一名 。（沉下者贵也）一名芑。（阴土己也）又名地髓。产怀庆者。皮有磊
江浙壤地者。质虽光润。力微不及。古人种子。今惟种根。入土即生。大宜肥壤。
坛。如浮屠数级。寸段莳。灌根。长滋盛也。但种植之后。其土便苦。次年止可种
二年可种山药。足十年。土味转甜。始可复种地黄。否则味苦形瘦。不堪入药。
不如正九月气全。盖八月残叶犹在。叶中精气未尽归根。二月新苗已生。根中
也。（核）按本经有干有生。以采得即用者为生。晒干收者为干。后人复蒸晒
为熟地黄。其生熟不同。而凉血补血悬异。故分注之。
生地黄
味甘苦。气寒。气薄味浓。沉而降。阴也。入手足少阴厥阴。及手太阳经。本经
中。逐血痹。填骨髓。长肌肉。除寒热积聚。疗折跌绝筋。凉血生血。疗虚清热。
阴不足。治少阴心热在内。通血脉。强筋骨。利二便。理胎产。通经闭。凡劳瘦骨
寒热。五心潮烦惊悸。掌中热痛。足下热而痛。清肺热咳嗽。泻脾胃湿热。痿蹶嗜
吐血。鼻衄耳鸣。牙痛欲脱。便血尿血皆治。脏属阴。此味天一之真阴。能补五
手太阳腑者。正见火中有水。乃阳育乎阴。具足生化之妙也。凡阴微阳盛。相
阴位。日渐煎熬。为虚火之证者。宜地黄之属以滋阴退阳。（原礼）本经首
即继以填骨髓长肌肉续绝筋等语。夫痹者随其血之不通而为痛。如在目则赤
肉里则痈肿。在心则昏烦。在肺则咳血壅遏。而为身热枯耗。而为燥涩痿软
崩漏。各可类推。千金方黑膏。治热积成斑。肘后方拌鸡蒸汁。治寒积成疝
盖血中有痹。则骨髓不满。肌肉不长。筋脉断绝。均谓伤中。若由填满生
血液之流通。是以逐者。即俾其流通之义也。（不远）性惟润下。功力到
为外征。（又）同大小蓟各半。捣取自然汁。和童便饮。治血热妄行。一
取汁和面作 冷淘。治虫心痛。得青蒿鳖甲银柴胡沙参天麦冬黄
膝。治骨蒸劳热。同人参远志麦冬枣仁柏仁茯神甘草。治心虚惊
得麦冬五味枸杞牛膝车前阿胶天冬。治溺血。（熟亦用）同青蒿地
治月事先期。同苎根捣汁豌许。加炒砂仁末三钱。治胎动下血
通。治目暴赤痛。同当归赤芍乳香没药肉桂黄荆子。治一
劳瘦骨蒸。日晡寒热。生地汁三合。煮白粥。临熟入
升二合。白胶香二两。瓷器盛。入甑蒸令胶消。服
两取汁。童便五合。同煎热。入鹿角胶炒研一两
末。冷水调下。吐血便血。生地汁六合。铜器煎
三服。便止。或微转一行不妨。血淋。生地汁车
入鸡子白一枚搅服。产后中风。胁不得转。交
浸一夕。次日各炒黄。浸汁干。乃焙为末。每
豆豉一两六钱半。以猪膏十两合之。露一夜
搅匀。分三服。毒从虚中出则愈。忌芜荑。
疳宣露。脓血口气。生地一斤。盐二合。捣
夜贴之。地髓煎。生地十斤洗净。捣压取汁
四升。文武火煮地黄汁数沸。即以酒研。苏
汁。及蜜。再煎候稠。瓦器盛之。每空心酒
〔论〕 地黄禀天一之真阴。更资中五之冲气。故气寒味甘。甘而有微苦者。归于主血
之心
十年
血归
以
泣
以
中
阳
不
而病于阴气者。又非独一热足以伤之。故虽同病于阴气。其因于热而气不化血者。生地固为
宣剂。若不因于热而气不固血者。（此宜补阳气）生地却非补剂。又不得宣阴而损真元也。（
寇氏谓血虚劳热。产后虚热。老人中虚燥热。用地黄须炼热。若概与生者。当虑大寒是也。
）至洁古去诸湿热之义谓何。盖阳盛阴虚。则阳不得阴以化。气之不化者。反病于湿而滋热
。生地益真阴之不足。凉血生血。而俾气得以化。自不病于湿矣。抑甄氏谓虚而有热者宜加
用之。丹溪何又谓虚而有热者慎弗用之。要知因虚而得实。（如黄芩汤治心劳实热。小甘露
饮治脾劳实热。地黄汤治肾劳实热。麦门冬汤治脉实极为病。元参汤治骨实极为病。石斛汤
治精实极为病。夫病于虚劳而云实者。精气夺邪气盛也。）甄权之说是也。原其病本在虚。
丹溪之说亦是也。惟因精气之虚。以致邪气之实。故用生地先泻其实在邪者。而救其虚在
精者。如补劳之味。即继其后也（诸方有止用生地者。有生地同熟地用者。可知一宣一补。
生熟顿殊。而用有节次也。）
凡阴虚咳嗽内热。骨蒸吐血等候。及产后恶露作痛发热。一见脾胃薄弱。大便不实。或
天明肾泄。俱禁用生地当归。（仲淳）
〔修治〕脉洪实热者。生采捣汁服。（即鲜生地）脉虚血热者。用芦汁拌炒。免致泥膈。
如上
血。
熟地黄
本经只言干生二种。第如血虚劳热。产后虚热。老人中虚燥热者。若与生干。当虑
故后世改用蒸曝极熟者。（宗 ） 生甘平宣。蒸熟温补。必烹炼至久。透出阴中之
能补肾气。
味甘微苦。气微温。味浓气薄。阴中之阳。沉也。入手足少阴厥阴经。 生地能生精血。
用
。补五脏内伤不足。通血脉。利耳目。黑须发。治男子五劳七伤。女子伤中胞漏。经候不
胎产百病。去脐腹急痛。（脐下痛属肾经。非此味通肾不除。）病后胫股酸痛。坐而欲起。目
无所见。
血衰者须用之。又能补肾中元气。（洁古东垣） 脉洪实者。宜生地。（凉心血。益肾水。）
若
髓煎。得牡丹皮当归。和血生血凉血。滋阴补髓。 同沙苑苁蓉鹿茸山萸五味。能益男子
同人参鹿茸麦冬五味枸杞菟丝覆盆车前子。多服令人有子。 同黄 黄连黄柏枣仁五味
白芍麦冬牡蛎龙眼肉。治盗汗久不止。 同砂仁。治胎动下血腰痛。 同当归川芎蒲黄黑豆
炒炮姜泽兰益母牛膝续断杜仲鹿角胶。治产后血虚发热。 同枸杞甘菊女贞子白蒺藜。能益
精明目。 同首乌桑葚甘菊鲤肠蜀椒。能乌须发。 月经不调。久而无子。乃冲任伏热也。
熟地半斤。当归二两。黄连一两。并酒浸一夜。焙研为末。炼蜜丸梧子大。每服七十丸。米
