气寒。味苦。无毒。主五脏积热。胃胀闭。涤去蓄结饮食。推陈致新。除邪气。炼
之如膏。久服轻身。
芒硝气寒。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
少阳
相火三焦经。气味俱降。阴也。其主五脏积热胃胀闭者。五藏本为脏阴之经。阴枯则燥。而
火就之。则热积于脏而阳偏盛矣。阳者胃脘之阳。阳偏盛。故胃胀而闭塞也。其主之者。芒
硝入三焦。苦寒下泄。水谷之道路通。而胀者平矣。小肠为受盛之官。化物出焉之腑。小肠
燥热。则物受而不化。饮食蓄结于肠矣。芒硝入太阳。苦寒下泄。咸以软坚。则陈者下而
新者可进也。除邪气者。苦寒治燥热之邪气也。炼之如膏。久服轻身者。指三焦小肠有实积
者言也。盖积去身自轻也。
制 方:
芒消同大黄、枳实、浓朴。名承气汤。治胃实积聚。
气寒。味甘。无毒。主身热泄 。女子乳难。癃闭。利小便。荡胃中积聚寒热。益
精气。久服轻身。耐饥长年。（水研飞）
滑石气寒。禀天冬寒之水气。入足太阳寒水膀胱经、手太阳寒水小肠经。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。其主身热肠 者。盖太阳行身之表。为诸
经主气者也。暑伤太阳、则气化失职。水谷不分。身热泄利肠 矣。滑石。甘以益气。寒以
清暑。所以主之也。其主、女子乳难者。乳汁不通也。甘寒有益脾土。脾湿行则脾血化乳也
。膀
胱热则癃闭。甘寒滑渗。故主癃闭而利小便也。脾者为胃行津液者也。脾湿则困。不行胃中
津液。渣秽则积聚于胃而寒热生焉。滑石入膀胱利小便。则湿去脾健。而胃中积聚皆行矣。
益精气者。滑石入小肠。则心火有去路。火不刑金。肺金旺生水也。久服湿行脾健。所以轻
身耐饥。脾为后天。脾旺谷充。自然长年也。
制 方:
滑石同甘草末。治暑邪小便闭。水飞。治湿热恶疮。同石膏末。大麦汁服。治女劳疸。
同藿
香、丁香末。治霍乱。
[Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas)]
The qi is cold, the taste is bitter, and it is non-toxic. It primarily treats accumulated heat in the five zang organs, gastric distension and obstruction, washes away accumulated and congealed food retention, pushes out the old to bring forth the new, and eliminates pathogenic factors. When refined into a paste, long-term consumption lightens the body.
Mangxiao has a cold qi, inheriting the cold water qi of winter from heaven, entering the Hand-Taiyang Cold-Water Small Intestine Meridian. Its bitter and non-toxic taste inherits the fire flavor of the south from earth, entering the Hand-Shaoyang Ministerial Fire Sanjiao Meridian. Both its qi and taste are descending, belonging to Yin. The reason it treats accumulated heat in the five zang organs and gastric distension/obstruction is that the zang organs are originally meridians of Yin. If Yin fluid withers, dryness arises, and fire follows, causing heat to accumulate in the zang organs while Yang becomes excessive. This "Yang" refers to the Yang of the epigastrium; excessive Yang leads to gastric distension and blockage. Mangxiao treats this by entering the Sanjiao; its bitter-cold nature drains downward, unblocking the pathways for water and grain, thereby resolving distension. The Small Intestine is the official organ of reception and storage, responsible for transformation. If the Small Intestine is dry and hot, food is received but not transformed, leading to dietary accumulation and concretion in the intestines. Mangxiao enters the Taiyang meridian; its bitter-cold nature drains downward, and its salty taste softens hardness, allowing the old to descend so the new can enter. "Eliminating pathogenic factors" refers to using bitter-cold properties to treat pathogenic factors arising from dryness-heat. "Refining into a paste and long-term consumption lightening the body" refers specifically to cases where there is excess accumulation in the Sanjiao and Small Intestine. Once the accumulation is removed, the body naturally feels light.
Prescription:
Mangxiao combined with Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), and Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) is named Chengqi Tang (Harmonizing the Stomach Decoction). It treats stomach excess syndromes and accumulations/masses.
[Hua Shi (Talcum)]
The qi is cold, the taste is sweet, and it is non-toxic. It primarily treats fever accompanied by diarrhea, difficulty in lactation in women, strangury and urinary retention, promotes urination, sweeps away accumulated cold and heat in the stomach, benefits essence and qi. Long-term consumption lightens the body, increases resistance to hunger, and prolongs life. (Prepared by grinding and flying with water.)
Hua Shi has a cold qi, inheriting the cold water qi of winter from heaven, entering the Foot-Taiyang Cold-Water Bladder Meridian and the Hand-Taiyang Cold-Water Small Intestine Meridian. Its sweet and non-toxic taste inherits the central earth flavor from earth, entering the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. Its qi and taste descend more than they ascend, belonging to Yin. It treats fever with diarrhea (sun-xie) because the Taiyang meridian runs on the surface of the body and governs the qi of all meridians. If summer-heat damages the Taiyang, the qi transformation function fails, water and grain are not separated, leading to fever, diarrhea, and loose stools. Hua Shi is sweet to benefit qi and cold to clear summer-heat, thus treating these conditions. It treats difficulty in lactation because its sweet-cold nature benefits the Spleen Earth; when Spleen dampness moves normally, Spleen blood transforms into milk. Heat in the Bladder causes strangury and retention; Hua Shi is sweet, cold, slippery, and permeable, thus treating strangury and promoting urination. The Spleen transports fluids for the Stomach. If the Spleen is constrained by dampness, it cannot transport fluids to the Stomach, causing dregs and filth to accumulate in the Stomach and generate cold and heat. Hua Shi enters the Bladder to promote urination; once dampness is removed, the Spleen strengthens, and accumulations in the Stomach dissipate. "Benefiting essence and qi" occurs because Hua Shi enters the Small Intestine, providing an exit for Heart Fire. When Fire does not suppress Metal, Lung Metal flourishes and generates Water. Long-term consumption moves dampness and strengthens the Spleen, resulting in a light body and resistance to hunger. The Spleen is the Post-Heaven Root; when the Spleen is robust and grains are sufficient, longevity naturally follows.
Prescription:
Hua Shi combined with Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) powder treats urinary retention caused by summer-heat pathogens. Prepared by water-flying, it treats malignant sores caused by damp-heat. Combined with Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) powder and taken with Barley Juice, it treats Nulv Dan (Jaundice due to sexual exhaustion). Combined with Huoxiang (Agastaches Herba) and Dingxiang (Caryophylli Flos) powders, it treats Huoluan (Cholera-like disorder).