻矣。若命门不寒而脾自泻者，是有火之泻，用补骨脂正其所恶
，又安能相宜哉。
或问补骨脂无胡桃，犹水母之无虾，然否？嗟乎。破故纸何藉于胡桃哉。破故纸属火，
收敛
神明，能使心包之火与命门之火相通，不必相桃之油润之，始能入心入肾也。盖破故纸，自
有水火相生之妙，得胡桃仁而更佳，但不可谓破故纸，必有藉于胡桃仁也。（〔批〕剖析甚
当。）
或疑破故纸阳药也，何以偏能补肾？夫肾中有阳气，而后阴阳有既济之美。破故纸，实
阴阳
两补之药也，但两补之中，补火之功多于补水，制之以胡桃仁，则水火两得其平矣。
或问破故纸补命门之火，然其气过燥，补火之有余，恐耗水之不足。古人用胡桃以制之者，
未必非补水也。不知胡桃以制破故纸者，非制其耗水也，乃所以助肾中之火也。盖肾火非水
不
生，胡桃之油最善生水，肾中之水不涸，则肾中之火不寒，是破故纸得胡桃，水火有两济之
欢也。（〔批〕生水生火，相得益彰，妙论。）
补骨脂，就是破故纸。味道苦、辛，药性温，没有毒性。归入脾、肾二经。治疗男子因劳损导致的伤病，调理妇人血气病，停止腰膝酸痛，补充骨髓、增添精液，消除阴囊涩滞感并缩小便次数，固摄精关滑脱并振奋性功能，去除手足冷痛，能够平息各种上逆之气。但是，只有当下焦属于寒证且虚证时，才可以长期服用。如果体内虚火太旺，只能暂时使用，用来引导浮火回归本源（引火归原），否则，每天服用的话，反而会助长那漂浮游走的火势向上冲升。
古人使用破故纸，一定要配合胡桃仁，正是因为它药性过于燥热，担心扰动相火，所以用胡桃来制约它使其变得滋润，并不是说破故纸必须依赖胡桃才能使用。
有人问：既然补骨脂不能轻易使用，那么青娥丸等方剂，为什么教导人们整天吞服，而且又取得如此神奇的效果呢？不知道青娥丸，是治疗下焦寒冷且无火之人。下焦寒冷且无火的人，正适合长期服用，怎么能禁止他们少量使用呢？命门火衰，导致腰膝酸痛，手足逆冷。甚至出现阳痿和泄泻。如果不使用补骨脂，急切地生发命门之火，又怎么能回阳救逆延续生命呢？
况且补骨脂尤其能平定气喘，如果是肾中虚寒，导致关元真气上冲到咽喉，使用降气药物无效时，投用补骨脂，气自然回归本源，正是借助它温补命门，从而回阳定喘。所以补骨脂的关键在于审察命门是否有寒证而使用它，我并不是不教人长期服用。
有人问：破故纸虽然善于降气，但也能够破气，为什么你没有提到这一点呢？回答说：破故纸，从未破气，这是人们的误解。破故纸，是纳气归原的圣药，对于气不归原的情况，还能让它回归，难道是对于未受损伤的气，反而让它破裂吗？只是因为它药性过温，担心动命门之火，火动则气动，气动则可能导致破气的情况存在。然而使用破故纸的人，一定不是单用，会得到一两味滋阴的药物来济助它，那么火就不会妄动，又怎么能破气呢？（批注：破故纸纳气，而非破气，前人虽然说过，但没有这么痛快淋漓。）
有人问：补骨脂治疗泄泻效果神奇，为什么对脾泄有适宜和不适宜之分呢？不知道补骨脂，不是治疗泄泻的药，它不治泻而治泻的原因，不是治疗脾泄，而是治疗肾泄。肾中命门之火寒冷，导致脾气不固，到了五更时分疼痛泄泻，必须使用补骨脂，以温补命门之火，那么泄泻就会停止。如果命门不寒冷而脾自身泄泻，这是有火的泄泻，使用补骨脂正是它所厌恶的，又怎么能适宜呢？
有人问：补骨脂没有胡桃，就像水母没有虾一样，是这样吗？唉。破故纸何须依赖胡桃呢。破故纸属火，收敛神明，能使心包之火与命门之火相通，不必非要胡桃的油润之性，才能进入心和肾。大概破故纸，自有水火相生的奥妙，得到胡桃仁会更好，但不能说破故纸，必须依赖胡桃仁。（批注：剖析非常恰当。）
有人怀疑破故纸是阳药，为什么偏偏能补肾？肾中有阳气，然后阴阳才有既济（水火相交）的美好状态。破故纸，实际上是阴阳两补的药物，但在两补之中，补火的功效多于补水，用胡桃仁来制约它，那么水火就能达到平衡了。
有人问：破故纸补命门之火，但是它的药气过于燥烈，补火有余，恐怕会耗伤水的不足。古人用胡桃来制约它，未必不是为了补水。不知道胡桃制约破故纸，不是为了制止它耗水，而是为了帮助肾中的火。大概肾火如果没有水就不能产生，胡桃的油最善于生水，肾中的水不干涸，那么肾中的火就不寒冷，这是破故纸得到胡桃，水火两者都有互相济助的喜悦。（批注：生水生火，相得益彰，奇妙的论述。）
Bulgariae Fructus (Puguzhi), also known as Pogu Zhi, has a bitter and pungent taste, is warm in nature, and is non-toxic. It enters the Spleen and Kidney meridians. It treats injuries from overexertion in men, regulates Blood and Qi disorders in women, stops soreness and pain in the lower back and knees, tonifies marrow and replenishes essence, eliminates astringency in the scrotum and reduces urinary frequency, secures seminal emission and impotence, removes cold pain in the hands and feet, and can calm various rebellious Qi. However, it may only be taken for a long time when the Lower Jiao presents with Cold and Deficiency patterns. If Deficient Fire is too vigorous, it should only be used temporarily to guide Fire back to its source (Yin Huo Gui Yuan); otherwise, daily consumption will instead assist the floating and wandering Fire to ascend.