饮温酒任下。按调经补气。而只用参 。则所治又失血中阴气之义。此条冲任伏热一语。大
为中肯。方亦简切。 产后血痛有块。并经通后腹痛不调。黑神散。用熟地一斤。陈生姜半
斤。同炒干为末。每服二钱。温酒调下。 按真阴即生身之元。熟地补真阴之虚。属第一
味。聊附二方。不及备录。
〔论〕 地黄本寒水之精。阴中原含有阳。第未久经烹炼。即无以发阴中之阳。而令其
上通
肾中
资生
干地
化机
兼补
制成
〔附论益阴〕 阴固贵于益。而益阴之中。亦有动静衡胜之微。如丹溪治阴虚发热。于
四物
归辛
归。
凡胸膈多痰。气道不利。升降窒塞。药宜宣通者。汤液中禁用熟地。（仲淳） 熟者宜
入丸。
〔修治〕 拣取沉水肥大者。以好酒入砂仁末拌匀。置柳木甑于瓦锅内。蒸令气透。晒
干。
非一
以酒
地黄，又名（沉水者珍贵），又名芑（对应阴土己土）。又被称为地髓。产自怀庆府的，外皮有颗粒状突起；江浙一带土壤种植的，质地虽然光润，但药力微弱，不及前者。古人种植时播种种子，现在只种植根茎。种入土中即能生长，非常适宜肥沃的土壤。将其切成数级高的坛状，一寸一段地进行栽种，浇灌根部，便能长得茂盛。但是种植之后，土壤味道会变苦，次年只能种植山药，再隔两年可以种植山药，如此循环十年，土壤味道转甜，才可以重新种植地黄，否则味道苦涩、形态瘦小，不堪入药。不如正九月采收的药性完备。因为八月时残叶还在，叶中的精气尚未完全回归根部；二月新苗已生，根中精气已外泄。（核）按《神农本草经》记载，地黄有干品和鲜品之分，以采得即用者为生地黄，晒干收藏者为干地黄。后人又经过蒸晒处理成为熟地黄。其生熟不同，在凉血与补血功效上截然不同，因此分别注明。
生地黄
味甘、苦，气寒，气薄味浓，性质沉降，属阴。归入手少阴心经、足少阴肾经、手厥阴心包经、足厥阴肝经及手太阳小肠经。《神农本草经》记载其能逐除血痹，填补骨髓，促进肌肉生长，消除寒热积聚，治疗折跌断筋，凉血生血，治疗虚损发热，滋阴不足，治疗少阴心热在内，通利血脉，强健筋骨，通利二便，调理胎产，通经闭。凡是劳损消瘦、骨蒸潮热、五心烦热、惊悸、掌心热痛、足下热痛、肺热咳嗽、脾胃湿热、痿证厥逆、嗜睡、吐血、鼻衄、耳鸣、牙痛欲脱、便血、尿血等症皆能治疗。脏属阴，此味乃天一之真阴，能补五脏。手太阳腑者，正体现火中有水，乃阳孕育于阴，具备生化之妙。凡阴虚阳盛，相火潜伏于阴位，日渐煎熬，形成虚火证候者，宜用地黄之类以滋阴退阳。（原礼）《神农本草经》首先提到填骨髓、长肌肉、续绝筋等语。所谓痹症，是随着血液不通而疼痛，如在目则红赤，在肉里则痈肿，在心则昏烦，在肺则咳血壅遏，从而身热枯耗，出现燥涩痿软、崩漏等症状，皆可类推。千金方黑膏，治疗热积成斑；肘后方拌鸡蒸汁，治疗寒积成疝。盖因血中有痹，则骨髓不满，肌肉不长，筋脉断绝，均称为伤中。若由填满而生发，使血液流通，所以“逐”字，即使其流通的意思。（不远）药性唯润下，功力到达体表为外征。（又）同大小蓟各半量，捣取自然汁，和童便饮用，治疗血热妄行。一法：取汁和面作冷淘，治疗虫心痛。得青蒿、鳖甲、银柴胡、沙参、天冬、麦冬、黄柏，治膝部骨蒸劳热。同人参、远志、麦冬、枣仁、柏仁、茯神、甘草，治疗心虚惊悸。得麦冬、五味子、枸杞、牛膝、车前子、阿胶、天冬，治疗溺血。（熟地黄亦用）同青蒿、地骨皮，治疗月事先期。同苎根捣汁如豌豆大，加炒砂仁末三钱，治疗胎动下血。通利，治疗目暴赤痛。同当归、赤芍、乳香、没药、肉桂、黄荆子，治疗……劳瘦骨蒸，日晡寒热。生地汁三合，煮白粥，临熟入……升二合，白胶香二两，瓷器盛，入甑蒸令胶消，服……两取汁，童便五合，同煎热，入鹿角胶炒研一两末，冷水调下。吐血便血，生地汁六合，铜器煎……三服，便止。或微转一行不妨。血淋，生地汁车前草……入鸡子白一枚搅服。产后中风，胁不得转，交……浸一夕，次日各炒黄，浸汁干，乃焙为末，每……豆豉一两六钱半，以猪膏十两合之，露一夜，搅匀，分三服。毒从虚中出则愈，忌芜荑。疳宣露，脓血口气，生地一斤，盐二合，捣……夜贴之。地髓煎，生地十斤洗净，捣压取汁四升，文武火煮地黄汁数沸，即以酒研苏……汁，及蜜，再煎候稠，瓦器盛之。每空心酒……
〔论〕 地黄禀受天一之真阴，更资助中五之冲气，故气寒味甘，甘而有微苦者，归于主血之心。十年血归以泣以中阳而不而病于阴气者，又非独一热足以伤之。故虽同病于阴气，其因于热而气不化血者，生地固为宣剂。若不因于热而气不固血者，（此宜补阳气）生地却非补剂。又不得宣阴而损真元也。（寇氏谓血虚劳热，产后虚热，老人中虚燥热，用地黄须炼热。若概与生者，当虑大寒是也。）至洁古去诸湿热之义谓何？盖阳盛阴虚，则阳不得阴以化，气之不化者，反病于湿而滋热。生地益真阴之不足，凉血生血，而俾气得以化，自不病于湿矣。抑甄氏谓虚而有热者宜加用之，丹溪何又谓虚而有热者慎弗用之？要知因虚而得实。（如黄芩汤治心劳实热，小甘露饮治脾劳实热，地黄汤治肾劳实热，麦门冬汤治脉实极为病，元参汤治骨实极为病，石斛汤治精实极为病。夫病于虚劳而云实者，精气夺邪气盛也。）甄权之说是也。原其病本在虚，丹溪之说亦是也。惟因精气之虚，以致邪气之实，故用生地先泻其实在邪者，而救其虚在精者，如补劳之味，即继其后也。（诸方有止用生地者，有生地同熟地用者，可知一宣一补，生熟顿殊，而用有节次也。）
