禀微阳之气以生,故味苦、涩,气平,无毒。凡血得热则行,遇涩则止,且苦能泻
热,涩可去脱,故主吐衄崩带。
棕榈子,九月采子,阴干入剂,血症宜求,涩肠禁泻痢,肠风养血,治崩中带下。
其皮入药,宜陈年者烧灰汤调,止鼻洪吐衄殊功。塞肠风崩带立效,赤白痢疾,并堪主
治。
属金有火,故味辛、苦,气平,无毒。入足厥阴,为活血凉血之药。故主风火相
搏,瘾疹浮肿,齿痈诸恶疮之要药也。
枫香脂,外科敷贴要药,主风瘙瘾疹最捷,退虚浮水气尤灵,搽齿龈,止齿痛。大
枫子去壳,取仁,其味辛苦,辛能散风,苦能杀虫,燥湿温热,能通行经络,世人用以
治大风疠疾,及疯癣疥癞诸疮,悉此意耳。然性热而燥,伤血损阴,不宜多服,用之外
治,其杀虫疥癣之功,不可备述也。
禀地中至阴之气,而兼水化,故味咸、苦,气大寒,无毒。气味俱浓,阴中之阴
也。入足阳明经。《经》曰∶热淫于内,治以咸寒。又曰∶在高者因而越之。故大毒热
心腹烦满,取吐而效,风虫齿痛,痰热瘰 ,非此不除。
胡桐泪,一名木律,口齿治毒门圣药。瘰 毒仙丹,毒热腹满心烦,水和服之取
吐,火毒面毒并驱。切勿多服,令吐无休。
禀春生之气,兼得西北金木之性,故味苦,气温,无毒。金主敛也,大肠属金,以
类相从,故主久痢肠滑,春为发生之令,温能和脾胃养腠理,故主生肌肉,水为润下,
色黑而象者,益主益血生精,和气安神,乌髭发也。得温暖之气,复兼收敛之功,故为
固涩精气之要药。
没食子,即无食子,虫蚀成孔眼者,勿
用。忌犯铜铁。主益血生精,安神和魄。烧黑灰浴阴毒,合他药染髭须,治溃疮肌肉不
生,主腹冷滑痢不禁,擦牙固齿,梦遗精滑,强阴治痿,助阳生男;禀春生生发之
气,故有功于种玉,兼金水收藏之性,故有功于止涩。
Zongluzi (Areca Palm Fruit) is generated by inheriting a slight amount of Yang Qi, thus its taste is bitter and astringent, its nature is neutral, and it is non-toxic. Generally, blood flows when heated and stops when astringed; furthermore, bitterness can purge heat, and astringency can prevent collapse. Therefore, it mainly treats hematemesis (vomiting blood), epistaxis (nosebleed), metrorrhagia (uterine bleeding), and leukorrhea.
Zongluzi seeds are harvested in the ninth lunar month, dried in the shade, and used in prescriptions. It is suitable for treating blood disorders, astringes the intestines to stop dysentery and diarrhea, treats intestinal wind (blood in stool), nourishes blood, and manages metrorrhagia and leukorrhea. Its bark is used medicinally; aged bark should be burned to ash and mixed with decoction. It shows remarkable efficacy in stopping severe epistaxis and hematemesis/epistaxis. It provides immediate relief for intestinal wind, metrorrhagia, and leukorrhea, and also treats bloody and purulent dysentery.
Fengxiangzhi (Liquidambar Resin) inherits the nature of Metal combined with Fire, so its taste is pungent and bitter, its nature is neutral, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian and acts as a herb that invigorates blood and cools blood. Thus, it is a key herb for treating conditions caused by the struggle between Wind and Fire, such as urticaria (itchy rashes), edema, dental abscesses, and various malignant sores.
Fengxiangzhi is an essential external application for surgery, most rapidly treating wind-induced itching and rashes, and particularly effective in resolving deficient floating edema. Applied to the gums, it stops toothache. Dafengzi (Big Maple Seed) kernels, after removing the shell, have a pungent and bitter taste. Pungency disperses wind, while bitterness kills parasites. With drying, dampness-resolving, warm, and hot properties, it unblocks meridians. People use it to treat leprosy (Hansen's disease) and various skin diseases like scabies and tinea, based on this principle. However, its nature is hot and drying, damaging blood and Yin, so it should not be taken internally in large doses. When used externally, its efficacy in killing parasites and treating tinea cannot be fully described.
Hutonglei (Tamarix Manna) inherits the extreme Yin Qi from the earth and combines with Water transformation, so its taste is salty and bitter, its nature is extremely cold, and it is non-toxic. Both its aroma and taste are strong, making it "Yin within Yin." It enters the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian. The *Classic* states: "For excessive heat inside, treat with salty and cold substances." It also says: "For ailments located high, induce vomiting to expel them." Therefore, it treats severe toxic heat causing heart and abdominal irritability and fullness, where inducing vomiting yields results; it eliminates wind-worm toothache and phlegm-heat-induced scrofula (tuberculous lymphadenitis), which cannot be removed without this herb.
Hutonglei, also known as Mulu, is a sacred medicine for treating toxicity and heat in the mouth and teeth. As part of the Scrofula Toxicity Immortal Pill, when mixed with water and taken to induce vomiting, it treats abdominal fullness and mental restlessness caused by toxic heat, driving away fire toxicity and facial toxicity. Do not take too much, lest vomiting becomes incessant.
Meishizi (Gallnut) inherits the Qi of Spring generation and combines with the nature of Northwest Metal and Wood, so its taste is bitter, its nature is warm, and it is non-toxic. Metal governs astringency, and the Large Intestine belongs to Metal; following similarity, it mainly treats chronic dysentery with intestinal slipping. Spring is the season of generation; warmth harmonizes the Spleen and Stomach and nourishes the interstices (couli), thus promoting muscle regeneration. Water moistens downward; those that are black in color and resemble the description further benefit blood, generate essence, harmonize Qi, calm the spirit, and darken beard and hair. Receiving warm Qi and possessing astringent power, it serves as a crucial herb for consolidating and securing Essence and Qi.
Meishizi, also called Wushi, should not be used if perforated by insects. Avoid contact with copper and iron. It benefits blood, generates essence, calms the spirit, and harmonizes the soul. Burned to black ash for bathing treats yin toxicity; mixed with other herbs for dyeing beard and hair; treats ulcers with poor muscle regeneration; treats cold abdomen and uncontrollable loose stools; rubbing teeth strengthens them; treats nocturnal emission and seminal leakage; strengthens Yin and treats impotence; aids Yang for male offspring; inheriting the generative Qi of Spring, it benefits reproduction (seed jade); combining with the storing nature of Metal and Water, it is effective for astringency.