酸苦平微寒，无毒。入补脾药酒炒。入止血药醋炒。入和营药，及下利后重、
血热痈毒药并酒洗生用。入血虚、水肿、腹胀药桂酒制用。反藜芦。
《本经》主邪气腹痛，除血痹，利小便，益气。
发明 白芍药酸寒，敛津液而护营血，收阴气而泻邪热。盖泻肝之邪热，所以补脾之阴
，即《本经》主邪气，腹痛，益气之谓。故仲景以为补营首药，入肝脾血分。及阳维寒热、
带脉腹痛，补中下二焦，能于土中泻水。为血痢必用之药，然须兼桂用之，方得敛中寓散之
义。建中汤之妙用，人所不知。盖泻痢皆太阴之病，建中专主太阴腹痛也。其治血痹，黄
桂枝五物汤中用之。非深达《本经》妙理者不能也。又得炙甘草治腹中急痛，同白术补脾，
同芎 泻肝，从人参补血虚，从黄连止泻痢，同姜枣温经散湿，在用者各得其宜耳。凡人阳
气虚衰，阴气散漫，患腹胀满急，于补中益气药中加白芍药一味以收阴，则阳虚不受阴制之
胀，得阳药便消矣。然气虚内寒者不可用，古云∶减芍药以避中寒，诚不可忽。产后不可用
，以其酸寒泻肝伐生发之气也。小便不利者禁用，以膀胱得酸收敛愈秘也。而真武汤中又用
于利小便者，深得《本经》之旨。盖真武汤本治少阴精伤，而证见虚寒，非太阳膀胱癃闭之
候，以其能益阴滋血，培养津液，小便自行，非通利也。至于桂枝汤中，用以护营血，使邪
不得内犯。建中汤中用以培土脏，而治阳邪内陷腹痛，此皆仲景用药之微妙，端不外《本经
》之义。其除血痹，破坚积，治寒热疝瘕，止痛，利小便，皆指赤者而言，与白芍无预。因
《本经》未分赤白，故一贯例之。
白芍药，味酸、苦，性平而微寒，无毒。若用于补脾药的酒剂中，则用酒炒；若用于止血药中，则用醋炒；若用于调和营血的药物，以及治疗下利后重、血热痈毒的药物中，均生用并酒洗；若用于血虚、水肿、腹胀的药物中，则用桂酒炮制使用。白芍药与藜芦相反。
《神农本草经》记载：白芍药主治邪气引起的腹痛，消除血痹，通利小便，益气。
发明（后世医家对药理的分析）：白芍药味酸寒，能收敛津液以保护营血，收摄阴气以清泻邪热。这实际上是清泻肝脏的邪热，从而补益脾脏的阴气，这就是《神农本草经》所说的“主邪气、腹痛、益气”的含义。因此，张仲景将其视为补益营血的首选药物，入肝、脾血分。对于阳维脉受邪导致的寒热往来、带脉受邪导致的腹痛，它能补益中焦和下焦，能在健脾土的同时泻除水湿。它是治疗血痢必用的药物，但必须配合桂枝使用，才能体现“在收敛中寓含发散”的意义。建中汤的妙用，世人并不知晓。大概因为泄痢都属于太阴脾经的病证，建中汤专门主治太阴脾经的腹痛。在治疗血痹时，在桂枝五物汤中使用它。如果不是深刻通达《神农本草经》精妙道理的人，是不能这样使用的。另外，配合炙甘草可以治疗腹中急痛，配合白术可以补脾，配合川芎可以泻肝，配合人参可以补血虚，配合黄连可以止泻痢，配合生姜、大枣可以温经散湿，关键在于使用者各取所需，运用得当罢了。大凡人体阳气虚衰，阴气散漫，出现腹胀满急的症状，在补中益气的药物中加入一味白芍药来收敛阴气，那么因阳虚不受阴气制约而产生的胀满，遇到阳药就会消散。然而，气虚且内部有寒的患者不可使用，古语说：“减少芍药的用量以避免中焦受寒”，这确实不可忽视。产后也不可使用，因为它的酸寒之性会泻肝并损伤生发之气。小便不利者禁用，因为膀胱得到酸味的收敛作用会更加闭塞。而在真武汤中又使用它来利小便，这是深得《神农本草经》宗旨的表现。因为真武汤原本治疗少阴肾精受损，证候表现为虚寒，并非太阳膀胱气化不利的癃闭症状，而是利用它能益阴滋血、培养津液的作用，使小便自然通畅，并非通过通利的方法。至于在桂枝汤中使用它，是为了保护营血，使邪气不能内犯。在建中汤中使用它，是为了培补脾脏，治疗阳邪内陷导致的腹痛，这些都是张仲景用药的微妙之处，归根结底都不外乎《神农本草经》的宗旨。其中提到的消除血痹、破除坚积、治疗寒热疝瘕、止痛、利小便等功效，都是指赤芍而言，与白芍药无关。因为《神农本草经》当时未区分赤芍和白芍，所以一贯地将其归为一类论述。
Bai Shaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Alba), with a sour and bitter taste, is neutral in nature and slightly cold. It is non-toxic. When used in wine preparations for tonifying the spleen, it should be stir-fried with wine. When used in hemostatic preparations, it should be stir-fried with vinegar. When used to harmonize the Ying (Nutrient) level, or to treat tenesmus after dysentery, blood-heat carbuncles, and toxins, it should be used raw and washed with wine. When used for conditions of blood deficiency, edema, and abdominal distension, it should be processed with Cinnamon Twig wine. It is incompatible with Veratrum nigrum (Lilu).
