按《本草》上一字犯英庙讳。下一字曰蓣，唐代宗名豫，故改下一字为药，今人遂呼
为山药。如此则尽失当日本名，虑岁久以山药为别物，故书之。此物贵生干，方入药。其法
∶冬月以布裹手，用竹刀子剐去皮，于屋檐下风迳处盛竹筛中，不得见日色。一夕干五分，
俟全干收之，惟风紧则干速。所以用干之意，盖生湿则滑，不可入药，熟则只堪啖，亦滞气
。余如经。
近世有二十余种，惟单叶花小而黄，绿叶色深小而薄，应候而开者是也。《月令》所
谓菊有黄华者也。又邓州白菊，单叶者亦入药，余医经不用。专治头目风热。今多收之作枕
。
枝叶悉如槐，高五六尺，但叶端微尖而糙涩，似有白毛。实作角生，如相思角，作一
本生。子如小扁豆，齿啮不破。今出河东西界，入药须微炙，不尔，亦微凉。生则味不佳。
今之用者，皆河北榷场博易到，尽是高丽所出，率虚软味薄，不若潞州上党者味浓
体实，用之有据。土人得一窠，则置于版上，以色丝缠系，根颇纤长，不与榷场者相类。根
下垂有及一尺余者，或十歧者。其价与银等，稍为难得。
细若小草，长三四寸，柔韧，折之，如肉而实。今人多以木斛浑行，医工亦不能明辨
。世又谓之金钗石斛，盖后人取象而言之。然甚不经，将木斛折之，中虚，如禾草，长尺余
，但色深黄光泽而已。真石斛治胃中虚热有功。
据《本草》记载，上一字触犯英宗庙讳。下一字为“蓣”，因唐代宗名李豫，故将下一字改为“药”，今人便称之为山药。如此则完全失去了本来的名称，担心年代久远后人们会将山药误认为另一种药物，因此记录于此。这种药材以生晒干燥为佳，才适合入药。其加工方法：冬季用布包裹双手，用竹刀刮去外皮，置于屋檐下通风处，放在竹筛中晾晒，不能见到阳光。一晚可晒干五分，等到完全干燥后收存，只有风大时干燥速度才快。之所以使用干品，是因为生品湿润则滑腻，不可入药；煮熟后则只能食用，也会阻碍气机运行。其余部分如经典所述。
近代有二十多种，只有单叶、花小且呈黄色、绿叶颜色深而小且薄、应时节开放的才是正宗的。这就是《月令》中所说的“菊花有黄花”的品种。另外邓州的白菊，单叶的也可以入药，其他医经中不使用。专门治疗头目风热。现在很多人收集它来做枕头。
枝叶都像槐树，高五六尺，只是叶尖微尖且粗糙涩手，似乎有白色绒毛。果实成角状生长，像相思豆的角，长在一根茎上。种子像小扁豆，牙齿咬不破。现在出产于河东、河西边界地区，入药需要轻微炙烤，否则药性微凉。生用时味道不好。
现在使用的，都是河北榷场贸易换来的，全都是高丽出产的，大多虚软、味道淡薄，不如潞州上党产的味浓体实，使用有依据。当地人得到一株，就把它放在木板上，用彩丝缠绕系住，根部颇细长，与榷场来的不一样。根部下垂有的长达一尺多，或者分十叉的。它的价格与银子相等，稍微有些难得。
细得像小草，长三四寸，柔韧，折断后断面像肉一样坚实。现在的人常把木斛混在一起使用，医生也不能明确分辨。世人又称之为金钗石斛，大概是后人取象比喻而言。但这很不恰当，如果把木斛折断，中间是空的，像禾草一样，长一尺多，只是颜色深黄有光泽罢了。真正的石斛在治疗胃中虚热方面有功效。
According to the *Bencao* (Materia Medica), the first character offended the temple name of Emperor Yingzong. The second character was "Yu" (Dioscorea). Because Tang Daizong's personal name was Yu, the second character was changed to "Yao", and people today call it Shanyao (Chinese Yam). In this way, the original name is completely lost. Fearing that after many years people might mistake Shanyao for a different substance, this is recorded here. This medicinal material is best when dried while fresh, which makes it suitable for use in decoctions. Its processing method: In winter, wrap hands in cloth, use a bamboo knife to scrape off the skin, place it in a bamboo sieve under the eaves in a ventilated area, avoiding direct sunlight. It dries by half in one night; wait until fully dry before storing. Drying is faster only when the wind is strong. The reason for using the dried product is that the fresh product is moist and slippery, making it unsuitable for medicine; if cooked, it can only be eaten and may stagnate Qi. The rest follows the classics.
In recent times, there are more than twenty varieties. Only those with single leaves, small yellow flowers, dark green small and thin leaves, and blooming according to the season are authentic. These are what the *Yueling* (Monthly Ordinances) refers to as chrysanthemums with yellow flowers. Additionally, white chrysanthemums from Dengzhou with single leaves can also be used in medicine, but other medical texts do not employ them. They specifically treat wind-heat affecting the head and eyes. Nowadays, many people collect them to make pillows.
The branches and leaves resemble those of the locust tree, growing five or six chi tall, but the leaf tips are slightly pointed and rough/rough-skinned, appearing to have white hairs. The fruits grow in pods, resembling acacia pods, growing on a single stem. The seeds are like small flat beans, unbreakable by teeth. Currently produced at the borders of Hedong and Hexi, they must be lightly roasted before use in medicine; otherwise, their nature is slightly cool. Raw usage tastes poor.
Those currently in use are all obtained through trade at the Hebei border markets (Quechang), originating entirely from Goryeo. They are generally hollow, soft, and tasteless, unlike those from Shangdang in Luzhou, which have rich flavor and solid texture, providing reliable efficacy. Locals who obtain a plant place it on a board, binding it with colored silk threads. The roots are quite slender and long, differing from those at the border markets. Roots hanging down may exceed one chi in length, or have ten branches. Their price equals that of silver, making them somewhat rare.
Fine as small grass, three or four cun long, flexible and tough. When broken, the cross-section resembles meat yet is solid. Nowadays, many people mix Mu Hu (Wood Dendrobium) indiscriminately, and even physicians cannot clearly distinguish them. The world also calls it Jin Chai Shihu (Gold-Hairpin Dendrobium), likely a metaphorical term coined by later generations. However, this is inappropriate. If Wood Dendrobium is broken, the center is hollow, resembling grain stalks, over a chi long, merely possessing a deep yellow lustrous color. True Shihu (Dendrobium officinale) has merit in treating deficiency-heat in the stomach.