凡阴虚咳嗽内热，骨蒸吐血等候，及产后恶露作痛发热，一见脾胃薄弱，大便不实，或天明肾泄，俱禁用生地当归。（仲淳）
〔修治〕 脉洪实热者，生采捣汁服。（即鲜生地）脉虚血热者，用芦汁拌炒，免致泥膈。如上血。
熟地黄
《神农本草经》只言干、生二种。第如血虚劳热，产后虚热，老人中虚燥热者，若与生干，当虑……故后世改用蒸曝极熟者。（宗 ） 生地黄甘平宣散，蒸熟后温补。必烹炼至久，透出阴中之阳，能补肾气。
味甘微苦，气微温，味浓气薄，阴中之阳，沉降。归入手少阴心经、足少阴肾经、手厥阴心包经、足厥阴肝经。生地黄能生精血，用……补五脏内伤不足，通血脉，利耳目，黑须发，治男子五劳七伤，女子伤中胞漏，经候不调，胎产百病，去脐腹急痛。（脐下痛属肾经，非此味通肾不除。）病后胫股酸痛，坐而欲起，目无所见。血衰者须用之，又能补肾中元气。（洁古东垣） 脉洪实者，宜生地黄。（凉心血，益肾水。）若……髓煎，得牡丹皮、当归，和血生血凉血，滋阴补髓。同沙苑蒺藜、肉苁蓉、鹿茸、山萸肉、五味子，能益男子……同人参、鹿茸、麦冬、五味子、枸杞、菟丝子、覆盆子、车前子，多服令人有子。同黄芩、黄连、黄柏、枣仁、五味子、白芍、麦冬、牡蛎、龙眼肉，治盗汗久不止。同砂仁，治胎动下血腰痛。同当归、川芎、蒲黄、黑豆、炒炮姜、泽兰、益母草、牛膝、续断、杜仲、鹿角胶，治产后血虚发热。同枸杞、甘菊、女贞子、白蒺藜，能益精明目。同首乌、桑葚、甘菊、鲤肠、蜀椒，能乌须发。月经不调，久而无子，乃冲任伏热也。熟地黄半斤，当归二两，黄连一两，并酒浸一夜，焙研为末，炼蜜丸梧子大，每服七十丸，米饮温酒任下。按调经补气，而只用参……则所治又失血中阴气之义。此条冲任伏热一语，大中肯綮，方亦简切。产后血痛有块，并经通后腹痛不调，黑神散，用熟地黄一斤，陈生姜半斤，同炒干为末，每服二钱，温酒调下。按真阴即生身之元，熟地黄补真阴之虚，属第一味，聊附二方，不及备录。
〔论〕 地黄本寒水之精，阴中原含有阳，第未久经烹炼，即无以发阴中之阳，而令其……上通肾中资生化机，兼补制成。
〔附论益阴〕 阴固贵于益，而益阴之中，亦有动静衡胜之微。如丹溪治阴虚发热，于四物汤中……归辛……归。凡胸膈多痰，气道不利，升降窒塞，药宜宣通者，汤液中禁用熟地黄。（仲淳） 熟者宜入丸。
〔修治〕 拣取沉水肥大者，以好酒入砂仁末拌匀，置柳木甑于瓦锅内，蒸令气透，晒干。非一以酒……
Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata), also known as [Name omitted in source] (those that sink in water are precious), and Qi (corresponding to Yin Earth, Ji Earth). It is also called Di Sui (Earth Marrow). Those produced in Huaiqing have a granular texture on the skin; those grown in the soil of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, although smooth and lustrous, possess weaker medicinal efficacy. In ancient times, seeds were sown for cultivation, but nowadays only roots are planted. They sprout immediately upon being buried in the soil and thrive best in fertile land. The roots are cut into segments about one inch long and planted in tiered mounds or jars. Irrigating the roots promotes vigorous growth. However, after planting, the soil becomes bitter; the following year only Chinese Yam (Shan Yao) can be planted. After two more years, Chinese Yam can be planted again. This cycle continues for ten years until the soil taste turns sweet, at which point Di Huang can be replanted. Otherwise, the herb will be bitter and shriveled, unfit for medicinal use. Harvesting in the ninth lunar month yields the most complete qi. This is because in the eighth