（本经上品）
【气味】苦平，无毒。
【主治】主诸暴风湿偏痹，强骨髓，杀三虫，去伏尸。久服轻身，益气，延年，不饥。
【核】曰∶生奉高山谷。奉高，太山下县名也。今处处有之。喜高洁地上，春生藤蔓，
大如钗股，高丈许，叶如丝杉，纤劲青整，涩而无刺；一种叶如茴香，尖细青疏，滑而有刺。
夏生细花白色，亦有黄紫二色。结实在根枝之旁，色黑褐，入伏后则无花，暗结实矣。根科
生如百部，一科一二十枚，大如手指，圆实而长，根白色，亦有黄紫二色。雒中者，粗干大
叶，殊不相类。岭南者，无花有子，余无他异。以根作汤，可浣垢缣素，越人呼为浣草。修
治
去地二尺，摊上曝干。地黄、贝母为之使。畏曾青。捣汁，制雄黄、 砂。禁鲫鱼。设误食
中毒，捣浮萍汁解之。
【 】曰∶门司出入，出即生也。冬司寒令，寒即水也。合天一生水，故名天门冬。天
者，清肃为用，水者，澄湛为体。其能浣垢，亦谓得清肃澄湛之力耳。对待染污不洁之气，
使形骸气血，混浊不清，致偏痹不周，遂生三虫伏尸，及暴受风湿而成诸痹者，咸相宜也。
设合寒邪，盒饭束置，盖寒原属水，法当逆治，非反佐顺从之类。柔润多脂，得澄湛水体，
故强骨髓；色白性降，得清肃金用，故益肺气。久服骨气以精，故轻身，延年，不饥。
（天冬，一名天棘，独以金标名义者，尊其母，子则昭然矣。）
（《神农本草经》列为上品）
【气味】味苦，性平，无毒。
【主治】主治各种突发性的风湿偏侧痹痛，强壮骨髓，杀灭三虫，去除伏尸鬼疰。长期服用能使人身体轻健，补益元气，延长寿命，减少饥饿感。
【考证】曰：天门冬生长在奉高的深山幽谷中。奉高，是泰山脚下的一个县名。如今到处都有生长。它喜欢生长在高洁干燥的地方，春天生出藤蔓，粗细像发钗的股部一样，高度约一丈左右，叶子像丝杉，纤细坚韧、青翠整齐，表面涩滑但没有刺；另一种品种叶子像茴香，尖细、青色稀疏，光滑但有刺。夏天开出细小的白色花朵，也有黄色和紫色两种颜色。果实结在根枝旁边，颜色黑褐色，进入伏天后就看不见花了，暗中结实了。根部丛生像百部草一样，一株生一二十枚，大小如手指，圆润实心而长，根皮白色，也有黄紫两种颜色。洛阳一带出产的天门冬，茎干粗壮、叶片大，与上述特征完全不同。岭南地区出产的，无花有子，其余没有特别差异。用根煮水，可以洗涤污垢的细绢和白绸，越地人称之为“浣草”。
【修治】去掉离地面两尺的部分，摊开在阳光下晒干。地黄、贝母作为它的引经药（使药）。畏忌曾青。捣烂取汁，可以用来制约雄黄、朱砂的毒性。禁止与鲫鱼同食。如果误食中毒，捣浮萍取汁来解毒。
【发明】曰：门主管出入，出就是生发之意。冬主管寒令，寒就是水之象。结合“天一生水”的理论，所以名叫天门冬。天的作用在于清肃，水的本体在于澄湛宁静。它能洗涤污垢，也是因为它具备了清肃和澄湛的力量罢了。对于那些导致形体气血混浊不清、致使经络不通产生偏痹，或者突然感受风湿而成为各种痹证的污秽不洁之气，天门冬都适宜治疗。如果是合并了寒邪，应当束置起来处理，因为寒原本属于水，治疗方法应当逆其性质而治，不属于反佐或顺从的方法。天门冬质地柔润多脂，得到了澄湛的水体特性，所以能强壮骨髓；颜色白且性降，得到了清肃的金行特性，所以能补益肺气。长期服用使骨气精纯，所以能身体轻健，延长寿命，减少饥饿感。
（天门冬，又名天棘，唯独以“金”来标示其名，是为了尊崇其母（肺属金），那么子（肾属水）的意义也就显而易见了。）
(Shennong Bencao Jing, Upper Grade)
[Flavor and Nature] Bitter, neutral, non-toxic.
[Indications] Mainly treats various sudden wind-dampness hemiplegic bi-syndrome (bi-syndrome characterized by pain and numbness on one side of the body), strengthens the bone marrow, kills three types of parasites, eliminates fu-shi (ghosts of consumption/tuberculosis). Long-term use lightens the body, benefits qi, prolongs life, and reduces hunger.
[Verification] Says: Grows in the high mountains and valleys of Fenggao. Fenggao is the name of a county at the foot of Mount Tai. It is now found everywhere. It prefers to grow in high, clean, and dry places. In spring, it produces vines as thick as hairpins, about one zhang (approx. 3.3 meters) high. The leaves resemble silk fir, slender, tough, green, neat, slippery but without thorns; another variety has leaves like fennel, sharp, fine, sparse green, smooth but with thorns. In summer, it produces small white flowers, also yellow and purple varieties. The fruits form beside the roots and branches, dark brown in color. After entering the Dog Days (Fu period), flowers are no longer visible, and fruits form secretly. The roots grow in clusters like Stemona root (Bai Bu), with one cluster producing ten to twenty tubers, finger-sized, round, solid, and long. The root skin is white, also appearing in yellow or purple. Those from Luoyang have thick stems and large leaves, quite different from the above. Those from Lingnan have no flowers but have seeds, otherwise no other differences. Boiling the roots can wash dirt off fine silk and white cloth; people in Yue call it "Huan Cao" (Washing Grass).
[Processing] Remove the part two chi (approx. 66 cm) from the ground, spread out and sun-dry. Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Di Huang) and Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus (Bei Mu) act as its guiding herbs (shi). It fears Zeng Qing (Azurite). Crushed juice can be used to control the toxicity of Realgar (Xiong Huang) and Cinnabar (Sha). Consumption with Crucian Carp (Jiyu) is prohibited. If accidentally ingested causing poisoning, crushed floating duckweed (Fuping) juice can be used to detoxify.
[Enlightenment] Says: The gate governs entry and exit; exit implies generation. Winter governs the cold command; cold corresponds to water. Combining with the theory that "Heaven generates Water One," hence named Tian Dong (Heaven's Winter). Heaven's function is clear and肃 (solemn/clearing); Water's substance is clear and deep. Its ability to wash away filth is due to obtaining the power of clarity and solemnity. Facing impure and unclean qi that causes turbidity in the physical frame and blood/qi, leading to incomplete circulation and hemiplegic bi-syndrome, or sudden contraction of wind-dampness resulting in various bi-syndromes, it is all suitable. If combined with cold evil, it should be restrained/set aside, because cold originally belongs to water, and the treatment method should be contrary to its nature, not resembling counter-assistance or following compliance. Soft, moist, and rich in fat, it obtains the clear and deep water quality, thus strengthening the bone marrow; white in color and descending in nature, it obtains the clearing and solemn metal quality, thus benefiting lung qi. Long-term use refines bone qi, thus lightening the body, prolonging life, and reducing hunger.
(Tian Dong, also known as Tian Ji, is uniquely labeled with Metal to honor its mother [Lung belongs to Metal], so the son [Kidney belongs to Water] becomes obvious.)