一名黄参
茯苓、马蔺为之使。畏五灵脂。恶皂荚、黑豆、卤咸、人溲。反藜芦。忌铁器。动紫石
英。
甘、微苦。生微凉，熟微温。入手太阴经气分。能通行十二经，大补肺中元气，肺气旺
则四
脏之气皆旺，补阳以生阴，崇土以制火。阳气暴脱，能回之于无何有之乡。阴血崩溃，能障
之于已决裂之后。阳气虚者，固所必需。阴血虚者，亦不可缺。（有一等真阴亏损，而邪火
烁于表里，神魂躁动，内外枯热，真正阴虚之证，若过服之，反能助热，所谓阳旺则阴愈消
，当用纯甘壮水之品。）得茯苓，泻肾热。（肾脏虚则热。）得当归，活血。配广皮，理气。
配磁石，治喘咳。（气虚上浮。）配苏木，治血瘀发喘。配藜芦，涌吐痰在胸膈。佐石菖蒲、
莲肉，治产后不语。佐羊肉，补形。使龙骨，摄精。入峻补药，崇土以制相火。入消导药，
营运益健。入大寒药，扶胃使不减食。入发散药，驱邪有力。（宜少用以佐之。）
去芦，隔纸焙熟用。土虚火旺，宜生用。脾虚肺怯，宜熟用。补元恐其助火，加天冬制
之。
恐气滞，加川贝理之。加枇杷叶，并治反胃。久虚目疾者，煎汁频洗自愈。肺热，精涸火炎
，血热妄行者，皆禁用。（以其能升五脏之阳。）怪症∶遍身皮肉混混如波浪声，痒不可忍，
搔之血出不止，谓之气奔。
用人参、苦杖、青盐
参须
下泄虚邪。
参芦
涌吐痰涎。体虚者可代瓜蒂。丹溪曰∶参补阳中之阴，芦泻太阴之阳也。
用参之误，一由于症，一由于脉。阴虚火从内炎，濡润之剂，填补其内，或半载，或一
年，
奏功不速。辄疑养阴之药其力缓，非补气不足以生阴，必用参其功始速，投人参于滋水之剂
，胃气暂壮，饮食加增，恰有似乎神旺者，因即逐日用之，以祈速效。岂知阴虚火炎者，更
非肺热之谓，肺热者元阴亏而邪火烁金，用参恐补气以助火，肺热还伤其肺。若精液枯涸，
譬如天干地燥，溪水断流，惟有滋水以润其燥烈而已。进人参则升气助火，未有不燥烈而死
者。此由外症不愈之误也。时行外感邪气，流于隧道，脉络为邪所窒塞而不通，按之非空虚
则细弱，甚至微小如发，漂疾皮毛，略按全无，几欲脱而未脱。医者认作脱症，急用人参以
回元气，反使邪气内着，火毒郁于里，寒厥见于外，更用姜、附以助参力，意以元阳复寒气
自除，竟视人参为救人圣药，自恃为按脉无差，致令胃阴涸竭，五内枯槁，速之死而莫可救
药者。此由脉息虚微之误也。参之误伤者甚众，兹特着其两端，以为司命者之戒。
人参，又名黄参。
茯苓、马蔺（一种植物）作为其引经药。它畏惧五灵脂。厌恶皂荚、黑豆、卤咸味物质、人尿。与藜芦相反。忌用铁器。会触动紫石英的药性。
味甘，微苦。生用性微凉，熟用性微温。归入手太阴肺经的气分。能够通行十二经脉，大补肺中的元气，肺气旺盛则其他四脏之气也都旺盛，通过补阳来化生阴液，培补脾胃以制约虚火。阳气突然暴脱时，能将其从虚无之中挽回。阴血崩溃散失时，能在已经破裂之后加以屏障固摄。阳气虚弱的人，固然需要它；阴血虚弱的人，也不可缺少。（但有一类真阴亏损，邪火在表里灼烧，神魂躁动，内外枯热，属于真正的阴虚证候，如果过量服用，反而助长热邪，这就是所谓的“阳旺则阴愈消”，此时应当使用纯甘味壮水滋阴的药物。）与人参配合茯苓，可泻除肾热。（肾脏虚弱则产生内热。）配合当归，可活血。配伍广陈皮，可理气。配伍磁石，可治疗喘咳。（因气虚导致气浮上逆。）配伍苏木，可治疗因血瘀引起的喘促。配伍藜芦，可涌吐胸膈间的痰涎。佐使石菖蒲、莲肉，可治疗产后不语。佐使羊肉，可补益形体。使龙骨，可固摄精气。加入峻补类药物中，能培土制相火。加入消导类药物中，能使运化更加强健。加入大寒类药物中，能扶持胃气使其不致减退食欲。加入发散类药物中，驱邪有力。（宜少量使用以辅助主药。）
去掉芦头，隔纸焙熟后使用。脾虚火旺者，宜生用。脾虚肺弱（怯）者，宜熟用。担心补气恐其助火，可加天冬来制约。担心引起气滞，可加川贝母来调理。加枇杷叶，并治反胃。长期虚损导致的目疾，煎汁频繁清洗可自行痊愈。肺热、精液枯竭、火炎上炎、血热妄行者，都禁用。（因为人参能升提五脏之阳气。）怪症：遍身皮肉发出如波浪般的声响，瘙痒难忍，抓挠后出血不止，称为“气奔”。
用人参、苦杖（即甘草）、青盐治疗。
参须
向下泄除虚邪。
参芦
涌吐痰涎。体质虚弱者可代替瓜蒂使用。丹溪说：人参补益阳中之阴，参芦泻除太阴之阳。
使用人参的错误，一在于症状判断，一在于脉象判断。阴虚火从内部上炎，使用濡润填补的药物，或者半年，或者一年，见效缓慢。就怀疑养阴药物力量迟缓，认为非补气不足以生阴，必须用人参功效才快，将人参投入滋水剂中，胃气暂时强壮，饮食增加，恰好看似精神旺盛，于是每日使用，祈求速效。哪里知道阴虚火炎者，并非指肺热，肺热是元阴亏虚而邪火灼伤肺金，用人参恐怕补气会助长火势，肺热再用参会进一步损伤肺。如果精液枯涸，譬如天干地燥，溪水断流，只有滋润水分以润泽其燥烈罢了。进服人参则升气助火，没有不因为燥烈而死去的。这是由外症未愈的判断错误造成的。时行外感邪气，流入隧道，脉络被邪气阻塞而不通，按压脉搏不是空虚就是细弱，甚至微小如发丝，飘浮快速于皮毛之间，稍微按压全无，几乎要脱绝却尚未完全脱绝。医生误认为是脱症，急忙用人参来挽回元气，反而使邪气内陷，火毒郁结于体内，寒厥显现于体表，更用干姜、附子来助人参之力，意图是元阳恢复寒气自然消除，竟然视人参为救人的圣药，自恃按脉无误，致使胃阴枯竭，五脏干枯槁败，加速死亡而无法救治。这是由脉息虚微的判断错误造成的。人参误用伤人甚多，这里特别指出这两种情况，作为医生的警戒。
Ginseng, also known as Huangshen.
Poria (Fuling) and Malin (Iris ensata) serve as its guiding herbs. It is inhibited by Wulingzhi (Trogopterus Dung). It is incompatible with Zaojia (Gleditsia Sinensis Fruit), Heidou (Soybean), Lu Xian (Halide salts), and Ren Sou (Human Urine). It is chemically opposite to Lilu (Veratrum Nigrum). Iron vessels are contraindicated. It interacts with Zishiying (Fluorite).
