白芨,味苦、辛,气平、微寒,阳中之阴也。入肺经。功专收敛,亦能止血。败症溃疡、
死
肌腐肉,皆能去之。敷山根,止衄血。涂疥癣,杀虫。此物近人皆用之外治,殊不知其内治
更神,用之以止血者,非外治也。将白芨研末,调入于人参、归、芎、黄 之内,一同吞服
,其止血实神。夫吐血未有不伤胃者也,胃伤则血不藏而上吐矣。然而胃中原无血也,血在
胃之外,伤胃则胃不能障血,而血入于胃中,胃不藏而上吐。白芨善能收敛,同参、 、归
、芎直入胃中,将胃中之窍敛塞,窍闭则血从何来,此血之所以能止也。况白芨又不止治胃
中之血,凡有空隙,皆能补塞。乌可徒借外治,而不亟用以内治乎。
或问白芨能填补肺中之损,闻昔年有贼犯受伤,曾服白芨得愈,后贼被杀,开其胸膛,
见白
芨填塞于所伤之处,果有之乎?此前人已验之方也,何必再疑。白芨实能走肺,填塞于所伤
之外。但所言只用一味服之,此则失传之误也。予见野史载此,则又不如此,史言受刑时,
自云∶我服白芨散五年,得以再生,不意又死于此。人问其方,贼曰∶我遇云游道士,自称
越人,传我一方∶白芨一斤、人参一两、麦冬半斤,教我研末,每日饥服三钱,吐血症全愈
。然曾诫我云∶我救汝命,汝宜改过,否则,必死于刑,不意今死于此,悔不听道士之言也
。我传方于世,庶不没道士之恩也。野史所载如此。方用麦冬为佐以养肺,用人参为使以益
气,则白芨填补肺中之伤,自易奏功,立方甚妙。惜道士失载其姓名。所谓越人,意者即扁
鹊公之化身也。
Baiji (Bletillae Rhizoma), with a bitter and acrid taste, and a neutral to slightly cold nature, belongs to Yin within Yang. It enters the Lung Meridian. Its efficacy is specialized in astringency and it can also stop bleeding. It can eliminate conditions such as carbuncles and ulcers, necrotic tissue, and putrefied flesh. Applied to the Shangen area (the root of the nose), it stops epistaxis. Smear it for tinea and scabies to kill parasites. People nowadays mostly use this herb for external treatment, not realizing that its internal application is even more miraculous. Using Baiji to stop bleeding does not rely solely on external treatment. When Baiji is ground into powder and mixed with Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), and Huangqi (Astragali Radix) to be swallowed together, its hemostatic effect is truly miraculous. Hematemesis invariably damages the Stomach; when the Stomach is damaged, blood fails to be contained and regurgitates upward. However, there is originally no blood within the Stomach itself; blood exists outside the Stomach. When the Stomach is injured, it loses its ability to screen blood, causing blood to enter the Stomach cavity, which then fails to contain it, leading to upward vomiting. Baiji excels at astringency. Together with Renshen, Danggui, and Chuanxiong, it directly enters the Stomach, astringing and sealing the orifices within the Stomach. Once these orifices are closed, from where would the blood come? This is why the bleeding stops. Moreover, Baiji not only treats bleeding in the Stomach but can also fill and seal any voids in the body. How can one merely rely on external treatment without urgently employing it for internal therapy?
One might ask: Can Baiji fill defects in the Lungs? It is heard that in past years, a thief was injured and recovered after taking Baiji. Later, when the thief was executed and his chest opened, Baiji was found filling the wound site. Is this true? This is a formula verified by predecessors; why doubt it? Baiji indeed travels to the Lungs and fills injuries externally. However, the claim that it is effective when taken as a single herb alone is an error resulting from lost transmission. I saw this recorded in unofficial histories, but the account differs. The history states that during sentencing, the individual said: "I took Baiji San (Powder) for five years and was revived, yet I did not expect to die here." When asked about the formula, the thief replied: "I met a wandering Daoist who claimed to be Yue Ren (a reference to Bian Que), who transmitted a formula to me: Baiji 1 jin, Renshen 1 liang, Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix) 0.5 jin. He taught me to grind them into powder and take 3 qian daily when hungry, which completely cured my hematemesis. However, he warned me: 'I saved your life; you must reform yourself, otherwise, you will surely die by punishment.' Unexpectedly, I have died here now. I regret not listening to the Daoist's words. I pass this formula to the world so as not to forget the Daoist's grace." Such is the record in unofficial histories. In this formula, Maidong is used as an assistant herb to nourish the Lungs, and Renshen is used as an envoy herb to benefit Qi. Thus, Baiji's ability to fill lung injuries naturally achieves success; the prescription is exquisite. Unfortunately, the Daoist's name was not recorded. The term "Yue Ren" likely refers to the incarnation of Bian Que Gong.