（《本经》中品）
【释名】 母（《本经》音迟。《说文》作 ）、连母（《本经》）、 母（ 音匙，又音
提，或作 ）、货母（《本经》）、地参（《本经》）、水参（又名水须、水浚）、 （《尔雅》，
音覃）、 藩（音沉烦）、苦心（《别录》）、儿草（《别录》，又名儿踵草、女雷、女理、鹿列、
韭逢、东根、野蓼、昌支）时珍曰∶宿根之旁，初生子根，状如 虻之状，故谓之 母，讹
为知母、 母也。余多未详。
【集解】《别录》曰∶知母，生河内川谷。二月、八月采根，曝干。
弘景曰∶今出彭城。形似菖蒲而柔润，叶至难死，掘出随生，须枯燥乃止。
禹锡曰∶按∶《范子》云∶提母出三辅，黄白者善。郭璞释《尔雅》云∶ ， 母也。
生山上，叶如韭。
颂曰∶今濒河怀、卫、彰、德诸郡及解州、滁州亦有之。四月开青花如韭花，八月结实。
根
【修治】 曰∶凡使，先于槐砧上锉细，焙干，木臼杵捣，勿犯铁器。
时珍曰∶凡用，拣肥润里白者，去毛，切。引经上行则用酒浸焙干；下行，则用盐水
润焙。
【气味】苦，寒，无毒。大明曰∶苦、甘。权曰∶平。
元素曰∶气寒，味大辛、苦。气味俱浓，沉而降，阴也。又云∶阴中微阳，肾经本药，
入足阳明、手太阴经气分。
时珍曰∶得黄柏及酒良，能伏盐及硼砂。
【主治】消渴热中，除邪气，肢体浮肿，下水，补不足，益气（《本经》）。
疗伤寒久疟烦热，胁下邪气，膈中恶，及风汗内疸。多服令人泄（《别录》）。心烦躁闷
，骨热劳往来，产后蓐劳，肾气劳，憎寒虚烦（甄权）。热劳传尸疰痛，通小肠，消痰止嗽，
润心肺，安心，止惊悸（大明）。凉心去热，治阳明火热，泻膀胱、肾经火，热厥头痛，下
痢
腰痛，喉中腥臭（元素）。泻肺火，滋肾水，治命门相火有余（好古）。安胎，止子烦，辟射
工、
溪毒（时珍）。
【发明】权曰∶知母治诸热劳，患人虚而口干者，加用之。
杲曰∶知母入足阳明、手太阴。其用有四∶泻无根之肾火，疗有汗之骨蒸，止虚劳之热，
滋化源之阴。仲景用此入白虎汤治不得眠者，烦躁也。烦出于肺，躁出于肾。君以石膏，佐
以知母之苦寒，以清肾之源；缓以甘草、粳米，使不速下也。又凡病小便 塞而渴者，热在
上焦气分，肺中伏热不能生水，膀胱绝其化源，宜用气薄、味薄、淡渗之药，以泻肺火、清
肺金而滋水之化源。若热在下焦血分而不渴者，乃真水不足，膀胱干涸，乃无阴则阳无以化，
法当用黄柏、知母大苦寒之药，以补肾与膀胱，使阴气行而阳自化，小便自通。方法详载木
部黄柏下。
时珍曰∶肾苦燥，宜食辛以润之。肺苦逆，宜食苦以泻之。知母之辛苦寒凉，下则润肾
燥而滋阴，上则清肺金而泻火，乃二经气分药也。黄柏则是肾经血分药。故二药必相须而行
，昔人譬之虾与水母，必相依附。补阴之说，详黄柏条。
【附方】旧二，新六。
久近痰嗽 自胸膈下塞停饮，至于脏腑。用知母、贝母各一两（为末），巴豆三十枚（去
油，研匀）。每服一字，用姜三片，二面蘸药，细嚼咽下，便睡，次早必泻一行，其嗽立止。
壮人乃用之。一方不用巴豆。（《医学集成》）久嗽气急 知母（去毛，切）五钱（隔纸炒），
杏
仁（姜水泡，去皮尖，焙）五钱。以水一钟半，煎一钟，食远温服。次以萝卜子、杏仁等分。
为末，米糊丸。服五十丸，姜汤下，以绝病根。（邓笔峰《杂兴方》）妊娠子烦 因服药致胎
气不安，烦不得卧者。知母一两（洗焙）。为末，枣肉丸弹子大。每服一丸，人参汤下。医
者
不识此病，作虚烦治，反损胎气。产科郑宗文得此方于陈藏器《本草拾遗》中，用之良验。
（杨归浓《产乳集验方》）妊娠腹痛 月未足，如欲产之状。用知母二两为末，蜜丸梧子大。
每粥饮下二十丸。（《圣惠方》）溪毒射工 凡中溪毒。知母（连根叶）捣作散服，亦可投水
