苦微甘,小毒。肥白者良。抽去心用则不烦闷。
《本经》主咳嗽上气,火炙酒渍饮之。
发明 百部为杀虫要药。故肺热劳瘵喘嗽,有寸白虫宜之。蛲虫痢及传尸骨蒸多用之。
时珍云,天、麦门冬之类皆主肺痰。但百部气温,肺胃寒者宜之。二冬性寒,肺胃热者宜之
。脾胃虚人勿用,以其味苦伤胃也。又浓煎洗牛马虱、树木虫蛀,用填孔中,更削杉木塞之
,其虫即死,杀虫之功于此可知。
一名夜交藤
苦涩微温,无毒。其形圆大者佳。须赤白并用。制法以竹刀刮去
皮,拌黑豆九蒸九晒,候用。禁犯铁器,忌莱菔诸血,勿与天雄、乌附、姜、辛、仙茅等同
用,为其性敛味涩也。
发明 何首乌,足厥阴、少阴药也。性禀阴中之阳。产南方者最胜,北地所生,虽极大
者,殊不足珍,以地偏属阴而无阳生之力也。白者属气分,赤者属血分。肾主闭藏,肝主疏
泄,以此气温味苦涩,苦走肾,温补肝,能收敛精气,所以养血益肝,固精益肾,健筋骨,
乌须发,为滋补良药。不寒不燥功在地黄、天门冬诸药之上。气血大和,则风虚斑肿、瘰
之疾可愈。生则性兼发散,主寒热 疟,及痈疽背疮皆用之。今人治津血枯燥及大肠风秘,
用鲜者数钱煎服即通,以其滋水之性最速,不及封藏即随之而下泄也。与苁蓉之润燥通大便
无异,而无助火之虞。肠风脏毒,用干者为末米饮,日服二三钱有效,盖其内温肝肾,外祛
少阴风热之验也。《丹方》治久疟,用生姜、何首乌一两,柴胡三钱,黑豆随年数加减,煎
成露一宿,清晨热服,若夜疟尤效,乃散中寓收,补中寓散之法。
【百部】
味苦微甘,有小毒。以肥大洁白者为佳。抽去中心部分使用则不会引起烦闷。
《神农本草经》记载其主治咳嗽气逆,用火炙后浸酒饮用。
发明:百部是杀虫的要药。因此对于肺热劳瘵引起的喘咳,伴有寸白虫(绦虫)者适宜使用。蛲虫痢疾及传尸骨蒸(肺结核等慢性消耗性疾病)也多用此药。
李时珍说,天冬、麦冬之类都主治肺痰。但百部气温,肺胃虚寒者适宜使用。二冬(天冬、麦冬)性寒,肺胃有热者适宜使用。脾胃虚弱的人不要使用,因为它的苦味会损伤胃气。另外,浓煎后清洗牛马身上的虱子、树木被虫蛀的情况,将药液填入孔中,再削杉木塞住,虫子就会死亡,由此可知其杀虫的功效。
【何首乌】
又名夜交藤。味苦涩,微温,无毒。以形状圆大者为佳。必须赤皮和白肉并用。炮制方法是用竹刀刮去外皮,拌入黑豆九次蒸、九次晒,备用。禁止接触铁器,忌食莱菔(萝卜)及各种血类食物,不要与天雄、乌头、附子、干姜、细辛、仙茅等同用,因为其性质收敛、味道涩滞。
发明:何首乌是足厥阴肝经和足少阴肾经的药物。禀赋阴中之阳的特性。产于南方的品质最佳,北方所产的,虽然个头极大,却很不珍贵,因为地处偏阴而缺乏阳气生发的力量。白色部分属气分,红色部分属血分。肾主闭藏,肝主疏泄。何首乌气温味苦涩,苦味入肾,温性补肝,能够收敛精气,所以能养血益肝,固精益肾,强健筋骨,使须发变黑,是滋补的良药。其功效不寒不燥,优于地黄、天门冬等药物。气血调和,则风虚斑肿、瘰疬(颈部淋巴结结核)等疾病可以痊愈。生何首乌兼具发散之性,主治寒热疟疾,以及痈疽背疮都使用它。现在人治疗津血枯燥及大肠风秘(因风邪导致的大肠便秘),用鲜品数钱煎服即可通便,因为它滋水的速度最快,如果不及时封藏,津液就会随之流失。这与肉苁蓉润燥通大便的作用无异,但没有助火的担忧。肠风脏毒(便血),用干品研末,米汤送服,每日二三钱有效,这是它能内温肝肾、外祛少阴风热的验证。《丹方》治疗久疟,用生姜、何首乌一两,柴胡三钱,黑豆根据年龄数量加减,煎成后露天放置一夜,清晨热服,如果是夜间发作的疟疾尤其有效,这是散中有收、补中有散的方法。
[Bai Bu (Stemona Root)]
Bitter, slightly sweet, slightly toxic. Those that are plump, white, and large are superior. Removing the core prevents irritability.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it treats cough with rebellious Qi; it should be roasted over fire, soaked in wine, and drunk.
