金银花,一名忍冬藤。味甘,温,无毒。入心、脾、肺、肝、肾五脏,无经不入。消毒
之神
品也。未成毒则散,已成毒则消,将死者可生,已坏者可转。故痈疽发背,必以此药为夺命
之丹。但其味纯良,性又补阴,虽善消毒,而功用甚缓,必须大用之。(〔批〕金银花消毒
神
效,必宜多用,诚千古定论。)如发背痈,用至七八两,加入甘草五钱、当归二两,一剂煎
饮
,未有不立时消散者。其余身上、头上、足上各毒,减一半投之,无不神效。近人治痈毒,
亦多识用金银花,然断不敢用到半斤。殊不知背痈之毒,外虽小而内实大,非用此重剂,则
毒不易消。且金银花少用则力单,多用则力浓,尤妙在补先于攻,消毒而不耗气血,败毒之
药,未有过于金银花者也。故毋论初起之时与出脓之后,或变生不测,无可再救之顷,皆以
前方投之,断无不起死回生者。正勿惊讶其药剂之重,妄生疑畏也。或嫌金银花太多,难于
煎药,不妨先取水十余碗,煎取金银花之汁,再煎当归、甘草,则尤为得法。至于鬼击作痛
,又治之小者。止痢除温,益寿延龄,则不可为训矣。
或问金银花败毒则有之,而吾子曰补阴,得毋惑于《本经》长年益寿之语乎?曰∶金银
花补
之性实多于攻。攻毒之药,未有不散气者也,而金银花非惟不散气,且能补气,更善补阴。
但少用则补多于攻,多用则攻胜于补。故攻毒之药,未有善于金银花者也。若疑金银花为长
年益寿之药,则不可。盖至纯之品,始可长服以延龄,偏霸之味,只可暂投以奏效。金银花
只宜用之以攻毒,而不宜用之以补虚。若惑于长年益寿之说,始信金银花为补阴之药,则余
且劝人长服为添寿之助,何以止言攻毒哉。
或问金银花之解毒,近人亦多知之。然未有若吾子之赞叹甚神者,子欲显书之奇,罔顾
言之
大乎?曰∶金银花化毒,吾言止扬其十之五,余尚未尽言也。今因吾子之问,而罄悉之。夫
痈毒之初生也,其身必疼痛而欲死,服金银花,而痛不知何以消也;当痈毒之溃脓也,其
头必
昏眩而不能举,服金银花,而眩不知何以去也;及痈毒之收口也,其口必黑黯而不能起,服
金银花,而陷不知何以起也,然此犹阳症之痈毒也。若阴症之痈毒,其初生也,背必如山之
重,服金银花,而背轻如释负也;其溃脓也,心必如火之焚,服金银花,而心凉如饮浆也。
其收口也,肉必如刀之割,服金银花,而皮痒如爪搔也,然此犹阴症而无大变者也。倘若痛
痒之未知,昏愦之不觉,内可洞见其肺腑,而外无仅存之皮骨,与之食而不欲食,与之汤而
不欲饮,悬性命于顷刻,候死亡于须臾,苟能用金银花一斤,同人参五、六两,共煎汁饮之
,无不夺魂于垂绝,返魄于已飞也。谁谓金银花非活人之仙草乎。其功实大,非吾言之大也
。(〔批〕金银花神妙不测,真有如此。世人用铁箍散、夺命丹、万应膏,甚至操刀生割人
肉
者,安识此理而用此药乎。今读是编,如当头一针,通身汗下,顿失前非者,何异立地成佛
。倘迷而不悟,则永堕阿鼻矣。)
或问金银花散毒则有之,未必如是之神。曰∶金银花之功效,实不止此。金银花无经不
入,
而其专入之经,尤在肾、胃二经。痈毒,止阴、阳之二种,阳即胃,而阴即肾。阳变阴者,
即胃之毒入于肾也;阴变阳者,即肾之毒入于胃也。消毒之品,非专泻阳明胃经之毒,即专
泻少阴肾经之毒。欲既消胃毒,而又消肾毒之药,舍金银花,实无第二品也。金银花消胃中
之毒,必不使毒再入于肾脏;消肾中之毒,必不使毒重流于胃腑。盖金银花能先事而消弥,
复能临事而攻突,更善终事而收敛也。
或疑金银花性甚缓,而痈疽毒势最急,何以功用之大竟至如此,岂急症缓治之法欤?曰∶
痈
疽势急,治法不啻救焚,乌可以缓治之哉。金银花性缓,而用之治痈疽也,则缓而变为急矣
,况用之四、五两,以至半斤、一斤,则其力更专,而气更勇猛,此正急症急治之也。
金银花,又名忍冬藤。味甘,性温,无毒。入心、脾、肺、肝、肾五脏,无处不到。它是消毒的神妙佳品。毒邪未形成时能发散,毒邪已形成时能消除,濒临死亡者可使其复生,已经败坏者可使其好转。所以治疗痈疽发背(背部发生的严重痈肿),必须将此药作为救命的神丹。但是它的味道纯正良善,性质又能补阴,虽然善于消毒,但功效较为缓慢,必须大量使用。(〔批注〕金银花消毒神效,必须多用,这确实是千古不变的定论。)如患发背痈,用量达七八两,加入甘草五钱、当归二两,一剂煎服,没有不立即消散的。其余身上、头上、足上各处的毒疮,减半剂量使用,无不神效。近代人治疗痈毒,也多知道使用金银花,然而绝对不敢用到半斤。殊不知背痈的毒邪,外表虽小但内里实则很大,不用这种重剂,则毒邪不易消除。而且金银花少用则力量单薄,多用则力量浓厚,尤其妙在补益先于攻伐,消毒而不耗伤气血,败毒的药物,没有比得上金银花的了。所以无论疾病初起之时还是出脓之后,或者发生变故、无可再救的时刻,都用前方投药,断无不起死回生的道理。正不必惊讶药剂剂量之大,而妄自产生怀疑和畏惧。有人嫌弃金银花太多,难以煎煮,不妨先取十余碗水,煎取金银花的汁液,再煎当归、甘草,这就更为得法。至于鬼击作痛(一种突发性疼痛病症),只是用它治疗的次要病症。止痢除温、益寿延龄的说法,则不可作为准则。
有人问:金银花败毒确实有之,但你却说它补阴,难道是被《本经》中“长年益寿”的话所迷惑了吗?回答说:金银花的补益性质实际上多于攻伐。攻毒的药物,没有不散气的,而金银花不仅不散气,还能补气,更善于补阴。但少用时补益多于攻伐,多用时攻伐胜于补益。所以攻毒的药物,没有比金银花更好的了。如果怀疑金银花是长年益寿的药,那就不对了。只有极其纯和的物品,才可以长期服用以延年益寿;偏执霸道的药味,只能暂时投用以奏效。金银花只宜用来攻毒,而不宜用来补虚。如果被长年益寿之说迷惑,才相信金银花是补阴的药,那我还要劝人长期服用以增添寿命,为什么只说攻毒呢?
