气味苦涩平。 止味衄。破症。治肠风赤白痢。崩中带下。（俱烧灰存性用）烧黑性涩。
凡失血去多。淤滞已尽者。用之为当。 与乱发同用。更良。年久败棕。入药尤妙。下血不
止。棕榈皮半斤。栝蒌一个。烧灰。每服二钱。米饮调下。
〔论〕 棕榈皮用止吐衄。世类以其苦涩为功。夫血溢岂遂以苦涩止。且能止者又何以
能破（破症）乎。要知兹木每皮一匝为一节。二旬一采皮。转复生上。是以化为生。于人身
血分之生化。诚有合焉者。又其皮有丝毛。错纵如织。剥取缕解。于人身血络之如织而复有
条理更相合焉。阅方书主治。于下血尤多。大约能使不归经络之血。胥以就理。其功固在苦
涩之外矣。夫血脏即风脏。血之不能和而就理者。乃风脏还病于肠胃之由也。如止以苦涩奏
功。岂遂能疗肠风而得当耶。
凡暴得吐血。瘀滞方动。崩中。恶露未竭。湿热下痢。肠风初发。带下方炽。悉不宜遽
用。
出巴蜀。（嘉州眉州戎州皆有）而形如豆。故名。有雌雄。紧小者是雌。有棱及两头尖
者是雄。雄者峻利。名刚子。（亦书江子）雌者稍缓。（濒湖） 出戎州者。壳上有纵纹。隐
起
味辛。气热。有大毒。 生猛熟缓。能吐（不去心则呕）能下。浮中得沉。升中得降。
气薄味浓。阳中阴也。入手足阳明经。 芫花为之使。畏大黄（同用泻反缓）黄连芦笋菰笋
酱豉冷水。反牵牛。 主治导气消积。（胃中无寒积者。弗用。）去脏腑停寒。心腹痛冷。气
血凝。症瘕结聚。坚积留饮。痰癖。惊痫。大腹水肿。治生冷硬物所伤。及一切病泄壅滞。
荡练五脏六腑。开通闭塞。利水谷道。疗喉痹耳聋。去恶肉。通女子月闭烂胎。不利丈夫阴。
若急治为水谷道路之剂。去皮心膜油生用。若缓治为消坚磨积之剂。炒去烟令紫黑用。可以
通肠。亦可以止泻。世所不知。（好古） 巴豆得老阳气化。其性大刚过急。入腹如火。（洁
古谓为斩关夺门之将）但可对待阴寒太过。已成坚凝闭塞之象。而阳火消沮。竟如死灰不燃
者。下顺水性。热助火气。一用两得之矣。若木土金水不及。纵有可下之证。用之则木愈抑
而胀。土愈陷而废。金愈燥而炎。水愈涸而结矣。（卢不远） 万物合太阳火气而生者。皆
有毒。巴豆生于盛夏六阳之令。而成于秋金之月。禀火性之急速。及坚金之刚猛。故性有大
毒。 仲景三物白汤。治寒结胸懊 满闷身无热者。巴豆一分。去皮心熬黑用。桔梗三分。
贝母三分。二味为末。内巴豆。臼中杵之。白汤和服。强人半钱。弱者减之。病在膈上。必
吐。在膈下。必利。不利。进热粥一杯。利过不止。进冷粥一杯。耳猝聋闭。巴豆一粒。纸
裹。针刺孔通气。塞之取效。痈疽溃后。腐肉不落。巴豆一味。炒至烟尽。存性。研膏敷上。
即拔毒去瘀生新。 急喉痹。同白矾枯过。去巴豆。单用矾。研细。吹入喉。流出热毒涎。
喉即宽。 二便不通。巴豆连油黄连各半两。捣作饼子。先滴葱盐汁在脐内。安饼子上。灸
二七壮。取利为度。 寒痰气喘。青橘皮一片。展开。入刚子一个。麻扎定。火上烧存性。
研末。姜汁和。酒一杯呷服。 寒癖。宿食不消。大便闭塞。巴豆仁一升。清酒五升。煮三
日夜。研熟。合酒微火煎。令可丸如豌豆大。每服一丸。水下。欲吐者二丸。 积滞泻痢。
腹痛里急。杏仁去皮尖。巴豆去皮心。各四十九个。同烧存性。研泥溶蜡和丸绿豆大。每服
二三丸。煎大黄汤下。间日一服。一加百草霜三钱。
附案 一老妇饮病。溏泄五年。肉食油物生冷犯之即作痛。服调脾升提止涩诸药。入腹
则泻反甚。脉沉而滑。此乃脾胃久伤冷积凝滞所致。法当以热下之。则寒去利止。遂用蜡匮
