气味苦、平。主寒热，鼠 ，瘰 ，痈肿，恶疮，瘿瘤，结热，蛊毒。
气味苦、辛，寒。主寒热，瘰 ，鼠 ，头疮，破症，散瘿，结气，脚肿，湿痹，
轻身。
气味苦、寒。主鬼疰，贼风蛊毒，杀精物恶鬼，腹中毒邪气，女子赤沃漏下。
【述】代赭石气寒入肾，味苦无毒入心。肾为坎水，代赭气寒益肾，则肾水中一阳上升；
心
为离火，代赭味苦益心，则心火中一阴下降。水升火降，阴阳互藏其宅，而天地位矣。故鬼
疰贼风精魅恶鬼，以及蛊毒腹中邪毒，皆可主之。肾主二便，心主血，血热则赤沃漏下，苦
寒清心，心肾交，所以主女子赤沃漏下。仲景代赭旋复花汤，用之极少。后人昧其理而重用
之，且赖之以镇纳诸气，皆荒经之过也！
《别录》、《唐本草》、《拾遗》、《药性》、《海藏》、《蜀本》、《开宝》、《图经》、《日华》、
《补遗》。
气味苦、温，无毒。主瘰 ，消痈肿，疗头面风疮，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。（《开宝》）
陈修园曰∶后世增入药品，余多置之而弗论，唯何首乌于久疟久痢多取用之。盖疟少阳
之邪
也，久而不愈，少阳之气惯为疟邪所侮。俯首不敢与争，任其出入往来，绝无忌惮，纵旧邪
已退，而新邪复乘虚入之，则为疟；纵新邪未入，而营卫不调之气，自袭于少阳之界亦为疟
。首乌妙在直入少阳之经，其气甚雄，雄则足以折疟邪之势；其味甚涩，涩则足以堵疟邪之
路。邪若未净者，佐以柴、苓、桔、半；邪若已净者，佐以参、术、 、归；一、二剂效矣
。设初疟而即用之，则闭门逐寇，其害有不可胜言矣。久痢亦用之者，以上气欠陷，当于少
阳求其生发之气也，亦以首乌之味最苦而涩，苦以坚其肾，涩以固其脱。宜温者与姜、附同
用；宜凉者与芩、连同用；亦捷法也。此外，如疽疮五痔之病，则取其蔓延则通经络。瘰
之病，则取其入少阳之经。精滑泄泻及崩漏之病，则取其涩以固脱。若谓首乌滋阴补肾，能
乌须发，益气血，悦颜色，长筋骨，益精髓，延年，皆耳食之误也。凡物之能滋润者，必其
脂液之多也；物之能补养者，必气味和也。试问∶涩滞如首乌，何以能滋？苦劣如首乌，何
以能补？今之医辈竟奉为补药上品者，盖惑于李时珍《纲目》不寒不燥，功居地黄之上之说
也。余二十年来，目击受害者比比。以医为苍生之司命，不敢避好辩之名也。
[Lianqiao]
Taste: Bitter, Neutral. Indications: Mainly treats chills and fever (Hanre), rat scrofula (Shulou), scrofula (Luoli), carbuncles and swellings (Yongzhong), malignant sores (Echuang), goiter and tumors (Yingliu), knotted heat (Jiere), gu poison (Gudu).
[Dai Zhe Shi]
Taste: Bitter, Pungent, Cold. Indications: Mainly treats chills and fever (Hanre), scrofula (Luoli), rat scrofula (Shulou), head sores (Touchuang), breaking up masses (Po Zheng), dissipating goiters (San Ying), dispersing qi stagnation (Jieqi), foot swelling (Jiaozhong), damp bi syndrome (Shibi), lightening the body (Qingshen).
[He Shou Wu]
Taste: Bitter, Cold. Indications: Mainly treats ghost infection (Guizhu), thief wind and gu poison (Zefeng Gudu), killing spirit entities and evil ghosts (Sha Jingwu Egui), toxic pathogenic qi in the abdomen (Fuzhong Du Xieqi), red discharge and leukorrhea with bleeding in women (Nüzi Chiwo Louxia).
