有两种。一种茎紫气香而味甘。叶可作羹者。为真菊。一种茎青肥大。作蒿艾气。其味
苦辛惨烈不堪食者。为苦薏。（以味似莲子心得名）非真菊也。叶正相似。惟以甘苦别之。（
贞白）惟单瓣花小而黄。叶小而薄。色深绿。九月应候而开者为是。邓州白菊。单瓣者亦入
药。余皆不用。（宗 ）
花
味甘。气香。性平。可升可降。阳中有阴。主肝气不足。白术地骨皮桑白皮为之使。
治诸风头眩肿痛。目欲脱。泪出。（本经）一切游风。能令消散。补阴利血脉。（权）除胸中
烦热。利五脉。调四肢。（别录）养目血。去翳膜。（洁古）黄菊属土与金。有水与火。大能
补阴血。故养目。（丹溪）菊春生夏茂。秋花冬实。备受四气。饱经霜露。叶枯不落。花槁
不零。其用祛除风热。益肝补阴。皆由得金水之精英尤多。能益金水二脏故也。补水所以制
火。益金所以平木。木平则风息。火降则热除矣。（濒湖）黄者入金水阴分。白者入金水阳
分。红者行妇人血分。神而明之。皆可入药。（又）菊花独禀金精。专制风木。故为去风之
要药。（仲淳）同地黄当归枸杞蒺藜五味山萸黄柏羚羊角羊肝。治肝肾俱虚目痛。加木贼谷
精柴胡决明子。可去外翳。同黄连甘草元参桔梗连翘生地柴胡川芎羌活荆芥决明子童便。治
风热目痛。君川芎细辛 本当归生熟地天麦冬白芍甘草童便。治血虚头痛。亦主眩晕。其因
痰而作者。无痰药不效。黄而小者。童便浸一宿。晒干为末服。能生精。与枸杞子相对蜜丸。
久服终身无目疾。兼不中风及生疔疽。眼目昏花。用甘菊花一斤。红椒去目六两。为末。用
新地黄汁和丸
〔论〕甘菊秉金精而兼水化。金水相涵。益阴之上品也。何以独为风木之对待。盖风木
固欲尽之阴。而乐趋乎阳者也。有金水相涵者。育其将尽之阴。而静其相求之阳。故不独平
肝。且能益肝之不足。其疗头目风热。除胸中烦热。利五脉。调四肢。总归于利血脉一语。
而血脉之所以利。直由金水相涵。以致其用耳。夫心主脉。脉为血府。金水相涵以致其用。
则是肺阴下降入心。而合于肾脉之至肺者。所谓毛脉合精也。火合于水而血生。血生而脉利。
又何四肢之不能调乎。然则对待风木一语。正以风脏血脏。实司周身之经络。而经络固内外
之合也。得兹味大畅风升之用。而不病于风眚。则所益岂其微哉。（祛头风明目特其首及。
非谓益阴之功。概止此也。）至入药定以甘者。盖益气益血之味。不能离于甘。离于甘则为
阴阳偏至之气。但可以疗偏至之疾耳。
〔辨治〕 小而气恶者为野菊。味苦茎青者。大伤胃气。谨戒弗用。正月采根。三月采
叶。五月采茎。九月采花。十一月采实。皆阴干用。
There are two types of Chrysanthemum. One type has purple stems, a fragrant aroma, and a sweet taste; its leaves can be used to make soup. This is the true Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemi Flos). The other type has green, thick, and large stems, smells like Artemisia and Mugwort, and has a bitter, pungent, and harsh taste that makes it inedible. This is Ku Yi (Bitter Costus Root), named because its taste resembles the heart of a lotus seed, and it is not the true Chrysanthemum. Their leaves look very similar and are distinguished only by their sweet versus bitter tastes. (Zhenbai) Only those with single petals, small yellow flowers, small and thin leaves, deep green color, and blooming in September according to the seasonal rhythm are considered authentic. White Chrysanthemum from Dengzhou, even if single-petaled, can be used medicinally; others are not used. (Zong)
Flower
Taste: Sweet. Aroma: Fragrant. Nature: Neutral. Action: Can ascend and descend; contains Yin within Yang. Main indications: Liver Qi deficiency. Guiding herbs: Atractylodis Rhizoma (Baizhu), Lycii Cortex (Digupi), and Morus Alba Bark (Sangbaipi). Treats various wind-induced dizziness, swelling, and pain in the head, sensation of eyes protruding, and tearing. (Shennong Bencao Jing) Disperses all wandering wind pathogens. Nourishes Yin and benefits blood vessels. (Quan) Clears irritability and heat in the chest. Benefits the five meridians and harmonizes the four limbs. (Xinxiu Bencao) Nourishes eye blood and removes corneal opacities. (Jiegu) Yellow Chrysanthemum belongs to Earth and Metal, possessing Water and Fire properties. It greatly tonifies Yin and Blood, thus nourishing the eyes. (Danxi) Chrysanthemum grows in Spring, flourishes in Summer, flowers in Autumn, and fruits in Winter. It fully absorbs the Qi of the Four Seasons and endures frost and dew. Its leaves wither but do not fall, and its flowers dry but do not drop. Its functions of dispelling wind-heat and benefiting the Liver and nourishing Yin stem from its abundant acquisition of the essence of Metal and Water, thereby benefiting the Lung (Metal) and Kidney (Water) organs. Supplementing Water controls Fire; benefiting Metal pacifies Wood. When Wood is pacified, wind ceases; when Fire descends, heat is eliminated. (Bencao Gangmu) Yellow varieties enter the Yin aspect of Metal and Water; white varieties enter the Yang aspect; red varieties circulate in the blood aspect of women. Applied with divine understanding, all can be used medicinally. (Again) Chrysanthemum alone inherits the essence of Metal and specifically controls Wind-Wood, making it an essential herb for dispelling wind. (Zhongchun) Combined with Rehmanniae Radix (Dihuang), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui), Lycii Fructus (Gouqi), Tribuli Fructus (Jili), Schisandrae Fructus (Wuweizi), Corni Fructus (Shanzhuyu), Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai), Antelopis