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味甘，气微温。气薄味浓，可升可降，阴中阳也。无毒。种有三品，治无两般。
木耆茎短理横，功力殊劣；（此为下品。）缺岁多收倍用，煎服亦宜。（《本经》不
载州土，必出
如 之贱，自产谷田，凶年多收，亦可代粮也。）水耆生白水、赤水二乡
西。）白水颇胜；（此为中品。）
绵耆出山西沁州绵上，（乡名有巡检司。）此品极佳。（此为上品。）咸因地产佥名，总
待秋采入药。久留易蛀，勤曝
难侵。务选单服不歧，直如
箭干，皮色褐润，肉白心黄，折柔软类绵，嚼甘甜近蜜。如斯应病，获效如神。市多采苜蓿
根假充，谓之土黄耆媒利。殊不知此坚脆（音翠）味苦，能令人瘦；耆柔软味甘，易致人肥。
每被乱真，尤宜细认。夫耆者，恶白鲜、龟甲，制去头、刮皮。生用治痈疽，蜜炙补虚损。
入手少阳，入足太阴。主丈夫小儿五劳七伤，骨蒸体瘦，消渴腹痛，泻痢肠风；治女子妇人
月候不匀，血崩带下，胎前产后，气耗血虚。益元阳，泻阴火。扶危济弱，略亚人参。温分
肉而充皮肤，肥腠理以司开阖。固盗汗自汗，无汗则发，有汗则止；托阴疮癞疮，排脓止痛
，长肉生肌。外行皮毛，中补脾胃。下治伤寒，尺脉不至。是上中下、内外、三焦药也。性
畏防风，而防风能制黄耆，
黄耆得防风，其功愈大。盖相畏而相使者，故二味世多相须而用。《衍
之功，药中呼为羊肉。久服勿
已，耐老延年。
（谟）按∶参耆甘温，俱能补益。证属虚损，堪并建功。但人参惟补元气调中，黄耆兼
补卫气
实表。所补既略差异，共剂岂可等分！务尊专能，用为君主。君药宜重，臣辅减轻。君胜
乎臣，天下方治。臣强于主，国祚渐危。此理势自然，药剂仿之，亦不可不注意也。如患
内伤，脾胃衰弱，饮食怕进，怠惰嗜眠，发热恶寒，呕吐泄泻，及夫胀满痞塞，力乏形羸，
脉息虚微，精神短少等证，治之悉宜补中益气，当以人参加重为君，黄耆减轻为臣。若系表
虚，腠理不固，自汗盗汗，渐致亡阳，并诸溃疡，多耗脓血，婴儿痘疹，未灌全浆，一切阴
毒不起之疾，治之又宜实卫护荣，须让黄耆倍用为主，人参少入为辅焉。是故治病在药，用
药由人。切勿索骥按图，务须活泼泼地。先正尝曰∶医无定体，应变而施。药不执方，合宜
而用。又云∶补气药多，补血药亦从而补气；补血药多，补气药亦从而补血。佐之以热则
热，佐之以寒则寒。如补中益气汤，虽加当归，当归血药也，因势寡，则被参耆所据，故专
益气佥名；又当归补血汤，纵倍黄耆，黄耆气药也，为性缓，亦随当归所引，惟以补血标首
。佐肉桂附子少热，八味丸云然；加黄 知母微寒，补阴丸是尔。举隅而反，触类而推。则
方药之应乎病机，病机之合乎方药。总在君臣佐使之弗失，才致轻重缓急之适中。时医不以
本草加工，欲望制方。如是之通变合宜者，正犹学射而不操夫弓矢，其不能也决矣。
味甘，气微温。气味轻薄而味道浓厚，既能升提又能下降，属于阴中寓阳之品。无毒。产地分为三个等级，疗效并无两样。
木耆茎短纹理横生，药效特别低劣；（这是下品。）歉收年份产量加倍使用，煎煮服用也适宜。（《神农本草经》未记载其产地，必定出自如潞州般贫贱之地，自产的谷田，荒年多收成，也可以代替粮食食用。）水耆生长在白水、赤水两个乡。（西面）白水所产颇佳；（这是中品。）
绵耆产于山西沁州绵上，（乡名设有巡检司。）这一品种极佳。（这是上品。）都因产地不同而得名，总在秋季采收入药。久存容易生虫，勤加晾晒则难以被虫侵扰。务必选择单根不分支的，笔直如箭杆，皮色褐红润泽，肉质白色中心黄色，折断时柔软像棉絮，咀嚼时甘甜接近蜂蜜。像这样的药材能应对疾病，获得神效。市场上多有用苜蓿根假冒充数的，称为“土黄耆”以谋取利益。殊不知此物坚硬脆裂（音同翠），味苦，能使人消瘦；黄耆柔软味甘，易使人发胖。常被以假乱真，尤其应当仔细辨认。
黄耆畏白鲜皮、龟甲，炮制时需去掉头部、刮去外皮。生用治疗痈疽，蜜炙用于补虚损。归入手少阳三焦经，入足太阴脾经。主治男子小儿的五劳七伤，骨蒸潮热身体消瘦，消渴腹痛，泻痢肠风；治疗女子月经不调，血崩带下，胎前产后，气耗血虚。能益元阳，泻阴火。扶持危重虚弱之体，功效略逊于人参。温暖分肉而充实皮肤，肥厚腠理以调节汗孔开合。固摄盗汗自汗，无汗则能发汗，有汗则能止汗；托毒外出治疗阴疮癞疮，排脓止痛，长肉生肌。外行皮毛，中补脾胃。下治伤寒尺脉不至。是上中下、内外、三焦皆适用的药物。性畏防风，但防风能制约黄耆，黄耆得到防风，其功效更大。大概是相畏而又相使的关系，所以这两味药世人多配合使用。《药性论》称其有功，在药中被称为羊肉。长期服用不停止，能抗衰老延年益寿。
