远志，味苦，气温，无毒。而能解毒，安心气，定神益智，多服强记，亦能止梦遗，乃
心经
之药，凡心经虚病俱可治之。然尤不止治心也。肝、脾、肺之病俱可兼治，此归脾汤所以用
远志也。而吾以为不止治心、肝、脾、肺也。夫心肾常相通者也，心不通于肾，则肾之气不
上
交于心，肾不通于心，则心之气亦不下交于肾。远志定神，则君心宁静而心气自通于肾矣，
心之气既下通于肾，谓远志但益心而不益肾，所不信也。是远志乃通心肾之妙药。故能开心
窍而益智，安肾而止梦遗，否则心肾两离，何能强记而闭守哉。
或问远志既是心经之药，心气一虚，即宜多加以益心，何故前人少用也？不知心为君主，
君
心宁静则火不上炎。心虚而少益其火，则心转受大补之益。倘多用远志以益心，必至添火
以增焰，是益心而反害心矣。所以远志止可少用，而断不可多用也。（〔批〕添火增炎，新
。）
或问远志益心，而子又曰益肾，毕竟补心多于补肾，抑补肾多于补心乎？盖远志益心，
自是
心经主药，补心多于补肾，何必辨哉。虽然心肾之气，实两相通也，既两相通，则远志之补
心肾，又何有于两异。惟是用药者或有重轻，则补心补肾亦各有分别。补心之药多用，远志
重在补心。补肾之药多用，远志重在补肾。补心补肾虽若有殊，而通心通肾正无或异也。
或问远志上通心而下通肾，有之乎？曰∶有之。有则何以上通心者每用远志，而下通肾者绝
不用远志耶？不知肾药易通于心，而心药难通于肾，故用肾药，不必又用远志，而用心药，
不可不用远志也。（〔批〕远志补心而不补肾，然能通肾，通肾自然补肾矣，亦宜活看。）
或问远志益心而不效，岂多用之故乎，然未尝多用而仍然不效者何也？盖肾气乘之也。
夫肾
益心者也。虽曰水克火，实水润心也。然则肾何以乘心也。肾之乘心者，非肾气之旺，乃肾
气之衰，肾水旺则肾益心，肾水衰则肾克心也。不滋肾以益水，徒用远志以益火，则火愈旺
而心愈不安矣。毋怪其少用而亦不效也。苟用远志于熟地、山茱之内，则肾得滋而心火胥受
益矣。
或问陈言《三因方》用远志酒，治一切痈疽、发背、阴毒有效，子何略而不言？非不言
也。
陈言单举远志一味以示奇，其实酒中不止远志也。单藉远志以治痈，未有不败者。盖痈毒至
于发背，其势最横、最大，岂区区远志酒汁传之，即能奏功乎，此不必辨而知其非也。或用
金银花为君，佐之远志则可，然亦蛇足之说。不若竟用金银花半斤，加当归一二两，甘草四
五钱，治之之为神。
或疑远志不可治痈，前人何故载之书册，以误后人，想亦有功于痈，吾子未识耳。嗟乎。
远
志治痈，余先未尝不信，每用之而不效，今奉岐夫子之教，不觉爽然自失，悔从前误信耳。
至于用金银花方治痈，屡获奇效，故敢辟陈言而特载用新方，无使后人再误如铎也。
或疑远志益心而不益肾，而吾子必曰兼益肾，似乎心肾之亏者，单用远志一味，而心肾
两补
矣。何以肾虚者，必另加补肾之药，不单用远志乎？不知远志可引肾之气以通心，非助肾之
水以滋心也。故通心肾者，用远志一味，而心肾已受两益矣。若心肾两虚者，乌或全恃远志
哉。（〔批〕总之，远志并非可单用之药。）
远志，味苦，性温，无毒。它能解毒，安定心气，使神志安宁并增强智慧，多服可加强记忆力，也能治疗梦遗，是入心经的药物，凡是心经的虚证都可以用它来治疗。然而它的作用不止于治心。肝、脾、肺的疾病也可以兼治，这就是归脾汤中要使用远志的原因。但我认为它的作用不止于治心、肝、脾、肺。心与肾通常是相通的，心气不通达于肾，则肾气不能上交于心；肾气不通达于心，则心气也不能下交于肾。远志能安定神志，使君主之官（心）宁静，心气自然通达于肾；既然心气已经下通于肾，如果说远志只补益心而不补益肾，我是不会相信的。因此，远志是沟通心肾的妙药。所以它能开通心窍以益智，固摄肾脏以止梦遗，否则心肾分离，怎么能做到记忆力强且精气闭守呢？
有人问：远志既然是入心经的药，心气一虚，就应该多加用以补心，为什么前人很少使用呢？不知道心为君主之官，君主之心宁静则火不上炎。心虚而稍微补益其火，那么心反而会受到大补的好处。如果多用远志来补心，必然会导致添火增焰，这是补心反而害心。所以远志只能少量使用，绝对不可大量使用。（批注：添火增焰，新。）
有人问：远志补心，而你又说补肾，究竟补心多于补肾，还是补肾多于补心呢？大概远志补心，自然是心经的主药，补心多于补肾，何必分辨呢。虽然如此，心肾之气实际上是相互贯通的，既然相互贯通，那么远志对心肾的补益，又有什么不同呢？只是用药的人或有侧重轻重之分，那么补心和补肾也就各有分别。补心的药多用时，远志重在补心；补肾的药多用时，远志重在补肾。补心和补肾虽然看似有区别，但通心和通肾其实并无差异。
有人问：远志上通心而下通肾，有这样的事吗？回答说：有。如果有，为什么上通心时常使用远志，而下通肾时却绝不用远志呢？不知道肾药容易通达于心，而心药难通达于肾，所以用肾药时，不必再用远志，而用心药时，不可不用远志。（批注：远志补心而不补肾，但能通肾，通肾自然也就补肾了，应当灵活看待。）
有人问：远志补心却不生效，难道是用量过多的缘故吗？然而并没有过量使用却依然不生效，这是什么原因呢？这是因为肾气在克制它。肾本是益心的。虽然说水克火，实际上是水润心。那么肾为什么会乘袭（克制/干扰）心呢？肾乘袭心，并非因为肾气旺盛，而是因为肾气衰弱。肾水旺盛则肾益心，肾水衰弱则肾克心。如果不滋补肾以益水，仅仅用远志来益火，那么火越旺心越不安定。难怪即使少用也不见效。如果在熟地、山茱萸中使用远志，那么肾得到滋润，心火也都能受益了。
有人问：陈言《三因方》中使用远志酒，治疗各种痈疽、发背、阴毒有效，你为什么简略而不提？不是不提。陈言单独列举远志一味药以示奇特，其实酒中不止远志一味。单靠远志来治疗痈肿，没有不失败的。因为痈毒发展到发背，其势头最猛烈、范围最大，难道区区远志酒汁传布，就能奏效吗？这不必辩驳就知道是错误的。或者用金银花作为君药，佐以远志是可以的，但这也有画蛇添足之说。不如直接用半斤金银花，加当归一二两，甘草四五钱，来治疗更为神奇。
