金灯花根也。九月开花,朱色,与叶不相见,故又名无义草
甘微辛,小毒。
发明 山慈菇攻坚解毒,治痈肿疮 ,瘰 结核等证。紫金锭用之,亦是解诸毒耳。《
丹方》治面上瘢痕用山慈菇末,和轻粉、硼砂末各少许,先用碱水笔涂患处,次掺上药,太
乙膏盖,日易一次,俟疙瘩消尽后,以鹰屎白、密陀僧末,蜜水调护,数日勿见风,日效。
惟眼胞上者不可治,以其眨动不辙也。
一名地筋
甘寒,无毒。与百脉根相类,百脉根出巴西,他处罕得。
《本经》主劳伤虚羸,补中益气,除瘀血血闭寒热,利小便。
发明 甘寒能降除伏热,利小便,止渴。治伤寒呃逆、喘哕,吐衄,便溺诸血。治黄瘅
,水肿,胃反上气,五淋疼热,及痘疮干紫不起,但呕吐衄亦有因于寒者,即非所宜。《本
经》主治劳伤虚羸者,以甘寒能滋虚热,而无伤犯胃气之虞也。补中益气,胃热去而中气复
,是指客邪入伤中州,渐成虚羸而言,非劳伤本病所宜。昔人考本草功用,言白茅根与百脉
根相类。今肃州不行岁贡,百脉根无从可得,而止渴去热之用白茅根裕如也。其茅花甘温,
色白轻虚,力能上升入肺散热止衄,屋上败茅,研敷斑疮湿烂,取其收湿之力也。
苦涩大寒,小毒。去芦或酒炒或甘草汤浸一宿用。凡用勿空腹服,令人小便不
禁。
《本经》主骨间寒热,惊痫邪气,续绝伤,定五脏,杀蛊毒。
发明 草龙胆苦寒沉降,主肝经邪热,下焦湿热,酒瘅黄肿,目病赤肿,瘀肉,小儿肝
气,去肠中小虫。盖肝胆湿热,取苦寒以泻之。时珍曰∶相火寄在肝胆,有泻无补。故泻肝
胆之热,正益肝胆之气。但大苦大寒,过伤胃中生发之气,反助火邪,亦如久服黄连反从火
化之义。《本经》主骨间寒热,是指热伤肾水而言,热极生风则发惊搐,重则变为痫病,湿
热邪气之在中下二焦者,非此不除,以其专伐肝胆之邪也。肝胆之邪去,而五脏安和,经脉
之绝伤续矣。杀蛊毒者,去湿热之患也。凡胃气虚人服之必呕,脾虚人服之必泻。虽有湿热
,慎勿轻用。
金灯花的根。九月开花,花色朱红,花朵与叶子不同时出现,所以又被称为无义草。
味甘、微辛,有小毒。
发明:山慈菇具有攻坚解毒的功效,治疗痈肿疮疡、瘰疬结核等证候。紫金锭中使用它,也是起到解除各种毒素的作用。《丹方》记载治疗面部瘢痕,用山慈菇粉末,配合少许轻粉、硼砂粉末,先用碱水笔涂抹患处,然后撒上药物,以太乙膏覆盖,每天更换一次,等到疙瘩完全消退后,用鹰屎白、密陀僧粉末,以蜜水调和护理,数日内不要见风,每日见效。只有长在眼睑上的瘢痕不可治疗,因为眼睑眨动不停,无法固定药效。
又名地筋。
味甘、性寒,无毒。与百脉根相似,百脉根产自巴西,其他地方很少见到。
《神农本草经》主治劳伤导致的身体虚弱消瘦,补益中气,消除瘀血、血闭以及寒热症状,通利小便。
发明:甘寒之性能降伏清除体内的伏热,通利小便,止渴。治疗伤寒引起的呃逆、气喘干呕,吐血衄血,大小便出血。治疗黄疸、水肿、胃反上气(呕吐)、五淋疼痛灼热,以及痘疮干枯紫暗不起发。但是,如果呕吐衄血是由于寒邪引起,就不适宜使用。《神农本草经》主治劳伤虚羸,是因为甘寒能滋养因虚而产生的内热,而没有损伤胃气的顾虑。所谓“补中益气”,是指外感客邪侵入中焦脾胃,逐渐导致身体虚弱消瘦的情况而言,并非针对劳伤这一根本病因的适宜治法。过去有人考证本草功用,说白茅根与百脉根相似。如今肃州不再进贡岁贡药材,百脉根无从获得,而白茅根在止渴去热方面的作用绰绰有余。其茅花味甘性温,色白质轻虚浮,力量能上升入肺,散热止血;屋顶腐烂的茅草,研碎敷于斑疮湿烂处,是取其吸收湿气的力量。
味苦、涩,性大寒,有小毒。去除芦头,或者酒炒,或者用甘草汤浸泡一夜使用。凡是服用时不要在空腹时吃,否则会导致小便失禁。
《神农本草经》主治骨骼间的寒热,惊痫邪气,接续断裂的筋骨,安定五脏,杀灭蛊毒。
发明:草龙胆苦寒沉降,主要清泻肝经的邪热和下焦的湿热,治疗酒疸黄肿、眼睛红肿病变、瘀肉增生、小儿肝气病,去除肠道中的小虫。肝胆湿热,需用苦寒之品来泻除。李时珍说:相火寄居于肝胆,只宜泻不宜补。所以泻除肝胆的热邪,正是有益肝胆之气。但是大苦大寒之药,会过度损伤胃中生发之气,反而助长火邪,这也如同长期服用黄连反而从火化的道理一样。《神农本草经》主治骨间寒热,是指热邪损伤肾水而言,热极生风则引发惊厥抽搐,重者变为痫病,湿热邪气存在于中下二焦的,非此药不能清除,因为它专门攻伐肝胆的邪气。肝胆的邪气去除,五脏就能安和,经脉的断裂损伤得以接续。杀灭蛊毒,是去除湿热带来的祸患。凡是胃气虚弱的人服用必定呕吐,脾虚的人服用必定腹泻。即使有湿热证,也务必谨慎,不要轻易使用。
The root of *Jin Deng Hua* (Golden Lantern Flower). It blooms in the ninth lunar month with crimson flowers; since the flowers and leaves do not appear simultaneously, it is also known as *Wu Yi Cao* (Meaningless Grass).
