气味苦温，无毒。主咳逆伤中，补不足，除邪气，利九窍，益智慧，耳目聪明，不忘
，强志倍力。久服轻身不老。
（远志始出太山及冤句川谷，今河洛陕西州郡皆有之。苗名小草，三月开红花，四月采
根晒干，用者去心取皮。李时珍曰∶服之主益智强志，故有远志之称。）
远志气味苦温，根 骨硬，禀少阴心肾之气化。苦温者，心也。骨硬者，肾也。心肾不
交
，则咳逆伤中。远志主交通心肾，故治咳逆伤中。补不足者，补心肾之不足。除邪气者，除
心肾之邪气。利九窍者，水精上濡空窍于阳，下行二便于阴也。神志相通，则益智慧。智慧
益，则耳目聪明。心气盛，则不忘。肾气足，则强志倍力。若久服，则轻身不老。抱朴子云
∶陵阳子仲服远志二十年，有子三十七人，开书所视，记而不忘，此轻身不老之一征也。
气味辛温，无毒。主咳逆上气，头痛脑动，百节拘挛，风湿痹痛，死肌。久服明目，
利九窍，轻身长年。
（细辛始出华阴山谷，今处处有之。一茎直上，端生一叶，其茎极细，其味极辛，其叶
如葵
，其色赤黑。辽冀产者，名北细辛，可以入药。南方产者，名杜衡，其茎稍粗，辛味稍减，
一茎有五七叶，俗名马蹄香，不堪入药。）
细辛气味辛温，一茎直上，其色赤黑，禀少阴泉下之水阴，而上交于太阳之药也。少阴
为水
脏，太阳为水府。水气相通，行于皮毛，皮毛之气，内合于肺。若循行失职，则病咳逆上气
，而细辛能治之。太阳之脉，起于目内 ，从巅络脑，若循行失职，则病头痛脑动。而细辛
亦能治之。太阳之气主皮毛，少阴之气主骨髓，少阴之气不合太阳，则百节拘挛。节，骨节
也。百节拘挛，致有风湿相侵之痹痛。风湿相侵，伤其肌腠，故曰死肌。而细辛皆能治之。
久服则水精之气，濡于空窍，故明目，利九窍。九窍利，则轻身而长年。
愚按∶细辛乃《本经》上品药也，味辛臭香，无毒。主明目利窍。宋元 陈承谓∶细辛
单用
末，不可过一钱，多则气闭不通而死。近医多以此语忌用，嗟嗟。凡药所以治病者也，有是
病，服是药，岂辛香之药而反闭气乎？岂上品无毒而不可多服乎？方书之言，俱如此类，学
者不善详察而遵信之，伊芳黄之门，终身不能入矣。
[Polygalae Radix (Yuanzhi)]
Taste and nature: Bitter, warm; non-toxic. Indications: Cough with counterflow qi (Ke Ni) damaging the middle jiao, tonifying insufficiency, eliminating pathogenic factors, unblocking the nine orifices, enhancing wisdom, making ears and eyes acute, preventing forgetfulness, strengthening willpower and doubling physical strength. Long-term use results in a light body and anti-aging effects.
(Note: Polygalae Radix originally grew in the valleys of Mount Tai and Yuanju. It is now found in all prefectures of Heluo and Shaanxi. The herbaceous part is called "Xiao Cao" (Small Herb), blooms red flowers in March, and roots are harvested in April, dried, and used after removing the woody core, utilizing only the bark. Li Shizhen stated: Since it enhances wisdom and strengthens willpower, it is named "Yuanzhi".)
