味苦,平,有毒。主治蛊毒,邪气,鬼疰诸毒,破症瘕积聚,大水,
下三虫。治头眩,杀鬼魅。一名乌园。生九嶷山谷,五月 。方家皆云,是夜干苗,无鸢尾
之名,主治亦异,此当别一种物。方亦有用,鸢头者即应是其根,治体相似,而本草不显之。
(敦煌本《新修》卷十,《大观》卷十,《政和》二四六页)
主治毒肿结热。
本出始兴,今都下亦种之。状如乌 而布地,花紫色,根似附子,苦酒摩涂肿,亦效,
不入余药。(《大观》卷十,《政和》二四六页)
味辛,温,无毒。主治邪气,诸痹,疼酸,续绝伤,补骨髓。一名连木。生蜀郡山
谷。采无时。(《新修》一六六页,《大观》卷十四,《政和》三五七页)
味辛、咸,温,有小毒。主治风痹,死肌,邪气,风头泪出,下水,利九窍,杀鬼、
精物。治腹胀满,消谷,破咳嗽囊结,妇人胞不落,明目益精。可为沐药,不入汤。生雍州
川谷及鲁邹县,如猪牙者良。九月、十月采荚,阴干。(青葙子为之使,恶麦门冬,畏空青
、人参、苦参。)
今处处有,长尺二者良。世人见其皆有虫孔,而未尝见虫形,皆言不可近,令人恶病,
殊不尔。其虫状如草菜上青虫,荚微欲黑,便出,所以难见尔。但取生者看,自知之也。(《新
修》一六六页,《大观》卷十四,《政和》三四一页)
【鸢尾】
味苦,性平,有毒。主治蛊毒、邪气、鬼疰(一种由恶鬼或疫气引起的慢性消耗性疾病)等各种毒邪,能破除症瘕积聚(腹内结块),治疗水肿,驱除体内的三种寄生虫。治疗头晕目眩,杀灭鬼魅邪祟。又名乌园。生长在九嶷山的山谷中,五月采收。医方家都说,这是夜干(一种植物)的幼苗,没有鸢尾这个名字,主治功效也各不相同,这应当是另一种药物。医方中也有使用鸢头(鸢尾的根茎)的,应该就是这种药的根部,治疗作用相似,但《本草经》中没有明确记载。(敦煌本《新修本草》卷十,《大观本草》卷十,《政和证类本草》二四六页)
主治毒肿结热。
原本产于始兴,现在京城附近也有种植。形状像乌韭(一种植物)而铺散在地面上,花呈紫色,根部类似附子,用醋研磨后涂抹于肿处,也有效,但不入其他复方药中使用。(《大观本草》卷十,《政和证类本草》二四六页)
【皂荚】
味辛,性温,无毒。主治邪气、各种痹证、疼痛酸楚,接续断裂损伤,补益骨髓。又名连木。生长在蜀郡的山谷中。随时可以采摘。(《新修本草》一六六页,《大观本草》卷十四,《政和证类本草》三五七页)
味辛、咸,性温,有小毒。主治风痹、死肌(肌肤麻木不仁)、邪气、头痛流泪,通利水道,通畅九窍,杀灭鬼精物(指致病的邪祟)。治疗腹胀满,促进消化,破除咳嗽导致的胸中结聚,治疗妇人胞衣不下,明目益精。可作为洗浴用药,不入煎剂汤药。生长在雍州的川谷及鲁地邹县,像猪牙形状的质地优良。九月、十月采集荚果,阴干。(青葙子为其使药,畏麦门冬、空青、人参、苦参。)
现在到处都有生长,长一尺二的质地优良。世人见其荚果上都有虫孔,却从未见过虫形,都说不可靠近,会使人得恶病,其实并非如此。这种虫子形状像草菜上的青虫,荚果稍微变黑时就会出来,所以难以见到。只要取生的来看,自然就知道其中的道理了。(《新修本草》一六六页,《大观本草》卷十四,《政和证类本草》三四一页)
[Iris Tectorum]
Bitter in flavor, neutral in nature, toxic. It treats gu poison (poison caused by parasites or toxins), evil qi, gui zhu (a chronic wasting disease attributed to malevolent spirits or epidemic pathogens), and various other toxins; it breaks up zheng zha (abdominal masses) and ji ju (accumulations), treats severe edata (water swelling), and expels three types of intestinal parasites. It treats dizziness and vertigo, and kills demonic influences. Also known as Wuyuan. Grows in the valleys of Mount Jiyi, harvested in May. Physicians state that this is the seedling of Yegan (a plant), which does not bear the name Iris Tectorum, and its therapeutic indications differ; thus, this must be a different substance. Prescriptions also utilize Yuan Tou (the rhizome of Iris Tectorum), which should be the root of this herb; their therapeutic properties are similar, but this is not explicitly stated in the Ben Cao Jing (Classic of Materia Medica). (Dunhuang manuscript of Xinxiu Bencao Vol. 10, Daguan Bencao Vol. 10, Zhenghe Zhenglei Bencao p. 246)
It treats toxic swellings with accumulated heat.
Originally produced in Shixing, it is now cultivated near the capital. Its appearance resembles Wujiu (a plant) spreading on the ground, with purple flowers and roots resembling Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata). Rubbed with vinegar and applied to swellings, it is also effective, but it is not included in other compound prescriptions. (Daguan Bencao Vol. 10, Zhenghe Zhenglei Bencao p. 246)
[Gleditsia Sinensis Fruit]
Pungent in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic. It treats evil qi, various bi syndromes (obstruction syndromes characterized by pain and numbness), pain and soreness, repairs severed injuries, and supplements the bone marrow. Also known as Lianmu. Grows in the valleys of Shujun. Can be harvested at any time. (Xinxiu Bencao p. 166, Daguan Bencao Vol. 14, Zhenghe Zhenglei Bencao p. 357)
Pungent and salty in flavor, warm in nature, slightly toxic. It treats wind-bi syndrome, dead flesh (numbness and insensibility of the skin), evil qi, headache with tearing, promotes water metabolism, unblocks the nine orifices, kills demonic essences and entities. It treats abdominal distension and fullness, aids digestion, breaks down accumulations associated with coughing, treats retained placenta in women, brightens the eyes, and benefits essence. It can be used for bathing preparations, but is not suitable for decoctions. Grows in the river valleys of Yongzhou and Zou County in Lu; those resembling pig teeth are of superior quality. The pods are harvested in September and October and dried in the shade. (Qiangxiangzi serves as its assistant herb; it is incompatible with Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Kongqing (Azurite), Renshen (Ginseng Radix), and Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix).)
It is found everywhere today; those one chi two cun long are of superior quality. People see holes made by insects in the pods but have never seen the insects themselves, claiming they should not be approached as they cause malignant diseases. This is not true. These insects resemble green caterpillars found on vegetables; they emerge when the pods begin to turn slightly black, which is why they are hard to see. One only needs to examine fresh ones to understand this. (Xinxiu Bencao p. 166, Daguan Bencao Vol. 14, Zhenghe Zhenglei Bencao p. 341)