枸杞子 구기자 (구기자)

Original, read line by line 東醫寶鑑 · Tangaek — Decoctions vol. 3

1. 性寒一云平, 味苦一云甘, 無毒.

   Its nature is cold (some say neutral), its taste bitter (some say sweet), and it is non-toxic.

2. 補內傷大勞噓吸, 堅筋骨, 强陰,

   It replenishes internal injury from severe fatigue and labored breathing, strengthens the sinews and bones, and invigorates yin vitality.

3. 療五勞七傷, 補益精氣,

   It treats the five exhaustions and seven injuries, and replenishes essence and qi.

4. 易顔色變白, 明目安神, 令人長壽.

   It improves complexion and turns white hair back, brightens the eyes, calms the spirit, and prolongs life.

5. 一名地仙, 一名仙人杖, 處處有之.

   It is also called dixian (earth-immortal) and xianrenzhang (immortal's staff), and grows everywhere.

6. 春夏採葉, 秋採莖實.

   In spring and summer the leaves are gathered, and in autumn the stems and fruits are harvested.

7. 久服之, 皆輕身益氣.

   Long-term use lightens the body and boosts qi.

8. 嫩葉作羹茹食之, 甚佳.

   Young leaves cooked as soup or eaten as greens are excellent.

9. 色白無刺者良.

   Those that are pale in color and without thorns are of good quality.

10. 莖名枸杞, 根名地骨.

    The stem is called gouqi, and the root is called digu.

11. 枸杞當用梗皮, 地骨當用根皮, 枸杞子當用其紅實,

    For gouqi use the stem bark, for digu use the root bark, and for gouqizi use the red fruit.

12. 是一物有三用.

    Thus a single plant yields three medicinal parts.

13. 其梗皮寒, 根皮大寒, 子微寒, 性亦三等.

    The stem bark is cold, the root bark is very cold, and the fruit is slightly cold, so its nature also falls into three grades.

14. 陜西枸杞子如櫻桃, 全少核, 極有味. 《本草》

    Goji berries from Shaanxi are the size of cherries, with almost no seeds and excellent flavor. From the Bencao.

15. 地骨皮

    Digupi, the bark of the goji root.

16. 入足少陰經ㆍ手少陽經.

    It enters the foot-shaoyin kidney channel and the hand-shaoyang triple-burner channel.

17. 治有汗骨蒸, 善解肌熱. 《湯液》

    It treats steaming-bone fever accompanied by sweating and effectively dispels muscle heat. From the Tangye.