味苦、酸，性微寒，无毒。入肺、脾、肝三经。恶石斛、芒硝。畏鳖甲、小蓟，反藜芦。
煨
熟，酒焙。
养血敛阴，柔肝定痛。通补奇经，女科必用。
敛肺而主胀逆喘咳，腠理不固；安脾而主中满腹痛、泻痢不和；制肝而主血热目疾，肋
下作
疼。
收敛下降，适合秋金，故气宁而汗止，专入脾经血分，能泻肝家火邪，故功能颇多，一
言以
蔽之，敛气凉血而已矣。
李时珍曰∶“芍药，同白术补脾，同芎 泻肝，同人参补气，同当归补血。以酒炒补阴，
同
甘草止腹痛及腿酸拘挛，同黄连止泻痢，同防风发痘疹，同姜枣温经散湿。”
张元素曰∶“其用凡六∶安脾经，一也；治腹痛，二也；收胃气，三也；止泻痢，四也；
和血脉，五也；固腠理，六也。”
《本草求真》曰∶“血盛于气，则血凝而不行；气盛于血，则血燥而益枯。血之盛者，
必赖
辛为
之散，故川芎号为补肝之气；气之盛者，必赖酸为之收，故白芍号为敛肝之液。收肝之气，
而令气不妄行也。”
芍药之性，未若芩连之苦寒，而寇氏云∶“减芍药以避中寒”。丹溪云∶“产后勿用
芍药，恐酸寒伐生生之气。”嗟乎，药之寒者，行杀伐之气，违生长之机，虽微寒如芍
药，古人犹谆谆告戒，况大苦大寒之药，其可肆用而莫之忌耶。
味苦、酸，性微寒，无毒。入肺、脾、肝三经。恶石斛、芒硝。畏鳖甲、小蓟，反藜芦。
【白芍药】味道苦、酸，性质微寒，没有毒性。归入肺、脾、肝三条经脉。与石斛、芒硝相恶（即两药合用会减弱疗效或产生副作用）。畏惧鳖甲、小蓟，与藜芦相反（十八反之一）。
煨
熟，酒焙。
【炮制方法】煨制成熟，或用酒烘焙。
养血敛阴，柔肝定痛。通补奇经，女科必用。
【功效】滋养血液，收敛阴液，柔和肝脏以缓解疼痛。疏通并补益奇经八脉，是妇科治疗的必备药物。
敛肺而主胀逆喘咳，腠理不固；安脾而主中满腹痛、泻痢不和；制肝而主血热目疾，肋
下作
疼。
【主治病症】收敛肺气，主治气机上逆导致的胸腹胀满、气喘咳嗽，以及体表毛孔（腠理）不固导致的汗出异常；安定脾胃，主治脘腹痞满胀痛、腹泻痢疾及脾胃不和；制约肝火，主治因血热引起的眼部疾病，以及胁肋下方的疼痛。
收敛下降，适合秋金，故气宁而汗止，专入脾经血分，能泻肝家火邪，故功能颇多，一
言以
蔽之，敛气凉血而已矣。
【药性分析】其药性收敛且趋向下降，符合秋季“金”的肃降特性，因此能使气机安宁而停止出汗。它专门进入脾经的血分，能够清泻肝脏的火邪。因此其功能很多，一言以蔽之，就是收敛气机、凉血止血罢了。
李时珍曰∶“芍药，同白术补脾，同芎 泻肝，同人参补气，同当归补血。以酒炒补阴，
同
甘草止腹痛及腿酸拘挛，同黄连止泻痢，同防风发痘疹，同姜枣温经散湿。”
【李时珍观点】李时珍说：“芍药，与白术配合可补益脾胃，与川芎配合可清泻肝火，与人参配合可补益元气，与当归配合可补充血液。用酒炒制可滋补阴液，与甘草配合可治疗腹痛及腿部酸痛、肌肉拘挛，与黄连配合可治疗腹泻和痢疾，与防风配合可促进痘疹透发，与生姜、大枣配合可温通经络、驱散湿气。”
张元素曰∶“其用凡六∶安脾经，一也；治腹痛，二也；收胃气，三也；止泻痢，四也；
和血脉，五也；固腠理，六也。”
【张元素观点】张元素说：“芍药的用途主要有六点：一是安定脾经，二是治疗腹痛，三是收敛胃气，四是止住腹泻和痢疾，五是调和血脉，六是巩固腠理。”
《本草求真》曰∶“血盛于气，则血凝而不行；气盛于血，则血燥而益枯。血之盛者，
必赖
辛为
之散，故川芎号为补肝之气；气之盛者，必赖酸为之收，故白芍号为敛肝之液。收肝之气，
而令气不妄行也。”
【《本草求真》观点】《本草求真》说：“如果血分过盛而气分不足，血液就会凝结而不能正常运行；如果气分过盛而血分不足，血液就会干燥而更加枯竭。血分旺盛时，必须依靠辛味药来发散，所以川芎被称为能补益肝气的药物；气分旺盛时，必须依靠酸味药来收敛，所以白芍被称为能收敛肝液的药物。（白芍通过）收敛肝气，使气机不致妄动乱行。”
芍药之性，未若芩连之苦寒，而寇氏云∶“减芍药以避中寒”。丹溪云∶“产后勿用
芍药，恐酸寒伐生生之气。”嗟乎，药之寒者，行杀伐之气，违生长之机，虽微寒如芍
药，古人犹谆谆告戒，况大苦大寒之药，其可肆用而莫之忌耶。
【使用禁忌与警示】芍药的药性，不如黄芩、黄连那样苦寒，但寇宗奭曾说：“减少芍药的用量以避免损伤中焦阳气导致寒冷。”朱丹溪说：“产后不要使用芍药，恐怕其酸寒之性会损害人体生生不息的生命之气。”唉，凡是寒性的药物，都带有杀伐之气，违背了万物生长的机理，即使是像芍药这样微寒的药物，古人都还谆谆告诫要小心使用，何况是大苦大寒的药物，怎么可以随意滥用而不加忌讳呢？
Bai Shaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Alba) tastes bitter and sour, is slightly cold in nature, and is non-toxic. It enters the Lung, Spleen, and Liver meridians. It is incompatible with Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis), Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas). It fears Biejia (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum), Xiaoji (Cirsii Herba), and is contrary to Lilu (Veratri Radix).
Preparation: Roasted until cooked, or baked with wine.
Functions: Nourishes blood and astringes yin, softens the Liver to relieve pain. It unblocks and tonifies the Extraordinary Vessels, making it an essential herb in gynecology.
