\r芍药\pj86.bmp\r
味苦、酸，气平、微寒。气薄味浓，可升可降，阴中之阳。有小毒。近道俱生，淮南
独胜。开花虽颜色五品，入药惟赤白二根。山谷花叶单，根重实有力；家园花叶盛，根轻虚
无能。反藜芦，恶硝斛。（芒硝、石斛。）畏硝石、龟甲、小蓟，使乌药、没药、雷丸。入手
太阴肺经，及足太阴脾脏。赤白因异，制治亦殊。赤芍药色应南方，能泻能散，生用
正宜；白芍药色应西方，
能补能收，酒炒才妙。（若补阴，洒浸日曝，勿见火。）赤利小便去热，消痈肿破积坚，主火
盛眼疼要药；白和血脉缓中，
固腠理止泻痢，为血虚腹痛捷方。已后数条，惟
热加黄芩，寒加肉桂。与
白术同用补脾，与参耆同用益气，与芎 同用泻肝。凡妇人产后诸病，切忌煎尝，因其酸寒，
恐伐生发之性故也。倘不
得已要用，桂酒（肉桂煎酒。）渍炒少加。血虚寒人，亦禁莫服。经云∶冬月减芍药，以避
中寒，则可征矣。
（谟）按∶芍药何入手足太阴也？盖酸涩者为上，为收敛停湿之剂故尔。虽主手足太阴，
终不
离于收降之体。又至血海而入九地之下，直抵于足厥阴焉。气味酸收，又何利小便也？盖肾
主大小二便，用此益阴滋湿，故小便得通。仲景治伤寒每多用者，抑非以其主寒热利小便乎
？一说∶芍药本非通利之药，因其能停诸湿而益津液，故小便自利，于义亦通。又何谓缓中
也？盖损其肝者缓其中，即调血止痛之谓。丹溪云∶芍药惟止血虚腹痛，然诸痛并宜辛散，
此仅酸收，故致血调，血调则痛自止，岂非谓缓中耶？
味苦、酸，气平、微寒。气味轻薄而味道浓厚，既可升散又可降泄，属于阴中寓阳之品。有小毒。各地均有生长，以淮南地区出产的为最佳。虽然开花有五种颜色，但入药只用赤、白两种根。山谷中生长的芍药花叶稀疏，根部沉重坚实且药效有力；家园种植的芍药花叶茂盛，根部轻浮虚软而无药效。反藜芦，畏硝石和石斛。（芒硝、石斛。）畏惧硝石、龟甲、小蓟，可与乌药、没药、雷丸配伍使用。归入手太阴肺经，以及足太阴脾脏。赤芍与白芍因颜色不同，炮制和功效也各异。赤芍药色应南方火，能泻火能散瘀，生用最为适宜；白芍药色应西方金，能补益能收敛，经酒炒后效果更佳。（若用于补阴，应用酒浸泡后晒干，避免见火。）赤芍利小便去热，消痈肿破积坚，是治疗火盛眼痛的要药；白芍调和血脉缓急止痛，固护腠理止泻痢，是治疗血虚腹痛的良方。此后几条加减法，仅在热证时加黄芩，寒证时加肉桂。与白术同用可补脾，与人参、黄芪同用可益气，与川芎同用可泻肝。凡是妇人产后各种疾病，切忌煎服品尝，因为其性酸寒，恐怕损伤人体生发之气。如果不得已必须使用，可用肉桂煎酒（肉桂煎酒。）浸泡炒制并少量加入。血虚兼寒之人，也禁止服用。《内经》说：“冬季减少使用芍药，以避免中寒”，这就可以证实了。
（陈嘉谟）按语：芍药为何归入手足太阴经呢？大概是因为其味酸涩，属于收敛、停滞湿气的一类药剂，所以如此。虽然主要作用于手足太阴经，但最终不离收敛下降的本体。又因为深入血海直达足厥阴肝经。气味酸收，为何又能利小便呢？大概因为肾主司大小便，使用此药可以益阴滋湿，所以小便得以通畅。张仲景治疗伤寒时常多用此药，难道不是因为它主治寒热、通利小便吗？另一种说法认为：芍药本不是通利之药，因为它能停滞诸湿而滋生津液，所以小便自然通利，从义理上也讲得通。又为什么说“缓中”呢？大概因为“损其肝者缓其中”，即调血止痛的意思。朱丹溪说：芍药只适用于血虚引起的腹痛，然而各种疼痛都宜用辛散之法，这里仅用酸收，使得血液调和，血液调和则疼痛自止，这难道不就是所说的“缓中”吗？
Paeoniae Radix (Shaoyao)
Taste: Bitter, sour. Nature: Neutral, slightly cold. The qi is thin and the flavor is strong; it can ascend and descend, representing yang within yin. It has slight toxicity. It grows in many places, but the best quality comes from Huainan. Although the flowers come in five colors, only the red and white roots are used for medicine. Those growing in valleys have sparse flowers and leaves, with heavy, solid roots that possess strong efficacy; those cultivated in gardens have lush flowers and leaves, but light, hollow roots lacking efficacy. It is incompatible with Veratrum nigrum Rhizome (Lilu, 藜芦), and opposes Natrii Sulfas (Mangxiao, 芒硝) and Dendrobii Caulis (Shihu, 石斛). It fears Natrii Nitras (Xiaoshi, 硝石), Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum (Guijia, 龟甲), and Cirsii Japonici Herba (Xiaoji, 小蓟); it is guided by Linderae Radix (Wuyao, 乌药), Myrrha (Moyao, 没药), and Polyporus (Leiwan, 雷丸). It enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Organ. Due to their color difference, Red Paeoniae Radix (Chishaoyao, 赤芍药) and White Paeoniae Radix (Baishaoyao, 白芍药) differ in processing and treatment effects. Red Paeoniae Radix corresponds to the South (Fire), can purge heat and disperse stasis, and is best used raw; White Paeoniae Radix corresponds to the West (Metal), can tonify and astringe, and is most