苦甘平，无毒。产川中，大块色白而松脆者为萆 。若色黄赤者即菝 也。一种
小块质坚硬者为土萆 ，不堪入药，忌茗、醋。
《本经》主腰脊痛、强骨节，除风寒湿周痹，恶疮不瘳，热气。
发明 萆 苦平，胃与肝家药也，入肝搜风。《本经》主腰脊痛，强骨节；入肝祛风，
入胃祛湿，故《本经》主寒湿周痹、恶疮热气等病。昔人称其摄精之功，或称逐水之效，何
两说相悬耶？不知胃气健旺则湿浊去，而肾无邪湿之扰，肾脏自能收摄也。杨氏萆 厘清饮
专主浊病，正得此义。又主阴痿失溺，老人五缓者，总取行阳之力，以利关节助健运也。若
阴虚精滑及元气下陷不能摄精，小便频数，大便引急者，误用病必转剧，以其温散不利于阴
也。菝 与萆 相类，《别录》主腰背寒痛风痹，皆取祛湿热利水、坚筋骨之义。
俗名冷饭团
甘淡平，无毒。忌铁器。
发明 土茯苓古名山牛，入胃与肝肾。清湿热，利关节，止拘挛，除骨痛，主杨梅疮，
解汞粉毒。时珍云，杨梅疮起于岭南，风土炎热，岚瘴熏蒸，挟淫秽湿热之邪，发为此疮。
今则遍行海宇，类有数种，治之则一，属厥阴、阳明。如兼少阴、太阳、阳明，发于咽喉。
兼太阳、少阳，发于头角。盖相火寄在厥阴，肌肉属于阳明。若用轻粉劫剂，毒瓦斯窜入经络
筋骨莫之能出，变为筋骨挛痛，发为结毒，遂成痼疾。方用土茯苓一两、薏苡、忍冬、防风
、木瓜、木通、白藓皮各五分，皂荚子四分，人参、当归各七分，日服三次，忌饮茶、烧酒
，及牛羊鸡鹅鱼肉、麸面、盐、酱，并戒房劳百日，渴饮土茯苓汤，半月全愈。
[Background Information]
Book: Benjing Fengyuan (Supplement to the Materia Medica) | Author: Zhang Lu | Dynasty: Qing | Chapter: Bixie / Tufuling | Category: Comprehensive
[Bishu (Rhizoma Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae)]
Pungent, sweet, neutral, non-toxic. Produced in Sichuan. Large pieces that are white and brittle are Bishu (Rhizoma Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae). If yellowish-red, it is Baqia (Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae). A variety with small pieces and hard texture is called Tu Bixie, which is unsuitable for medicinal use. Avoid tea and vinegar.
The *Shennong Benjing* states it treats pain in the lower back and spine, strengthens bones and joints, eliminates wind-cold-dampness generalized bi-syndrome, foul sores that do not heal, and excess heat.
Invention/Analysis
Bishu is pungent and neutral; it is a herb for the Stomach and Liver meridians, entering the Liver to search out wind. The *Shennong Benjing* states it treats pain in the lower back and spine and strengthens bones and joints; by entering the Liver to dispel wind and entering the Stomach to dispel dampness, it thus treats conditions such as cold-dampness generalized bi-syndrome, foul sores, and excess heat mentioned in the *Benjing*.
Ancients praised its ability to secure essence, while others claimed its efficacy in draining water. Why are these two theories so divergent? It is because when Stomach Qi is robust, turbid dampness is eliminated, and the Kidney is free from pathogenic damp disturbance, allowing the Kidney to naturally secure essence. Yang Shi’s *Bixi Fenqing Yin* (Bishu Clearing Decoction) specifically targets turbid diseases, precisely embodying this principle.
It also treats impotence and urinary incontinence, and the "five flaccidity" syndrome in the elderly, primarily utilizing its yang-moving power to benefit joints and assist healthy transportation and transformation. However, if used mistakenly in cases of yin deficiency with seminal emission, or yuan qi sinking failing to secure essence, accompanied by frequent urination and urgency in defecation, the condition will surely worsen, as its warming and dispersing nature is detrimental to yin.
Baqia is similar to Bishu. The *Bielu* states it treats wind-cold painful obstruction in the lower back, both taking the meaning of dispelling damp-heat, promoting diuresis, and strengthening bones and sinews.
Common Name: Lengfantuan (Cold Rice Ball)
Sweet, bland, neutral, non-toxic. Avoid iron utensils.
Invention/Analysis
Tufuling was anciently known as Shanniu. It enters the Stomach, Liver, and Kidney meridians. It clears damp-heat, benefits joints, stops spasms, removes bone pain, treats yaws, and resolves mercury powder toxicity.
Shizhen (Li Shizhen) stated that yaws originated in Lingnan, where the climate and soil are hot, misty miasmas prevail, and together with lascivious damp-heat pathogens, this sore develops. Now it spreads throughout the empire, having several types, but the treatment principle remains the same, belonging to the Jueyin and Yangming meridians. If combined with Shaoyin, Taiyang, and Yangming, it manifests in the throat. If combined with Taiyang and Shaoyang, it manifests on the head and angles of the jaw. Since ministerial fire resides in Jueyin, and muscles belong to Yangming...
If potent purgative agents containing Calomel (Calomelas) are used, toxic vapors may penetrate into the collaterals, sinews, and bones, unable to exit, transforming into painful contraction of sinews and bones, developing into knotted toxins, thereby becoming chronic stubborn diseases.
Prescription: Use Tufuling (Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae) 1 liang, Coicis Semen (Yiyiren), Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (Jinyinhua), Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fangfeng), Chaenomelis Fructus (Mugua), Akebiae Caulis (Mutong), Dictamni Cortex (Baixianpi) each 5 fen, Gleditsiae Sinensis Fructus Spina (Zaojiazi) 4 fen, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui) each 7 fen. Take three times daily. Avoid drinking tea, distilled spirits, and meats of cattle, sheep, chicken, goose, fish, bran flour, salt, and soy sauce. Also abstain from sexual activity for 100 days. Drink Tufuling decoction when thirsty. Full recovery in half a month.