得季秋之气,兼金水之性,故味苦,辛,平、微寒,无毒。辛为金味,收为金
气,苦能泄热,辛能散结,故治败疽死肌。散结逐腐,生新之要药。既能敛毒,排脓生
肌长肉,又治打跌骨折,酒调白芨末二钱服之,其功不减于自然铜、古铢钱也。
白芨,惟熬膏敷,功专收敛,然收中有散,又能腓脓去溃疡败疽,死肌腐肉,敷山
根止衄,涂疥疮杀虫,古方有用以作丸,治肺叶伤破出血,亦能如溃疽长肉平满耳。
得金气,故味苦辛、甘、平,微寒,无毒。苦则泄,辛则散,甘则缓,寒则除热,
故主敷散痈肿疽疮火毒,散结止痛之要药也。若痈疽已溃,不宜服,以其性寒也。
白蔹反乌头散结气,止疼,治女子阴肿,乃系外科要药,敷背痈疔肿神丹。
味苦、辛、寒,无毒。辛能散,苦能泄,寒能除热。所以外治温疟寒热瘰 诸
疮,内治毒痢牙痛,鼻衄诸血,皆平散除热之功也。
白头翁,主温疟阳狂,寒热 瘕,积聚腹痛,逐血愈金疮,驱风暖腰膝,消瘰 瘿
瘤,小儿头秃膻腥,两鼻衄血神效。男子阴疝偏肿,百节骨痛殊功,赤毒痢必用,牙齿
疼亦除,涂疔肿痈症,围毒瓦斯散漫。
味辛,性平,有大毒。入脾行水,有排山倒岳之势。胃弱者禁之,赤者捣烂入麝,
贴脐即能利小便消肿,若脾虚误用,消后复作不可救矣。
商陆,其性下行,通大小肠肿满,便不利者殊功, 癖如石者亦效。白根可用,赤
者杀人,白专利水,赤惟贴肿,并臻奇功。
(白及)禀受深秋之气,兼具金、水二行的性质,所以味道苦、辛,性平、微寒,无毒。辛属于金的味,收敛属于金的气,苦能泄热,辛能散结,因此治疗败疽和死肌。它是消散结节、驱逐腐肉、促进新肉生长的关键药物。它既能收敛毒邪,又能排脓生肌长肉,又用于治疗跌打骨折,用酒调服白及末二钱,其功效不亚于自然铜和古铢钱。
白及,只有熬成膏剂外敷时,功效专门在于收敛,但在收敛中带有发散之意,又能排脓去除溃疡处的败疽、死肌和腐肉;敷在鼻根部可止鼻衄,涂抹治疗疥疮并杀虫。古方中有用它制成丸药,治疗肺叶损伤破裂出血,也能像治疗溃烂疽疮一样促进肌肉生长并使创面平整。
(白蔹)禀受金气,所以味道苦、辛、甘,性平,微寒,无毒。苦则泄,辛则散,甘则缓,寒则除热,因此是主治敷散痈肿、疽疮火毒,消散结节止痛的关键药物。如果痈疽已经溃破,不宜内服,因为其性寒。白蔹与乌头相反,能消散结气,止痛,治疗女子阴部肿胀,这是外科的关键药物,也是敷治背痈疔肿的神丹妙药。
(白头翁)味道苦、辛,性寒,无毒。辛能散,苦能泄,寒能除热。所以外用治疗温疟引起的寒热往来、瘰疬等各种疮疡,内服治疗毒痢、牙痛、鼻衄及各种出血,都是凭借平散除热的功效。白头翁主治温疟导致的阳狂、寒热往来、瘕聚、积聚腹痛,逐瘀血治愈金疮,驱风温暖腰膝,消除瘰疬和瘿瘤,对小儿头部秃顶且有膻腥味、双侧鼻孔出血有神奇疗效。男子阴疝偏侧肿胀,全身关节骨痛也有特殊功效,赤色毒痢必用此药,牙齿疼痛也能消除,涂抹治疗疔肿痈症,可围堵消散毒瓦斯漫延。
(商陆)味道辛,性平,有大毒。入脾经行水,气势如排山倒岳。胃弱者禁用,红色的捣烂后加入麝香,贴在脐上就能通利小便消肿,如果脾虚误用,水肿消退后复发则不可救治。商陆,其性下行,对大小肠肿满、大便不通者有特殊功效,治疗癖积坚硬如石者也有效。白色的根可以使用,红色的会杀人,白色专于利水,红色只能外贴消肿,都能达到奇效。
(Baiji, Rhizoma Bletillae) It inherits the qi of late autumn and possesses the natures of Metal and Water; therefore, its taste is bitter and acrid, its nature is neutral and slightly cold, and it is non-toxic. Acrid corresponds to the flavor of Metal, and astringency corresponds to the qi of Metal. Bitterness can drain heat, and acridity can dissipate nodules; thus, it treats necrotic ulcers (Baiju) and dead flesh. It is a key herb for dissipating nodules, expelling putrefaction, and generating new tissue. It can both astringe toxins and discharge pus while promoting muscle growth, and it also treats traumatic fractures. Administered with wine, two qian of Baiji powder, its efficacy is comparable to that of Ziran Tong (Natural Copper) and Gu Zhu Qian (Ancient Cash Coins).
