三月开白花。根长及尺。四月采根。曝用。
味苦微辛。气温芳烈。苦泄热。温壮气。辛散郁。肾经气分药。（苗短根长。司肾之物。
肾有相火。苦温者入之。）藏于肾而用于心。（之颐）主治强志补中。定心气。止惊悸。治健
忘。益智慧。利九窍。聪耳明目。除邪气。去心下膈气。小便赤浊。及肾积奔豚。又远志酒
治一切痈疽。奇效。同枣仁茯神人参地黄丹砂。为镇心定惊要药。同人参柏仁枣仁麦冬五味
归身益智茯苓神生地甘草沉香。治心气弱。心血少。馁怯易惊。梦寐多魇。神不守舍。怔忡
健忘。失志阳痿。同茯神人参白术炙草枣仁木香龙眼肉。能归脾益智。入当归六黄汤。止阴
虚盗汗。
附方 远志酒。凡一切痈疽发背疖毒。有死血阴毒在中则不痛。敷之即痛。有忧恚等气
积怒攻。则痛不可忍。敷之即不痛。或蕴热在内。热逼人手不可忍。敷之即清凉。或气虚冷
溃而不敛。敷之即敛。此方极验。若七情内郁。不问虚实寒热。治之皆愈。用远志不拘多少。
米泔浸洗。捶去心。为末。每服三钱。温酒一盏调。澄少顷。饮其清。以渣敷患处。小便赤
浊。远志八两。茯神益智各二两。为末。酒糊丸梧子大。每空心枣汤下五十丸。
〔论〕 远志独以益志见长者。以志固静中之动机。所谓阴中阳也。此味苦而至地。乃
本于气之温者。感于离阳以上越。有合于人身阴中之阳。阳之初动。以效其离火之用动而不
者。（先哲谓肾气不足加熟地远志丹皮）观其采根。定以孟夏。非阳之动而欲畅者。此固
乘之以出乎。经曰。营卫留于下。久之不以时上。故善忘。此味之治善忌。固为其举精气以
上奉也。然则远志信为肾经气分药。乃又谓其入心归血者。（丹溪）盖能于至阴之地以发阳。
还能于至阳之地以宅阴也。（虽为肾家气分药。而最能宁心。以其入心归血也。盖血者真阴
之化醇。入心归血。正于至阳之地宅阴。动又以静为君也。）其益智慧者。以精气上奉于心。
而精中伎巧之出。并之而上也。之颐云。藏于肾而用于心一语。庶几微中矣。人身止是水火
二气。肾气者。水中火也。心血者。火中水也。能使肾气上奉于心。则水亦随火以升矣。水
随火升。即能使心血下达于肾。而火亦随水以降矣。历参所疗诸证。如强志定气。可以识升
者机。如赤浊奔豚。可以识降者机。至于调气之道。在和阴阳。远志能开郁者。亦其升降阴
阳之功也。枣仁治心。乃入脾胆血分者。炒熟则香甘而仍有酸意。盖肝胆以脾为用。熟枣仁
香醒脾困。甘生脾血。而又有酸以收其耗散之气。使血归于脾。脾之脉固注心者也。所以亦
曰补心。大约远志乃先天化原。枣仁乃后天化原。故二味俱用以益心。（二味入补心药须以
血药为主）
缪氏云。心有实火。应用黄连生地者。禁与术等补阳气药同用。
〔修治〕 去骨取皮。甘草汤渍一宿。（因苦下行。以甘缓之。使上发也。）漉出。曝干
用。
三月开出白色的花。根部长度可达一尺。四月采集根部，晒干后使用。
味道苦而微辛，药性温和，气味芳香猛烈。苦味能泄热，温性能壮气，辛味能散郁。它是入肾经气分的药物。（其苗短根长，主管肾脏相关事物。肾中寄居相火，苦温性质的药物能进入其中。）它藏于肾而作用于心。（出自张之颐的观点）主要功效为增强意志、补益中焦、安定心气、止住惊悸、治疗健忘、增进智慧、通利九窍、使耳聪目明、祛除邪气、消除心下膈部的滞气、治疗小便赤浊以及肾积奔豚。此外，远志酒能治疗各种痈疽，效果奇特。与酸枣仁、茯神、人参、地黄、朱砂配合，是镇心安神的要药。与人参、柏子仁、酸枣仁、麦冬、五味子、当归身、益智仁、茯苓、神曲、生地黄、甘草、沉香配合，可治疗心气虚弱、心血不足、胆怯易惊、睡眠多噩梦、神不守舍、怔忡健忘、失志阳痿等症状。与茯神、人参、白术、炙甘草、酸枣仁、木香、龙眼肉配合，能归脾益智。加入当归六黄汤中，可止住阴虚盗汗。
附方：远志酒。凡是各种痈疽、发背、疖毒，如果有死血阴毒在体内，则不疼痛，外敷后即感到疼痛；如果有忧恚等气积聚愤怒攻冲，则疼痛难以忍受，外敷后即不再疼痛；或者体内蕴结热邪，热气逼人难以忍受，外敷后即感到清凉；或者气虚寒冷导致溃烂而不愈合，外敷后即能愈合。此方极为灵验。如果是七情内郁所致，无论虚实寒热，治疗都能痊愈。取远志不拘多少，用米泔水浸泡清洗，捶打去除木质心，研成粉末。每次服用三钱，用一盏温酒调服，沉淀片刻，饮用澄清部分，将药渣敷于患处。治疗小便赤浊：远志八两，茯神、益智仁各二两，研成粉末，用酒糊制成梧桐子大小的丸剂。每晨起空腹用枣汤送服五十丸。
【论述】 远志独以增强意志见长，因为“志”确实是静中的动因，也就是所谓的“阴中之阳”。这种药味苦而向下行，本源于气的温性，感应离卦之阳而上越，符合人身中“阴中之阳”的特性。阳气初动，以发挥离火的作用，动而不躁。（先哲曾说肾气不足时加熟地、远志、丹皮）观察其采集时间定为孟夏（农历四月），并非阳气欲畅达之时，这确实是顺应阳气而出乎自然。《内经》说：“营卫留于下部，久久不能按时上行，所以容易健忘。”远志治疗健忘的功效，正是因为它能提升精气以上奉于心。然而，远志确实被认为是肾经气分药，却又说它入心归血。（出自朱丹溪）大概是因为它能于至阴之地发散阳气，还能于至阳之地安宅阴精。（虽然作为肾家气分药，却最能宁心，因为它入心归血。血液是真阴化生的精华，入心归血，正是在至阳之地安宅阴精，以动为主但又以静为君。）它增进智慧的原因，在于精气上奉于心，而精中蕴含的伎巧随之而上。张之颐说：“藏于肾而用于心”，这句话几乎切中了要害。人身只有水火二气。肾气，是水中之火；心血，是火中之水。能使肾气上奉于心，则水也随火上升；水随火升，就能使心血下达于肾，而火也随水下降。纵观所治疗的诸种病症，如强志定气，可以识别出升发的机理；如赤浊奔豚，可以识别出降下的机理。至于调气之道，在于调和阴阳。远志能开郁，也是其升降阴阳的功效体现。酸枣仁治心，是入脾胆血分的药物，炒熟后香气甘甜但仍保留酸味。大概肝胆以脾为用，熟枣仁的香气唤醒脾的困倦，甘味生成脾血，又有酸味收敛耗散之气，使血归于脾。脾的经脉本就注于心，所以也说补心。大致而言，远志是先天化源，枣仁是后天化源，所以这两味药都用来益心。（这两味药入补心药方须以血药为主）
