一名猫儿刺。（叶有五刺如猫形）多生江浙间。树如女贞。肌理甚白。叶长二三寸。青
翠浓硬。有五刺角。四时不凋。采其木皮煎膏。以粘鸟雀。谓之 膏。
木皮
味微苦。气凉。 浸酒补腰脚令健。（脏器）
枝叶
气味同皮。应入肝肾二经。 烧灰淋汁。或煎膏。涂白癜风。（脏器）取其叶煮饮。治
痰火甚验。按痰火未有不由阴虚火炎。上烁乎肺。煎熬津液而成者。此药直入足少阴补养阴
气。其消痰火也。如釜底抽薪然。 能散风毒恶疮。昔有老妓。有结毒已三十年。有道人教
以单服此药。疮愈而色亦转少。皆假其清热凉血之功也。
陕之兰灵九原以西。枸杞并是大树。其叶浓。其根粗。河西及甘州者。其子圆如樱桃
。曝干。紧小少核。干亦红润甘美。异于他处。入药以河西者为上。（濒湖） 苗乃天精。
其味苦甘。而气凉性升。根乃地骨。其味甘淡。气寒性沉。子味甘。气平。性润。气味既殊。
功用自别。而本经止概言之。（又） 枸杞凌冬不凋。其叶三发。发于七月者。花即随之。
而实亦随结。是禀金气而涵水。固不分于苗根及实矣。特金气之专萃者尤在实。而河以西者。
气味更浓也。
苗
如榴叶而软薄。
味苦微甘。气寒。 治上焦心肺客热。去皮肤骨节间风。消热毒。散疮肿。 作饮代茶。
止消渴烦热。 火赫毒疮。患此急防毒瓦斯入心腹。枸杞叶捣汁服之。立瘥。
地骨皮
即枸杞根。
味甘淡而苦。气寒。阴也。入足少阴手少阳气分。 主治去下焦肝肾虚热。益精气。凉
血坚筋骨。解有汗骨蒸肌热。疗消渴。泻胞中火。降肺中伏火。退热补正气。去肾家风。并
治在表无定风邪。（此阴虚生风非指外感之邪也）及骨槽风。 方书更治虚劳发热。往来寒
热。诸见血证。鼻衄嗽血。咳喘消瘅。中风眩晕。痫痉虚烦。悸健忘。腰痛行痹。香港脚水肿。
小便不通。赤白浊。西土产者。功用如上。他产则泻热较甚。未可一例言也。 凡阴虚血少。
阳气下陷于内而为热。热气薰蒸于表而汗泄。为有汗骨蒸。又肾主骨。肾脏有热。则骨亦热。
而血涸髓枯。筋失荣养矣。地骨皮入肾益阴气凉血。所以解有汗之骨蒸。并强筋骨也。（类
明） 三焦之气。原自极里。以至于极表。故去肾风者。即能治在表风邪。（东垣） 小便
出血。鲜地骨皮洗捣自然汁。无汁则以水煎汁。每服一盏。入酒少许。食前温服。 带下脉
数。枸杞根一斤。生地五斤。酒一斗。煮五升。日日服之。 膀胱移热于小肠。上为口糜。
心胃壅热。水谷不下。用地骨皮汤柴胡地骨皮各三钱。水煎服之。
〔论〕 地骨皮能益足少阴肾之阴气。以疗手少阳三焦之虚阳。盖三焦为元气使。根于
肾脏元阴。兹味由甘而苦。其气有寒。本中土之冲气以至地。且其金气涵水。能裕真阴之化
源。而不伤元阳。故与苦寒者特殊。凡人真阴中有火。自相蒸烁。而见有汗骨蒸。宜此对待
之。须知此味不兼养血。却专以益阴为其功。虽能除热。却不以泻火尽其用。即曰益阴气者。
便能泻火。但直以为泻火而用。则此味专于除热。不能治虚矣。彼病后之虚烦地仙散。及健
忘之读书丸。心气不足惊悸健忘之补心丹。（心气根于肾气）并赤白浊之清心莲子饮。可概
谓之泻火乎。或曰。兹味治风。风正阳之淫气所化者也。独不谓之泻火乎。不知益阴气以退
三焦之虚阳。但令阴气得为阳守。所程治效。总完一个阴气耳。其有不病于阴弱阳盛。止由
阴气不足而亦用此以为滋益之元者。（并为三焦元阳之始）故于各证之治。须当识此义也。
士材云。中寒者。禁用。
〔修治〕 凡掘得根。以东流水浸。刷去土。捶去心。用熟甘草汤浸一宿。焙干。恐其
太寒。以酒蒸用。 根多不能得河西者。必以醇酒浸。近火处顿干。（不可令熟）如此三次。
老人方可服。
子
七月作花紫色。随结红实。凌冬不凋。二月叶发。五月再发。其实乃谢。七月叶又发。
花即随之。
气味甘平。主治滋肾润肺。疗肝风血虚。去虚劳。补精气。主心病嗌干。心痛渴而引