When Baiji is boiled into a paste for external application, its function is specifically astringent. However, within this astringency lies a dispersing quality; it can discharge pus and remove necrotic ulcers, dead flesh, and putrefied tissue from ulcers. Applied to the nasal root, it stops epistaxis; applied topically, it treats scabies and kills parasites. In ancient prescriptions, it was used in pill form to treat ruptured lung lobes with bleeding, functioning similarly to promote granulation and flatten wounds as seen in treating ulcerative sores.
(Bailian, Radix Ampelopsis) It inherits the qi of Metal; therefore, its taste is bitter, acrid, and sweet, its nature is neutral and slightly cold, and it is non-toxic. Bitter drains, acrid disperses, sweet moderates, and cold eliminates heat. Thus, it is a key herb for externally applying to dissipate carbuncles, swellings, sores, and fire toxins, and for dissipating nodules and relieving pain. If a carbuncle or ulcer has already ulcerated, it should not be taken internally due to its cold nature. Bailian is incompatible with Wutou (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata); it dissipates stagnant qi, relieves pain, and treats vulvar swelling in women. It is an essential herb for surgery and a miraculous elixir for treating back carbuncles and ding sores.
(Baitouweng, Radix Pulsatillae) Its taste is bitter and acrid, its nature is cold, and it is non-toxic. Acridity disperses, bitterness drains, and cold eliminates heat. Therefore, externally it treats warm malaria with alternating chills and fever, scrofula (Luoli), and various sores; internally it treats toxic dysentery, toothache, epistaxis, and various types of bleeding, all through its ability to pacify, disperse, and eliminate heat. Baitouweng primarily treats warm malaria causing manic delirium, alternating chills and fever, abdominal masses (Jia), accumulations, and abdominal pain. It drives out blood stasis, heals metallic wounds, dispels wind, warms the waist and knees, eliminates scrofula and goiters, and is miraculously effective for pediatric alopecia with a rancid odor and bilateral epistaxis. For men with hernias and unilateral scrotal swelling, and for severe bone pain in all joints, it shows special merit. It is mandatory for red toxic dysentery, alleviates toothache, and when applied topically to ding sores and carbuncles, it contains and dissipates spreading toxic vapors.
(Shanglu, Radix Mercurialis) Its taste is acrid, its nature is neutral, and it is highly toxic. It enters the Spleen channel to move water, possessing momentum like overturning mountains and rivers. It is contraindicated in those with weak Stomach Qi. The red variety, when pounded and mixed with Moschus, applied to the umbilicus, can promote urination and reduce swelling. If mistakenly used in cases of Spleen deficiency, the edema may subside but recur irreversibly. Shanglu has a descending nature and is particularly effective for fullness and swelling in the Large and Small Intestines and difficulty in defecation. It is also effective for hard, stone-like accumulations. The white root is usable; the red root is fatal. The white variety specializes in promoting diuresis, while the red variety is only used externally to reduce swelling; both achieve remarkable results.