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) states that it primarily treats abdominal pain caused by pathogenic factors, eliminates blood bi (obstruction), promotes urination, and benefits Qi.
Invention (Analysis of Pharmacological Principles): Bai Shaoyao is sour and cold; it astringes body fluids to protect the Ying (Nutrient) blood and gathers Yin Qi to drain pathogenic heat. By draining the pathogenic heat of the Liver, it thereby tonifies the Yin of the Spleen. This corresponds to the statement in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* regarding its ability to treat pathogenic factors, abdominal pain, and benefit Qi. Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing regarded it as the primary herb for tonifying the Ying level, entering the Blood aspects of the Liver and Spleen meridians. For chills and fever affecting the Yang Wei vessel (Yang Linking Vessel) and abdominal pain affecting the Dai vessel (Girdle Vessel), it tonifies the Middle and Lower Jiao and can drain water while strengthening Earth (Spleen). It is an essential herb for treating bloody dysentery, but must be used in conjunction with Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig) to embody the principle of "incorporating dispersal within astringency." The subtle efficacy of Jianzhong Tang (Middle-Joint Decoction) is not widely understood by people. Generally, diarrhea and dysentery are diseases of the Taiyin (Spleen); Jianzhong Tang specifically treats Taiyin abdominal pain. In the treatment of blood bi, it is used in Guizhi Wuwu Tang (Cinnamon Twig Five-Ingredient Decoction). Only those who deeply comprehend the profound principles of the *Shennong Bencao Jing* can utilize it in this manner. Furthermore, when combined with Zhi Gancao (Honey-fried Licorice Root), it treats acute abdominal pain; when combined with Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome), it tonifies the Spleen; when combined with Xiong (Angelica Sinensis Root), it drains the Liver; when combined with Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), it tonifies blood deficiency; when combined with Huanglian (Coptis Rhizoma), it stops diarrhea and dysentery; when combined with Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) and Dazao (Jujubae Fructus), it warms the meridians and dispels dampness. The key lies in the practitioner applying each appropriately according to the specific indication.
In cases where Yang Qi is deficient and declining, and Yin Qi is scattered, leading to abdominal fullness and urgency, adding a single dose of Bai Shaoyao to Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) to gather Yin will resolve the distension caused by Yang deficiency failing to control Yin, which will dissipate upon the administration of Yang-tonifying herbs. However, it is contraindicated in patients with Qi deficiency and internal cold. As the ancients said, "Reduce Shaoyao to avoid middle-jiao cold," a warning that cannot be ignored. It is also contraindicated postpartum because its sour and cold nature drains the Liver and damages the vitalizing Qi. It is strictly forbidden for patients with difficulty in urination, as the Bladder's acid-astringent effect would cause further retention. Its use in Zhenwu Tang (True Warrior Decoction) to promote urination deeply aligns with the intent of the *Shennong Bencao Jing*. Zhenwu Tang originally treats Kidney Essence injury in Shaoyin disease presenting with deficiency-cold patterns, not the urinary retention (long bi) of Taiyang Bladder dysfunction. It utilizes Bai Shaoyao's ability to nourish Yin and blood and cultivate body fluids, allowing urination to occur naturally rather than through direct diuresis. In Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction), it is used to protect Ying blood so pathogens do not invade internally. In Jianzhong Tang, it is used to cultivate the Spleen organ and treat abdominal pain caused by the internal entrapment of Yang pathogens. These subtleties in Zhang Zhongjing's herbal application ultimately adhere to the principles of the *Shennong Bencao Jing*. The effects mentioned therein—eliminating blood bi, breaking firm accumulations, treating cold-heat hernia and masses, relieving pain, and promoting urination—refer specifically to Chi Shaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra) and have no relation to Bai Shaoyao. Since the *Shennong Bencao Jing* did not distinguish between red and white varieties, they were historically treated uniformly.