气寒。味辛。无毒。主症瘕积聚结气。饮食寒热。破坚逐邪。通利水道。（炒用）
葶苈子气寒。禀天冬寒之水气。入足太阳寒水膀胱经、手太阳寒水小肠经。味辛无毒。
得地
西方之金味。入手太阴肺经。气味降多于升。阴也。其主症瘕积聚结气者。气结聚而成积。
有形可征者谓之症。假物成形者谓之瘕。葶苈入肺。肺主气。而味辛可以散结也。小肠为受
盛之官。饮食入肠。寒热之物。皆从此运转。如调摄失宜。则寒热之物积矣。葶苈气寒可以
去热。味辛可以散寒。下泄可以去积也。破坚者辛散之功。逐邪者下泄之力。十剂云。泄可
去闭。葶苈是也。肺者通调水道。下输膀胱。葶苈入肺入膀胱。辛寒下泄。所以通利也。
制 方:
葶苈炒成末蜜丸。大枣同煎。治肺痈喘急。及支饮不得息。同枣肉丸。治通身浮肿。专
酒浸
。治腹胀积聚。
气微寒。味苦。无毒。主腹中寒热积聚。女子产乳余疾。补肾气。令人明目。（蒸
晒）
元参气微寒。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
、手厥阴心包络经。气味俱降。阴也。腹中者心肾相交之区也。心为君火。心不下交于肾。
则火积于上。而热聚肾为寒水。肾不上交于心。则水积于下而寒聚矣。元参气寒益肾。味苦
清心。心火下而肾水上。升者升而降者降。寒热积聚自散矣。女子以血为主。产乳余疾。产
后诸症以产血伤也。心主血。味苦清心。所以主之。补肾气者。气寒壮水之功也。令人明目
者。益水可以滋肝。清心有以泻火。火平水旺。目自明也。
制 方:
元参同生地、甘菊、蒺藜、杞子、柴胡。能明目。同贝母、连翘、甘草、花粉、薄荷、
夏枯
草。治瘰 。同升麻、甘草。治发 咽痛。同知母、麦冬、竹叶。治热病燥热烦乱。
[Tingli Zi (Semen Lepidii)]
The Qi is cold, the flavor is pungent, and it is non-toxic. It primarily treats zheng zha (masses and accumulations), ji ju (accumulations and masses), and jie qi (stagnant qi), as well as cold-heat disorders arising from diet. It can break down firm accumulations, expel pathogenic factors, and promote the free flow of water passages. (Use after stir-frying)
Tingli Zi has a cold Qi, inheriting the cold water energy of winter from nature. It enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian of Hand-Yangming and the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian of Hand-Taiyang. Its flavor is pungent and non-toxic, deriving from the pungent metal flavor of the West. It enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. The descending aspect of its Qi and flavor exceeds the ascending aspect; thus, it belongs to Yin. It treats zheng zha, ji ju, and jie qi because stagnant Qi gathers to form accumulations. Those with a fixed shape that can be palpated are called "zheng," while those formed by borrowing tangible substances are called "jia." Tingli Zi enters the Lung Meridian; the Lung governs Qi, and its pungent flavor can dissipate stagnation. The Small Intestine is the official organ of reception and containment. After food enters the intestines, both cold and hot substances are transported through it. If regulation is improper, cold and hot substances will accumulate. Tingli Zi’s cold Qi can eliminate heat, its pungent flavor can disperse cold, and its downward draining action can remove accumulations. Breaking firmness relies on the power of pungent dispersion, while expelling pathogens relies on the force of downward drainage. The *Ten Categories* states: "Draining agents can relieve closure," referring to Tingli Zi. The Lung regulates and conducts water passages, transporting fluids downward to the Bladder. Since Tingli Zi enters both the Lung and Bladder meridians, its pungent and cold nature facilitates downward drainage, thereby promoting free flow.
Prescription Methods:
Grind stir-fried Tingli Zi into powder, make pills with honey, and decoct together with Jujube (Da Zao). This treats lung abscess accompanied by wheezing and urgency, as well as branch-fluid retention causing difficulty in breathing. Made into pills with jujube flesh, it treats generalized edema. Specifically soaked in wine, it treats abdominal distension and accumulations.
[Yuan Shen (Radix Scrophulariae)]
The Qi is slightly cold, the flavor is bitter, and it is non-toxic. It primarily treats cold-heat accumulations in the abdomen, residual diseases in women after childbirth, tonifies Kidney Qi, and improves vision. (Use after steaming and sun-drying)
Yuan Shen has a slightly cold Qi, inheriting the cold water energy of winter from nature. It enters the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Its flavor is bitter and non-toxic, deriving from the bitter fire flavor of the South. It enters the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian and the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian. Both its Qi and flavor descend; thus, it belongs to Yin. The abdomen is the region where the Heart and Kidney intersect. The Heart is the Sovereign Fire. If Heart Fire does not descend to interact with the Kidney, fire accumulates in the upper body. The Kidney is Cold Water. If Kidney Water does not ascend to interact with the Heart, water accumulates in the lower body, and cold gathers there. Yuan Shen’s cold Qi benefits the Kidney, and its bitter flavor clears the Heart. As Heart Fire descends and Kidney Water ascends, what rises rises and what descends descends, causing cold-heat accumulations in the abdomen to dissipate naturally. Women take Blood as their foundation. Residual diseases after childbirth arise from blood loss during delivery. The Heart governs Blood; since its bitter flavor clears the Heart, Yuan Shen treats these conditions. Tonifying Kidney Qi utilizes its power to strengthen Water (nourish Yin) via its cold nature. Improving vision occurs because nourishing Water nourishes the Liver, and clearing the Heart drains Fire. When Fire is peaceful and Water is abundant, vision becomes clear.
Prescription Methods:
Combined with Sheng Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata), Gan Ju (Chrysanthemi Flos), Ji Li (Tribuli Fructus), Gou Qi Zi (Lycii Fructus), and Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix), it improves vision. Combined with Bei Mu (Fritillariae Bulbus), Lian Qiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Hua Fen (Trichosanthis Radix), Bo He (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), and Xia Ku Cao (Prunellae Spica), it treats scrofula. Combined with Sheng Ma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) and Gan Cao, it treats sore throat. Combined with Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix), and Zhu Ye (Bambusae Folium), it treats restlessness and irritability due to dryness-heat in febrile diseases.