捣
绞汁饮一二升。夏月出行，多取其屑自随。欲入水，先取少许投水上流，便无畏。兼辟射工。
亦可煮汤浴之，甚佳。（《肘后良方》）紫癜风疾 醋磨知母擦之，日三次。（《卫生易简方
》）嵌甲肿痛 知母（烧存性）研，掺之。（《多能方》）
（收录于《神农本草经》中品）
【释名】 母（《神农本草经》读音为“迟”。《说文解字》写作“ ”、连母（《神农本草经》）、 母（“ ”音同“匙”，又音同“提”，有的版本写作“ ”）、货母（《神农本草经》）、地参（《神农本草经》）、水参（又名水须、水浚）、 （出自《尔雅》，音同“覃”）、 藩（音同“沉烦”）、苦心（《名医别录》）、儿草（《名医别录》，又名儿踵草、女雷、女理、鹿列、韭逢、东根、野蓼、昌支）。李时珍说：在宿根的旁边，初生的子根，形状像虻虫，所以称为 母，讹传为知母、 母。其余名称大多不详。
【集解】 《名医别录》说：知母，生长在河内的川谷地带。二月和八月采集根部，晒干。
陶弘景说：现在出产于彭城。形状像菖蒲但质地柔润，叶子极难枯死，挖出来随即生长，必须等到完全干枯才停止生长。
苏颂说：查考《范子计然》记载：提母产于三辅地区，黄白色的品质好。郭璞解释《尔雅》说： ，就是 母。生长在山上，叶子像韭菜。
苏颂说：现在黄河沿岸的怀州、卫州、彰德等郡以及解州、滁州也有出产。四月开出青花，像韭菜花一样，八月结果实。根……
【修治】 曰：凡是使用，先在槐木砧板上切碎，焙干，用木臼杵捣碎，不要接触铁器。
李时珍说：凡是用药，挑选肥厚润泽、内部洁白的，去掉毛，切片。如果要引导药力上行，就用酒浸泡后焙干；如果要引导药力下行，就用盐水润湿后焙干。
【气味】 味苦，性寒，无毒。孟洗（大明）说：味苦、甘。王权（权）说：性平。
张元素说：气寒，味大辛、苦。气味都浓厚，性质沉降，属于阴。又说：阴中微含阳，是肾经的本药，进入足阳明经和手太阴经的气分。
李时珍说：配合黄柏及酒使用效果好，能抑制盐分和硼砂的作用。
【主治】 治疗消渴热中，去除邪气，肢体浮肿，利水，补益不足，益气（《神农本草经》）。
治疗伤寒久疟引起的烦热，胁下的邪气，膈中的恶疾，以及风汗和内疸。多服会让人腹泻（《名医别录》）。治疗心烦躁闷，骨蒸劳热往来，产后蓐劳，肾气劳，怕冷虚烦（王权）。治疗热劳传尸疰痛，通利小肠，消除痰液止住咳嗽，滋润心肺，安神，止惊悸（孟洗）。清心去热，治疗阳明火热，泻膀胱和肾经的火，治疗热厥头痛，痢疾腰痛，喉中有腥臭味（张元素）。泻肺火，滋肾水，治疗命门相火有余（李好古）。安胎，止妊娠心烦，辟除射工、溪毒（李时珍）。
【发明】 王权说：知母治疗各种热劳，患者身体虚弱且口干的人，加用此药。
李杲（杲）说：知母进入足阳明经和手太阴经。它的作用有四个方面：泻无根之肾火，治疗有汗的骨蒸，止住虚劳的热，滋养化源之阴。张仲景将此药加入白虎汤中治疗无法入睡、烦躁的症状。烦出于肺，躁出于肾。以石膏为君药，佐以知母的辛苦寒凉，以清肾之源；用甘草、粳米来缓和药性，使药力不致过快下降。另外，凡是生病出现小便不通畅且口渴的，是热在上焦气分，肺中伏热不能生水，膀胱断绝了化源，应该使用气薄、味薄、淡渗的药物，以泻肺火、清肺金而滋水之化源。如果热在下焦血分且不口渴的，是真水不足，膀胱干涸，这是无阴则阳无以化，法度上应当使用黄柏、知母等大苦寒的药物，以补肾与膀胱，使阴气运行而阳气自然化生，小便自然通畅。方法详细记载在木部黄柏条下。