有人问:金银花解毒,近代人也多知道。但没有像你这样赞叹得如此神妙的,你是想显示书籍的神奇,不顾言辞夸大吗?回答说:金银花化毒的功效,我的话只阐扬了十分之五,其余尚未尽言。现在因你的提问,我将全部说出。当痈毒刚产生时,身体必定疼痛欲死,服用金银花,不知疼痛为何消失;当痈毒溃破流脓时,头部必定昏眩不能抬起,服用金银花,不知昏眩为何去除;等到痈毒收口时,伤口必定黑黯不能愈合,服用金银花,不知凹陷为何隆起。然而这还只是阳症(热证)的痈毒。如果是阴症(寒证)的痈毒,初生时,背部必定沉重如山,服用金银花,背部便轻如卸下负担;溃脓时,心中必定如火焚烧,服用金银花,心中便凉爽如饮浆水;收口时,肌肉必定如刀割般痛苦,服用金银花,皮肤便瘙痒如爪抓一般。然而这还是阴症而没有发生大变动的情况。倘若连痛痒都感觉不到,昏愦无知,内部可以洞见肺腑,外部仅剩皮骨,给食物不想吃,给汤水不想喝,性命悬于顷刻之间,等待死亡于须臾之际,如果能用金银花一斤,同人参五、六两,共同煎汁饮用,无不能在垂绝之际夺回魂魄,使已飞的灵魂返回。谁说金银花不是救人的仙草呢?它的功效确实巨大,不是我言辞夸大。(〔批注〕金银花神妙莫测,真有这样的效果。世人使用铁箍散、夺命丹、万应膏,甚至操刀活割人肉的,哪里懂得这个道理并使用此药呢?今天读这本书,如同当头棒喝,全身汗下,顿时改正以前的错误,这与立地成佛有何不同?如果迷而不悟,则将永远堕入阿鼻地狱。)
有人问:金银花散毒确实有之,未必像你说的那样神奇。回答说:金银花的功效,实在不止于此。金银花无处不入,而它专门进入的经络,尤其在于肾、胃二经。痈毒,只有阴、阳两种,阳即指胃,阴即指肾。阳变阴,就是胃的毒邪传入肾;阴变阳,就是肾的毒邪传入胃。消毒的药物,不是专门泻阳明胃经的毒,就是专门泻少阴肾经的毒。想要既消胃毒,又消肾毒的药物,除了金银花,实在没有第二样。金银花消除胃中的毒邪,必定不让毒邪再进入肾脏;消除肾中的毒邪,必定不让毒邪重新流入胃腑。因为金银花能事先消弥毒势,又能事发时猛烈攻突,更善于事后收敛愈合。
有人怀疑金银花性质很缓,而痈疽毒势最急,为什么功效竟然这么大,难道是急症缓治的方法吗?回答说:痈疽势态紧急,治疗方法无异于救火,怎么可以用缓治呢?金银花性质虽缓,但用来治疗痈疽时,则缓变为急了,何况用量达到四、五两,以至半斤、一斤,那么它的力量更专一,气势更勇猛,这正是急症急治的方法。
Jinyinhua (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos), also known as Rendongteng (Lonicerae Caulis), has a sweet flavor and is warm in nature, non-toxic. It enters the five zang organs: Heart, Spleen, Lung, Liver, and Kidney, penetrating every meridian without exception. It is a divine product for detoxification. When pathogenic heat-toxin has not yet formed, it disperses it; when toxin has already formed, it eliminates it; those near death can be revived, and those already deteriorated can be restored. Therefore, for treating carbuncle and gangrene of the back (Fabei, a severe carbuncle on the back), this herb must be used as a life-saving elixir. However, its flavor is pure and benign, and its nature can nourish Yin. Although it excels at detoxification, its efficacy is relatively slow, so it must be used in large doses. ([Commentary] Jinyinhua has divine effects in detoxification and must be used in large amounts; this is indeed an unchanging conclusion through the ages.) For example, in cases of Fabei carbuncle, use 7 to 8 liang, add 5 qian of Gancao (Licorice Root) and 2 liang of Danggui (Angelica Sinensis), decoct one dose and drink it; there will be no case where it does not dissipate immediately. For other toxic sores on the body, head, or feet, reduce the dosage by half, and they will all achieve miraculous effects. In recent times, many people treat carbuncle toxins with Jinyinhua, but absolutely dare not use half a jin (approx. 