巴豆丸药五十丸与服。二日大便不通。不利。其泻遂愈。凡用巴豆治泄痢积滞诸病恒有不泻
而病去者。此药病相对。配合得宜尔。苟用所不当用。则犯轻用损阴之戒矣。 一女子值暑
月夜甚凉。患心痛。从右肋下起至心前歧骨陷处。并两乳下复连腰背两膀。俱骨缝胀痛。惟
右肋并心疼独甚。时作呕恶。初疑凉夜寒邪郁遏。气不流畅所致。用散寒行气药。不效。又
疑寒气郁滞。中有郁火。于前剂加散郁火药。亦不效。服加味煮黄丸。乃顿愈。姜黄三钱五
分。雄黄三分。去油巴霜八分。去油净。共为细末。醋糊丸黍米大。虚者七丸。实者十一丸。
姜汤送下。按经云。邪气盛则实。惟此辛热之剂。可以导之。前所用药。虽亦散寒。不能及
病也。用姜黄乳香者。寒能伤血故耳。
〔论〕 巴豆树植于西土。其叶在仲夏时新旧相代。而开花成穗即于斯时。结实作房亦
踵其后。盖禀地气之金。而受天气之火极其精专者。其实成熟至七八月渐落。此金化于火。
火终于金。专受炎火之气。而绝不受寒水之气者。夫金独受火气。而子气之水绝无与焉。所
以偏至之性。洵当有毒也。燥万物者莫如火。故能溃烂有形。损真阴而竭津液。且火气之精
专者。独为金用。金司降令。又从于最烈之火。故为斩关夺门之将也。其生用者。存金而去
火之毒。可以利水谷道而不伤脏腑。炒用者。从火而制金之锐。可以磨坚结积而不致暴厉。
本经所云荡练五脏六腑。盖生用合于荡。炒用合于练矣。金化于火。直司降令以透下焦。皆
其由阳入阴以神老阳之用。仲淳所谓阳中阴入手足阳明者。庶其近之。惟本至阳以破结阴。
非一切寒滞积久闭塞。固非其对待之治也。
此药沾人肌肉。无不灼烂。试以少许擦肤。须臾泡出。况肠胃柔嫩。下咽则徐徐而走。
能无溃烂之患耶。又何待下后而耗损真阴耶。不得已急证。欲借其开通道路。亦须炒熟压令
油净。入分许即止。不得多用。（仲淳）
〔修治〕 不去膜则伤胃。不去心则作呕。以沉香水浸。则能升能降。与大黄同用。泻
人反缓。为其性相畏也。 凡修事。敲碎去油净。用白绢袋包。甘草水煮。焙干。或研膏用。
日华子言。凡入丸散炒用。不如去心膜。换水煮五度各一沸。按巴豆之火毒。所畏者水也
。今去心膜换水煮。亦止于缓火毒尔。要知炒去烟。止可以去金之暴气。而火性尚存。金之
所畏者火。而巴豆又喜火也。治法宜中的为妙。 有用仁者。用壳者。用油者。 有生用者。
麸
巴豆油
治中风痰厥气厥中恶喉痹。 一切急病。咽喉不通。牙关紧闭。以巴豆研烂。绵纸
包。压取油。作然点灯。吹灭熏鼻中。或用热烟刺入喉内。即时出涎或恶血。便苏。 又舌
上无故出血。以熏舌之上下。自止。
棕榈皮
气味苦涩，性平。能止鼻出血，破除症积。治疗肠风赤白痢疾、崩漏及带下病。（以上均须烧成炭存性使用）烧黑后性质涩滞。
凡是失血过多，且瘀血已排尽的情况，使用棕榈皮是恰当的。与乱发同用，疗效更佳。陈旧的败棕入药尤为奇妙。若下血不止，取棕榈皮半斤、栝蒌一个，烧成炭灰，每次服用二钱，用米汤调服。
〔论述〕
棕榈皮用于止吐血和鼻衄，世人普遍认为其功效在于苦涩之性。然而，血液外溢难道仅靠苦涩就能止住吗？况且它既能止血，为何又能破症（破除症积）呢？要知道，这种树木的树皮每一圈为一节，每二十天采集一次树皮，之后又会重新生长上来，这是由“化”转化为“生”。这与人体血分的生化过程确实有契合之处。另外，它的皮上有丝毛，纵横交错如同编织，剥取时缕缕解开，这与人体血络如织且有条理、相互关联的特点更加吻合。查阅方书的主治记载，棕榈皮在下血证的治疗上应用很多。大概是因为它能使得不循经络运行的血液，都能回归正轨。它的功效固然包含苦涩，但更在于此。心主血，肝藏血，故称血脏即风脏。血液不能调和而回归正轨，乃是风脏病变波及肠胃的缘故。如果仅仅依靠苦涩奏效，怎么能恰当治疗肠风呢？