李时珍说：肾怕干燥，宜食用辛味食物以滋润它。肺怕逆乱，宜食用苦味食物以泻泄它。知母的辛苦寒凉，向下则滋润肾燥而滋阴，向上则清肺金而泻火，是这两经气分的药物。黄柏则是肾经血分的药物。所以这两种药必须相互配合使用，古人把它们比作虾和水母，必须相互依附。补阴的说法，详见黄柏条。
【附方】 旧方两个，新方六个。
久近痰嗽 痰饮停滞从胸膈下到脏腑。用知母、贝母各一两（研成末），巴豆三十枚（去油，研匀）。每次服用一字量，用生姜三片，两面蘸药粉，细细咀嚼咽下，然后睡觉，第二天早晨必定会排泄一次，咳嗽立即停止。只有身体壮实的人才使用。另一方的用法不用巴豆。（《医学集成》）
久嗽气急 知母（去毛，切片）五钱（隔纸炒），杏仁（姜水泡，去皮尖，焙干）五钱。用水一钟半，煎至一钟，饭后温服。随后用萝卜子、杏仁各半，研成末，米糊做丸。每次服用五十丸，姜汤送下，以绝病根。（邓笔峰《杂兴方》）
妊娠子烦 因服药导致胎气不安，心烦不得卧倒的。知母一两（洗净焙干）。研成末，枣肉做丸如弹子大小。每次服用一丸，人参汤送下。医生不认识这个病，当作虚烦治疗，反而损伤胎气。产科医生郑宗文从陈藏器《本草拾遗》中得到此方，使用效果很好。（杨归浓《产乳集验方》）
妊娠腹痛 月份未满，像要生产的状态。用知母二两研成末，蜜丸如梧桐子大。每次用粥饮送下二十丸。（《圣惠方》）
溪毒射工 凡是中了溪毒。知母（连根叶）捣碎做成散剂服用，也可以投入水中捣碎绞汁饮用一二升。夏天出行，多取其粉末随身携带。想要下水，先取少许投在水的上游，就没有畏惧了。同时可以辟除射工。也可以煮汤洗澡，非常好。（《肘后良方》）
紫癜风疾 用醋磨知母涂抹患处，每天三次。（《卫生易简方》）
嵌甲肿痛 知母（烧至存性）研成粉，撒敷患处。（《多能方》）
(Recorded in the Middle Category of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
**[Names]** Mu (Pronounced "chi" in *Shennong Bencao Jing*. Written as " " in *Shuowen Jiezi*), Lianmu (*Shennong Bencao Jing*), Mu (" " pronounced "chi", also "ti", sometimes written as " "), Huomu (*Shennong Bencao Jing*), Dican (*Shennong Bencao Jing*), Shuishen (also known as Shuixu, Shuijun), (*Er Ya*, pronounced "tan"), Fan (pronounced "chenfan"), Kuxin (*Mingyi Bielu*), Ercao (*Mingyi Bielu*, also known as Erzhangcao, Nvlei, Nvli, Lulie, Jiufeng, Donggen, Yeliao, Changzhi). Li Shizhen said: Beside the perennial root, the newly born lateral roots resemble the shape of a horsefly (mang), hence called Mu, which was later corrupted into Zhimu and Mu. The origins of other names are mostly unknown.