（陈嘉谟）按语：参、耆味甘性温，都能补益。证属虚损，都可以建功。但人参只补元气调和中焦，黄耆兼补卫气充实表里。所补方面略有差异，共同配伍岂可等量齐观！务必尊重其专长，将其作为君药。君药宜重用，臣辅药减轻用量。君药胜过臣药，天下才能治理。臣药强于主药，国运逐渐危险。这是自然之理，药剂仿效此理，也不可不注意。如患内伤，脾胃衰弱，饮食怕进，怠惰嗜睡，发热恶寒，呕吐泄泻，以及胀满痞塞，乏力形体羸弱，脉息虚微，精神短少等症状，治疗都适宜补中益气，应当让人参加重为君药，黄耆减轻为臣药。若系表虚，腠理不固，自汗盗汗，逐渐导致亡阳，以及各类溃疡，大量消耗脓血，婴儿痘疹，未灌满浆液，一切阴毒不起的疾病，治疗又适宜实卫护营，须让黄耆倍用为主药，人参少入为辅药。因此治病在于用药，用药取决于人。切勿索骥按图（机械照搬），务须活泼灵动。先贤曾说：医无定体，应变而施。药不执方，合宜而用。又说：补气药多，补血药也从而补气；补血药多，补气药也从而补血。佐以热药则热，佐以寒药则寒。如补中益气汤，虽然加入当归，当归是血药，因为势孤力单，则被参、耆所占据，故专称益气；又如当归补血汤，纵然倍增黄耆，黄耆是气药，因为性质缓和，也随当归所引导，惟以补血为首要。佐以肉桂附子少许热性，八味丸就是这样；加入黄柏知母少许寒性，补阴丸就是如此。举一反三，触类旁推。那么方药适应病机，病机合乎方药。关键在于君臣佐使不失当，才能达到轻重缓急适中。当代医生不深入钻研本草，却期望制定方剂。像这样通变合宜的，正如同学射箭却不拿弓箭，不能成功是必然的了。
Huangqi (Astragali Radix)
Taste is sweet, nature is slightly warm. The qi is light and the taste is heavy; it can ascend and descend, belonging to yang within yin. It is non-toxic. There are three grades of origin, but their therapeutic effects are essentially the same.
Mùqí (Wood Astragalus) has short stems and horizontal texture, with particularly inferior efficacy; (this is the lower grade.) In years of poor harvest, double the dosage is used, and decoction for oral administration is also suitable. (The *Shennong Bencao Jing* does not record its origin; it must come from humble places like Luzhou, grown in grain fields, where abundant yields in famine years can serve as food.) Shuǐqí (Water Astragalus) grows in Baishui and Chishui townships. (To the west,) that produced in Baishui is quite superior; (this is the middle grade.)
Miánqí (Cotton Astragalus) originates from Mianshang, Qinzhou, Shanxi Province (the township name includes a Patrol Office). This variety is excellent. (This is the upper grade.) All are named according to their place of production and harvested in autumn for medicinal use. If stored for a long time, they are prone to insect damage; diligent sun-drying prevents this. One must select single roots without branching, straight like arrow shafts, with brown and lustrous skin, white flesh and yellow center, flexible like cotton when broken, and sweet like honey when chewed. Such herbs respond to diseases with miraculous efficacy. The market often uses Alfalfa root (*Medicago sativa* root) to counterfeit them, called "Tu Huangqi" (Earth Astragalus) for profit. Little do people know that this substitute is hard and brittle (pronounced 'cui'), bitter in taste, and causes emaciation; whereas Huangqi is soft, sweet in taste, and promotes weight gain. It is easily confused with the genuine article, so careful identification is essential.