凡是突发吐血，瘀滞刚刚开始活动；崩中漏下，恶露未排干净；湿热引起的痢疾；肠风初发；带下病正盛，这些情况都不宜立即使用棕榈皮。
巴豆
产于巴蜀地区。（嘉州、眉州、戎州都有出产）形状像豆子，因此得名。分雌雄两种，紧小的是雌株，有棱角且两头尖的是雄株。雄株药性峻猛，名叫刚子。（也写作江子）雌株药性稍缓。（据李时珍《本草纲目》）产自戎州的巴豆，壳上有纵向纹路，微微隆起。
味辛，气热，有大毒。生用猛烈，熟用缓和。能催吐（不去心则会引起呕吐），能泻下。在浮沉升降中，得沉而降，升中有降。气薄味浓，属于阳中之阴。归手阳明大肠经和足阳明胃经。芫花为其引经药。畏大黄（同用则泻下作用反而减缓）、黄连、芦笋、菰笋、酱豉、冷水。反牵牛子。
主治引导气机，消除积滞。（胃中没有寒积者，不可使用。）去除脏腑中的停寒，治疗心腹冷痛，气血凝滞，症瘕结聚，坚积留饮，痰癖，惊痫，大腹水肿，治疗因生冷硬物所致的损伤，以及一切病理性泄泻和壅滞。荡涤五脏六腑，开通闭塞，通利水谷之道，治疗喉痹耳聋，去除恶肉，通女子月经闭止，堕胎。但不利于男子阴精。
如果是急症，作为通利水谷道路的药剂，需去皮、心、膜、油，生用。如果是缓症，作为消坚磨积的药剂，炒至冒烟令其呈紫黑色使用。既可以通肠，也可以止泻，世人对此并不知晓。（据李时珍引好古语）
巴豆顺应老阳之气化生，其性大刚过急，入腹如火。（洁古称之为斩关夺门之将）只能用来对待阴寒太过，已经形成坚凝闭塞之象，而阳气消损，竟如死灰不燃的情况。巴豆下行顺水性，热能助火气，一举两得。如果木、土、金、水五行之气不足，即使有可下的证候，使用巴豆则会使木气更受抑制而胀满，土气更陷废，金气更燥炎，水气更枯竭凝结。（据卢不远语）
万物合太阳火气而生的，都有毒。巴豆生于盛夏六阳之时，而成于秋金之月，禀受火性的急速，以及坚金的刚猛，所以性有大毒。
张仲景的三物白散（注：原文作三物白汤，实指三物白散），治疗寒实结胸，懊憹闷满，身体无热的症状。巴豆一分，去皮心，熬黑使用。桔梗三分，贝母三分。将后两味研为末，加入巴豆，在臼中杵匀，用白开水送服。体质强者服半钱，体弱者减量。病位在膈上，必然呕吐；病位在膈下，必然腹泻。如果不腹泻，喝一碗热粥；如果腹泻不止，喝一碗冷粥。耳朵突然聋闭，用巴豆一粒，用纸包裹，针刺孔通气，塞入耳中取效。痈疽溃烂后，腐肉不脱落，单用巴豆一味，炒至烟尽，存性，研膏敷上，即可拔毒去瘀生新。
急喉痹，与枯矾同用，去掉巴豆，单用矾，研细，吹入喉中，流出热毒涎液，喉咙即宽舒。
大小便不通，巴豆连油、黄连各半两，捣成药饼，先在脐内滴葱盐汁，放上药饼，灸十四壮，以大便通利为度。
寒痰气喘，青橘皮一片，展开，放入刚子一个，用麻线扎定，火上烧存性，研末，姜汁调和，酒一杯呷服。
寒癖，宿食不消，大便闭塞。巴豆仁一升，清酒五升，煮三日夜，研熟，合酒微火煎，制成如豌豆大的丸药。每次服一丸，水送下。想吐者服二丸。
积滞泻痢，腹痛里急。杏仁去皮尖，巴豆去皮心，各四十九个，同烧存性，研泥，溶蜡和丸，如绿豆大。每次服二三丸，煎大黄汤送下。隔日服一次。可加百草霜三钱。
