气寒。味甘。无毒。主五淋。生煮服之。
灯草气寒。禀天冬寒之水气。入手太阳寒水小肠经、足太阳寒水膀胱经。味甘无毒。得
地中
正之土味。入足太阴脾经。气味降多于升。阴也。心与小肠为表里。小便者心火之去路也。
心火结于小肠膀胱。则小便淋沥矣。灯心生煮服之。气寒清热。味甘化气。结者解而火下泄
矣。
制 方:
灯心焙。同炒盐共末。吹喉痹。煎汤调灯花末涂乳。小儿吮之。止夜啼。
气温。味甘。无毒。主小儿五疳。小便白浊。杀虫疗泻痢。
使君子气温。禀天春和之木气。入足厥阴肝经。味甘无毒。得地中正之土味。入足太阴
脾经
。气味俱升。阳也。小儿疳症。名虽有五。原皆由脾虚。脾虚则不健运。于是积聚生疳也。
其主之者。味甘可以益脾。气温可以健运也。中气不足。则溲溺为之变。所以小便白而混浊
也。其主之者。甘温益气。气足则清肃而便清也。甘温之品。则具条达之性。能泻脾经之湿
热。湿热清。则泻利自止而虫不生。所以杀虫疗泻痢也。
制 方:
使君子同芦荟、芜荑、滑石、麦芽、浓朴、陈皮。杀疳虫。消疳积。专为末。治小儿蛔
痛及
虚肿。煎汤漱虫牙疼痛。
气寒。味苦。无毒。主五内邪气。热中消渴。周痹风湿。久服坚筋骨。轻身不老
。耐寒暑。
枸杞子气寒。禀天冬寒之水气。入足少阴肾经。味苦无毒。得地南方之火味。入手少阴
心经
。气味俱降。阴也。五内者五脏之内也。邪气者邪热之气也。盖五内为藏阴之地。阴虚所以
有热邪也。其主之者。苦寒清热也。心为君火。肾为寒水。水不制火。火烁津液。则病热中
消渴。其主之者。味苦可以清热。气寒可以益水也。水益火清。消渴自止。其主周痹风湿者
。痹为闭症。血枯不运。而风湿乘之也。治风先治血。血行风湿灭也。杞子苦寒益血。所以
治痹。久服苦益心。寒益肾。心肾交。则水火宁而筋骨坚。筋骨健则身自轻。血足则色华。
所以不老。耐寒暑者。气寒益肾。肾水足可以耐暑。味苦益心。心火宁可以耐寒也。
制 方:
杞子同五味。治疰夏。同熟地、白茯、白术。治肾虚目暗。
[Dengxincao (Junci Medulla)]
Nature: Cold. Flavor: Sweet. Non-toxic. Mainly treats the five types of strangury (five categories of painful urinary disorders). Decocted raw and taken orally.
Dengxincao has a cold nature, inheriting the cold water energy of winter. It enters the Hand-Taiyang Cold-Water Small Intestine Meridian and the Foot-Taiyang Cold-Water Bladder Meridian. Its flavor is sweet and non-toxic, deriving from the central earth flavor of the ground, entering the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. The descending aspect of its qi and flavor exceeds the ascending aspect; it is Yin in nature. The Heart and Small Intestine are exteriorly-interiorly related. Urination is the pathway for the exit of Heart Fire. If Heart Fire becomes constrained in the Small Intestine and Bladder, it results in dribbling strangury. When Dengxincao is decocted raw and ingested, its cold nature clears heat, and its sweet flavor transforms qi. The constraint is resolved, and fire drains downward.
Prescription:
Roast Dengxincao, grind together with stir-fried salt into powder, and insufflate into the throat for Hou Bi (sore throat/obstruction). Decoct soup to mix with Denghua (flower of Juncus) powder, apply to the breast, and let infants suckle to stop night crying.
[Shijunzi (Quisqualis Fructus)]
Nature: Warm. Flavor: Sweet. Non-toxic. Mainly treats the five types of Gan syndrome (pediatric malnutrition syndromes) in children, white turbid urine. Kills parasites, treats dysentery and diarrhea.
Shijunzi has a warm nature, inheriting the mild wood energy of spring. It enters the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. Its flavor is sweet and non-toxic, deriving from the central earth flavor of the ground, entering the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. Both its qi and flavor ascend; it is Yang in nature. Pediatric Gan syndromes, though named as five types, originally stem from Spleen deficiency. Spleen deficiency leads to impaired transportation and transformation, resulting in accumulation that forms Gan. The therapeutic principle is: sweet flavor tonifies the Spleen Qi, and warm nature promotes Spleen transportation. Insufficiency of Middle Qi causes changes in urination, hence the urine is white and turbid. The therapeutic principle is: sweet and warm substances tonify Qi; when Qi is sufficient, clarity descends, and urination becomes clear. Sweet and warm herbs possess a spreading nature, capable of draining damp-heat from the Spleen Meridian. When damp-heat is cleared, diarrhea stops naturally, and parasites do not generate. Thus, it kills parasites and treats dysentery.
Prescription:
Combine Shijunzi with Lulü (Aloe), Wuyi (Toosendan Fruit), Huashi (Talcum), Maiya (Malt), Houpo (Magnolia Bark), and Chenpi (Citrus Peel) to kill Gan parasites and dissipate Gan accumulations. Grind specifically into powder to treat pediatric ascariasis pain and edema. Decoct soup to rinse the mouth to treat toothache caused by dental caries.
[Gouqizi (Lycii Fructus)]
Nature: Cold. Flavor: Bitter. Non-toxic. Mainly treats evil qi within the five zang organs, internal heat with thirst (Xiao Ke), generalized bi obstruction with wind-dampness. Long-term use strengthens sinews and bones, lightens the body, prevents aging, and enhances tolerance to cold and heat.
Gouqizi has a cold nature, inheriting the cold water energy of winter. It enters the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Its flavor is bitter and non-toxic, deriving from the fire flavor of the south, entering the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. Both its qi and flavor descend; it is Yin in nature. "Five Ne" refers to the interior of the five zang organs. "Evil qi" refers to pathogenic heat. Since the five zang organs are the residence of Yin, Yin deficiency leads to pathogenic heat. The therapeutic principle is: bitter and cold clears heat. The Heart is Sovereign Fire, and the Kidney is Cold Water. If Water fails to control Fire, Fire scorches body fluids, resulting in internal heat and Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome). The therapeutic principle is: bitter flavor clears heat, and cold nature nourishes Water. When Water is nourished and Fire is cleared, Xiao Ke ceases spontaneously. Regarding the treatment of generalized bi obstruction with wind-dampness: Bi syndrome is a blockage syndrome caused by blood depletion and stasis, allowing wind-dampness to invade. To treat wind, first treat the blood; when blood moves, wind-dampness extinguishes. Gouqizi is bitter and cold, nourishing blood, thus treating Bi. Long-term use of bitter flavors benefits the Heart, and cold nature benefits the Kidney. When Heart and Kidney interact, Water and Fire are harmonized, sinews and bones become strong. Strong sinews and bones make the body light. Abundant blood gives luster to the complexion, preventing aging. Tolerance to cold and heat arises because: cold nature benefits the Kidney, and sufficient Kidney Water tolerates heat; bitter flavor benefits the Heart, and tranquil Heart Fire tolerates cold.
Prescription:
Combine Gouqizi with Wuweizi (Schisandra Fruit) to treat Zhu Xia (summer fatigue syndrome). Combine with Shudi (Rehmannia Root Preparata), Baifu Ling (Poria), and Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) to treat blurred vision due to Kidney deficiency.