味辛、性平。入肺、胃二经。忌枣、蜜、犬、雉肉。
通中发汗,头疼风湿总蠲除。利便开关,香港脚奔豚通解散。专攻喉痹,亦可安胎。伤寒
寒热
皆宜,面目浮肿亦治。
葱味最辛,肺之药也。故解散之用居多。
多食葱,令人神昏、发落、虚气上冲。
味辛,性热,无毒。入肺、胃二经。
生能发表,熟可温中。开胃有奇功。止呕为圣剂。气胀腹疼俱妙,痰凝血滞皆良。刮下
姜皮
,胀家必用。
凡中风、中暑、中气、中毒、中恶、霍乱等一切卒暴之证,用姜汁和童便服之。姜汁能
开痰
,童便能降火也。古方以姜茶治痢,热痢留皮,冷痢去皮,大妙。忌服同干姜。
味辛、甘,性温。入心、肺、膀胱三经。
助阳散寒,温经通脉。达营卫,和表里。无汗能发,有汗能止。理心腹之痛。搜关节之
痹。
直行兼为奔豚之向导。
本经疏证云∶“和营、通阳、利水、下气、行瘀、补中为桂枝之六大功效。”
味苦、性温,无毒。入心、肺、膀胱、大肠四经。浓朴为使。恶辛夷、石苇。去根节,
水煮
,去沫。
去营中寒气,泄卫分风邪。发汗仗其温散,消肿在其行水。既主用于实喘,亦伍用于痛
痹。
轻可去实,为发散第一药。惟在冬月,真有寒邪在表者,宜之。或非冬月,或无寒邪,
或寒
邪在里,或伤风等证,虽发热恶寒,不头痛身疼而拘急,六脉不浮紧者,皆不可用。虽可汗
之证,亦不宜多服,汗为心液,若不可汗而汗,与可汗而过汗,则心血为之动矣。或亡阳,
或血溢,而成大患,可不慎哉。
麻黄乃太阳经药,兼入肺经。肺主皮毛;葛根乃阳明经药,兼入脾经。脾主肌肉,发散
虽同
,所入迥异。
[Scallion White]
Pungent in flavor, neutral in nature. Enters the Lung and Stomach meridians. Contraindicated with dates, honey, dog meat, and pheasant meat.
It unblocks the middle jiao and induces sweating; it eliminates headache and rheumatism. It promotes urination and opens orifices; it resolves Hong Kong foot (podagra/foot swelling) and Ben Tun Qi (a condition characterized by gas rushing from the lower abdomen to the chest/throat). It specifically treats Hou Bi (sore throat with obstruction), and can also calm the fetus. It is suitable for chills and fever caused by Shang Han (Cold Damage), and treats edema of the face and eyes.
The flavor of scallion is most pungent, and it is a herb for the Lung. Therefore, its use in dissolving and releasing is predominant.
Excessive consumption of scallion causes mental confusion, hair loss, and upward rushing of deficient qi.
[Fresh Ginger]
Pungent in flavor, hot in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Lung and Stomach meridians.
Raw ginger releases the exterior, while cooked ginger warms the middle jiao. It has miraculous effects on opening the appetite. It is a supreme remedy for stopping vomiting. It is excellent for abdominal distension and pain, and beneficial for phlegm coagulation and blood stasis. Scraping off the ginger peel is essential for treating distension.
For all sudden acute conditions such as Zhong Feng (Wind Stroke), Zhong Shu (Heat Stroke), Zhong Qi (Qi Collapse), Zhong Du (Poisoning), Zhong E (Evil Qi Invasion), and Huo Luan (Cholera-like disorder), administer ginger juice mixed with child's urine. Ginger juice can resolve phlegm and open orifices, while child's urine can descend fire. Ancient formulas use ginger tea to treat dysentery: retain the peel for heat dysentery, remove the peel for cold dysentery, which is highly effective. Contraindicated with dried ginger.
[Cinnamon Twig]
Pungent and sweet in flavor, warm in nature. Enters the Heart, Lung, and Bladder meridians.
It assists yang and disperses cold, warms meridians and unblocks collaterals. It reaches Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) levels, and harmonizes interior and exterior. It induces sweating when there is no sweat, and stops sweating when there is sweat. It regulates pain in the heart and abdomen. It searches out bi-syndrome (painful obstruction) in joints.
It acts directly and serves as a guide for Ben Tun Qi.
*Ben Jing Shu Zheng* states: "Harmonizing Ying, unblocking Yang, promoting diuresis, directing qi downward, moving blood stasis, and tonifying the middle are the six major efficacies of Guizhi."
[Ephedra Stem]
Bitter in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Heart, Lung, Bladder, and Large Intestine meridians. Peucedani Radix (Qianhu) or Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (Houpo) may be used as an envoy. It is incompatible with Xinyi (Magnolia Flower) and Shiwei (Pyrrosiae Folium). Remove root nodes, boil in water, and skim off the foam.
It removes cold qi from the Ying level and vents wind pathogens from the Wei level. Its sweating effect relies on its warm dispersion; its消肿 (reducing swelling) lies in its ability to move fluids. It is indicated for excess asthma and is combined in treatment for painful bi-syndrome.
Light substances can dispel excess; it is the primary herb for dispersion. It is suitable only in winter when there is truly a cold pathogen at the exterior. If not in winter, or if there is no cold pathogen, or if the cold pathogen is in the interior, or in cases of wind-cold injury where there is fever and aversion to cold but no headache, body ache, or stiffness, and the six pulses are not floating and tight, it must not be used. Even in conditions where sweating is indicated, it should not be taken excessively. Sweat is the fluid of the Heart; forcing sweat when inappropriate, or sweating excessively when appropriate, will disturb Heart Blood. This may lead to Yang collapse or hemorrhage, causing severe complications. Can one not be cautious?
Mahuang is a herb of the Taiyang (Greater Yang) meridian, and additionally enters the Lung meridian. The Lung governs skin and hair; Gegen (Kudzu Root) is a herb of the Yangming (Bright Yang) meridian, and additionally enters the Spleen meridian. The Spleen governs muscles. Although their dispersing actions are similar, the meridians they enter are vastly different.