气味苦平，无毒。主治邪气腹痛，除血痹，破坚积，寒热，疝瘕，止痛，利小便，益
气。
（芍药始出中岳山谷，今白山、蒋山、茅山、淮南、杨州、江浙、吴松处处有之，而园
圃中
多莳植矣。春生红芽，花开于三月四月之间，有赤白二色，又有千叶、单叶、楼子之不同，
入药宜用单叶之根，盖花薄则气藏于根也。开赤花者，为赤芍，开白花者，为白芍。）
初之气，厥阴风木。二之气，少阴君火。芍药春生红芽，禀厥阴木气而治肝。花开三四
月间
，禀少阴火气而治心。炎上作苦，得少阴君火之气化，故气味苦平。风木之邪，伤其中土，
致脾络不能从经脉而外行，则腹痛。芍药疏通经脉，则邪气在腹而痛者，可治也。心主血，
肝藏血，芍药禀木气而治肝，禀火气而治心，故除血痹。除血痹，则坚积亦破矣。血痹为病
，则身发寒热。坚积为病，则或疝或瘕。芍药能调血中之气，故皆治之。止痛者，止疝瘕之
痛也。肝主疏泄，故利小便。益气者，益血中之气也。益气则血亦行矣。
芍药气味苦平，后人妄改圣经，而曰微酸。元明诸家相沿为酸寒收敛之品，凡里虚下利
者，
多用之以收敛，夫性功可以强辩，气味不可讹传，试将芍药咀嚼，酸味何在？又谓∶新产妇
《本经》主治邪气腹痛，且除血痹寒热，破坚积疝瘕，则新产恶
露未尽正宜用之。若里虚下利，反不当用也。又谓∶白芍、赤芍各为一种，白补赤泻，白收
赤散，白寒赤温，白入气分，赤入血分，不知芍药花开赤白，其类总一。李时珍曰∶根之赤
白，随花之色也。卢子由曰∶根之赤白，从花之赤白也，白根固白，而赤根亦白，切片，以
火酒润之，覆盖过宿，白根转白，赤根转赤矣。今药肆中一种赤芍药，不如何物草根，儿医
、疡医多用之。此习焉而不察，为害殊甚。愚观天下之医，不察《本经》，不辨物性，因讹
传讹，固结不解，咸为习俗所误，宁不悲哉。
[Flavor, Nature, and Indications]
Bitter in flavor, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Primarily treats abdominal pain caused by pathogenic factors, eliminates blood bi (blood stasis obstruction), breaks down hard accumulations, treats alternating chills and fever, hernia, and mass formations, stops pain, promotes urination, and benefits qi.
(Shaoyao [Paeoniae Radix] originally grew in the valleys of Zhongyue. Currently, it is found in Baishan, Jiangshan, Maoshan, Huainan, Yangzhou, Jiangzhe, and Wusong, and is widely cultivated in gardens. Red shoots emerge in spring, and flowers bloom between March and April. There are red and white varieties, as well as differences in petal count such as thousand-petaled, single-petaled, and louzi types. For medicinal use, the roots of single-petaled varieties are preferred because thinner petals imply that the medicinal energy is stored in the root. Those with red flowers are called Chishao [Red Paeonia Root], and those with white flowers are called Baishao [White Paeonia Root].)
[Mechanism of Action Analysis]
The first qi phase corresponds to Jueyin Wind-Wood; the second qi phase corresponds to Shaoyin Sovereign Fire. Shaoyao produces red shoots in spring, inheriting the Jueyin Wood qi to treat Liver disorders. The flowers bloom in the third and fourth months, inheriting the Shaoyin Fire qi to treat Heart disorders. "Fire flares upward and manifests as bitter," Shaoyao obtains the qi transformation of Shaoyin Sovereign Fire, hence its bitter flavor and neutral nature. When Wind-Wood pathogenic factors damage the Middle Earth (Spleen/Stomach), the Spleen collaterals cannot flow outward from the meridians, resulting in abdominal pain. Shaoyao unblocks the meridians, thus treating abdominal pain caused by pathogens in the abdomen. The Heart governs Blood vessels, and the Liver stores Blood. Shaoyao inherits Wood qi to treat the Liver and Fire qi to treat the Heart, thereby eliminating blood bi. Once blood bi is eliminated, hard accumulations are also broken. As a disease, blood bi causes the body to manifest chills and fever; as a disease, hard accumulations manifest as hernia or jia masses. Shaoyao can regulate qi within the blood, thus treating all these conditions. "Stopping pain" refers to stopping the pain caused by hernia and jia masses. The Liver governs free flow and excretion, thus promoting urination. "Benefiting qi" refers to benefiting the qi within the blood. When qi is benefited, blood circulation also becomes smooth.
[Critique of Later Misinterpretations]
Shaoyao's flavor and nature are bitter and neutral. Later practitioners recklessly altered the classics, claiming it is slightly sour. Practitioners of the Yuan and Ming dynasties followed this error, treating it as a sour, cold, and astringent substance. It was frequently used to astringe and stop diarrhea in cases of interior deficiency. While drug properties and functions might be argued forcefully, flavors cannot be misreported. Try chewing Shaoyao; where is the sour taste? Others claim: Regarding new postpartum women, since the *Shennong Bencao Jing* indicates it treats abdominal pain from pathogens, eliminates blood bi and chills/fever, and breaks hard accumulations and hernias/jia masses, it is suitable for use when lochia has not yet cleared after childbirth. Conversely, it should not be used for interior deficiency diarrhea. Others claim: Baishao and Chishao are distinct substances; Baishao tonifies while Chishao drains; Baishao astringes while Chishao disperses; Baishao is cold while Chishao is warm; Baishao enters the Qi level while Chishao enters the Blood level. They fail to realize that although Shaoyao flowers are red or white, they belong to the same category. Li Shizhen stated: The redness or whiteness of the root follows the color of the flower. Lu Ziyu stated: The redness or whiteness of the root depends on the redness or whiteness of the flower. White roots are inherently white, but red roots are also white initially; after slicing, moistening with yellow wine, and covering overnight, white roots remain white, and red roots turn red. Currently, a type of Chishao sold in pharmacies is unknown what kind of grass root it is, yet pediatricians and surgeons use it frequently. This uncritical acceptance of custom is extremely harmful. I observe that physicians everywhere fail to examine the *Shennong Bencao Jing* and do not distinguish the true nature of substances. They pass on errors, becoming entrenched in misconceptions, misled by habits. Is this not tragic?