month, residual leaves remain, and the essence from the leaves has not yet fully returned to the root; whereas by the second month, new shoots have emerged, depleting the root's essence. According to the *Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), there are dried and fresh forms. Freshly harvested and used immediately is considered Sheng Di Huang (Raw Radix Rehmanniae); sun-dried and stored is Gan Di Huang (Dried Radix Rehmanniae). Later generations steamed and sun-dried it further to create Shu Di Huang (Prepared Radix Rehmanniae). Due to differences between raw and prepared forms, their effects on cooling blood and nourishing blood are distinct, hence they are annotated separately.
Sheng Di Huang (Raw Radix Rehmanniae)
Taste: Sweet, Bitter. Nature: Cold. Qi is thin, flavor is strong. It sinks and descends, belonging to Yin. It enters the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian, and Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian. The *Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing* states it expels blood bi (obstruction), fills the marrow, promotes muscle growth, eliminates cold-heat accumulations, treats fractures and severed tendons, cools blood and generates blood, treats deficiency heat, nourishes yin insufficiency, treats internal heart heat of the Shaoyin, unblocks blood vessels, strengthens bones and sinews, benefits urination and defecation, regulates pregnancy and childbirth, and opens amenorrhea. It treats conditions such as consumptive fever with bone-steaming, five-palm heat, palpitations, pain and heat in palms and soles, lung heat cough, damp-heat in spleen and stomach, flaccidity syndromes, lethargy, hematemesis, epistaxis, tinnitus, loose teeth, hematochezia, and hematuria. Zang organs belong to Yin; this substance embodies the True Yin of Tian Yi (One from Heaven) and can nourish the five zang organs. The Hand Taiyang Fu organ demonstrates that fire contains water, meaning Yang nurtures Yin, possessing the wonder of generation and transformation. For cases of Yin deficiency with Yang hyperactivity, where ministerial fire lurks in the Yin position and causes gradual consumption leading to