益母草一名野天麻一名茺蔚子主治妇人胎前产后一切诸疾四五月开红紫花者宜入药白花
者
不用其状类夏枯草丹溪本草云夏枯无臭味益母有臭味明是两种俱生于春但夏枯草不生子交夏
至
则枯盖禀纯阳之气得阴则枯故曰夏枯草益母后枯而结黑子采药者宜明白收用庶不误人外台秘
要虽云名书以益母草谓夏枯草其亦谬矣
朱少章曲洧旧闻云齐州释普明寓五台山晚得风疾眉发俱脱手足腐烂哀号苦楚人不忍闻忽
遇异
人教服长松僧不能识复告之曰长松生古松下取其根饵之皮色如荠 长三五寸味微苦类人参清
香可爱僧采服之不旬日毛发俱生颜貌如故惜乎今之有风疾者未之服也按本草陈藏器云长松味
甘温无毒主风血冷气宿疾温中去风此草似松但叶上有脂产关内山谷中近韩 医通云长松产
于太行西北诸山似独活而香三说未知孰是
当归血中主药也通肝经头身稍分三治全用则活血若气血昏迷者服之即定能使气血各有所
归也
故名之曰当归其功用但从人参黄 则能补血从大黄牵牛则能破血从官桂附子茱萸则热从大黄
芒硝则寒此非无定性也夺于群众之势而不得不然耳譬如生姜人皆指以为热殊不知姜备五色存
皮则温去皮则热又如半夏之性能为君子能为小人者也近之医者或治男妇血病往往禁用当归书
此以破其惑
益母草，又名野天麻，又名茺蔚子。主治妇女怀孕前及生产后的一切各种疾病。四五月间开红紫色花的适宜入药，开白花的则不使用。它的形状类似夏枯草（Prunella vulgaris）。朱震亨在《本草》中说：夏枯草没有臭味，而益母草有臭味，明显是两种不同的植物。它们都生长在春季，但夏枯草不结种子，到了夏季就枯萎了。这是因为禀受了纯阳之气，遇到阴气就会枯萎，所以叫作夏枯草。益母草则是先枯萎后才结出黑色的种子，采药的人应该明白这一点并正确采收使用，以免误人。《外台秘要》虽然记载将益母草的名字写在夏枯草名下，这大概是错误的了。
朱少章在《曲洧旧闻》中记载：齐州的僧人普明寄居在五台山，晚年得了风疾（中风），眉毛和头发全部脱落，手脚腐烂，哀号痛苦，让人不忍心听。忽然遇到一位异人教他服用长松（一种菌类药材），僧人不能识别。那人又告诉他：长松生长在古老的松树下面，取它的根食用，皮色像荠菜，长度三到五寸，味道微苦，类似人参，清香可爱。僧人采集服用后，不到十天毛发全部长出，容貌恢复如常。可惜现在患有风疾的人没有服用它。按《本草》陈藏器的说法：长松味甘、性温、无毒，主治风血冷气及宿疾，能温中祛风。这种草形状像松树，但叶子上有油脂，产于关内山谷中。近韩医通的记载说：长松产于太行山西北的各座山脉，形状像独活（Angelica pubescens）但有香气。这三种说法不知道哪一个是正确的。
当归是血分中的主药，主要通入肝经。头、身、稍、分、三治全用则能活血。如果是气血昏迷的情况，服用它就能安定，能使气血各有所归，所以名字叫当归。它的功效随着配伍不同而变化：如果与人参、黄芪配伍，就能补血；与大黄、牵牛子配伍，就能破血；与官桂、附子、吴茱萸配伍，则性热；与大黄、芒硝配伍，则性寒。这并不是因为它没有固定的性质，而是被众药的势力所左右，不得不如此。譬如生姜，人们都指认它为热性，却不知道姜具备五色，保留皮则温和，去掉皮则热性更甚。又如半夏的性能，既能做君子也能做小人。近来的医生在治疗男女血病时，往往禁用当归。写下这些来破除他们的疑惑。
Yimu Cao (Leonurus japonicus), also known as Yetianma and Chongweizi, is indicated for all kinds of disorders in women before and after childbirth. Those that bloom with red-purple flowers in the fourth and fifth lunar months are suitable for medicinal use, while those with white flowers are not used. Its appearance resembles Xiakucao (Prunella vulgaris). According to Zhu Zhenheng's Bencao: Xiakucao has no odor, whereas Yimucao has an odor; clearly, they are two different species. Both grow in spring, but Xiakucao does not produce seeds and withers when summer arrives. This is because it possesses pure Yang Qi and withers upon encountering Yin Qi, hence its name "Summer-Withering Grass." Yimucao, however, withers first and then produces black seeds. Herb collectors should be clear on this point and collect and use them correctly so as not to mislead people. Although Waitai Mi Yao records the name Yimucao under Xiakucao, this is likely an error.
Zhu Shaozhang recorded in Quwei Jiwen: A monk named Puming from Qizhou resided on Mount Wutai. In his later years, he suffered from Fengji (Wind Disease/Stroke), losing all his eyebrows and hair, with rotting hands and feet. He wailed in agony, a sight too painful to bear. Suddenly, an extraordinary person instructed him to take Changsong (a fungal medicinal material). The monk could not identify it. The person further explained: Changsong grows beneath ancient pine trees; take its roots for consumption. It looks like Jicai (Shepherd's purse) in skin color, is three to five inches long, tastes slightly bitter, resembles Renshen (Ginseng), and has a pleasant, clear fragrance. The monk collected and took it, and within ten days, his hair and beard grew back, and his appearance returned to normal. It is a pity that those suffering from Wind Disease today do not take it. According to Chen Cangqi's Bencao: Changsong is sweet, warm, non-toxic, and treats Wind-Blood Cold-Qi and chronic diseases; it warms the Middle and expels Wind. This herb resembles pine, but its leaves have resin, and it is produced in the valleys of Guannei. Jin Han Yitong states: Changsong is produced in the mountains northwest of Taihang, resembling Duhuo (Angelica pubescens) but fragrant. Among these three accounts, it is unknown which is correct.
Danggui (Angelica sinensis) is the principal herb for the Blood aspect, primarily entering the Liver Meridian. When the whole root is used, it invigorates Blood. For conditions of Qi and Blood confusion or coma, taking it brings stabilization, allowing Qi and Blood to return to their proper places, hence its name "Returning to the Origin." Its functions vary according to compatibility: combined with Renshen (Ginseng) and Huangqi (Astragalus), it tonifies Blood; combined with Dahuang (Rhubarb) and Qianniuzi (Pharbitis Seed), it breaks Blood; combined with Guigui (Cinnamon Twig), Fuzi (Aconite Root) and Zhuyu (Evodia Fruit), it becomes hot; combined with Dahuang (Rhubarb) and Mangxiao (Mirabilite), it becomes cold. This is not due to a lack of inherent nature, but rather being influenced by the momentum of the accompanying herbs. For example, Ginger (Shengjiang): people generally consider it hot, yet it contains five colors; retaining the peel makes it warm, removing the peel makes it hot. Similarly, Banxia (Pinellia Tuber) can act as a gentleman or a villain depending on context. Recent physicians often prohibit the use of Danggui when treating blood disorders in men and women. I write this to dispel such confusion.