气平涩。味甘。无毒。主补中。养神。益气力。除百疾。久服轻身耐老。不饥延年
。（去心炒）
莲子气平涩。禀天秋收之金气。入手太阴肺经。味甘无毒。得地中正之土味。入足太阴
脾经
。以其仁也。兼入手少阴心经。气味升多于降。阳也。脾者五脏之中也。甘平益脾。所以
补
中。心者神之居也。芳香清心。所以养神。脾为万物之母。后天之本。肺主周身之气。先天
之源。甘平益脾肺。所以益气力。心为十二官之主。主安则十二官俱安。而百病皆除也。久
服轻身耐老者。益气和血之功。不饥延年者补脾养神之力也。
制 方:
石莲子蒸熟蜜丸。不饥清心宁神。同白茯。治遗精。同川莲、木香、陈米。治噤口痢。
同川
莲、白芍、扁豆、葛根、升麻、红曲、甘草、滑石、乌梅丸。治痢如神。同马豆末。治脾虚
不食。
气温。味苦辛。无毒。主胸中瘕热逆气。利水谷。久服去臭。下气通神。
陈皮气温。禀天春升之木气。入足厥阴肝经。味苦辛无毒。得地南西火金之味。入手少
阴心经、手太阴肺经。气味升多于降。阳也。胸中者肺之分也。肺主气。气常则顺。气变则
滞。滞则一切有形血食痰涎。皆假滞气而成瘕。瘕成则肺气不降而热生焉。陈皮辛能散。苦
能泄。可以破瘕清热也。苦辛降气。又主逆气。饮食入胃。散精于肝。温辛疏散。肝能散精
。水谷自下也。肺主降。苦辛下泄。则肺金行下降之令。而下焦臭浊之气。无由上升。所以
去臭而下气也。心为君主。神明出焉。味苦清心。味辛能通。所以通神也。
制 方:
陈皮留白和中。去白消痰理气。同术补脾。同甘草补肺。同补气药补气。同破气药破气。
同
消痰药去痰。同消食药化食。各从其类以为用也。同人参、首乌、桂枝、归身、姜皮。治三
日疟寒多。同白蔻、生姜、藿香、半夏。治寒痰。同白茯、甘草、半夏。名二陈汤。治痰症
。同生姜。治哕。同藿香。治霍乱吐泻。同姜汁焙末。同枣煎。治脾疟。去白为末。麝香调
酒下。治乳痈初发。盐汤泡。刮去白。同甘草丸。治痰涎上泛。同白术丸。名宽中丸。治脾
虚胀满。不思饮食。
Lianzi (Lotus Seed): The qi is neutral and astringent. The taste is sweet. It is non-toxic. Its main functions are tonifying the middle jiao, nourishing the shen (spirit), boosting qi and strength, and eliminating various diseases. Long-term consumption lightens the body, delays aging, reduces hunger, and prolongs life. (Remove the plumule and stir-fry before use).
Lianzi has a neutral and astringent qi, inheriting the metal qi of autumnal convergence from heaven, entering the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Its sweet and non-toxic taste obtains the central earth flavor from earth, entering the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. Due to its kernel nature, it also enters the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. Its aroma and taste rise more than they descend, belonging to Yang. The Spleen is situated among the five zang organs; the sweet and neutral nature benefits the Spleen, thus tonifying the middle. The Heart is the residence of the shen; its aromatic quality clears the heart, thus nourishing the shen. The Spleen is the mother of all things and the foundation of acquired constitution; the Lung governs the qi of the whole body and is the source of innate constitution. The sweet and neutral nature benefits the Spleen and Lung, thus boosting qi and strength. The Heart is the master of the twelve officials; when the Heart is peaceful, the twelve officials are all at peace, and all diseases are eliminated. The ability to lighten the body and delay aging comes from the merit of benefiting qi and harmonizing blood. The ability to reduce hunger and prolong life comes from the power of tonifying the Spleen and nourishing the shen.
