气寒。味苦。无毒。主下瘀血。血闭寒热。破症瘕积聚。留饮宿食。荡涤肠胃。
推陈致新。通利水谷。调中化食。安和五脏。
大黄气寒。禀天冬寒之水气。入手太阳寒水小肠经。味苦无毒。得地南方之火味。入手
少阴
心经、手少阳相火三焦经。气味俱降。阴也。浊阴归六腑。味浓则泄。兼入足阳明胃经、手
阳
明大肠经。为荡涤之品也。味浓为阴。则入阴分。血者阴也。心主者也。血凝则瘀。大黄入
心。味苦下泄。故下瘀血。血结则闭。阴不和阳。故寒热生焉。大黄味苦下泄。则闭者通。
阴和于阳而寒热止矣。症瘕积聚。皆有形之实邪。大黄所至荡平。故能破之。小肠为受盛之
官。无物不受。传化失职。则饮留食积矣。大黄入小肠而下泄。所以主留饮宿食也。味浓则
泄。浊阴归腑。大黄味浓为阴。故入胃与大肠而有荡涤之功也。消积下血。则陈者去而新者
进
。所以又有推陈致新之功焉。其推陈致新者。以滑润而能通利水谷。不使阻碍肠胃中也。肠
胃无碍。则阳明胃与太阴脾调和。而食消化矣。饮食消化。则阴之所生。本自五味。五脏主
藏阴。阴生而藏安和矣。
制 方:
大黄同黄芩、沉香、礞石丸。名滚痰丸。治痰症。同当归、槟榔。治痢初起。同甘草。
治胃
火食入即吐。
[Da Huang]
The qi is cold, the flavor is bitter, and it is non-toxic. It mainly treats the downward discharge of blood stasis, amenorrhea (blood closure), and alternating chills and fever; breaks up masses and accumulations; eliminates retained fluids and old food; purges the stomach and intestines; pushes out the old to bring in the new; promotes the free flow of water and grain digestion; harmonizes the middle jiao to transform food; and pacifies and harmonizes the five zang organs.
Da Huang possesses a cold qi, inheriting the cold water qi of Tian Dong (Asparagus cochinchinensis Root), entering the Hand-Taiyin Cold Water Small Intestine Meridian. Its bitter and non-toxic flavor derives from the fire flavor of the southern earth, entering the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian and the Hand-Shaoyang Ministerial Fire Sanjiao Meridian. Both its qi and flavor descend, belonging to Yin. Turbid Yin returns to the six fu organs. A strong flavor induces purgation. It also enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, serving as a purgative agent. A strong flavor indicates Yin, thus entering the Yin aspect. Blood belongs to Yin and is governed by the Heart. When blood coagulates, stasis forms. Da Huang enters the Heart; its bitter flavor causes downward drainage, hence it discharges blood stasis. When blood knots, closure occurs. If Yin and Yang are not in harmony, chills and fever arise. Da Huang's bitter flavor causes downward drainage, opening closures; when Yin harmonizes with Yang, chills and fever cease. Masses and accumulations are tangible pathogenic excesses. Wherever Da Huang reaches, it sweeps them flat, thus capable of breaking them down. The Small Intestine is the official organ of reception and transformation, accepting all things. If its transmission and transformation functions fail, fluids remain and food stagnates. Da Huang enters the Small Intestine and drains downward, thereby treating retained fluids and old food. A strong flavor induces purgation, and turbid Yin returns to the fu organs. Since Da Huang has a strong, Yin nature, it enters the Stomach and Large Intestine, exerting a purging effect. By eliminating accumulation and draining blood stasis, the old is removed and the new advances, thus possessing the function of "pushing out the old to bring in the new." This function of pushing out the old to bring in the new exists because its slipperiness and lubricity promote the free flow of water and grain, preventing obstruction in the stomach and intestines. With no obstructions in the stomach and intestines, the Yangming Stomach and Taiyin Spleen harmonize, allowing food to be digested. Upon digestion of food and drink, Yin essence is generated, originating fundamentally from the five flavors. The five zang organs store Yin; when Yin is generated, the organs are pacified and harmonized.
Prescription Formulation:
Da Huang combined with Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), Chen Xiang (Aquilariae Lignum), and Meng Shi Pill is named Gun Tan Wan (Rolling Phlegm Pill), treating phlegm disorders. Combined with Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) and Bing Lang (Arecae Semen), it treats early-stage dysentery. Combined with Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), it treats vomiting immediately after eating due to Stomach Fire.