禀春初之气而生,兼得金水木之性,故味辛、微酸,气温,无毒。生则辛而行血,
熟则甘而补中,辛能散结,温能通行,兼有微酸。故入肝而主血,凡血之凝滞者,皆能
行之。是血中行气药也。心主血,专理血分,故曰∶归心肠胃,瘀滞即去,则气血谓
畅五脏安,而胃热除矣。病患之气抑郁者多。凡人气血,惟利通和,韭性行而能补,
故曰最利病患,其暖膝除癖止浊止遗皆温中兼补之力也。韭子味辛甘温无毒,主梦中泄
精,尿血,盖韭乃入足厥阴少阴经,肾主闭藏,肝主疏泄,《经》云∶足厥阴病则为遗
尿,及为白淫,韭子入厥阴,甘温补肝,及命门之不足。故主之。有一贫叟病噎膈食入
即吐,胸中刺疼或令取韭汁入盐梅卤汁,少许细呷,得入渐加,忽吐稠涎数升而愈,此
亦仲景治胸痹用薤白,皆取辛温能散胃胸痰饮恶血之义之。
韭,虽充菜品,最利病患,春食则香,夏食则臭,温中下气,归心益阳,消一切瘀
血,疗喉间噎气,暖膝衍,和脏腑,除胸腹 癖痼冷,止茎管白浊精遗,安五脏,除胃
热。又捣如泥,加盐少许,蛇犬伤毒,作浓 频换立安,刑杖打血凝,薄敷连拍即散。
同鲫鱼鲜煮食,断卒下痢,同牛肉煮食,生寸白虫,食同蜜糖,杀人诚验,病后食发
困,酒后食昏神,久食过多,两目易暗,根汁绞出,汤剂可加,清胃脘,瘀血殊功,下
胸膈结气捷效,开中风音失,消中恶腹胀。仍有韭黄,未发粪土极嫩。作菹悦口,每为
祭品所珍,食不益人,甚能滞气。以其气尚抑郁未申故也。子止精浊遗漏,助阳止带,
补肝肾暖腰膝。
Born from the qi of early spring and possessing the natures of Metal, Water, and Wood, its flavor is pungent and slightly sour, its temperature is warm, and it is non-toxic. Raw, it is pungent and promotes blood circulation; cooked, it is sweet and tonifies the middle jiao. Pungency can dissipate nodules, warmth can promote circulation, combined with slight sourness. Thus, it enters the Liver channel and governs blood, capable of promoting the flow of any stagnant blood. It is a herb that moves qi within the blood. The Heart governs the blood vessels and specifically regulates the blood aspect, hence it is said: entering the Heart and intestines/stomach, once stasis is removed, qi and blood become smooth, the five zang organs are peaceful, and stomach heat is eliminated. Patients often suffer from depressed qi. Generally, human qi and blood benefit from smoothness and harmony; leek's nature is both moving and tonifying, hence it is said to be most beneficial for patients. Its ability to warm the knees, eliminate masses, stop leukorrhea, and arrest enuresis all stem from its power to warm the middle and tonify simultaneously. Leek seeds (Jiu Zi) are pungent, sweet, and warm, non-toxic, primarily treating nocturnal seminal emission and hematuria. This is because leek enters the Foot Jueyin (Liver) and Foot Shaoyin (Kidney) channels. The Kidney governs closure and storage, while the Liver governs dispersion and drainage. The *Classic* states: Disease of the Foot Jueyin manifests as urinary incontinence and white discharge (leukorrhea/spermatorrhea). Leek seeds enter the Jueyin channel, using their sweet-warm nature to tonify the Liver and address insufficiency of the Gate of Vitality (Mingmen). Hence, they are used to treat these conditions. A poor elderly man suffered from dysphagia (Yige), vomiting immediately after eating, with stabbing pain in the chest. Someone advised him to take leek juice mixed with a small amount of salt and plum brine, sipping it slowly. As he gradually increased the dose, he suddenly vomited several sheng of thick phlegm and was cured. This follows the principle of Zhang Zhongjing using Allium macrostemon (Xiebai) to treat chest bi (obstruction), both taking advantage of the pungent-warm nature to dissipate phlegm-fluids and evil blood in the stomach and chest.
Leek, although commonly used as a vegetable, is most beneficial for patients. Eaten in spring, it is fragrant; eaten in summer, it has an offensive odor. It warms the middle, directs qi downward, enters the Heart, benefits yang, eliminates all types of blood stasis, treats throat obstruction/qi stagnation, warms the knees, harmonizes the zang-fu organs, eliminates cold masses in the chest and abdomen, stops urethral leukorrhea and seminal emission, pacifies the five zang organs, and clears stomach heat. When mashed into a paste with a little salt, applied frequently to snake or dog bites/poison, it brings immediate safety. For blood stasis caused by beating with a stick, applying thinly and patting continuously disperses it. Boiled fresh with crucian carp, it stops acute diarrhea. Boiled with beef, it causes the growth of tapeworms (Cunbai Chong). Consumed with honey, it can be fatal, which is verified. Eating it after illness induces drowsiness; eating it after alcohol intoxication clouds the spirit. Long-term excessive consumption dims the eyes. Juice squeezed from the roots can be added to decoctions, clearing the stomach cavity and showing special efficacy for blood stasis, providing rapid relief for chest/diaphragm qi knotting, opening wind-stroke aphasia, and eliminating malignant abdominal distension. There is also "jiuhuang" (yellow leeks), which are extremely tender shoots grown in soil/fertilizer before emerging. Made into pickles, they are palatable and prized for sacrificial offerings, but do not benefit the body and can severely stagnate qi, because their qi is still depressed and unexpanded. Leek seeds stop seminal turbidity and leakage, assist yang, stop leukorrhea, tonify the Liver and Kidneys, and warm the waist and knees.