Sweet, slightly pungent, slightly toxic.
Invention: *Shan Ci Gu* (Cremastra appendiculata) has the effect of breaking up hardness and resolving toxicity, treating conditions such as carbuncles, sores, scrofula (Lymphatic Tuberculosis), and tubercles. It is used in *Zi Jin Ding* (Purple Gold Pill) to resolve various toxins. The *Dan Fang* (Prescriptions for Alchemists) records its use for facial scars: mix *Shan Ci Gu* powder with a small amount of *Qing Fen* (Calomel) and *Peng Sha* (Borax) powder. First, apply alkaline water to the affected area with a brush, then sprinkle the medicine on top, cover with *Tai Yi Gao* (Great One Plaster), and change once daily. After the nodules have completely disappeared, protect the area with a mixture of *Ying Shi Bai* (White Eagle Droppings) and *Mi Tuo Seng* (Litharge) powder blended with honey water. Avoid wind exposure for several days; efficacy will be seen daily. However, scars located on the eyelids cannot be treated because the constant blinking prevents the medication from staying in place.
Also known as *Di Jin*.
Sweet, cold, non-toxic. It resembles *Bai Mai Gen* (Medicago sativa root); *Bai Mai Gen* originates from Brazil and is rarely obtained elsewhere.
The *Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) states it treats weakness and emaciation due to overstrain, tonifies the middle and boosts Qi, removes blood stasis and blood obstruction with cold-heat symptoms, and promotes urination.
Invention: Its sweet and cold nature can subdue and eliminate latent heat, promote urination, and relieve thirst. It treats hiccups, wheezing, and dry retching caused by Shang Han (Cold Damage Syndrome), hematemesis, epistaxis, and bleeding from urine or feces. It treats jaundice, edema, stomach reflux with upward qi rebellion, painful and hot dysuria (Five Lin Syndromes), and dry, purple, non-elevating chickenpox lesions. However, if vomiting or epistaxis is caused by cold, it is contraindicated. The *Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing*'s indication for "weakness due to overstrain" exists because its sweet and cold nature nourishes deficiency-heat without endangering Stomach Qi. The phrase "tonifies the middle and boosts Qi" refers to cases where external pathogenic factors invade the Middle Jiao, gradually leading to emaciation; it is not suitable for the primary disease of physical overstrain. Ancients noted that *Bai Mao Gen* resembles *Bai Mai Gen*. Currently, *Suzhou* no longer offers it as annual tribute, making *Bai Mai Gen* unavailable, yet *Bai Mao Gen* is fully sufficient for relieving thirst and clearing heat. Its flower (*Mao Hua*) is sweet and warm, white in color and light/void in texture; its force ascends into the Lung to dissipate heat and stop bleeding. Crushed old thatch from roofs applied to wet, rotting herpes lesions utilizes its ability to absorb dampness.
Bitter, astringent, very cold, slightly toxic. Remove the rhizome node, or stir-fry with wine, or soak in Licorice Decoction overnight. Do not take on an empty stomach, as it may cause urinary incontinence.
The *Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing* states it treats cold-heat sensations between bones, evil qi causing fright and epilepsy, reconnects severed injuries, stabilizes the Five Viscera, and kills gu poison.
Invention: *Cao Long Dan* (Gentiana Scabra) is bitter and cold, sinking and descending; it primarily clears evil heat from the Liver Meridian and damp-heat from the Lower Jiao, treating alcohol-induced jaundice with swelling, red and swollen eye diseases, hyperplastic flesh, pediatric Liver Qi disorders, and expelling intestinal parasites. For damp-heat in the Liver and Gallbladder, bitter-cold herbs are taken to drain it. Li Shizhen said: Ministerial Fire resides in the Liver and Gallbladder, requiring draining rather than tonifying. Thus, draining the heat of the Liver and Gallbladder truly benefits their Qi. However, overly bitter and cold substances excessively damage the generating Qi of the Stomach, potentially aiding fire pathogens, similar to the principle that long-term use of Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome) may transform into fire. The *Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing*'s mention of "cold-heat between bones" refers to heat damaging Kidney Water; extreme heat generates wind, causing convulsions, which may severe become epilepsy. Damp-heat evil qi in the Middle and Lower Jiao cannot be removed without this herb, as it specifically attacks Liver-Gallbladder pathogens. Once these pathogens are removed, the Five Viscera harmonize, and severed meridians are restored. Killing gu poison means eliminating the harm of damp-heat. Individuals with deficient Stomach Qi will vomit after taking it; those with Spleen deficiency will experience diarrhea. Even if damp-heat is present, caution is advised, and it should not be used lightly.