(蔓草)活血利水
天仙藤(专入肝脾)。即青木香马兜铃藤也。味苦气温。观书所论主治。止属妊娠子肿。
(始
自两足。渐至喘闷似水。足趾出水。谓之子气。)及腹痛风痨等症。而于他症则未及焉。即
其所治之理。亦不过因苦主于疏泄。性温得以通活。故能活血通道。而使水无不利。风无不
除。血无不活。痛与肿均无不治故也。昔有天仙藤散。(天仙藤香附子陈皮甘草乌药。等分
为末。用木瓜生姜苏叶煎汤服。)以治子肿。其亦可以知其概矣。叶似葛。圆而小。有白毛
。根有须。四时不凋者是。
(石草)破瘀逐血补骨
骨碎补(专入肾。兼入心)。味苦而温。功专入肾补骨。且能入心破血。是以肾虚耳鸣。
(耳
属肾。)久泻。(肾司开合之权。久泻多责于肾。)跌仆损伤骨痛。牙痛血出。无不用此调治
。(泄泻。研末入猪肾煨食。牙痛。炒黑为末擦牙。折伤。粥和末裹伤处。)俾其肾补骨坚。
破瘀生新。而病即除。至命其名曰骨碎补。以其骨碎能补骨故耳。虽与补骨脂相似。然总不
如补骨脂性专固肾通心。而无逐瘀破血之治也。去毛。蜜拌蒸用。
(香木)温血分寒除冷止痛
桂心(专入心)。本于肉桂。去外粗皮。取当中心者。为桂心。味甘辛热。专温营分之
里药。
凡九种心痛。(九种。一虫。二疰。三风。四悸。五食。六饮。七冷。八热。九去来痛。后
人又祖其义而亦别之有九。曰饮、曰食、曰气、曰血、曰冷、曰热、曰悸、曰蛊、曰 、皆
明邪乘手少阴之络而成。)腹内冷痛 癖等症。皆能奏效。以其所治在心。故治亦在于里。
而不在于躯壳之外耳。非若肉桂。未去外层皮肉。其治在于通经达络。以除风寒湿痹。而不
专入心腹之内也。
(Medicinal Vines) Invigorate blood and promote diuresis.
Tianxianteng (Dichroa Radix / Aristolochiae Caulis, specifically entering the Liver and Spleen meridians). It is the vine of Qingmuxiang (Aristolochia contorta) or Madouling (Aristolochia debilis). Its taste is bitter, and its nature is warm. According to textual discussions on its indications, it is primarily indicated for edema during pregnancy (Zizhong, fetal edema). This condition begins in both feet, gradually progressing to chest tightness and dyspnea resembling fluid retention, with exudation from the toes, known as "Ziqi" (fetal qi disease). It is also used for abdominal pain, wind-lao (chronic deficiency conditions), and other syndromes, but does not cover other ailments. The rationale for its treatment lies in the fact that bitterness primarily promotes drainage and dispersion, while warmth facilitates circulation and activation. Thus, it can invigorate blood and unblock collaterals, ensuring free flow of fluids, elimination of wind pathogens, smooth movement of blood, and resolution of pain and swelling. In the past, the formula Tianxianteng San (composed of equal parts of Tianxianteng, Xiangfuzi [Cyperi Rhizoma], Chenpi [Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium], Gancao [Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma], and Wuyao [Linderae Radix], ground into powder and taken with a decoction of Mugua [Chaenomelis Fructus], Shengjiang [Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens], and Ziyè [Perillae Folium]) was used to treat fetal edema. From this, one may grasp its general application. The leaves resemble those of kudzu, are round and small, covered with white hairs; the roots have fibrous rootlets, and the plant remains evergreen throughout the four seasons.
(Stony Medicinals) Break up stasis, expel blood, and tonify bone.
Gusuibu (Drynariae Rhizoma, specifically entering the Kidney meridian, and additionally entering the Heart meridian). Its taste is bitter and its nature is warm. Its efficacy specifically enters the Kidney to tonify bone, and it can also enter the Heart to break up blood stasis. Therefore, it is used for tinnitus due to Kidney deficiency (the ears belong to the Kidney), chronic diarrhea (the Kidney governs the function of opening and closing; chronic diarrhea is often attributed to the Kidney), bone pain from falls and trauma, and bleeding toothache. All these conditions are treated with this herb. (For diarrhea, grind the herb into powder and stew it inside a pig kidney; for toothache, stir-fry until blackened, grind into powder, and apply to the teeth; for fractures, mix the powder with congee and wrap it around the injured area.) This ensures the Kidney is tonified and bones become firm, breaking up stasis and generating new tissue, thereby eliminating the disease. It is named "Gusuibu" (Bone Mender) because it repairs broken bones. Although similar to Buguzhi (Psoraleae Fructus), it is not as effective as Buguzhi in specifically consolidating the Kidney and unblocking the Heart without the action of expelling stasis and breaking blood. Before use, remove the hairs, mix with honey, and steam.
(Fragrant Woods) Warm the blood level, dispel cold, and relieve pain.
Guixin (Cinnamomi Cortex Medulla, specifically entering the Heart meridian). Derived from Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex), it is obtained by removing the outer rough bark and taking the central part, which is called Guixin. Its taste is sweet and pungent, and its nature is hot. It is a representative herb that specifically warms the interior of the Ying (Nutritive) level. It is effective for all nine types of heart pain (The nine types refer to: 1. worm pain, 2. zhū disease pain, 3. wind pain, 4. palpitation pain, 5. food stagnation pain, 6. fluid retention pain, 7. cold pain, 8. heat pain, 9. wandering pain. Later scholars expanded on this concept, categorizing them into another nine types: fluid, food, qi, blood, cold, heat, palpitation, gu parasite, and phlegm, all clearly indicating that pathogenic factors invade the collaterals of the Hand-Shaoyin Heart meridian). It is also effective for cold pain in the abdomen and pi accumulations (masses). Since its therapeutic target is the Heart, its action is directed inward rather than outward on the body surface. Unlike Rougui, which retains the outer bark and flesh and acts to unblock meridians and collaterals to dispel wind-cold-damp bi syndrome, Guixin does not act externally but specifically enters the interior of the Heart and abdomen.