**[Collection and Explanation]** *Mingyi Bielu* states: Zhimu grows in the river valleys of Henei. The roots are harvested in February and August and dried in the sun.
Tao Hongjing said: It is now produced in Pengcheng. Its shape resembles Acorus tatarinowii (Changpu) but is soft and moist. Its leaves are extremely difficult to kill; when dug up, it continues to grow until it withers completely.
Su Song said: According to *Fanzi Jiran*: Timu comes from the Sanfu region, and those that are yellowish-white are of superior quality. Guo Pu explained in his commentary on *Er Ya*: , is Mu. It grows on mountains, with leaves like leeks.
Su Song said: It is now found in various counties along the Yellow River such as Huaizhou, Weizhou, Zhangde, as well as in Jiezhou and Chuzhou. In April, it blooms with blue flowers resembling leek flowers, and bears fruit in August. The root...
**[Processing]** [Name missing] said: When used, first chop finely on a locust wood (Huai) cutting board, dry by baking, and pound in a wooden mortar. Do not allow contact with iron vessels.
Li Shizhen said: For use, select those that are plump, moist, and white inside. Remove the hairs and slice. To guide the medicinal action upward, soak in wine and bake dry; to guide it downward, moisten with salt water and bake dry.
**[Flavor and Properties]** Bitter, Cold, Non-toxic. Meng Xi (Da Ming) said: Bitter, Sweet. Wang Quan said: Neutral.
Zhang Yuansu said: Qi is Cold, Flavor is greatly Pungent and Bitter. Both Qi and Flavor are dense, sinking and descending, belonging to Yin. He also stated: Slightly Yang within Yin. It is the primary herb for the Kidney Meridian, entering the Qi aspect of the Foot-Yangming and Hand-Taiyin meridians.
Li Shizhen said: It works well when combined with Huangbai and wine. It can restrain the effects of Salt and Borax.
**[Indications]** Treats Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst) and Heat in the Middle Jiao, eliminates pathogenic factors, reduces limb edema, promotes urination, tonifies deficiencies, and benefits Qi (*Shennong Bencao Jing*).
Treats persistent fever and vexation due to long-term Shang Han or chronic malaria, pathogenic factors under the hypochondrium, evil stagnation in the diaphragm, and wind-sweat with internal jaundice. Excessive use causes diarrhea (*Mingyi Bielu*). Treats heart vexation and oppression, bone-steaming labor heat with alternating chills, postpartum confinement labor, Kidney Qi labor, aversion to cold with empty vexation (Wang Quan). Treats heat-labor, transmissive consumption pain, unblocks the Small Intestine, resolves phlegm and stops cough, moistens the Lung and Heart, calms the mind, and stops palpitations and fright (Meng Xi). Cools the Heart and removes heat, treats Yangming Fire-Heat, drains Fire from the Bladder and Kidney meridians, treats headache due to heat-jue, dysentery, lower back pain, and foul odor in the throat (Zhang Yuansu). Drains Lung Fire, nourishes Kidney Water, treats hyperactivity of Ministerial Fire in the Gate of Vitality (Li Haogu). Calms the fetus, stops fetal restlessness, wards off Shegong and Xidu poisons (Li Shizhen).
**[Elucidation]** Wang Quan said: Zhimu treats various heat-labors. It should be added for patients who are deficient and have dry mouths.
