气寒。味甘。无毒。主气癃。止痛。利水道通小便。除湿痹。久服轻身耐老。
车前气寒。禀天冬寒之水气。入足太阳寒水膀胱经。味甘无毒。得地中正之土味。入足
太阴
湿土脾经。气降味和。阴也。膀胱者州都之官。津液藏焉。气化则能出矣。出气不化。闭塞
下窍。而为癃闭。其主之者。寒能化热。甘能化气也。小便者心火之去路也。火结于膀胱。
则小便痛矣。其止痛者。气寒能清火也。饮入于胃。游溢精气。上输于脾。脾气散精。上归
于肺。肺乃下输膀胱。车前味甘。甘能益脾。脾气散精。则肺气通行。故水道通。小便利也
。益脾利水。则湿下逐。故又除湿痹也。久服轻身耐老者。指有病者而言也。人身有湿则身
重。湿逐则身轻。湿逐脾健。脾主血。血充故耐老也。不然。滑泄之品。岂堪久服者哉。
制 方:
车前同木通、沉香、陈皮、升麻。治气癃。同二术、木瓜、石斛、萆 、白茯、五加皮。
治
湿
痹。同白芍、白茯、扁豆、甘草。治水泄。同生地、牛膝、天冬、麦冬、黄柏、五味、杞子
、人参、白胶。治尿血。及女子血淋。专末服。治暴泄。
气寒。味甘。无毒。主风寒湿痹。乳难。养五脏。益气力。肥健。消水。久服耳目
聪明。不饥。延年轻身。面生光。能行水上。
泽泻气寒。禀天冬寒之水气。入足太阳寒水膀胱经。味甘无毒。得地中正之土味。入足
太阴
脾经。气降味和。阴也。其主风寒湿痹者。风寒湿三者合而成痹。痹则血闭而肌肉麻木也。
泽泻味甘益脾。脾湿去。则血行而肌肉活。痹症瘳矣。其主乳难者。脾统血。血不化。乳所
以难也。味甘益脾。脾湿行则血运而乳通也。其主养五脏益气力肥健者。盖五脏藏阴者也。
而脾为之原。脾主肌肉而性恶湿。泽泻泻湿。湿去则脾健。脾乃后天之本。所以肌肉长而气
力益。阴血充而五脏得所养也。其消水者。入膀胱气寒下泄也。久服耳目聪明。不饥。延年
轻身者。肾与膀胱为表里。膀胱水道通。则肾之精道固。精足则气充。肾开窍于耳。所以耳
聪。水之精为目瞳子。所以明目。肾者胃之关。关门固所以不饥。肾气纳。所以延年轻身也
。其言面生光能行水上者。脾为湿土。湿则重。燥则轻。轻则能行水上。脾统血。血充则面
有光彩也。盖表其利水有固肾之功。燥湿有健脾之效也。
制 方:
泽泻同白茯、白术、猪苓、肉桂。名五苓散。治湿热。同山药、山萸、白茯、丹皮、生
地、
北味。名都气汤。补肾真阴。及小儿行语迟。同白茯、建兰叶、猪苓。治饮痰咳嗽。
[Cheqianzi (Plantaginis Semen)]
The nature is cold. The flavor is sweet. It has no toxicity. It primarily treats Qi stagnation leading to urinary difficulty (Qi Long). It relieves pain, promotes the flow of water passages, and facilitates urination. It dispels dampness-bi (Damp-Bi) syndrome. Long-term consumption makes the body light and delays aging.
Cheqianzi has a cold nature, inheriting the cold water energy of winter from heaven, and enters the Foot-Taiyang Cold-Water Bladder Meridian. Its sweet flavor and lack of toxicity derive from the central Earth flavor of the earth, entering the Foot-Taiyin Damp-Earth Spleen Meridian. Its qi descends and its flavor is harmonious; it belongs to Yin. The Bladder is the official of the capital, where fluids are stored; only through Qi transformation can they be excreted. If the Qi transformation for excretion fails, causing blockage at the lower orifice, urinary retention occurs. Cheqianzi treats this because coldness resolves heat, and sweetness promotes Qi transformation. Urine is the pathway for Heart Fire to exit. If fire knots in the Bladder, urination becomes painful. Cheqianzi relieves pain because its cold nature clears fire. When drink enters the Stomach, essence and qi overflow and are transported upward to the Spleen. The Spleen scatters essences, sending them upward to return to the Lung. The Lung then transmits downward to the Bladder. Cheqianzi’s sweet flavor tonifies the Spleen. When the Spleen scatters essences, Lung Qi circulates freely, thus unblocking water passages and facilitating urination. Tonifying the Spleen and promoting diuresis drives dampness downward, thereby dispelling damp-bi. "Long-term consumption making the body light and delaying aging" refers specifically to those who are ill. When dampness exists in the human body, the body feels heavy; when dampness is driven away, the body feels light. With dampness removed, the Spleen becomes robust. The Spleen governs Blood; when Blood is sufficient, one delays aging. Otherwise, how could slippery and purgative substances be taken for long?