Invention: Bai Bu is a crucial herb for killing parasites. Therefore, it is suitable for lung heat consumption disease (Lao Zhai) with wheezing and coughing accompanied by Taenia solium (pork tapeworm). It is also frequently used for Enterobius vermicularis dysentery and Chuan Shi Gu Zheng (consumption disease resembling tuberculosis).
Li Shizhen said that Tian Dong (Asparagi Radix) and Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix) all treat lung phlegm. However, Bai Bu has warm properties, making it suitable for those with Lung and Stomach cold. The two Dong herbs have cold properties, making them suitable for those with Lung and Stomach heat. People with Spleen and Stomach deficiency should not use it, as its bitter taste damages Stomach Qi. Furthermore, when decocted strongly to wash lice on cattle and horses or insects boring into trees, filling the holes with the liquid and plugging them with cut cedar wood kills the insects, demonstrating its efficacy in killing parasites.
[He Shou Wu (Polygoni Multiflori Radix)]
Also known as Ye Jiao Teng (Caulis Polygoni Multiflori). Bitter, astringent, slightly warm, non-toxic. Those that are round and large are best. Both the red skin and white flesh must be used together. The processing method involves scraping off the skin with a bamboo knife, mixing with black soybeans, steaming nine times, and sun-drying nine times before use. Iron vessels must be avoided. Radish (Laifu) and various blood products are contraindicated. It should not be used concurrently with Tian Xiong (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata), Wu Tou (Aconiti Radix), Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata), Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), Xi Xin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), or Xian Mao (Curculiginis Rhizoma), due to its astringent nature and flavor.
Invention: He Shou Wu acts on the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian and Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Its nature embodies Yin containing Yang. Those produced in the South are of the highest quality. Those grown in the North, even if extremely large, are not precious, as the region is biased towards Yin and lacks the power of Yang generation. The white part belongs to the Qi aspect, and the red part belongs to the Blood aspect. The Kidney governs storage/retention, and the Liver governs free flow. With its warm temperature and bitter/astringent flavor, bitterness enters the Kidney, and warmth tonifies the Liver. It can consolidate Essence and Qi; thus, it nourishes Blood and benefits the Liver, consolidates Essence, tonifies the Kidney, strengthens sinews and bones, darkens beard and hair, and serves as an excellent tonic. Its action is neither cold nor drying, surpassing herbs such as Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix) and Tian Men Dong (Asparagi Radix). When Qi and Blood are harmonized, diseases such as wind-deficiency macules/swelling and Luo Li (scrofula) can be cured. Raw He Shou Wu possesses dispersing properties, treating chills and fever malaria, as well as carbuncles and back sores. Currently, fresh He Shou Wu is used in doses of several qian decocted to treat dryness of Jin-Ye and Blood, and wind-constipation of the Large Intestine, promoting immediate bowel movement because its water-nourishing action is fastest; without timely consolidation, fluids will drain away. This is no different from Rou Cong Rong (Cistanches Herba) in moistening dryness and unblocking bowels, but without the risk of aiding fire. For Chang Feng and Zang Du (intestinal wind and visceral toxin causing bleeding), dried powder taken with rice water, 2-3 qian daily, is effective, verifying its ability to internally warm the Liver and Kidney and externally dispel Shaoyin wind-heat. The *Dan Fang* treats chronic malaria using 1 liang of Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) and He Shou Wu, 3 qian of Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix), and black soybeans adjusted according to age. Decocted and left exposed overnight, taken hot in the early morning, it is especially effective for night-onset malaria. This represents a method where dispersion contains consolidation, and tonification contains dispersion.