气微温。味甘。无毒。主五劳七伤。补中。除茎中寒热痛。养五脏。强阴。益精
气。多子。妇人症瘕。久服轻身。（洗去甲用）
肉苁蓉气微温。禀天春升之木气。入足厥阴肝经。味甘无毒。得地中正之土味。入足太
阴脾
经。色黑而润。制过味咸。兼入足少阴肾经。气味俱浊。降多于升。阴也。填精益髓。又名
黑司命。五劳者。劳伤五脏之真气也。劳者温之。苁蓉气温。所以治劳也。七伤者。食伤。
忧伤。饮伤。房室伤。饥伤。劳伤。经络营卫气伤之七伤也。七者皆伤真阴。肉苁蓉甘温滑
润。能滋元阴之不足。所以主之也。中者阴之守也。甘温益阴。所以补中。茎。玉茎也。寒
热痛者。阴虚火动。或寒或热而结痛也。苁蓉滑润。滑以去着。所以主之。五脏藏阴者也。
甘温润阴。故养五脏。阴者宗筋也。宗筋属肝。肝得血则强。苁蓉甘温益肝血。所以强阴。
色黑入肾。补益精髓。精足则气充。故益精气。精气足则频御女。所以多子也。妇人症瘕。
皆由血成。苁蓉温滑而咸。咸以软坚。滑以去着。温以散结。所以主之也。久服。肝脾肾精
充足。所以身轻也。
制 方:
肉苁蓉同白胶、杜仲、地黄、当归、麦冬。治妇人不孕。同人参、鹿茸、牡狗茎、白胶、
杜
仲、补骨脂。治阳痿。及老人阳衰。一切肾虚腰痛。兼令人有子。同黄 。治肾气虚。同北
味丸。治水泛成痰。同鹿茸、山药、白茯丸。治肾虚白浊。同沉香、脂麻丸。治汗多便秘。
同山萸、北味丸。治消中易饥。专用二三两白酒煎服。治老人便闭。同山药、杞子、山萸、
北
味、黄 、归身。治肾燥泄泻。同白芍、甘草、黄芩、红曲。治痢。
Taste is slightly warm. Flavor is sweet. Non-toxic. Primarily treats the five labors and seven injuries. Tonifies the middle jiao. Eliminates cold, heat, and pain in the urethra/genital organ. Nourishes the five zang organs. Strengthens yin essence. Benefits qi and essence. Promotes fertility. Treats abdominal masses (zhengjia) in women. Long-term use makes the body light and agile. (Wash off the sand-like scales before use.)
Roucongrong (Cistanche Herba) has a slightly warm nature and flavor. It inherits the ascending wood qi of spring, entering the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. Its sweet and non-toxic flavor corresponds to the central earth taste of the earth, entering the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. Its color is black and lustrous; after processing, it acquires a salty taste, additionally entering the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Both its aroma and taste are turbid/heavy, with descending properties predominating over ascending ones; it belongs to Yin. It fills essence and benefits marrow. Also known as Hei Siming (Black Life-Giver). The "five labors" refer to the depletion of true qi in the five zang organs due to overwork. For labor injuries, one should use warming methods; since Roucongrong is warm in nature, it treats such conditions. The "seven injuries" refer to injuries caused by improper diet, excessive worry, excessive drinking, sexual excess, hunger, physical fatigue, and damage to the meridians, Ying (nutritive), and Wei (defensive) qi. All seven types of injury damage the true yin. Rouconrongs sweet, warm, and slippery/lubricating nature can nourish the insufficiency of primordial yin, thus treating these conditions. The "middle" refers to the guardian of yin; sweet and warm flavors benefit yin, thereby tonifying the middle jiao. The "shaft" refers to the penis. Cold, heat, and pain arise from yin deficiency with fire hyperactivity, or from cold/heat causing stagnation and pain. Roucongrongs lubricating property allows it to remove adherent pathogens, hence its efficacy here. The five zang organs store yin essence; sweet, warm, and moistening properties nourish yin, thus benefiting the five zang organs. Yin essence relates to the Zongjin (major sinews/tendons); Zongjin belongs to the Liver. When the Liver receives sufficient blood, strength is restored. Roucongrongs sweet and warm nature benefits Liver blood, thus strengthening yin essence. Black color enters the Kidney, tonifying essence and marrow. Sufficient essence leads to abundant qi, thus benefiting qi and essence. Abundant qi and essence allow for frequent sexual intercourse, thus promoting fertility. Women's zhengjia (abdominal masses) are formed by blood stasis. Roucongrongs warm, slippery, and salty nature uses saltiness to soften hardness, slipperiness to remove adhesion, and warmth to dissipate nodules, thus treating this condition. Long-term use ensures sufficient essence and qi in the Liver, Spleen, and Kidneys, resulting in a light and agile body.
Prescription Formulations:
Combine Roucongrong with Baijiao (White Gelatin), Duzhong (Eucommia Bark), Dihuang (Rehmannia Root), Danggui (Angelica Sinensis), and Maidong (Ophiopogon Tuber) to treat female infertility. Combine with Renshen (Ginseng), Lurong (Deer Antler), Mugoujing (Dog Penis), Baijiao, Duzhong, and Buguzhi (Psoralea Fruit) to treat impotence, and all cases of kidney-deficiency lower back pain in the elderly due to yang decline; also promotes fertility. Combine with Huangqin (Scutellaria Root) to treat kidney-qi deficiency. Combine with Beiwei Wan (North Schisandra Pill) to treat phlegm generated by water overflowing. Combine with Lurong, Shanyao (Chinese Yam), and Baifuling (Poria Pill) to treat white turbidity due to kidney deficiency. Combine with Chenxiang (Agarwood) and Zhima Wan (Sesame Pill) to treat constipation with excessive sweating. Combine with Shanzhuyu (Cornus Fruit) and Beiwei Wan to treat xiaozhong (wasting-thirst) with easy hunger. Use 2-3 liang alone, decocted in white wine, to treat constipation in the elderly. Combine with Shanyao, Qizi (Goji Berry), Shanzhuyu, Beiwei (Schisandra), Huangqin, and Guishen (Angelica Root) to treat diarrhea due to kidney dryness. Combine with Baishao (White Peony Root), Gancao (Licorice Root), Huangqin, and Hongqu (Red Yeast Rice) to treat dysentery.