（唐本草）
右为命门火，壬干之阳也。
【气味】辛平，无毒。
【主治】主诸 霍乱，及蛇伤。
【核】曰∶深冬宿根再发，丛生似蒿，细叶整密，嫩绿似藻。五六月开花，花头如盖，
似蛇床花而色黄，结子似麦粒，粒有细棱，质颇轻浮，俗呼小茴香。所在虽有，宁夏者称第
一。番舶者，子大似柏实，裂成八瓣，一瓣一核，核似豆，黄褐色，臭转芳，味转甘，俗呼
八角茴香，广西左右江峒中亦有之，形与中原者迥别，第气味相同。北人得之咀嚼荐酒，入
药最良。修事，隔纸焙燥，研极细。八角者，去梗及子，修事同。
先人云∶深冬生苗，有来复义。叶丝整密，有肌腠义。合入心脾，为心脾用药也。然以
冬藏
【 】曰∶长至宿根再发，效纯干剥落，至复而一阳始生，因名 香。说文云∶本有去
意，回来就已也，故主阳消而阴剥者。归乎归乎，盈吾怀乎。
（大海洋洋水所归，高贤愉愉民所怀。）
（唐本草）
功利咽喉；故异名冰喉尉。
【气味】辛温，无毒。
【主治】主贼风，伤寒发汗，恶风，心腹胀满，霍乱，宿食不消，下气，煮汁服之，发
汗，
【核】曰∶薄荷多栽时，亦有野生者。茎叶气味，皆相似也。经冬根不死，二月抽苗，
清明分株排种，方茎赤节，绿叶对生，初则圆长，久则叶端渐锐，似荏苏荠宁辈。夏秋采取，
日曝令干，先期灌以粪壤，雨后方可刈收。不尔，气味亦不辛凉矣。吴越川湖以之代茗，唯
吴地者茎小叶细，臭胜诸方，宛如龙脑，即称龙脑薄荷；江右者茎肥；蜀汉者更肥，入药俱
不及吴地者良。陈士良食性本草称菝 ；杨雄甘泉赋称茇 ；吕忱字林称茇 ；孙思邈千金
方称蕃荷。名虽广，当遵唐本薄荷为正。纲目言薄荷系俗称，此未解释名之意耳。一种叶圆
小如钱，称金钱薄荷；一种叶微小，耐霜雪，至冬茎叶纯紫，生江南山石间，称石薄荷；一
种胡薄荷，形状与薄荷无异，但味小甜，多生江浙，俗称新罗薄荷，今汴雒僧寺多值之，天
宝单方称金钱草者是也。同薤作齑，清爽可口，瘦弱人久食之动消渴，新病瘥人勿食之，令
虚汗不止，猫食之醉，陆农师云，薄荷，猫酒也。
先人云∶气温性凉，具转夏成秋，为高爽清明之象，则气有余，自与薄弱虚寒，阴营不
足者
【 】曰∶木曰林，草曰薄。薄者疾驱，荷者负荷而驱也。诗言载驱薄薄，顾名思义。
方之奇方急方也，味辛气温，禀辛金用，驱贼风，表汗出，开上焦，宣谷味，于是宿食消，
胀满解，霍乱定，烦劳之张精续，剂之宣剂轻剂也。通关格，历关节，去愤气，却肾气，彻
风涎，疗阴阳毒，破血止痢，利咽喉口齿头目，治瘰 瘾疹疮疡，皆生于风者，取效甚捷，
更详奇急宣轻之义，靡投不善矣。
（烦劳则张精绝，仍使之相续不断。唐本曰劳乏，省却四字矣。晋注破句读之，烦劳则
张作
（《唐本草》记载）
薄荷归属于命门之火，是壬天干所代表的阳气。
【气味】辛味，性平，无毒。
【主治】主要治疗各种霍乱，以及蛇咬伤。
【考证】曰：深冬时节宿根再次萌发，丛生状似艾蒿，叶片细密整齐，嫩绿色如同水藻。五六月开花，花头如伞盖，形状像蛇床花但颜色为黄色，结出的种子像麦粒，颗粒有细微棱角，质地轻盈漂浮，俗称小茴香。各地虽有出产，但以宁夏产的质量第一。来自海外的品种，果实较大像柏树种子，裂成八瓣，每瓣含一粒核，核形似豆子，呈黄褐色，气味由臭转香，味道由苦转甘，俗称八角茴香，广西左右江峒中也有生长，形态与中原地区迥然不同，但气味相同。北方人得到它咀嚼下酒，入药效果最好。炮制方法，隔纸焙干，研成极细粉末。八角茴香的炮制，去掉梗和子，处理方法相同。
先父说：深冬生苗，具有来复（阳气回归）的意义。叶片丝缕整齐紧密，有肌腠（肌肤纹理）的意义。合入心脾二经，作为心脾用药。然而以冬藏
【 】曰：夏至日宿根再次萌发，效法纯阳剥落，到了冬至一阳始生，因此命名为 香。《说文解字》云：本有去意，回来就已也，所以主治阳气消减而阴气剥落的情况。归乎归乎，充盈我的怀抱啊。
（大海汪洋之水所归，高贤愉悦为民所怀。）
（《唐本草》记载）
功效利咽喉；所以异名冰喉尉。
【气味】辛味，性温，无毒。
【主治】主治贼风，伤寒发汗，恶风，心腹胀满，霍乱，宿食不消，下气，煮汁服用，发汗，
【考证】曰：薄荷多栽培种植，也有野生者。茎叶气味，都相似。经冬根不死，二月抽苗，清明时分分株排种，方形的茎，红色的节，绿叶对生，起初圆形细长，久了叶端逐渐尖锐，类似荏苏荠宁等植物。夏秋采取，日晒令干，提前用粪壤灌溉，雨后才可以收割。不然，气味也不辛凉了。吴越川湖地区用它代替茶茗，只有吴地产的茎小叶细，气味胜过其他产地，宛如龙脑，就称为龙脑薄荷；江西产的茎肥壮；蜀汉产的更肥壮，入药都不如吴地产的好。陈士良《食性本草》称菝 ；杨雄《甘泉赋》称茇 ；吕忱《字林》称茇 ；孙思邈《千金方》称蕃荷。名称虽多，应当遵循《唐本草》薄荷为正名。《纲目》言薄荷系俗称，这里未解释名的意思罢了。一种叶子圆小如钱，称为金钱薄荷；一种叶子微小，耐霜雪，到冬天茎叶纯紫，生长在江南山石间，称为石薄荷；一种胡薄荷，形状与薄荷无异，只是味道稍甜，多生在江浙，俗称新罗薄荷，如今汴雒僧寺多见到它，天宝单方称为金钱草的就是这种。同薤作齑，清爽可口，瘦弱人久食之动消渴，新病痊愈的人勿食之，令虚汗不止，猫吃了会醉，陆农师说，薄荷，猫酒也。
先父说：气温性凉，具备转夏成秋，为高爽清明之象，则气有余，自然与薄弱虚寒，阴营不足者