Huangqi is inhibited by Baixianpi (Dictamni Cortex) and Guijia (Testudinis et Carapacis Sclerum), and processing requires removing the head and scraping off the skin. Raw usage treats carbuncles and ulcers; honey-fried usage tonifies deficiency and injury. It enters the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian and the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian. It primarily treats five labors and seven injuries in men and children, bone-steaming fever with emaciation, Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome) with abdominal pain, dysentery and intestinal wind; it treats irregular menstruation in women, metrorrhagia and leukorrhea, conditions before and after childbirth, qi consumption and blood deficiency. It benefits Yuan Yang (Primordial Yang), drains Yin Fire. It supports critical weakness, slightly inferior to Renshen (Ginseng). It warms the muscles and fills the skin, thickens the Couli (pores and interstices) to regulate opening and closing. It consolidates spontaneous and night sweats; induces sweating when absent, stops sweating when present; expels toxins from yin sores and leprosy-like ulcers, discharges pus and relieves pain, promotes flesh regeneration and tissue healing. It acts externally on the skin and hair, internally tonifies the Spleen and Stomach. It treats below for Shanghan (Cold Damage) with an inaccessible Chi pulse. It is a herb for the upper, middle, and lower Jiao, internal and external aspects. Its nature fears Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), yet Fangfeng can control Huangqi; when Huangqi obtains Fangfeng, its efficacy increases greatly. This is because they are mutually inhibiting yet mutually enhancing, so these two herbs are often used together. *Yan Zhi* attributes merit to it, calling it "mutton" among herbs. Long-term continuous use delays aging and prolongs life.
(Chen Jiamo) Commentary: Renshen and Huangqi are sweet and warm, both capable of tonification. For deficiency syndromes, both can achieve results. However, Renshen only tonifies Yuan Qi and regulates the Middle Jiao, while Huangqi additionally tonifies Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) and secures the exterior. Since what they tonify differs slightly, how can equal doses be used in combination! One must respect their specific strengths and employ them as Jun (Emperor/Monarch) herbs. The Jun herb should be used in heavy dosage, while Chen (Minister/Assistant) herbs are reduced. When the Jun herb surpasses the Chen herb, the world is governed well. When the Chen herb dominates the Jun herb, the state's fortune gradually declines. This is natural law; herbal prescriptions follow this principle and require attention. For example, in cases of internal injury with Spleen and Stomach weakness, aversion to food intake, lethargy and drowsiness, fever and aversion to cold, vomiting and diarrhea, distension and fullness, fatigue and emaciation, deficient and faint pulses, and lack of spirit, treatment should suit Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction). Renshen should be increased as the Jun herb, and Huangqi reduced as the Chen herb. If it is exterior deficiency with insecure Couli, spontaneous and night sweats, gradually leading to collapse of Yang, or various ulcers consuming much pus and blood, infant chickenpox not fully filled with fluid, or all diseases of Yin toxicity failing to rise, treatment should suit Shi Wei Hu Ying (Secure the Defensive and Protect the Nutritive). Huangqi should be doubled as the main herb, and Renshen added in small amounts as the assistant. Therefore, treating disease depends on herbs, using herbs depends on the physician. Do not mechanically follow diagrams; one must be flexible and dynamic. Ancients said: Medicine has no fixed form; apply according to changes. Herbs do not adhere to fixed formulas; use them appropriately. It is also said: When there are many Qi-tonifying herbs, Blood-tonifying herbs will also tonify Qi; when there are many Blood-tonifying herbs, Qi-tonifying herbs will also tonify Blood. Assisted by hot herbs, the effect becomes hot; assisted by cold herbs, the effect becomes cold. For instance, in Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang, although Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) is added, and Danggui is a Blood herb, due to its weak influence, it is dominated by Renshen and Huangqi, thus being named for tonifying Qi alone. Conversely, in Danggui Buxue Tang, even if Huangqi is doubled, as Huangqi is a Qi herb with mild nature, it follows the guidance of Danggui, primarily serving to tonify Blood. Adding small amounts of Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) and Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata) adds heat, as seen in Ba Wei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill); adding Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) and Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) adds slight cold, as seen in Bu Yin Wan (Tonify Yin Pill). Draw inferences from these examples. Thus, formulas adapt to pathogenesis, and pathogenesis conforms to formulas. This relies entirely on the proper arrangement of Jun, Chen, Zuo, and Shi (Monarch, Minister, Assistant, Courier) to achieve appropriate balance of weight, urgency, and slowness. Contemporary physicians who do not study Bencao (Materia Medica) deeply yet expect to formulate prescriptions... To achieve such flexibility and appropriateness is like learning archery without holding a bow and arrows; failure is certain.