秦皮,功专眼科,去肝中久热,煎汁澄净,点洗无时,白膜遮睛,视物不见者,旋
效。亦肿作痛,流泪无休者殊功,益男子精衰,止妇人带下,风寒湿痹兼驱,热痢后重
且却。
味辛而热,无毒。亦以其辛热芬芳,为开发辟恶散结除冷之药也。
檀香入肺,肾、胃经,调气开胃,进食目痛。镇心辟邪,中恶鬼气,心痛霍乱,肾
气腹痛,恶毒肿痛,醋磨敷愈,然诸香动火耗气,夏月囊香辟臭,尚谓散真气,而开毛
孔,况服之乎?痈疽溃后,诸疮脓多,及阴虚火盛者忌之。
禀阳气以生,兼得雨露之清气而结,故气芬芳,味辛而无毒。气浓味薄,可升,可
降,阳也。入足阳明、太阴、少阴,兼入手少阴、足厥阴经。疗风水毒肿者,即风毒水
肿也。风为阳邪,郁于经络,游火相煽,则发出诸毒。沉香得雨露之精气,故能解风火
之毒,水肿者,脾湿也,脾恶湿而喜燥,辛香入脾,而燥湿则水肿自消,凡邪恶气中必
得口鼻而入,口鼻为阳明之窍,阳明虚则恶气易入,得芳芬清阳之气,则恶气除而脾胃
安矣。其主心腹痈,霍乱 癖诸症,皆调气之力也。
沉香,补肾顺气,抑阴助阳,治痢尤妙。吐泻兼疗邪恶气,风水肿毒,心腹痛霍
乱中恶,五脏能调,鬼疰堪辟,暖腰膝,壮元阳,破 癖,散郁结。凡冷气、逆气、郁
气总调,乃保和卫气上品药也。香而冲和,可调脾胃,温而下沉,可暖命门,但未免香
燥走泄。凡中气虚而气不归元,及阴亏火旺气虚下降并非所宜。
Qinpi (Cortex Fraxini), its efficacy is specialized in ophthalmology, clearing long-standing heat from the Liver. When decocted and clarified, applied to the eyes at any time, it produces rapid effects for conditions where a white membrane obscures the pupil and vision is lost. It also excels in treating redness, swelling, pain, and continuous tearing of the eyes. Furthermore, it benefits men with depleted essence, stops leukorrhea in women, dispels wind-cold-damp bi syndrome, and alleviates tenesmus caused by damp-heat dysentery.
Tangxiang (Sandalwood), taste pungent, nature hot, non-toxic. It serves as a medicine to develop yang, dispel malodorous pathogens, resolve nodules, and remove cold, owing to its pungent, hot, and fragrant properties. Tangxiang enters the Lung, Kidney, and Stomach meridians; it regulates qi, opens the appetite, promotes food intake, and treats eye pain. It calms the heart and spirit, dispels evil influences, and treats zhong-e (sudden collapse due to evil qi), heart pain, huoluan (cholera-like vomiting and diarrhea), kidney qi abdominal pain, and toxic swelling and pain; applying it ground with vinegar heals these conditions. However, all aromatic herbs tend to stir fire and consume qi. Even wearing sachets in summer to repel odors is said to scatter true qi and open the pores, let alone internal administration? It is contraindicated after the ulceration of carbuncles and sores, when there is excessive pus from various sores, and in cases of yin deficiency with flourishing fire.
Chenxiang (Agarwood) is born bearing yang qi and condenses with the clear qi of rain and dew, hence its fragrance and pungent taste without toxicity. Its qi is dense but its taste is light; it can ascend and descend, belonging to yang. It enters the Foot Yangming, Foot Taiyin, and Foot Shaoyin meridians, and additionally the Hand Shaoyin and Foot Jueyin meridians. Treating fengshui duzhong (wind-toxin edema): Wind is a yang pathogen; when depressed in the collaterals, wandering fire fans the flames, causing various toxins to erupt. Chenxiang obtains the refined essence of rain and dew, thus it can resolve wind-fire toxins. Edema is spleen dampness; the Spleen dislikes dampness and prefers dryness. Pungent aromatics enter the Spleen, dry dampness, and edema naturally resolves. Whenever evil qi invades, it must enter through the mouth and nose; the mouth and nose are the orifices of the Yangming. When Yangming is deficient, evil qi easily enters. Receiving the fragrant, clear, and yang qi removes the evil qi and stabilizes the Spleen and Stomach. Its management of heart and abdominal abscesses, huoluan, and pi accumulation (masses) relies on its qi-regulating power.
Chenxiang tonifies the Kidney, smooths qi, suppresses yin, assists yang, and is particularly excellent for treating dysentery. It simultaneously treats vomiting, diarrhea, and evil qi; wind-water edema and toxins; heart and abdominal pain, huoluan, and zhong-e; harmonizes the five zang organs; wards off guizhu (wandering pestilence); warms the waist and knees; strengthens yuan yang; breaks up pi masses; and disperses stagnation. It generally regulates cold qi, rebellious qi, and stagnant qi, making it a superior herb for preserving and protecting wei qi (defensive qi). Its fragrance is mild and harmonious, regulating the Spleen and Stomach; its nature is warm and sinking, warming the Mingmen (Gate of Vitality). However, it inevitably has drying and dispersing properties. It is not suitable for cases of middle qi deficiency with qi failing to return to its root, nor for yin deficiency with flourishing fire and qi deficiency leading to sinking.