有人怀疑远志不能治疗痈肿，前人为什么记载在书册中，误导后人？想必它对痈肿也有功劳，只是我没有认识到罢了。唉！对于远志治痈，我以前也未尝不信，每次使用都不见效，现在遵循岐伯夫子的教诲，不觉怅然若失，后悔从前误信罢了。至于用金银花方剂治疗痈肿，屡次获得奇效，所以敢于驳斥陈言而特别记载这个新方，不让后人再像我一样犯错。
有人怀疑远志只补心不补肾，而你一定说兼补肾，似乎心肾亏损者，单用远志一味，就能心肾双补了。为什么肾虚者，必须另外加补肾的药，不单用远志呢？不知道远志可以引导肾气以通达于心，并不是助长肾水以滋润心。所以通心肾时，只用远志一味，心肾就已经受到双重益处了。如果心肾两虚，哪里能完全依赖远志呢？（批注：总之，远志并不是可以单用的药。）
Polygalae Radix (Yuanzhi, 远志), bitter in taste and warm in nature, is non-toxic. It can detoxify, calm the Heart Qi (vital energy of the Heart), stabilize the spirit, enhance wisdom, and with prolonged use, strengthen memory. It can also arrest nocturnal emissions. It is a herb entering the Heart Meridian (Heart Channel), suitable for treating all deficiency syndromes of the Heart. However, its action is not limited to the Heart. It can also concurrently treat diseases of the Liver, Spleen, and Lung; this is why Polygalae Radix is used in Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction). But I believe its scope extends beyond the Heart, Liver, Spleen, and Lung. The Heart and Kidney are usually interconnected. If Heart Qi does not reach the Kidney, then Kidney Qi cannot ascend to connect with the Heart; if Kidney Qi does not reach the Heart, then Heart Qi cannot descend to connect with the Kidney. Polygalae Radix stabilizes the spirit, making the Monarch (Heart) tranquil, so that Heart Qi naturally connects with the Kidney. Since Heart Qi has descended to connect with the Kidney, I do not believe that Polygalae Radix only benefits the Heart without benefiting the Kidney. Therefore, Polygalae Radix is an exquisite herb for connecting the Heart and Kidney. Thus, it can open the orifices of the Heart to enhance wisdom and secure the Kidney to arrest nocturnal emissions. Otherwise, with the separation of Heart and Kidney, how could one achieve strong memory and retention of essence?
One asks: Since Polygalae Radix enters the Heart Meridian, when Heart Qi is deficient, one should add more to benefit the Heart. Why did predecessors rarely use it? One does not know that the Heart is the Monarch. When the Monarch's Heart is tranquil, fire does not flare upward. If the Heart is deficient and its fire is slightly supplemented, the Heart will receive great benefit from supplementation. However, if Polygalae Radix is used in large doses to benefit the Heart, it will inevitably add fire to increase the flame, thereby harming the Heart while claiming to benefit it. Therefore, Polygalae Radix should only be used in small doses and absolutely not in large doses. [Commentary: Adding fire and increasing flame, new.]
