根丛生蔓延。状似半夏。黄色。立夏掘起。阴干者良。
味苦微辛微甘。气温。可升可降。阴中阳也。入手足太阴厥阴。亦入手少阴经。活血化
气。治心气小腹痛。膜外气块痛。理肾气。止暴腰痛。通经络。活精血。调女子月经。腹中
结块。崩中淋露。产后诸血病。血晕。暴血冲上。并扑损瘀血。（诸本草）专治一身上下诸
痛。（濒湖）以一春而备四气。叶必三之。具木生数。（复）以言疾疚之证。因主治之功力判
属血中气药。气中用药。盖气主嘘之。血主濡之。气之所不嘘。即血之所不濡也。如腹中结
块。膜络症瘕。此血留营实之为因。如胪腹气块盘绕疝 。此气滞卫实之为因。如崩中淋露
晕衄冲暴。此血菀营泣之为因。如奔豚逆厥百体疼烦。此气弛卫薄之为因。元胡立鼓血中之
气。震行气中之用。虚则补。实则平。推陈致新之良物也。（之颐）气之所不嘘。即血之所
不濡。二语历参医案可见。有如食荞面而怒。痛于胃脘当心。医用吐下行气化滞药。反吐且
便秘。盖不知气之所留。即病乎血也。以此味为末。温酒调服愈。又衰年病痢腹痛几危。此
湿热伤气。即病乎血凝也。亦用此末米饮调服愈。又遍体痛极。治以中风中湿香港脚俱不应。
盖冷滞乎气。即泣其血也。同当归桂心为末。温酒调服愈。又有导引失节肢节拘挛者。亦用
此末而愈。然则就气病以泣血。欲活血而即化气者。元胡果为要剂矣。君生地当归牛膝益母
草童便。主产后血晕有神。得四物白胶牛膝香附。主妇人经阻。少腹作痛。或结块。
附方 膜外气疼及气块。元胡不拘多少为末。猪胰一具。切作块子。炙熟。蘸末频食之。
疝气危急。元胡盐炒。全蝎去毒生用。等分为末。每服半钱。空心盐酒下。偏正头痛不可忍。
元胡七枚。青黛二钱。牙皂二个去皮子。为末。水和丸。如杏仁大。每以水化一丸。灌入鼻
内。随左右。口咬铜钱一个。当有涎出成盆而愈。
〔论〕 延胡栽种于寒露前。饱历三冬。春后始苗。蕴酿乎阴气为最浓。及其苗而蔓。
叶而花。具周于一春。甫立夏而即掘其根以用。是蕴酿乎金水。而全畅于敷和之木。得阴中
之少阳以为用。采时不使受火气者。正以不伤金。不泄木为大畅。二者之大化也。夫水与血
是一是二。金孕水之元。木莲水之化。岂非血为体。而血中之气即其用欤。之颐判为血中气
药。气中用药。最为中的。不得同于破血之剂。更不得以疏气耗气诬之。且血属阴下也。气
属阳上也。此味先苦而居多。辛次之。只有苦之半。又次微甘。是从阴中致阳之用。还以达
阴之化者也。
缪氏云。性味辛走。凡崩中淋露。应行清热而补气者。及经事先期。一切血热为病者。
宜禁。
〔修治〕 取粒粒金黄色者。行血酒制。止血醋炒。破血生用。调血炒用。
根丛生并蔓延生长。形状类似半夏。颜色为黄色。立夏时节挖掘取出。阴干者品质优良。
味苦，微辛，微甘。药性温。作用趋势可升可降。属于阴中之阳。归入手经和足经的太阴、厥阴经，也进入手少阴经。具有活血化气的作用。治疗心气引起的小腹疼痛，膜外气块引起的疼痛。调理肾气。制止突发的腰痛。疏通经络。使精血运行通畅。调节女子月经。治疗腹中结块。崩漏及淋沥出血。产后各种血证。血晕。突然大量出血冲逆向上。以及跌打损伤导致的瘀血。（《诸本草》认为）专门治疗全身上下各种疼痛。（李时珍/濒湖）因为它在一个春季里备具四时之气，叶子必定是三个小叶（三出复叶）。具备木的生数。（赵之颐）根据对疾病证候的分析，因其主治功效判断它属于“血中气药”，即作用于气中的药物。大概气主要起嘘动（推动）作用，血主要起濡润作用。气所不能嘘动的地方，就是血所不能濡润的地方。例如腹中结块，膜络间的症瘕积聚，这是血液滞留于营分而凝实的原因；例如腹部气块盘绕形成的疝气，这是气滞于卫分而凝实的原因；例如崩漏、淋沥、晕厥、衄血、冲逆暴血，这是血液郁积于营分而泣涩的原因；例如奔豚、气逆、厥冷、全身疼痛烦躁，这是气弛缓、卫气薄弱的原因。延胡索能够激发血中之气，震动推行气中之用。虚证则补益，实证则平抑，是推陈致新的良药。（赵之颐）“气所不能嘘动，即血所不能濡润”这两句话，在查阅医案时随处可见。例如有人吃荞麦面后发怒，胃脘当心处疼痛，医生使用吐下行气化滞的药物，反而导致呕吐且便秘。这是因为不知道气停留的地方，病就在血分。以此药研末，用温酒调服而愈。又有一位老年患者患痢疾腹痛几乎危重，这是湿热伤气，进而导致血凝。也用此药末，米汤调服而愈。还有遍体剧痛，治疗中风、中湿、香港脚（痛风）均无效，这是因为寒气阻滞于气分，进而导致血液泣涩。与当归、桂心同研为末，温酒调服而愈。还有因导引（气功锻炼）失节导致肢节拘挛的人，也用此药末而痊愈。既然这样，针对气病导致血泣，想要活血从而化气的情况，延胡索确实是关键药剂。配合生地黄、当归、牛膝、益母草、童便，主治产后血晕，效果神奇；配合四物汤、白胶（阿胶）、牛膝、香附，主治妇人经血阻滞，少腹作痛，或形成结块。
附方：膜外气疼及气块。延胡索不拘多少，研为细末。取猪胰脏一个，切成小块，烤熟，蘸药末频繁食用。
疝气危急。延胡索盐炒，全蝎去毒生用，等分为末。每次服用半钱，空腹用盐酒送服。
偏正头痛不可忍受。延胡索七枚，青黛二钱，牙皂二个（去皮去子），研为细末，水泛为丸，如杏仁大小。每次用水化开一丸，灌入鼻内。无论左右，口中咬住一枚铜钱，会有涎液流出成盆而痊愈。
〔论〕 延胡索在寒露前栽种，饱历三个冬天，春后才发芽。蕴酿阴气最为浓厚。等到其苗蔓生，长叶开花，具备了一整个春季的特性。刚过立夏就挖掘其根来使用。这是蕴酿了金水之气，而完全畅达于敷和之木。得阴中之少阳以为用。采收时不让其受火气侵扰，正是为了不伤金、不泄木，达到最大的畅达。这是二者的大化规律。水和血是一还是二？金孕育水的本源，木莲化水的变化。难道不是血为体，而血中之气即为用吗？赵之颐判定它为“血中气药”，“气中用药”，最为切中要害。不能将其等同于破血的药剂，更不能以疏气耗气来诬蔑它。而且血属阴主下，气属阳主上。此药味先苦且居多，辛次之，只有苦的一半，再次是微甘。这是从阴中致阳的用，反过来通达阴的化。
The roots grow in clusters and spread. Their shape resembles *Pinelliae Rhizoma* (Banxia, 半夏). They are yellow in color. They are dug up at the beginning of Summer (Lixia, 立夏). Those dried in the shade are of superior quality.
The taste is bitter, slightly pungent, and slightly sweet. The nature is warm. Its action can ascend and descend. It belongs to Yin containing Yang. It enters the Hand and Foot Taiyin (太阴) and Jueyin (厥阴) meridians, and also enters the Hand Shaoyin (少阴) meridian. It invigorates blood and transforms Qi. It treats abdominal pain caused by Heart Qi stagnation, and pain from Qi masses outside the membrane. It regulates Kidney Qi and stops sudden lower back pain. It unblocks collaterals and vessels, activates Jing and Blood, and regulates menstruation in women. It treats