deficiency fire syndromes, herbs like Di Huang should be used to nourish Yin and retreat Yang. (Yuan Li) The *Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing* first mentions filling marrow, growing muscle, and healing severed tendons. Bi syndrome refers to pain caused by blood stasis; if in the eyes, redness occurs; in muscles, abscesses form; in the heart, confusion and irritability arise; in the lungs, coughing blood and obstruction occur, leading to body heat, wasting, dryness, flaccidity, and metrorrhagia. These can be extrapolated. The Black Ointment from *Qian Jin Fang* treats macules formed by heat accumulation; the chicken juice mixture from *Zhou Hou Fang* treats hernias formed by cold accumulation. Since blood stasis leads to empty marrow, poor muscle growth, and severed sinews, all termed "middle injury," if filled and regenerated to promote blood circulation, the term "expel" implies facilitating circulation. (Bu Yuan) The nature is moistening and descending; its efficacy manifests externally. Another method: Mix equal parts Da Xiao Ji (Herba Cirsii Japonici et Centipeda) and crush to extract natural juice, mix with child's urine, and drink to treat reckless bleeding due to blood heat. Another method: Mix juice with flour to make cold noodles to treat heart pain caused by parasites. Combined with Qing Hao (Herba Artemisiae Annuae), Bie Jia (Carapax et Plastrum Testudinis), Yin Chai Hu (Radix Stellariae), Sha Shen (Radix Glehniae or Adenophorae), Tian Dong (Rhizoma Asparagi), Mai Dong (Radix Ophiopogonis), and Huang Bai (Cortex Phellodendri), it treats bone-steaming consumptive fever in the knees. Combined with Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng), Yuan Zhi (Radix Polygalae), Mai Dong, Zao Ren (Semen Ziziphi Spinosae), Bai Ren (Semen Armeniacae Amarum), Fu Shen (Poria cum Radix Pini), and Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae), it treats heart deficiency with palpitations. Combined with Mai Dong, Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae), Gou Qi Zi (Fructus Lycii), Niu Xi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae), Che Qian Zi (Semen Plantaginis), E Jiao (Colla Corii Asini), and