味甘酸。性平。无毒。正禀北方坎水之气而生。故其汁黑。降也。阴中阴也。
【主治】主血痢。生眉发。（开宝）乌须发。益肾阴。（元素）止血排脓。通小肠。（大
明）
【归经】入肝肾二经。兼入胃大小肠三经。为补肾之品。
【前论】虞抟曰。小便溺血。用旱莲草、车前草等分打汁。空心服三杯。愈乃止。
【禁忌】经疏曰。脾胃虚弱者勿服。不用姜汁、椒红相兼修事。服之者。必腹痛作泄。
宜详
味甘。性温。一云微腥。无毒。
【主治】主咳逆伤肺。肺痿。止烦。下气。（甄权）长肌肉。明目。轻身。疗吐脓。去
燥
热。
带下。
【归经】入肾经。兼入肝经。为平补之品。（功专补肾益精兼清肺气）
【前论】时珍曰。后世补肾。多用沙蒺藜。或以熬膏和药。
鳌按、沙蒺藜专补肾虚。治腰痛。及虚损劳乏。其功能大概不出此。
【禁忌】经疏曰。沙蒺藜性能固精。命门火炽。阳道数举。交媾精不易出者。均忌。
味辛甘。性平。无毒。禀春末夏初之气以生。凝乎地之冲气以成。感秋之气而实。
山药为使。得酒良。
【主治】主续绝伤。补不足。益气力。肥健人。汁去面 。（本经）养肌。强阴。坚筋
骨。
主
益髓
（好
【归经】入肝肾二经。兼入脾经。为补助三阴之品。（温而不燥不助相火强阴益精）
【前论】东垣曰。暖而能补肾中阳气。故茎中寒。精自出。溺有余沥。皆主之。至劳伤
皆脾
【禁忌】经疏曰。肾家多火。阳强不痿。及大便燥结者。均忌。
Taste: Sweet, sour. Nature: Neutral. Non-toxic. It is born by inheriting the Qi of Kan Water in the North. Therefore, its juice is black. Its movement is descending. It belongs to Yin within Yin.
[Indications] Mainly treats bloody dysentery. Promotes growth of eyebrows and hair. (Kai Bao Ben Cao) Darkens beard and hair. Nourishes Kidney Yin. (Zhenzhu Nang) Stops bleeding and discharges pus. Unblocks the Small Intestine. (Da Ming Ben Cao)
[Meridian Tropism] Enters the Liver and Kidney meridians. Also enters the Stomach, Large Intestine, and Small Intestine meridians. It is a substance for tonifying the Kidney.
[Prior Discussions] Yu Tun said: For hematuria, use equal parts of Ecliptae Herba (Hanliancao, 旱莲草) and Plantaginis Herba (Cheqiancao, 车前草), crush them to extract juice, and drink three cups on an empty stomach. Stop when cured.
[Contraindications] Jing Shu (Ben Cao Jing Shu) says: Do not take if Spleen and Stomach are weak. Do not process with Ginger Juice (Jiang Zhi) and Sichuan Pepper Red (Jiao Hong). Those who take it will inevitably suffer from abdominal pain and diarrhea. Details should be noted carefully.
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Warm. Some say slightly fishy. Non-toxic.
[Indications] Mainly treats cough with rebellious Qi injuring the Lung. Lung萎 (Fei Wei, pulmonary fibrosis/atrophy). Relieves irritability. Directs Qi downward. (Zhen Quan) Promotes muscle growth. Brightens eyes. Lightens the body. Treats expectoration of pus. Removes dryness and heat. Leukorrhea.
[Meridian Tropism] Enters the Kidney meridian. Also enters the Liver meridian. It is a mild tonic. (Its function specializes in tonifying the Kidney and benefiting essence while clearing Lung Qi.)
[Prior Discussions] Li Shizhen said: In later generations, for tonifying the Kidney, Sha Yuan Ji Li (Astragali Complanati Semen, 沙苑子) is mostly used. Sometimes it is boiled into a paste and mixed with other medicines.
Ao's Note: Sha Yuan Ji Li specifically tonifies Kidney deficiency. It treats lower back pain and exhaustion due to deficiency and overwork. Its functions generally do not exceed these scopes.
[Contraindications] Jing Shu (Ben Cao Jing Shu) says: Sha Yuan Ji Li has the property of securing essence. Contraindicated in cases of blazing Fire at the Gate of Life (Ming Men Huo Chi), frequent erections (Yang Dao Shu Ju), and difficulty ejaculating during intercourse.
Taste: Pungent, sweet. Nature: Neutral. Non-toxic. It is born by inheriting the Qi of late spring and early summer. It forms by condensing the harmonious Qi of the earth. It matures by sensing the Qi of autumn.
It acts as a guiding herb when used with Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shanyao, 山药). It works well when processed with wine.
[Indications] Mainly repairs severed injuries. Tonifies insufficiency. Benefits Qi and strength. Makes people fat and robust. The juice removes facial dark spots. (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing) Nourishes muscles. Strengthens Yin. Firmsin tendons and bones.
Mainly benefits marrow (Good...
[Meridian Tropism] Enters the Liver and Kidney meridians. Also enters the Spleen meridian. It is a substance that supplements the Three Yin meridians. (Warm but not drying, does not assist Ministerial Fire, strengthens Yin and benefits essence.)
[Prior Discussions] Li Dongyuan said: Its nature is warm and can tonify Yang Qi in the Kidney. Therefore, it treats coldness in the urethra, spontaneous seminal emission, and dribbling after urination. As for injuries due to overwork, they all relate to the Spleen...
[Contraindications] Jing Shu (Ben Cao Jing Shu) says: Contraindicated in cases where the Kidney has excessive fire, persistent erection without flaccidity (Yang Qiang Bu Wei), and dry, constipated stools.