乌药,味辛,气温,阳也,无毒,入足少阴肾经及阳明胃腑。性多走泄,不甚刚强,诸
冷能
除。凡气堪顺,止翻胃,消积食作胀,缩小便,逐气冲致疼,辟疫瘴时行,解蛊毒卒中,攻
女人滞凝血气,去小儿积聚蛔虫。此品功多而效少,盖佐使之至微者也。力微似可多用,然
而
多用反不见佳。不若少用之,以佐君臣之用耳。
乌药无关轻重,其实过多功少,近人未知耳。产妇虚而胎气不顺者,切不可用,用则胎
立堕
。人以为顺气用之,谁知乌药能顺胎气之实,而不能顺胎气之虚乎。不独胎气,凡气虚者,
俱不能顺。惟气血虚而带郁滞者宜之耳。
血竭,味辛、咸,气平,有小毒。入肾。治跌打伤损,消恶毒痈疽,专破积血,引脓,
驱邪
气止痛,外科多用之。然治诸痛,内治实神效。存之以备采用。
血竭内科可用,而近人不敢用之。不知血竭得补气血之药,其功更神。惜人未谙,故再
表之
也。
沉香,味辛,气微温,阳也,无毒。入命门。补相火,抑阴助阳,养诸气,通天彻地,
治吐
泻,引龙雷之火下藏肾宫,安呕逆之气,上通于心脏,乃心肾交接之妙品。又温而不热,可
常用以益阳者也。
沉香温肾而又通心。用黄连、肉桂以交心肾者,不若用沉香更为省事,一药而两用之也。
但
用之以交心肾,须用之一钱为妙。不必水磨,切片为末,调入于心肾补药中,同服可也。
Linderae Radix (Wuyao), pungent in taste, warm in nature, belonging to Yang, non-toxic. It enters the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and the Yangming Stomach Fu-organ. Its nature is predominantly dispersing and draining, not overly rigid or strong, capable of eliminating various cold pathogens. For conditions where Qi stagnation causes regurgitation (Fanwei/Ge Shi), it promotes smooth flow; it resolves distension caused by food accumulation, reduces urination, expels Qi rushing that causes pain, wards off epidemic miasma and seasonal pathogens, resolves gu poison and sudden stroke attacks, attacks stagnant and congealed Qi and Blood in women, and eliminates accumulations and roundworms in children. This herb has many claimed functions but few actual effects, likely serving as a minor assistant or guide herb. Because its strength is weak, one might think it can be used in large doses; however, excessive use often yields poor results. It is better to use small amounts to assist the sovereign and minister herbs.
Linderae Radix (Wuyao) is of little critical importance; in reality, using too much yields little benefit, a fact unknown to contemporary practitioners. For postpartum women who are deficient and have irregular fetal Qi, it must absolutely not be used, as doing so will cause immediate miscarriage. People assume it is used to regulate Qi, but who knows that Linderae Radix (Wuyao) can regulate the excess type of fetal Qi but cannot regulate the deficiency type? Not only for fetal Qi, but for any condition involving Qi deficiency, it cannot be used to regulate Qi. It is suitable only for cases where there is Qi and Blood deficiency accompanied by stagnation.
Dragon's Blood (Xuejie), pungent and salty in taste, neutral in nature, slightly toxic. Enters the Kidney. Treats traumatic injuries from falls and blows, eliminates malignant carbuncles and ulcers, specifically breaks up accumulated blood, draws out pus, drives away pathogenic Qi to relieve pain, and is frequently used in surgery. However, for treating various pains, it is truly miraculous when used internally. It is recorded here for future reference.
Although Dragon's Blood (Xuejie) can be used in internal medicine, contemporary practitioners dare not use it. They do not know that when combined with herbs that tonify Qi and Blood, its efficacy becomes even more miraculous. Alas, people are unaware of this, hence I clarify it again.
Agarwood (Chenxiang), pungent in taste, slightly warm in nature, belonging to Yang, non-toxic. Enters the Mingmen (Gate of Life). Tonifies Minister Fire, suppresses Yin while assisting Yang, nourishes various Qi mechanisms, penetrates heaven and earth, treats vomiting and diarrhea, guides "Dragon and Thunder Fire" downward to hide in the Kidney Palace, calms rebellious Qi causing vomiting, connects upward to the Heart, making it an excellent product for the interaction between Heart and Kidney. Furthermore, it is warming without being hot, allowing for long-term use to benefit Yang.
Agarwood (Chenxiang) warms the Kidney and unblocks the Heart. Using Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian) and Cinnamon Twig (Rougui) to facilitate the communication between Heart and Kidney is less convenient than using Agarwood (Chenxiang), which achieves two purposes with one herb. However, when using Agarwood (Chenxiang) to facilitate Heart-Kidney communication, the optimal dose is one qian. There is no need to grind it with water; slicing it into pieces, grinding into powder, and mixing it into Heart-Kidney tonifying decoctions for simultaneous consumption is acceptable.