气温。味咸。有小毒。主积气。胁下满。惊悸。除水。去五脏间寒热。补中下气
。
旋覆气温。禀天春和之木气。入足厥阴肝经。味咸有小毒。得地北方阴惨之水味。入足
少阴
肾经。气味降多于升。阴也。温能散积。咸能软坚。故主结气胁下满也。水气乘心则惊悸。
咸温下水。所以并主惊悸也。去五脏间寒热者。五脏藏阴者也。痰蓄五脏。则寒不藏而寒热
矣。咸温可以消痰。所以去寒热也。补中者。中为脾胃。水行痰消。则中宫脾胃受补也。下
气者。咸性润下也。因有小毒。所以服之必烦也。
制 方:
旋覆同人参、半夏、代赭石、甘草、生姜、大枣。治伤寒汗下后。心下痞坚。噫气不除。
气微温。味辛甘。无毒。主风水毒肿。去恶气。止霍乱。心腹痛。
藿香气微温。禀天初春之木气。入足少阳胆经、足厥阴肝经。味辛甘无毒。得地金土之
二味
。入手太阴肺经、足太阴脾经。气味俱升。阳也。风水毒肿者。感风邪湿毒而肿也。其主之
者。风气通肝。温可散风。湿毒归脾。甘可解毒也。恶气。邪恶之气也。肺主气。辛可散邪
。所以主之。霍乱。脾气不治挥霍扰乱也。芳香而甘。能理脾气。故主之也。心腹亦脾肺之
分。气乱于中则痛。辛甘而温。则通调脾肺。所以主之也。
制 方:
藿香同香附末。升降诸气。同陈皮。治霍乱。同滑石、丁香。治夏月吐泻。同香附、甘
草。
治胎气不安。同白茯、半夏。治风水毒肿。
[Xuanfu Hua]
Properties and Flavors: Warm in temperature, salty in flavor. Slightly toxic. Indications: Accumulated Qi (accumulation of pathological gas), fullness under the hypochondrium, palpitations. Eliminates water retention, removes cold-heat alternating sensations between the five Zang organs, tonifies the Middle Jiao (Spleen and Stomach), and directs Qi downward.
Analysis: Xuanfu Hua is warm in nature, inheriting the mild Wood Qi (Wood element energy) of spring, entering the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. It is salty with slight toxicity, acquiring the Yin-cold Water flavor of the North, entering the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Its descending action exceeds its ascending action, making it Yin-natured. Warmth can dissipate accumulations, and saltiness can soften hardness; therefore, it treats constrained Qi and hypochondriac fullness. When Water Qi invades the Heart, palpitations occur; the salty-warm property promotes the downward movement of water, thus also treating palpitations. To remove cold-heat alternating sensations between the five Zang organs: The five Zang organs store Yin essence. When Phlegm-Dampness accumulates within them, Yin-Cold cannot be contained internally, leading to alternating cold and heat. The salty-warm property can resolve phlegm, thereby removing these sensations. Tonifying the Middle refers to the Spleen and Stomach; when water metabolism proceeds and phlegm dissipates, the Middle Jiao Spleen and Stomach can receive tonification. Directing Qi downward occurs because the salty flavor has a moistening and downward-pouring nature. Due to its slight toxicity, administration inevitably causes vexation.
Prescription Method:
Xuanfu Hua is combined with Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), Daizheshi (Haematitum), Gancao (Licorice Root), Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), and Dazao (Jujubae Fructus). It treats post-Shanghan (Cold Damage) sweating or purgation cases characterized by epigastric stiffness and fullness (Pi Jian) and persistent belching (Yi Qi).
[Huo Xiang]
Properties and Flavors: Slightly warm in temperature, pungent and sweet in flavor. Non-toxic. Indications: Wind-water toxic swelling, removal of malignant Qi, stopping Huoluan (acute vomiting and diarrhea), heart and abdominal pain.
Analysis: Huo Xiang is slightly warm, inheriting the early spring Wood Qi, entering the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. It is pungent and sweet, non-toxic, acquiring the Metal and Earth flavors, entering the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. Both its aroma and flavor ascend, making it Yang-natured. "Wind-water toxic swelling" refers to swelling caused by contracting wind pathogens and damp-toxins. Huo Xiang treats this because Wind Qi connects to the Liver, and warmth disperses wind; Damp-Toxin returns to the Spleen, and sweetness resolves toxicity. "Malignant Qi" refers to evil pathogenic Qi. The Lung governs Qi, and pungency disperses pathogens, hence it treats this condition. Huoluan results from Spleen Qi dysfunction causing chaotic disturbance. Huo Xiang is aromatic and sweet, capable of regulating Spleen Qi, thus treating it. The Heart and Abdomen are also domains of the Spleen and Lung; when Qi becomes chaotic in the center, pain ensues. Huo Xiang is pungent, sweet, and warm, capable of unblocking and regulating Spleen and Lung Qi, hence treating it.
Prescription Method:
Huo Xiang combined with Xiangfu powder regulates the ascending and descending of all Qi. Combined with Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), it treats Huoluan. Combined with Huashi (Talcum) and Dingxiang (Caryophylli Flos), it treats summer vomiting and diarrhea. Combined with Xiangfu and Gancao, it treats fetal unrest. Combined with Baifuling (Poria) and Banxia, it treats wind-water toxic swelling.