补脾胃,通,行水
甘淡。微寒而属土,阳明(胃)药也。甘益胃,土胜水。淡渗湿。泻水所以益土,故健
脾。治水肿湿痹,香港脚疝气,泄痢热淋。益土所以生金,故补肺清热(色白入肺,微寒清热),
治肺痿肺痛,咳吐脓血(以猪肺沾苡仁米服)。扶土所以抑木,故治风热筋急拘挛(厥阴风
木主筋,然治筋骨之病,以阳明为末。阳明主润宗筋,宗筋主束骨而利机关者也。阳明虚则
宗筋纵驰,故经曰∶治痿独取阳明,又曰∶肺热叶焦,发为痿 。盖肺者相传之官,治节出
焉,阳明湿热上蒸于肺,则肺热叶焦,气无所主而失其治节,故痿 。薏苡理脾,而兼清热
补肺,筋寒则急,热则缩,湿则纵。然寒湿久留,亦变为热。又有热气熏蒸,水液不行,久
而成湿者。薏苡去湿要药,因寒因热,皆可用也。《衍义》云∶因寒筋急者不可用,恐不然)
。但其力和缓,用之须倍于他药。杀蛔堕胎,炒熟微研。
即罂粟壳
涩肠,敛肺,固肾
酸涩微寒。敛肺涩肠而固肾。治久嗽泻痢,遗精脱肛,心腹筋骨诸痛(东垣曰∶收涩固
气,能入肾,故治骨病尤宜),嗽、痢初起者忌用(丹溪曰∶此是收后药,要先除病根)。一
名丽春花,红黄紫白,艳丽可爱。凡使壳,洗去蒂及筋膜,取薄皮。醋炒或蜜炒用(性紧涩
,不制多令人吐逆)。得醋、乌梅、陈皮良。罂中有米极细,甘寒润燥,煮粥食,治反胃(加
参尤佳)。
补益脾胃,通利水道,行气利水。
味甘、淡,性微寒,五行属土,是阳明(胃)经的药物。甘味能补益胃气,土气旺盛则能制约水湿;淡味能渗泄湿气。通过泻除水湿来补益脾土,因此具有健脾的功效。治疗水肿、湿痹、脚气、疝气、泄泻痢疾以及热淋。补益脾土从而滋生肺金,因此能补肺清热(因其色白入肺经,性微寒能清热),治疗肺痿、肺痈,咳嗽吐脓血(可用猪肺蘸薏苡仁米服用)。扶助脾土从而抑制肝木,因此治疗风热引起的筋脉拘急挛缩(厥阴肝木主司筋脉,然而治疗筋骨疾病,以调理阳明经为关键。阳明经主管滋润宗筋,宗筋主管约束骨骼并滑利关节。阳明经虚弱则宗筋松弛弛缓,所以《内经》说:治疗痿证独取阳明经;又说:肺热导致叶焦枯槁,发为痿证。盖肺是相傅之官,治理调节功能由此产生,若阳明湿热上蒸于肺,则导致肺热叶焦,气机失去主宰而丧失治理调节功能,故发生痿证。薏苡仁能理脾,兼有清热补肺之功,筋脉受寒则拘急,受热则收缩,受湿则弛纵。然而寒湿久留体内,也会转化为热邪。又有热气熏蒸,导致水液运行不畅,日久形成湿邪的情况。薏苡仁是去湿的要药,无论是因寒还是因热所致,都可以使用。《本草衍义》说:因寒邪导致的筋脉拘急者不可用,恐怕这种说法不对)。只是其药力平和缓慢,使用时用量需比其他药物加倍。能杀蛔虫、堕胎,炒熟后轻微研磨使用。
即罂粟壳。
涩肠止泻,敛肺止咳,固肾涩精。
味酸、涩,性微寒。能收敛肺气、涩肠止泻并固护肾气。治疗久咳、泄泻痢疾、遗精、脱肛,以及心腹筋骨各种疼痛(李东垣说:收涩固气,能入肾经,因此治疗骨病尤为适宜),咳嗽、痢疾初起者忌用(朱丹溪说:这是病后收涩的药,必须先去除病根)。又名丽春花,花色红黄紫白,艳丽可爱。凡使用壳,需洗去蒂头及筋膜,只取薄皮。醋炒或蜜炒后使用(性质紧涩,不经过炮制多令人呕吐逆乱)。与醋、乌梅、陈皮配伍效果良好。罂粟中有米粒极细,味甘、寒、润燥,煮粥食用,治疗反胃(加入人参尤其好)。
Benefits the Spleen and Stomach, unblocks the water passages, promotes water metabolism.
