(本经上品)
【气味】甘平,无毒。
【主治】主心腹邪气,诸惊痫痉,安五脏诸不足,益气,补中,止痛,解毒,除众病,
和百药。久服强志,轻身,不饥不老,延年神仙。
【核】曰∶蜜蜂,一名蜜蜂。尔雅翼云∶蜜蜂似蜂而小,工作蜜也。说文蜜作 ,云蜂
甘饴也。盖若鼎器而幕之。山海经云∶谷城之上,足蜂蜜之卢,今土木之蜂,亦各有蜜。
北方地燥,多在土中,故多土蜜。南方地湿,多在木中,故多木蜜。又有岩蜜、石蜜,俱在
岩石间也。今人家所畜之蜂,小而微黄,大率腰腹相称,如蝇蝉也。喜事者,以 木容数
斛,置蜂其中养之,开小孔,才容出入。永嘉地记云∶七八月中,尝有蜜蜂群过,有一二小
蜂,先飞觅止泊处,人知辄内桶中,以蜜涂桶内,飞者闻蜜臭,或停不过,三四往来,便举
群悉至矣。今人家养蜂,或群逸以百千万数,中有大者为王,群蜂羿之,从其所往,人收而
养之,多在谷雨春分时也。采取百芳,酝酿造蜜。其房谓之蜜脾,王之所居,叠积如台。语
云∶蜂台蚁楼,言蜂居如台,蚁居如楼。自然论云∶蜂无王则尽死,君臣之体,生死不移也
。一日两出,而聚鸣号为两衙,其出采花者,取花须上粉,置两髀,唯牡丹、芍药、兰蕙之
粉,或负于背,或戴于首,或采无所得者,经宿花间,一不敢归,或螫毒人,蜂亦寻死。故
古称蜂虿有毒,近其房则群起攻人。故战国有蜂旗,军行用之,云若蜂起之将也。寒冬无花,
深藏房内,即以酿蜜为食。春暖花朝,复出卷采矣。宛
间有梨花蜜,色如凝脂。毫州太清宫有桧花蜜,色小赤。南京柘城县有何首乌蜜,色更赤。
各随所采花色,性之温凉,亦相近也。蜜脾之底为蜡。埤雅云∶蜡生于蜜,而天下之味,莫
甘于蜜,莫淡于蜡。盖浓于此者,必薄于彼,理之固然也。西方之书曰∶味如嚼蜡,旧说蜂
之化蜜,必取 猪之水,注之蜡房,而后蜜成,故蜡者蜜之 也。方言云∶其大而蜜,谓之
壶蜂。即今黑蜂也。盖亦酿蜜,楚辞所谓赤蚁若象,玄蜂若壶者是也。试蜜真伪,以烧红火
箸,插入蜜中,提出起气者为真,起烟者为伪。修治,每沙蜜一斤,用水四两,入银石器内,
桑柴火慢煮,掠去浮沫,至滴水成珠,不散,乃用。
又法以器盛贮重汤中,煮一日,候滴水不散,取用亦佳,且不伤火也。七月勿食生蜜,
令人暴下霍乱。味酸色青赤者,食之心烦。不可与葱,及莴苣同食,令人利下。食蜜饱后,
不可食鲜,令人暴亡。
缪仲淳先生云∶集草木群英之精,合水土风露之气,酝酿成蜜,故其气清和,其味甘纯,
施
先人云∶蜜本万卉之黄,采集酝化于蜂,岩石土木,出处之端,藜连乌桧,生成之自。
【 】曰∶垂颖如锋,故名蜂。传云∶蜂虿垂芒,主之所在,众蜂旋绕,飞舞如卫,政
令甚严,蜂有臣礼者是也。集采百芳,退藏于密,吹鼓酝酿,而蜜成矣,故谓之蜜。其房如
脾,谓之蜜脾。俨如胃,形受盛水谷,酝酿以成精血也。甘平色黄,当判入脾,故补中而益
中气。盖万物莫不资始于脾,故主诸不足耳。设土大顽颓,则木无所倚,遂成惊骇痫痉。蜂
蜜敦土化用,浓德载物,则上逆下陷之气,旋归于本位矣。安五脏者,安五脏之形。有形归
土,脾所司耳。心腹居中,为邪所薄,则中宫不安,安中所以逐邪。未有中不安,而能剪除
外侮者;和百药解毒者,以甘性能缓,则无躁暴漂 之峻。脾藏志,故久服强志,轻身不饥
不老,总属脾土事耳。
【本经上品】
【气味】味甘,性平,无毒。
【主治】主要治疗心腹部的邪气,各种惊悸、癫痫和痉挛症状;能安定五脏及各类虚损不足之症,补益元气,滋养中焦,缓解疼痛,解除毒素,消除多种疾病,调和百种药物。长期服用可增强意志,使身体轻盈,不感饥饿,延缓衰老,延年益寿,甚至达到神仙般的境界。
【核】曰:蜜蜂,又名蜜蜂。《尔雅翼》记载:蜜蜂形状像蜂但体型较小,专门从事酿蜜工作。《说文解字》中“蜜”写作“䖵甘饴”,意思是蜂产生的甘甜糖浆。大概就像鼎器一样将其覆盖密封。《山海经》记载:谷城山上,有产蜂蜜的房舍,如今土木中的蜂,也各自产蜜。北方气候干燥,蜜蜂多在土中筑巢,所以多出产土蜜。南方气候潮湿,蜜蜂多在木中筑巢,所以多出产木蜜。又有岩蜜、石蜜,都产于岩石之间。现在人家所饲养的蜂,体型小且微黄,大体腰腹比例协调,像苍蝇或蝉一样。喜欢养蜂的人,用木头凿成容器容纳数万斛空间,将蜂放入其中饲养,开一个小孔,仅容蜂出入。《永嘉地记》记载:七八月间,常有蜜蜂群飞过,有一两只小蜂先飞去寻找停歇处,人们知道后便将其放入桶中,用蜜涂抹桶内,飞来的蜂闻到蜜味,有的停留不久,三四次往返后,便带领全群全部到来。现在人家养蜂,有时成群结队多达千万之数,其中有较大的作为蜂王,群蜂簇拥它,跟随它去往何处,人们在谷雨或春分时捕捉并饲养它们。采集百花精华,酝酿酿造蜂蜜。其蜂巢称为“蜜脾”,是蜂王居住的地方,层层堆积如高台。俗语说:“蜂台蚁楼”,意指蜂居如台,蚁居如楼。《自然论》记载:蜂若无王则全部死亡,君臣体制,生死不变。一天两次外出,聚集鸣叫号为“两衙”,出去采花的蜂,吸取花须上的花粉,放置在两腿(髀)上,只有牡丹、芍药、兰蕙的花粉,有的背负在背上,有的顶戴在头上,有的采集无所得者,整夜在花间停留,不敢回家,或者螫刺毒害人,蜂也会随即死去。所以古称“蜂虿有毒”,靠近蜂巢则群蜂起而攻人。所以战国时有蜂旗,军队行军时使用,声称像蜂群起攻敌的将领一样。寒冬无花时,深藏房内,就以酿好的蜜为食。春暖花开时,又出来卷曲采集。宛间有梨花蜜,颜色如凝固的油脂。亳州太清宫有桧花蜜,颜色稍红。南京柘城县有何首乌蜜,颜色更红。各随所采集的花色,其性质的温凉也相近。蜜脾的底部是蜂蜡。《埤雅》记载:蜡生于蜜,而天下的味道,没有比蜜更甜的,没有比蜡更淡的。大概浓郁于此处的,必然淡薄于彼处,这是理所当然的道理。西方书籍说:味如嚼蜡。旧说认为蜂化蜜,必须取猪的水液,注入蜡房,然后蜜才形成,所以蜡是蜜的渣滓。《方言》记载:体型大且酿蜜的,称为壶蜂。即现在的黑蜂。大概也是酿蜜,《楚辞》所谓“赤蚁若象,玄蜂若壶”说的就是这种。测试蜂蜜真伪,用烧红的火箸插入蜜中,提出时冒气的是真蜜,冒烟的是假蜜。修治方法:每沙蜜一斤,用水四两,放入银石器内,用桑柴火慢煮,撇去浮沫,直到滴水成珠,不散开,才使用。