附案
一位老妇人患有饮水病，溏泄五年，肉食、油腻、生冷食物触犯即作痛。服用调脾、升提、止涩等各种药物，入腹后腹泻反而加重。脉沉而滑，这是脾胃久伤，冷积凝滞所致。治法应当以热药下之，则寒去利止。于是用蜡匮巴豆丸药五十丸给她服用。两天后大便不通，不腹泻，她的泻病遂愈。凡是用巴豆治疗泄痢积滞诸病，常常有不泻而病去的，这是因为药病相对，配合得当。如果使用不当，就犯了轻用损阴的戒律。
一位女子正值暑月夜晚很凉，患心痛，从右肋下起至心前歧骨陷处，并两乳下复连腰背两膀，都感到骨缝胀痛，只有右肋和心疼特别严重。时常呕吐恶心。起初怀疑是凉夜寒邪郁遏，气不流畅所致，用散寒行气药，无效。又怀疑寒气郁滞，中有郁火，在前剂中加入散郁火药，也无效。服用加味煮黄丸，顿时痊愈。处方：姜黄三钱五分，雄黄三分，去油巴霜八分（去油净），共为细末，醋糊丸如黍米大。虚者七丸，实者十一丸，姜汤送下。按经文说，邪气盛则实，只有这种辛热的药剂，可以导之。前面所用的药，虽然也是散寒，但不能治病。用姜黄、乳香的原因，是因为寒能伤血。
〔论述〕
巴豆树种植在西土，其叶子在仲夏时新旧交替，开花成穗就在这个时候，结实作房也紧随其后。大概是禀受了地气的金，而接受了天气的火极其精专。其实成熟到七八月逐渐掉落。这是金化于火，火终于金，专门接受炎火之气，而绝不接受寒水之气。金单独接受火气，而子气之水完全没有参与。所以其偏至之性，确实是有毒的。使万物干燥的没有比火更强的，所以能溃烂有形之物，损伤真阴而竭尽津液。而且火气精专者，独为金所用，金司降令，又从最烈之火，所以是斩关夺门之将。生用的巴豆，保留金的特性而去火的毒性，可以通利水谷道路而不伤脏腑。炒用的巴豆，顺从火性而制约金的锐气，可以磨坚结积而不致暴厉。《本经》所说的荡练五脏六腑，大概生用合于“荡”，炒用合于“练”。金化于火，直接司降令以透下焦，都是由阳入阴以发挥老阳的作用。仲淳所说的阳中阴入手足阳明经，差不多接近这个意思。只有本至阳以破结阴，才不是针对一切寒滞积久闭塞的对治之法。
此药沾在人肌肉上，无不灼烂。试取少许擦皮肤，片刻起泡，何况肠胃柔嫩，咽下则徐徐运行，能不造成溃烂之患吗？又何待泻下后耗损真阴呢？不得已用于急证，想借其开通道路，也必须炒熟压令油净，入分许即止，不得多用。（据仲淳语）
〔修治〕
不去膜则伤胃，不去心则作呕。用沉香香水浸，则能升能降。与大黄同用，泻人反而减缓，因为其性相畏。
凡修制，敲碎去油净，用白绢袋包，甘草水煮，焙干，或研膏用。日华子说，凡入丸散炒用，不如去心膜，换水煮五次，每次一沸。按巴豆的火毒，所畏惧的是水。现在去心膜换水煮，也只是减缓火毒罢了。要知道炒去烟，只能去掉金的暴气，而火性尚存。金所畏惧的是火，而巴豆又喜火。治法宜中靶的为妙。有用仁的，有用壳的，有用油的。有生用的，麸……
巴豆油
治疗中风痰厥、气厥、中恶、喉痹。
一切急病，咽喉不通，牙关紧闭。将巴豆研烂，绵纸包，压榨取油，做成蜡烛点灯，吹灭熏鼻中，或用热烟刺入喉内，即时出涎或恶血，便苏醒。又舌上无故出血，以熏舌之上下，自止。
Palmae Fructus (Areca Catechu) / Crotonis Fructus (Croton Seed)
**Palmae Cortex (Zongluo Pi)**
Taste: Bitter, astringent. Nature: Neutral.
