宣通气血、泻火散寒、载药上浮。
苦辛平。色白属金。入肺。(气分。)泻热。兼入手少阴心。足阳明胃经。开提气血。表
散寒
邪。清利头目咽喉。开胸膈滞气。凡痰壅喘促。鼻塞(肺气不利。)目赤。喉痹咽痛。(两少
阴火。)齿痛(阳明风热)口疮。肺痈干咳。(火郁在肺。)胸膈刺痛。(火郁上焦。)腹痛肠
鸣
。(肺火郁于大肠。)并宜苦梗以开之。为诸药舟楫。载之上浮。能引苦泄峻下之剂。至于至
高之分成功。(既上行而又能下气、何也、肺主气、肺金清肃、气自下行耳、枳桔汤治胸中
痞满不痛、取其能通肺、利膈下气也、甘桔汤通治咽喉口舌诸病、取其苦辛散寒、甘平除热
也。)去浮皮。泔浸。微炒。畏龙胆、白芨;忌猪肉。(本经、桔梗一名荠 、盖桔梗荠 乃
一类、有甜苦二种、别录始分荠 条。)
宣、祛风。
辛温。入肝经气分。通血脉。疏痰气。治诸风眩掉。头旋眼黑。语言不遂。风湿 痹。
小儿
惊痫。(诸风眩掉、皆属肝木、肝病不能荣筋、故见前证、天麻入厥阴而治诸疾、肝气和平
、诸疾自瘳。)血液衰少。及非真中风者。忌用。(风药能燥血故也、按风药同养血药用、制
其
宣其滞也、古云∶治风先治血、血行风自灭。)根类王瓜。茎名
赤箭。明亮坚实者佳。湿纸包。煨熟。切片。酒浸一宿。焙。子名还筒子。定风补虚。
Promotes the circulation of Qi and Blood, drains Fire, disperses Cold, and carries medicinal properties upward.
Bitter, acrid, neutral in nature. White color corresponds to Metal. Enters the Lung Meridian (Qi level). Drains Heat. Also enters the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian and Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian. Elevates Qi and Blood, releases exterior Cold pathogens. Clears and benefits the head, eyes, throat, and pharynx. Opens stagnation in the chest and diaphragm. For conditions such as phlegm obstruction with panting and急促 breathing, nasal congestion (impairment of Lung Qi), red eyes, throat bi with pain (Fire of both Shaoyin meridians), toothache (Wind-Heat in Yangming), mouth ulcers, lung abscess with dry cough (Fire depression in the Lung), stabbing pain in the chest and diaphragm (Fire depression in the Upper Jiao), abdominal pain with intestinal borborygmus (Lung Fire depression affecting the Large Intestine), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix) is suitable to open these blockages. It serves as a vessel for other herbs, carrying them upward, capable of guiding bitter-draining and severe-purgative agents to the highest part of the body to achieve efficacy. (Since it ascends yet also directs Qi downward, why? Because the Lung governs Qi; when Lung Metal is clear and descending, Qi naturally flows downward. Zhijie Tang treats fullness without pain in the chest by promoting Lung Qi, benefiting the diaphragm, and directing Qi downward; Ganjie Tang treats various diseases of the throat, mouth, and tongue by utilizing its acrid-bitter property to disperse Cold and sweet-neutral property to drain Heat.) Remove the floating skin. Soak in rice water. Lightly stir-fry. Incompatible with Longdancao (Gentianae Radix) and Baiji (Bletillae Rhizoma); avoid pork. (*Shennong Benjing*: Jiegeng is also known as Qipeng; Jiegeng and Qipeng are of the same category, having sweet and bitter varieties; *Beilu* began listing Qipeng separately.)
Xuan, dispels Wind.
Acrid, warm in nature. Enters the Liver Meridian (Qi level). Unblocks blood vessels. Disperses phlegmatic Qi. Treats various wind syndromes characterized by dizziness and tremors. Vertigo and blurred vision. Dysarthria. Wind-damp Bi syndrome. Pediatric epilepsy and convulsions. (Various wind syndromes with dizziness and tremors belong to Liver Wood. Liver disease fails to nourish sinews, hence the aforementioned symptoms. Tianma enters the Jueyin Meridian to treat various diseases; when Liver Qi is harmonious, diseases heal spontaneously.) Contraindicated for those with deficient Blood or non-stroke conditions. (Wind-dispelling drugs can dry Blood. Note: Wind-dispelling drugs should be used with blood-nourishing drugs to restrain their dispersing stagnation. Ancient saying: To treat Wind, first treat Blood; when Blood moves, Wind extinguishes itself.) The root resembles Wanggua. The stem is named Chijian. Bright and solid ones are superior. Wrap in wet paper, bake until cooked. Slice. Soak in wine overnight, then dry-roast. The seed is named Huantongzi. Stabilizes Wind and tonifies deficiency.