另一种方法是用容器盛装,放在重汤(隔水加热)中,煮一天,等到滴水不散,取出使用也很好,且不伤火气。七月不要食用生蜜,会导致突然腹泻霍乱。味道酸、颜色青赤的,食用后令人心中烦闷。不可与葱及莴苣同食,令人腹泻。吃饱蜜后,不可再吃新鲜食物,令人突然死亡。
缪仲淳先生云:集草木群英之精华,合水土风露之气,酝酿而成蜜,所以其气清和,其味甘纯。
先人云:蜜本是万卉之黄,被采集酝酿变化于蜂,岩石土木,出处之端,藜连乌桧,生成之本源。
【 】曰:垂颖如锋,故名蜂。传说云:蜂虿垂芒,主之所在,众蜂旋绕,飞舞如卫,政令甚严,蜂有臣礼者是也。集采百芳,退藏于密,吹鼓酝酿,而蜜成矣,故谓之蜜。其房如脾,谓之蜜脾。俨如胃,形受盛水谷,酝酿以成精血也。甘平色黄,当判入脾,故补中而益中气。盖万物莫不资始于脾,故主诸不足耳。设土大顽颓,则木无所倚,遂成惊骇痫痉。蜂蜜敦土化用,浓德载物,则上逆下陷之气,旋归于本位矣。安五脏者,安五脏之形。有形归土,脾所司耳。心腹居中,为邪所薄,则中宫不安,安中所以逐邪。未有中不安,而能剪除外侮者;和百药解毒者,以甘性能缓,则无躁暴漂 之峻。脾藏志,故久服强志,轻身不饥不老,总属脾土事耳。
[Shangpin (Superior Grade) of the *Benjing*]
【Flavor and Nature】Sweet, neutral, non-toxic.
【Indications】Primarily treats evil qi in the heart and abdomen; various conditions of fright, epilepsy, and spasms; stabilizes the five zang organs and addresses various deficiencies; tonifies qi, nourishes the middle jiao, alleviates pain, detoxifies, eliminates numerous diseases, and harmonizes a hundred medicinal substances. Long-term consumption strengthens the will, lightens the body, prevents hunger and aging, extends lifespan, and even leads to an immortal-like state.
【Analysis】It is said: The honeybee, also known as the bee. *Erya Yi* records: The honeybee resembles other bees but is smaller, specializing in producing honey. *Shuowen Jiezi* writes "honey" as "sweet syrup produced by bees," meaning the sweet paste generated by bees. It is roughly sealed like a tripod vessel. *Classic of Mountains and Seas* records: On top of Gucheng Mountain, there are hives for honey production; currently, bees in earth and wood each produce their own honey. The north is dry, so bees nest mostly in the earth, hence producing much earth honey. The south is humid, so bees nest mostly in wood, hence producing much wood honey. There are also rock honey and stone honey, both found among rocks. Bees kept by households today are small and slightly yellow, with waist and abdomen proportions resembling flies or cicadas. Enthusiasts use wooden containers holding tens of thousands of hu, placing bees inside for breeding, opening a small hole just large enough for entry and exit. *Yongjia Local Records* notes: In July and August, swarms of bees often pass by; one or two small bees fly ahead to find resting places. People know to place them in buckets, smear honey inside the bucket; flying bees smell the honey, some stay briefly, after three or four round trips, they lead the entire swarm to arrive. Currently, household beekeeping sometimes involves swarms numbering in the millions, with a larger one acting as the queen, surrounded and followed