味咸，平。主癃（音隆），利水道，益肾气，通九窍，聪察。久食轻身不老，延年神仙
。一名玄芝。生常山。
唐本注云∶五芝，《经》云∶皆以五色生于五岳，诸方所献，白芝未必华山，黑芝又非
常
岳。且紫芝多黄、白，稀有黑、青者，然紫芝最多，非五芝类。但芝自难得，纵获一、二，
岂得终久服耶。
味酸，平。主明目，补肝气，安精魂，仁恕。久食轻身不老，延年神仙。一名龙芝。
生泰山。
英公云不忘，强志。
味辛，平。主咳逆上气，益肺气，通利口鼻，强志意，勇悍，安魄。久食轻身不老，
延年神仙。一名玉芝。生华山。
味甘，平。主心腹五邪，益脾气，安神，忠信和乐。久食轻身不老，延年神仙。一名
金芝。生蒿山。
味甘，温。主耳聋，利关节，保神，益精气，坚筋骨，好颜色，久服轻身不老，延年
。一名木芝。生高夏山谷。六芝皆无毒，六月、八月采。（薯蓣为之使，得发良，得麻子仁
、白瓜子、牡桂共益人，恶常山，畏 青、茵陈蒿。）
陶隐居云∶按郡县无高夏名，恐是山名尔。此六芝，皆仙草之类，俗所稀见，族种甚多，
形
色环异，并栽《芝草图》中。今俗所用紫芝，此是朽树木株上所生，状如木 （音软），名
为
紫芝。盖只疗痔，而不宜以合诸补丸药也。凡得芝草
，便正尔食之，无余节度，故皆不云服法也。臣禹锡等谨按尔雅云∶ ，芝。释曰∶瑞草
名
也，一岁三华，一名 ，一名芝，《论衡》云∶芝生于土，土气和。故芝草生《瑞命记》曰
∶王者仁慈，则芝草生是也。抱朴子云∶赤者如珊瑚，白者如截肪，黑者如泽漆，青者如翠
羽，
黄者如紫金，而皆光明洞彻，如坚冰也。又云木芝者，松柏脂沦地；千岁，化为茯苓；万岁
，其上生小木，状似莲花，名曰木威喜芝，夜视有光，持之甚滑，烧之不焦，带之辟兵。药
性论云∶紫芝，使，畏发。味甘，平，无毒。主能保神益寿。
【黑芝】
味道咸，性平。主治小便不通（癃闭），通利水道，补益肾气，疏通九窍，使耳聪目明。长期服用可身体轻盈、延缓衰老，延年益寿，如同神仙。又名玄芝。产于常山。
《唐本草》注解说：五芝，《经》云：“都因五种颜色分别生长于五岳。”各地所进献的白芝未必产自华山，黑芝也未必产自恒山。况且紫芝多呈黄、白色，少有黑色、青色者，然而紫芝数量最多，不属于五芝之列。只是灵芝本就难得，即使获得一两株，又怎能长期服用呢？
【紫芝】
味道酸，性平。主治明目，补益肝气，安定精魂，使人具备仁爱宽恕之德。长期服用可身体轻盈、延缓衰老，延年益寿，如同神仙。又名龙芝。产于泰山。
【青芝】
味道辛，性平。主治咳嗽气逆，补益肺气，通利口鼻，坚定意志，使人勇敢强悍，安定魂魄。长期服用可身体轻盈、延缓衰老，延年益寿，如同神仙。又名玉芝。产于华山。
【赤芝】
味道甘，性平。主治心腹部的各种邪气，补益脾气，安神，使人忠诚守信、和乐。长期服用可身体轻盈、延缓衰老，延年益寿，如同神仙。又名金芝。产于蒿山。
【黄芝】
味道甘，性温。主治耳聋，通利关节，保神，补益精气，坚固筋骨，使面色红润，长期服用可身体轻盈、延缓衰老，延年益寿。又名木芝。产于高夏山谷。
这六芝都没有毒性，六月、八月采集。（薯蓣作为其引经药，与头发同用效果良好，与麻子仁、白瓜子、牡桂同用对人更有益，厌恶常山，畏惧青黛、茵陈蒿。）
陶隐居（陶弘景）说：查考郡县名中没有“高夏”这一名称，恐怕是山名罢了。这六芝，都是仙草一类，世俗中很少见到，种类很多，形状颜色各不相同，都记载在《芝草图》中。现在世俗所用的紫芝，是生长在腐烂树木桩上的，形状像软木，称为紫芝。大概只能治疗痔疮，而不适宜用来配合其他补丸药。凡是得到芝草，就直接食用它，没有其他的服用法度，所以都不记载具体的服法。臣禹锡等人谨按《尔雅》说：“蕈，芝。”解释说：这是瑞草的名称，一年开三次花，一名蕈，一名芝。《论衡》说：芝生长在土中，是因为土气调和。所以芝草生长。《瑞命记》说：王者仁慈，则芝草生长。抱朴子说：红色的像珊瑚，白色的像截断的脂肪，黑色的像泽漆，青色的像翠鸟羽毛，黄色的像紫金，而且都光明透彻，像坚冰一样。又说木芝，是松柏脂渗入地下；千年，化为茯苓；万岁，其上生长小木，形状像莲花，名叫木威喜芝，夜间看有光，拿起来很滑，烧它不焦，佩戴它可以辟兵。《药性论》说：紫芝，使，畏发。味道甘，性平，无毒。主治能保神益寿。
[Hei Zhi (Black Ganoderma)]
Taste: Salty. Nature: Neutral. Indications: Treats strangury (difficulty in urination), promotes diuresis, tonifies Kidney Qi, unblocks the nine orifices, and improves hearing and vision. Long-term consumption lightens the body, prevents aging, and extends lifespan, resembling immortality. Another name: Xuan Zhi (Mysterious Ganoderma). Habitat: Changshan.