When ancients used Pogu Zhi, they invariably paired it with Walnut Kernel (Hetao Ren). This was precisely because its nature is overly drying, and they feared it might disturb Ministerial Fire (Xiang Huo), so they used it to moderate its dryness and make it moistening; it was not that Pogu Zhi must rely on Walnut.
One might ask: Since Bulgariae Fructus should not be used lightly, why do formulas like Qing'e Wan instruct people to take them all day long, yet achieve such miraculous results? One must understand that Qing'e Wan is designed for individuals with Lower Jiao Cold and absence of Fire. For those with Lower Jiao Cold and no Fire, long-term use is appropriate; how could one forbid their occasional use? When Mingmen Fire declines, leading to soreness and pain in the lower back and knees, and cold extremities, or even impotence and diarrhea, if Bulgariae Fructus is not used to urgently generate Mingmen Fire, how else can Yang be restored and life sustained?
Furthermore, Bulgariae Fructus is particularly effective in calming asthma. In cases of Kidney Deficiency Cold where True Qi from Guanyuan rushes up to the throat, and descending Qi herbs fail, administering Bulgariae Fructus allows the Qi to return to its origin. This relies on its ability to warm and tonify Mingmen, thereby restoring Yang and stabilizing breathing. Thus, the key to using Bulgariae Fructus lies in assessing whether Mingmen is Cold or not; I do not advise against long-term use indiscriminately.
Another question arises: Although Pogu Zhi descends Qi well, does it not also break Qi? Why did you omit this? The answer is: Pogu Zhi never breaks Qi; this is a misconception. Pogu Zhi is a supreme herb for gathering Qi and returning it to its source. If Qi fails to return, it helps it return; how could it break Qi that has not yet been damaged? Its nature is overly warm, which might stir Mingmen Fire; if Fire stirs, Qi moves, and moving Qi might lead to breaking Qi. However, Pogu Zhi is rarely used alone; it is combined with one or two Yin-nourishing herbs to balance it. In such combinations, Fire remains stable, and breaking Qi cannot occur. (Commentary: Pogu Zhi gathers Qi rather than breaking it; although predecessors mentioned this, none expressed it so clearly.)
Another question: Bulgariae Fructus is miraculous for treating diarrhea, so why is it suitable for some cases of Spleen Diarrhea but not others? Bulgariae Fructus is not primarily a diarrhea-treating herb; it treats diarrhea by addressing its root, specifically Kidney Diarrhea (Shen Xie), not Spleen Diarrhea (Pi Xie). When Mingmen Fire in the Kidney is cold, causing Spleen Qi insecurity and painful diarrhea at dawn (Wu Geng Xie), Bulgariae Fructus must be used to warm Mingmen Fire, stopping the diarrhea. However, if the Mingmen is not cold but the Spleen itself causes diarrhea, this is a Heat-type diarrhea. Using Bulgariae Fructus would be contrary to the patient's needs, making it unsuitable.
Another question: Is it true that Bulgariae Fructus without Walnut is like a jellyfish without shrimp? Alas! How does Pogu Zhi need Walnut? Pogu Zhi belongs to Fire, gathers and calms the Spirit (Shen), and allows Heart Pericardium Fire to communicate with Mingmen Fire. It does not require the oily moisture of Walnut to enter the Heart and Kidney. Pogu Zhi inherently possesses the wonder of mutual generation of Water and Fire; adding Walnut Kernel enhances this effect, but it is incorrect to say Pogu Zhi absolutely depends on Walnut. (Commentary: The analysis is very appropriate.)
Skepticism arises: Since Pogu Zhi is a Yang herb, why does it specifically tonify the Kidney? Only when there is Yang Qi in the Kidney can the beauty of Mutual Interaction (Ji Ji) between Yin and Yang be achieved. Pogu Zhi is actually a herb that tonifies both Yin and Yang, but among these, its function of tonifying Fire exceeds that of tonifying Water. When moderated by Walnut Kernel, Water and Fire achieve balance.
Another question: Pogu Zhi tonifies Mingmen Fire, but its nature is overly drying. Tonifying Fire excessively might consume insufficient Water. Did ancients use Walnut to moderate it not to nourish Water? Actually, Walnut moderates Pogu Zhi not to prevent Water consumption, but to assist Kidney Fire. Kidney Fire cannot arise without Water; the oil in Walnut is excellent at generating Water. If Kidney Water is not depleted, Kidney Fire will not be cold. Thus, when Pogu Zhi meets Walnut, there is a joy of mutual assistance between Water and Fire. (Commentary: Generating Water and Fire complements each other excellently; a brilliant argument.)