Tian Dong, it treats hematuria. (Shu Di Huang is also used) Combined with Qing Hao and Di Gu Pi (Cortex Lycii), it treats early menstruation. Combined with Zhu Gen (Rhizoma Imperatae) crushed to juice (pea-sized amount) plus three qian of fried Sha Ren (Fructus Amomi Rotundus), it treats fetal movement with bleeding. To unblock, treat sudden red painful eyes. Combined with Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), Chi Shao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra), Ru Xiang (Resina Acaciae Catharticae), Mo Yao (Resina Myrrhae), Rou Gui (Cortex Cinnamomi), and Huang Jing Zi (Fructus Viticis Negundo), it treats... Consumptive fever with bone-steaming and afternoon chills. Three he of Sheng Di Huang juice, cook white porridge, add... Er sheng near completion, Bai Jiao Xiang (Resina Elemi) two liang, store in porcelain, steam in a steamer until resin melts, take... Two liang of juice, five he of child's urine, boil together until hot, add one liang of stir-fried and ground Lu Jiao Jiao (Colla Cornus Cervi), mix with cold water and take. For hematemesis and hematochezia, six he of Sheng Di Huang juice, boil in copper vessel... Take three doses, bleeding stops. A slight passage of stool is acceptable. For bloody stranguria, Sheng Di Huang juice and Che Qian Cao... Add one egg white, stir, and take. For postpartum wind-stroke with inability to turn ribs... Soak overnight, stir-fry both sides until yellow next day, soak in juice until dry, then roast and grind into powder. Each dose... Dou Chi (Semen Sojae Praeparatum) one liang six qian half, combined with ten liang of pig fat, expose overnight, mix well, divide into three doses. Toxicity exits through deficiency and heals; avoid Yuan Yi (Fructus Juglandis Mandschuricae). For gan ulcers with exposed flesh, pus, blood, and foul breath, one jin of Sheng Di Huang and two he of salt, crush... Apply at night. Di Sui Jian: Ten jin of Sheng Di Huang, washed, crushed and pressed for juice. Four sheng of Di Huang juice boiled vigorously over mild and strong fire, then ground with wine... Juice and honey, boil again until thick, store in earthenware jar. Take on an empty stomach with wine...