Note from *Bencao Tang* (Tang Dynasty Materia Medica): Regarding the Five Gans, the Classics state: "They grow in five colors corresponding to the Five Sacred Mountains." The white Ganoderma offered by various regions may not necessarily come from Mount Hua, nor does the black Ganoderma necessarily come from Mount Heng. Moreover, purple Ganoderma is often yellowish or whitish, with rare occurrences of black or green varieties; however, purple Ganoderma is the most abundant and does not belong to the category of the Five Gans. Since Ganoderma is inherently difficult to obtain, even if one or two specimens are acquired, how can they be consumed continuously for a long time?
[Zi Zhi (Purple Ganoderma)]
Taste: Sour. Nature: Neutral. Indications: Improves vision, tonifies Liver Qi, calms the Jing and Hun (Essence and Ethereal Soul), and fosters benevolence and forbearance. Long-term consumption lightens the body, prevents aging, and extends lifespan, resembling immortality. Another name: Long Zhi (Dragon Ganoderma). Habitat: Mount Tai.
Ying Gong (Li Ji) stated: It enhances memory and strengthens willpower.
[Qing Zhi (Green/Blue Ganoderma)]
Taste: Pungent. Nature: Neutral. Indications: Treats cough and rebellious Qi, tonifies Lung Qi, unblocks the mouth and nose, strengthens willpower, instills courage and boldness, and calms the Po (Corporeal Soul). Long-term consumption lightens the body, prevents aging, and extends lifespan, resembling immortality. Another name: Yu Zhi (Jade Ganoderma). Habitat: Mount Hua.
[Chi Zhi (Red Ganoderma)]
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Neutral. Indications: Treats various pathogenic factors affecting the heart and abdomen, tonifies Spleen Qi, calms the Spirit (Shen), and fosters loyalty, trustworthiness, harmony, and joy. Long-term consumption lightens the body, prevents aging, and extends lifespan, resembling immortality. Another name: Jin Zhi (Gold Ganoderma). Habitat: Haoshan.
[Huang Zhi (Yellow Ganoderma)]
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Warm. Indications: Treats deafness, benefits the joints, preserves the Spirit, tonifies Essence and Qi, strengthens sinews and bones, improves complexion, and long-term consumption lightens the body, prevents aging, and extends lifespan. Another name: Mu Zhi (Wood Ganoderma). Habitat: Gaoxia Valley.
All six types of Ganoderma are non-toxic. Harvested in June and August. (Dioscoreae Rhizoma [Shuyu] acts as its guiding herb; it works well with human hair; combined with Cannabis Fructus [Maziren], Benincasae Semen [Baiguazi], and Cinnamomi Ramulus [Mugui], it benefits humans more; it is incompatible with Dichroiae Radix [Changshan] and fears Indigo Naturalis [Qing] and Artemisiae Scopariae Herba [Yinchenhao].)
Tao Hongjing (Hermit Tao) stated: There is no place named "Gaoxia" in any commandery or county records; it is likely a mountain name. These six Gans are all types of immortal herbs, rarely seen in common practice, with many species differing in shape and color, all recorded in the *Illustrated Picture of Ganoderma*. Currently, the purple Ganoderma used in common practice grows on rotting tree stumps, resembling soft wood, and is called Zi Zhi (Purple Ganoderma). It is primarily used to treat hemorrhoids and is not suitable for incorporation into other tonic pills. Whenever Ganoderma is obtained, it should be eaten directly without specific dosage instructions; therefore, no administration methods are recorded. Minister Yuxi and others respectfully cited the *Erya*: "Xun, Zhi." The explanation states: It is a name for auspicious herbs, flowering three times a year. One name is Xun, another is Zhi. The *Lunheng* states: "Ganoderma grows in the earth because the Earth Qi is harmonious." Thus, Ganoderma grows. The *Ruiming Ji* states: "When a ruler is benevolent and kind, Ganoderma grows." Baopuzi stated: "The red ones resemble coral, the white ones resemble cut fat, the black ones resemble Phytolacca acinosa (Zeqi), the green ones resemble kingfisher feathers, and the yellow ones resemble purple gold; all are bright and transparent like solid ice." He further stated regarding Mu Zhi (Wood Ganoderma): "It is the resin of pine and cypress that seeps into the ground; after a thousand years, it transforms into Polyporus umbellatus (Fuling); after ten thousand years, small trees grow on top, resembling lotus flowers, named Muweixi Zhi. It glows at night, feels slippery to the touch, does not burn when ignited, and wearing it repels weapons." *Yaoxing Lun* states: "Zi Zhi (Purple Ganoderma), guiding herb, fears human hair. Taste: Sweet. Nature: Neutral. Non-toxic. Indications: Preserves the Spirit and extends longevity."