气味苦平，无毒。主补中，安五脏，养精神，除百病。久服肥健，轻身不老。
（女贞木始出武陵山谷，今处处有之。叶似冬青，凌冬不落。五月开细青白花，结实，
九月熟，紫黑色，放虫造成白蜡者，女贞也。无蜡者，冬青也。）
三阳为男，三阴为女，女贞禀三阴之气，岁寒操守，因以为名。味苦性寒，得少阴肾水
之气也。凌冬不凋，得少阴君火之气也。作蜡坚白，得太阴肺金之气也。结实而园，得太阴
脾土之气也。四季常青，得厥阴肝木之气也。女贞属三阴而禀五脏五行之气，故主补中，安
五脏也。水之精为精，火之精为神，禀少阴水火之气，故养精神。人身百病，不外五行，女
贞备五脏五行之气，故除百病。久服则水火相济，五脏安和，故肥健，轻身不老。
气味辛温，无毒。主治心腹疝气、腹痛，益气，疗 、小儿五岁不能行，疽疮阴蚀
。
（五加木始出汉中 句，今江淮、湖南州郡皆有。春生苗，叶青茎赤似藤葛，高三五尺，
上
有黑刺，一枝五叶交加，每叶上生一刺，三四月开白花，根若荆根，皮黄色，肉白色。）
五加皮色备五行，花叶五出，乃五车星之精也，为修养家长生不老之药。主治心腹疝气，
乃心病而为少腹有形之疝也。黄帝问曰∶诊得心脉而急，此为何病？病形何如？岐伯曰∶病
名心
疝，少腹当有形者是也，腹痛，乃脾病而致腹痛也。益气，乃肺病气虚，五加皮能益其气也
。疗 ，乃肝病筋虚，五加皮能强筋疗 也。小儿五岁不能行，乃肾病骨虚，五加皮补肾坚
骨，故治小儿五岁不能行。治疽疮者，诸疮痛痒，皆属心火。五加皮助精水上滋，而能济其
火也。治阴蚀者，虫乃阴类，阳虚则生，五加皮能益君火，而下济其阴也。夫五加皮、女贞
实，咸禀五运之气化，女贞皆言养正，五加皆言治病，须知养正则病自除，治病则正自养。
按∶《东华真人煮石经》云∶何以得长久，何不食金盐，何以得长寿，何不食玉豉。玉
豉，
地榆也。金盐，五加也。取名金盐、玉豉者，盐乃水味，豉乃水谷，得先天水精，以养五脏
之意。昔人有言曰∶宁得一把五加，不用金玉满车。宁得一斤地榆，不用明月宝珠。又
，鲁定公母服五加酒，以致不死，尸解而去。张子声、杨建始、王叔牙、于世彦等，皆服此
酒，而房室不绝，得寿三百岁。亦可为散，以代茶汤。又曰∶五加者，五车星之精也，水应
五湖，人应五德，位应五方，物应五车，故青精入茎，则有东方之液。白气入节，则有西方
之津。赤气入华，则有南方之光。玄精入根，则有北方之饴。黄烟入皮，则有戊已之灵。五
神镇生，相转育成，饵之者真仙，服之者反婴。是五加乃服食养生之上品，而《本经》不言
久服延年，或简脱也。
[Eucommiae Cortex / Ligustrum Lucidum Fruit]
**Ligustrum Lucidum Fruit (Nüzhenzi)**
The flavor is bitter and neutral, non-toxic. It primarily tonifies the Middle Jiao (Central Energy), calms the Five Zang Organs, nourishes the Spirit (Shen), and eliminates various diseases. Long-term consumption leads to a robust physique, lightness of body, and delayed aging.
(Note: The Ligustrum tree originally grew in the Wuling mountains and valleys, but is now found everywhere. Its leaves resemble those of Ilex cornuta (Wintergreen) and do not fall in winter. In May, it produces small bluish-white flowers and bears fruit, which ripens in September, turning purple-black. The variety that secretes insect wax to form white wax is Ligustrum; the one that does not produce wax is Ilex cornuta.)