饮。
遗
枸杞子甘润滋补。生精益气。所谓精不足者。补之以味也。世人但以芩连知柏补阴降火。
致伤元气。而不知枸杞地骨甘寒平补。使精气充而邪火自退之妙。又以青蒿佐地骨。退热屡
有殊功（濒湖） 枸杞子为肝肾真阴不足。劳乏内热。补益之要药。又为益精明目之上品。
老人阴虚者十常八九。故服食尤宜。（仲淳） 枸杞煎。治虚劳。退虚热。轻身益气。令一
切痈疽永不发。枸杞三十斤。春夏用茎叶。秋冬用根实。水一石。煮取五斗。以渣再煮。取
五斗。澄清。去渣再煎。取二斗。入锅煎如饧。收之。每早酒服一合。此药采无刺味甜者。
其有刺者服之无益。 得地黄麦冬五味牛膝青蒿鳖甲地骨皮。除虚劳内热。或发寒热。加天
冬百部枇杷叶。兼治肺热咳嗽之因阴虚者。 与甘菊花相对蜜丸。久服则终身无目疾。兼不
中风。及生疔疽。 补虚长肉。甘杞子五升。无灰酒二斗。入瓷瓮内。拌搦勿碎。浸七日。
漉去子。温饮之。先以三合为始。后任性长饮。以多取效。 注夏虚病。枸杞子五味子研细。
滚
〔论〕 凡味之兼甘者。即非阴阳偏至之气。枸杞根苗及实俱有甘。但根亲乎地则气寒。
苗亲乎天则气凉。惟其子本水土合德之精。而结为孕育不息之生意。所以阴中含阳。阳为生
育之元。味甘而气平。故能去虚劳。补精气也。其结实于秋。专得金气。而色却红润。是
金中有火。所谓金火合而血化者。此为最切。第用杞子者。类知其由肾润肺。而不知水脏得
金气之专。实由能润心燥而后至肾。（海藏治嗌干心痛。次乃及于引饮肾渴。）所以益肾阴者
。真有母气精专之化焉。（能润心燥。是离中有坎而血生。故下归于肾。乃得坎中有离而气
化。盖因火得金以为用。故润心燥而血生。金得火以为主。故归肾宅而气化也。）夫气不化
。则精亦不足。此红润而甘者。味固至浓。气亦甚全。味浓而益阴者。有其资生。气全而化
精者。有其资始。生精益气之说。岂其诬哉。惟本益阴。而又能化阳。虽化阳而还归益阴。
是从天气以归于下之阴。即得从地气以达乎上之阳。人身从阴中达阳者。惟肝胆为先。杞子
之由阴达阳。适合于肝。故入肝疗风而尤能明目也。
肠滑者禁用。（士材）
〔修治〕 去蒂及枯者。酒浸一宿。捣烂入药。
枸杞虫 食枸杞叶。状如蚕。作茧为蛹时。取晒干收。
味咸。气温。和地黄为丸服之。大能起阳益精。
枸骨（注：此处原文标题虽为枸骨，但内容实指枸杞及其相关部位，以下按原文逻辑翻译）又名猫儿刺。（因其叶片上有五个尖刺，形状像猫的爪子）多生长在江浙一带。树木形态如同女贞树。木质纹理非常白。叶子长两到三寸，颜色青翠、浓密且坚硬，有五个角状尖刺，四季都不凋谢。采集它的树皮煎煮成膏，用来粘捕鸟雀，这种膏称为“膏”。
树皮
味道微苦，性质凉。浸泡在酒中饮用可以补益腰脚，使其强健。（针对肾脏和肝脏脏器）
枝叶
气味与树皮相同，应当归入肝、肾二经。将其烧成灰淋出汁液，或者煎煮成膏，涂抹治疗白癜风。（针对皮肤及内脏病变）取它的叶子煮水饮用，治疗痰火症状非常有效。按中医理论分析，痰火没有不是由于阴虚导致虚火上炎，向上灼伤肺脏，煎熬津液而形成的。此药直接入足少阴肾经，补养阴气，它消除痰火的作用，就像从锅底下抽走柴火一样（治本）。能够疏散风毒引起的恶疮。过去有一位年老的歌妓，患有结毒（梅毒等慢性感染性疾病）已经三十年，有位道人教她单服此药，结果疮愈并且面色也转好，这都是借助了它清热凉血的功效。
陕西兰灵九原以西的地区，枸杞都是大树。叶子浓密，根部粗壮。河西及甘州产的枸杞，果实圆得像樱桃，晒干后紧小且核少，干燥后红润甘甜，与其他地方不同。入药以河西产的质量最好。（李时珍语）
