(龟鳖)泻肝分积热除劳嗽骨蒸
鳖甲(专入肝)。味咸气平。色青。书虽载属补肝。(青入肝。)与龟载属补肾(黑入肾。)
各别
。然究皆属除热削肝之品。(介虫皆属阴寒。故能除热。)非真滋肝药也。凡厥阴血分积热。
而见劳嗽骨蒸。寒热往来。温疟疟母。及腰腹胁坚。血瘕痔核。经阻产难。疡痈疮肿。惊痫
斑痘等症。服此咸平。能以消除。(诸症皆就阴虚邪入而论。故用鳖甲入阴除热散结。)若肝
虚无热。切忌。鳖以七肋九肋者佳。以其得阳之数耳!其用必取乎肋。以肋属肝故耳。但食
品中惟鳖叵测。如三足两头。并项强腹赤。皆有大毒。能以杀人。不可不慎。
人身气以卫外。血以营内。有气以统血。则血始能灌溉一身。而凡目得藉血以视。耳得
藉血
以听。手得藉血以摄。掌得藉血以握。足得藉血以步者。靡不本其气之所运。有血以附气。
则气始能升降出入。而凡伎巧能强。治节能出。水谷能腐。谋虑能断。二便能通。万事能应
者。靡不本其血之所至。此有血不可无气以统。而有气不可无血以附也。第血有盛于气。则
血泣而不流。故有必用温暖之药以行之。气胜于血。则血燥而不通。故有必赖清凉之药以行
之。若使气血并胜。挟有积热。而致瘀块不消。根深蒂固。经年累月不愈者。则又不得不赖
破气损血之药以下。俾气血无乖。而病自可以愈。又按血盛于气。则气失其所司。而血愈寒
愈滞。故凡用药治血。必得其气稍浓以为之主。而凡味浓气薄之品。自不得以相兼。如血
有凝于肝。症见恶寒战栗。其可不用肉桂以治乎?风郁血闭。其可不用川芎以治乎?肌肤灼
热。吐衄肠风。其可不用荆芥以治乎?经闭不通。其可不用苍耳子以治乎?阴肿崩瘕。其可
不
用海螵蛸以治乎。目翳不散。其可不用谷精草兔屎以治乎?风痹乳阻。其可不用王不留行以
治
乎?恶露不净。其可不用大小蓟以治乎?血晕血滞。其可不用沙糖以治乎?此肝经血滞之当
温也。若使肝经血滞。而更见有脾气不运。则伏龙肝似不能离。肌肉不生。则白蜡似不能舍
。水肿症瘕。则泽兰似不能却。蛊毒恶气。则百草霜似不能去。子肿不消。则天仙藤似不能
别。胃滞不通。则韭菜汁似不可废。血脉不通。周身痛痹。则酒酿似不能除。肌肉不生。目
翳不开。则炉甘石似不能少。血脱不固。溃疡肉消。则赤石脂似不能削。是症有兼脾胃如此
。且或见有心腹卒痛。则延胡索不得不用。神气不畅。则安息香不得不急。骨碎血瘀。则骨
碎补不得不进。是症有兼心肺者又如此矣。若于肝经血滞。而更见有鼻衄血脱之不得不用乌
墨以止。筋骨血瘀之不得不用续断以通。肺痿血痢之不得不用鸡苏以散。肾寒血瘀之不得
不用阳起石以宣。目赤精遗之不得不用白蒺藜以解。督脉不通之不得不用鹿茸以温。瘀块坚
硬。 癖 羸之不得不用海狗肾以软。是症有兼肾经者又如此矣。至于心经血滞。而症见有
癖冷痛。在书已有桂心可用。见有痈疡痛迫。在书已有乳香可除。凡此止就温血大概。略
为分晰。而究其要。则又在临症审脉。分别无差。庶于用药治血之理。自不致有天渊之隔矣
。
(Guijia and Biejia) can clear accumulated heat in the Liver branch, eliminate consumptive cough (Laosou), and bone-steaming fever (Guzheng).
Biejia (Tartar Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum) (specifically enters the Liver meridian). It has a salty taste and neutral qi. Its color is green. Although medical texts record it as tonifying the Liver (because green enters the Liver), distinct from Guijia (Chelonis Carapax et Plastrum) which is recorded as tonifying the Kidney (because black enters the Kidney). However, upon investigation, both belong to substances that clear heat and subdue Liver hyperactivity. (Shelled creatures are of Yin-cold nature, thus they can clear heat.) They are not truly nourishing herbs for the Liver. Whenever there is accumulated heat in the blood aspect of the Jueyin Liver meridian, manifesting as consumptive cough, bone-steaming fever, alternating chills and fever, warm malaria or malarial mass (Nuemu), hardness in the waist, abdomen, and hypochondrium, blood masses (Xuejia), hemorrhoidal nodes, menstrual obstruction, difficult labor, sores, carbuncles, ulcers, convulsions, epilepsy, macules, and smallpox, taking this salty and neutral Biejia can eliminate these conditions. (These symptoms are discussed from the perspective of Yin deficiency with pathogenic invasion, hence Biejia is used to enter the Yin aspect to clear heat and dissipate nodules.) If the Liver is deficient without heat, it is strictly contraindicated. Biejia with seven or nine ribs is superior, as it corresponds to the number of Yang! The medicinal part must be taken from the ribs, because ribs belong to the Liver. However, regarding Bie (soft-shelled turtle) as food, one must be cautious; those with three legs, two heads, stiff necks, and red abdomens possess great toxicity and can cause death, so caution is essential.
