大燥,开顽痰
辛苦大热。搜风胜湿,开顽痰。治顽疮,以毒攻毒,颇胜川乌。然至毒,无所酿制,不
可轻投。
野生,状类川乌,亦名乌喙。姜汁炒,或豆腐煮用。熬膏,名射罔,敷箭射兽,见面立
死。
燥,祛风湿,治面疾
辛甘有毒,大热纯阳。阳明经药,能引药势上行,治面上百病(阳明之脉萦于面,白附
能去头面游风。作面脂,消斑疵)。补肝虚,祛风痰,治心痛血痹,诸风冷气,中风失音,
阴下湿痒。
根如草乌之小者,长寸许,皱纹有节,炮用(陶宏景曰∶此药久绝,无复真者,今惟凉
州生)。
一名补骨脂
燥,补命火
辛苦大温。入心包、命门。补相火以通君火,暖丹田,壮元阳,缩小便(亦治遗尿)。
治五劳七伤(五脏之劳,七情之伤),腰膝冷痛,肾冷精流,肾虚泄泻(肾虚则命门火
衰,不能熏蒸脾胃,脾胃虚寒,迟于运化,致饮食减少,腹胀肠鸣,呕涎泄泻,如鼎釜之下
无火,物终不熟,故补命门相火即所以补脾。破故纸四两,五味三两,肉蔻二两,吴茱一两,
姜煮枣丸,名四神丸,治五更泄泻),妇人血气(妇人之血脱气陷,亦犹男子之肾冷精流)
堕胎。
出南番者色赤,岭南者色绿。酒浸蒸用,亦有童便乳浸、盐水炒者。得胡桃、胡麻良。
恶甘草(唐郑相国方∶破故纸十两,酒浸蒸为末,胡桃肉二十两,去皮烂研,蜜和,每日酒
调一匙,或水调服。白飞霞曰∶破故纸属火,坚固元阳;胡桃属水,润燥养血,有水火相生
之妙。忌芸薹、羊血。加杜仲,名青娥丸。云薹,油菜也)。
Caowutou (Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix): The drug property is extremely drying, capable of opening up stubborn phlegm. It tastes bitter and pungent, and its nature is extremely hot. It can search out wind pathogens and overcome dampness, and open up stubborn phlegm. It treats stubborn sores; by using toxicity to combat toxicity, its effect surpasses that of Chuanwu (Aconiti Radix). However, it is extremely toxic, and without proper processing/preparation, it must not be administered lightly. It grows wild, resembling Chuanwu in shape, and is also known as Wu Hui (Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix lateralis preparata). It is stir-fried with ginger juice or boiled with tofu for use. When boiled down into a paste, it is named She Wang (Aconitum Alkaloid Paste), used to coat arrows for hunting beasts; if it contacts the face, death occurs immediately.
Baifuzi (Typhonii Rhizoma): The drug property is drying, capable of dispelling wind-dampness and treating facial diseases. It tastes pungent and sweet, is toxic, and its nature is extremely hot, belonging to pure Yang. It is a herb entering the Yangming Meridian, capable of guiding the medicinal force upward, treating various diseases of the face (the Yangming meridian encircles the face; Baifuzi can remove wandering wind from the head and face. Made into facial cream, it eliminates spots and blemishes). It tonifies Liver deficiency, dispels wind-phlegm, treats heart pain and blood bi (obstruction), various cold-wind conditions, stroke with loss of voice, and damp-itching of the genitalia. The root resembles a smaller version of Caowutou, about one cun long, with wrinkles and nodes, and must be processed before use (Tao Hongjing stated: This drug has been extinct for a long time, with no true authentic specimens remaining; currently, only those produced in Liangzhou exist).
Poguzhi (Psoraleae Fructus), also known as Buguzhi: The drug property is drying, capable of tonifying the Fire of the Mingmen (Gate of Life). It tastes bitter and pungent, and its nature is warm. It enters the Pericardium and Mingmen channels. It tonifies Minister Fire to unblock Sovereign Fire, warms the Dantian, strengthens Primordial Yang, and reduces urination (also treats enuresis). It treats five labors and seven injuries (labors of the five zang organs, injuries of the seven emotions), cold pain in the waist and knees, cold kidney with seminal emission, and kidney deficiency diarrhea (Kidney deficiency leads to decline of Mingmen fire, which fails to steam and transform the Spleen and Stomach, resulting in Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold, slow transformation and transportation, leading to reduced appetite, abdominal distension, borborygmus, vomiting of saliva, and diarrhea. This is like a pot without fire underneath; food will never cook. Therefore, tonifying the Mingmen Minister Fire is equivalent to tonifying the Spleen. Poguzhi 4 liang, Schisandra 3 liang, Nutmeg 2 liang, Evodia 1 liang, boiled with dates and formed into pills with jujube paste, named Sixiaowan (Four Spirits Pill), treats morning diarrhea). It treats women's blood and qi disorders (women's blood loss and qi sinking are similar to men's cold kidney and seminal emission) and miscarriage. Those from Southern Fan have a reddish color, while those from Lingnan are green. It is soaked in wine and steamed before use; some are soaked in child's urine or milk, or stir-fried with salt water. It pairs well with Walnut Kernel and Sesame Seed. It is incompatible with Licorice Root (Prescription of Chancellor Zheng of Tang: Poguzhi 10 liang, soaked in wine, steamed, and powdered; Walnut Kernel 20 liang, peeled and pounded into a paste, mixed with honey, taken daily with one spoonful adjusted with wine, or mixed with water. Bai Feixia stated: Poguzhi belongs to Fire, solidifying Primordial Yang; Walnut Kernel belongs to Water, moistening dryness and nourishing blood, possessing the wonder of mutual generation of Water and Fire. Avoid Brassica rapa var. trichocarpa and sheep blood. Adding Eucommia Bark creates Qing'e Wan (Green Young Pill). Yun Tai refers to Rapeseed).