苗（枸杞叶）即天精。味道苦甘，性质凉，性升。根（地骨皮）即地骨。味道甘淡，性质寒，性沉。果实味道甘，性质平，性润。因为气味不同，功用自然有别，但《神农本草经》只是笼统地说。（又云）枸杞越冬不凋谢，叶子分三次萌发，七月萌发的，花随之开放，果实也随之结出。这是禀受了金气而涵藏水气，本来就不区分苗、根和果实。特别是金气特别汇聚的地方尤其在于果实，而河西地区的枸杞，气味更加浓郁。
苗（枸杞叶）
像石榴叶那样柔软薄嫩。
味道苦微甘，性质寒。治疗上焦心肺的客热，去除皮肤骨节间的风邪，消除热毒，消散疮肿。制作成饮品代替茶，止住消渴烦热。如果是火毒炽盛的疮疡，患此病急防毒瓦斯进入心腹，将枸杞叶捣汁服用，立刻痊愈。
地骨皮（枸杞根皮）
就是枸杞的根。
味道甘淡而苦，性质寒，属阴。入足少阴肾经和手少阳三焦经的气分。主治去除下焦肝肾的虚热，益精气，凉血，坚固筋骨，解除有汗的骨蒸肌热，治疗消渴，泻膀胱中的火，降肺中伏火，退热补正气，去除肾风（肾虚生风），并治疗在表无定处的风邪。（这里说的阴虚生风，不是指外感的风邪）以及骨槽风。医书还记载治疗虚劳发热，往来寒热，各种出血证，鼻衄咳血，咳嗽气喘，消瘅，中风眩晕，癫痫痉挛，虚烦，心悸健忘，腰痛行痹，香港脚水肿，小便不通，赤白浊。西土出产的地骨皮，功效如上所述；其他产地则泻热作用较强，不能一概而论。凡是阴虚血少，阳气下陷于内而产生热，热气熏蒸于体表而汗出，这就是有汗的骨蒸。另外肾主骨，肾脏有热，骨头也会热，导致血液枯竭骨髓枯损，筋脉失去荣养。地骨皮入肾益阴气凉血，所以能解除有汗的骨蒸，并强壮筋骨。（张景岳语）三焦之气，原本发自极里，以至于极表，所以去除肾风，就能治疗在表的风邪。（李东垣语）小便出血，用鲜地骨皮洗净捣碎取自然汁，如果没有汁就用水煎汁，每次服用一盏，加入少许酒，饭前温服。带下病脉数，用枸杞根一斤，生地五斤，酒一斗，煮至五升，每天服用。膀胱移热于小肠，上行导致口糜，心胃壅热，水谷不下，用地骨皮汤，柴胡、地骨皮各三钱，水煎服。
〔论〕 地骨皮能补益足少阴肾的阴气，以治疗手少阳三焦的虚阳。因为三焦是元气的使者，根源在于肾脏的元阴。此药由甘变苦，其气寒，本是中土的冲气到达地面，而且金气涵水，能充裕真阴的化源，而不损伤元阳，所以与一般的苦寒药特殊。大凡人体真阴中有火，自相蒸烁，而出现有汗骨蒸，适宜用此药对待。须知此药不兼养血，却专门以益阴为功效，虽然能除热，却不以泻火来发挥全部作用。如果说益阴气就能泻火，但如果仅仅把它当作泻火药来用，那么此药只能专于除热，不能治疗虚证。那些病后的虚烦地仙散，以及健忘的读书丸，心气不足惊悸健忘的补心丹（心气根于肾气），还有赤白浊的清心莲子饮，能一概称之为泻火吗？有人说，此药治风，风正是阳气淫溢所化生的，难道不叫泻火吗？不知道它是通过益阴气来退去三焦的虚阳，只是让阴气能够守住阳气，所取得的疗效，总归是保全了一个阴气罢了。如果有不病于阴弱阳盛，只由阴气不足而也用此药作为滋益根本的。（这也是三焦元阳的开始）所以在治疗各种病症时，必须认识这个道理。李士材说，中寒者禁用。
〔修治〕 凡是掘得根，用东流水浸泡，刷去泥土，捶打去掉中心部分，用熟甘草汤浸泡一夜，焙干。恐怕它太寒，可以用酒蒸后用。如果根多得不到河西产的，必须用纯酒浸泡，在近火处烘干。（不可烤熟）如此三次，老人才可以服用。
子（枸杞子）
七月开花紫色，随即结出红色果实，越冬不凋谢。二月叶子萌发，五月再发，此时果实成熟脱落。七月叶子又发，花随之开放。
气味甘平。主治滋肾润肺，治疗肝风血虚，去除虚劳，补精气，主治心病咽干，心痛口渴想喝水。
遗（枸杞子功效补充）
