Library

[Odor and Flavor] Bitter, warm, non-toxic.
[Indications] Treats vomiting of phlegm-fluid due to consumptive fatigue (Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Wu Shou said: For those with weak constitutions, ginseng rhizome (Renshen Lu) can be used to replace melon seed (Gua Di) as an emetic.
Zhenheng (Zhu Zhenheng) said: Ginseng enters the Taiyin Lung Meridian, tonifying the Yin within Yang; whereas ginseng rhizome, conversely, can drain the Yang of the Taiyin Lung Meridian. This is similar to Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang): its aerial parts induce sweating, while its root arrests sweating. Grains belong to Metal, yet their husks are hot in nature; wheat belongs to Yang, yet its bran is cool in nature. Former Confucian scholars stated that all things possess a Taiji (primordial unity); should not learners apply this principle by analogy? A woman with an irritable disposition and robust constitution developed hiccups in summer due to anger. Each episode was accompanied by whole-body tremors, coma, and unconsciousness. Her physical form and Qi were both excess patterns; this was phlegm stagnating due to anger-induced Qi constraint, preventing Qi from descending, requiring emesis. Thus, half tael of ginseng rhizome was decocted in one and a half cups of counter-flowing water into a large bowl for drinking. It induced massive vomiting of stubborn phlegm (several bowls), followed by profuse sweating, a day-long sleep, and subsequent recovery. Another person developed malaria after overexertion; after taking antimalarial drugs, it transformed into a heat disease with short tongue, cough with phlegm, and six pulses that were surging, rapid, and slippery. This indicated phlegm accumulation in the chest, curable only by emesis. Two doses of Ginseng Rhizome Decoction added with Bamboo Sap (Zhuli) expelled three pieces of gelatinous phlegm. Subsequently, a decoction of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen), Astragali Radix (Huangqi), and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui) was administered, leading to stability after half a month.

(Shangpin / Superior Grade in *Benjing*)
[Correction] Merged into the "Named but Unused" section of *Bielu* as Yangru.
[Names] Baishen (*Wuping*), Zhimu (*Bielu*), Yangru (*Bielu*), Yangponai (*Gangmu*), Ling'ercao (*Bielu*), Huxu (*Bielu*), Kuxin (*Bielu*, also known as Wenxi, Yiming Shimie, Yiming Zhiqu.)
Hongjing said: This herb, along with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen), Scrophulariae Radix (Xuanshen), Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix (Danshen), and Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (Kushen), constitutes the "Five Shen." Their shapes are not entirely similar, but their therapeutic effects are quite alike, hence they all bear the name "Shen." There is also Zishen, which is Mumeng.
Shizhen said: Adenophorae Radix (Shashen) is white and suitable for sandy soil, hence its name. Its roots contain much white juice, so common people call it Yangponai. *Bielu* listed it as named but unused; Yangru is this herb. This substance has no core and tastes bland, yet *Bielu* calls it Kuxin (Bitter Heart) and gives it the same name as Zhimu, which is incomprehensible. Ling'ercao refers to the bell-like shape of its flowers.
[Collection of Explanations] *Bielu* says: Adenophorae Radix (Shashen) grows in river valleys of Henei and at Banshan Xushan in Yuanju. Roots are harvested in February and August and dried in the sun. Also known as: Yangru, alternatively Dihuang, harvested in March; the mother plant dies after Lixia (Start of Summer).
Gong said: Those produced in Huashan are superior. Pu said: Sprouts emerge in February, resembling Brassica rapa var. pekinensis (Kuicai), with green leaves and white roots; fruits resemble mustard seeds; roots are as large as turnips, harvested in March.
Hongjing said: Now found near roadsides, growing in clusters, with leaves resembling Lycii Cortex (Gouqizi); roots that are white and solid are best.
Baosheng said: Its roots resemble Kuicai roots, with white flowers.
Song said: Now found in various prefectures including Zhou, Qi, Lu, Sui, Jiang, Huai, Jing, and Hu. Seedlings grow one to two chi tall, clustering on cliff walls; leaves resemble Gouqizi but have forked tips; purple flowers bloom in July; roots resemble Kuicai roots, about finger-thick, reddish-yellow, with white centers being best. Roots are harvested in February and August. Southern varieties have leaves varying in size, white flowers, and white sticky residue on petals, which is a slight difference.
