典藏书目

Arisaema (Tian Nan Xing), also known as Tiger's Palm (Hu Zhang), derives its name from the leaf shape resembling a tiger's palm. Its rhizome is round and white, resembling the Star of Longevity (an old man star), hence the name Arisaema (Tian Nan Xing). However, the part used for medicinal purposes is the rhizome, not the leaves.

It originates from the mountains and valleys of Hanzhong and Yuanju (modern Heze, Shandong). It is also found in districts near roads in Andong and Hebei provinces. Sprouts emerge in April, growing over one chi tall. Leaves wither in September. When harvested, the rhizome initially resembles a bean, gradually enlarging to look like Pinellia Ternata (Ban Xia) but flatter. After many years, it becomes round, reaching one cun in size, similar to a chicken egg, with buds sprouting all around, round as the tip of a finger. (Note: The taste and aroma are bitter, warm, and sharply acrid; it is toxic. It belongs to Yin within Yang, capable of ascending and descending. It is a primary herb for the Lung Meridian and also enters the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it treats heart pain, chest diaphragm disorders, metal wounds (Jin Chuang), and stomach cold.)

(Here the original text contains lacunae or disordered lines. Based on context and common formulas, the logic is supplemented: If wind pathogen causes lockjaw, use Arisaema (Tian Nan Xing) combined with Cinnamon Twig Decoction (Guizhi Tang) and Aconite Root (Fuzi); if wind-phlegm is congested, take half liang of Arisaema from the northwest border, add realgar powder, mix with ginger juice into powder, use amber as a guide, and administer with Calamus Decoction daily. If startled causing gallbladder deficiency and fright, soak Arisaema seven times in decoction, add Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu) powder one qian, seven silkworms, grind into powder, and apply to the face/head lesions.)

[Discussion] Arisaema (Tian Nan Xing) has an extremely acrid and drying nature, yet its main indication is wind diseases. Is this due to seeking resonance through similar qi, treating wind-dryness by following its nature? Not entirely so.

Wind diseases differ between Yin deficiency and Yang deficiency. The wind treated by Arisaema (Tian Nan Xing) is not wind generated from Yin deficiency where Yang cannot transform it, but rather wind resulting from Yang deficiency where Yin cannot be transformed. Li Dongyuan (Haicang) therefore advocated using it to tonify Liver wind... (The original text here is incomplete and interspersed with characters like "also", "mass", "wind still", suggesting supplementary discussion on the differentiation of excess and deficiency in wind syndromes.)

For cases of Yin deficiency with dry phlegm, it is strictly contraindicated. (Commentary by Shicai: The taste is pungent, bitter, and greatly warm. Its drying and acrid nature is similar to Pinellia Ternata (Ban Xia), but its toxicity exceeds that of Ban Xia, thus it can also induce abortion.)

[Processing] Those weighing more than one qian have concentrated qi and doubled efficacy. Combined with Saposhnikovia Divaricata (Fangfeng), it does not cause numbness. Combined with Ox Gallstone (Niudan Dan), it is not overly drying. Processed with fire roasting, it loses its toxicity.

For fresh use in treating wind-phlegm, it must be washed clean with warm water, then soaked in Alum solution (Baifan Tang) or Soap Pod decoction (Zaojiao Jianzhi) for three days and nights, changing the water daily, and dried before use.