500g). They do not realize that although the external appearance of back carbuncles may seem small, the internal toxin is actually vast; without such a heavy dose, the toxin is difficult to eliminate. Moreover, when used in small amounts, Jinyinhua's power is single-minded; when used in large amounts, its power is concentrated. Its particular brilliance lies in tonifying before attacking, detoxifying without consuming Qi and Blood. Among herbs that destroy toxins, none surpass Jinyinhua. Thus, whether at the initial stage, after pus discharge, or during sudden changes and moments of hopelessness, administering the aforementioned prescription will invariably bring the dying back to life. One should not be surprised by the heavy dosage nor blindly generate doubt and fear. If one dislikes the large quantity of Jinyinhua being difficult to decoct, one may first take more than ten bowls of water, decoct the juice of Jinyinhua, and then decoct Danggui and Gancao; this method is even more appropriate. As for pain caused by "Ghost Strike" (a sudden onset painful condition), it is merely a minor application. Claims that it stops dysentery, removes warmth, benefits longevity, and extends life should not be taken as standard doctrine.
Someone asked: "Jinyinhua does indeed destroy toxins, but you say it nourishes Yin. Are you confused by the words 'benefits longevity' in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*?" I replied: "The tonifying nature of Jinyinhua is actually greater than its attacking nature. Herbs that attack toxins invariably scatter Qi, whereas Jinyinhua not only does not scatter Qi but can also tonify Qi and excels at nourishing Yin. However, when used in small amounts, tonification exceeds attack; when used in large amounts, attack exceeds tonification. Therefore, among herbs that attack toxins, none are superior to Jinyinhua. If one doubts that Jinyinhua is a herb for long-term longevity, that is incorrect. Only extremely pure substances can be taken long-term to extend life; biased and domineering flavors can only be temporarily administered to achieve effect. Jinyinhua is suitable for attacking toxins but not suitable for tonifying deficiency. If one is confused by the theory of long-term longevity and believes Jinyinhua is a Yin-nourishing herb, I would advise people to take it long-term to add years to their lives, rather than only speaking of attacking toxins."