Functions: Stops epistaxis (nosebleed), breaks up masses (accumulations). Treats intestinal wind with bloody and white dysentery, metrorrhagia (uterine bleeding), and leukorrhea. (All should be carbonized to retain their properties). When carbonized, it becomes astringent.
It is appropriate for use in cases of excessive blood loss where stasis has been completely cleared. It works better when used together with disordered hair (Luankou). Old, decayed palm fiber is especially excellent for medicinal use. For persistent lower gastrointestinal bleeding, take half a jin (approx. 300g) of Palmae Cortex and one Trichosanthes fruit (Gualou), carbonize them, and take two qian (approx. 6-10g) per dose, mixed with rice water.
[Discussion]
Palmae Cortex is used to stop hematemesis (vomiting blood) and epistaxis. The world generally attributes its efficacy to its bitter and astringent nature. However, can blood extravasation be stopped merely by bitterness and astringency? Moreover, if it can stop bleeding, how can it also break up masses? One must understand that the bark of this tree forms one ring per section; the bark is harvested every twenty days and regenerates upwards. Thus, transformation leads to generation. This aligns well with the generation and transformation of blood in the human body. Furthermore, its bark contains fibrous hairs arranged in a crisscross pattern like weaving. When peeled and separated into threads, it resembles the intricate yet orderly network of blood collaterals in the human body. Reviewing medical texts regarding its indications, it is used frequently for lower bleeding. It likely functions by guiding blood that does not follow the meridians back to their proper course. Its merit lies beyond mere bitterness and astringency. The Heart governs blood, and the Liver stores blood; thus, the "Blood Organ" is also the "Wind Organ." When blood cannot harmonize and return to order, it is because the Wind Organ's pathology affects the intestines and stomach. If it relied solely on bitterness and astringency, how could it appropriately treat intestinal wind?
In cases of sudden hematemesis where stasis is just beginning to move, metrorrhagia where lochia has not exhausted, damp-heat dysentery, early-stage intestinal wind, or active leukorrhea, Palmae Cortex should not be used abruptly.
**Crotonis Fructus (Badou)**
Originates from Ba and Shu regions. (Produced in Jiazhou, Meizhou, and Rongzhou). It resembles a bean, hence the name. It is divided into male and female types. Tight and small ones are female; those with ridges and pointed ends are male. Male fruits have a harsh and potent nature and are called Gangzi (also written as Jiangzi). Female fruits are slightly milder. (According to Li Shizhen). Croton seeds from Rongzhou have longitudinal wrinkles on the shell, slightly raised.
Taste: Pungent. Nature: Hot. Toxicity: Highly toxic.
Raw form is fierce; cooked form is mild. It induces vomiting (if the heart is not removed, it causes nausea) and purges. In terms of floating/sinking and ascending/descending, it achieves sinking through floating and descending through ascending. Qi is thin, taste is strong; it belongs to Yang within Yin. It enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. Genkwa Flos (Yuanhua) acts as its guide. It is inhibited by Radix Scutellariae (Huanglian), Rhizoma Imperatae (Lugen), Rhizoma Zizaniae (Gugen), fermented soybean paste (Jiangchi), and cold water. It is incompatible with Semen Pholiastae (Qianniuzi).
Indications: Guides qi and eliminates accumulations. (Do not use if there is no cold accumulation in the stomach). Removes stagnant cold from the zang-fu organs, treats cold pain in the heart and abdomen, qi and blood stagnation, zheng jia masses, hard accumulations and retained fluids, tan pi (phlegm masses), fright epilepsy, abdominal distension with edema, injuries caused by raw, cold, hard foods, and all pathological diarrhea and obstruction. It cleanses the five zang and six fu organs, opens blockages, promotes the passage of water and grain, treats throat bi (obstruction) and deafness, removes evil flesh, unblocks amenorrhea in women, and induces abortion. It does not benefit the male yin.
