Herb
Polygala Root
远志yuan zhi
1 sourceRadix Polygalae
Quiets the heart-spirit and calms palpitations, strengthens the will and aids memory, and transforms phlegm to open the orifices.
Source
Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)卷十二·草部·山草类·远志·主治（《本经》）
References
- functions_en self-translated from 本草纲目 traditional_functions (public domain; the Chinese tf carries verbatim excerpt_hash citations). No modern work consulted.
- WHO IST-TCM terminology-aligned for the English rendering.
- public pharmacopoeia & botanical facts (public-domain reference facts; no proprietary modern source).
Traditional functions
Classical source text (Chinese) — English summary above.
传统中医记载：《本经》载远志主咳逆伤中、补不足、除邪气、利九窍、益智慧、耳目聪明、不忘、强志倍力，久服轻身不老；《别录》定心气、止惊悸、益精；甄权谓治健忘、安魂魄、令人不迷；李时珍谓强志益精、治善忘。
Nature, flavor & meridians
Nature & flavor: 苦，温，无毒（《本经》）。·Meridians: 肾（足少阴）
Citations
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十二·草部·山草类·远志（条目标题·《本经》上品）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its classification.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十二·草部·山草类·远志·释名（苗名小草等）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its alternate names.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十二·草部·山草类·远志·气味（《本经》）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its nature & flavor.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十二·草部·山草类·远志·发明（时珍：远志入足少阴肾经）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its meridian tropism.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十二·草部·山草类·远志·主治（《本经》）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十二·草部·山草类·远志·主治（甄权）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十二·草部·山草类·远志·气味（之才·得良畏恶/杀毒）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.