考古治头项风强,一切偏风中风口噤,及吐血衄血下血,多重任荆芥,是其所司,总不
离血中之风。能于血中散风,即系于血中行气,海藏故谓之肝经气药。但肝经之气,不能不
涉及少阳,本经所主鼠 瘰 即少阳病也。
荆芥散血中之风,为产后血运第一要药。其芳温之性,又足以疗瘰 疮疥,然无非利血
脉去
谓荆芥为温升则兼凉降,为凉降则兼温升,要其温胜于凉,气亦带浊,于外感风寒用之
,必涉血分头目昏眩者始得。永类钤方治风热头痛,与石膏辛凉之味等分为末,茶调下,制
剂亦妙矣。
薄荷,唐本草治贼风伤寒发汗,食性本草治阴阳毒伤寒头痛,苏颂、王好古亦皆谓治风
寒,外此诸家则皆谓治风热,究将何从?考古方多用于风热,鲜用于风寒,煮汁饮之,则洁
古所谓去高巅及皮肤风热者甚验。气味辛凉而不似荆芥之温,终当以治风热为断。
邹氏解贼风伤寒,谓夏之贼风乃北风,定是夏令伤北风之寒,此于薄荷之治,亦尚有合
。但邹氏专主此说而于风热不推及之,且以薄荷根不畏寒,苗不畏暑,为消息之所在,则泥
之至矣。惟其根不畏寒,所以苗不畏暑。不畏暑,正辛凉之金气足以当日。与麻黄所产之地,
冬不积雪,可对观而明。邹氏又谓薄荷发寒泣之覆,与荆芥香薷等,试思香薷何物而可与之
等量耶。
薄荷于头目肌表之风热郁而不散者,最能效力。若配合得宜,亦可治上中焦之里热。
凉膈散、龙脑鸡苏丸,以除胃热胆热肾热,可谓用逾其分矣。逍遥散合煨姜,又能变凉风为
温风而治骨蒸劳热,彼存胶柱之见者,得毋闻而惊怖耶。
Historical texts indicate that Jingjie (Schizonepetae Herba) was heavily relied upon for treating wind-induced stiffness of the head and neck, various forms of hemiplegia with facial paralysis and lockjaw, as well as hematemesis, epistaxis, and lower gastrointestinal bleeding. This reflects its primary domain, which is fundamentally centered on "wind within the blood." Its ability to disperse wind within the blood implies regulating qi circulation within the blood vessels; thus, Zhang Yuansu (Hanghai) referred to it as a qi-moving herb for the Liver Meridian. However, the qi of the Liver Meridian inevitably involves the Shaoyang Meridian; the "scrofula" (lymph node tuberculosis) governed by this meridian is essentially a Shaoyang disease.
Jingjie disperses wind within the blood and is the premier emergency herb for postpartum blood syncope. Its aromatic and warm nature is also sufficient to treat scrofula, sores, and scabies, but these effects are achieved through promoting blood vessel patency and removing stasis.
Some argue that Jingjie possesses both warming and ascending properties along with cooling and descending ones, or vice versa. Ultimately, its warming nature outweighs its cooling nature, and its qi is somewhat turbid. When used for exterior cold-wind patterns, it is appropriate only when accompanied by blood-level involvement manifesting as dizziness and blurred vision. *Yonglei Lianfang* treats wind-heat headache with Jingjie combined with Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao) in equal parts, powdered and taken with tea, demonstrating an ingenious formulation method.
Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), according to *Tang Bencao*, treats sudden wind and cold damage by inducing sweating; *Shixing Bencao* states it treats headache from yin-yang toxic cold damage; Su Song and Wang Haogu also assert it treats wind-cold. Other authorities, however, claim it treats wind-heat. Which view should be adopted? Historical formulas predominantly use Bohe for wind-heat patterns, rarely for wind-cold. Decocted and drunk, it effectively removes wind-heat from the high peak (head) and skin, as described by Zhang Jiegu. Its aroma and flavor are pungent and cool, unlike the warmth of Jingjie; therefore, its definitive indication should be wind-heat.
Zou interpreted "sudden wind cold damage" as northern wind in summer, suggesting injury by northern cold during summer months. This aligns somewhat with Bohe's therapeutic profile. However, Zou exclusively adhered to this theory, neglecting wind-heat, and based his reasoning on the root's resistance to cold and the sprout's resistance to heat, which is overly rigid. The reason the sprout resists heat is precisely because the root resists cold. Resisting heat indicates that its pungent-cool Metal Qi is sufficient to counteract the summer sun. This can be understood by comparing it with Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang), which grows in areas where snow does not accumulate in winter. Zou further claimed Bohe induces chills and weeping, equating it with Jingjie and Moslae Herba (Xiangru). One must ask: what kind of herb is Xiangru to be compared equally with Bohe?
Bohe is most effective for wind-heat stagnation in the head, eyes, muscle, and surface. With proper combination, it can also treat interior heat in the Upper and Middle Jiao. Formulas such as Liangge San (Cool the Diaphragm Powder) and Longnao Jisu Wan (Borneol Chicken Mint Pill) clear stomach, gallbladder, and kidney heat, arguably exceeding standard dosage boundaries. Xiaoyao San combined with roasted ginger transforms cooling wind into warming wind to treat bone-steaming consumptive fever. Those with rigid views might be startled and terrified by such applications.