For acute conditions, used as an agent to open the pathways of water and grain, remove skin, heart, membrane, and oil, and use raw. For chronic conditions, used as an agent to dissolve hardness and grind down accumulations, stir-fry until smoking turns purple-black. It can both unblock the intestines and stop diarrhea, a fact unknown to the general public. (Citing Hao Gu)
Croton seed develops according to the transformation of old Yang qi. Its nature is extremely rigid and urgent, entering the abdomen like fire. (Jiegu referred to it as the General who seizes the gates and breaches the walls). It can only be used to counter excessive Yin-cold that has formed a state of hard coagulation and blockage, where Yang fire has diminished and remains unlit like dead ash. Croton seed descends following the nature of water, and heat assists the Qi of fire, achieving two benefits with one application. If Wood, Earth, Metal, or Water elements are deficient, even if there are signs suitable for purging, using Croton seed will cause Wood to be more suppressed leading to distension, Earth to sink and fail, Metal to become dry and inflamed, and Water to become depleted and knotted. (Citing Lu Bu Yuan)
All things born combining with the Solar Fire Qi are toxic. Croton seed is born during the peak of Summer Yang (Six Yangs) and matures in the Autumn Metal month. It inherits the rapid nature of Fire and the rigidity of solid Metal, hence its high toxicity.
Zhang Zhongjing's Sanwu Bai San (Three-Ingredient White Powder), treating Cold-Shi Jie Xiong (Cold-Excess Chest Binding) with restlessness, fullness, and no fever: Croton seed 1 fen, skin and heart removed, roasted black. Jiegeng 3 qian, Beimu 3 qian. Grind the latter two into powder, add Croton seed, pound in a mortar, mix with warm water, and take. Strong adults take half qian, weaker individuals reduce the dose. If the disease is above the diaphragm, vomiting will occur; if below, diarrhea will occur. If no diarrhea, drink a cup of hot porridge; if diarrhea is excessive, drink a cup of cold porridge. For sudden deafness and ear blockage, wrap one Croton seed in paper, prick holes for ventilation, and insert into the ear for effect. After abscesses ulcerate, if foul tissue does not fall off, use single Croton seed, stir-fry until smoke ceases, retain properties, grind into paste, and apply externally to draw out toxins, remove stasis, and generate new tissue.
For acute throat bi, use with calcined alum, remove Croton seed, use only alum, grind fine, and insufflate into the throat to discharge hot toxic saliva, relieving the throat.
For obstruction of urination and defecation, mix Croton seed with oil and Radix Scutellariae (Huanglian) 0.5 liang each, pound into cakes. Apply scallion and salt juice to the umbilicus, place the cake on top, moxa for fourteen moxibustions, until bowel movement occurs.
For cold-phlegm asthma, take one piece of Qingjupi (Green Tangerine Peel), unfold it, insert one Gangzi (Male Croton), tie tightly with hemp thread, roast over fire to retain properties, grind into powder, mix with ginger juice, and sip with wine.
For Han Pi (Cold Masses), undigested food retention, and fecal impaction: Take one sheng of Croton kernel and five sheng of clear wine, boil for three days and nights, grind thoroughly, combine with wine, simmer gently, and form pills the size of pea seeds. Take one pill with water. To induce vomiting, take two pills.
For stagnation-induced diarrhea and dysentery, abdominal pain with tenesmus: Remove skin and tips of Apricot Kernels (Xingren), remove skin and heart of Croton seeds, forty-nine of each. Roast together to retain properties, grind into mud, melt wax, and form pills the size of mung beans. Take two or three pills, decocted with Radix Scutellariae (Dahuang) soup. Take every other day. Can add Sanbaocang (Barn Soil) 3 qian.
**Attached Cases**
An elderly woman suffered from drinking-water disease and loose stools for five years. Pain occurred immediately upon consuming meat, oily foods, or cold items. She took various medicines for spleen regulation, lifting, and astringency, but diarrhea worsened after ingestion. Pulse was deep and slippery. This was due to long-term spleen and stomach injury causing cold accumulation stagnation. The method should be to purge with hot medicine, so cold leaves and diarrhea stops. Fifty pills of Croton seed encapsulated in wax were administered. Two days later, stool was blocked, no diarrhea, and her condition resolved. Whenever Croton seed is used to treat diarrhea, dysentery, and stagnation, there are often cases where the patient does not purge but the disease is cured. This is because the medicine matches the disease and is combined appropriately. Improper use violates the warning against light usage damaging Yin.
