禀天之阴气,得地之苦味,故味极苦气寒,有小毒。入足阳明、手足太阴经。以苦
寒之性,故能除温疾狂热,利水杀虫用。如脾胃虚实者忌。
楝实即金铃子。去皮复选肉,主温疾伤寒,大热烦狂,理膀胱小肠疝气吊痛,利小
便水道,杀三虫疥疮。根有雌雄、雄根赤无子大毒忌煎。雌根白子多微毒可采,东行者
佳,去青留白,单味煎酒,上半月服,大能杀虫,多则成团追下,皮当逐个推来,积聚
行疼痛止,研敷作痒虫疮。
按∶苦寒之性,宜于杀虫,若脾胃虚寒者禁之。
椿根白皮,禀地中之阴气以生,故味苦、涩,微寒,有毒。入手足阳明经。以苦
寒之性,故外洗疮疥风疽,去口鼻疳虫疥 且苦能燥湿,寒能除热,涩能收敛,故去肠
胃一切湿热蛔虫崩痢,与樗树皮功用相同。但樗树根叶更良,凡采不用西行者,采得后
布袋盛,贮阴干去粗皮,蜜炙用。
樗根白皮,即臭椿树皮,主洗疮疥风疽,去口鼻疳虫疥 止女人月信过度,久痢
带漏崩中,男子夜梦遗精,滑泄肠风痔漏缩小水,驱蛔虫。椿白皮,即香椿树皮取白者
佳,主疳 ,止血功同,女科任用。止堪丸散,不入汤煎,但泄泻由脾胃虚寒。崩滞由
真阴不足,及滞下积气未尽者,两种皆不可用。
络阳一妇人,耽饮无度,多食鱼蟹,蓄毒在脏,日夜二三十次,大便脓血杂下,大
肠连肛门痛不堪忍,以止血痢药不效,又以肠风药则益甚,盖肠风则有血无脓,如此半
年,气血渐弱,食减肌瘦,服热药腹愈痛,血愈下、服冷药则泄注食减,服温平药则病
不知,如此期所,垂命待尽,或人教服人参散,一服知,二服减,三服脓血皆定,遂常
服之而愈,其方治夹热下痢,脓血痛甚,多日不瘥,用樗根白皮一两,人参一两为末,
每服二钱,空心米饮,调服,忌油腻、湿面、青菜、果子、甜物、鸡、猪、鱼、羊、
蒜、薤、等味。
Lianshi (Fructus Meliae) inherits the Yin Qi of Heaven and obtains the bitter flavor from Earth; thus, its taste is extremely bitter, its nature is cold, and it has slight toxicity. It enters the Foot-Yangming, Hand-Taiyin, and Foot-Taiyin meridians. Relying on its bitter-cold nature, it can eliminate febrile diseases with high fever and mania, promote diuresis, and kill parasites. It is contraindicated for those with Spleen-Stomach deficiency or cold.
Lianshi is also known as Jinlingzi (Semen Toosendan). After removing the peel and selecting the flesh, it treats febrile diseases and Shanghan (Cold Damage), severe heat with restlessness and mania, regulates hernia pain radiating from the Bladder and Small Intestine, promotes urination through the urinary pathways, and kills "Three Worms" (parasites) and scabies. The root of the Chutree (Toona sinensis) has male and female varieties: Male roots are red, bear no fruit, have great toxicity, and are forbidden for decoction; Female roots are white, bear more fruit, have slight toxicity and can be harvested; those growing towards the East are preferred. When used, remove the green part and retain the white part. Decocted alone in wine and taken during the first half of the lunar month, it greatly kills parasites. If there are many parasites, they form clumps and are expelled downward; skin sores caused by insects are pushed out one by one. When ground and applied externally, it treats itching insect sores.
Note: The bitter-cold nature is suitable for killing parasites, but it is prohibited for those with Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold.
Chungen Baipi (Cortex Toonae), born from the Yin Qi within the Earth, tastes bitter and astringent, is slightly cold, and has toxicity. It enters the Hand-Yangming and Foot-Yangming meridians. Relying on its bitter-cold nature, when washed externally, it treats sores, scabies, wind-ju (fungal infections), and removes gnawing worms and scabies from the mouth and nose. Furthermore, bitterness dries dampness, cold clears heat, and astringency consolidates; thus, it eliminates all damp-heat in the Stomach and Intestines causing roundworms, metrorrhagia, and dysentery. Its function is identical to that of Chupi (Bark of Chutree). However, Chutree root and leaves are superior. When harvesting, do not use those growing towards the West. After harvesting, store in a cloth bag, dry in a shaded place, remove the coarse bark, and use after honey-frying.
Chugen Baipi (Inner Bark of Chinaberry Tree), which is the inner bark of the Chinaberry tree, treats washing sores, scabies, and wind-ju, removes gnawing worms and scabies from the mouth and nose. It stops excessive menstruation in women, chronic dysentery with leukorrhea, metrorrhagia and uterine bleeding, nocturnal seminal emission and slippery discharge in men, intestinal wind, hemorrhoids, and fistulae; it reduces urine volume and expels roundworms. Chunbaipi (Inner Bark of Chinese Toon), which is the inner bark of the Chinese Toon tree, taking the white part is best. It treats gan accumulation (pediatric malnutrition syndrome), has the same hemostatic effect, and is commonly used in gynecology. It can only be made into pills and powders, not decocted in soups. However, if diarrhea is caused by Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold, or if metrorrhagia/stagnation is due to True Yin insufficiency, or if dysenteric stagnation and qi retention are not yet exhausted, neither condition should use this herb.
A woman from Luoyang drank excessively without restraint and ate much fish and crab, accumulating toxins in the Zang organs. She had bowel movements twenty to thirty times day and night, passing pus and blood mixed together, with unbearable pain in the Large Intestine extending to the anus. Medications for stopping bloody dysentery were ineffective, and medications for intestinal wind worsened the condition, because intestinal wind presents with blood but no pus. This persisted for half a year, gradually weakening Qi and Blood, reducing appetite, and causing emaciation. Taking hot medicines increased abdominal pain and bleeding; taking cold medicines caused diarrhea and reduced appetite; taking warm-neutral medicines resulted in no improvement. After a full year, her life was hanging by a thread, waiting for death. Someone advised taking Renshen San (Ginseng Powder). After one dose, symptoms improved; after two doses, they decreased; after three doses, pus and blood stabilized. She continued taking it and recovered. This formula treats lower dysentery with heat, where pus, blood, and pain are severe and persist for many days. It uses one liang of Chugen Baipi and one liang of Renshen (Radix Ginseng), ground into powder. Take two qian per dose, mixed with rice water on an empty stomach. Avoid greasy foods, wet noodles, green vegetables, fruits, sweets, chicken, pork, fish, mutton, garlic, and shallots.