Sweet and bland in taste, slightly cold in nature, and belonging to the Earth element, it is a herb of the Yangming (Stomach) channel. The sweet flavor tonifies the Stomach Qi; when Earth is strong, it controls Water. The bland flavor leaches out dampness. By draining water, it benefits Earth, thus strengthening the Spleen. It treats edema, bi-syndrome due to dampness, podagra (Hong Kong foot), hernia, diarrhea, dysentery, and hot strangury. By benefiting Earth, it generates Metal (Lung), thus tonifying the Lung and clearing heat (its white color enters the Lung, and its slight coldness clears heat). It treats lung abscess (Fei Wei) and lung carbuncle (Fei Yong), coughing up pus and blood (take Yi Yi Ren with pig lung). By supporting Earth, it suppresses Wood (Liver), thus treating wind-heat causing tendon spasm and contracture (Jueyin Liver-Wood governs tendons; however, for treating diseases of tendons and bones, regulating Yangming is paramount. Yangming moistens Zongjin [major tendons], which bind bones and facilitate joint movement. If Yangming is deficient, Zongjin become lax, hence the Classic states: "In treating flaccidity syndrome, exclusively select Yangming"; and also: "Heat in the Lung scorches the leaves, leading to flaccidity." The Lung is the official of transmission and governance, from which regulatory functions arise. If damp-heat from Yangming steams upward to the Lung, it scorches the Lung leaves, causing Qi to lose its mastery and regulatory function, resulting in flaccidity. Yi Yi Ren regulates the Spleen, while simultaneously clearing heat and tonifying the Lung. Cold causes tendons to contract, heat causes them to shrink, and dampness causes them to relax. However, long-standing cold-dampness can transform into heat. Conversely, heat steaming can obstruct fluid metabolism, leading to dampness over time. Yi Yi Ren is an essential herb for removing dampness and can be used whether the cause is cold or heat. *Bencao Yan yi* states: "It should not be used for tendon contraction caused by cold," which is likely incorrect. Its action is mild and slow, so the dosage must be doubled compared to other herbs. It kills roundworms and induces abortion; use after stir-frying until slightly browned and lightly grinding.
This refers to Poppy Shell (Ying Su Ke).
Astringes the intestines, consolidates the Lung, secures the Kidney.
Sour and astringent, slightly cold in nature. It consolidates Lung Qi, astringes the intestines, and secures the Kidney. It treats chronic cough, diarrhea, dysentery, seminal emission, rectal prolapse, and various pains in the heart, abdomen, and sinews/bones (Li Dongyuan said: Astringents consolidate Qi and enter the Kidney channel, making them particularly suitable for treating bone diseases). It is contraindicated in the early stages of cough or dysentery (Zhu Danxi said: This is a post-illness astringent herb; one must first eliminate the root cause of the disease). Also known as Li Chun Hua (Beautiful Spring Flower), with red, yellow, purple, and white colors, it is beautiful and lovely. When using the shell, wash away the stem and fascia, retaining only the thin skin. Use after stir-frying with vinegar or honey (its nature is tight and astringent; without processing, it often causes vomiting and rebellion). It works well with vinegar, Wu Mei (Mume Fructus), and Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium). The seeds inside the capsule are extremely fine, sweet, cold, and moistening; cooked as porridge and eaten, they treat regurgitation (adding Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma is especially good).