Sweet, slightly bitter. Raw form is slightly cool; cooked form is slightly warm. Enters the Qi level of the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. It can circulate through the Twelve Meridians, greatly tonifying the Original Qi in the Lungs. When Lung Qi is vigorous, the Qi of the other four Zang organs becomes vigorous as well. By tonifying Yang, it generates Yin; by strengthening Earth (Spleen/Stomach), it controls Fire. In cases of sudden collapse of Yang Qi, it can restore it from nothingness. In cases of collapse and scattering of Yin Blood, it can act as a barrier after rupture has occurred. For those with Yang Qi deficiency, it is certainly necessary; for those with Yin Blood deficiency, it is also indispensable. (However, there is a type of True Yin deficiency where pathogenic Fire scorches both interior and exterior, causing restlessness of the Spirit and dryness-heat throughout, representing a true Yin deficiency syndrome. If taken excessively, it will instead assist Heat, which is what is meant by "when Yang is vigorous, Yin diminishes further." In such cases, pure sweet substances that strengthen Water [Yin] should be used.) Combined with Fuling, it drains Kidney Heat. (When the Kidney is deficient, heat arises.) Combined with Danggui (Angelica Sinensis), it invigorates Blood. Paired with Guangpi (Chenpi/Aged Tangerine Peel), it regulates Qi. Paired with Cishi (Magnetite), it treats wheezing and coughing. (Due to Qi deficiency causing floating Qi.) Paired with Sumu (Sappan Wood), it treats wheezing caused by Blood stasis. Paired with Lilu, it induces vomiting to expel phlegm in the chest and diaphragm. Assisted by Shichangpu (Acorus Tatarinowii) and Lianrou (Lotus Seed Cotyledon), it treats muteness after childbirth. Assisted by Yangrou (Mutton), it nourishes the physical form. With Longgu (Fossilized Bone), it secures Essence. When included in potent tonifying formulas, it strengthens Earth to control Ministerial Fire. When included in digestive/resolving formulas, it enhances transport and transformation. When included in major cold-natured drugs, it supports Stomach Qi so appetite does not decrease. When included in releasing-the-exterior drugs, it powerfully drives out pathogens. (Should be used in small amounts to assist.)
