气平。味辛。无毒。主诸风湿痹。四肢拘挛。小儿风痫惊气。利腰膝。强筋力。久
服益气。轻身长年。
天麻气平。禀天秋平之金气。味辛无毒。得地西方之金味。入手太阴肺经。得天地之金
气独
全。故为制风木之上药。气降味升。阳也。肝为风木。诸风皆属于肝。肝主血。血涩不通。
则湿感成痹也。其主之者。天麻气平味辛。入肺而通水道。能活血而散风也。四肢脾主之。
因于湿则大筋吹短而成拘挛也。肺亦太阴。水道通调。则太阴湿行。而脾湿解拘挛愈矣。小
儿风痫惊气。皆肝经血虚气亢。以致气逆而惊痫也。天麻味辛。辛则润血气平。平则镇惊也
。辛平之品。润肝、血而平肝气。肝主筋而位居下。故能利腰膝而强筋力也。久服辛平益肺
。肺主气。所以益气。气充身自轻。而年自长也。
制 方:
天麻同半夏、黄芩、前胡、陈皮、白茯。治痰厥头痛。同白术、陈皮、白茯、车前。治
饮在
心下。同南星、前胡、陈皮、白茯。消一切风痰。
气平。味辛。无毒。主除脾胃寒热。通利九窍血脉关节。令人不忘。去恶虫。
木通气平。禀天秋平之金气。味辛无毒。得地西方之金味。专入手太阴肺经。气降味苦。
阴也。其除脾胃寒热者。盖饮入于胃。游溢精气。上输于脾。脾气散精。上归于肺。肺气通
调水道。乃下输膀胱。如水道不通。则饮留于脾胃而发寒热矣。木通入肺。以通水道。故除
脾胃寒热也。九窍者。耳目鼻各二。口大小便各一也。木通气平则利。味辛则通。所以通利
九窍血脉关节也。其令人不忘者。心藏神而属火。水道通则心火有制。神清多记忆也。湿热
不除。则化生恶虫。水道通。则湿热有去路。故恶虫不生也。
制 方:
木通同生地、炙草、竹叶。治心热便赤。同白茯、泽泻、车前、猪苓、灯心。治癃闭。
同牛
膝、生地、天冬、麦冬、五味、黄柏、甘草。治尿血。同生地、甘草、赤茯、竹叶。名导赤
散。泻小肠之火。
[Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma)]
The nature is neutral. The flavor is pungent. It is non-toxic. It mainly treats various wind-damp bi syndromes, spasms and contracture of the four limbs, pediatric wind-phthisia and fright qi, benefits the waist and knees, strengthens sinew strength. Long-term use tonifies qi, lightens the body, and prolongs life.
Tianma has a neutral nature, inheriting the metal qi of autumn; its flavor is pungent and non-toxic, obtaining the metal flavor of the west. It enters the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, uniquely possessing the complete metal qi of heaven and earth. Therefore, it serves as a superior herb for subduing wind and wood pathogens. Its qi descends and its flavor ascends, which is Yang. The Liver belongs to wind and wood, and all wind disorders are associated with the Liver. The Liver governs blood; when blood flow is stagnant and obstructed, dampness invades and forms bi syndromes. Tianma treats these conditions because its neutral nature and pungent flavor enter the Lung meridian and unblock the water passages, thereby activating blood circulation and dispersing wind. The four limbs are governed by the Spleen; when affected by dampness, the large tendons shorten, leading to spasms and contracture. The Lung also belongs to Taiyin; when water passages are unblocked, Taiyin dampness moves, Spleen dampness resolves, and spasms heal. Pediatric wind-phthisia and fright qi arise from deficiency of Liver blood and hyperactivity of Qi, causing rebellious Qi that triggers fright and phthisia. Tianma’s pungent flavor moistens blood, and its neutral nature calms fright. Pungent and neutral herbs moisten Liver blood and pacify Liver Qi. Since the Liver governs tendons and resides in the lower part of the body, it can benefit the waist and knees and strengthen sinew strength. Long-term consumption of pungent and neutral herbs benefits Lung Qi; since the Lung governs Qi, it tonifies Qi. When Qi is sufficient, the body becomes light and lifespan extends.
Prescription Methods:
Combine Tianma with Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Qianhu (Peucedani Radix), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), and Baifu Ling (Poria) to treat headache due to Phlegm-Jue syndrome. Combine with Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Chenpi, Baifu Ling, and Cheqianzi (Plantaginis Semen) to treat fluid retention under the heart. Combine with Nanxing (Arisaematis Rhizoma Preparatum), Qianhu, Chenpi, and Baifu Ling to eliminate various wind-phlegm.
[Mutong (Akebiae Caulis)]
The nature is neutral. The flavor is pungent. It is non-toxic. It mainly eliminates cold and heat in the Spleen and Stomach, unblocks the nine orifices, vessels, and joints, enhances memory, and removes harmful parasites.
Mutong has a neutral nature, inheriting the metal qi of autumn; its flavor is pungent and non-toxic, obtaining the metal flavor of the west. It specifically enters the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian. Its qi descends and its flavor is bitter, which is Yin. The reason it eliminates cold and heat in the Spleen and Stomach is that after food and drink enter the Stomach, their essence overflows and is transported upward to the Spleen. The Spleen scatters the essence upward to the Lung. The Lung unblocks the water passages, transporting fluids downward to the Bladder. If the water passages are blocked, fluids remain in the Spleen and Stomach, causing cold and heat. Mutong enters the Lung to unblock water passages, thus eliminating cold and heat in the Spleen and Stomach. The nine orifices refer to two ears, two eyes, two nostrils, one mouth, and one anus and urethra. Mutong’s neutral nature promotes flow, and its pungent flavor promotes unblocking, thereby benefiting the nine orifices, vessels, and joints. It enhances memory because the Heart stores the Spirit and belongs to Fire; when water passages are unblocked, Heart Fire is controlled, the Spirit is clear, and memory is improved. If damp-heat is not eliminated, harmful parasites may develop; when water passages are unblocked, damp-heat has an exit path, so harmful parasites do not arise.
Prescription Methods:
Combine Mutong with Shengdi Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Zhi Gancao (Prepared Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), and Zhuye (Bambusae Folium) to treat Heart heat with red urine. Combine with Baifu Ling, Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Cheqianzi, and Zhuling (Polyporus) to treat strangury (difficulty in urination). Combine with Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Shengdi Huang, Tiandong (Asparagi Radix), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) to treat hematuria. Combine with Shengdi Huang, Gancao, Chifup Ling (Poria cum Rubro), and Zhuye, named Daochi San (Guide Out Red Powder), to drain fire from the Small Intestine.