by worker bees. People capture and rear them around Grain Rain or Spring Equinox. They gather essences from a hundred flowers, fermenting and brewing honey. Their hive is called "honey spleen" (Mi Pi), where the queen resides, layered like a terrace. The saying goes: "Bee terraces, ant towers," meaning bee dwellings resemble terraces, ant dwellings resemble towers. *Natural Theory* states: Without a queen, all bees die; the ruler-minister structure remains unchanged in life and death. They go out twice a day, gathering and calling it "two courts." Those going out to gather flowers take pollen from flower stamens, placing it on their hind legs (bi). Only pollen from peony, peony herb, orchid, and cymbidium is carried on the back or head. Those who gather nothing spend the night among flowers, daring not return, or sting people, dying shortly after. Hence, ancient texts say "bees and scorpions have venom"; approaching the hive causes the swarm to attack. Thus, during the Warring States period, there were bee banners used in military marches, likened to generals leading a swarm attack. In cold winters without flowers, they hide deep in the hive, feeding on brewed honey. When spring warmth arrives and flowers bloom, they emerge to gather again. Wan region has pear blossom honey, color like congealed fat. Bozhou Taiqing Palace has cypress flower honey, slightly reddish. Nanjing Zhecheng County has Polygonum multiflorum honey, redder still. Each follows the flower color gathered, and their warming/cooling properties are similar. The bottom of the honey spleen is beeswax. *Pi Ya* records: Wax is born from honey, and among worldly flavors, none is sweeter than honey, none is blander than wax. What is concentrated here must be thin there, which is natural law. Western books say: Taste like chewing wax. Old theories state that bee transformation into honey requires pig water injected into the wax chamber before honey forms, thus wax is the dregs of honey. *Fangyan* records: Large ones that make honey are called pot bees, i.e., black bees today. They also brew honey, as mentioned in *Chu Ci*: "Red ants like elephants, black bees like pots." To test honey authenticity, insert red-hot chopsticks into the honey; if steam rises upon removal, it is genuine; if smoke rises, it is fake. Processing method: For every jin of sandy honey, add four liang of water, place in silver or earthenware vessels, slow-boil over mulberry wood fire, skim off floating foam, until dripping water forms beads that do