疫病所用补药，总以人参为最，以其能大补元气。加入解表药中而汗易出，加
入攻里药中而阴不亡，而 、术不能也。则年高虚怯而患疫者，有赖于人参为孔亟
矣。第参非素丰家莫能致，无已则以党参代之。夫古之所谓人参，即今之所谓党参
也。故古有上党人参之号。上党者何？即山西之潞安府也。今日上党所出者，力虽
薄弱而参性自在，其质坚硬而不甚粗大，味之甘与苦俱而颇有参意，第较之辽参色
白耳。忆四十年前，此物盛行，价亦不昂，一两不过价银二钱。厥后，有防党、把
党者出，止二钱一斤，而药肆利于其价之贱，随专一售此，而真党参总格而不
行，久之且并不知真者为何物，而直以把党、防党为党参矣。岂知今之所谓把党、防党者□□□
□□□□□□以其捆作把，故以把名，以其形类防风，故以防名也。将此物加入瘟疫药中，又焉
能扶正而除邪也哉。用党参者，必当向潞安求其真者而用之，方能奏效。但真者不行已久，闻之济
宁药肆中尚有，而他处则鲜矣。此外又有明党、洋参二种，明党形类天冬而两头俱锐，洋参形似白
芨而其性颇凉，总不知其为何物，皆不敢用。至于药肆中，又有所谓广党者，云出自广东。夫党
者，地名也。不曰广参，而曰广党，其命名先已不通，又安敢服食欤！真可发一笑也。余阅本草云葳
蕤可代人参，又阅医书云少用无济。吾乡山中颇有此物，因掘取如法炮制而重用之，冀其补益，不
意竟为其所误。服之头痛、恶心，尚意其偶然，非药之故，后竟屡用皆然，因知可代人参之说断不
足信也。
在疫病治疗中使用的补益药物，总以人参最为重要，因为它能够大补元气。将人参加入解表药中，发汗容易；加入攻里药中，阴液不会枯竭，而白术、苍术则做不到这一点。因此，对于年老体虚怯弱而感染疫病的人，非常依赖人参。只是人参并非普通富裕家庭所能轻易获得，不得已时可以用党参替代。古代所谓的人参，就是今天所谓的党参。所以古代有“上党人参”的称号。上党是哪里呢？就是山西的潞安府。如今上党出产的党参，药效虽然薄弱，但参性依然存在，质地坚硬且不太粗大，味道甘苦兼具，颇有参的意思，只是颜色比辽参（辽宁产人参）要白一些。回忆四十年前，这种药材盛行，价格也不贵，一两只需二钱银子。后来，出现了防党、把党这两种伪品，价格低至每斤二钱，药店贪图其价格便宜，专门只售卖这些伪品，导致真正的党参被排斥而无法流通，久而久之人们甚至不知道真党参是什么样子，直接把把党、防党当作党参了。岂不知现在所谓的把党、防党……因为它们捆扎成把，所以叫把党；因为形状像防风，所以叫防党。将这些东西加入瘟疫药中，又怎么能扶助正气、祛除邪气呢？使用党参的人，必须向潞安寻求真正的党参来使用，才能见效。但真货已经很久不流通了，听说济宁的药店中还有，其他地方就很少见了。此外又有明党、洋参两种，明党形状类似天冬，两头都尖；洋参形状似白芨，但其性质颇凉，完全不知道它们是什么东西，都不敢使用。至于药店中，又有所谓的“广党”，声称出自广东。党是一个地名，不说“广参”而说“广党”，其命名本身就不通顺，怎么敢服用呢！这真是令人发笑。我查阅本草书籍，说葳蕤可以代替人参，又查阅医书说少量使用无济于事。我的家乡山中有很多这种植物，于是挖掘出来按规定炮制并重用，希望它能起到补益作用，没想到竟然被它误导。服用后出现头痛、恶心，我还以为是偶然现象，不是药物的缘故，后来多次使用都是如此，因此知道“可代人参”的说法绝对不可信。
Among the tonifying medicines used in the treatment of epidemic diseases, Ginseng Radix (Renshen) is considered the most important because it can greatly tonify Yuan Qi (Original Qi). When added to exterior-releasing formulas, sweating occurs easily; when added to interior-purgative formulas, Yin fluids are not depleted, a feat that Atractylodis Rhizoma (Baizhu/Cangzhu) cannot achieve. Therefore, for elderly patients with deficiency and timidity who contract epidemics, reliance on Ginseng Radix is extremely urgent. However, Ginseng Radix is not something that ordinary affluent families can easily obtain; if necessary, Codonopsis Radix (Dangshen) may be used as a substitute. The "Ginseng" mentioned in ancient texts refers to what is now called Codonopsis Radix. Hence, in ancient times, there was a designation known as "Shangdang Ginseng." Where is Shangdang? It is the Luzhou Prefecture in Shanxi Province. The Codonopsis produced in Shangdang today, although its efficacy is relatively weak, retains the nature of Ginseng. Its texture is hard and not very thick or large, and its taste is both sweet and bitter, possessing much of the character of Ginseng, except that its color is whiter than Liaoshen (Ginseng from Liaoning). I recall that forty years ago, this herb was prevalent and not expensive, costing only two qian of silver per liang. Later, fake varieties such as "Bang Dang" (Bundle Dang) and "Fang Dang" (Saposhnikovia Dang) appeared, selling for as low as two qian per jin. Pharmacies, attracted by their low price, exclusively sold these fakes, causing genuine Codonopsis Radix to be rejected and cease circulation. Over time, people even forgot what genuine Codonopsis looked like, directly mistaking Bang Dang and Fang Dang for Codonopsis Radix. Little did they know that the so-called Bang Dang and Fang Dang of today... They are named "Bang Dang" because they are bundled into bundles, and "Fang Dang" because their shape resembles Saposhnikovia Root (Fangfeng). How can adding such substances to plague remedies support the Righteous Qi and eliminate pathogenic factors? Those who use Codonopsis Radix must seek genuine specimens from Luzhou to ensure efficacy. However, genuine specimens have been unavailable for a long time; it is heard that some pharmacies in Jining still stock them, but they are rare elsewhere. Additionally, there are two other types: Ming Dang and Yang Shen. Ming Dang resembles Asparagus Fern Root (Tiangdong) with pointed ends at both sides; Yang Shen resembles Bletilla Rhizome (Baiji) but has a notably cool nature. Their identities are unknown, and thus they are not dared to be used. Furthermore, pharmacies offer a product called "Guang Dang," claimed to originate from Guangdong. "Dang" is a place name. Naming it "Guang Dang" instead of "Guang Shen" is linguistically illogical from the start; how can one dare consume it? This is truly laughable. I consulted Materia Medica texts which stated that Ophiopogon Tuber (Weirui) could substitute for Ginseng, and medical books noted that small doses were ineffective. My hometown's mountains have plenty of this plant, so I excavated it, processed it according to regulations, and used it in heavy doses, hoping for its tonifying effects. Unexpectedly, it misled me. After taking it, I suffered from headache and nausea. I initially thought it was accidental and not due to the medicine, but subsequent repeated uses yielded the same results. Thus, I realized that the claim that Ophiopogon Tuber can substitute for Ginseng is absolutely unreliable.