Indications: By astringing the Lung, it treats distension, rebellious Qi, wheezing, and cough due to insecure interstitial spaces (Cou Li); by calming the Spleen, it treats abdominal fullness, abdominal pain, dysentery, and Spleen-Stomach disharmony; by restraining the Liver, it treats eye diseases caused by blood-heat and pain under the ribs.
Nature Analysis: Its nature is astringent and descending, corresponding to the Metal element of Autumn. Therefore, it calms Qi and stops sweating. It specifically enters the Blood aspect of the Spleen meridian and can drain Fire pathogenic factors from the Liver. Thus, its functions are numerous, but can be summarized as astringing Qi and cooling blood.
Li Shizhen stated: "Shaoyao, when combined with Baizhu, tonifies the Spleen; when combined with Xiongqiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma), it drains the Liver; when combined with Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), it tonifies Qi; when combined with Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), it nourishes blood. Stir-fried with wine, it nourishes Yin; combined with Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), it stops abdominal pain and leg soreness with spasms; combined with Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), it stops dysentery; combined with Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), it promotes the eruption of smallpox/rashes; combined with Jiangzao (Fresh Ginger and Jujube), it warms the meridians and disperses dampness."
Zhang Yuansu stated: "Its uses are sixfold: first, to calm the Spleen meridian; second, to treat abdominal pain; third, to collect Stomach Qi; fourth, to stop dysentery; fifth, to harmonize the blood vessels; sixth, to secure the interstitial spaces (Cou Li)."
Bencao Qiuyuan states: "If Blood is excessive relative to Qi, Blood will coagulate and fail to circulate; if Qi is excessive relative to Blood, Blood will become dry and increasingly depleted. When Blood is abundant, it must rely on Acrid substances to disperse it; thus, Chuanxiong is known for tonifying Liver Qi. When Qi is abundant, it must rely on Sour substances to astringe it; thus, Bai Shaoyao is known for astringing Liver fluids. By astringing Liver Qi, it prevents Qi from moving recklessly."
The nature of Shaoyao is not as bitterly cold as Qinlian (Huangqin and Huanglian). However, Kou Zongshi said, "Reduce the dosage of Shaoyao to avoid middle-Jiao Cold." Zhu Danxi said, "Do not use Shaoyao after childbirth, lest its sour-cold nature damage the vital energy of generation." Alas, herbs that are cold possess a killing/destroying nature, violating the mechanism of growth and life. Even though Shaoyao is only slightly cold, ancient masters still earnestly warned against its misuse. How much more so should one exercise caution and avoid taboos when using herbs that are greatly bitter and greatly cold?