(芳草)泻肝气分之血
莪术(专入肝)。辛苦气温。大破肝经气分之血。盖人血气安和。则气与血通。血与气
附。
一有所偏。非气盛而血碍。即血壅而气滞。三棱气味苦平。既于肝经血分逐气。莪术气味辛
温。复于气分逐血。故凡气因血窒而见积痛不解。吐酸奔豚。痞癖症瘕等症者。须当用此调
治。(按之应手为症。是因伤食所得。假物成形为瘕。是因伤血所得。见于肌肤。可见为痞
。是因伤气所得。结于隐癖。不见为癖。是因积聚所得。五积。肝积曰肥气。在左胁下形如
覆杯。有头有足。如龟鳖状。心积曰伏梁。起于脐上。大如手臂。上至心下。脾积曰痞气。
在胃脘。覆大如盘。肺积曰息奔。在右胁下。覆如大杯。肾积曰奔豚。发于少腹。上至心下
。如豚奔走之象。或上或下。亦无定时。经曰。大积大聚。毒可犯也。衰其大半而止。过者
死。故去积。须以甘温调养。又曰。壮者气行则已。怯者则着而成病。洁古云。壮人无积。
惟虚人则有之。故养正则邪自除。)俾气自血而顺。而不致闭结不解矣!但蓬术虽属磨积之
味。(血积宜用桃仁山甲干漆大黄虻虫蓬术瓦楞子。痰积宜用半夏南星白术枳实礞石硝石风
化硝白芥子海石蛤粉。水积宜用大戟甘遂荛花芫花。酒积宜用干葛神曲砂仁豆蔻黄连干
姜甘遂牵牛。茶积宜用姜黄茱萸椒姜。癖积宜用三棱莪术巴霜大黄。肉积宜用山楂阿魏硝石
。
蛊积宜用雄黄锡灰槟榔雷丸芜荑使君子鹤虱。疟积宜用桃仁鳖甲草果。)若虚人服之。最属
可危。须得参术补助为妙。大者为广术。(颂曰。此物极坚硬难捣。)灰火煨透。乘热捣之。
或醋磨酒磨。或煮熟用。
(Within the category of aromatic herbs) Ezhu (Rhizoma Curcumae) can drain blood stasis from the Qi level of the Liver meridian.
Ezhu specifically enters the Liver meridian. Its flavor is acrid and bitter, and its nature is warm. It has the powerful function of breaking up blood stasis at the Qi level of the Liver meridian.
Generally speaking, when a person's Qi and Blood are harmonious and peaceful, Qi and Blood flow together, and Blood adheres to Qi.
Once there is any deviation, either excessive Qi will obstruct Blood flow, or stagnant Blood will cause Qi stagnation.
Sanleng (Rhizoma Sparganii) has a bitter and neutral flavor; it can expel Qi stagnation within the Blood level of the Liver meridian. Ezhu has an acrid and warm flavor; it can further disperse Blood stasis within the Qi level. Therefore, for conditions such as unrelenting pain from accumulations, acid regurgitation, running piglet syndrome (Ben Tun), epigastric fullness (Pi), hidden masses (Pi), and fixed or movable masses (Zheng Jia) caused by Qi being obstructed by Blood, these two herbs must be used for treatment. (Note: "Zheng" refers to masses that are palpable upon pressure, resulting from food injury and taking shape from physical substances; "Jia" refers to masses resulting from blood injury, visible on the skin surface; "Pi" refers to fullness resulting from Qi injury; "Pi" [hidden] refers to masses resulting from accumulation, located in hidden areas and invisible. Among the Five Accumulations: Liver accumulation is called Fei Qi, located under the left hypochondrium, shaped like an inverted cup with head and feet, resembling a turtle or tortoise; Heart accumulation is called Fu Liang, starting above the umbilicus, thick as an arm, extending up to below the heart; Spleen accumulation is called Pi Qi, located in the epigastrium, covering an area large as a plate; Lung accumulation is called Xi Ben, located under the right hypochondrium, shaped like a large inverted cup; Kidney accumulation is called Ben Tun, originating in the lower abdomen and extending up to below the heart, resembling the running of a piglet, moving up or down without fixed timing. The Classics state: For large accumulations, toxic drugs may be employed. Stop when the pathogenic factor has been reduced by more than half; over-treatment leads to death. Therefore, to remove accumulations, one must nourish with sweet and warm tonics. It is also said: In robust individuals, if Qi flows freely, the accumulation resolves itself; in weak individuals, the pathogen lingers and causes disease. Zhang Jiegu stated: Robust people do not have accumulations; only deficient individuals do. Thus, by nurturing righteousness (healthy Qi), evil naturally eliminates.) This allows Qi to flow smoothly from Blood, preventing closure and obstruction.
However, although Pengzhu (Ezhu) belongs to the category of herbs that dissipate accumulations, (For Blood accumulation, suitable herbs include Tao Ren, Shan Jia, Gan Qi, Da Huang, Meng Chong, Pengzhu, Wa Leng Zi; for Phlegm accumulation, Ban Xia, Nan Xing, Bai Zhu, Zhi Shi, Meng Shi, Xiao Shi, Feng Hua Xiao, Bai Jie Zi, Hai Shi, Ge Fen; for Water accumulation, Da Ji, Gan Sui, Yao Hua, Yuan Hua; for Wine accumulation, Gan Ge, Shen Qu, Sha Ren, Dou Kou, Huang Lian, Gan Jiang, Gan Sui, Qian Niu; for Tea accumulation, Jiang Huang, Zhu Yu, Jiao Jiang; for Hidden mass accumulation, San Leng, Ezhu, Ba Shuang, Da Huang; for Meat accumulation, Shan Zha, A Wei, Xiao Shi; for Gu accumulation, Xiong Huang, Xi Hui, Bing Lang, Lei Wan, Wu Yi, Shi Jun Zi, He Shi; for Malaria accumulation, Tao Ren, Bie Jia, Cao Guo.) if taken by deficient individuals, it is most dangerous. It is best to combine it with tonics such as Ren Shen and Bai Zhu.
The larger variety is known as Guangzhu. (Song states: This material is extremely hard and difficult to crush.) It should be roasted thoroughly in ash fire and crushed while hot. Alternatively, it can be ground with vinegar or wine, or used after boiling.