\r龙眼\pd343.bmp\r
味甘，平，无毒。主五脏邪气，安志厌食，除虫去毒。久服强魂聪明，轻身不老，通
神明。一名益智。其大者似槟榔。生南海山谷。
陶隐居云∶广州别有龙眼，似荔枝而小，非益智，恐彼人别名，今者为益智尔。食之并
利人。唐本注云∶益智似连翘子头未开者。味甘、辛。殊不似槟榔。其苗、叶、花、根，与
豆蔻无别，唯子小尔。龙眼一名益智，而益智非龙眼也。其龙眼树似荔枝，叶若林檎，花白
色。子如槟榔，有鳞甲，大如雀卵。味甘、酸也。今注按此树高二丈余，枝叶凌冬不凋。花
白色。七月始熟。一名亚荔枝。大者形似槟榔而小，有鳞甲，其肉薄于荔枝，而甘美堪食。
《本经》云一名益智者。盖甘味归脾而能益智，非今益智子尔。臣禹锡等谨按蜀本龙眼，除
蛊
图经曰∶龙眼，生南海山谷，今闽、广、蜀道出荔枝处皆有之。木高二丈许，似荔枝而
叶微小，凌冬不凋。春末夏初，生细白花。七月而实成，壳青黄色，文作鳞甲，形圆如弹丸，
核若无患而不坚，肉白有浆，甚甘美。其实极繁，每枝常三、二十枚。荔枝才过，龙眼即熟，
故
观汉记》云∶南海旧献龙眼、荔枝，十里一置，五里一候，奔驰险阻，道路为患。孝和时，
汝南唐羌为临武长，县接南海，上书言状。帝下诏太官，勿复受献，由是而止。其为世所贵
重久矣。今人亦甚珍之，曝干。寄远，北中以为佳果，亚于荔枝。
衍义曰∶龙眼，《经》曰∶一名益智。今专为果，未见入药，《补注》不言。《神农本草》
编入木部中品，果部中复不曾收入。今除为果之外，别无龙眼。若谓为益智子，则专调诸气，
今为果者，复不能也。矧自有益智条，远不相当。故知木部龙眼，即便是今为果者。按《今
注》云∶甘味归脾，而能益智，此说甚当。
Longan (Dimocarpus longan)
Taste: Sweet; Nature: Neutral; Toxicity: Non-toxic. It governs pathogenic qi in the five zang organs, calms the mind (Shen), alleviates anorexia, expels parasites, and removes toxicity. Long-term consumption strengthens the soul (Hun), enhances sensory acuity, lightens the body, delays aging, and facilitates spiritual clarity. Also known as Yizhi (Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa seed). The larger fruits resemble Areca nut (Binlang). It grows in the valleys of the Nanhai region.
Tao Hongjing stated: There is another type of Longan in Guangzhou that resembles Lychee but is smaller; it is not Yizhi. It is likely a local alias, whereas the current one is indeed Yizhi. Consuming both is beneficial to people. The Commentary on Tang Bencao noted: Yizhi resembles unopened buds of Forsythia (Lianqiao). Its taste is sweet and pungent. It does not resemble Areca nut at all. Its seedlings, leaves, flowers, and roots are indistinguishable from Cardamom (Doukou), except that its fruit is smaller. Longan is also called Yizhi, but Yizhi is not Longan. The Longan tree resembles Lychee; its leaves resemble Malus asiatica (Linpin); its flowers are white. Its fruit resembles Areca nut, has scaly armor-like skin, and is the size of a sparrow's egg. Its taste is sweet and sour. The current commentary notes: This tree grows over two zhang tall, with branches and leaves that do not wither in winter. The flowers are white. It ripens in July. It is also known as Yalizhi (Sub-Lychee). The larger ones resemble Areca nut but are smaller, have scaly armor-like skin, and their flesh is thinner than Lychee yet sweet and delicious enough to eat. When Jing Shen Ben Cao said it is also called Yizhi, it was likely because the sweet taste enters the Spleen and can enhance intelligence, rather than referring to the current Yizhi seed. Minister Yuxi et al. carefully examined the Shu edition: Longan removes gu poison (parasitic disease).
Tu Jing stated: Longan grows in the valleys of the Nanhai region. Currently, wherever Lychee is produced in Fujian, Guangdong, and the Shu routes, Longan is also found. The trees grow about two zhang high, resembling Lychee but with minute leaves that do not wither in winter. In late spring and early summer, fine white flowers emerge. By July, the fruit matures; the shell is yellowish-green with patterns resembling scales; the shape is round like a bullet; the pit resembles Sapindus mukorossi (Wuhuanzi) but is not hard; the flesh is white and juicy, very sweet and delicious. The yield is extremely abundant, with thirty to forty fruits per branch. As soon as Lychee season ends, Longan ripens. Thus, Han Ji records: In ancient times, Nanhai offered Longan and Lychee as tribute, with stations every ten li and posts every five li, causing hazards due to rapid travel on dangerous roads. During the reign of Emperor He of Han, Tang Qiang of Runan served as Magistrate of Linwu. His county bordered Nanhai, and he submitted a memorial describing the situation. The emperor issued an edict to the Taiguan Bureau to cease accepting these tributes, thus ending the practice. It has been highly valued by the world for a long time. Today, people still cherish it greatly, drying it for sending to distant places. People in the North consider it a fine fruit, second only to Lychee.
Yanyi stated: Regarding Longan, the Classics say it is also called Yizhi. Now it is used specifically as a fruit, and there is no record of its medicinal use; Bu Zhu did not mention it. Shen Nong Ben Cao included it in the Middle Category of the Wood Section, but it was not included in the Fruit Section. Currently, apart from being a fruit, there is no other use for Longan. If one claims it is Yizhi seed, which specifically regulates various types of qi, the current fruit form of Longan cannot do this. Moreover, there is already a specific entry for Yizhi, which is far from equivalent. Therefore, we know that the Longan in the Wood Section is indeed the current fruit. According to Jin Zhu: "The sweet taste enters the Spleen and can enhance intelligence." This statement is very appropriate.