（山草）滋肾润燥
肉苁蓉（专入肾。兼入大肠）。甘酸咸温。体润色黑。诸书既言峻补精血。又言力能兴
阳助火
。是明因其气温。力专滋阴。得此阳随阴附而阳自见兴耳！惟其力能滋补。故凡症瘕积块。
得此而坚即消。惟其滋补而阳得助。故凡遗精茎痛。寒热时作。亦得因是而除。若谓火衰至
极。用此甘润之品。同于附桂。力能补阳。其失远矣！况此既言补阴。而补阴又以苁蓉为名
。是明因其功力不骤。气专润燥。是亦宜于便闭。而不宜于胃虚之人也。谓之滋阴则可。谓
之补火正未必。然长大如臂。重至斤许。有松子鳞甲者良。酒浸。刷去浮甲。劈。除内筋膜
。酒蒸半日。酥炙用。忌铁器。
（山草）补阴润燥功同肉苁蓉
锁阳（专入肾。兼入大肠。辍耕录云。锁阳生鞑靼田地。野马或与蛇龙遗精入地。久之
发起
类。
甘咸性温。润燥养筋。凡阴气虚损。精血衰败。大便燥结。治可用此以啖。并代苁蓉煮粥弥
佳。则知其性虽温。其体仍润。未可云为命门火衰必用之药也。故书有载大便不燥结者勿用
。益知性属阴类。即有云可补阳。亦不过云其阴补而阳自兴之意。岂真性等附桂。而为燥热
之药哉？但古表着药功。多有隔一隔二立说。以致茫若观火。究之细从药之气味形质考求。
则孰阴孰阳。自尔立见。又奚必沾沾于书治功是求者乎？状类男阳。用宜酥炙。
[Mountain Herbs] Nourish Kidney Yin and Moisten Dryness
Rou Cong Rong (Cistanche Herba) (Primarily enters the Kidney meridian, also enters the Large Intestine meridian). Sweet, sour, salty, and warm in nature. It has a moist texture and black color. Various medical texts state that it strongly tonifies essence and blood, and also assert that it can stimulate Yang energy and assist fire. This clearly indicates that due to its mild warmth, its power is specifically focused on nourishing Yin; upon receiving this herb, Yang naturally rises by attaching to Yin! Precisely because of its tonifying power, any zheng zha ji kuai (abdominal masses) will dissolve when treated with it. Because it tonifies and assists Yang, symptoms such as spermatorrhea, penile pain, and alternating chills and fever can also be eliminated. If one claims that for extreme depletion of Fire (Kidney Yang), using this sweet and moist substance is equivalent to Fu Zi (Aconite Lateralis Radix Preparata) and Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi), possessing great power to tonify Yang, this is a significant error! Moreover, since it is described here as nourishing Yin, and named "Cong Rong" to emphasize its Yin-nourishing efficacy, this clearly shows its medicinal action is not abrupt, but specifically focuses on moistening dryness. Therefore, it is suitable for constipation but not suitable for individuals with Spleen/Stomach deficiency. Calling it a Yin-nourishing agent is acceptable, but calling it a Fire-tonifying agent is questionable. Its shape is large, like an arm, weighing up to one jin; those with pine-cone-like scales are of good quality. Soak in wine, brush off the floating scales, split open, remove the internal membrane, steam in wine for half a day, and fry with su (rendered animal fat). Avoid iron vessels.
[Mountain Herbs] Tonifying Yin and Moistening Dryness: Efficacy Similar to Rou Cong Rong
Suo Yang (Cynomorii Herba) (Primarily enters the Kidney meridian, also enters the Large Intestine meridian. *Zhe Geng Lu* records: Suo Yang grows in the lands of the Tartars. When wild horses or snakes/dragons ejaculate into the ground, after a long time, they sprout). Sweet, salty, and warm in nature. It moistens dryness and nourishes tendons. For conditions of Yin Qi deficiency and exhaustion, decline of essence and blood, and dry, constipated stool, this herb can be used for consumption, and substituting it for Rou Cong Rong to cook porridge is even better. From this, we know that although its nature is warm, its substance remains moist. It cannot be said to be a mandatory medicine for Ming Men Huo Shuai (decline of the Fire of the Gate of Vitality/Kidney Yang). Therefore, medical texts record that it should not be used if the stool is not dry. This further confirms its attribute belongs to the Yin category. Even if some say it can tonify Yang, it merely means that through nourishing Yin, Yang naturally arises. Is it truly like Fu Zi and Gui Zhi, being a drying and hot drug? Ancient descriptions of drug functions often employ indirect reasoning, leading to confusion, as if viewing fire from afar. Upon careful investigation of the drug's aroma, flavor, form, and substance, the distinction between Yin and Yang becomes immediately apparent. Why must one cling to seeking efficacy solely from textual treatments? Its shape resembles the male organ; when used, it is appropriate to fry it with su (rendered animal fat).