（本经中品）
【气味】苦平，无毒。
【主治】主邪气腹痛，除血痹，破坚积，寒热疝瘕止痛，利小便，益气。
【核】曰∶出中岳川谷，及丘陵。今出白山、蒋山、茅山者最好。处处亦有，人家种莳
矣。昔称洛阳牡丹、广陵芍药甲天下。今药中亦取广陵者为胜。十月生芽，至春乃长，赤茎
丛生，三枝五叶，花叶子实，都似牡丹，第逗芽在牡丹之前，作花在牡丹之后。传云∶惊蛰
之节，后二十五日芍药荣是也。花有单叶千叶，千叶者，俗呼小牡丹，今群芳中，牡丹昌第
一，芍药第二，故世谓牡丹为花王，芍药为花相。又或以为花王之副也。花之名，曰余容、
绰
概言之，曰花婢，种种幻巧，难以缕述。根之名曰 ，曰犁食，曰白木，曰余容，入药只宜
白花单瓣之根，气味全浓，然根之赤白，亦随花之赤白也。白者曰金芍药，赤者曰木芍药。
概根茎花叶，统名曰离草，一名曰将离。修治，先别赤白，白根固白，赤根亦白，每根切取
一片，各以法记，火酒润之，覆盖过宿，白根转白，赤根转赤矣。各以竹刀刮去皮，并头，
锉细，蜜水拌蒸，从巳至未，晒干用。今市肆一种赤芍药，不知为何物草根，疡瘿儿医多用
之，此习矣而不察，其为害殊甚也。须丸为之使。恶石斛、芒硝，畏硝石、鳖甲、小蓟。反
藜芦。
【 】曰∶尔雅翼云∶芍药花之盛者，当春暮祓除之时，故郑之士女，取以相赠，董仲
舒以为将离赠以芍药者，芍药一名可离，犹相招赠以文无。文无一名当归也，然则相谑之后，
俞使去尔。其根可以和五脏，制食毒、故古之遗法，马肝食之至毒者，文成以是死，言食之
毒，莫甚于马肝，则制食之毒，宜莫良于芍药。故独得药之名，犹食酱掌和庶羞之类，而酱
又因以为名也。子虚赋云∶芍药之和，共而后御之。南都赋云∶归雁鸣 ，香稻鲜鱼，以为
芍药气恬臭酸，百种千名，是因致其滋味也。故隐居一名犁食，盖祓除不祥，制服食毒，和
御众情，则离中有合，合中有离，一勺之多，万钧之力矣。顾其时值闭藏，便行甲拆，一派
生阳，绝不以党锢为禁忌。则凡药之所难及，力之所难到者，靡不骈驰翼驱，叶直以往，故
引导最先。窦机极早，虽牡菌二桂，先聘通使，亦必藉之以为前驱。世称气味酸敛，唯堪降
入，此不识臭味，罔顾名义者矣。观主邪气入腹，遂闭拒成痛，芍从中开发，逐邪从内以出，
至涤除血痹，入破寒热疝瘕。巳成坚积，唯堪消陨者，芍力转倍。若小便不利，为癃为约，
裨益肝气，偏行疏泄，虽属在下，先开在上，欲按则举，欲举则按，此必然之势，芍亦两得
之矣。遍阅别录方书，比量推度，尽人之性，则能尽物之性，不致为耳食所缚，药物之幸大
矣。
【本经中品】
【气味】味苦，性平，无毒。
【主治】主治邪气引起的腹痛，消除血痹，破除坚硬的积块，缓解寒热疝瘕引起的疼痛，通利小便，补益元气。
【核】曰：芍药产于中岳的山谷及丘陵地带。如今出产于白山、蒋山、茅山的品质最好。各地也有生长，百姓人家也开始种植了。过去称洛阳的牡丹和广陵的芍药冠绝天下。现在药用也认为广陵产的更为优良。十月生芽，到春天才生长，红色的茎丛生，三枝五叶，花、叶、子、实都与牡丹相似，只是萌芽在牡丹之前，开花在牡丹之后。传说：“惊蛰节气后二十五天，芍药开始茂盛”，说的就是这个。花朵有单瓣和重瓣之分，重瓣的俗称小牡丹。当今群芳之中，牡丹居第一，芍药居第二，所以世人称牡丹为花王，芍药为花相。又有人认为是花王的副手。花的名字，有的叫余容，概而言之，叫花婢，种种幻化精巧，难以一一详述。