【气味】
辛温无毒。其味辛。则入气分。其色紫。则入血分。
【主治】
下气除寒。其子尤良。解肌发表。定喘安胎。泻肺实。随所引而各治一经之邪。久
服之则泄人真气。脾胃寒弱之人。过服多致滑泻。)
【气味】
甘微温无毒。
【主治】
和中下气。补五脏。主呕逆。止泄痢。消暑。其性温平得乎中和。入太阴气分。通
利三焦。能化清降浊。故专治中宫之病而除湿解毒也。
【气味】
辛温无毒。(凡使以当门子方妙。不可近鼻。有白虫入脑患癞。久带其香透关。令
人成异疾。)
【主治】
辟恶气。去三虫蛊毒及惊怖恍惚。疗鼻塞不通。解酒毒。消瓜果食积。治中风中气
中恶痰厥。积聚症瘕。又疗蛇虫溪瘴毒。盖麝香走窜。能通诸窍之不利。开经络之壅遏。凡
诸风诸气诸痛惊痫症瘕可用之为引导。若五脏之风。不可用之以泻卫气。口鼻出血。乃阴盛
阳虚。有升无降。不可用之令阳不得补。阴不得抑。妇人以血为主。凡血海虚而寒热盗汗者
宜补养之。不可用之以过散其液。
【气味】
苦温无毒。可升可降。阴中微阳。入手少阴足太阴厥阴经血分。头止血而上行。身
养血而中守。稍破血而下流。全活血而不走。(凡用以酒洗净。晒干入药。)
【主治】
咳逆上气。温疟寒热。妇人漏下绝子。诸恶疮疡。温中止痛。补诸不足。和血补血
。故脉者血之府。诸血皆属心。凡通脉必先补心益血。仲景治手足厥寒脉细欲绝者。以当归
补助之。凡血受病。致壅而不流。乃致作痛。若散内寒。助心和血。使气血各有所归。以当
归向导之。入手少阴。以其心生血也。入足太阴。以其脾裹血也。入足厥阴。以其肝藏血也
。然
补气须同人参黄 。行气须同大黄牵牛。引热须从桂附茱萸。引寒须从芒硝大黄。用本病宜
酒制。有痰以姜制。导血归源以人参石脂为佐。血热以生地条芩为佐。古方四物汤。以当归
为君。芍药为臣。地黄为佐。芎 为使。总之血药不可舍当归也。
【气味】
辛温无毒。其味辛,则入气分(运行气的层次)。其色紫,则入血分(运行血的层次)。
【主治】
下气除寒。其子尤良。解肌发表(解除肌表之邪),定喘安胎。泻肺实。随所引而各治一经之邪。久服之则泄人真气。脾胃寒弱之人,过服多致滑泻。
【气味】
甘微温无毒。
【主治】
和中下气。补五脏。主呕逆。止泄痢。消暑。其性温平得乎中和。入太阴气分。通利三焦。能化清降浊。故专治中宫之病而除湿解毒也。
【气味】
辛温无毒。(凡使以当门子方妙。不可近鼻。有白虫入脑患癞。久带其香透关。令人成异疾。)
【主治】
辟恶气。去三虫蛊毒及惊怖恍惚。疗鼻塞不通。解酒毒。消瓜果食积。治中风中气中恶痰厥。积聚症瘕。又疗蛇虫溪瘴毒。盖麝香走窜。能通诸窍之不利。开经络之壅遏。凡诸风诸气诸痛惊痫症瘕可用之为引导。若五脏之风。不可用之以泻卫气。口鼻出血。乃阴盛阳虚。有升无降。不可用之令阳不得补。阴不得抑。妇人以血为主。凡血海虚而寒热盗汗者宜补养之。不可用之以过散其液。
【气味】
苦温无毒。可升可降。阴中微阳。入手少阴足太阴厥阴经血分。头止血而上行。身养血而中守。稍破血而下流。全活血而不走。(凡用以酒洗净。晒干入药。)
【主治】
咳逆上气。温疟寒热。妇人漏下绝子。诸恶疮疡。温中止痛。补诸不足。和血补血。故脉者血之府。诸血皆属心。凡通脉必先补心益血。仲景治手足厥寒脉细欲绝者。以当归补助之。凡血受病。致壅而不流。乃致作痛。若散内寒。助心和血。使气血各有所归。以当归向导之。入手少阴。以其心生血也。入足太阴。以其脾裹血也。入足厥阴。以其肝藏血也。然补气须同人参黄 。行气须同大黄牵牛。引热须从桂附茱萸。引寒须从芒硝大黄。用本病宜酒制。有痰以姜制。导血归源以人参石脂为佐。血热以生地条芩为佐。古方四物汤。以当归为君。芍药为臣。地黄为佐。芎 为使。总之血药不可舍当归也。
[Flavor and Nature]
Acrid, warm, non-toxic. Its acrid flavor enters the Qi level (the functional layer of Qi). Its purple color enters the Blood level (the material layer of Blood).