[Discussion] Di Huang inherits the True Yin of Tian Yi and assists the central Qi of Wu (Five). Thus, its nature is cold and taste sweet; slightly bitter sweetness directs it to the Heart, which governs blood. Ten years... Blood returns... To weep... To... Middle... Yang... Not... And disease in Yin qi is not solely caused by heat. Therefore, although diseases affect Yin qi, if caused by heat where qi fails to transform into blood, Sheng Di Huang serves as a dispersing agent. If not caused by heat but by qi failing to secure blood, (one should tonify Yang qi); Sheng Di Huang is not a tonic. One must not disperse Yin and damage true yuan. (Kou Zong Shi stated that for blood deficiency with consumptive fever, postpartum deficiency heat, and elderly middle-jiao deficiency with dry heat, Di Huang must be processed/heated. If given raw generally, one must fear its extreme coldness.) What is the meaning of Zhi Jie Gu removing damp-heat? When Yang is excess and Yin is deficient, Yang cannot transform without Yin. Qi that fails to transform反而 becomes diseased with dampness and generates heat. Sheng Di Huang supplements insufficient True Yin, cools and generates blood, allowing Qi to transform, thus preventing dampness. Furthermore, Zhen Quan said those with deficiency and heat should add it; why did Dan Xi say those with deficiency and heat should cautiously avoid it? One must understand obtaining excess from deficiency. (e.g., Huang Qin Tang treats Heart labor excess heat, Xiao Gan Lu Yin treats Spleen labor excess heat, Di Huang Tang treats Kidney labor excess heat, Mai Men Dong Tang treats pulse extremity excess disease, Yuan Shen Tang treats bone extremity excess disease, Shi Hu Tang treats essence extremity excess disease. Diseases of deficiency-labor termed 'excess' mean essence is depleted and pathogenic qi is abundant.) Zhen Quan's view is correct. Originally, the disease root is deficiency; Dan Xi's view is also correct. Only because essence deficiency leads to pathogenic excess, Sheng Di Huang is used first to drain the actual pathogenic excess, then save the deficiency in essence, followed by flavors that tonify labor. (Some formulas use only Sheng Di Huang, others combine Sheng and Shu Di Huang, showing one disperses and one tonifies, raw and prepared differ greatly, and usage has sequence.)
For Yin deficiency cough with internal heat, bone-steaming, and hematemesis, as well as postpartum lochia pain with fever, if spleen and stomach are weak with loose stools, or morning kidney diarrhea, Sheng Di Huang and Dang Gui are strictly contraindicated. (Zhong Chun)
[Processing] For surging and solid pulses with heat, harvest fresh, crush, and take juice. (Fresh Sheng Di Huang) For deficient pulses with blood heat, stir-fry mixed with Reed Rhizome juice to prevent cloying the chest. As above blood.
Shu Di Huang (Prepared Radix Rehmanniae)
The *Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing* only mentions dried and fresh forms. However, for blood deficiency with consumptive fever, postpartum deficiency heat, and elderly middle-jiao deficiency with dry heat, using raw or dried forms requires caution... Hence later generations switched to thoroughly steamed and sun-dried forms. (Zong ) Raw Di Huang is sweet, neutral, and dispersing; steamed and cooked it becomes warm and tonifying. It must be cooked for a long time to release the Yang within Yin, capable of tonifying Kidney Qi.