Remove the rhizome head (Lu), bake between layers of paper until cooked. For Spleen deficiency with hyperactive Fire, raw use is appropriate. For Spleen deficiency and Lung weakness, cooked use is appropriate. To prevent tonifying Yuan Qi from assisting Fire, add Tiandong (Asparagus Cochinchinensis) to restrain it. To prevent Qi stagnation, add Chuanbei (Fritillaria Cirrhosa Bulb) to regulate it. Adding Pipaye (Loquat Leaf) also treats regurgitation/vomiting. For chronic deficiency-related eye diseases, frequent washing with decoction leads to self-healing. Contraindicated for Lung Heat, exhaustion of Essence/Fluids, flaming Fire, and reckless bleeding due to Blood Heat. (Because it can raise the Yang of the Five Zang organs.) Strange Syndrome: The skin and flesh over the entire body produce sounds like waves, unbearable itching, and scratching causes continuous bleeding, called "Qi Ben" (Qi Rushing).
Use Ginseng, Kuzhang (Glycyrrhiza uralensis/Radix Glycyrrhizae), and Qingyan (Green Salt).
Ginseng Roots (Shen Xu)
Directs downward to drain deficient pathogens.
Ginseng Rhizome Head (Shen Lu)
Induces vomiting to expel phlegm and saliva. For those with weak constitutions, it can replace Gou Ti (Melon Peduncle). Danxi said: Ginseng tonifies Yin within Yang; Shen Lu drains Yang of the Taiyin.
Errors in using Ginseng arise from two sources: symptoms and pulse diagnosis. In cases of Yin deficiency with Fire flaring from within, moistening and filling agents are used to replenish the interior. Progress may be slow over half a year or a year. One might then suspect that Yin-nourishing drugs are too slow-acting, believing that only Qi-tonification can generate Yin, and thus insisting on Ginseng for faster results. Injecting Ginseng into water-nourishing formulas temporarily strengthens Stomach Qi and increases food intake, appearing as if spiritual vigor has returned. Consequently, it is used daily in hopes of rapid effect. Little do they know that Yin deficiency with Fire flaring is not equivalent to Lung Heat. Lung Heat refers to deficiency of Original Yin with pathogenic Fire scorching Metal (Lung). Using Ginseng here risks tonifying Qi and assisting Fire, thereby injuring the Lung further. If Essence and Fluids are exhausted, it is like a dry heaven and parched earth, where streams have dried up; only by nourishing Water to moisten the aridity can one proceed. Advancing Ginseng raises Qi and assists Fire; none who do this escape death by aridity. This error stems from misjudging persistent external symptoms. In epidemic external contraction pathogens flowing into the tunnels, meridians become obstructed by pathogens and blocked. Palpation reveals either emptiness or fine weakness, even minute as hair, floating rapidly at the skin level, vanishing upon slight pressure, nearly collapsing but not yet gone. Physicians mistake this for a collapse syndrome and urgently administer Ginseng to restore Original Qi. This instead allows pathogens to settle internally, with Fire-Toxin郁结 (stagnating) inside and Cold-Jue (cold extremities) manifesting externally. Further administration of Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) and Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) to boost Ginseng's power assumes that restoring Original Yang will dispel Cold naturally. They regard Ginseng as a holy medicine for saving lives, confident in their pulse diagnosis, ultimately causing exhaustion of Stomach Yin and desiccation of the Five Viscera, accelerating death beyond remedy. This error stems from misjudging the faint and minute pulse. Many have been harmed by erroneous use of Ginseng; here, these two instances are highlighted as a warning for physicians.