Three Yang represents males, and Three Yin represents females. Ligustrum inherits the Qi of Three Yin. Because it maintains its integrity during the cold of winter, it derives its name from this characteristic. Its bitter flavor and cold nature indicate it has inherited the Qi of Shaoyin Kidney Water. Its resistance to withering in winter indicates it has inherited the Qi of Shaoyin Ministerial Fire. Its ability to produce hard white wax indicates it has inherited the Qi of Taiyin Lung Metal. Its round fruit indicates it has inherited the Qi of Taiyin Spleen Earth. Its evergreen nature throughout the four seasons indicates it has inherited the Qi of Jueyin Liver Wood. Ligustrum belongs to Three Yin and inherits the Qi of the Five Zang Organs and Five Elements; therefore, it tonifies the Middle and calms the Five Zang Organs. The essence of Water is Jing (Essence), and the essence of Fire is Shen (Spirit). By inheriting the Qi of Shaoyin Water and Fire, it nourishes Jing and Shen. Diseases of the human body are not outside the scope of the Five Elements. Since Ligustrum possesses the Qi of the Five Zang Organs and Five Elements, it can eliminate hundred diseases. Long-term consumption harmonizes Water and Fire, calming the Five Zang Organs, thus leading to a robust physique, lightness of body, and delayed aging.
**Eucommiae Cortex (Wujia Pi)**
The flavor is acrid and warm, non-toxic. It treats Heart-Abdominal Hernia (Xianqi), abdominal pain, tonifies Qi, and treats ulcers, sores, and genital erosion.
(Note: Eucommia trees originally grew in Hanzhong, but are now found in Jianghuai and Hunan prefectures. Sprouts emerge in spring; leaves are green, stems red, resembling vines, growing three to five chi high, covered with black thorns. One branch bears five leaves arranged in an alternating pattern, with one thorn on each leaf. White flowers bloom in March and April. The root resembles that of Ziziphus jujuba; the bark is yellow, and the flesh is white.)
The color of Eucommia Cortex encompasses the Five Elements, and its flowers and leaves have five parts, making it the essence of the Five Chariot Stars. It is a herb for cultivating longevity and immortality. It treats Heart-Abdominal Hernia, which is a heart disease manifesting as a palpable mass in the lower abdomen. The Yellow Emperor asked: If the Heart Pulse is rapid and tense, what disease is this? What are the symptoms? Qibo replied: The disease is named Heart Hernia, characterized by a palpable mass in the lower abdomen. Abdominal pain is caused by Spleen disease. Tonifying Qi addresses Lung Qi deficiency, which Eucommia Cortex can remedy. Treating ulcers and sores addresses Liver disease causing tendon weakness, which Eucommia Cortex strengthens. The inability of children to walk at age five is due to Kidney disease causing bone weakness; Eucommia Cortex tonifies the Kidneys and strengthens bones, thus treating this condition. Treating ulcers addresses the principle that pain and itching in sores belong to Heart Fire. Eucommia Cortex assists the descent of Essence/Water to nourish and control Heart Fire. Treating genital erosion addresses the principle that parasites (yin pathogens) arise from Yang deficiency; Eucommia Cortex tonifies Ministerial Fire to descend and assist Yin. Both Eucommia Cortex and Ligustrum Fruit inherit the transformational Qi of the Five Movements. Ligustrum emphasizes nurturing righteousness (Zheng Qi), while Eucommia emphasizes treating disease. One must understand that nurturing righteousness eliminates disease, and treating disease restores righteousness.
Commentary: The *Donghua Zhenren Zhushi Jing* states: "How to achieve longevity? Why not eat Golden Salt? How to achieve long life? Why not eat Jade Fermented Bean?" Jade Fermented Bean refers to Sanguisorbae Radix (Diyu). Golden Salt refers to Eucommiae Cortex (Wujia). Named Golden Salt and Jade Fermented Bean because salt corresponds to the Water flavor, and fermented bean corresponds to water and grain, implying obtaining the primordial Water Essence to nourish the Five Zang Organs. An ancient saying goes: "Better to have a handful of Eucommia than a cart full of gold and jade. Better to have a jin of Sanguisorbae Radix than bright moon pearls." Additionally, the mother of Duke Ding of Lu consumed Eucommia wine, achieving immortality through corpse liberation. Zhang Zisheng, Yang Jianshi, Wang Shuya, Shi Yeyan, and others all consumed this wine, maintained sexual activity without depletion, and lived to three hundred years. It can also be made into powder to replace tea. It is said: Eucommia is the essence of the Five Chariot Stars. Water corresponds to the Five Lakes, Humans to the Five Virtues, Directions to the Five Parties, and Objects to the Five Chariots. Thus, Green Essence entering the stem yields Eastern fluids; White Qi entering the nodes yields Western moisture; Red Qi entering the flowers yields Southern light; Black Essence entering the roots yields Northern syrup; Yellow Smoke entering the bark yields the spirit of Wu-Ji Earth. The Five Spirits guard life, transforming and nurturing each other. Those who ingest it become true immortals; those who consume it revert to infancy. Therefore, Eucommia is a superior herb for dietary therapy and health preservation. The fact that the *Shennong Bencao Jing* does not mention long-term use for extending life may be due to textual omission.