[Commentary] Dai Zhe Shi has a cold nature entering the Kidney (Shen) and a bitter taste without toxicity entering the Heart (Xin). The Kidney is Kan Water; Dai Zhe Shi's cold nature benefits the Kidney, causing one Yang to rise from the Kidney water; the Heart is Li Fire; Dai Zhe Shi's bitter taste benefits the Heart, causing one Yin to descend from the Heart fire. Water rises and fire descends, Yin and Yang mutually inhabit their residences, and the positions of Heaven and Earth are established. Therefore, ghost infections (Guizhu), thief winds (Zefeng), spirit demons and evil ghosts (Jingmei Egui), as well as gu poison and toxic pathogenic qi in the abdomen (Fuzhong Xiedu), can all be treated. The Kidney governs urination and defecation; the Heart governs blood. When blood is hot, it leads to red discharge and leukorrhea with bleeding (Chiwo Louxia); the bitter-cold nature clears the Heart, and when Heart and Kidney interact, it thus treats red discharge and leukorrhea with bleeding in women. Zhang Zhongjing's Daizhe Xuanshu Hua Tang uses this herb very sparingly. Later generations, ignorant of its principle, used it heavily and relied on it to anchor and subdue various Qi, which is an error of absurdly violating the classics!
Records from *Bielu*, *Tang Bencao*, *Shiyi*, *Yaoxing*, *Haizang*, *Shuben*, *Kaibao*, *Tujing*, *Rihua*, *Buyi*:
Taste: Bitter, Warm, Non-toxic. Indications: Mainly treats scrofula (Luoli), reduces carbuncles and swellings (Xiao Yongzhong), heals wind sores on the head and face (Liao Toumian Fengchuang), treats five types of hemorrhoids (Wuzhi), stops heart pain (Zhi Xintong), benefits blood and Qi (Yi Xueqi), blackens beard and hair (Hei Zifa), beautifies complexion (Yue Yanse). Long-term use strengthens bones and tendons (Chang Jingu), benefits essence and marrow (Yi Jing Sui), prolongs life and prevents aging (Yannian Bulao). Also treats various diseases postpartum and leukorrhea in women (Furen Chanhou Ji Daixia Zhuji) (from *Kaibao Bencao*).
Chen Xiuyuan said: Among herbs added in later generations, I mostly disregard them, except for He Shou Wu, which is frequently used for chronic malaria and chronic dysentery. Malaria is a pathogen of the Shaoyang channel. If it persists without resolution, the Shaoyang Qi becomes accustomed to being bullied by the malaria pathogen. It bows its head and dares not contend, allowing the pathogen to come and go freely without fear. Even if the old pathogen has retreated, new pathogens may take advantage of the deficiency to enter, resulting in malaria; even if new pathogens have not entered, the disordered Qi of Ying and Wei may invade the Shaoyang boundary, also resulting in malaria. He Shou Wu is wonderful because it directly enters the Shaoyang channel. Its nature is vigorous (Xiong); vigor is sufficient to break the momentum of the malaria pathogen. Its taste is astringent (Se); astringency is sufficient to block the path of the malaria pathogen. If pathogens are not yet cleared, assist with Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix), Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), Jie Geng (Platycodonis Radix), and Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma); if pathogens are already cleared, assist with Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Fu Ling (Poria), and Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix); effectiveness will be seen in one or two doses. If used at the initial stage of malaria, it is like closing the door to drive out thieves, with harms that cannot be overstated. It is also used for chronic dysentery because upper Qi is deficient and sinking, requiring the generation and ascending Qi from Shaoyang. It is also due to He Shou Wu's bitter and astringent taste: bitterness firms the Kidney, and astringency secures against collapse. For warming indications, use with Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) and Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata); for cooling indications, use with Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix) and Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma); these are also effective methods. Furthermore, for conditions like carbuncles, sores, and five types of hemorrhoids, it is used for its ability to unblock collaterals through its spreading nature. For scrofula, it is used for its entry into the Shaoyang channel. For seminal emission, diarrhea, and metrorrhagia, it is used for its astringency to secure against collapse. To claim that He Shou Wu nourishes Yin and tonifies the Kidney, blackens hair, benefits Qi and blood, beautifies complexion, strengthens bones and tendons, benefits essence and marrow, and prolongs life is a mistake based on hearsay. Any substance capable of moistening must have abundant lipids; any substance capable of tonifying must have harmonious flavor and nature. Ask: How can something as astringent and obstructive as He Shou Wu nourish? How can something as bitter and inferior as He Shou Wu tonify? Modern physicians who revere He Shou Wu as a top-grade tonic are misled by Li Shizhen's *Bencao Gangmu* statement that it is neither cold nor dry and its efficacy surpasses that of Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix). In my twenty years of practice, victims of this misconception are numerous. As physicians are the masters of life for the common people, I dare not avoid the reputation of being argumentative.