（本经上品）
肥遁则无不利。
【气味】甘平，无毒。
【主治】主伤中，补虚羸，除寒热邪气，补中，益气力，长肌肉，强阴。久服耳目聪明，
不饥延年。
【核】曰∶薯蓣，古名也。避唐代宗讳，改作薯药；又避宋英宗讳，改作山药。后世惟
名山药，不知薯蓣名矣。生嵩山山谷，及临朐、钟山、南康、蜀道、北都、四明、山东、江
南、怀庆诸处。入药野生者为胜。供馔，家种者为良。春生苗，蔓延篱落。紫茎绿叶。叶有
三尖，似白牵牛叶，更浓而光泽。五六月开花成穗，淡红色。结荚成簇，三棱合成，坚而无
仁。其子别结叶旁，状似雷丸，大小不一，皮色土黄，内肉清白，煮食甘滑。春冬采根，生
时掷地如粉，干则内实不虚，其色洁白如玉。青黑者不堪入药，种植甚易。截作薄片者亦生，
随所杵之窍而像之也。南中一种，生山中，根细如指，极紧实，刮磨入汤煮之，作块不散，
味更甘美，食之尤益于人，胜于家种者。江中闽中一种，根如姜、芋，皮紫，极大者重数斤。
煮食虽美，但气寒于北地者。修治勿用平田生二三纪者，须要山中生经十纪者。其皮赤，四
面有须者良。采得以铜刀刮去赤皮，洗去涎，蒸过，。曝干用。六芝为之使。恶甘遂。
【 】曰∶效所杵之窍以赋形，如预备署所，故称薯蓣。假微薄之种，充气沦结，建立
中央，故治伤中。以致虚羸，而为寒热邪气者，乃若益气力，长肌肉，即治伤中虚羸之验也。
而伤中之因，皆因阴气萎蘼。薯蓣入土便生，阴森肥遁，宁不强阴，且其赋形效窍，则有窍
处，宁不周到，虽假故物为胎，亦属气化所钟，是与六芝交相为使。
【本经上品】
肥遁则无不利。
【气味】味甘，性平，无毒。
【主治】主要治疗内伤，补益虚弱的身体，祛除寒热邪气，补益中气，增强体力，促进肌肉生长，强壮阴精。长期服用可使耳聪目明，不感饥饿并能延年益寿。
【考证】曰：薯蓣是古称。为避唐代宗李豫的讳，改称为薯药；又为避宋英宗赵曙的讳，改称为山药。后世只知叫山药，不知有薯蓣之名了。产于嵩山山谷，以及临朐、钟山、南康、蜀道、北都、四明、山东、江南、怀庆等地。入药以野生者为佳。供食用，以家种者为良。春天生苗，蔓延在篱笆周围。茎呈紫色，叶呈绿色。叶子有三个尖角，形状像白牵牛花的叶子，但更浓密且有光泽。五六月开花成穗状，淡红色。结荚成簇，由三棱合成，坚硬而无仁。它的种子另外生在叶旁，形状像雷丸，大小不一，皮色土黄，内部肉质清白，煮熟后食用甘甜滑润。春冬两季采挖根部，新鲜的扔在地上像粉末一样散开，干燥后内部坚实不虚浮，颜色洁白如玉。青黑色的不堪入药，种植非常容易。切成薄片也能生根，随着所切开的孔洞形状而生长。南方有一种，生于山中，根细如手指，极其紧实，刮去外皮放入汤中煮，结成块不散，味道更加甘美，食用对人尤其有益，胜过家种的。江中和闽中有一种，根像姜和芋头，皮紫，最大的重达数斤。煮熟食用虽然美味，但性质比北方的要寒凉。炮制时不要用平原上生长二三十年的，必须选用山中生长三百六十年（一纪为十二年，十纪即一百二十年，此处“十纪”或指代极长时间，原文作十纪，通常一纪12年，十纪120年，古籍中常夸张或特指老根，此处依原文直译）的老根。其皮赤红，四面有须的为良。采得后用铜刀刮去赤皮，洗去黏液，蒸过后，晒干使用。六芝（六种灵芝类药材）为其使药。畏恶甘遂。
【按语】曰：因其形态效仿佛手杵击打后的孔窍而得名，如同预备官署中的职位安排，所以称为薯蓣。凭借微薄的种子，充塞并凝结元气，建立中焦脾胃之气，所以能治疗内伤。导致身体虚弱消瘦，并产生寒热邪气的情况，通过益气力、长肌肉，就是治疗内伤虚弱的验证。而导致内伤的原因，都是因为阴气萎弱不振。薯蓣入土便生长，阴气森盛且顺势潜藏，难道不能强壮阴精吗？况且其形态效法孔窍，那么有孔窍的地方，难道不能周到覆盖吗？即使借助旧物作为胎元，也属于气化所汇聚之处，这与六芝相互为用。
[Shangpin Category of the Classic of Materia Medica]
"Fei dun ze wu bu li." (When retreating in abundance, there is nothing that is not advantageous.)