Taste: Sweet, slightly bitter. Nature: Slightly warm. Flavor is strong, Qi is thin. It is Yang within Yin, sinking. Enters Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian. Sheng Di Huang generates essence and blood. Use... To tonify internal injuries and insufficiency of the five zang organs, unblock blood vessels, benefit ears and eyes, blacken beard and hair, treat male five labors and seven injuries, female middle injury with uterine leakage, irregular menstruation, hundred diseases of pregnancy and childbirth, remove umbilical and abdominal acute pain. (Pain below the umbilicus belongs to the Kidney meridian; without this herb to unblock the Kidney, it will not resolve.) Post-illness soreness and pain in calves and thighs, desire to sit but difficulty rising, blurred vision. Required for blood deficiency, can also tonify Yuan Qi in the Kidney. (Jie Gu, Dong Yuan) For surging pulses, Sheng Di Huang is suitable. (Cool Heart blood, benefit Kidney water.) If... Sui Jian, combined with Mu Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan) and Dang Gui, harmonizes, generates, and cools blood, nourishes Yin and tonifies marrow. Combined with Sha Yuan Ju Li (Semen Astragali Complanati), Rong Rui (Cynomorii Fernis), Lu Rong (Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum), Shan Yu Yu (Fructus Corni), and Wu Wei Zi, it benefits men... Combined with Ren Shen, Lu Rong, Mai Dong, Wu Wei Zi, Gou Qi Zi, Tu Si Zi (Semen Cuscutae), Fu Pen Zi (Fructus Rubi), and Che Qian Zi, prolonged use promotes fertility. Combined with Huang Qin, Huang Lian (Rhizoma Coptidis), Huang Bai, Zao Ren, Wu Wei Zi, Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba), Mai Dong, Mu Li (Concha Ostreae), and Long Yan Rou (Arillus Longan), it treats persistent night sweats. Combined with Sha Ren, it treats fetal movement with lower back pain and bleeding. Combined with Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), Pu Huang (Pollinis Typhae), Hei Dou (Semen Sojae Nigrum), Chao Pao Jiang (Rizoma Zingiberis Preparatum), Ze Lan (Herba Lycopi), Yi Mu Cao (Herba Leonuri), Niu Xi, Xu Duan (Radix Datiscae), Du Zhong (Cortex Eucommiae), and Lu Jiao Jiao, it treats postpartum blood deficiency with fever. Combined with Gou Qi, Gan Ju (Flos Chrysanthemi Indici), Nu Zhen Zi (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi), and Bai Ji Li (Semen Tribuli), it benefits essence and brightens eyes. Combined with Shou Wu (Radix Polygoni Multiflori), Sang Shen (Fructus Mori), Gan Ju, Li Chang (Herba Portulacae), and Shu Jiao (Pericarpium Zanthoxyli), it darkens beard and hair. Irregular menstruation with infertility for a long time indicates latent heat in Chong and Ren meridians. Half jin of Shu Di Huang, two liang of Dang Gui, one liang of Huang Lian, soaked in wine overnight, roasted, ground into powder, refined honey pills sized like wu zi, take seventy pills each time, with rice water or warm wine. Regarding regulating menstruation and tonifying Qi, using only Ren Shen... loses the meaning of tonifying Yin qi in blood loss. The phrase "latent heat in Chong and Ren" hits the mark precisely, and the formula is simple. For postpartum blood pain with masses and abdominal pain after menstruation, Hei Shen San uses one jin of Shu Di Huang and half jin of aged ginger, stir-fried dry, ground into powder, take two qian each time, mixed with warm wine. True Yin is the primal essence of life; Shu Di Huang tonifies deficiency of True Yin, ranking as the primary herb. Briefly attaching two formulas, unable to record all.
[Discussion] Di Huang is originally the essence of Cold Water, containing Yang within Yin. Without prolonged cooking, it cannot emit the Yang within Yin to allow... Upper connection to Kidney, assisting generation, transforming mechanism, jointly tonifying, and forming the product.
[Appendix Discussion on Benefiting Yin] Yin is indeed valuable when benefited, but within benefiting Yin, there are subtle balances of motion and stillness. For example, Dan Xi treated Yin deficiency with fever by adding... Gui Xin... Gui. For cases with much phlegm in chest and diaphragm, obstructed airways, blocked ascending and descending, where medicines should be dispersing and unblocking, Shu Di Huang is strictly prohibited in decoctions. (Zhong Chun) Prepared forms are suitable for pills.
[Processing] Select those that sink in water and are plump. Mix with good wine and ground Sha Ren powder, place in a willow wood steamer inside a clay pot, steam until aroma penetrates, then sun-dry. Not one... With wine...