气味辛温，无毒。主杀鬼精物，蛊毒恶气。久服益气力，长阴，肥健。
（《本经》名赤箭苗也。宋《开宝本草》名天麻根也。《本经》主治，根苗并论。今则但
用
天麻，不用赤箭矣。始出陈仓川谷、壅州，及太山少室。春生苗，中抽一茎直上如箭竿，色
正赤，贴茎梢之半，微有小红叶，远看如箭之有羽，有风不动，无风自摇，故有神草之名。
根形如王瓜，皮色黄白，晒干则黑，去根三五寸，有游子环列如卫，皆有细根如白发，气相
通而实不相连，故根又有离母之名。）
赤箭气味辛温，其根名天麻者，气味甘平。盖赤箭辛温属金，金能制风，而有弧矢之威，
故
主治杀鬼精物。天麻甘平属土，土能胜湿，而居五运之中，故治蛊毒恶气。天麻形如芋魁，
有游子十二枚，周环之，以仿十二辰。十二子在外，应六气之司天，天麻如皇极之居中，得
气运之全，故功同五芝，力倍五参，为仙家服食之上品。是以久服，益气力，长阴，肥健。
李时珍曰∶补益上药，天麻为第一。世人只用之治风，良可惜也。
气味甘寒，无毒。主伤中，逐血痹，填骨髓，长肌肉，作汤，除寒热积聚，除痹，
疗折跌绝筋。久服轻身不老。生者尤良。
（地黄《本经》名地髓。《尔雅》名 ，又名芑。始出咸阳川泽黄土地者佳，
今处处有之，
近似怀庆者为上。根色通黄，干则微黑，古时种子，今时种根，以根节多者，寸断而莳植之
。制干地黄法，以细小者捣烂取汁，拌肥大者，晒干。）
地黄色黄，味甘性寒，禀太阴中土之专精，兼少阴寒水之气化。主治伤中者，味甘质润，
补中焦之精汁也。血痹，犹脉痹。逐血痹者，横纹似络脉，通周身之经络也。得少阴寒水之
精，故填骨髓，得太阴中土之精，故长肌肉。地黄性唯下行，故字从 。藉汤
饮，则上行外达
言不但逐血痹，更除皮肉筋骨之痹也，除皮肉筋骨之痹，则折跌绝筋，亦可
疗矣。久服则精血充足，故轻身不老。生者尤良，谓生时多津汁而尤良，惜不能久贮远市也
。后人蒸熟合丸，始有生地、熟地之分。熟地黄功力与生地黄相等，性稍减，补肾相宜，所
以然者，蒸熟，则甘中之苦味尽除，故寒性稍减，蒸熟则黑，故补肾相宜。
愚按∶地黄入土最深，性唯下行，作汤则助其上达。日华子有天黄、地黄、人黄之分，
谬矣
Taste and nature: Acrid, warm; non-toxic. Indications: Kills ghosts, spirits, gu poison, and malignant qi. Long-term use benefits qi and strength, promotes yin growth, and makes the body robust and strong.
(Note: In the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), it was named Chijian Miao (Red Arrow Seedling). In the Song Dynasty's *Kaibao Bencao*, it was named Tianma Gen (Gastrodia Root). The indications in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* discussed both root and seedling. Currently, only Tianma (Gastrodia Rhizome) is used, not Chijian. It originally grew in Chen Cang valleys, Yong Zhou, and Mount Tai/Shao Shi Mountain. Sprouts emerge in spring, with a single stem rising straight up like an arrow shaft, reddish in color. Near the top half of the stem, there are small red leaves, resembling feathers on an arrow from afar. It does not move in the wind but sways spontaneously when there is no wind, hence the name "Divine Grass." The root resembles the melon of *Trichosanthes kirilowii* (Wang Gua), with yellowish-white skin that turns black when dried. Removing the upper three to five cun of the root reveals "child roots" arranged in a ring like guards, each with fine white hair-like lateral roots. They are connected by qi but not physically continuous, hence the name "Li Mu" (Leaving Mother).)
Chijian has an acrid and warm nature. Its root, named Tianma, has a sweet and neutral nature. Chijian, being acrid and warm, belongs to Metal. Metal can restrain Wind and possesses the authority of bows and arrows, thus its main indication is killing ghosts and spirits. Tianma, being sweet and neutral, belongs to Earth. Earth can overcome Dampness and resides in the center of the Five Movements, thus it treats Gu poison and malignant qi. Tianma resembles taro tubers, surrounded by twelve "child roots," imitating the twelve earthly branches. The twelve children outside correspond to the Six Qi ruling over Heaven. Tianma, like the Imperial Pole at the center, obtains the completeness of Qi and Movement, so its efficacy is similar to the Five Lingzhi (Mushrooms), and its power exceeds the Five Ginsengs, making it a superior grade for immortals' consumption. Therefore, long-term use benefits qi and strength, promotes yin growth, and makes the body robust. Li Shizhen said: Among tonifying superior drugs, Tianma is first. It is a pity that people only use it to treat Wind diseases.
Taste and nature: Sweet, cold; non-toxic. Indications: Treats damage to the Middle Jiao, expels Blood Bi (obstruction), fills the marrow, promotes muscle growth. When decocted, it removes cold-heat accumulations, eliminates Bi syndrome, and treats fractures and severed tendons. Long-term use makes the body light and prevents aging. Fresh material is especially good.
(Note: In the *Shennong Bencao Jing*, Dihuang was named Di Sui (Earth Marrow). In the *Erya*, it was named [character missing], also known as Qi. The best quality originally came from the yellow earth river marshes of Xianyang. Now it grows everywhere, but those resembling Huaiqing origin are superior. The root is uniformly yellow, turning slightly black when dry. Ancients planted seeds; moderns plant roots, cutting roots with many nodes into inch-long pieces for planting. The method for preparing dried Dihuang involves crushing small roots to extract juice, mixing it with large roots, and sun-drying.)
Dihuang is yellow in color, sweet in taste, and cold in nature. It inherits the essence of Taiyin Central Earth and combines with the transformation of Shaoyin Cold Water. To treat damage to the Middle Jiao, its sweet taste and moist texture tonify the essence fluids of the Middle Jiao. Blood Bi is equivalent to Mai Bi (Vessel Bi). Expelling Blood Bi works because the transverse striations resemble collateral vessels, connecting the meridians throughout the body. Receiving the essence of Shaoyin Cold Water fills the marrow; receiving the essence of Taiyin Central Earth promotes muscle growth. Dihuang's nature tends downward, hence the character structure [related to downward movement]. When taken as a decoction, it ascends and reaches outward, meaning it not only expels Blood Bi but also eliminates Bi in skin, flesh, sinews, and bones. Eliminating Bi in these tissues allows for the treatment of fractures and severed tendons. Long-term use ensures sufficient essence and blood, leading to a light body and prevention of aging. Fresh material is especially good because it contains abundant juices when fresh, though it cannot be stored long or transported far. Later generations steamed it and made pills, creating the distinction between Shengdi Huang (Raw Rehmannia) and Shudi Huang (Prepared Rehmannia). Shudi Huang has equal efficacy to Shengdi Huang but a slightly milder nature, making it suitable for tonifying Kidney. This is because steaming removes the bitter taste within the sweetness, slightly reducing its cold nature. Steaming also turns it black, which suits tonifying the Kidney.
Commentary: Dihuang penetrates deepest into the soil, and its nature tends downward. However, when decocted, it helps ascend and reach outward. Ri Hua Zi's classification of Tian Huang, Di Huang, and Ren Huang is erroneous.