（本经上品）
【气味】咸平，无毒。
【主治】主青盲，目淫肤赤白膜，眼赤，泪出。久服益精光，轻身。
【核】曰∶生龙门川泽者良。今处处有之。为园圃所莳。四月生苗，高三四尺。本小末
大，叶似苜蓿，昼开夜合，两两相贴。七月开花，淡黄五出，结角如初生豇豆，长二三寸，
角内列青碧子数十粒，参差相连，状如马蹄，下大上锐。一种本小末尖，叶不夜合者，茳芒
也。蓍实为之使。恶大麻子。
绍隆王先生云∶决明禀阴精之体，具青阳之用；宜入肝肾，肝开窍于目，瞳子精光，肾
所司也。
先人题药云∶决明叶昼开夜合，两两相贴。其叶夜不合者，茳芒也。人之眼夜合，故治
眼疾，因名决明。味咸走血，气寒待热，故治青盲肤膜泪出，热伤血分者相宜；倘属气分，
及
【 】曰∶夏仲生苗，秋仲结实，独得呼出之机，俨具合张之相。味咸走血，故治目中
诸眚
（仲夏半夏生，盖当夏之半，夏仲决明生，亦当夏之半。秋仲结实，又当秋之半矣。然
则夏之能张，秋之能合，枢机使然耳。）
（本经上品）
【气味】苦温，无毒。
【主治】主恶血，破症积聚，喉痹，乳难。久服长肌肉，明目，轻身。
【核】曰∶出冯翌平泽，所在亦有，长安最饶。喜生道旁，春时布地，蔓生细叶；入夏
作碎小黄花；秋深结实，状似菱米，三角四刺，实有仁也。同州沙苑一种，生牧马草地上，
亦作蔓生，茎间密布细刺，叶如初生皂荚叶，整齐可爱，开花作荚，长寸许，内子如麻，碧
绿色，状似羊肾，嚼之若新茶香，顷则转作豆腥气。隔纸焙炒，色香胜茗；微火煎煮，津液
不竭者乃真也。修事，刺蒺藜，拣净蒸之，从午至酉，日干，木臼舂令刺尽，再用酒拌蒸，
从午至酉，日干。用沙蒺藜，或熬膏，或酥炙，发香，研作末用；刺蒺藜、乌头为之使。
先人云∶刺蒺藜，成熟于秋，而外刺坚劲，得金之坚固气，为肝之用药明矣。然肝虽有
藏血之体，而血非可留之物。留则不虚灵而污恶，斯致疾矣。蒺疾也，梨利也。其性宣行
快便，故治积聚乳难诸证。沙苑者茎有密刺，结实成荚，嚼之作新茶香，不无分别。取象补
肾，功力不相近也。
【 】曰∶蒺之言疾，梨之言利。不唯具从革之金用，亦秉炎上之火用矣。何也？锐利
者金之用，迅疾者火之用。故兼火之气与味，金之色与形，为七方之奇之急，十剂之通之宣
也。是主喉痹乳难，与症坚积聚；以及恶血之急闭，皆以柔乘刚，非所据而据之。匪此破敌，
不易开通，以刚乘柔，有所据而据之矣。所谓急因急用，通因塞用者是也。更藉疾威，敷及
下士，开发上焦，宣水谷味，熏肤充身泽毛，则肌肉长，百骸轻。其角锐利，用开盲瞽，特
易易耳。李蕲阳以沙苑一种，附列本经之后，主治补肾之神藏，及肾之形藏，名虽同而形实
异，功能亦迥别也。观其茎布密刺，而亦成熟于秋，秉坚金之体与用者。但刺蒺藜锐利显著，
宣扬形藏之非所欲留；沙蒺藜锐利敛藏，宣摄藏形之应所欲守为别异耳。
（急闭两字要着眼，喉痹乳难，生死在呼吸间，岂容少待。）
(Shennong Bencao Jing, Upper Grade)
[Flavor and Nature] Salty, neutral in nature, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats Qingmang (blindness or unclear vision), eye epiphora (abnormal growth on the eye surface), eyelid redness and swelling, white membrane covering the eyeball, red eyes, and tearing. Long-term use enhances visual acuity and lightens the body.
[Verification] It is said: Those growing in the river marshes of Longmen are of superior quality. Now they are found everywhere and cultivated as garden plants. Seedlings emerge in April, reaching three to four chi in height. The base is small while the tip is large; the leaves resemble those of alfalfa (Medicago sativa), opening during the day and closing at night, with pairs adhering to each other. Flowers bloom in July, pale yellow with five petals. Pods form resembling young cowpeas, two to three cun long, containing dozens of dark green seeds arranged irregularly, connected together, shaped like horse hooves, broad at the bottom and sharp at the top. There is another variety with a small base and sharp tip, whose leaves do not close at night, known as Jiangmang (a type of Tribulus). Achilleae Millefolii Fructus (Yushizi, 蓍实) serves as its guiding herb. It is adverse to Cannabis Fructus (Damaizi, 大麻子).
