\r肉豆蔻\ph215.bmp\r,出胡国,今惟岭南人家种之。春生苗,花实似豆蔻而圆小,
皮紫紧薄,中肉辛辣,
六月、七月采。《续传信方》∶治脾泄气痢等,以豆蔻二颗,米醋调面裹之,置灰火中煨令
黄焦,和面碾末,更以炒了 子末一两,相和,又焦炒陈廪米为末,每用二钱匕煎作饮,调
前二物三钱匕,旦暮各一,便瘥。
\r白豆蔻\ph216.bmp\r,出伽古罗国,今广州、宜州亦有之,不及蕃舶者佳。苗类芭
蕉,叶似杜若,长八、
九尺而光滑,冬夏不凋;花浅黄色;子作朵如葡萄,生青熟白,七月采。张文仲治胃气冷,
吃食即欲得吐,以白豆蔻子三枚,捣筛,更研细,好酒一盏,微温调之,并饮三、两盏佳。
又有治呕吐,白术等六物汤,亦用白豆蔻,大抵主胃冷,即宜服也。
\r茅香花\ph217.bmp\r,生剑南道诸州,今陕西、河东、京东州郡亦有之。三月生苗,
似大麦;五月开白花
,亦有黄花者;或有结实者,亦有无实者。并正月、二月采根;五月采花,八月采苗。其茎
叶黑褐色;而花白者,名白茅香也。
\r胡黄连\ph218.bmp\r,生胡国,今南海及秦陇间亦有之。初生似芦,干似杨柳枯枝,
心黑外黄,不拘时月
收采。今小儿药中多用之。又治伤寒劳复身热,大小便赤如血色者。胡黄连一两,山栀子二
两去皮,入蜜半两,拌和,炒令彻焦,二味捣罗为末,用猪肠汁和,丸如梧桐子大。每服,
用生姜二片,乌梅一个,童子小便三合,浸半日,去滓,食后暖小便令温,下十丸,临卧再
服,甚效。
Nutmeg (Rou Dou Kou), originating from Hu Guo, is now cultivated only by households in the Lingnan region. It sprouts in spring; its flowers and fruits resemble cardamom but are rounder and smaller. The peel is purple, tight, and thin, while the inner flesh is pungent and spicy. It is harvested in June and July. *Xu Chuanxin Fang* records: To treat spleen deficiency diarrhea and qi-type dysentery, take two nutmegs, wrap them in dough mixed with rice vinegar, and roast them in ash fire until yellow and charred. Grind the nutmeg and dough into powder. Mix this with one tael of stir-fried dried ginger powder. Additionally, grind stir-fried aged stored rice into powder. For each dose, use two qianbi (a small spoonful) to decoct into a drink, then mix in three qianbi of the aforementioned two powders. Take once in the morning and once in the evening, and the illness will be cured.
White Cardamom (Bai Dou Kou), originating from Jialuoguo, is also found in Guangzhou and Yizhou today, though those imported by foreign merchant ships are superior. The plant resembles a banana tree, with leaves similar to *Du Ruo* (Kaempferia galanga), growing eight or nine chi long, smooth, and remaining evergreen through winter and summer. The flowers are pale yellow; the fruits grow in clusters like grapes, green when raw and white when ripe, harvested in July. Zhang Wenzhong treated cold qi in the stomach causing immediate vomiting after eating by taking three white cardamom seeds, crushing and sieving them, then grinding them finely. They were taken with a cup of good wine, slightly warmed, drinking three to four cups for best results. Another formula for treating vomiting, the Six-Ingredient Decoction with Atractylodes Macrocephala (Baizhu et al.), also uses white cardamom. Generally, it is indicated for stomach coldness.
Mao Xiang Hua (Cymbopogon Flower), growing in various prefectures of Jiannan Dao, is now also found in Shaanxi, Hedong, and Jingdong regions. Sprouts appear in March, resembling barley; white flowers bloom in May, though some are yellow. Some produce fruit, while others do not. Roots are harvested in January and February; flowers in May; shoots in August. The stems and leaves are dark brownish-black. Those producing white flowers are named Bai Mao Xiang (White Cymbopogon).
Picrorhiza Rhizome (Hu Huang Lian), originating from Hu Guo, is now also found in Nanhai and between Qin and Long regions. When young, it resembles reeds; the stem resembles withered willow branches, black inside and yellow outside. It can be harvested at any time. It is frequently used in pediatric medicines today. It is also used to treat body heat resulting from relapse due to overexertion after typhoid fever, accompanied by red urine and feces resembling blood color. Take one tael of Picrorhiza Rhizome, two taels of Gardenia Fruit (Shanzhizi) peeled, and half a tael of honey. Mix and stir-fry until thoroughly charred. Crush and sieve these two ingredients into powder. Bind with pig intestine juice to form pills the size of paulownia seeds. For each dose, soak two slices of fresh ginger, one dark plum (Wumei), and three he of child's urine for half a day. Strain the liquid, warm it to a lukewarm temperature, and take ten pills after meals. Take another dose before retiring to bed. This is very effective.