气味苦平,微寒,无毒。主治风湿寒热邪气,热结黄胆。久服轻身益气,耐老,面
白悦,长年。白兔食之仙。
(茵陈蒿始出太山及丘陵坡岸上,今处处有之,不若太山者佳。苗似蓬蒿,其叶紧细,
臭香如艾,秋后茎枯,终冬不死,至春因旧根而复生,故名茵陈。一种开花结实者,名铃儿
茵陈。无花实者,名毛茵陈,入药以无花实者为胜。)
《经》云∶春三月,此为发陈,茵陈因旧苗而春生,盖因冬令水寒之气,而具阳春生发
之机
。主治风湿寒热邪气,得生阳之气,则外邪自散也。热结黄胆,得水寒之气,则内热自除也
。
久服则生阳上升,故轻身益气耐老。因陈而生新,故面白悦,长年。兔乃纯阴之物,喜阳
春之气,故白兔食之而成仙。
气味甘寒,无毒。主治瘀血,血瘕欲死,下血,止血,利小便。久服轻身耐老。
(天名精合根苗花实而言也,根名土牛膝,苗名活鹿草。实名鹤虱。所以名活鹿者,《异
苑
云∶宋元嘉中青州刘懵射一鹿,剖五藏以此草塞之,蹶然而起。懵怪而拔草便倒,如此三度
,懵因密录,此草种之,治折伤愈多人,因以名之。始出平原川泽,今江湖间皆有之,路旁
阴湿处甚多。春生苗,高二三尺,叶如紫苏叶而尖长,七月开黄白花,如小野菊,结实如茼
蒿子,最黏人衣,狐气尤甚。炒熟则香,因名鹤虱,俗名鬼虱,其根黄白色,如牛膝而稍短
,故名土牛膝。)
鹿乃纯阳之兽,得此天名精而复活,盖禀水天之气而多阴精,故能治纯阳之鹿。主治瘀
血,
血瘕欲死,得水天之精气。阴中有阳,阳中有阴,故瘀久成瘕之积血,至欲死而可治,亦死
而能生之义也。又曰∶下血、止血者,申明所以能治瘀血血瘕欲死,以其能下积血,而复
止新血也。水精之气,上合于天,则小便自利。久服则精气足,故轻身耐老。
Taste: bitter, neutral; nature: slightly cold; non-toxic. Indications: wind-dampness, cold-heat pathogenic factors, heat accumulation in jaundice (Re Jie Huang Dan). Long-term use lightens the body, benefits qi, promotes longevity, and gives a bright, pleasant complexion for a long life. White rabbits consuming it become immortal.
(Yin Chen Hao [Artemisiae Scopariae Herba] originally grew on Mount Tai and hillsides/riverbanks. Now it is found everywhere, but those from Mount Tai are superior. The seedling resembles Artemisia sieversiana (Pong Hao), with tight, fine leaves, smelling fragrant like Mugwort (Ai). After autumn, the stems wither, but it does not die throughout winter. In spring, it sprouts again from old roots, hence the name Yin Chen [meaning "lying over green"]. One variety that flowers and bears fruit is called Ling Er Yin Chen. The variety without flowers or fruit is called Mao Yin Chen. For medicinal use, the variety without flowers and fruit is superior.)
The Classics state: "In the three months of spring, this is the time to promote growth and eliminate decay." Yin Chen sprouts in spring from old seedlings, possessing the mechanism of spring-like generation due to the cold water energy of winter. By treating wind-dampness and cold-heat pathogenic factors, it obtains the generating yang energy, so external pathogens disperse naturally. For heat accumulation in jaundice, it utilizes the cold water energy, so internal heat is eliminated naturally.
Long-term use causes generating yang to rise, thus lightening the body, benefiting qi, and promoting longevity. Because it generates newness from the old, it brightens the complexion and ensures a long life. Rabbits are purely yin entities that favor the warm spring energy; thus, white rabbits consuming it achieve immortality.
Taste: sweet; nature: cold; non-toxic. Indications: blood stasis (Yu Xue), dangerous blood masses (Xue Jia) near death, lower bleeding, hemostasis, and promoting urination. Long-term use lightens the body and promotes longevity.
(Tian Ming Jing refers to the whole plant including root, seedling, flower, and fruit. The root is named Tu Niu Xi [Achyranthes Bidentatae Radix], the seedling is named Huo Lu Cao [the living deer grass], and the fruit is named He Shi [Chrysanthemi Carpentierii Fructus]. The reason for the name Huo Lu [Living Deer] is recorded in *Yi Yuan*: During the Yuanjia era of Song, Liu Meng from Qingzhou shot a deer, dissected its five zang organs, and stuffed them with this herb. The deer suddenly rose. Surprised, Liu Meng pulled out the herb, and the deer fell again. This happened three times. Liu Meng secretly recorded this, cultivated the herb, and found it cured many fracture injuries, hence the name. It originally grew in plains and marshes. Now it is found in rivers and lakes, especially in shady, damp places by roadsides. Seedlings sprout in spring, growing two to three chi high. Leaves resemble Perilla frutescens (Zi Su) leaves but are pointed and long. In July, they open yellow-white flowers resembling small wild chrysanthemums. Fruits resemble Chrysanthemum coronarium (Tong Hao) seeds, sticking most to clothes, especially affecting foxes. When stir-fried until cooked, it becomes fragrant, hence the name He Shi [Crane Louse], commonly known as Gui Shi [Ghost Louse]. Its root is yellowish-white, similar to Achyranthes bidentata but slightly shorter, hence the name Tu Niu Xi.]
Deer are purely yang beasts. Revived by Tian Ming Jing, which inherits the energy of water and heaven and contains much yin essence, it can treat the purely yang deer. Indications: blood stasis and dangerous blood masses near death. Utilizing the essence of water and heaven, where yin contains yang and yang contains yin, accumulated blood from long-standing stasis forming masses, even when near death, can be treated, embodying the meaning of returning from death to life. Furthermore, "lowering bleeding" and "hemostasis" clarify why it treats dangerous blood stasis and masses: it can expel accumulated blood while stopping new bleeding. The essence of water rising to combine with heaven results in free urination. Long-term use suffices the essence and qi, thus lightening the body and promoting longevity.