Cangqi said: Yangru roots are rounder when compared to Jiquan (Shepherd's Purse), fist-sized, with angular nodes; breaking them yields white juice. People harvest roots like Shepherd's Purse. The seedling grows as a vine, yielding white juice when broken.
Shizhen said: Adenophorae Radix (Shashen) grows abundantly in mountain plains everywhere. Sprouts emerge in February, leaves resembling young Kuicai leaves, round, flat, and not smooth. Stems shoot up in August and September, reaching one to two chi high. Leaves on the stem are lanceolate like Gouqizi leaves but with fine serrations. Small purple flowers bloom among leaves in autumn, two to three fen long, bell-shaped, five-lobed, with white stamens; some have white flowers. Fruits set, sized like Ilex cornuta (Dongqing) berries, containing fine seeds. Seedlings wither after frost. Roots growing in sandy soil exceed one chi long and are as thick as a tiger's mouth; those in yellow soil are shorter and smaller. Both roots and stems contain white juice. Harvested in August/September, they are white and solid; harvested in spring, they are slightly yellow and hollow. Unscrupulous persons often steam, compress, and compact them to pass off as Renshen, but they are lighter in texture, bland in taste, and shorter.
Root
[Odor and Flavor] Bitter, slightly cold, non-toxic. *Bielu* says: Yangru is warm and non-toxic.
Pu said: Shashen. Qibo considered it salty; Shennong, Huangdi, and Bianque considered it non-toxic. Li Dangzhi considered it greatly cold. Haogu said: Sweet, slightly bitter.
Zhicai said: Hostile against Paeoniae Radix Alba (Fangji), contrary to Veratri Rhizoma (Lilu).
[Indications] Treats blood accumulation and fright qi, eliminates chills and fever, tonifies the Middle, benefits Lung Qi (*Benjing*).
Treats Wei Bi (stomach obstruction) and heart/abdominal pain, clears constrained heat and pathogenic qi headaches, removes pathogenic heat in the skin, calms the Five Viscera. Long-term use benefits the person. Furthermore: Yangru treats vertigo and headache, benefits Qi, promotes muscle growth (*Bielu*). Removes floating wind from skin and muscles, hernia with prolapse, treats constant drowsiness, nourishes Liver Qi, disseminates Wind Qi of the Five Viscera (Zhenquan). Tonifies deficiency, stops fright and irritability, benefits Heart and Lung, treats all kinds of malignant sores, scabies, ringworm, and body itching, expels pus, reduces swelling and toxicity (Daming). Clears Lung Fire, treats chronic cough and Fei Fei (lung atrophy) (Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Yuansu said: For Cold Lung, use Renshen; for Heat Lung, substitute Shashen, taking advantage of its sweet flavor. Haogu said: Shashen is sweet and slightly bitter, a drug of the Jueyin primary meridian, and also a Qi-level drug of the Spleen meridian. Slight bitterness tonifies Yin, sweetness tonifies Yang, hence Jiegu uses Shashen to replace Renshen. Generally, Renshen is warm and tonifies Yang of the Five Viscera; Shashen is cold and tonifies Yin of the Five Viscera. Although it claims to tonify the Five Viscera, it must be assisted by herbs specific to each organ to guide and support them appropriately.
Shizhen said: Renshen is sweet, bitter, and warm; its substance is heavy and solid, specifically tonifying Yuan Qi of the Spleen and Stomach, thereby benefiting Lung and Kidney, making it suitable for internal injury of Yuan Qi. Shashen is sweet, bland, and cold; its substance is light and empty, specifically tonifying Lung Qi, thereby benefiting Spleen and Kidney, making it suitable when Metal (Lung) is overcome by Fire. One tonifies Yang to generate Yin; the other tonifies Yin to control Yang. This distinction must not be overlooked.
[Attached Prescriptions] One old, two new.
Lung Heat Cough: Adenophorae Radix (Shashen) half tael. Decoct in water and take orally. (*Weisheng Yijian Fang*)
Sudden Hernia: Severe pulling pain in lower abdomen and genitals, spontaneous sweating, feeling of impending death. Adenophorae Radix (Shashen), pounded and sifted into powder, taken with wine using a square-inch measure, immediate cure. (*Zhouhou Beiji Fang*)
Women's Leukorrhea: Often caused by emotional injury or deficiency-cold of the Lower Origin. Adenophorae Radix (Shashen) powdered, two qian per dose, mixed with rice drink and taken orally. (*Zhengzhi Yaojue*)