根的名字叫[此处原文缺字或模糊]，叫犁食，叫白木，叫余容。入药只宜选用白花单瓣的根，气味最为浓厚。然而根的赤白颜色，也随着花的赤白颜色而变化。白色的叫金芍药，红色的叫木芍药。概括来说，根、茎、花、叶统称离草，一名将离。炮制方法：先辨别赤白，白根保持白色，赤根也需处理成白色（注：此处原文逻辑似有矛盾或特指加工过程，依文直译），每根切取一片，分别用方法标记，用火酒润湿，覆盖过夜，白根转白，赤根转赤。然后用竹刀刮去外皮，连同根部一起，锉细，用蜜水拌蒸，从巳时到未时，晒干使用。现在市场上有一种赤芍药，不知是什么草根，外科、治瘿瘤和小儿科医生多用它，这是习以为常而不加考察，其危害非常大。需要用丸药来制约它（注：原文“须丸为之使”可能有误或指特定配伍，依文直译）。畏石斛、芒硝，怕硝石、鳖甲、小蓟。反藜芦。
【注释】曰：《尔雅翼》说：芍药花开得最盛的时候，正值春末祓除不祥之时，所以郑国的士人和女子，采摘它互相赠送。董仲舒认为送芍药以表示将离别，芍药又名可离，就像互相招赠文无一样。文无又名当归，那么经过相互戏谑之后，便让人离去。它的根可以调和五脏，克制食物毒素，所以古人的遗法中，马肝是极毒的食物，汉文帝宠臣袁盎（文中作文成，疑指相关典故人物）因此而死，说明吃马肝的毒性没有比这更严重的，那么克制食物毒素，没有比芍药更好的了。所以独得“药”的名称，就像食酱掌调和各种美味之类，而酱又因此得名。《子虚赋》说：“芍药调和的美味，进献后供君王享用。”《南都赋》说：“归雁鸣叫，香稻鲜鱼，作为芍药……”气息恬淡，味道酸臭，百种千名，是因为致使其滋味的原因。所以隐居者又称它为犁食，大概是为了祓除不祥，制服食物毒素，调和驾驭各种情绪，那么离中有合，合中有离，一勺之多，却有万钧之力。考虑到它时节正值闭藏，却便行破甲拆壳之事，一派生发阳气，绝不以党锢之忌为禁忌。那么凡是药物所难达到的，力量所难及到的，无不并驰翼驱，径直向前，所以引导作用最先。窦机极早，虽然牡桂二桂，先聘通使，也必须借助它作为前驱。世人称其气味酸敛，只能降入，这是不识气味，不顾名义的人啊。看它主治邪气入腹，于是闭拒而成痛，芍从中开发，驱逐邪气从内而出，至于涤除血痹，进入破除寒热疝瘕。已成坚积，只能消陨的，芍药的力量加倍。如果小便不利，成为癃闭或约束，裨益肝气，偏行疏泄，虽然病位在下，但先开在上，欲按则举，欲举则按，这是必然的趋势，芍药也两得其宜了。遍阅别录方书，比较衡量推度，尽人之性，就能尽物之性，不至于被耳食之见所束缚，这是药物的幸事啊。
[Shanghan Lun Middle Category]
[Flavor and Nature] Bitter, neutral, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats abdominal pain caused by pathogenic factors, eliminates blood stasis (blood bi), breaks down hard accumulations, relieves pain from cold-heat hernia masses, promotes urination, and benefits qi.
