（本经中品）
【气味】苦寒，无毒。
【主治】主心腹结气，症瘕，积聚，黄胆，溺有余沥，逐水，除痈肿，补中，明目止泪。
【核】曰∶生汝南山谷，及田野间，近道处处有之。苗高三四尺，叶青色细碎，极似槐
叶，春生冬凋。花色黄白，七月结角，如莱菔荚，内有细子二、三粒，如小豆而坚。根三五
料并生，长五七寸，两指许大，色黄褐，味极苦。生河北者，无花无子，苗茎根叶，皆相若
也。五、六、十月，采根曝干。修事，用糯米浓泔汁浸一宿，有腥秽气，浮在水面上者，须
重重淘过，即蒸之，从巳至申，晒干用。玄参为之使，恶贝母、菟丝子、漏芦，反藜芦。
【 】曰∶苦者，言其味；参者，言其功力相参上下内外也。炎上作苦，故一名陵节，
一
槐、菟槐、苦 者，禀水曰润下之寒化尔。合从至阴，对待火热为因，积聚为证者也。更观
根生三、五并立，亦苦三相参，伍相伍，故得自参以上，明目止泪，自参以下，逐水余沥。
自参以外，除痈肿黄胆。自参以内，破结气症瘕，盖心腹居中，积聚火热，斯成众眚，对待
火
（本经中品）
【气味】苦寒，无毒。
【主治】主消渴热中，除邪气，肢体浮肿，下水，补不足，益气。
【核】曰∶出濒河怀、卫、彰德、解州、滁州、彭城诸处。二月宿根再发，四月开花，
色青
【 】曰∶知母，天一所生，水德体用具备者也。故主濡润燥涸，对待热中，除邪气，
肢体浮肿，润下水道者也。设舍肺金之母气，难以游溢转输矣。何也，母气之藏真高于肺，
以行营卫阴阳，乃能游溢通调，转输决渎耳。盖益气者，亦母益子气；补不足者，亦母能令
子实也。原夫金为水母，知母者，如子知有母也。别名 母、 母者，依母彰名也。儿草、
儿踵、昌支者，繇母命名也。水浚、水参、水须者，离母立名也。连母者，正显子连母义。
货母者，即子母递迁以成变化也。知此则立名之义，或远取物，近取身，可深长思矣。
(Shennong Bencao Jing, Middle Grade)
[Flavor and Nature] Bitter, cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats stagnation of qi in the heart and abdomen, zheng jia (abdominal masses), ji ju (accumulation of pathological products), jaundice, dribbling after urination, expels water, eliminates carbuncles and swellings, tonifies the middle, brightens the eyes, and stops tearing.
[Verification] It states: Grows in the valleys of Mount Nan in Ru River, as well as in fields; found everywhere near roads. The seedlings are three to four chi high, with green, fine, and fragmented leaves, extremely similar to locust tree leaves, sprouting in spring and withering in winter. The flowers are yellowish-white, bearing pods in July like radish pods, containing two or three small seeds inside, hard like small beans. The roots grow in clusters of three to five, five to seven cun long, about two fingers wide, yellowish-brown in color, and extremely bitter in taste. Those grown in Hebei have no flowers or seeds; their seedlings, stems, roots, and leaves are all similar. Roots are harvested in the fifth, sixth, and tenth months and dried. For processing, soak overnight in thick rice washing water. If a fishy or foul odor floats on the surface, wash repeatedly until clean, then steam from Si hour to Shen hour, and dry for use. Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix) serves as an assistant herb. It is incompatible with Beimu (Fritillariae Bulbus), Tusi Zi (Cuscutae Semen), and Loulu (Euphorbiae Humifusae Herba), and opposes Lilu (Veratri Rhizoma).
[Interpretation] It states: "Bitter" refers to its flavor; "Shen" (Ginseng-like/Participating) refers to its efficacy participating up and down, inside and outside. Fire flares upward and produces bitterness, hence another name is Lingjie. Huai, Tu Huai, Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix) embody the cold transformation of water's moistening and descending nature. Combining with extreme yin, it addresses heat/fire as the cause and accumulation as the manifestation. Observing that the roots grow in clusters of three or five standing together, this also reflects the mutual participation and coordination of "Shen," thus enabling it to brighten the eyes and stop tearing from above, expel water and residual dampness from below, eliminate carbuncles and jaundice from the exterior, and break stagnation of qi and zheng jia from the interior. Since the heart and abdomen are central, the accumulation of heat and fire leads to various ailments, addressing heat/fire...
(Shennong Bencao Jing, Middle Grade)
[Flavor and Nature] Bitter, cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats xiao ke re zhong (wasting-thirst with internal heat), expels pathogenic factors, reduces limb edema, promotes urination, tonifies deficiencies, and benefits qi.
[Verification] It states: Produced in areas along the Yellow River such as Huaizhou, Weizhou, Zhangde, Jiezhou, Chuzhou, and Pengcheng. In February, perennial roots sprout again; in April, flowers bloom, with greenish...
[Interpretation] It states: Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) is generated by Tianyi Water, possessing both the substance and function of water. Therefore, it primarily moistens dryness and depletion, addresses internal heat, expels pathogenic factors, reduces limb edema, and moistens the lower jiao water passages. If one discards the maternal qi of Metal (Lung), it would be difficult to circulate and transport fluids. Why? The stored true qi of the mother surpasses the Lung, circulating Ying and Wei, and Yin and Yang, thereby enabling circulation, regulation, transportation, and drainage. Benefiting qi is essentially the mother benefiting the son's qi; tonifying deficiency is essentially the mother making the son substantial. Originally, Metal is the mother of Water. Zhi Mu means "knowing the mother," just as a child knows their mother. Alternative names like Chi Mu and Chan Mu signify naming based on the mother. Er Cao, Er Zhong, Chang Zhi are named derived from the mother. Shui Jun, Shui Shen, Shui Xu are named upon separating from the mother. Lian Mu explicitly shows the meaning of the son connecting to the mother. Huo Mu refers to the succession of mother and son creating change. Understanding this, the meaning behind naming can be deeply contemplated, drawing parallels from distant objects and nearby body parts.