气微温。味苦涩。无毒。主瘰 。消痈肿。疗头风面疮。治五痔。止心痛。益血
气。黑髭发。悦颜色。久服长筋骨。益精髓。延年不老。亦治妇人产后及带下诸疾。（马豆
蒸用）
何首乌气微温。禀天春升少阳之气。入足少阳胆经、手少阳三焦经。味苦涩无毒。得地
火水
之味。入手少阴心经、足少阴肾经。气味升少降多。阴也。瘰 少阳之郁毒。首乌入少阳。
气温则通达。所以主之。痈肿及头面风疮。皆属心火。味苦入心。气温能行。所以主之。肠
为痔。痔者湿热伤血之症也。味苦清血。故亦主之。心为君火。火郁则痛。苦能泄。温能
行。故主心痛。心主血。肾藏气。味苦益血。味涩益气也。髭发者血之余也。心者生之本。
其华在面。心血通流。则髭发黑而颜色美矣。其黑髭发悦颜色者。苦益血而温能通也。肝主
筋。肾主骨。藏精与髓。胆气疏则肝血润。心血充则肾精足。其坚筋骨益精髓者。气温益胆
。味苦涩而交心肾也。心肾交。则火降水升。自延年不老矣。治产后及带下诸疾者。以气温
能升少阳之生气。味苦涩交心肾之阴阳也。
制 方:
首乌同牛膝、鳖甲、陈皮、青皮。治疟邪在阴分。如表虚脾弱。加人参三五钱。同金银
花、
地榆、川莲、白芍、升麻、葛根、甘草、滑石、山豆根、犀角、草石蚕。治痢纯血诸药不效
者。首乌日日生嚼。治瘰 或破或不破。并用叶捣涂。同牛膝丸。治腰膝软疼。及风痰
久疟。
The qi is slightly warm. The taste is bitter and astringent. It is non-toxic. It mainly treats scrofula (tuberculous lymphadenitis of the neck). It dissipates carbuncles and swellings. It treats cephalalgia due to wind and facial sores. It treats five types of hemorrhoids. It stops heart pain. It benefits blood and qi. It darkens beard and hair. It enhances complexion. Long-term use strengthens sinews and bones. It benefits essence and marrow. It prolongs life and prevents aging. It also treats postpartum diseases and leukorrhea in women. (Use after steaming with Vigna angularis seeds)
He Shou Wu (Polygoni Multiflori Radix) has a slightly warm qi. It inherits the ascending, Shaoyang Gallbladder channel qi of spring. It enters the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Channel and Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Channel. Its taste is bitter and astringent, and it is non-toxic. It obtains the flavors of earth, fire, water, and wood from the ground. It enters the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Channel and Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Channel. Its aroma rises less and descends more; it belongs to Yin. Scrofula is the stagnant toxin of the Shaoyang channel. He Shou Wu enters the Shaoyang channel. Its warm qi allows for unblocking and circulation. Therefore, it mainly treats this condition. Carbuncles, swellings, and wind sores on the head and face all belong to Heart Fire. Bitter taste enters the Heart. Warm qi can promote movement. Therefore, it mainly treats these conditions. Intestinal hemorrhoids are symptoms where damp-heat injures the blood. Bitter taste clears the blood. Thus, it also treats them. The Heart is the Sovereign Fire. When fire stagnates, there is pain. Bitter taste can drain downward. Warm qi can promote movement. Thus, it treats heart pain. The Heart governs blood. The Kidney stores qi. Bitter taste benefits blood. Astringent taste benefits qi. Beard and hair are the surplus of blood. The Heart is the root of life. Its luster manifests in the face. When Heart blood flows smoothly, beard and hair become black and complexion becomes beautiful. The reason it darkens beard and hair and enhances complexion is that bitter taste benefits blood and warm qi promotes circulation. The Liver governs sinews. The Kidney governs bones. It stores essence and marrow. When Gallbladder qi is smooth, Liver blood is moist. When Heart blood is abundant, Kidney essence is sufficient. The reason it strengthens sinews and bones and benefits essence and marrow is that its warm qi benefits the Gallbladder. Its bitter and astringent taste communicates between the Heart and Kidney. When Heart and Kidney communicate, Fire descends and Water ascends. Naturally, it prolongs life and prevents aging. The reason it treats postpartum and leukorrhea diseases is that its warm qi can ascend the vital qi of Shaoyang. Its bitter and astringent taste harmonizes the Yin and Yang of the Heart and Kidney.
Prescription:
He Shou Wu combined with Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Biejia (Trionycis Carapax), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), and Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride) treats malaria pathogen in the Yin level. If exterior deficiency and Spleen weakness exist, add Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) 3-5 qian. Combined with Jinyinhua (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos), Diyü (Sanguisorbae Radix), Chuanlian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Huashi (Talcum), Shandougen (Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix), Xijiao (Rhinocerotis Cornu), and Caoshicao (Helwingiae Fructus), it treats dysentery with pure blood when other medicines are ineffective. He Shou Wu chewed raw daily treats scrofula whether ulcerated or not. Apply crushed leaves externally to both cases. Combined with Niuxi as pills, it treats soreness and pain in waist and knees, as well as chronic malaria due to wind-phlegm.