【 】曰：木曰林，草曰薄。薄者疾驱，荷者负荷而驱也。《诗经》言载驱薄薄，顾名思义。
方之奇方急方也，味辛气温，禀辛金用，驱贼风，表汗出，开上焦，宣谷味，于是宿食消，胀满解，霍乱定，烦劳之张精续，剂之宣剂轻剂也。通关格，历关节，去愤气，却肾气，彻风涎，疗阴阳毒，破血止痢，利咽喉口齿头目，治瘰 瘾疹疮疡，皆生于风者，取效甚捷，更详奇急宣轻之义，靡投不善矣。
（烦劳则张精绝，仍使之相续不断。《唐本草》曰劳乏，省却四字矣。晋注破句读之，烦劳则张作
(Recorded in *Tang Bencao*)
Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba) belongs to the fire of the Mingmen Gate (Gate of Life), which is the Yang energy represented by the Ren Heavenly Stem.
[Flavor and Nature] Pungent, neutral in nature, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats various cases of Huoluan (cholera-like syndrome with vomiting and diarrhea), as well as snakebites.
[Verification] It is said: In deep winter, the perennial roots sprout again, growing in clumps resembling Artemisia (mugwort). The leaves are fine, dense, and neatly arranged, tender green like algae. Flowers bloom in the fifth and sixth lunar months; the flower heads are umbellate, resembling those of Cnidii Fructus (Snakeweed fruit) but yellow in color. The seeds resemble wheat grains, with fine ridges, light and floating texture, commonly known as small fennel. Although found everywhere, the variety from Ningxia is considered the best. The variety imported via foreign ships has larger fruits resembling Platycladi Semen (Arborvitae seed), splitting into eight segments, each containing one core resembling a bean, yellowish-brown. The odor turns fragrant, and the taste becomes sweet, commonly known as star anise. It is also found in the Dong regions of the Left and Right Rivers in Guangxi. Its shape is vastly different from that in the Central Plains, but the flavor and nature are identical. Northerners chew it with wine, and it is excellent for medicinal use. Processing method: dry it between layers of paper over heat, then grind into an extremely fine powder. For star anise, remove the stems and seeds, processing similarly.
My late father said: Sprouting in deep winter carries the meaning of "returning vitality" (renewal of Yang). The neat and dense leaf veins carry the meaning of muscle and cutaneous pores (Ji Cou). It enters the Heart and Spleen meridians, serving as a medicine for these organs. However, regarding winter storage...