Li Gao said: Zhimu enters the Foot-Yangming and Hand-Taiyin meridians. Its uses are fourfold: draining rootless Kidney Fire, treating bone-steaming with sweating, stopping heat from deficiency-labor, and nourishing the Yin of the source of transformation. Zhang Zhongjing used this herb in Baihu Tang to treat insomnia and vexation. Vexation originates from the Lung, restlessness from the Kidney. Using Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) as the sovereign herb, assisted by the bitter-cold Zhimu to clear the source of the Kidney; moderated by Gancao (Licorice Root) and Jingmi (Rice) to prevent the medicine from acting too rapidly downward. Furthermore, in cases where illness presents with urinary obstruction and thirst, the heat is in the Upper Jiao Qi aspect. Hidden heat in the Lung prevents it from generating Water, severing the source of transformation for the Bladder. One should use herbs with thin Qi and thin Flavor that are light and penetrating to drain Lung Fire, clear Lung Metal, and nourish the source of Water. If the heat is in the Lower Jiao Blood aspect without thirst, it indicates insufficient True Water and a dry Bladder, meaning there is no Yin to transform Yang. The method dictates using the greatly bitter-cold herbs Huangbai and Zhimu to tonify the Kidney and Bladder, allowing Yin Qi to circulate so Yang transforms naturally, and urination becomes smooth. Detailed methods are recorded under the entry for Huangbai in the Wood Section.
Li Shizhen said: The Kidney dislikes dryness and should be moistened with Pungent foods. The Lung dislikes rebellion and should be drained with Bitter foods. Zhimu's pungent-bitter and cold-cooling nature moistens Kidney dryness and nourishes Yin downward, while clearing Lung Metal and draining Fire upward. Thus, it is an herb for the Qi aspect of these two meridians. Huangbai, however, is an herb for the Blood aspect of the Kidney Meridian. Therefore, these two herbs must be used together; ancients compared them to shrimp and jellyfish, which must cling to each other. Discussions on tonifying Yin are detailed in the Huangbai entry.
**[Attached Prescriptions]** Two old prescriptions, six new ones.
**Persistent Phlegm-Cough**: Phlegm-fluid retention stagnating from the chest/diaphragm down to the zang-fu organs. Use Zhimu and Beimu each one liang (powdered), and Badou thirty seeds (oil removed, ground evenly). Take one "yi" (a small measure) per dose. Dip both sides of three slices of ginger in the powder, chew thoroughly, and swallow. Then lie down to sleep. By early morning, there will certainly be one bowel movement, and the cough will stop immediately. Only use for robust individuals. Another prescription does not use Badou. (*Yixue Jicheng*)
**Chronic Cough with Shortness of Breath**: Zhimu (remove hairs, slice) five qian (stir-fried between papers), Xingren (soaked in ginger water, skin and tips removed, baked) five qian. Decoct in one and a half zhong of water until one zhong remains. Take warm after meals. Subsequently, use equal parts Luobozhong (Radish Seed) and Xingren, grind into powder, and make pills with rice paste. Take fifty pills with ginger decoction to eradicate the disease root. (Deng Bifeng, *Zaxing Fang*)
**Fetal Restlessness during Pregnancy**: Caused by medication leading to unstable fetal Qi, vexation, and inability to lie down. Zhimu one liang (washed and baked). Grind into powder, make pills with jujube flesh the size of a bullet. Take one pill per dose with Ginseng decoction. Physicians who do not recognize this disease treat it as empty vexation, which damages fetal Qi unnecessarily. Obstetrician Zheng Zongwen obtained this prescription from Chen Cangqi's *Bencao Shiyi* and found it highly effective. (Yang Guinong, *Chanlu Jiyan Fang*)
**Abdominal Pain during Pregnancy**: Gestation period not yet full, feeling like impending labor. Use Zhimu two liang, grind into powder, make pills with honey the size of wutong seeds. Take twenty pills per dose with gruel drink. (*Shenghui Fang*)
**Xidu and Shegong Poison**: Whenever infected with Xidu poison. Zhimu (with roots and leaves) crushed into a powder for oral administration, or crushed in water, wrung out, and drink one to two sheng of the juice. When traveling in summer, carry the powder with oneself. Before entering water, throw a little upstream to dispel fear. It also wards off Shegong. It can also be boiled for bathing, which is very good. (*Zhouhou Liangfang*)
**Purple Spots Skin Disease**: Grind Zhimu with vinegar and apply to the affected area, three times daily. (*Weisheng Yijian Fang*)
**Ingrown Toenail Swelling and Pain**: Zhimu (calcined until carbonized but retaining properties) ground into powder, applied topically. (*Duoneng Fang*)