常山为之使。
甘、微咸,寒。入足太阳经气分。利水道,除湿热,去胸痹,疗翳障。清肺肝之风热,
通尿
管之涩痛。配牛膝,疏肝利水。配菟丝,补虚明目。入补药,酒蒸捣研。入泻药,炒研。阳
气下陷者禁用。
怪症∶欲大便不见粪,而清水倾流,欲小便不见尿,而稀粪前出,此名易肠。乃暑热气
横于
阑门也。车前子三两,煎服,一口顿饮二三碗,二便自正。如因怒以致此疾者,逍遥散加升
麻治之。真阳动则精窍开,阴气常致下泄。然命门之火动于心意之邪,亦由湿热为患也。小
便利则湿
热外泄,不致内动真火,俾精窍常闭,而漏泄之害自除,车前所以治遗泄也。若无湿热而肾
气不固,或肺气不能下摄,或心虚不能下交,或肝胆受惊,相火内炎,以致精泄者,妄用车
前利水窍,反使阴气泄于下,阴火动于中,痨损所由成也。用泽泻、木通、灯草利水等药,
切宜斟酌,慎勿妄投,以致后悔。根、叶可伏硫黄、五矾、粉霜。
甘,寒。入手太阳、阳明经气分。治尿血血痢,明目通淋,消瘕除瘀。
即马鞭草
伏丹砂、硫黄。
苦,微寒。入手阳明、足厥阴经血分。行血止血,疗下部 疮。配鼠尾草,治腹肿。配
生姜
、黄酒,治乳痈。根辛、涩,温。治赤白下痢初起,焙研末,米饮服。
苗、叶捣汁和酒服,治血热及疮毒。
*Stem Dichroae Radix* (Changshan) serves as its guiding herb.
Sweet, slightly salty, cold. Enters the Qi level of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. Promotes urination, dispels damp-heat, removes chest bi-syndrome, and treats corneal opacity. Clears wind-heat from the Lung and Liver; unblocks astringent pain in the urethra. Paired with *Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix* (Niuxi), it soothes the Liver and promotes diuresis. Paired with *Cuscutae Semen* (Tusizi), it tonifies deficiency and brightens the eyes. When included in tonic prescriptions, steam with wine and crush into powder; when included in purgative or clearing prescriptions, stir-fry and crush into powder. Contraindicated in cases of sinking of Yang Qi.
Strange syndrome: The desire to defecate is present but no feces are seen, only clear water flows out; the desire to urinate is present but no urine is seen, while loose stool comes out first. This is named "Yichang" (Intestinal Exchange). It is caused by summer-heat qi obstructing horizontally at the Lanmen (Gate of the Large Intestine). Use 3 liang of *Plantaginis Semen* (Cheqianzi), decoct and take orally, drinking two to three bowls in one gulp, so that bowel and bladder functions will naturally normalize. If this disease is caused by anger, treat with *Xiaoyao San* (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) plus *Cimicifugae Rhizoma* (Shengma). When True Yang moves, the essence aperture opens, and Yin Qi often causes downward leakage. However, the fire of the Mingmen (Gate of Life) moving due to evil thoughts of the mind is also caused by damp-heat pathology. When urination is smooth, damp-heat is excreted externally, preventing internal movement of True Fire, keeping the essence aperture closed, thus eliminating the harm of spermatorrhea/leakage. This is why *Plantaginis Semen* treats spermatorrhea. If there is no damp-heat but Kidney Qi is insecure, or Lung Qi cannot descend and control, or Heart Deficiency fails to communicate downward, or Liver/Gallbladder is startled causing Ministerial Fire to flare internally, leading to seminal emission, recklessly using *Plantaginis Semen* to promote urination and open apertures will instead cause Yin Qi to leak downward and Yin Fire to move within, resulting in consumptive disease. When using herbs like *Alismatis Rhizoma* (Zexie), *Akebiae Caulis* (Mutong), and *Junci Medulla* (Dengcao) to promote urination, one must exercise caution and avoid reckless administration to prevent regret. The roots and leaves can be used to fix/process Cinnabar (Dan Sha), Sulfur (Liu Huang), and Arsenic Trioxide (Fen Shuang).
Sweet, cold. Enters the Qi level of the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian and Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Treats hematuria and bloody dysentery, brightens the eyes, unblocks strangury,消 dissipates masses (Zhang), and removes blood stasis.
This is *Verbena officinalis* (Mabiancao).
Can be used to fix/process Cinnabar (Dan Sha) and Sulfur (Liu Huang).
Bitter, slightly cold. Enters the Blood level of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. Moves blood and stops bleeding, treats lower body sores. Paired with *Salvia miltiorrhiza* (Shuwei Cao - note: likely referring to a local name or specific Salvia species for abdominal swelling context, strictly translating as Mouse-tail Grass per text literal meaning though botanically distinct in standard TCM, here adhering to text "Shuwei Cao"), treats abdominal swelling. Paired with *Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens* (Shengjiang) and yellow wine, treats mastitis. The root is pungent, astringent, warm. Treats early-stage red and white dysentery; roast, crush into powder, and take with rice drink.
The seedlings and leaves, crushed for juice and taken with wine, treat blood heat and toxic sores.