not disperse, then use. Another method: Store in a vessel, boil in a double boiler for a day, wait until dripping water does not disperse, take and use; this is also good and does not damage the fire energy. Do not eat raw honey in July, as it causes sudden diarrhea and cholera. Honey that tastes sour and appears green-red causes mental restlessness when eaten. Do not consume with scallions or lettuce, as it causes diarrhea. After eating honey to fullness, do not eat fresh foods, as it can cause sudden death.
Mr. Miu Zhongchun said: Gathering the essence of herbs and trees, combining the qi of soil, water, wind, and dew, fermenting into honey, thus its qi is clear and harmonious, its flavor pure and sweet.
My ancestors said: Honey originates from the yellow of ten thousand flowers, collected and transformed by bees; whether in rocks, earth, or wood, from lian to wuhua, these are the origins of its formation.
[Commentary] says: Drooping awns like blades, hence named bee. Legends say: Bee stingers hang sharp; wherever the leader is, surrounding bees circle and fly as guards, strict in governance, showing ministerial propriety. Gathering essences of a hundred flowers, retreating to store secretly, blowing and fermenting until honey forms, hence called honey. Its house resembles the spleen, called honey spleen. Resembling the stomach, receiving and storing food and drink, fermenting to form essence and blood. Sweet, neutral, yellow-colored, classified under the spleen, thus tonifying the middle and benefiting middle qi. Since all things begin relying on the spleen, it governs various deficiencies. If earth becomes too rigid and collapsed, wood has no support, leading to fright, terror, epilepsy, and spasms. Honey thickens earth's transformative function, bearing heavy virtue and matter, causing ascending-rebellious and descending-sinking qi to return to their proper positions. Stabilizing the five zang organs means stabilizing their physical forms. Physical forms return to earth, governed by the spleen. Heart and abdomen are central; if attacked by evil, the central palace is uneasy. Stabilizing the center expels evil. One cannot eliminate external aggression if the center is unstable; harmonizing a hundred medicines and detoxifying relies on sweet nature's ability to moderate, avoiding harsh, impetuous, and drifting extremes. The spleen stores the will, thus long-term consumption strengthens the will, lightens the body, prevents hunger and aging, all belonging to spleen-earth functions.