effective when stir-fried with wine. (If used to tonify yin, soak in wine and sun-dry, avoiding fire.) Red Paeoniae Radix promotes urination and clears heat, resolves carbuncles and masses, and is a key herb for treating eye pain caused by excess fire; White Paeoniae Radix harmonizes blood vessels and relieves urgency, secures the interstices and stops dysentery, and is an excellent formula for abdominal pain due to blood deficiency. Regarding subsequent modifications: add Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin, 黄芩) for heat, add Cinnamomi Cortex (Rougui, 肉桂) for cold. Combined with Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu, 白术) to tonify the spleen; combined with Ginseng Radix (Renshen, 人参) and Astragali Radix (Huangqi, 黄芪) to boost qi; combined with Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong, 川芎) to drain the liver. For various postpartum conditions in women, decoction and consumption are strictly contraindicated because its sour and cold nature may damage the body's generating and ascending properties. If absolutely necessary, use a small amount soaked and stir-fried in wine decocted with Cinnamomi Cortex (Rougui jian jiu, 肉桂煎酒). Patients with blood deficiency and cold constitution should also avoid taking it. The Classic says: "Reduce Shaoyao usage in winter to avoid middle-cold," which confirms this principle.
(Chen Jiamo) Commentary: Why does Shaoyao enter the Hand- and Foot-Taiyin meridians? This is likely because its sour and astringent taste makes it an agent for convergence and retaining dampness. Although it primarily acts on the Hand- and Foot-Taiyin, its fundamental nature remains convergent and descending. Furthermore, it penetrates deep into the Blood Sea and reaches the Foot-Jueyin Liver. Given its sour and收敛 (astringent) nature, why does it promote urination? This is because the Kidney governs both large and small bowel movements; using this herb nourishes yin and moistens, thereby facilitating urination. Zhang Zhongjing often used it extensively in treating Cold Damage (Shanghan, 伤寒), not precisely because it treats chills and fever and promotes urination? Another theory states: Shaoyao is inherently not a diuretic; rather, because it retains dampness and generates fluids, urination becomes smooth naturally, which is also logically consistent. What is meant by "relieving the center" (huan zhong, 缓中)? It refers to "when the Liver is damaged, soothe its interior," meaning harmonizing blood and relieving pain. Zhu Danxi said: Shaoyao is specifically for abdominal pain due to blood deficiency. However, various pains generally require acrid-dispersing methods. Here, only sour-astringency is used to harmonize blood; once blood is harmonized, pain ceases naturally. Is this not what is meant by "relieving the center"?