Polygalae Radix has a bitter taste and warm nature, with a hard root structure, embodying the Qi transformation of the Shaoyin Heart and Kidney channels. Bitterness corresponds to the Heart; hardness corresponds to the Kidney. When Heart and Kidney do not interact, cough with counterflow qi damaging the middle jiao occurs. Polygalae Radix primarily facilitates the interaction between Heart and Kidney, thus treating cough with counterflow qi damaging the middle jiao. "Tonifying insufficiency" refers to tonifying the insufficiency of Heart and Kidney. "Eliminating pathogenic factors" refers to eliminating pathogenic factors from Heart and Kidney. "Unblocking the nine orifices" means that essence of water nourishes the upper orifices (Yang) and promotes urination and defecation downward (Yin). When Spirit (Shen) and Will (Zhi) communicate, wisdom is enhanced. Enhanced wisdom leads to acute hearing and vision. Abundant Heart Qi prevents forgetfulness. Sufficient Kidney Qi strengthens willpower and doubles physical strength. Long-term use results in a light body and anti-aging effects. Baopuzi records: Lingyang Zizhong consumed Polygalae Radix for twenty years, fathered thirty-seven children, and could read a book once and remember it without forgetting. This is one evidence of its lightening the body and anti-aging effects.
[Asari Radix et Rhizoma (Xixin)]
Taste and nature: Acrid, warm; non-toxic. Indications: Cough with counterflow ascending qi, headache with brain movement, spasms and contracture of all joints, bi-syndrome pain due to wind-dampness, necrotic muscle tissue. Long-term use brightens the eyes, unblocks the nine orifices, lightens the body, and prolongs life.
(Note: Asari Radix et Rhizoma originally grew in the valleys of Huayin. It is now widespread. It has a single upright stem with one leaf at the tip, extremely thin stem, extremely acrid taste, leaves resembling those of Brassica rapa var. oleifera, and dark red-black color. Those produced in Liaoning and Hebei are named "Bei Xixin" (Northern Asari) and can be used medicinally. Those produced in the south are named "Duheng", have slightly thicker stems, slightly less acrid taste, five to seven leaves per stem, commonly known as "Mati Xiang" (Horse-hoof Fragrance), and are unsuitable for medicinal use.)
Asari Radix et Rhizoma has an acrid taste and warm nature, with a single upright stem and dark red-black color, embodying the Yin water energy from the springs of Shaoyin, acting as a herb that connects upward to the Taiyang channel. Shaoyin is the Water organ; Taiyang is the Water reservoir. Water Qi communicates and circulates through the skin and hair, whose Qi internally combines with the Lung. If circulation fails, cough with counterflow ascending qi occurs, which Asari Radix et Rhizoma can treat. The Taiyang meridian originates from the inner canthus of the eye and links to the brain via the vertex. If circulation fails, headache and brain movement occur, which Asari Radix et Rhizoma can also treat. Taiyang Qi governs the skin and hair; Shaoyin Qi governs the bone marrow. If Shaoyin Qi does not harmonize with Taiyang, spasms and contracture of all joints occur. "Joints" refer to osteoarticular joints. Spasms and contracture of all joints lead to invasion by wind-dampness causing bi-pain. Wind-dampness invading damages the muscle layers, hence termed "necrotic muscle tissue." Asari Radix et Rhizoma can treat all these conditions. Long-term use allows the essence of water to nourish the orifices, thus brightening the eyes and unblocking the nine orifices. Unblocked nine orifices result in a light body and prolonged life.
Commentary: Asari Radix et Rhizoma is a Superior Grade herb in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*, with an acrid taste and fragrant odor, non-toxic. It mainly brightens the eyes and unblocks the orifices. Chen Cheng of the Song and Yuan dynasties stated: When used alone as powder, Asari Radix et Rhizoma should not exceed one qian; excessive amounts cause Qi closure leading to death. Recent physicians often avoid using it due to this statement. Alas! All medicines are meant to treat diseases. If there is a disease, take the corresponding medicine. How could acrid and fragrant herbs close Qi? How could Superior Grade non-toxic herbs not be taken in larger doses? Such statements in medical texts are common. Scholars who fail to examine them carefully and blindly follow them will never enter the gate of Huangdi and Qibo's medical wisdom in their lifetime.