榔梅
酸平无毒。
《本经》主下气，除热烦满，安心。止肢体痛偏枯不仁。死肌，青黑痣、蚀恶肉。
发明 梅花开于冬，而实熟于夏，得木之全气，故其味最酸。人舌下有四窍，两窍通胆
液，故食则津生，类相感应也。所主之病，皆取酸收之义。梅之种类最多，惟榔梅最胜。相
传是真武折梅枝插榔树株而誓曰，吾道若成，花开果实。其种从均州太和山来，榔即榆树中
之一种，其梅如杏而松脆异常，故近世谓之消梅。食之开胃生津，清神安睡，乃榔之本性也
。《本经》下气除热烦满安心，止肢体痛，皆指陈藏者而言。若青梅则凝涩滞气，决非偏枯
不仁者所宜。凡谷食菜果皆尔，不独青梅为然。乌梅酸收益津开胃，同建茶、干姜治休息痢
，能敛肺涩肠，止呕敛汗，定喘安蛔。仲景治蛔厥乌梅丸用之，虫得酸即止，用丸不用汤者
，欲留有形之物入于虫口也。今治血痢必用之，中风惊痰喉痹肿痛，痰厥僵仆，牙关紧闭者
，取乌梅擦牙龈即开。血痢不止，以乌梅烧存性，米汤服之渐止。恶疮 肉亦烧灰研敷，恶
肉自消，此即《本经》去死肌恶肉之验。又《丹方》治女人脚上鸡眼，乌梅肉饭上蒸烂，和
米醋研如糊，涂上一宿即去。白梅咸酸，主中风牙关紧闭，擦牙根涎出即开。去 肉方多用
之，竹木针刺在肉中者，嚼敷即出。梅核仁明日益气，除烦热，能治妇人子脏中风气积滞，
《千金》承泽丸用之。梅叶煮汁治休息痢及干霍乱效。以之渍水洗葛则不脆。洗夏衣生霉点
即去有验。
榔梅
味道酸，性平，无毒。
《神农本草经》记载其主治下气，消除烦热胀满，安定心神。治疗肢体疼痛、半身不遂及麻木不仁。腐蚀死肌，去除青黑色痣以及恶肉。
发明：梅花在冬季开放，果实夏季成熟，禀受了木行的完整之气，所以它的味道最酸。人的舌下有四个窍孔，其中两个窍孔与胆液相通，所以食用时唾液自然产生，这是同类相互感应的道理。其所主治的疾病，都是取用酸味收敛的作用。梅的种类很多，只有榔梅最为优良。相传是真武大帝折断梅枝插在榔树桩上并发誓说：“如果我的道业能成功，这梅树就会开花结果。”这种梅种来自均州太和山。榔即榆树中的一种，这种梅子像杏子但异常松脆，所以近代人称之为“消梅”。食用它能开胃生津，清神安睡，这是榔梅的本性。《本经》中提到的下气、除热、除烦满、安心、止肢体痛，都是指陈年干梅而言。如果是青梅，则会凝涩滞气，绝对不是半身不遂或麻木不仁者所适宜的。凡是谷物、蔬菜、水果都是这样，不只是青梅如此。乌梅酸收，能生津开胃，配合建茶、干姜治疗休息痢（久治不愈的痢疾），能收敛肺气、涩肠止泻，止呕敛汗，定喘安蛔。张仲景治疗蛔厥证所用的乌梅丸中使用了它，虫子遇到酸味就会停止活动，使用丸剂而不用汤剂，是想让有形之物留在虫口中。现在治疗血痢必定要用它，中风引起的惊痰、喉痹肿痛，痰厥导致僵仆倒地、牙关紧闭的患者，取乌梅擦拭牙龈即可使牙关张开。血痢不止，将乌梅烧至存性，用米汤送服，逐渐停止。恶疮腐肉也将其烧成灰研末外敷，恶肉自然消除，这就是《本经》中去死肌、去恶肉的验证。另外，《丹方》治疗女性脚上的鸡眼，将乌梅肉放在饭上蒸烂，和米醋研磨成糊状，涂上一夜即可去除。白梅咸酸，主治中风牙关紧闭，擦牙根使涎水流出即可张开。去息肉的方剂中多用它，竹木针刺入肉中的，嚼碎后敷贴即可排出。梅核仁明目益气，除烦热，能治疗妇人子宫内的风气积滞，《千金方》中的承泽丸使用了它。梅叶煮汁治疗休息痢及干霍乱有效。用它浸泡的水洗葛布则不会变脆。用它清洗夏天衣服上产生的霉点，有验证的效果。
Langmei (Prunus mume var. langmei)
Sour in taste, neutral in nature, non-toxic.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) states it governs descending Qi, eliminates heat, vexation, and fullness, calms the mind, stops limb pain, hemiplegia, and numbness. It cauterizes dead flesh, removes blue-black moles, and erodes foul flesh.