枸杞子甘润滋补，生精益气，所谓“精不足者，补之以味”。世人只知道用黄芩、黄连、知母、黄柏来补阴降火，以致损伤元气，而不知道枸杞、地骨皮甘寒平补，使精气充盛而邪火自然消退的妙处。又以青蒿辅助地骨皮，退热屡有殊功。（李时珍语）枸杞子是肝肾真阴不足，劳乏内热的补益要药，又是益精明目的上品。老人阴虚的十常八九，所以服用食补尤其适宜。（陈士铎语）枸杞煎，治疗虚劳，退虚热，轻身益气，令一切痈疽永不发作。枸杞三十斤，春夏用茎叶，秋冬用根实，水一石，煮取五斗，用渣滓再煮，取五斗，澄清，去渣再煎，取二斗，入锅煎如饴糖状，收存。每天早上用酒服一合。此药采摘无刺且味甜的，有刺的服用无益。得到地黄、麦冬、五味子、牛膝、青蒿、鳖甲、地骨皮，可除虚劳内热，或发寒热；加天冬、百部、枇杷叶，兼治因阴虚导致的肺热咳嗽。与甘菊花相对，蜜丸，久服则终身无眼疾，兼不得中风，也不生疔疽。补虚长肉，甘杞子五升，无灰酒二斗，入瓷瓮内，拌搦勿碎，浸七日，滤去子，温饮之。先以三合开始，后来随意多喝，以多取效。注夏虚病，枸杞子、五味子研细，滚水冲泡。
〔论〕 凡是味道兼甘的，就不是阴阳偏至之气。枸杞的根、苗及果实都有甘味，但根亲近地所以气寒，苗亲近天所以气凉。只有它的果实本是水土合德的精华，结为孕育不息的生意，所以阴中含阳，阳是生育的根本，味甘而气平，所以能去虚劳，补精气。它在秋天结实，专得金气，而颜色却红润，这是金中有火，所谓金火合而血化，这说得最贴切。只是用枸杞子的人，大概知道它由肾润肺，而不知道水脏（肾）得金气的专注，实际上是由能润心燥而后至于肾。（海藏治咽干心痛，其次才涉及引饮肾渴。）所以益肾阴的，真有母气精专的化育啊。（能润心燥，是离卦中有坎卦而血生，所以下归于肾，乃得坎卦中有离卦而气化。盖因火得金以为用，所以润心燥而血生；金得火以为主，所以归肾宅而气化也。）气如果不化，精也不足。这红润而甘的，味道固然浓厚，气也很全。味浓而益阴的，有其资生的基础；气全而化精的，有其资始的基础。生精益气的说法，难道是诬妄的吗？只有本益阴，而又能化阳，虽然化阳而还归益阴，这是从天气归于下部的阴，也就得以从地气达乎上部的阳。人身从阴中达阳的，惟独肝胆为先。枸杞子由阴达阳，适合于肝，所以入肝疗风而尤其能明目。
〔修治〕 去掉蒂及枯萎的部分，酒浸一夜，捣烂入药。
味道咸，气温。和地黄做成丸药服用，大能起阳益精。
Gougu (Note: Although the title is Gougu, the content actually refers to Goji and its related parts; the following translation follows the original logic) Also known as Mao'erci ("Cat's Thorns"). (Because its leaves have five sharp thorns shaped like cat claws). It grows mostly in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions. The tree resembles Ligustrum lucidum (Nuzhen). The wood texture is very white. The leaves are two to three cun long, green, dense, hard, with five angular thorns, and do not wither in all four seasons. Collect its bark, decoct it into a paste, and use it to catch birds and sparrows; this paste is called "Gao".