A young woman, in the height of summer on a cool night, suffered from heart pain starting from the right hypochondrium extending to the xiphoid process depression, and connecting to the lower breasts, waist, back, and shoulders, with bone-segment distending pain. The right hypochondrium and heart pain were most severe. Occasional nausea and vomiting. Initially suspected cold pathogen constriction from the cool night causing qi stagnation; dispelling cold and moving qi herbs failed. Suspected cold stagnation with郁火 (depressed fire); adding herbs to dissipate depressed fire also failed. Took Jiawei Zhu Huang Wan (Modified Boiled Yellow Pill) and recovered instantly. Prescription: Curcuma Longa (Jianghuang) 3.5 qian, Realgar (Xionghuang) 3 fen, De-oiled Croton Paste (Ba Shuang) 8 fen (pure de-oiled). Grind into fine powder, make pills with vinegar paste the size of millet grains. Deficient patients take seven pills, excess patients take eleven pills, taken with ginger soup. According to the classics, "When pathogenic qi is exuberant, it is excess." Only this pungent-hot formula can guide it. Previous medications dispersed cold but did not reach the disease. Jianghuang and Boswellia Serrata (Ruxiang) were used because cold damages blood.
[Discussion]
The Croton tree is planted in western lands. Its leaves replace old with new in mid-summer, flowering into spikes at this time, and forming fruit capsules shortly after. It inherits the Metal of Earth Qi and receives the Fire of Heaven Qi with extreme specialization. Its fruit ripens and falls gradually in July and August. This is Metal transforming into Fire, Fire concluding in Metal. It exclusively receives blazing fire Qi and absolutely rejects cold water Qi. Metal alone receives Fire Qi, while the Water of its offspring has no part in it. Therefore, its biased nature is indeed toxic. Nothing dries things more than fire; thus, it can ulcerate有形 (tangible matter), damage True Yin, and exhaust body fluids. Since the specialized Fire Qi is uniquely utilized by Metal, and Metal governs descending, following the fiercest Fire, it is the General who seizes the gates. Raw Croton retains Metal and removes Fire toxicity, promoting water/grain passage without damaging zang-fu. Cooked Croton follows Fire to restrain Metal's sharpness, grinding hard accumulations without being violent. The Ben Jing statement about cleansing the five zang and six fu organs implies raw use corresponds to "cleansing" (dang) and cooked use to "refining" (lian). Metal transforms into Fire, directly governing descending to penetrate the lower jiao, all acting from Yang into Yin to utilize the power of Old Yang. Zhongchun's description of "Yang within Yin entering Hand and Foot Yangming" is close to this. Only by using supreme Yang to break Yin knots is it a counter-treatment for all cold stagnation and long-standing blockages.
This drug burns muscles upon contact. A small amount rubbed on skin causes blisters quickly. How much more so for the tender intestines and stomach? Swallowing it slowly moves through, inevitably causing ulceration. Why wait for purging to consume True Yin? In desperate acute cases, borrowing its ability to open pathways, it must be cooked thoroughly, pressed to remove all oil, limited to a few fen, and never overdosed. (Citing Zhong Chun)
[Processing]
If membranes are not removed, it damages the stomach. If the heart is not removed, it causes vomiting. Soaking in Agarwood-scented water allows it to ascend and descend. Combined with Dahuang, purgative action slows due to mutual inhibition.
For processing, crush, remove oil completely, pack in white silk bag, boil in Licorice root water, bake dry, or grind into paste. Ri Huazi stated that for pills and powders, stir-frying is inferior to removing heart and membrane, boiling in changed water five times for one boil each. Regarding Croton's fire toxicity, water is what inhibits it. Changing water and boiling reduces fire toxicity. Stir-frying removes smoke only removes Metal's violent Qi, but Fire nature remains. Metal fears Fire, and Croton loves Fire. Treatment methods should aim for precision. Some use kernels, some shells, some oil. Some use raw...
**Croton Oil**
Treats wind-stroke phlegm syncope, qi syncope, sudden evil invasion, and throat bi.
For all acute conditions with throat obstruction and locked jaw: Grind Croton seed, wrap in cotton paper, press to extract oil, make a candle, light it, blow out, and fumigate the nose. Or insert hot smoke into the throat to discharge phlegm or evil blood, restoring consciousness. For spontaneous bleeding from the tongue, fumigate above and below the tongue to stop bleeding.