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[Shanghan Lun Middle Category]
[Flavor and Nature] Bitter, neutral, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats abdominal pain caused by pathogenic factors, eliminates blood stasis (blood bi), breaks down hard accumulations, relieves pain from cold-heat hernia masses, promotes urination, and benefits qi.
[Nuclear Commentary] Says: It grows in the valleys and hills of Mount Zhong. Currently, those produced in Baishan, Jiangshan, and Maoshan are considered the best. It is also found everywhere, and households have begun to cultivate it. In the past, Luoyang peonies and Guangling paeonias were said to be unrivaled under heaven. For medicinal use, those from Guangling are preferred. Sprouts emerge in the tenth lunar month and grow until spring. It has red stems growing in clusters, with three branches and five leaves. Its flowers, leaves, seeds, and fruits resemble those of the peony, but its sprouting occurs before the peony, and flowering occurs after. Legend says: "Twenty-five days after the Awakening of Insects solar term, the Paeonia becomes lush," which refers to this. Flowers exist in single-petal and multi-petal forms; the multi-petal variety is commonly called 'Little Peony.' Among all flowers today, Peony ranks first, and Paeonia ranks second. Thus, the world calls Peony the King of Flowers and Paeonia the Minister of Flowers. Some consider it the deputy to the Flower King. The flower's names include Yurong (Residual Beauty); generally referred to as Huabi (Flower Maid). Its various illusory intricacies are too numerous to list. The root's names include [unclear character], Lishi (Plow Food), Baimu (White Wood), and Yurong. For medicinal use, only the roots of white-flowered, single-petal varieties should be used, as they possess the strongest flavor and nature. However, the color of the root (red or white) follows the color of the flower. White ones are called Jin Shaoyao (Gold Paeonia), and red ones are called Mu Shaoyao (Wood Paeonia). Generally, the root, stem, flower, and leaf are collectively named Licao (Separation Grass), also known as Jiangli (About to Separate). Processing: First distinguish between red and white. Keep white roots white; process red roots to appear white. Cut a slice from each root, mark them separately using specific methods, moisten with fire wine, cover overnight. White roots remain white, red roots turn red. Scrape off the skin with a bamboo knife, including the head, chop finely, mix with honey water, steam from Si hour to Wei hour, then dry in the sun for use. Currently, there is a type of Chishao Yao (Red Paeonia Root) on the market, whose plant origin is unknown. Surgeons, specialists in goiter, and pediatricians often use it. This is a habit formed without scrutiny, causing significant harm. It requires Wan (pill form) to act as its guide/assistant. It clashes with Shihu (Dendrobium Stem), Mangxiao (Mirabilite), fears Xiaoshi (Saltpeter), Biejia (Turtle Shell), and Xiaoji (Cirsium Herba). It is incompatible with Lilu (Veratrum Root).
[Annotation] Says: *Erya Yi* states: When Paeonia flowers are at their peak, it coincides with the late spring time of purification rituals. Therefore, scholars and maidens of Zheng would pick them to gift each other. Dong Zhongshu believed that gifting Paeonia signifies parting, as Paeonia is also named Kelí (Can Leave), similar to gifting Wenwu (No Return/Absence) to summon someone back. Wenwu is another name for Danggui (Angelica Sinensis). Thus, after mutual jesting, one departs. Its root can harmonize the five zang organs and detoxify food poisons. Hence, in ancient traditions, horse liver is extremely toxic; Yuan Ang (referred to as Wencheng in text context regarding poisoning) died from eating it, indicating no food poison is worse than horse liver. Therefore, nothing is better than Paeonia for countering food toxins. Thus, it alone earns the name 'Yao' (Medicine), similar to how sauce enhances various delicacies, and sauce itself derives its name from this function. *Zixu Fu* says: "The harmonized taste of Paeonia, offered after preparation." *Nandu Fu* says: "Returning geese cry, fragrant rice and fresh fish, used as Paeonia..." Its aura is tranquil, smell sour, with hundreds of names due to these flavors. Hence, hermits call it Lishi (Plow Food), likely to purify misfortune, control food toxins, and harmonize emotions. Within separation lies union, within union lies separation. A spoonful holds the power of ten thousand jun. Considering its timing during the season of storage, yet breaking through the shell, displaying a surge of yang life force, it does not observe taboos of political factionalism. Thus, for what other medicines cannot reach or powers cannot attain, it gallops alongside, going straight ahead, thus guiding earliest. Its mechanism acts very early. Even if Mugu and Er Gui (Cinnamon barks) send envoys first, they must rely on it as a vanguard. The world claims its flavor is sour and astringent, suitable only for descending. This shows ignorance of flavor and disregard for its true nature. Observing its treatment of pathogenic qi entering the abdomen, causing obstruction and pain, Paeonia opens from within, driving pathogens out from inside. To cleanse blood bi, penetrate and break cold-heat hernia masses. For established hard accumulations, only capable of being destroyed, Paeonia's power doubles. If urination is difficult, becoming strangury or retention, it benefits Liver qi, promoting dispersal and excretion. Although the pathology is lower, it opens the upper first; pressing causes lifting, lifting causes pressing. This is an inevitable trend, and Paeonia achieves both. Reviewing other records and formularies, comparing and deducing, exhausting human nature allows exhausting material nature, preventing bondage by superficial hearing. This is great fortune for herbs.