In the third month, it opens white flowers. The roots grow up to one chi in length. In the fourth month, the roots are harvested and used after sun-drying.
The taste is bitter with a slight pungency; the nature is warm, and the aroma is fragrant and intense. Bitterness drains heat, warmth strengthens Qi, and pungency disperses stagnation. It is a herb entering the Kidney channel Qi level. (Its seedlings are short while roots are long, governing matters of the Kidney. The Kidney houses Ministerial Fire, and herbs that are bitter and warm enter into it.) It stores in the Kidney but acts upon the Heart. (According to Zhang Zhiyi) Its main indications include strengthening willpower, tonifying the Middle Jiao, stabilizing Heart Qi, arresting palpitations and fright, treating amnesia, enhancing wisdom, benefiting the nine orifices, improving hearing and vision, eliminating pathogenic factors, removing stagnant Qi under the heart and diaphragm, treating dark turbid urine, as well as Kidney accumulation and Ben Tun syndrome (running piglet). Furthermore, Yuanzhi Wine treats all types of carbuncles and sores with remarkable efficacy. Combined with Suanzaoren Fructus Ziziphi Spinosae, Fushen Poria Cum Radix, Renshen Radix Ginseng, Dihuang Rhizoma Rehmanniae Recens, and Zhusha Cinnabaris, it serves as an essential formula for calming the Heart and arresting fright. Combined with Renshen Radix Ginseng, Bairen Semen Armeniacae Amarum, Suanzaoren Fructus Ziziphi Spinosae, Maidong Herba Ophiopogonis, Wuweizi Fructus Schisandrae, Dangguishen Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Yizhiren Fructus Alpiniae Oxyphyllae, Fuling Poria, Shenqu Mass Medicamentum Fermentatum Chinese, Shengdi Huang Rhizoma Rehmanniae Recens, Gancao Radix Glycyrrhizae, and Chenxiang Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum, it treats conditions of weak Heart Qi and deficient Heart Blood, timidity and susceptibility to fright, frequent nightmares during sleep, unsettled Spirit, palpitations and amnesia, loss of willpower, and impotence. Combined with Fushen Poria Cum Radix, Renshen Radix Ginseng, Baizhu Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Zhigancao Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata, Suanzaoren Fructus Ziziphi Spinosae, Muxiang Radix Aucklandiae, Longyanrou Arillus Longan, it benefits the Spleen and enhances wisdom. When added to Danggui Liuhuang Tang (Angelica Hexapartite Decoction), it stops night sweats due to Yin deficiency.
