蒺藜子，味甘、辛，气温、微寒，无毒。沙苑者为上，白蒺藜次之，种类各异，而明目
去风
则一。但白蒺藜善破症结，而沙苑蒺藜则不能也。沙苑蒺藜善止遗精遗溺，治白带喉痹，消
阴汗，而白蒺藜则不能也。今世专尚沙苑之种，弃白蒺藜不用，亦未知二种之各有功效也，
余所以分别而并论之。
或问蒺藜能催生堕胎，而先生略之，岂着《本草》者误耶？夫蒺藜无毒之药，何能落胎，
谓
其催生，而性又不速。然则从前《本草》，何所据而言之耶。见白蒺藜之多刺耳。凡刺多者
，必有碍于进取，留而不进则有之，未闻荆棘之中，反行之而甚速者也。是蒺藜既不能催生
，又何能堕胎哉。且沙苑蒺藜，乃解火之味，凡妇人堕胎，半由于胎气之太热，古人谓黄芩
能安胎者，正取其寒而能去火也。况蒺藜微寒，不同于黄芩之大冷，而性又兼补，且能止精
之滑，安有止精涩味，而反堕胎者乎。此传闻者之误，不足信也。
或问蒺藜，以同州沙苑者为胜，近人以之治目，谓补而又明目也。先生又云与白蒺藜同
为明
目之药，岂同州者非补，而白蒺藜反补耶？（〔批〕贱近而贵远，世情大抵然也，岂独蒺藜
哉
。）曰∶二味各有功效，余上文已言之矣。而吾子又问，余更当畅谈之。沙苑蒺藜，补多而
泻
少；白蒺藜，泻多而补亦多。沙苑蒺藜补肝肾而明目，乃补虚火之目，而不可补实邪之目也
，补实邪之目，则目转不明，而羞明生瘴之病来矣；白蒺藜补肝肾而明目，乃泻实邪之目。
而又可补虚火之目也，补虚火之目，则目更光明，泻实邪之目则目更清爽。二者相较，用沙
苑蒺藜以明目，反不若用白蒺藜之明目为佳，而无如近人之未知也。
蒺藜子，味道甘甜、辛辣，药性温和、微寒，没有毒性。沙苑产的蒺藜品质最佳，白蒺藜次之，虽然种类不同，但在明目和祛风方面的功效是一致的。但是，白蒺藜善于破除症结（体内积聚的病理产物），而沙苑蒺藜则不具备这种功效。沙苑蒺藜善于治疗遗精、遗尿，以及白带过多、喉痹（咽喉肿痛闭塞）、消除阴部汗出，而白蒺藜则不能做到这些。当今世人专门推崇沙苑产的蒺藜，抛弃白蒺藜不用，这也是不了解这两种蒺藜各有不同的功效，所以我分别论述并加以比较。
有人问：蒺藜能够催生和堕胎，而先生您在书中却略去了这一点，难道是编写《本草》的人出错了吗？蒺藜是无毒的药物，怎么可能导致流产呢？说它能催生，但它的药性又不迅速。那么从前的《本草》书籍，是根据什么来说这些话的呢？是因为看到白蒺藜多刺。凡是刺多的东西，必然阻碍前进，停留而不前进是有可能的，但没有听说过在荆棘丛中反而能行得很快的事。既然蒺藜不能催生，又怎么能堕胎呢？况且沙苑蒺藜，是清解火邪的药味。凡是妇人堕胎，多半是由于胎气太热，古人说黄芩能安胎，正是因为它性寒能去火。何况蒺藜只是微寒，不同于黄芩的大冷，而且药性兼有补益作用，还能止住精液的滑泄，哪有具有固涩止精作用的药物，反而会导致堕胎的道理呢？这是听信传闻者的错误，不值得相信。
有人问：蒺藜以同州沙苑产的品质最好，近代人用它来治疗眼疾，说是既能补益又能明目。先生您又说它与白蒺藜同为明目的药物，难道同州产的蒺藜不具补益作用，而白蒺藜反而有补益作用吗？（批注：轻视身边的，重视远方的，世人的情态大抵如此，哪里仅仅是蒺藜呢？）回答说：这两味药各有功效，我在上文已经说过了。而你再次发问，我更应该详细阐述。沙苑蒺藜，补益多于泻实；白蒺藜，泻实多于补益，但也兼具补益作用。沙苑蒺藜补益肝肾从而明目，适用于因虚火上炎导致的目疾，但不能用于实证邪气导致的目疾；如果用于实证邪气的目疾，眼睛反而会看不清楚，羞明畏光及生翳障的疾病就会到来；白蒺藜也能补益肝肾从而明目，它适用于泻除实证邪气的目疾，同时也能够补益虚火导致的目疾。对于虚火导致的目疾进行补益，眼睛会更加明亮；对于实证邪气导致的目疾进行泻除，眼睛会更加清爽。两者相比，用沙苑蒺藜来明目，反而不如用白蒺藜明目效果好，无奈近代人并不了解这一点。
Jili Zi (Tribuli Fructus), with a sweet and pungent taste, is of warm and slightly cold nature, and non-toxic. The variety from Shayuan is superior, while Bai Jili Zi (White Tribulus) is secondary. Although the species differ, their effects in brightening the eyes and dispelling wind are identical. However, Bai Jili Zi excels at breaking up accumulations (pathological masses), whereas Shayuan Jili Zi cannot do so. Shayuan Jili Zi is effective in stopping seminal emission and urinary incontinence, treating leukorrhea, throat obstruction (sore throat with swelling and blockage), and eliminating damp sweat in the genital area, which Bai Jili Zi cannot achieve. Currently, people exclusively favor the Shayuan variety and discard Bai Jili Zi, failing to recognize that each has its own specific efficacy. Therefore, I discuss them separately and compare them.