masses in the abdomen, metrorrhagia and leukorrhea (Bengzhong Linlu, 崩中淋露), various postpartum blood disorders, syncope due to blood loss (Xueyun, 血晕), sudden massive bleeding rushing upward, and traumatic stasis. (*Zhu Bencao*, 诸本草) It specializes in treating all kinds of pain throughout the upper and lower body. (Li Shizhen/Binhu, 濒湖) Because it possesses the characteristics of the Four Seasons within one spring, its leaves are invariably trifoliate (three leaflets), embodying the generating number of Wood. (Zhao Zhiyi, 之颐) Based on the analysis of disease syndromes and its therapeutic efficacy, it is classified as a "Qi medicine within Blood" (Xuezhong Qi Yao, 血中气药), meaning a medication that acts upon Qi within the context of Blood. Generally, Qi primarily provides the pushing/moving function (Xu, 嘘), while Blood primarily provides the moistening/nourishing function (Ru, 濡). Where Qi fails to push, Blood fails to moisten. For instance, abdominal masses and phlegm-stasis accumulations in the membranes are caused by Blood stagnating and solidifying in the Ying (Nutritive) level. Abdominal Qi masses coiling into hernias are caused by Qi stagnating and solidifying in the Wei (Defensive) level. Metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, syncope, epistaxis, and sudden violent bleeding are caused by Blood being depressed in the Ying level and becoming stagnant. Running piglet syndrome (Ben Tun, 奔豚), rebellious Qi, cold limbs, and whole-body pain with irritability are caused by Qi being lax and Wei Qi being thin. Yanhusuo (Corydalis Rhizome) stimulates the Qi within the Blood and vigorously promotes the function of Qi within the Qi. For deficiency, it tonifies; for excess, it pacifies. It is an excellent substance for eliminating the old and promoting the new. (Zhao Zhiyi) The statement "Where Qi fails to push, Blood fails to moisten" can be seen frequently in medical case records. For example, a person became angry after eating buckwheat noodles and suffered pain in the epigastrium corresponding to the heart. The physician administered emetic, purgative, Qi-moving, and stagnation-resolving drugs, which resulted in vomiting and constipation instead. This was because they did not realize that where Qi remains stagnant, the pathology lies in the Blood. Administering this herb as a powder mixed with warm wine cured the patient. Another elderly patient suffered from dysentery with severe abdominal pain, nearly reaching a critical state. This was damp-heat injuring Qi, which subsequently led to Blood coagulation. Using this herb as a powder mixed with rice water also cured him. Another patient suffered from extreme generalized pain. Treatments for wind-stroke, dampness invasion, and podagra were ineffective. This was because cold stagnation in the Qi level caused the Blood to become stagnant. Mixing it with *Angelicae Sinensis Radix* (Danggui, 当归) and *Cinnamomi Cortex* (Guixin, 桂心) as a powder, taken with warm wine, cured him. A patient with joint spasms due to improper Qigong practice was also cured using this powder. Thus, when addressing Qi disorders that lead to Blood stagnation, or seeking to invigorate Blood to transform Qi, Yanhusuo is indeed a crucial agent. Combined