Bark
Taste: slightly bitter. Nature: cool. Soaking it in wine and drinking can tonify the waist and legs, making them strong. (Targeting Kidney and Liver organs)
Leaves and Branches
The taste and nature are the same as the bark. It should enter the Liver and Kidney meridians. Burn it to ash, leach out the juice, or decoct it into a paste, and apply it to treat Vitiligo. (Targeting skin and internal organ lesions) Decoct its leaves and drink the water; it is very effective in treating Phlegm-Fire. According to TCM theory, Phlegm-Fire arises from Yin deficiency leading to deficient fire flaming upward, scorching the Lungs, and boiling down body fluids. This herb directly enters the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian to nourish Yin Qi. Its effect of eliminating Phlegm-Fire is like removing the firewood from under the pot (treating the root). It can disperse wind-toxin causing malignant sores. In the past, an elderly courtesan suffered from Jiedu (chronic infectious diseases such as syphilis) for thirty years. A Daoist priest taught her to take this herb alone, resulting in the healing of sores and improvement of complexion. This was all due to its heat-clearing and blood-cooling efficacy.
In the region west of Lanling and Jiuyuan in Shaanxi, Goji trees are large. The leaves are dense, and the roots are thick. Goji from Hexi and Ganzhou has fruits round like cherries. After sun-drying, they are tight, small, with few seeds, red, moist, sweet, and delicious, different from other places. For medicinal use, those from Hexi are superior. (Li Shizhen)
Seedlings (Goji Leaves), also called Tianjing. Taste: bitter and sweet. Nature: cool. Property: ascending. Roots (Digupi/Digutongpi), also called Digutong. Taste: sweet and bland. Nature: cold. Property: sinking. Fruits taste sweet. Nature: neutral. Property: moistening. Since the tastes and natures differ, their functions naturally vary, but the *Shennong Bencao Jing* only mentions them generally. (Also stated) Goji does not wither in winter. Leaves emerge three times. Those emerging in July are followed by flowers, and fruits form accordingly. This indicates receiving Metal Qi while containing Water Qi. Originally, there is no distinction between seedlings, roots, and fruits. However, where Metal Qi is particularly concentrated, it is especially in the fruits, and Goji from the Hexi region has more intense taste and nature.
Seedlings (Goji Leaves)
Soft and thin like pomegranate leaves.
Taste: bitter and slightly sweet. Nature: cold. Treats external heat in the Upper Jiao (Heart and Lungs), removes wind from the skin and joints, eliminates heat-toxin, and dissipates carbuncles and swellings. Make it into a drink to replace tea, stopping polydipsia and烦热 (restlessness and heat). If suffering from severe fire-toxin sores, urgently prevent toxic gases from entering the heart and abdomen; crush Goji leaves and take the juice, recovering immediately.
Digupi (Cortex Lycii / Goji Root Bark)
It is the root of Goji.
