《神农本草经》木香考

Textual research on Costus root （Aucklandia lappa Decne ） in the Sheng nong ben cao ring （Shennong＇ s Classic of Materia Medica）

中药木香最早记载于《神农本草经》。通过考察多种本草文献，发现《神农本草经》中的木香可能不是现代菊科木香类植物，而是沉香，因为从形态、气味、功效等方面综合判断，沉香与《本神农草经》中的木香相吻合。《神农本草经》中只有“木香”，而无“沉香”，陶弘景将“木香”与“沉香”一并记载于《名医别录》中，为后人的误识埋下了伏笔。自《唐本草》始认为“木香”主要为菊科的木香类草本植物，这种认识一直影响至今。马兜铃科藤本青木香在《唐本草》和《本草图经》等本草著作的“木香”条中均有记载，但不做“木香”药用的主流。

Aucklandia lappa Decne was first recorded in the Sheng nong ben cao fing （ Shennong ＇ s Classic of Materia Medica）. Through the textual research of herbal literature, it was found that the costus root in the Sheng nong ben cao ring perhaps was not the plant of Aucklandia lappa Decne of Compositae, but the eaglewood or Lignum Aquilasria Resinatum based on the comprehensive judgment of shape, taste, na- ture, and function etc. In the Sheng nong ben cao ring, it only includes costus root without the title of eaglewood, and Tao Hongjing recorded both herbs together in his Ming yi bie lu （Supplementary Records of Celebrated Physicians ）, which became a foreshadow of misunderstanding of the later generations. Beginning from the Tang ben cao （Materia Medica of the Tang Dynasty）, the costus root was considered as the plant of Auckiandia lappa Decne from the Compostae with its profound influence until now.