One asks: Polygalae Radix benefits the Heart, yet you also say it benefits the Kidney. Does it benefit the Heart more than the Kidney, or the Kidney more than the Heart? Generally, Polygalae Radix is the principal herb for the Heart Meridian in benefiting the Heart, so it benefits the Heart more than the Kidney; why bother distinguishing? Although, the Qi of the Heart and Kidney is indeed mutually connected. Since they are connected, what difference is there in Polygalae Radix's supplementation of both? It is merely that practitioners may emphasize one over the other, leading to distinctions in whether the focus is on benefiting the Heart or the Kidney. When herbs benefiting the Heart are used predominantly, Polygalae Radix focuses on benefiting the Heart. When herbs benefiting the Kidney are used predominantly, Polygalae Radix focuses on benefiting the Kidney. Although benefiting the Heart and Kidney seems different, connecting the Heart and Kidney is essentially the same.
One asks: Does Polygalae Radix ascend to connect the Heart and descend to connect the Kidney? Answer: Yes. If so, why is Polygalae Radix often used to ascend and connect the Heart, but never used to descend and connect the Kidney? One does not know that Kidney herbs easily connect to the Heart, whereas Heart herbs are difficult to connect to the Kidney. Therefore, when using Kidney herbs, there is no need to additionally use Polygalae Radix, but when using Heart herbs, Polygalae Radix must be used. [Commentary: Polygalae Radix benefits the Heart but not the Kidney directly, yet it can connect the Kidney; connecting the Kidney naturally benefits the Kidney as well, so one should view this flexibly.]
One asks: Polygalae Radix benefits the Heart but fails to produce effect. Is this due to excessive dosage? Yet, even without excessive dosage, it still fails. What is the reason? This is because of the influence of Kidney Qi. The Kidney is meant to benefit the Heart. Although Water controls Fire, in reality, Water moistens the Heart. So why does the Kidney overwhelm/control the Heart? The Kidney overwhelming the Heart is not due to exuberant Kidney Qi, but rather deficient Kidney Qi. When Kidney Water is exuberant, the Kidney benefits the Heart; when Kidney Water is deficient, the Kidney controls/harms the Heart. If one does not nourish the Kidney to benefit Water, but solely uses Polygalae Radix to benefit Fire, the Fire becomes more exuberant and the Heart becomes more unsettled. No wonder it fails even in small doses. If Polygalae Radix is used within Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Shudi) and Corni Fructus (Shanzhuyu), the Kidney will be nourished, and the Heart Fire will also benefit.
One asks: Chen Yan's *San Yin Fang* uses Polygalae Radix wine to treat all kinds of carbuncles, ulcers, back abscesses, and yin toxins effectively. Why do you omit this? It is not omitted. Chen Yan single-handedly lists Polygalae Radix to show its uniqueness, but actually, the wine contains more than just Polygalae Radix. Relying solely on Polygalae Radix to treat carbuncles invariably leads to failure. Because when carbuncle toxicity develops into a back abscess, the condition is most fierce and extensive. Could mere juice from Polygalae Radix wine achieve success? This is obviously incorrect without needing debate. Using Honeysuckle Flower (Jinyinhua) as the sovereign herb, assisted by Polygalae Radix, is acceptable, though this might be seen as superfluous. It is better to simply use half a jin of Honeysuckle Flower, add one or two liang of Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui), and four or five qian of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) for treatment, which would be miraculous.
One suspects that Polygalae Radix cannot treat carbuncles, yet predecessors recorded it in books, misleading later generations. Perhaps it has merit for carbuncles, which I have failed to recognize. Alas! Regarding Polygalae Radix treating carbuncles, I previously did not disbelieve it either. Every time I used it, it was ineffective. Now, following the teachings of Master Qibo, I feel lost and regret my previous mistaken belief. As for using Honeysuckle Flower formulas to treat carbuncles, I have repeatedly achieved remarkable effects. Therefore, I dare to refute Chen Yan and specifically record this new prescription, so that later generations do not make mistakes like I did.
One suspects that Polygalae Radix only benefits the Heart and not the Kidney, yet you insist it benefits both. It seems that for those with Heart and Kidney deficiency, using only Polygalae Radix alone would benefit both. Why must those with Kidney deficiency add separate Kidney-benefiting herbs instead of using Polygalae Radix alone? One does not know that Polygalae Radix can guide Kidney Qi to connect with the Heart; it does not assist Kidney Water to nourish the Heart. Therefore, when connecting the Heart and Kidney, using only Polygalae Radix allows both Heart and Kidney to receive dual benefits. If both Heart and Kidney are deficient, how can one rely entirely on Polygalae Radix? [Commentary: In short, Polygalae Radix is not an herb that can be used alone.]