Taste: sweet, bland, and bitter. Nature: cold. Yin category. Enters the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian Qi level. Mainly treats removing deficient heat in the Lower Jiao (Liver and Kidneys), benefits Essence and Qi, cools blood, strengthens bones and tendons, resolves bone-steaming with sweating, treats polydipsia, drains fire from the bladder, descends latent fire in the Lungs, reduces fever, tonifies healthy Qi, removes Kidney Wind, and treats undefined wind pathogens on the exterior. (This refers to wind generated by Yin deficiency, not exogenous wind pathogens) and Gucaofeng (bone groove wind). Medical texts also record its treatment of consumptive fever, alternating chills and fever, various bleeding disorders, epistaxis and hemoptysis, cough and asthma, Xiao-Dan (wasting-thirst), stroke and vertigo, epilepsy and spasms, deficient restlessness, palpitations and amnesia, lower back pain and Bi-syndrome, Hongjiaojiao (Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease/edema), edema, urinary retention, and red-and-white turbidity. Digupi produced in the Western Regions has the above effects; those from other regions have stronger heat-draining properties and cannot be treated uniformly. Whenever there is Yin deficiency and Blood insufficiency, with Yang Qi sinking internally generating heat, and heat steaming externally causing sweating, this is bone-steaming with sweating. Additionally, the Kidneys govern bones; if the Kidneys have heat, the bones become hot, leading to blood depletion and marrow exhaustion, causing tendons to lose nourishment. Digupi enters the Kidneys to benefit Yin Qi and cool blood, thus resolving bone-steaming with sweating and strengthening bones and tendons. (Zhang Jingyue) The Qi of the Sanjiao originates from the deepest interior and extends to the extreme exterior. Therefore, removing Kidney Wind enables the treatment of exterior wind pathogens. (Li Dongyuan) For hematuria, wash fresh Digupi, crush it to obtain natural juice. If no juice is available, decoct it in water. Take one cup per dose, add a little wine, and take warm before meals. For leukorrhea with a rapid pulse, use one jin of Goji root, five jin of Shengdi Huang, and one dou of wine. Boil until five sheng remain, and take daily. When bladder heat transfers to the Small Intestine, ascending to cause mouth ulcers, and Heart/Stomach heat obstruction prevents food and water intake, use Digupi Tang: Chai Hu and Digupi, each 3 qian. Decoct in water and take.
[Discussion] Digupi can tonify the Yin Qi of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney to treat the deficient Yang of the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao. Because the Sanjiao is the envoy of Yuan Qi, rooted in the Yuan Yin of the Kidneys. This herb changes from sweet to bitter, its nature is cold. It originates from the central Earth's neutral Qi reaching the ground, and because Metal Qi contains Water, it can enrich the source of True Yin without damaging Yuan Yang. Thus, it is special compared to ordinary bitter-cold herbs. Generally, when True Yin contains fire that steams itself, causing bone-steaming with sweating, this herb is suitable. It must be understood that this herb does not nourish Blood but specializes in benefiting Yin. Although it can remove heat, it does not exhaust its utility solely through draining fire. To say that benefiting Yin Qi drains fire is true, but if used merely as a fire-draining agent, it would only specialize in removing heat and fail to treat deficiency. Can the Dixian San for post-illness deficient restlessness, the Dushu Wan for amnesia, the Buxin Dan for insufficient Heart Qi causing palpitations and amnesia (Heart Qi is rooted in Kidney Qi), and the Qingxin Lianzi Yin for red-and-white turbidity be generally called fire-draining? Some say this herb treats wind, and wind is transformed from excessive Yang Qi. Is it not called fire-draining? One does not realize that by benefiting Yin Qi, it retreats the deficient Yang of the Sanjiao, allowing Yin to guard Yang. The achieved efficacy ultimately preserves Yin Qi. If one suffers not from Yin weakness and Yang excess, but solely from insufficient Yin Qi, using this herb as a fundamental tonic is appropriate. (This is also the beginning of Yuan Yang in the Sanjiao). Therefore, in treating various syndromes, one must recognize this principle. Li Shicai states: Contraindicated in Cold-Center.
[Processing] When digging up roots, soak them in east-flowing water, brush off dirt, beat to remove the core, soak overnight in cooked Licorice decoction, and bake dry. To avoid excessive coldness, steam with wine before use. If roots from Hexi are unavailable, soak in pure wine, dry near fire. (Do not overcook). Repeat this three times before the elderly can take it.
Fruits (Gouqi Zi)
Flowers bloom purple in July, followed by red fruits, which do not withter in winter. Leaves emerge in February, emerge again in May, when fruits mature and fall. Leaves emerge again in July, followed by flowers.
Taste: sweet and neutral. Nature: Ping (Neutral). Main actions: Nourishes Kidneys and moistens Lungs, treats Liver wind and Blood deficiency, removes consumptive fatigue, tonifies Essence and Qi, treats Heart disease symptoms like dry throat, heart pain, thirst, and desire to drink.