[ ] It is said: At the Summer Solstice, the perennial roots sprout again, imitating the peeling away of pure Yang. By the Winter Solstice, when one Yang begins to arise, it is named [Bohe]. The *Shuowen Jiezi* states: "Ben" implies going away, returning to what was. Thus, it treats conditions where Yang declines and Yin peels away. "Return, oh return, fill my embrace."
(The vast ocean waters return; the noble sages bring joy, embraced by the people.)
(Recorded in *Tang Bencao*)
Benefits the throat; hence its alias Binghou Wei (Ice Throat Commander).
[Flavor and Nature] Pungent, warm in nature, non-toxic.
[Indications] Treats Zefeng (pathogenic wind), induces sweating in Shanghan (cold damage), alleviates aversion to wind, resolves abdominal distension and fullness, treats Huoluan, aids digestion of retained food, directs Qi downward. Decocted and taken orally, it induces sweating.
[Verification] It is said: Bohe is mostly cultivated, though wild varieties exist. The stem and leaves have similar flavors and aromas. The roots survive the winter, sprouting in the second lunar month. Plants are divided and planted around the Qingming Festival. They have square stems and reddish nodes, with opposite green leaves. Initially round and long, the leaf tips gradually become sharp over time, resembling plants like Perilla (Ren Su), Shepherd's Purse (Ji Ning), etc. Harvested in summer and autumn, dried in the sun. Irrigate with manure-rich soil beforehand; harvest only after rain. Otherwise, the pungent and cool flavor will be lost. In Wu, Yue, Chuan, and Hu regions, it is used as tea substitute. Only the variety from Wu has thin stems and small leaves, with a stronger aroma than others, resembling Borneolum Syntheticum (Borneol), thus called Longnao Bohe (Camphor Mint); the Jiangxi variety has thick stems; the Shuhan variety is even thicker, but none match the quality of the Wu variety for medicinal use. Chen Shiliang's *Shixing Bencao* calls it Ba ; Yang Xiong's *Ganquan Fu* calls it Ba ; Lü Chen's *Zilin* calls it Ba ; Sun Simiao's *Qianjin Fang* calls it Fanhe. Though names vary, one should follow *Tang Bencao* and use Bohe as the correct name. *Bencao Gangmu* states Bohe is a common name, failing to explain the meaning of the name. One type has round, coin-sized leaves, called Jinjian Bohe (Coin Mint); another has tiny leaves, frost-resistant, turning entirely purple in winter, growing on rocks in southern Jiangnan, called Shi Bohe (Rock Mint); another is Hu Bohe (Foreign Mint), identical in shape to Bohe but slightly sweeter, common in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, commonly called Xinluo Bohe (Silla Mint), often seen in monasteries in Bian and Luo today, identified as Jinjiang Cao (Coin Grass) in Tianbao single prescriptions. Mixed with Scallion White (Xie) as a relish, it is refreshing and tasty. Weak individuals consuming it long-term may trigger Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome). Those recovering from acute illness should avoid it, as it causes persistent deficiency sweating. Cats get drunk eating it; Lu Nongshi said, "Bohe is cat wine."
My late father said: Its nature is warm yet cool, embodying the transition from summer to autumn, representing a high, clear, and bright image. When Qi is abundant, it naturally addresses weakness, deficiency-cold, and insufficiency of Yin and Ying (nutritive) levels.
[ ] It is said: Trees form forests; herbs form thickets. "Bo" (thick/dense) implies rapid driving; "He" (load/carry) implies bearing and driving. The *Book of Songs* says "Carry drive, bo bo," implying the name reflects this function.
It is a unique and urgent prescription. With pungent flavor and warm nature, it utilizes the Metal element's pungency to expel pathogenic wind, induce sweating, open the Upper Jiao, and diffuse grain flavors. Consequently, retained food is digested, distension resolves, Huoluan stabilizes, and the exhaustion of Jing (essence) due to fatigue is replenished. It is a dispersing and mild formula. It unblocks obstruction, traverses joints, removes resentment/stagnation, repels Kidney Qi (misdirected), clears wind-phlegm, treats Yin-Yang toxicity, breaks blood stasis, stops dysentery, benefits the throat, teeth, mouth, eyes, and head, treats scrofula, urticaria, sores, and ulcers—all arising from wind—with very rapid effects. Further detailing the meanings of uniqueness, urgency, dispersion, and mildness, there is no application where it fails to produce good results.
(Fatigue leads to the depletion of Jing; still, it makes them continuous. *Tang Bencao* says "fatigue and weakness," omitting four characters. Jin annotations broke the sentence structure, reading 'fatigue and labor leads to expansion' as...)