一名仙人余粮，一名龙衔，一名救穷草。
忌梅实。
甘，平。入足太阴经。补中气，润心肺，安五脏，填精髓，助筋骨，下三虫。得蔓菁，
养肝血。配杞子，补精气。
洗净砂泥，蒸晒九次用。阴盛者服之，致泄泻痞满。气滞者禁用。
一名玉竹
畏卤咸。
甘，平。入手足太阴、少阴经。柔润补虚，善息肝风。治虚劳寒热 疟，风温自汗灼热，
头疼目痛 烂，男子湿注
腰疼，小便频数失精，一切虚损挟风湿诸症。用代参、地，大有殊功。得薄荷、生姜，治目
痛昏暗。得芭蕉根、滑石，
治卒淋。得葵子、龙胆草、茯苓、前胡，
治小儿痫病后身面虚肿。配赤芍、当归、黄连，煎汤熏洗眼赤涩痛。
竹刀刮去皮节，蒸用。止嗽，蜜水拌蒸。去风，酒拌蒸。
得黄柏及酒良。伏硼砂、盐。
辛，苦，寒。入足少阴、手太阴经气分。泻肾火，除骨蒸，退邪热，滋化源。疗初痢腰
痛，治久疟酷热，消痰定嗽，
止渴除烦。得人参，治子烦。得地黄，润肾燥。得莱菔子、杏仁，治久嗽气急。配麦冬，清
肺火。
拣肥润里白者，去毛，铜刀切片。犯铁器，损肾。欲上行，酒拌焙燥。欲下行，盐水润焙。
肠胃滑泄，虚损发热，二者禁用。
邪热伏于肺中，不能生水，膀胱绝其化源，秘塞不通，用知母清金，而泉源滋长，此所
以有知母补阴之谓。若真水
不足，膀胱失气化之司，速当补肾，使阴气行而阳自化，便自通也。
知母苦寒，大伤肾水，尤宜禁用。
Huangjing (Polygonati Rhizoma), also known as Xianren Yuliang (Immortal's Leftover Grain), Longxian (Dragon's Carry), and Jiugong Cao (Grass that Saves the Poor).
Contraindicated with Mei Shi (Prunus mume fruit).
Sweet, neutral. Enters the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. Tonifies Middle Qi (Vital Energy of the Middle Jiao), moistens Heart and Lungs, calms the Five Zang Organs, fills Essence and Marrow, strengthens sinews and bones, and expels three types of parasites from the lower body. When combined with Manjing (Brassica rapa var. rapifera), it nourishes Liver Blood. When paired with Gouqi Zi (Lycium Fruit), it tonifies Essence and Qi.
Wash away sand and mud, steam and sun-dry nine times before use. Contraindicated in cases of excessive Yin deficiency, as it may cause diarrhea and abdominal fullness/stagnation. Contraindicated in cases of Qi stagnation.
Weirui (Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma), also known as Yuzhu (Jade Bamboo).
Averse to salty/brine substances.
Sweet, neutral. Enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian, Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian, and Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Softens and moistens to tonify deficiency, excels at extinguishing Liver Wind. Treats consumptive disorders with alternating chills and fever, malaria, wind-warmth conditions with spontaneous sweating and burning heat, headache and eye pain with ulceration, men's lumbar pain due to dampness pouring downward, frequent urination, seminal emission, and all deficiency syndromes complicated by wind-dampness. Using it as a substitute for Renshen (Ginseng Root) and Dihuang (Rehmannia Root) yields remarkable results. Combined with Bohe (Mint Herb) and Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger Rhizome), it treats eye pain and dim vision. Combined with Bajiao Gen (Musa Basjoo Root) and Huashi (Talcum), it treats sudden stranguria (Lin syndrome). Combined with Kuizi (Abelmoschus Seeds), Longdancao (Gentian Root), Fuling (Poria), and Qianhu (Peucedani Radix), it treats post-epileptic facial and bodily edema in children. Paired with Chishao (Red Peony Root), Danggui (Angelica Sinensis Root), and Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome), decocted for fumigation and washing to treat red, gritty, and painful eyes.
Scrape off the skin and nodes with a bamboo knife, then steam for use. To stop coughing, steam with honey-water. To dispel wind, steam with wine.
Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma).
Benefits from pairing with Huangbai (Phellodendron Bark) and wine. Averse to Fu Pengsha (Borax) and salt.
Pungent, bitter, cold. Enters the Qi aspect of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Drains Kidney Fire, eliminates bone-steaming fever, reduces pathogenic heat, and nourishes the source of transformation. Treats lower back pain in early-stage dysentery, high fever in chronic malaria, resolves phlegm and stabilizes cough, relieves thirst and removes irritability. Combined with Renshen (Ginseng Root), it treats "Zi Fan" (pregnancy-related vexillation). Combined with Dihuang (Rehmannia Root), it moistens Kidney dryness. Combined with Laifu Zi (Radish Seed) and Xingren (Apricot Seed), it treats chronic cough with rapid breathing. Paired with Maidong (Ophiopogon Tuber), it clears Lung Fire.
Select plump, moist, and white-interior rhizomes, remove hairs, and slice with a copper knife. Contact with iron vessels damages the Kidneys. To direct action upward, stir-fry with wine until dry. To direct action downward, moisten with salt water and stir-fry. Contraindicated in cases of intestinal slippage/diarrhea and deficiency-fever; both are absolute contraindications.
When pathogenic heat is latent in the Lungs, failing to generate Water, and the Bladder loses its source of transformation, leading to obstruction and inability to urinate, using Zhimu to clear Metal (Lungs) allows the spring source to flourish; this is why Zhimu is said to "tonify Yin." However, if True Water (Kidney Yin) is insufficient, and the Bladder loses its function of Qi transformation, one must rapidly tonify the Kidney so that Yin Qi moves and Yang transforms naturally, allowing urination to resume.
Zhimu is bitter and cold, severely damaging Kidney Water, and is especially contraindicated.