Supplemental Effects of Gouqi Zi
Gouqi Zi is sweet, moist, and nourishing, generating Essence and benefiting Qi. As stated, "When Essence is insufficient, tonify with flavor." People usually only use Huang Qin, Huang Lian, Zhi Mu, and Bai Zhu to nourish Yin and drain fire, thereby damaging Yuan Qi, unaware of the subtlety of Gouqi and Digupi being sweet, cold, and neutral-tonifying, which fills Essence and Qi so that pathogenic fire recedes naturally. Adding Qing Hao to assist Digupi often yields remarkable results in reducing fever. (Li Shizhen) Gouqi Zi is a key herb for tonifying deficiency in the Liver and Kidney True Yin, labor-fatigue, and internal heat. It is also a top-grade herb for benefiting Essence and improving vision. Ninety percent of the elderly suffer from Yin deficiency, so dietary therapy is particularly suitable. (Chen Shiduo) Gouqi Jian treats consumptive fatigue, reduces deficient heat, lightens the body, benefits Qi, and prevents all carbuncles and sores from ever developing. Use 30 jin of Gouqi. Use stems and leaves in spring and summer, roots and fruits in autumn and winter. Add one shi of water, boil to obtain five dou. Boil the dregs again to obtain five dou. Clarify, remove dregs, and boil again to obtain two dou. Cook in a pot until like maltose. Store. Take one ge with wine every morning. Harvest Gouqi that is thornless and sweet; thorny ones are ineffective. Combined with Di Huang, Mai Dong, Wu Wei Zi, Niu Xi, Qing Hao, Bie Jia, and Digupi, it removes consumptive internal heat or alternating chills and fever. Add Tian Dong, Bai Bu, and Pi Pa Ye to simultaneously treat lung-heat cough caused by Yin deficiency. Combined with Gan Ju Hua, made into honey pills, long-term consumption ensures lifelong freedom from eye diseases, stroke, and ding-sores. Tonifies deficiency and promotes flesh growth: Use 5 sheng of Gan Qi Zi and 2 dou of non-ash wine. Place in a porcelain jar, mix and knead without crushing, soak for seven days. Strain out the seeds, drink warm. Start with three he, then drink freely as desired, aiming for greater efficacy. For Zhuxia deficiency illness, grind Gouqi Zi and Wu Wei Zi finely, and brew with boiling water.
[Discussion] Any flavor that includes sweetness is not an extreme of Yin or Yang. Goji roots, seedlings, and fruits all have sweetness. However, roots are close to earth, so their nature is cold; seedlings are close to heaven, so their nature is cool. Only the fruit is the essence of the harmonious virtue of water and earth, forming a continuous life of gestation. Thus, it contains Yang within Yin, and Yang is the origin of generation. Sweet in taste and neutral in nature, it can remove consumptive fatigue and tonify Essence and Qi. It bears fruit in autumn, specifically receiving Metal Qi, yet its color is red and moist. This is Fire within Metal, described as "Metal and Fire combine to transform Blood," which is most accurate. Users of Gouqi Zi generally know it moistens the Lungs via the Kidneys but do not know that the Water Organ (Kidney) receives the focused Metal Qi, actually starting by moistening Heart dryness before reaching the Kidney. (Haizang treated dry throat and heart pain, subsequently addressing thirst and Kidney dryness.) Therefore, benefiting Kidney Yin truly involves the specialized transformation of maternal Qi. (Moistening Heart dryness implies Kan within Li, generating Blood, which then descends to the Kidney, obtaining Li within Kan to transform Qi. Because Fire uses Metal, it moistens Heart dryness and generates Blood; because Metal uses Fire as master, it returns to the Kidney residence to transform Qi.) If Qi does not transform, Essence is also insufficient. This red, moist, and sweet substance has rich flavor and complete Qi. Rich flavor benefits Yin with a basis for generation; complete Qi transforms Essence with a basis for initiation. Is the claim of generating Essence and benefiting Qi false? It fundamentally benefits Yin and can transform Yang. Although transforming Yang, it returns to benefiting Yin. This is returning Heaven Qi to the lower Yin, thereby allowing Earth Qi to reach upper Yang. In the human body, moving from Yin to Yang begins with the Liver and Gallbladder. Gouqi Zi moves from Yin to Yang, suits the Liver, thus entering the Liver to treat wind and especially improve vision.
Contraindicated in loose stools. (Li Shicai)
[Processing] Remove stems and withered parts, soak in wine overnight, crush, and add to medicine.
Gouqi Chong (Goji Insect)
Eats Goji leaves, shaped like silkworms. When spinning cocoons and becoming pupae, collect and sun-dry.
Taste: salty. Nature: warm. Combine with Di Huang to make pills. Greatly raises Yang and benefits Essence.