一名假苏。轻宣发表、祛风理血。
辛苦而温。芳香而散。入肝经气分。兼行血分。其性升浮。能发汗。散风湿。利咽喉。
清头
目。治伤寒头痛。中风口噤。身强项直。口面 斜。目中黑花。其气温散。能助脾消食。(气
衄肠风。崩中血痢。产风血晕。(产后去血过多、腹内空虚、则自
生风、故常有崩晕之患、不待外风袭之也、荆芥最能散血中之风、华佗愈风散、荆芥三钱、
微焙为末、豆淋酒调服、或童便服、诸家云甚效。)瘰 疮肿。清热散瘀。破结解毒。(结散
热清、则血凉而毒解。)为风病血病。疮家圣药。(功本治风、又兼治血者、以其入风木之脏
、即是藏血之地也。)今人但遇风证。概用荆防。此流气散之相沿耳。不知唯风在皮里膜外
者宜之。若风入骨肉者。须防风。不得混用。连穗用。(穗在于巅、故善升发。)治血。炒黑
用。(凡血药、用山栀干姜地榆棕榈五灵脂等、皆应炒黑者、以黑胜红也。)反鱼、蟹、河豚
、驴肉。
宣、发表散寒。
味辛。入气分。利肺下气。定喘安胎,(治子气。)色紫。兼入血分。和血止痛。性温发
汗。
解肌。祛风散寒。气香开胃。益脾宽中。利大小肠。又解鱼蟹毒。(时珍曰∶同陈皮砂仁、
行气安胎、同藿香乌药、温中止痛、同香附麻黄、发汗解肌、同芎 当归、和血散血、同桔
梗枳壳、利膈宽肠、同卜子杏仁、消痰定喘、同木瓜浓朴、散湿解暑、治霍乱香港脚。)气虚
表虚者禁之。(俗喜其芳香、旦暮恣食、不知泄真元之气、古称芳草致豪贵之疾、此类是
也。)气香者良。宜橘皮。忌鲤鱼。
苏子(泻、降气消痰。)开郁降气。(力倍苏叶。)消痰利膈。温中宽肠。润心肺。
止喘咳。肠
滑气虚者禁之。炒研。
苏梗(宣、顺气。)顺气安胎。功力稍缓、挟虚者宜之。
Jingjie (Schizonepetae Spica), also known as Jiasu. It has the functions of gentle dispersion and release of the exterior, expelling wind, and regulating blood.
Bitter and pungent in flavor, warm in nature. Aromatic and dispersing. Enters the Qi level of the Liver Meridian, and also enters the Blood level. Its nature is ascending and floating; it can induce sweating, dispel wind-dampness, benefit the throat, clear the head and eyes. It treats headache caused by Cold Damage (Shanghan), lockjaw due to stroke, stiffness of the body and neck, deviation of the mouth and eyes, and visual disturbances such as seeing black spots. Its warmth and dispersing nature can assist the Spleen in digestion. (For epistaxis due to rebellious Qi, intestinal wind with bloody stool, metrorrhagia, and bloody dysentery: postpartum dizziness and bleeding often occur because excessive blood loss leaves the abdomen empty, generating internal wind rather than being attacked by external wind. Jingjie is best at dispersing wind within the blood. Huatuo's Yufeng San uses 3 qian of Jingjie, lightly roasted and powdered, taken with bean-leavened wine or child's urine; various texts claim great efficacy.) It treats scrofula and sores/swellings, clearing heat and dissipating stasis, breaking accumulations and resolving toxicity. (When accumulations are broken, heat clears; when blood cools, toxicity resolves.) It is a sacred medicine for treating wind diseases, blood diseases, and skin sores/ulcers. (Its primary function is treating wind, but it also treats blood because it enters the Liver, the organ of Wind-Wood, which is also the repository of blood.) Nowadays, people indiscriminately use Jingjie and Fangfeng for all wind syndromes, following the precedent of Liqisan. However, one should know that Jingjie is suitable only when wind pathogens are located between the skin and fascia. If wind has penetrated into bones and muscles, Fangfeng must be used, and they should not be mixed. Use the whole spike including the flower heads. (The spikes are at the apex, thus good at promoting ascending and dispersing actions.) For treating blood disorders, use charred Jingjie. (All blood-regulating herbs, such as Gardeniae Fructus, Zingiberis Rhizoma Carbonisatum, Sanguisorbae Radix, Palmii Folium, and Trogopterori Faeces, should be charred because black overcomes red.) Contraindicated with fish, crab, pufferfish, and donkey meat.
Zisu (Perillae Folium) has the functions of disseminating and releasing the exterior, and dispelling cold.
Pungent in flavor. Enters the Qi level. Benefits Lung Qi, directs rebellious Qi downward, calms asthma, and calms the fetus (treats fetal qi/distension). Purple in color, it also enters the Blood level. Harmonizes blood and relieves pain. Warm in nature, it induces sweating, releases the muscle layer, expels wind, and dispels cold. Aromatic in odor, it opens the appetite, benefits the Spleen, widens the middle jiao, and promotes urination and bowel movements. It also resolves fish and crab toxicity. (Li Shizhen said: Combined with Chenpi and Sharen, it moves Qi and calms the fetus; combined with Huoxiang and Wuyao, it warms the middle and relieves pain; combined with Xiangfu and Mahuang, it induces sweating and releases the muscle layer; combined with Chuanxiong and Danggui, it harmonizes and disperses blood; combined with Jiegeng and Zhike, it benefits the diaphragm and widens the intestines; combined with Boluzi and Xingren, it eliminates phlegm and calms asthma; combined with Mugua and Houpo, it dispels dampness and resolves summerheat, treating cholera and podagra.) Contraindicated in cases of Qi deficiency and exterior deficiency. (People commonly enjoy its aroma and consume it freely morning and night, unaware that this depletes true Yuan Qi. The ancients called aromatic herbs the cause of diseases among the wealthy and noble; this category exemplifies that.) Those with strong aromatic odor are superior. Compatible with Chenpi. Contraindicated with carp.
Suzi (Perillae Fructus) has the functions of purging downward and descending Qi to eliminate phlegm.
Opens depression and descends Qi (its effect is stronger than Suzye). Eliminates phlegm, benefits the diaphragm, warms the middle, widens the intestines, moistens the Heart and Lungs, and stops cough and asthma. Contraindicated in cases of loose bowels and Qi deficiency. Should be roasted and ground before use.
Sugeng (Perillae Caulis) has the functions of disseminating and smoothing Qi.
Smooths Qi and calms the fetus. Its efficacy is slightly milder, making it suitable for patients with deficiency.