Invention: Plum blossoms open in winter, while the fruit ripens in summer, inheriting the complete Qi of Wood; thus, its taste is most sour. There are four orifices under the human tongue, two of which connect to gallbladder fluid; therefore, saliva is produced upon consumption, demonstrating the principle of resonance between similar entities. The diseases it treats all utilize the astringent property of sourness. There are many varieties of plum, but Langmei is the finest. Legend has it that Zhenwu Emperor broke a plum branch and inserted it into a logwood stump, swearing, "If my Dao succeeds, this tree will bloom and bear fruit." This variety originated from Taihe Mountain in Junzhou. Logwood refers to a type of elm tree; this plum resembles an apricot but is exceptionally crisp, hence known in recent times as "Xiaomei" (Melting Plum). Consuming it opens the stomach, generates fluids, clears the spirit, and promotes sleep, which is the inherent nature of Langmei. The effects mentioned in the *Bencao Jing*—descending Qi, eliminating heat, relieving vexation and fullness, calming the mind, and stopping limb pain—refer specifically to aged dried plums. Fresh green plums, however, cause stagnation and obstruction of Qi, making them unsuitable for patients with hemiplegia or numbness. This applies to grains, vegetables, and fruits in general, not just fresh plums. Wumei (Smoked Plum) is sour and astringent, generating fluids and opening the appetite. Combined with Jiancha (Jian Tea) and Ganjiang (Dried Ginger), it treats chronic dysentery (Xiuxi Li). It can astringe the Lung, bind the intestines, stop vomiting, arrest sweating, calm asthma, and pacify roundworms. Zhang Zhongjing used it in Wumei Wan (Mume Pill) to treat ascariasis convulsion (Hui Jue); insects cease movement upon encountering sourness. The use of pills rather than decoctions aims to retain solid matter within the insect's mouth. Currently, it is essential for treating bloody dysentery. For stroke-induced phlegm-convulsion, throat bi-swelling, phlegm syncope with rigid collapse, and locked jaw, rubbing Wumei on the gums can unlock the jaw. For unremitting bloody dysentery, burning Wumei until carbonized yet retaining its nature (Cunxing) and administering it with rice water gradually stops the bleeding. For foul ulcers and necrotic tissue, burning it to ash and applying it topically causes the foul flesh to dissolve naturally, verifying the efficacy of removing dead flesh and foul tissue described in the *Bencao Jing*. Additionally, *Danfang* prescribes steaming Wumei pulp over rice until soft, mixing it with rice vinegar into a paste, and applying it overnight to remove corns on women's feet. Baimei (White Plum) is salty and sour, treating locked jaw due to wind-stroke; rubbing it on the teeth induces salivation, unlocking the jaw. It is frequently used in formulas to remove polyps; for bamboo or wood splinters embedded in flesh, chewing and applying it facilitates their expulsion. Meihexing (Plum Kernel) brightens the eyes, benefits Qi, eliminates vexation and heat, and treats uterine wind-stagnation accumulation in women. It is used in Chengze Wan (Chengze Pill) from *Qianjin Fang*. Boiled juice of Meiye (Plum Leaf) effectively treats chronic dysentery and dry huoluan (acute abdominal crisis). Soaking Ge cloth (Pueraria root fiber) in this water prevents it from becoming brittle. Washing summer garments stained with mold using this water effectively removes the spots.