[Nuclear Commentary] Says: It grows in the valleys and hills of Mount Zhong. Currently, those produced in Baishan, Jiangshan, and Maoshan are considered the best. It is also found everywhere, and households have begun to cultivate it. In the past, Luoyang peonies and Guangling paeonias were said to be unrivaled under heaven. For medicinal use, those from Guangling are preferred. Sprouts emerge in the tenth lunar month and grow until spring. It has red stems growing in clusters, with three branches and five leaves. Its flowers, leaves, seeds, and fruits resemble those of the peony, but its sprouting occurs before the peony, and flowering occurs after. Legend says: "Twenty-five days after the Awakening of Insects solar term, the Paeonia becomes lush," which refers to this. Flowers exist in single-petal and multi-petal forms; the multi-petal variety is commonly called 'Little Peony.' Among all flowers today, Peony ranks first, and Paeonia ranks second. Thus, the world calls Peony the King of Flowers and Paeonia the Minister of Flowers. Some consider it the deputy to the Flower King. The flower's names include Yurong (Residual Beauty); generally referred to as Huabi (Flower Maid). Its various illusory intricacies are too numerous to list. The root's names include [unclear character], Lishi (Plow Food), Baimu (White Wood), and Yurong. For medicinal use, only the roots of white-flowered, single-petal varieties should be used, as they possess the strongest flavor and nature. However, the color of the root (red or white) follows the color of the flower. White ones are called Jin Shaoyao (Gold Paeonia), and red ones are called Mu Shaoyao (Wood Paeonia). Generally, the root, stem, flower, and leaf are collectively named Licao (Separation Grass), also known as Jiangli (About to Separate). Processing: First distinguish between red and white. Keep white roots white; process red roots to appear white. Cut a slice from each root, mark them separately using specific methods, moisten with fire wine, cover overnight. White roots remain white, red roots turn red. Scrape off the skin with a bamboo knife, including the head, chop finely, mix with honey water, steam from Si hour to Wei hour, then dry in the sun for use. Currently, there is a type of Chishao Yao (Red Paeonia Root) on the market, whose plant origin is unknown. Surgeons, specialists in goiter, and pediatricians often use it. This is a habit formed without scrutiny, causing significant harm. It requires Wan (pill form) to act as its guide/assistant. It clashes with Shihu (Dendrobium Stem), Mangxiao (Mirabilite), fears Xiaoshi (Saltpeter), Biejia (Turtle Shell), and Xiaoji (Cirsium Herba). It is incompatible with Lilu (Veratrum Root).
[Annotation] Says: *Erya Yi* states: When Paeonia flowers are at their peak, it coincides with the late spring time of purification rituals. Therefore, scholars and maidens of Zheng would pick them to gift each other. Dong Zhongshu believed that gifting Paeonia signifies parting, as Paeonia is also named Kelí (Can Leave), similar to gifting Wenwu (No Return/Absence) to summon someone back. Wenwu is another name for Danggui (Angelica Sinensis). Thus, after mutual jesting, one departs. Its root can harmonize the five zang organs and detoxify food poisons. Hence, in ancient traditions, horse liver is extremely toxic; Yuan Ang (referred to as Wencheng in text context regarding poisoning) died from eating it, indicating no food poison is worse than horse liver. Therefore, nothing is better than Paeonia for countering food toxins. Thus, it alone earns the name 'Yao' (Medicine), similar to how sauce enhances various delicacies, and sauce itself derives its name from this function. *Zixu Fu* says: "The harmonized taste of Paeonia, offered after preparation." *Nandu Fu* says: "Returning geese cry, fragrant rice and fresh fish, used as Paeonia..." Its aura is tranquil, smell sour, with hundreds of names due to these flavors. Hence, hermits call it Lishi (Plow Food), likely to purify misfortune, control food toxins, and harmonize emotions. Within separation lies union, within union lies separation. A spoonful holds the power of ten thousand jun. Considering its timing during the season of storage, yet breaking through the shell, displaying a surge of yang life force, it does not observe taboos of political factionalism. Thus, for what other medicines cannot reach or powers cannot attain, it gallops alongside, going straight ahead, thus guiding earliest. Its mechanism acts very early. Even if Mugu and Er Gui (Cinnamon barks) send envoys first, they must rely on it as a vanguard. The world claims its flavor is sour and astringent, suitable only for descending. This shows ignorance of flavor and disregard for its true nature. Observing its treatment of pathogenic qi entering the abdomen, causing obstruction and pain, Paeonia opens from within, driving pathogens out from inside. To cleanse blood bi, penetrate and break cold-heat hernia masses. For established hard accumulations, only capable of being destroyed, Paeonia's power doubles. If urination is difficult, becoming strangury or retention, it benefits Liver qi, promoting dispersal and excretion. Although the pathology is lower, it opens the upper first; pressing causes lifting, lifting causes pressing. This is an inevitable trend, and Paeonia achieves both. Reviewing other records and formularies, comparing and deducing, exhausting human nature allows exhausting material nature, preventing bondage by superficial hearing. This is great fortune for herbs.