Preparation Formulas:
Shi Lianzi (Stone Lotus Seed) steamed and made into honey pills can relieve hunger, clear the heart, and calm the shen. Combined with Bai Fu Ling (Poria), it treats spermatorrhea. Combined with Chuan Lianzi (Sichuan Lotus Seed), Mu Xiang (Aucklandia Root), and Chen Mi (aged rice), it treats jin kou li (dysentery with inability to eat). Combined with Chuan Lianzi, Bai Shao (White Peony Root), Bian Dou (Lablab Bean), Ge Gen (Kudzu Root), Sheng Ma (Cimicifuga Rhizome), Hong Qu (Red Yeast Rice), Gan Cao (Licorice Root), Hua Shi (Talcum), and Wu Mei Wan (Mume Pill), it treats dysentery with miraculous effect. Combined with Ma Dou Mo (Vigna Angularis Powder), it treats anorexia due to Spleen deficiency.
Chenpi (Dried Tangerine Peel): The qi is warm. The taste is bitter and pungent. It is non-toxic. Its main functions are eliminating zhong zhong jia re ni qi (accumulation, heat, and rebellious qi in the chest), promoting the digestion of water and grain. Long-term consumption removes bad breath, descends qi, and unblocks the shen.
Chenpi has a warm qi, inheriting the wood qi of springtime rising from heaven, entering the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. Its bitter and pungent non-toxic taste obtains the fire and metal flavors of the south and west, entering the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian and the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Its aroma and taste rise more than they descend, belonging to Yang. The chest is the domain of the Lung. The Lung governs qi; when qi is normal, it flows smoothly; when qi changes, it stagnates. Stagnation causes all有形 (有形 refers to tangible substances like blood, food, phlegm, and saliva) to form zhong (masses/accumulations) by relying on stagnant qi. Once zhong forms, Lung qi fails to descend, generating heat. Chenpi’s pungency can disperse, and its bitterness can drain, allowing it to break up masses and clear heat. Its bitter and pungent nature descends qi and mainly treats rebellious qi. Food enters the stomach, and essence is scattered to the Liver. The warm and pungent nature disperses; the Liver scatters essence, so water and grain naturally descend. The Lung governs descent; the bitter and pungent nature drains downward, allowing Lung Metal to execute its descending function, so foul turbid qi from the lower jiao cannot rise. Thus, it removes bad odor and descends qi. The Heart is the monarch, from which shenming (spiritual consciousness) emerges. Bitterness clears the Heart, and pungency unblocks, thus unblocking the shen.
Preparation Formulas:
Chenpi retaining the white inner peel (Ju Bai) harmonizes the middle; removing the white inner peel eliminates phlegm and regulates qi. Combined with Zhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome), it tonifies the Spleen. Combined with Gan Cao (Licorice Root), it tonifies the Lung. Combined with qi-tonifying herbs, it tonifies qi. Combined with qi-breaking herbs, it breaks qi. Combined with phlegm-resolving herbs, it resolves phlegm. Combined with food-digesting herbs, it digests food. Each acts according to its category. Combined with Ren Shen (Ginseng Root), Shou Wu (Polygonum Multiflorum Root), Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), Gui Shen (Angelica Sinensis Root), and Jiang Pi (Zingiberis Recens Periderm), it treats san ri nue (tertian malaria) with predominant chills. Combined with Bai Kou (Black Cardamom), Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger), Huo Xiang (Patchouli Herb), and Ban Xia (Pinellia Tuber), it treats cold phlegm. Combined with Bai Fu Ling (Poria), Gan Cao (Licorice Root), and Ban Xia (Pinellia Tuber), named Er Chen Tang (Two-Aged Decoction), it treats phlegm syndromes. Combined with Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger), it treats yue (hiccups). Combined with Huo Xiang (Patchouli Herb), it treats huo luan (cholera-like syndrome with vomiting and diarrhea). Roasted with Jiang Zhi (Ginger Juice) and ground into powder, decocted with Zao (Jujube Fruit), it treats pi nue (spleen malaria). Removing the white inner peel, grinding into powder, and taking with musk mixed in wine treats ru yong (breast abscess) in its initial stage. Soaked in salt water, scraping off the white inner peel, and combined with Gan Cao (Licorice Root) to make pills treats shang fan (floating phlegm-saliva). Combined with Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) to make pills, named Kuan Zhong Wan (Broad-Middle Pill), treats abdominal distension and fullness due to Spleen deficiency and loss of appetite.