气味甘，微温，无毒。主五劳七伤，补中，除茎中寒热痛，养五脏，强阴，益精气
，多子，妇人症瘕。久服轻身。
（肉苁蓉《吴氏本草》名松容，又名黑司命。始出河西山谷及代州雁门，今以陇西者为
胜，
北国者次之，乃野马之精入于土中而生。陇西者形扁色黄，柔润多花，其味甘。北国者形短
少花，生时似肉，三四月掘根，长尺余，绳穿阴干，八月始好皮，有松子鳞甲，故名松容。
马属午畜，以少阴为正化，子水为对化，故名黑司命。朱丹溪曰∶肉苁蓉罕得，多以金莲根
用盐制而伪充，或以草苁蓉代之，用者宜审。苏恭曰∶草苁蓉功用稍劣。）
马为火畜，精属水阴，苁蓉感马精而生，其形似肉，气味甘温，盖禀少阴水火之气，而
归于
太阴坤土之药也。土性柔和，故有苁蓉之名。五劳者，志劳、思劳、烦劳、忧劳、恚劳也。
七伤者，喜、怒、忧、悲、思、恐、惊，七情所伤也。水火阴阳之气，会归中土，则五劳七
伤可治矣。得太阴坤土之精，故补中。得少阴水火之气，故除茎中寒热痛。阴阳水火之气，
归于太阴坤土之中，故养五脏。强阴者，火气盛也。益精者，水气盛也。多子者，水火阴阳
皆盛也。妇人症瘕，乃血精留聚于郛郭之中，土气盛，则症瘕自消。而久服轻身。
【气味与功效】味甘，性微温，无毒。主治五劳七伤，补益中气，消除尿道中的寒热疼痛，滋养五脏，强壮阴精，增加精气，促进生育，治疗妇女腹内结块（症瘕）。长期服用可使身体轻健。
（肉苁蓉在《吴氏本草》中称为“松容”，又名“黑司命”。最初产于河西山谷及代州雁门一带，现在以陇西出产的质量最佳，北国出产的次之。它是由野马的精气渗入土中而生长出来的。陇西产的肉质扁、色黄、柔润且多花，味道甘甜；北国产的形体短小、花朵少，新鲜时像肉一样，三四月间挖掘根部，长达一尺多，用绳子穿起阴干，到八月皮才变好，表面有松子般的鳞甲，所以名叫“松容”。马属于午火之畜，以少阴为正化，子水为对化，所以名叫“黑司命”。朱丹溪说：肉苁蓉很难得到，人们常用金莲根经盐制后伪充，或用草苁蓉代替，使用者应当仔细辨别。苏恭说：草苁蓉的功效稍差。）
马是火畜，其精液属水阴。肉苁蓉感应马的精气而生，外形像肉，气味甘温，大概是禀受了少阴水火之气，而归属于太阴坤土的药材。土的性质柔和，所以有了“苁蓉”这个名字。“五劳”是指志劳、思劳、烦劳、忧劳、恚劳这五种因情志过度导致的疲劳。“七伤”是指喜、怒、忧、悲、思、恐、惊这七种情志所致的损伤。如果水火阴阳之气能汇聚于中土，那么五劳七伤就可以治愈了。因为得到了太阴坤土的精华，所以能补益中气。因为禀受了少阴水火之气，所以能消除尿道中的寒热疼痛。阴阳水火之气归于太阴坤土之中，所以能滋养五脏。所谓“强阴”，是因为火气旺盛；所谓“益精”，是因为水气旺盛。所谓“多子”，是因为水火阴阳都旺盛。妇女的症瘕，是血精滞留积聚在胞宫之外，当土气旺盛时，症瘕自然消散，从而长期服用能使身体轻健。
[Flavor and Efficacy] Sweet in flavor, slightly warm in nature, non-toxic. It primarily treats the Five Exertions (Wu Lao) and Seven Injuries (Qi Shang), tonifies the Middle Jiao (Spleen and Stomach), eliminates cold-heat pain in the genitalia/urethra, nourishes the Five Zang Organs, strengthens Yin, benefits Essence (Jing), promotes fertility, and treats abdominal masses (Zheng Jia) in women. Long-term consumption makes the body light and agile.
(Rou Cong Rong [Cistanche Herba], known as "Song Rong" or "Hei Si Ming" in *Wu Shi Ben Cao*, originally grew in the valleys of Hexi and Yanmen of Daizhou. Currently, those from Longxi are considered superior, followed by those from the Northern regions. It is said to be formed when the essence of wild horses penetrates the soil. Those from Longxi are flat, yellowish, soft, moist, abundant in flowers, and sweet-tasting. Those from the North are shorter, have fewer flowers, resemble flesh when fresh, are dug up in March-April, grow over a chi long, strung on ropes for shade-drying, and develop a better skin texture by August with scales resembling pine nuts, hence the name "Song Rong". Horses belong to the Fire element (Wu), with Shaoyin as the primary transformation and Zi Water as the counter-transformation, hence the name "Hei Si Ming" (Black Life Master). Zhu Danxi stated: Rou Cong Rong is rare; it is often adulterated with salt-processed Jin Lian Gen (Golden Lotus Root) or substituted with Cao Rou Cong Rong [Herbal Cistanche]. Users should exercise caution. Su Gong noted that Cao Rou Cong Rong has slightly inferior efficacy.)
Horses are Fire animals, and their essence belongs to Yin-Water. Rou Cong Rong grows by sensing the essence of horses, resembling flesh in form, with a sweet and warm flavor. It likely inherits the Qi of Shaoyin Water-Fire and belongs to the Taiyin Kun Earth category. The nature of Earth is gentle and soft, hence the name "Cong Rong" (soft and pliable). The "Five Exertions" refer to fatigue caused by excessive mental activities: ambition (Zhi), contemplation (Si), vexation (Fan), worry (You), and anger (Hui). The "Seven Injuries" refer to damage caused by the Seven Emotions: joy, anger, worry, grief, thought, fear, and fright. When the Qi of Water-Fire and Yin-Yang converges in the Central Earth, the Five Exertions and Seven Injuries can be cured. By obtaining the essence of Taiyin Kun Earth, it tonifies the Middle Jiao. By inheriting the Qi of Shaoyin Water-Fire, it eliminates cold-heat pain in the genitalia/urethra. As the Qi of Yin-Yang and Water-Fire returns to Taiyin Kun Earth, it nourishes the Five Zang Organs. "Strengthening Yin" refers to the abundance of Fire Qi. "Benefiting Jing" refers to the abundance of Water Qi. "Promoting fertility" implies that both Water and Fire, Yin and Yang, are abundant. Abdominal masses (Zheng Jia) in women result from the stagnation and accumulation of blood and essence outside the uterus. When Earth Qi is strong, these masses naturally dissipate, leading to the effect of making the body light after long-term use.