（本经中品）
【气味】苦，微寒，无毒。
【主治】主腹中寒热积聚，女子产乳余疾，补肾气，令人明目。
【核】曰∶生河间川谷，及冤句，山阳近道亦有之。二月生苗，高四五尺，茎方而大，
作节若竹，色紫赤，有细毛，叶生枝间，四四相值，形似芍药。七月开花，白色或茄花色，
形似大蓟，花端丛刺，刺端有钩，最坚且利，八月结子黑色。一种茎方而细，色青紫，叶似
脂麻对生，又似槐柳尖长，边有锯齿，七月开花青碧，八月结子黑褐，根都科生，一根五七
枚，生时青白，干即紫黑，宜三八月采。修治，用蒲草重重相隔，入柳木甑，蒸两伏时，勿
犯铜铁器，饵之噎人喉，丧人目。恶黄 、干姜、山茱萸。反藜芦。
【 】曰∶玄正子半，一阳将复之时也。非动非静，若显若匿，一点微芒，万钧之力；
其味苦，已向乎阳，其气寒，未离乎阴，俨似少阴之枢象。参赞化育之元始，具备少阴之体
用者也。主治功力，与芍药相似，芍则端倪已破，玄则酝藉幽微，故主寒热积聚之欲成坚凝
闭密，与产乳余疾之已出未净。补肾气者，补肾气方萌之机兆，非补肾藏欲藏之形质。体用
周备，则精华上注，故令目明。
（冬三月，此谓闭藏，使志若伏，若匿，若有私意，若已有得，非水凝如石之肾气独沉
矣。
（又经云∶冬三月，欲如运枢。）
（又云∶阴者，藏精而起亟也。）
[Zhongpin (Middle Category) of the *Shennong Bencao Jing*]
【Flavor and Nature】Bitter, slightly cold, non-toxic.
【Indications】Primarily treats abdominal accumulations caused by cold-heat pathogens, residual diseases in women after childbirth or during lactation, tonifies Kidney Qi, and enhances vision.
【Verification】It is stated: Xuan Shen grows in the river valleys of Hejian, as well as in Yuanju and Shanyang areas near the roads. Seedlings emerge in February, reaching a height of four to five chi. The stem is square and thick, with nodes resembling bamboo, colored purple-red, and covered with fine hairs. Leaves grow among the branches, arranged in whorls of four, resembling Paeonia lactiflora (Shaoyao). Flowers bloom in July, white or eggplant-purple in color, resembling Cirsium japonicum (Daji), with clustered spines at the flower tip; the spine tips have hooks, are hard and sharp. Black seeds form in August. A variant species has a square but thinner stem, colored greenish-purple; leaves resemble Sesamum indicum (Zhimai) in opposite arrangement, or look like long, pointed Sophora or Salix leaves with serrated edges; flowers are blue-green in July, and black-brown fruits form in August. Roots are all caespitose (clustered), with five to seven roots per crown; fresh roots are greenish-white, turning purple-black when dried. Harvesting is suitable in March or August. Processing: Layer with cattail grass, place in a willow wood steamer, steam for two "Fu" periods (the three Geng days after Summer Solstice and Start of Autumn, totaling about ten days). Do not contact copper or iron vessels, otherwise ingestion may cause choking and loss of vision. Incompatible with Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin), Zingiberis Rhizoma Dryum (Ganjiang), and Corni Fructus (Shanzhuyu). Antagonistic to Veratri Radix (Lilu).
【Interpretation】It is said: "Xuan" represents the midpoint of the correct Zi position, the time when one Yang is about to recover. It is neither moving nor still, appearing either manifest or hidden; a tiny spark contains the power of ten thousand jun. Its flavor is bitter, tending toward Yang; its nature is cold, not yet departing from Yin. It solemnly resembles the pivot image of Shaoyin (Lesser Yin). It is the primordial force participating in the transformation and generation of life, possessing both substance and function of Shaoyin. Its therapeutic efficacy is similar to that of Shaoyao (Paeonia lactiflora); Shaoyao addresses conditions where the onset is already apparent, whereas Xuan Shen addresses conditions that are subtle and deeply concealed. Therefore, it primarily treats accumulations of cold-heat that are about to become firm, dense, and closed, as well as residual postpartum diseases that have been expelled but not completely cleared. "Tonifying Kidney Qi" refers to supporting the initial mechanism of Kidney Qi sprouting, rather than supplementing the physical substance of the Kidney organ itself. When substance and function are complete, essence and brilliance pour upward, thus clarifying the eyes.
(The *Huangdi Neijing* states: During the three winter months, this is called closure and storage. One's will should be like hiding or concealing oneself, as if having private secrets, or as if already possessing something, rather than letting Kidney Qi sink alone like water freezing into stone.)
(The *Neijing* also says: During the three winter months, one's state should be like rotating a pivot.)
(It also says: Yin stores essence and responds urgently [to the body's needs].)