Human Qi guards the exterior, while Blood nourishes the interior. With Qi to control Blood, Blood can irrigate the whole body. Thus, the eyes rely on Blood to see, the ears rely on Blood to hear, the hands rely on Blood to grasp, the palms rely on Blood to hold, and the feet rely on Blood to walk, all fundamentally based on the movement of Qi. With Blood adhering to Qi, Qi can ascend, descend, exit, and enter. Thus, dexterity and strength, governance skills, digestion of water and grain, planning and decision-making, patency of the bowels and bladder, and responsiveness to myriad affairs, all fundamentally depend on the presence of Blood. This indicates that Blood cannot exist without Qi to control it, and Qi cannot exist without Blood to adhere to it. However, if Blood is excessive relative to Qi, Blood becomes stagnant and does not flow, necessitating the use of warming herbs to promote its movement. If Qi is excessive relative to Blood, Blood becomes dry and obstructed, necessitating the reliance on cooling herbs to promote its movement. If both Qi and Blood are excessive, accompanied by accumulated heat, leading to persistent stasis masses that are deeply rooted and unhealed for years, then one must rely on herbs that break Qi and damage Blood to purge them, ensuring Qi and Blood do not become discordant, allowing the disease to heal.
Furthermore, if Blood is excessive relative to Qi, Qi loses its governing function, and Blood becomes colder and more stagnant. Therefore, when using herbs to treat Blood, one must employ herbs with stronger Qi as the principal agents; herbs with strong flavor but weak Qi should not be combined. For instance: if Blood stagnates in the Liver, manifesting as aversion to cold and shivering, should one not use Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex)? If wind depression causes blood closure, should one not use Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma)? If skin burns with heat, hematemesis, epistaxis, and intestinal wind bleeding occur, should one not use Jingjie (Schizonepetae Herba)? If menstruation is closed and obstructed, should one not use Can'erzi (Xanthii Fructus)? If there is yin swelling, metrorrhagia, and masses, should one not use Haipiaoxiao (Sepiae Endoconcha)? If eye nebula does not disperse, should one not use Gujingcao (Galegae Herba) and rabbit feces? If wind-bi and milk duct obstruction occur, should one not use Wangbuliuxing (Vaccariae Semen)? If lochia is not clean, should one not use Daji (Taraxaci Herba) and Xiaoji (Herba Cirsii Japonici)? If blood fainting and blood stasis occur, should one not use Shatang (Saccharum)? This describes the situation where Liver meridian blood stasis requires warming treatment.
If Liver meridian blood stasis is accompanied by Spleen Qi failing to transport, Fulonggan (Caulis Longan Arillus? Note: Text says 伏龙肝 - Fulonggan/Hearth Earth) seems indispensable; if muscles do not regenerate, Baila (Beeswax) seems inseparable; if edema and masses occur, Zelan (Agastachis Herba) seems unable to be dispelled; if gu poison and evil qi are present, Baicaoshuang (Carbonized Herbs) seem unable to be removed; if fetal edema does not resolve, Tianxianteng (Aristolochiae Manshuriensis Caulis) seems unable to be distinguished (handled); if stomach stagnation and obstruction occur, Jiucai juice (Allii Tuberosi Juice) seems indispensable; if blood vessels are obstructed and whole-body bi-pain occurs, Jiuniang (Fermented Rice Wine) seems unable to eliminate; if muscles do not regenerate and eye nebula does not open, Luganshi (Calamina) seems indispensable; if blood loss is unconsolidated and ulcer flesh wastes away, Chishizhi (Halloysit Rubra) seems indispensable. These are cases where symptoms involve the Spleen and Stomach. Furthermore, if sudden heart and abdominal pain occurs, Yanhusuo (Corydalis Rhizoma) must be used; if Shen Qi (Spirit Qi) is not smooth, Anshixiang (Styrax) must be urgently employed; if bones are broken and blood is stasis, Gusuibu (Drynariae Rhizoma) must be advanced. These are cases where symptoms involve the Heart and Lungs. If Liver meridian blood stasis is accompanied by epistaxis and blood loss, Wumo (Myrobalani Fructus) must be used to stop bleeding; if sinews and bones have blood stasis, Xuduan (Dianthi Radix) must be used to unblock; if lung flaccidity and bloody dysentery occur, Jisu (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba) must be used to dissipate; if Kidney cold and blood stasis occur, Yangqishi (Quinghai Stone) must be used to ventilate; if eyes are red and essence leaks, Baijili (Tribuli Fructus) must be used to resolve; if the Du meridian is obstructed, Lurong (Cervi Cornu Pantotrichum) must be used to warm; if stasis masses are hard and pi-accumulation causes emaciation, Hai gou shen (Pooecetes Gracilis Penis? Note: Text says 海狗肾 - Haigoushen/Phoca Penis et Testis) must be used to soften. These are cases where symptoms involve the Kidney meridian. As for Heart meridian blood stasis, if symptoms show pi-accumulation with cold pain, Guixin (Cinnamomi Ramulus) is available in texts; if sores and ulcers cause pressing pain, Ruxiang (Olibanum) is available in texts. These merely outline the general principles of warming blood, providing a brief analysis. Ultimately, the key lies in examining the pulse during clinical practice and distinguishing without error, so that the principles of using herbs to treat blood will not differ by a heaven and earth's distance.