补肺润肾,定喘止嗽
咸平。补肺润肾,益精助阳。治渴通淋,定喘止嗽,肺痿咯血,气虚、血竭者宜之(能
补肺、益水源。李时珍曰∶补肺止渴,功同人参。益气扶羸,功同羊肉。《经疏》曰∶咳嗽
由风寒外邪者不宜用)。出广南。首如蟾蜍,背绿色,斑点如绵纹。雄为蛤(鸣声亦然,因
声而名),皮粗口大,身小尾粗;雌为蚧,皮细口尖,身大尾小。雌雄相呼,屡日乃交,两
两相抱,捕者擘之,虽死不开。房术用之甚效,不论牝牡者,只可入杂药。口含少许,奔走
不喘者真。药力在尾(见人捕之,辄自啮断其尾,尾不全者不效)。凡使去头足(雷 曰∶
其毒在眼,用须去眼),洗去鳞内不净及肉、毛,酥炙,或蜜炙、或酒浸焙用。
亦名石蜜、岩蜜
补中,润燥,滑肠
草木精英,合露气以酿成。生性凉,能清热;熟性温,能补中。甘而和,故解毒。柔而
滑,故润燥。甘缓可以去急,故止心腹、肌肉、疮疡诸痛;甘缓可以和中,故能调营卫,通
三焦,除众病,和百药(故丸药多用之),而与甘草同功。止嗽治痢(解毒润肠,最治痢疾。
姜汁和服甚佳),明目悦颜。同薤白捣,涂汤火伤。煎炼成胶,通大便秘(乘热纳谷道中,
名蜜煎导)。然能滑肠,泄泻与中满者忌用之。以白如膏者良(汪颖曰∶蜜以花为主。闽广
蜜热,川蜜温,西蜜凉。安宣州有黄连蜜,味小苦,点目热良。西京有梨花蜜,色白如脂)。
用银、石器,每蜜一斤入水四两,桑火慢熬,掠出浮沫,至滴水成珠用。忌葱、鲜莴苣同食
(昂按∶生葱同蜜食杀人,而莴苣蜜渍点茶者颇多,未见作害,岂腌过则无患乎?抑药忌亦
有不尽然者乎?)。
黄蜡,甘温。止痛生肌,疗下痢(蜜质柔性润,故滑肠胃;蜡质坚性涩,故止泻痢),
续绝伤(按∶蜜、蜡皆蜂所酿成,而蜜味至甘,蜡味至淡。故今人言无味者,谓之嚼蜡)。
Tonify the Lung and moisten the Kidney, stabilize panting and stop coughing.
[Gejie] (Gekko gecko) is salty in flavor and neutral in nature. It tonifies the Lung and moistens the Kidney, benefits essence and assists yang. It treats thirst and stranguria, stabilizes panting and stops coughing, and is suitable for lung abscess with hemoptysis, as well as patients with qi deficiency and blood exhaustion (It can tonify the Lung and nourish the source of kidney water. Li Shizhen said: Its efficacy in tonifying the Lung and stopping thirst is equivalent to that of Renshen [Ginseng Root]. In benefiting qi and supporting emaciation, its efficacy is similar to mutton. *Jingshu* stated: Coughs caused by external wind-cold pathogens should not use it). It originates from the Guangnan region. The head resembles a toad, the back is green with spots like cotton patterns. The male is called "Ha" (its call is also like this, hence the name); its skin is rough, mouth large, body small, and tail thick. The female is called "Jie"; its skin is fine, mouth pointed, body large, and tail small. Males and females call to each other and mate after many days, embracing each other; hunters pry them apart, but even if dead, they do not separate. It is very effective in sexual practices; regardless of gender, it can only be used mixed with other herbs. If one holds a small piece in the mouth and runs without panting, it is authentic. The medicinal power lies in the tail (when hunted, it bites off its own tail; those with incomplete tails are ineffective). When preparing, remove the head and feet (Lei Xiao said: its toxicity is in the eyes, so the eyes must be removed), wash away impurities within the scales, flesh, and hairs, then roast with su (animal fat), or honey-roast, or wine-soak and bake.
Also known as Shimii (Stone Honey) and Yanmi (Rock Honey).
Tonify the Middle Jiao, moisten dryness, and lubricate the intestines.
[Honey] is the essence of trees and grasses, brewed by condensing dew. Raw honey has a cool nature and can clear heat; cooked honey has a warm nature and can tonify the Middle Jiao. Sweet and harmonious, thus it detoxifies. Soft and slippery, thus it moistens dryness. Sweet and slow-acting can relieve urgency, thus it stops various pains in the heart, abdomen, muscles, and sores; sweet and slow-acting can harmonize the spleen and stomach, thus it regulates Ying and Wei [Nutritive and Defensive Qi], unblocks the Triple Burner, eliminates various diseases, and harmonizes all herbs (therefore, pills often use honey, having the same function as Gancao [Licorice Root]). It stops coughing and treats dysentery (detoxifies and lubricates the intestines, most effective for dysentery; taking it mixed with ginger juice is excellent), brightens the eyes, and beautifies the complexion. Crushed with Xiebai [Allium macrostemon Bulb] and applied, it treats burns and scalds. Boiled into a gel, it relieves constipation (inserted warm into the anus, named Mi Jian Dao [Honey Suppository]). However, since it lubricates the intestines, it is contraindicated for diarrhea and abdominal fullness. White honey resembling paste is considered good (Wang Ying said: Honey depends on the flower source. Honey from Min-Guang is hot, Sichuan honey is warm, Western honey is cool. Anzhou produces Huanglian honey, slightly bitter, good for treating eye heat. Xijing produces Pear blossom honey, white as lard). Use silver or ceramic vessels; for every jin (500g) of honey, add four liang (200g) of water, slowly boil over mulberry wood fire, skim off floating foam, until it reaches the consistency where a drop forms a bead. Contraindicated to eat with scallions and fresh lettuce (Wang Ang noted: Eating raw scallions with honey can be fatal, yet there are many cases of pickled lettuce soaked in honey used for tea without harm. Is it because pickling removes the danger? Or are some herbal contraindications not absolute?).
Huangla (Yellow Beeswax) is sweet in flavor and warm in nature. Stops pain, generates flesh, and treats dysentery (Honey is soft and moist, thus lubricating the gastrointestinal tract; beeswax is hard and astringent, thus stopping diarrhea and dysentery), heals severe injuries (Note: Both honey and beeswax are brewed by bees, but honey is extremely sweet while beeswax is extremely bland. Hence, people today describe tasteless things as "chewing wax").