叙曰∶血营气卫,胥有义焉。阴在内,阳之守也,故曰营。阳在外,阴之卫也,故曰卫
。二者宜调而不宜病,血一不调,则营守乎中者,反出于外而败之,微者迫于热,盛者真阳
不足以运血,而卫亦败也。今考名方二十八首,酌而用之,则调元之手矣。
当归(酒洗) 熟地黄(各三钱) 川芎(酒洗,一钱五分) 白芍药(酒炒,二钱)
血不足者,此方调之。
气、血,人身之二仪也。天地之道,阳常有余,阴常不足。人与天地相似,故阴血难成
而易亏。是方也,当归、芍药、地黄,味浓者也,味浓为阴中之阴,故能生血。川芎味薄而
气清,为阴中之阳,故能行血中之气。然草木无情,何以便能生血?所以谓其生血者,以当
归、芍药,地黄能养五脏之阴,川芎能调营中之气,五脏和而血自生耳。若曰四物便能生血,
则未也。师云∶血不足者,以此方调之则可。若上下失血太多,气息几微之际,则四物禁勿
与之。所以然者,四物皆阴,阴者天地闭塞之令,非所以生万物者也,故曰禁勿与之。
当归(二钱) 黄 (一两)
男、妇肌热,目赤面红,烦渴引饮,脉来洪大而虚,重按全无者,此方主之。
血实则身凉,血虚则身热。或以肌困劳役虚其阴血,则阳独治,故令肌热、目赤、面红
、烦渴引饮。此证纯象伤寒家白虎汤之证,但脉大而虚,非大而长,为可辨尔。《内经》所
谓脉虚血虚是也。当归味浓,为阴中之阴,故能养血,而黄 则味甘补气者也。今黄 多于
当归数倍,而曰补血汤者,有形之血不能自生,生于无形之气故也。《内经》曰∶阳生阴长,
是
Preface: Blood belongs to Ying (Nutritive Qi), and Qi belongs to Wei (Defensive Qi); both contain profound principles. Yin resides within, serving as the guardian of Yang, hence it is called "Ying." Yang resides outside, serving as the shield of Yin, hence it is called "Wei." These two should be harmonized rather than diseased. If blood becomes disordered, the Ying that should guard from within will instead escape outward and deteriorate; in mild cases, this is forced by heat, while in severe cases, it is due to insufficient True Yang failing to move the blood, causing the Wei also to deteriorate. Now, examining twenty-eight famous formulas and applying them judiciously constitutes the method for regulating Yuan Qi (Primal Qi).
Danggui Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Jiu Xi, washed with wine) 3 qian, Shudihuang Radix Rehmanniae Preparata 3 qian, Chuanxiong Rhizoma Chuanxiong (Jiu Xi, washed with wine) 1.5 qian, Baishao Radix Paeoniae Alba (Jiu Chao, stir-fried with wine) 2 qian.
For those with blood deficiency, this formula is used to regulate.
Qi and Blood are the two polarities (Yin-Yang) of the human body. The way of Heaven and Earth is that Yang is often in excess, while Yin is often deficient. Humans resemble Heaven and Earth; therefore, Yin-Blood is difficult to form and easy to deplete. In this formula, Danggui, Shaoyao, and Dihuang have rich flavors, belonging to "Yin within Yin," thus they can generate blood. Chuanxiong has a thin flavor and clear aroma, belonging to "Yang within Yin," thus it can move the Qi within the blood. However, plants and trees are without emotion; how can they generate blood? The reason it is said to generate blood is that Danggui, Shaoyao, and Dihuang can nourish the Yin of the Five Viscera, and Chuanxiong can regulate the Qi within the Ying. When the Five Viscera are harmonious, blood generates spontaneously. To say that Siwu Tang itself directly generates blood is incorrect. The Master said: For those with blood deficiency, using this formula to regulate is acceptable. However, if there is excessive bleeding from above or below, and breath is faint and near extinction, this formula is strictly contraindicated. The reason is that all components of Siwu Tang are Yin herbs; Yin corresponds to the season of closure in Heaven and Earth, which is not suitable for generating all things; hence, it is stated as strictly contraindicated.
Danggui Radix Angelicae Sinensis 2 qian, Huangqi Radix Astragali Membranacei 1 liang.
For men or women presenting with fever of the skin and muscles, red eyes, flushed face, irritability, thirst with desire to drink, and a pulse that is洪大 (Hongda/Vigorous and Large) yet empty upon pressure, becoming completely absent upon heavy pressing, this formula is indicated.
When Blood is Excess, the body is cool; when Blood is Deficient, the body is hot. Some individuals suffer from Yin-Blood deficiency due to muscle fatigue and overwork, causing Yang to dominate exclusively, resulting in fever of the skin and muscles, red eyes, flushed face, irritability, and thirst with desire to drink. This syndrome presents purely like the Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) syndrome in Shanghan (Cold Damage) diseases, but the pulse is large and empty rather than large and long, which is the distinguishing feature. This corresponds to what the Neijing (Classic of Internal Medicine) states: empty pulse indicates blood deficiency. Danggui has a rich flavor, belonging to "Yin within Yin," thus it can nourish blood, whereas Huangqi is sweet in taste and tonifies Qi. Currently, the amount of Huangqi is several times that of Danggui, yet it is called Buxue Tang (Blood-Nourishing Decoction) because substantial Blood cannot generate itself; it is generated from formless Qi. The Neijing states: "Yang generates, Yin grows," this is...