with *Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata* (Sheng Dihuang, 生地), *Angelicae Sinensis Radix* (Danggui, 当归), *Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix* (Niuxi, 牛膝), *Leonuri Herba* (Yimucao, 益母草), and children's urine (Tongbian, 童便), it masterfully treats postpartum syncope. Combined with Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction), *Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix* (Baijiao, 白胶 - likely referring to Donkey-hide gelatin/Ejiao in this context or similar mucilaginous herb), *Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix* (Niuxi, 牛膝), and *Cyperi Rhizoma* (Xiangfu, 香附), it treats menstrual obstruction in women, causing lower abdominal pain or mass formation.
Supplementary Prescriptions:
For external membrane Qi pain and Qi masses: Yanhusuo, any amount, powdered. One pig pancreas, cut into pieces, roasted, and dipped in the powder to be eaten frequently.
For critical hernia: Yanhusuo salt-fried, *Scorpio* (Quanxie, 全蝎) de-toxicated and raw, equal parts, powdered. Take half a qian per dose, fasting, with salted wine.
For unbearable lateral or frontal headache: Seven pieces of Yanhusuo, two qian of *Indigo Naturalis* (Qingdai, 青黛), two pods of *Gleditsiae Sinensis Fructus* (Yazao, 牙皂) peeled and seeded. Powdered, pillified with water to the size of an apricot kernel. Dissolve one pill in water and insufflate into the nostril. Regardless of side, have the patient bite a copper coin in their mouth. Saliva will flow out like a basin, leading to recovery.
[Discussion] Yanhusuo is planted before Cold Dew (Hanlu, 寒露), enduring three winters fully before sprouting in spring. It accumulates Yin Qi most densely. When its vines grow, leaves emerge, and flowers bloom, it embodies the full cycle of spring. Just after Lixia, its roots are dug for use. This represents accumulating Metal and Water Qi, yet fully expressing through the harmonizing Wood. It utilizes the Young Yang within Yin. Harvesting without exposing it to Fire Qi ensures no injury to Metal and no leakage of Wood, achieving maximum free flow. This is the great transformation of these two elements. Are Water and Blood one or two? Metal conceives the origin of Water, and Wood transforms Water. Is it not so that Blood is the Substance (Ti, 体), and the Qi within Blood is its Function (Yong, 用)? Zhao Zhiyi's classification of it as a "Qi medicine within Blood" and "medication acting on Qi" is highly accurate. It must not be equated with Blood-breaking agents, nor slandered as dispersing or depleting Qi. Blood belongs to Yin and descends; Qi belongs to Yang and ascends. This herb is first bitter and predominant, then pungent (half the bitterness), and finally slightly sweet. This derives Yang function from Yin, thereby returning to reach Yin transformation.
Mu Shi states: Due to its pungent, dispersing nature, it should be contraindicated for metrorrhagia and leukorrhea requiring heat-clearing and Qi-tonifying, for early menstruation, and for all blood-heat disorders.
[Processing] Select granules that are golden yellow. For moving blood, process with wine. For stopping bleeding, stir-fry with vinegar. For breaking blood, use raw. For regulating blood, stir-fry.