补肝肾，涩精气
辛温酸涩。补肾温肝（入二经气分）。固精秘气，强阴助阳，安五脏，通九窍（《圣济》
云∶如何涩剂以通九窍？《经疏》云∶精气充则九窍通利。昂按∶山茱萸通九窍，古今疑之
，得《经疏》一言，而意旨豁然。始叹前人识见深远，不易测识，多有如此类者，即《经疏
》一语而扩充之，实可发医人之慧悟也），暖腰膝，缩小便。
治风寒湿痹（温肝故能逐风），鼻塞目黄（肝虚邪客，则目黄），耳鸣耳聋（肾虚则耳鸣
耳聋，皆固精通窍之功。王好古曰∶滑则气脱，涩剂所以收之，仲景八味丸用之为君，其性
味可知矣。昂按∶《别录》、甄权皆云能发汗，恐属误文。酸剂敛涩，何以反发？仲景亦安取
发汗之药为君乎？李士材曰∶酸属东方，而功多在北方者，乙癸同源也。肝为乙木，肾为癸
水），去核（核能滑精）用。恶桔梗、防风、防己。
补而润，敛汗，宁心
甘酸而润（凡仁皆润）。专补肝胆。炒熟酸温而香，亦能醒脾（故归脾汤用之）。助阴气，
坚筋骨，除烦止渴（敛阴生津），敛汗（《经疏》曰∶凡服固表药，而汗不止者，用枣仁炒研
，同生地、白芍、五味，麦冬、竹叶、龙眼肉煎服多效。汗为心液故也）宁心（心君易动，
皆由胆怯所致。经曰∶凡十一官皆取决于胆也）。
疗胆虚不眠（温胆汤中或用之。肝虚则胆也虚，肝不藏魂，故不寐。血不归脾，卧亦不
安。《金匮》治虚劳烦不眠，用酸枣仁汤。枣仁二升，甘草一两炙，知母、茯苓、芎 各二
两，深师加生姜二两，此补肝之剂。经曰∶卧则血归于肝。苏颂曰∶一方加桂一两，二方枣
仁并生用，治不得眠，岂得以煮过便为熟乎？），酸痹久泻（酸收涩，香舒脾）。
生用酸平，疗胆热好眠（时珍曰∶今人专以为心家药，殊昧此理。昂按∶胆热必有心烦
口苦之证，何以反能好眠乎？温胆汤治不眠，用二陈加竹茹、枳实，二味皆凉药，乃以凉肺
、胃之热，非以温胆经之寒也。其以温胆名汤者，以胆欲不寒不燥，当温为候耳。胆热好眠
四字，不能无疑也）。
炒，研用。恶防己。
Tonifies the Liver and Kidney, astringes Essence and Qi.
Acrid, warm, sour, and astringent. Tonifies the Kidney and warms the Liver (acting on the Qi level of these two meridians). Secures Jing (Essence) and consolidates Qi, strengthens Yin and assists Yang, calms the Five Zang organs, and unblocks the Nine Orifices (The *Shengji Zonglu* asks: How can astringent agents unblock the Nine Orifices? The *Jingshu* replies: When Jing and Qi are abundant, the Nine Orifices become smooth and patent. Wang Ang notes: The claim that Cornus officinalis (Shanzhuyu) unblocks the Nine Orifices has been doubted since ancient times until reading this statement from the *Jingshu*, which clarifies its meaning. One sighs at the profound insight of predecessors, which is not easily fathomed; there are many such cases. Expanding upon this single phrase from the *Jingshu* truly awakens the wisdom of physicians), warms the waist and knees, reduces urination frequency.
Treats Bi syndrome caused by Wind-Cold-Dampness (by warming the Liver, it expels Wind), nasal congestion and yellowing of the eyes (Liver deficiency with pathogenic invasion leads to yellowing of the eyes), tinnitus and deafness (Kidney deficiency leads to tinnitus and deafness, both being effects of securing Essence and unblocking orifices. Wang Haogu states: Slippage implies Qi depletion, so astringents are used to gather it. Zhang Zhongjing uses it as the Sovereign herb in Ba Wei Wan [Eight-Ingredient Pill], revealing its nature and flavor. Wang Ang notes: *Bielu* and Zhen Quan both record it induces sweating, which is likely a textual error. Sour herbs are收敛 (astringent/consolidating); how could they induce sweating? Why would Zhang Zhongjing use a diaphoretic as the Sovereign herb? Li Shicai says: Sour belongs to the East Wood, but its efficacy often lies in the North Water, because Yi and Gui share the same source. The Liver is Yi Wood, the Kidney is Gui Water). Use after removing the pit (the pit causes seminal emission). Avoid using with Platycodon root (Jiegeng), Saposhnikovia root (Fangfeng), and Stephania root (Fangji).
Nourishing and moistening, arrests sweating, calms the Heart.
Sweet, sour, and moist (all seeds/nuts are moistening). Specifically tonifies the Liver and Gallbladder. When stir-fried, it becomes sour-warm and fragrant, also awakening the Spleen (therefore used in Guipi Tang). Assists Yin Qi, strengthens sinews and bones, eliminates vexation and stops thirst (by astringing Yin to generate fluids), arrests sweating (*Jingshu* states: For those taking exterior-consolidating medicines whose sweating does not cease, stir-fried and ground Suanzaoren, decocted with Rehmannia root (Shengdi), White Peony root (Baishao), Schisandra fruit (Wuweizi), Ophiopogon tuber (Maidong), Bamboo leaf (Zhuye), and Longan aril (Longyanrou) is often effective. Since sweat is the fluid of the Heart, this applies), calms the Heart (The Heart Mind is prone to agitation, all due to Gallbladder timidity. The Classics state: All eleven organs depend on the Gallbladder for decision-making).
Treats insomnia due to Gallbladder deficiency (sometimes used in Wendan Tang. Liver deficiency leads to Gallbladder deficiency; if the Liver does not store Hun (Ethereal Soul), one cannot sleep. If blood does not return to the Spleen, restlessness occurs during sleep. *Jinkui Yaolue* treats deficiency exhaustion with vexation and insomnia using Suanzaoren Tang. Formula: 2 sheng of Suanzaoren, 1 liang of roasted Licorice root (Gancao), 2 liang each of Anemarrhena rhizome (Zhimu), Poria sclerotium (Fuling), and Ligusticum rhizome (Chuanxiong). *Shenshi Fang* adds 2 liang of Fresh Ginger. This is a Liver-tonifying formula. The Classics state: When lying down, blood returns to the Liver. Su Song says: One formula adds 1 liang of Cinnamon twig (Guizhi); another uses raw Suanzaoren to treat insomnia. How can one assume that boiled means cooked/processed?). Treats acid-Bi syndrome and chronic diarrhea (Sourness gathers and astringes; fragrance soothes the Spleen).
Raw form is sour and neutral, treats lethargy/sleepiness due to Gallbladder Heat (Li Shizhen says: People today exclusively treat it as a Heart herb, missing this principle. Wang Ang notes: Gallbladder Heat must present with vexation and bitter taste in the mouth; how could it cause excessive sleepiness? Wendan Tang treats insomnia using Er Chen Tang plus Zhu Ru and Zhi Shi, both cooling herbs, to clear Lung and Stomach heat, not to warm Cold in the Gallbladder meridian. It is named Wendan Tang because the Gallbladder should be neither cold nor dry, with "warmth" being the ideal state. The phrase "Gallbladder Heat causing sleepiness" is highly questionable).
Use after stir-frying and grinding. Avoid using with Stephania root (Fangji).