[Indications]
Directs Qi downward and dispels cold. Its seeds are particularly effective. Resolves the muscle layer and releases the exterior, calms wheezing, and calms the fetus. Drains excess in the Lungs. Depending on what it is guided by, it treats pathogens in specific meridians. Long-term use depletes the body's true Qi. For individuals with weak and cold Spleen and Stomach, excessive consumption often leads to slippery diarrhea.
[Flavor and Nature]
Sweet, slightly warm, non-toxic.
[Indications]
Harmonizes the middle and directs Qi downward. Tonifies the Five Zang organs. Treats vomiting and reflux. Stops dysentery and diarrhea. Relieves summerheat. Its nature is warm and balanced, achieving harmony. It enters the Taiyin Qi level. Promotes free flow through the Sanjiao (Triple Burner). It can transform clear Yang and descend turbid Yin. Therefore, it specializes in treating diseases of the Middle Jiao (Spleen and Stomach) and expelling dampness and detoxifying.
[Flavor and Nature]
Acrid, warm, non-toxic. (When used, only the "Dangmenzi" [central part of the musk pod] is excellent. Do not bring it close to the nose; white insects may enter the brain causing leprosy-like conditions. Long-term carrying of its fragrance penetrates the orifices, causing strange diseases.)
[Indications]
Repels evil Qi. Eliminences three types of parasites, gu poison, and fright, terror, and mental confusion. Treats nasal congestion. Resolves alcohol toxicity. Digests accumulation from melons, fruits, and food. Treats wind-stroke, qi-stagnation, sudden evil invasion, phlegm-jue, accumulations, and masses. Also treats snake and insect bites, and miasma poisons from streams and marshes. Musk is penetrating and moving; it can open blockages in various orifices and unblock stagnation in meridians. It can be used as a guide for various wind, qi, pain, fright, epilepsy, and mass conditions. However, for wind in the Five Zang organs, it should not be used as it drains Wei Qi (Defensive Qi). For bleeding from the mouth and nose, which results from Yin excess and Yang deficiency with rising without descending, it should not be used, as it prevents Yang from being tonified and Yin from being restrained. Women primarily rely on Blood. For those with empty Blood Sea presenting with alternating chills and fever and night sweats, tonification and nourishment are appropriate; it should not be used as it excessively disperses fluids.
[Flavor and Nature]
Bitter, warm, non-toxic. Can ascend and descend. Slightly Yang within Yin. Enters the Blood level of the Hand Shaoyin, Foot Taiyin, and Foot Jueyin meridians. The root tip stops bleeding and moves upward. The body nourishes Blood and stays central. Slightly breaks Blood and moves downward. The whole root invigorates Blood without moving excessively far. (When used, wash with wine, dry, and prepare for decoction.)
[Indications]
Treats cough with rebellious Qi, warm malaria with chills and fever, uterine bleeding in women, infertility, all kinds of malignant sores and ulcers. Warms the middle, relieves pain, tonifies deficiencies. Harmonizes and nourishes Blood. Therefore, vessels are the residence of Blood. All Blood belongs to the Heart. To unblock vessels, one must first tonify the Heart and benefit Blood. Zhang Zhongjing treated cold extremities and faint pulse by supplementing with Dang Gui. When Blood is diseased, causing stagnation and lack of flow, pain results. If internal cold is dispersed, Heart function is aided, and Blood is harmonized, allowing Qi and Blood to return to their proper places, using Dang Gui as a guide. It enters the Hand Shaoyin because the Heart generates Blood. It enters the Foot Taiyin because the Spleen manages Blood. It enters the Foot Jueyin because the Liver stores Blood. However, to tonify Qi, it must be combined with Renshen (Ginseng) and Huangqi (Astragalus). To move Qi, it must be combined with Dahuang (Rhubarb) and Qianniu (Pharbitis Seed). To guide heat, it must follow Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), Fuzi (Aconite Root), and Wuzhuyu (Evodia Fruit). To guide cold, it must follow Mangxiao (Mirabilite) and Dahuang (Rhubarb). For treating the primary disease, wine-processing is suitable. For phlegm, ginger-processing is used. To guide Blood back to its source, Renshen (Ginseng) and Shizhi (Kaolin) are used as assistants. For blood-heat, Shengdi (Rehmannia Root) and Huangqin (Scutellaria Root) are used as assistants. In the ancient formula Siwu Tang (Four Substance Decoction), Dang Gui is the Sovereign herb, Shaoyao (Peony Root) is the Minister, Dihuang (Rehmannia Root) is the Assistant, and Xiong (Ligusticum Rhizome) is the Envoy. In summary, one cannot dispense with Dang Gui when dealing with Blood herbs.