One might ask: Jili Zi can induce labor and abort fetuses, yet you omitted this point. Was the author of the *Bencao* mistaken? How can a non-toxic herb like Jili Zi cause abortion? To claim it induces labor is also inaccurate, as its action is not rapid. Then, on what basis did previous *Bencao* texts make such claims? It may be due to the observation that Bai Jili Zi has many spines. Generally, things with many spines hinder progress; they may stay without advancing, but it is unheard of for one to move quickly through thorns. Thus, since Jili Zi cannot induce labor, how could it possibly abort a fetus? Moreover, Shayuan Jili Zi is a substance that clears fire. In cases of spontaneous abortion in women, it is often due to excessive heat in the fetal qi. Ancient texts state that Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix) calms the fetus precisely because its cold nature clears fire. Furthermore, Jili Zi is only slightly cold, unlike the severe cold of Huang Qin, and possesses both clearing and tonifying properties. It can even stop seminal leakage. How could a substance with astringent properties that stops seminal emission cause abortion? This is an error based on hearsay and should not be trusted.
Another question arises: Jili Zi from Shayuan, Tongzhou, is considered the best. Modern practitioners use it to treat eye diseases, claiming it tonifies and brightens the eyes. You also stated that it shares the property of brightening the eyes with Bai Jili Zi. Does this mean the Tongzhou variety does not tonify, while Bai Jili Zi does? (Commentary: People tend to undervalue what is near and overvalue what is distant; this is a general human tendency, not unique to Jili Zi.) I reply: Both substances have distinct efficacies, as mentioned earlier. Since you ask again, I will elaborate further. Shayuan Jili Zi tonifies more than it drains; Bai Jili Zi drains more than it tonifies, though it also has tonifying effects. Shayuan Jili Zi tonifies the Liver and Kidney to brighten the eyes, making it suitable for eye conditions caused by deficiency fire, but unsuitable for those caused by excess pathogenic factors. Using it for excess patterns would worsen vision, leading to photophobia and corneal opacity. Bai Jili Zi also tonifies the Liver and Kidney to brighten the eyes; it drains excess pathogens and can also address deficiency fire. Tonifying deficiency fire results in brighter vision, while draining excess pathogens results in clearer vision. Comparing the two, using Shayuan Jili Zi for brightening the eyes is inferior to using Bai Jili Zi, yet modern practitioners fail to understand this.