[Aroma and Flavor] Sweet, neutral, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats internal injury, tonifies deficiency and emaciation, eliminates pathogenic factors of cold and heat, tonifies the Middle Jiao, boosts Qi and strength, promotes muscle growth, and strengthens Yin essence. Long-term consumption makes the ears acute and eyes clear, prevents hunger, and prolongs life.
[Verification] It is said: "Shuyu" is the ancient name. To avoid the taboo of Emperor Daizong of the Tang Dynasty (Li Yu), it was changed to "Shuyao"; again, to avoid the taboo of Emperor Yingzong of the Song Dynasty (Zhao Shu), it was changed to "Shanyao". Later generations only know it as Shanyao and have forgotten the name Shuyu. It grows in the valleys of Mount Song, as well as in Linqu, Zhongshan, Nankang, Shudao, Beidu, Siming, Shandong, Jiangnan, and Huaiqing. For medicinal use, wild ones are superior. For culinary use, cultivated ones are good. In spring, vines emerge, spreading along fences. The stems are purple, and the leaves are green. The leaves have three points, resembling those of Ipomoea alba (White Morning Glory), but denser and glossier. In the fifth and sixth months, flowers appear in spikes, pale red. Pods form in clusters, composed of three ridges, hard and without kernels. Its seeds grow separately beside the leaves, resembling Polyporus umbellatus (Leiwan), varying in size, with a soil-yellow skin and white-clear flesh; when boiled and eaten, they are sweet and slippery. Roots are harvested in spring and winter; fresh roots crumble like powder when thrown on the ground, while dried ones are solid inside and not hollow, with a color white as jade. Those that are green or black are unsuitable for medicine. Cultivation is very easy. Slices can sprout new plants, taking the shape of the cut holes. There is a variety in the South growing in mountains, with roots as thin as fingers, extremely compact; after scraping off the skin and boiling in soup, it forms clumps that do not disperse, tasting even sweeter and more beneficial than cultivated varieties. Another variety in Jiang and Min regions has roots resembling ginger and taro, with purple skin, some weighing several jin. Although delicious when boiled, its nature is colder than that of the northern varieties. For processing, do not use those grown in flat fields for two or three decades; one must select those grown in mountains for ten jiyi (one jiyi is 12 years, so ten jiyi implies a very long age). Those with reddish skin and whiskers on all sides are good. After harvesting, scrape off the red skin with a copper knife, wash away the slime, steam them, and then dry them in the sun. Liuzhi (Six types of Ganoderma) act as their guiding herbs. They are incompatible with Kansui Radix (Gansui).
[Commentary] It is said: Because its form imitates the holes left by a pestle, similar to the arrangement of positions in a preparatory office, it is called Shuyu. Relying on meager seeds, it fills and condenses Qi, establishing the Central Jiao (Spleen/Stomach), thus treating internal injury. The resulting deficiency and emaciation, along with the generation of cold-heat pathogenic factors, are verified by the herb's ability to boost Qi/strength and grow muscles, which constitutes the treatment for internal injury and deficiency. The cause of internal injury is always due to the withering of Yin Qi. Shuyu grows upon entering the soil, possessing dense Yin energy and retreating in abundance; how could it fail to strengthen Yin? Moreover, since its form imitates pores/holes, wherever there are pores, does it not reach thoroughly? Even if it uses old matter as a womb, it is still where Qi transformation gathers, interacting mutually with Liuzhi.