\r芍药\ph146.bmp\r，生中岳川谷及丘陵，今处处有之，淮南者胜。春生红芽作丛；
茎上三枝五叶，似牡丹
而狭长，高一、二尺；夏开花，有红、白、紫数种；子似牡丹子而小；秋时采根，根亦有赤
、白二色。崔豹《古今注》云∶芍药有二种∶有草芍药、木芍药。木者花大而色深，俗呼为
牡丹，非也。又云∶牛亨问曰∶将离相别，赠以芍药何也？答曰∶芍药一名何离，故相赠犹
相招召，则赠以文无，文无一名当归，欲忘人之忧，则赠以丹棘，丹棘一名忘忧，使忘忧也
。欲蠲人之忿，则赠以青裳，青裳一名合欢，赠之使忘忿也。张仲景治伤寒汤，多用芍药，
以其主寒热，利小便故也。古人亦有单服食者。安其生服炼法云∶芍药二种∶一者金芍药，
二者木芍药。救病用金芍药，色白，多脂肉。木芍药色紫瘦，多脉，若取审看，勿令差错。
若欲服饵，采得净，刮去皮，以东流水煮百沸出，阴干，停三日。又于木甑内蒸之，上覆以
净黄土，一日夜熟出，阴干，捣末，以麦饮，或酒服三钱匕，日三。满三百日，可以登岭，
绝谷不饥。《正元广利方》∶治妇女赤白下，年月深久不瘥者，取白芍药三大两，并干姜半
大两，细锉，熬令黄，捣下筛，空肚和饮汁，服二钱匕，日再，佳。又金创血不止而痛者，
亦单捣白芍药，末敷上，即止，良验。
芍药，生长在中岳（嵩山）的河谷及丘陵地带，如今各地都有种植，其中淮南出产的质量最佳。春天生出红色的芽，呈丛生状；茎上有三枝五叶，形状像牡丹但更狭长，高度约一、二尺；夏天开花，有红色、白色、紫色几种；果实像牡丹的子实但较小；秋天采集根部，根也有赤色、白色两种颜色。崔豹在《古今注》中说：芍药有两种：一种是草芍药，一种是木芍药。木芍药花朵大且颜色深，俗称为牡丹，这是错误的说法。又说：牛亨问道：离别时赠送芍药是什么意思？回答说：芍药又名“何离”，所以互相赠送就像互相召唤，那么赠送“文无”（即当归），是想让人忘记忧愁；赠送“丹棘”（即忘忧草，萱草），是想让人忘却忧愁；想消除人的愤怒，就赠送“青裳”（即合欢花），赠送它是为了让人忘却愤恨。张仲景治疗伤寒的汤剂中，多用芍药，因为它能主治寒热往来、通利小便的缘故。古人也有单独服用芍药作为食疗的。《安其生服炼法》记载：芍药分为两种：一种是金芍药，一种是木芍药。治病用金芍药，颜色白，肉质多脂。木芍药颜色紫瘦，筋脉多，如果选取要仔细查看，不要弄错。如果想要服用，采来洗净，刮去外皮，用东流水煮一百次后取出，阴干，放置三天。又在木甑内蒸它，上面覆盖干净的黄土，经过一天一夜蒸熟后取出，阴干，捣成粉末，用麦饮或酒送服三钱匕，每天三次。满三百天，就可以登山，断绝谷食也不会饥饿。《正元广利方》：治疗妇女赤白带下，年月长久不愈的，取白芍药三大两，以及干姜半大两，切碎，炒至黄色，捣碎过筛，空腹与饮汁混合，服用二钱匕，每天两次，效果较好。又有金创出血不止且疼痛的，也单独捣碎白芍药，研末敷在伤口上，即可止血，疗效显著。
Paeoniae Radix (Shaoyao, 芍药) grows in the river valleys and hills of Zhongyue (Mount Song). It is now found everywhere, but those from Huainan are superior. In spring, red buds emerge in clumps; the stems have three branches and five leaves, resembling Peony flowers but narrower and longer, reaching a height of one to two chi; in summer, flowers bloom in red, white, and purple varieties; the seeds resemble those of Peony but are smaller; in autumn, the roots are harvested, which come in red and white colors. Cui Bao's *Gu Jin Zhu* states: There are two types of Paeoniae Radix: Cao Shaoyao (Herbaceous Paeonia) and Mu Shaoyao (Tree Paeonia). The latter has larger flowers with deeper color and is colloquially called Mudan (Peony), which is incorrect. It further states: Niu Heng asked, "Why is Paeoniae Radix given as a parting gift?" The answer was: "Paeoniae Radix is also known as 'Helí' (Parting), so giving it is like summoning each other. To make someone forget sorrow, give them Wenwu (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Danggui); to make them forget worries, give them Danji (Hemerocallis Citrina, Wangyoucao); to dispel anger, give them Qingchang (Albiziae Cortex, Hehuanpi), so they may forget their resentment." Zhang Zhongjing used Paeoniae Radix frequently in decoctions for treating Shanghan (Cold Damage), because it primarily treats alternating chills and fever and promotes urination. Ancient people also consumed it singly as food therapy. *An Qisheng Fuliàn Fǎ* records: There are two types of Paeoniae Radix: one is Jin Shaoyao (Golden Paeonia), the other is Mu Shaoyao (Wood Paeonia). For treating illness, use Jin Shaoyao, which is white and fleshy. Mu Shaoyao is purple, thin, and fibrous; if selecting, examine carefully to avoid errors. If intended for consumption, after harvesting and cleaning, scrape off the skin, boil in running water from the east for one hundred cycles, remove, dry in shade, and let stand for three days. Then steam in a wooden steamer, cover with clean yellow earth, steam for one day and night until cooked, remove, dry in shade, and grind into powder. Take three qianbi with wheat drink or wine, three times daily. After three hundred days, one can climb mountains and survive without grain. *Zhengyuan Guangli Fang*: Treats women with chronic leukorrhea (red and white discharge) lasting many years without cure: take three da liang of Bai Shaoyao (White Paeonia Root) and half a da liang of Ganjiang (Dried Ginger), finely chop, stir-fry until yellow, grind and sieve. Mix with drinking juice and take two qianbi on an empty stomach, twice daily, for best results. For traumatic injuries with unceasing bleeding and pain, single-grind Bai Shaoyao into powder and apply topically; this stops bleeding effectively and yields excellent results.