甘咸,纯阴无定性,润五脏补血液,清烦热理噎膈,利肠。有孕之乳为忌乳,最有毒
。
治下元虚冷,日令童男女以时隔衣进气脐中,甚良。或身体骨节痹痛,令人更互呵熨
,久久经络通透。
甘咸温,大补气血而补阴之功尤为极重,治一切虚劳损极,大有奇效,且根气所钟
必达元海。病由膀胱虚者用之尤宜。清水洗至净白,用铅壶隔汤煮极烂,连汁入药。或煮略
熟文火焙干用,有胎毒者伤人,须以银器试之。
味甘,通行十二经,解百药毒,生用气平,补脾胃、泻心火、而生肺金;炙用气
温,补三焦元气而散表寒。入和剂则补益,入汗剂则解肌,入凉剂则泻热,入峻剂则缓急,
入润剂则养血,能协和诸药,使之不争。头涌吐,消上部肿毒。梢达茎中。
辛香微苦微甘,通行十二经八脉气分,调一切,气能引血药至气分而生血,解六郁利
三焦消积调经,乃治标之品,损气耗血。
见心和。
Monopterus albus (Shanyu, Swamp Eel): Sweet in flavor, greatly warm in nature. Tonifies the five Zang organs, dispels wind-dampness, and its medicinal action is capable of traversing the meridians and collaterals.
Frankincense (Ruxiang): Sweet and salty in flavor, warm in nature. Tonifies the five Zang organs and enhances Yang functions; treats consumptive disease (Xu Lao) and Qi depletion.
Myrrh (Moyao): Sweet and salty in flavor, purely Yin in nature without fixed direction. Moistens the five Zang organs, nourishes blood, clears vexatious heat, regulates yin-ge (dysphagia), and promotes bowel movement. Breast milk from pregnant women is termed "Ji Ru" (Forbidden Milk) and is highly toxic.
Asafoetida (Awei): Used to treat deficiency-cold of the lower origin (Kidney and Bladder region). Daily application involves healthy children or adolescents placing the medicine near the umbilicus through clothing to transmit its qi, which is very effective. Alternatively, for bi-syndrome pain in body joints, having people mutually breathe upon and warm-massage the affected area can, over time, clear the meridians and collaterals.
Angelica sinensis (Danggui): Sweet and salty in flavor, greatly warm in nature. Greatly tonifies Qi and Blood, with its Yin-nourishing merit being particularly significant. Treats all forms of consumptive damage reaching extreme levels, yielding remarkable effects; its root qi concentrates and must reach the Yuan Sea (Primordial Sea/Dantian). It is especially suitable when the pathology stems from Bladder deficiency. Wash clean until white, boil in a lead pot using water-bath method until extremely soft, and use the liquid together with the herbs. Or, boil until slightly cooked, then dry under gentle fire. If it contains fetal toxins, it harms humans; test with silver vessels.
Licorice Root (Gancao): Sweet in flavor, enters and circulates through the Twelve Meridians, resolves the toxicity of hundreds of medicines. Raw usage has neutral qi: tonifies Spleen and Stomach, drains Heart Fire, and generates Lung Metal. Honey-fried usage has warm qi: tonifies Sanjiao Original Qi and disperses exterior cold. In harmonizing formulas, it tonifies; in sweating formulas, it releases the muscle layer; in cooling formulas, it drains heat; in harsh formulas, it relieves urgency; in moistening formulas, it nourishes blood. It harmonizes various drugs, preventing conflict. The head induces vomiting and reduces upper swelling/toxins; the tip reaches the penis/urethra.
Agarwood (Chenxiang): Pungent, aromatic, slightly bitter, and slightly sweet in flavor. Circulates through the Qi aspect of the Twelve Meridians and Eight Extraordinary Vessels, regulating all aspects. Its Qi can guide blood-invigorating drugs into the Qi level to generate blood, resolve the Six Stagnations (Qi, Blood, Phlegm, Fire, Dampness, Food), benefit the Sanjiao, eliminate accumulation, and regulate menstruation. It is a drug for treating symptoms (Biao), but damages Qi and consumes Blood.
Ginseng (Renshen): See the entry for "Harmonizing the Heart."
Jujube (Dazao): Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature. Harmonizes blood and tonifies Yin, calms the five Zang organs and soothes the mind/shen. Since Heart and Spleen are harmonized, the five Zang organs naturally remain secure.
Magnolia Bark (Houpo): Pungent and bitter in flavor, warm in nature. Disperses fullness and dampness, aids digestion, kills parasites, expels wind-dampness from the five Zang organs, skin, and limbs/joints; treats biezha (abdominal masses resembling turtles) and worm-induced pain.
Dictamnus Root Bark (Baixianpi): Bitter in flavor, neutral in nature. Enters the Blood level, expels wind, removes dampness, and kills parasites; travels through meridians to reach the disease site; treats dental worms (caries pain), tinea, and scabies.
Frankincense (Ruxiang - Surgical Application): Bitter in flavor, warm in nature, pungent and aromatic with strong penetrating ability. Enters the Heart meridian, circulates through the Twelve Meridians, regulates Qi and invigorates Blood, expels wind and relaxes sinews, supports the interior and protects the Heart, penetrates sores with fragrance, allows toxic gases to exit outward, reduces swelling, stops pain, and promotes tissue regeneration.