Someone asked: "Modern people also know that Jinyinhua detoxifies. But none praise it as miraculously as you do. Do you wish to display the奇 (wonder) of the book, disregarding exaggeration?" I replied: "Regarding Jinyinhua's ability to transform toxins, my words have only highlighted five-tenths of its efficacy; the rest remains unsaid. Now, due to your question, I will reveal everything. When a carbuncle toxin first arises, the body suffers intense pain bordering on death; taking Jinyinhua, one wonders how the pain disappears. When the carbuncle ulcerates and discharges pus, the head suffers dizziness making it impossible to lift; taking Jinyinhua, one wonders how the dizziness vanishes. When the carbuncle wound closes, the opening becomes dark and depressed, unable to heal; taking Jinyinhua, one wonders how the depression rises. However, this refers only to Yang-type (Heat-pattern) carbuncles. If it is a Yin-type (Cold-pattern) carbuncle, upon arising, the back feels heavy as if carrying a mountain; taking Jinyinhua, the back feels light as if burden removed. Upon ulceration, the heart feels like burning fire; taking Jinyinhua, the heart feels cool as if drinking syrup. Upon closing, the flesh feels like knife cutting; taking Jinyinhua, the skin feels itchy as if scratched by claws. Yet this still refers to Yin-type carbuncles without major transformation. If pain and itch are unknown, dizziness and confusion are insensible, internal organs are visible through the skin, and externally only skin and bone remain; given food but no desire to eat, given soup but no desire to drink, life hanging by a thread, awaiting death in an instant—if one uses one jin of Jinyinhua together with 5 to 6 liang of Renshen (Ginseng Root), decocts them together and drinks the juice, one will undoubtedly snatch the soul from the brink of death and return the spirit that has already flown away. Who says Jinyinhua is not a divine grass that saves lives? Its merit is truly great, not merely my exaggerated words. ([Commentary] Jinyinhua's divine and unpredictable effects are indeed as described. People who use Tiegusan (Iron Band Powder), Duomingdan (Life-Grabbing Pill), Wanyinggao (Universal Ointment), or even operate knives to cut human flesh alive, how could they understand this principle and use this herb? Reading this volume today is like a blow to the head, causing sweat to pour down the whole body and instantly correcting past errors; what difference is there from achieving Buddhahood in this very life? If one remains deluded and does not awaken, one will fall eternally into Avici Hell.)"
Someone asked: "Jinyinhua does disperse toxins, but surely not as miraculously as you claim." I replied: "The efficacy of Jinyinhua is indeed not limited to this. Jinyinhua penetrates every meridian, but its specific entry points are particularly the Kidney and Stomach meridians. Carbuncle toxins exist in only two types: Yin and Yang. Yang corresponds to the Stomach, and Yin corresponds to the Kidney. Yang transforming into Yin means Stomach toxin entering the Kidney; Yin transforming into Yang means Kidney toxin entering the Stomach. Detoxifying agents either specifically purge the Yangming Stomach meridian's toxin or specifically purge the Shaoyin Kidney meridian's toxin. To find a herb that eliminates both Stomach toxin and Kidney toxin, apart from Jinyinhua, there is truly no second choice. Jinyinhua eliminates toxin in the Stomach without allowing it to re-enter the Kidney; it eliminates toxin in the Kidney without allowing it to flow back heavily into the Stomach. This is because Jinyinhua can prevent toxin formation beforehand, attack fiercely when crisis occurs, and excel at convergence and healing afterward."
Someone doubted: "Jinyinhua's nature is very slow, while carbuncle and gangrene toxin trends are most urgent. Why is its efficacy so great? Is this the method of treating urgent conditions with slow remedies?" I replied: "Carbuncle and gangrene trends are urgent; treatment methods are akin to putting out a fire, how can one use slow treatment? Although Jinyinhua's nature is slow, when used to treat carbuncles and gangrene, slowness transforms into urgency. Moreover, when used in 4 to 5 liang, up to half a jin or one jin, its power becomes more focused and its Qi more vigorous. This is precisely the method of treating urgent conditions with urgent measures."