Supplementary Formula: Yuanzhi Wine. For all types of carbuncles, back infections, boils, and toxic sores: if there is dead blood and Yin toxin inside, there is no pain; applying this causes pain. If there is accumulation of emotions such as grief and anger attacking, the pain is unbearable; applying this stops the pain. If there is internal heat accumulation, the heat forces the hand away intolerably; applying this brings immediate coolness. If Qi deficiency and cold cause ulceration without healing, applying this promotes healing. This formula is extremely effective. For internal depression caused by the Seven Emotions, regardless of deficiency, excess, cold, or heat, treatment leads to recovery. Take Yuanzhi (Polygalae Radix) in any quantity, soak and wash with rice water, beat to remove the woody core, and grind into powder. Take three qian per dose, mix with one zhan of warm wine, let settle for a moment, drink the clear liquid, and apply the dregs to the affected area. For dark turbid urine: Yuanzhi 8 liang, Fushen Poria Cum Radix and Yizhiren Fructus Alpiniae Oxyphyllae each 2 liang, grind into powder, make pills with wine paste the size of wutong seeds. Take fifty pills on an empty stomach with jujube decoction.
[Discussion] Yuanzhi excels specifically in enhancing willpower because "Zhi" (Will) is indeed the motive force within stillness, known as "Yang within Yin." This herb has a bitter taste and tends downward, originating from the warmth of Qi, sensing the Yang of the Li trigram to ascend upward, conforming to the "Yang within Yin" in the human body. At the initial movement of Yang, it exerts the function of Li Fire, moving without restlessness. (Ancient sages stated that when Kidney Qi is insufficient, add Shudi, Yuanzhi, and Danpi) Observing its harvest time set in Mengxia (early summer, the first month of summer), it is not when Yang is active and seeking freedom; rather, it naturally emerges by taking advantage of this timing. The Classic states: "When Ying and Wei remain below and fail to ascend in time, one easily suffers from amnesia." The efficacy of Yuanzhi in treating amnesia lies precisely in its ability to elevate Jing and Qi to offer them to the Heart. However, although Yuanzhi is indeed considered a herb entering the Kidney channel Qi level, it is also said to enter the Heart and return to the Blood. (According to Zhu Danxi) This is likely because it can emit Yang from the place of extreme Yin, and also house Yin in the place of extreme Yang. (Although it is a herb for the Qi level of the Kidney family, it is best at calming the Heart because it enters the Heart and returns to the Blood. Blood is the refined transformation of True Yin; entering the Heart and returning to the Blood means housing Yin in the place of extreme Yang, where movement is primary but stillness is the ruler.) Its ability to enhance wisdom stems from Jing and Qi being offered to the Heart, and the skills contained within Jing ascending together. Zhang Zhiyi said, "Stores in the Kidney but acts upon the Heart," which almost hits the mark. The human body possesses only Water and Fire Qi. Kidney Qi is Fire within Water; Heart Blood is Water within Fire. If Kidney Qi can be offered upward to the Heart, then Water rises along with Fire; if Water rises with Fire, it enables Heart Blood to descend to the Kidney, and thus Fire descends along with Water. Reviewing the various conditions treated, such as strengthening willpower and stabilizing Qi, reveals the mechanism of ascending; such as dark turbid urine and Ben Tun syndrome, reveals the mechanism of descending. As for the way of regulating Qi, it lies in harmonizing Yin and Yang. Yuanzhi's ability to open stagnation is also the result of its merit in ascending and descending Yin and Yang. Suanzaoren treats the Heart, entering the Blood level of the Spleen and Gallbladder. When stir-fried until ripe, it becomes fragrant and sweet yet retains sourness. Roughly speaking, the Liver and Gallbladder utilize the Spleen; the fragrance of ripe Suanzaoren awakens the Spleen's fatigue, sweetness generates Spleen Blood, and sourness gathers dissipating Qi, causing Blood to return to the Spleen. The Spleen's meridian inherently connects to the Heart, so it is also said to tonify the Heart. Generally speaking, Yuanzhi is the source of congenital transformation, while Suanzaoren is the source of acquired transformation; therefore, both are used to benefit the Heart. (When these two herbs enter formulas for tonifying the Heart, they must be based on Blood-tonifying herbs.)
Miao Xi Yong stated: For Heart Excess Fire, where Huanglian and Shengdi Huang should be used, they are contraindicated for simultaneous use with tonifying Yang Qi herbs such as Baizhu.
[Processing] Remove the woody core and take the bark. Soak in Gancao decoction overnight. (Because bitterness directs downward, sweetness is used to moderate it, enabling upward dispersion.) Drain, sun-dry, and use.