Cornu (Lingyangjiao), and Hep Sus Scrofae (Yanggan), it treats eye pain due to dual deficiency of Liver and Kidney. Adding Equiseti Herba (Muzei), Sparganii Rhizoma (Gujingcao), Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu), and Cassiae Semen (Juemingzi) can remove external opacities. Combined with Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), Scrophulariae Radix (Yuanshen), Platycodonis Radix (Jiegeng), Forsythiae Fructus (Lianqiao), Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (Shengdi), Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu), Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong), Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix (Qianghuo), Schizonepetae Herba (Jingjie), Cassiae Semen (Juemingzi), and Urina Pueri (Tongbian), it treats eye pain due to wind-heat. Using Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong), Asari Radix et Rhizoma (Xixin), Libanotidis Rhizoma (Ben), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui), Rehmanniae Radix (Sheng/Shu Di), Ophiopogonis Tuber (Tianmai), Liriopes Tuber (Maidong), Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), and Urina Pueri (Tongbian) as sovereign herbs treats headache due to blood deficiency and also vertigo. If caused by phlegm, efficacy is lacking without phlegm-resolving herbs. Small yellow Chrysanthemum soaked in Urina Pueri (Tongbian) overnight, dried, and powdered can generate essence. Combined with Lycii Fructus (Gouqi) and honey pills, long-term use prevents eye diseases, stroke, and carbuncles. For blurred vision, mix one jin of Ganju (Sweet Chrysanthemum) with six liang of Red Pepper (Hongjiao) removed of seeds, powder them, and form pills with fresh juice of Rehmanniae Radix (Xindihuang).
[Discussion] Ganju (Sweet Chrysanthemum) inherits the essence of Metal and combines with Water transformation. Metal and Water mutually nourish each other, making it a superior herb for tonifying Yin. Why is it uniquely the counteragent to Wind-Wood? Wind-Wood naturally desires to exhaust Yin and tends toward Yang. Those with mutual nourishment of Metal and Water nurture the nearly exhausted Yin and calm the seeking Yang. Thus, it not only pacifies the Liver but also supplements Liver Qi deficiency. Its treatment of wind-heat in the head and eyes, clearing chest irritability, benefiting the five meridians, and harmonizing the four limbs all归结 to "benefiting blood vessels." The reason blood vessels benefit is directly due to the mutual nourishment of Metal and Water. The Heart governs vessels, and vessels are the mansion of blood. Mutual nourishment of Metal and Water leads to function: Lung Yin descends into the Heart and merges with the Kidney meridian reaching the Lung, known as "merging of Hair and Pulse essence." Fire merging with Water generates blood; blood generation leads to smooth vessels, thereby harmonizing the four limbs. Therefore, "counteracting Wind-Wood" refers to the fact that the Wind organ and Blood organ actually manage the meridians throughout the body, which are the union of interior and exterior. Obtaining this flavor allows the ascending use of wind to flow freely without suffering wind disasters; the benefits are significant. (Treating head wind and brightening eyes is merely mentioned first, not implying that the Yin-nourishing merit stops there.) Regarding the selection of sweet-tasting varieties for medicine: flavors that benefit Qi and Blood cannot depart from sweetness. Departing from sweetness results in Qi of extreme Yin or Yang, which can only treat diseases of extreme deviation.
[Differentiation and Treatment] Wild Chrysanthemum (Yeju) has small flowers and a foul odor. Varieties with bitter taste and green stems severely damage Stomach Qi and must be strictly avoided. Collect roots in January, leaves in March, stems in May, flowers in September, and fruits in November. All should be dried in shade before use.