Mr. Wang Shaolong stated: Juemingzi (Cassiae Semen) embodies the essence of Yin and possesses the function of Green Yang; it is suitable for entering the Liver and Kidney meridians. The Liver opens into the eyes, and the clarity of the pupils is governed by the Kidneys.
My late father inscribed on the medicinal properties: Juemingzi leaves open during the day and close at night, with pairs adhering. Those that do not close at night are Jiangmang. Human eyes close at night, thus it treats eye diseases, hence the name "Jueming" (Deciding Clarity). Salty flavor enters the Blood aspect, cold nature clears heat; therefore, it is suitable for treating Qingmang, skin membranes, and tearing caused by heat damaging the Blood aspect. If it belongs to the Qi aspect, and...
[Annotator] said: Seedlings emerge in mid-summer, fruits mature in mid-autumn, uniquely obtaining the mechanism of exhalation, seemingly possessing the posture of expansion. Salty flavor enters the Blood aspect, thus treating various ailments of the eyes.
(Mid-summer Banxia (Pinellia Rhizome) grows, roughly at the half of summer; mid-summer Juemingzi grows, also at the half of summer. Mid-autumn fruit maturation is at the half of autumn. Thus, the ability to expand in summer and contract in autumn is due to the pivot mechanism.)
(Shennong Bencao Jing, Upper Grade)
[Flavor and Nature] Bitter, warm in nature, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats E-xue (malignant blood stasis), breaks Zheng-Ji Ji-Ju (abdominal masses and accumulations), Hou-bi (sore throat with obstruction), and Ru-nan (difficulty in lactation). Long-term use promotes muscle growth, brightens the eyes, and lightens the body.
[Verification] It is said: Produced in the plains and marshes of Fengyi, available elsewhere but most abundant in Chang'an. It prefers growing by roadsides, spreading over the ground in spring with fine leaves; in early summer, it produces small yellow flowers; in deep autumn, it bears fruit resembling water chestnut kernels, triangular with four spines, containing kernels inside. A variety from Shayuan, Tongzhou, grows on pastures where horses graze, also creeping, with stems densely covered in fine spines. Leaves resemble newly grown Gleditsia sinensis pods, neat and lovely. Flowers produce pods about one cun long, containing seeds like hemp, dark green, shaped like sheep kidneys. Chewing yields a fresh tea aroma, later turning into a bean-like fishy smell. Roasted between paper, its color and fragrance surpass tea; decocted with low fire, retaining fluids without drying out indicates authenticity. Processing method: Select Ci-jili (Tribulus terrestris), clean, steam from Wu hour (11 AM–1 PM) to You hour (5 PM–7 PM), sun-dry, pound in a wooden mortar until spines fall off, then steam again with wine from Wu to You hours, sun-dry. For Sha-jili (Tribulus from Shayuan), it can be boiled into paste or roasted with butter until fragrant, then ground into powder. Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Wutou, 乌头) serves as its guiding herb.
My late father said: Ci-jili matures in autumn, with hard and strong external spines, acquiring the solid Qi of Metal, clearly indicating it is a Liver herb. Although the Liver stores Blood, Blood is not something that should remain stagnant. Stagnation leads to turbidity and impurity, causing disease. Jili implies speed and benefit. Its nature is disseminating, circulating, rapid, and convenient, thus treating accumulations and lactation difficulties. Shayuan Jili has dense spines on stems, forms pods, and tastes like fresh tea when chewed; there is no distinction. Taking images to tonify the Kidney, their efficacy is not similar.
[Annotator] said: "Ji" in Jili means swift, "Li" in Li means beneficial. It possesses not only the transforming function of Metal but also the flaming-upward function of Fire. Why? Sharpness is the function of Metal, swiftness is the function of Fire. Thus, it combines the Qi and Flavor of Fire, and the Color and Form of Metal, belonging to the Odd and Urgent formulas among the Seven Categories, and the Unblocking and Disseminating agents among the Ten Categories. Therefore, it treats Hou-bi and lactation difficulties, as well as Zheng-jian Ji-ju (hard masses and accumulations); and urgent closure of malignant blood stasis, all achieved by using softness to overcome hardness, occupying positions not meant to be held. Without this enemy-breaking action, unblocking is difficult; it uses hardness to exploit softness, occupying positions meant to be held. This is the principle of using urgent methods for urgent conditions, and using unblocking for blockage. Further borrowing the power of swiftness, spreading to lower scholars, opening the Upper Jiao, disseminating the flavors of water and grain, steaming the skin, filling the body, and moistening hair, muscles grow, and the hundred bones become light. Its sharp horns are used to open blindness, which is very easy. Li Qiyang listed the Shayuan variety after the Shennong Bencao Jing, claiming it tonifies the Divine Storehouse and Form Storehouse of the Kidney. Although names are the same, forms differ, and functions are distinct. Observing its stems covered in dense spines, maturing in autumn, inheriting the body and function of solid Metal. However, Ci-jili is sharply prominent, promoting the expulsion of what the Form Storehouse does not wish to retain; Sha-jili is sharply concealed, promoting the retention of what the Hidden Form wishes to keep, serving as the distinction.
(The words "urgent closure" must be emphasized. Hou-bi and lactation difficulties involve life and death within breaths; how can one wait?)