Prescription Formulation:
Cheqianzi combined with Mutong (Akebiae Caulis), Chenxiang (Aquilariae Lignum), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), and Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) treats Qi Long. Combined with Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Mugua (Chaenomelis Fructus), Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis), Bixie (Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma), Fuling (Poria), and Wujia Pi (Acanthopanacis Cortex), it treats damp-bi. Combined with Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Fuling, Bian Dou (Dolichoris Semen), and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), it treats watery diarrhea. Combined with Shengdi Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Tiandong (Asparagi Radix), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus), Gouqi Zi (Lycii Fructus), Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), and Ejiao (Asini Corii Colla), it treats hematuria and women’s blood lin syndrome. Taken alone as powder, it treats acute diarrhea.
[Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma)]
The nature is cold. The flavor is sweet. It has no toxicity. It primarily treats wind-cold-damp bi syndrome, nursing difficulties, nourishes the five Zang organs, benefits Qi and strength, makes the body plump and strong, and eliminates water retention. Long-term consumption makes ears and eyes clear, prevents hunger, extends life, lightens the body, gives the face a luster, and enables walking on water.
Zexie has a cold nature, inheriting the cold water energy of winter from heaven, and enters the Foot-Taiyang Cold-Water Bladder Meridian. Its sweet flavor and lack of toxicity derive from the central Earth flavor of the earth, entering the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. Its qi descends and its flavor is harmonious; it belongs to Yin. It treats wind-cold-damp bi because wind, cold, and dampness combine to form Bi syndrome, which causes blood closure and muscle numbness. Zexie’s sweet flavor tonifies the Spleen; when Spleen dampness is removed, blood circulates and muscles become active, alleviating Bi symptoms. It treats nursing difficulties because the Spleen governs Blood; if Blood does not transform properly, milk production is difficult. Zexie’s sweet flavor tonifies the Spleen; when Spleen dampness moves, blood circulates and milk flows. It nourishes the five Zang organs, benefits Qi and strength, and builds the body because the five Zang organs store Yin, and the Spleen is their source. The Spleen governs muscles and dislikes dampness. Zexie drains dampness; when dampness is removed, the Spleen becomes robust. As the root of acquired constitution, the Spleen allows muscles to grow and Qi to increase, while Yin and Blood fill, nourishing the five Zang organs. It eliminates water because it enters the Bladder meridian, is cold in nature, and drains downward. Long-term consumption brings clarity to ears and eyes, prevents hunger, extends life, and lightens the body because the Kidney and Bladder are exterior-interior partners. When Bladder water passages are open, the Kidney’s essence pathways are secure. Abundant essence fills Qi. The Kidney opens into the ears, hence ear acuity. The essence of water manifests as the pupil, hence bright vision. The Kidney is the gate of the Stomach; a secure gate prevents hunger. Kidney Qi grasping leads to longevity and a light body. Regarding "face luster and walking on water": the Spleen is damp Earth; dampness makes one heavy, dryness makes one light, and lightness enables walking on water. The Spleen governs Blood; abundant blood gives the face luster. This expresses that Zexie has the function of draining water and securing the Kidney, and drying dampness to benefit the Spleen.
Prescription Formulation:
Zexie combined with Fuling, Baizhu, Zhuling (Polypori Umbellati), and Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) is named Wuling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria), treating damp-heat. Combined with Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus), Fuling, Danpi (Moutan Cortex), Shengdi Huang, and Bei Wei Mei (Schisandrae Fructus) is named Duqi Tang (Duqi Decoction), tonifying true Kidney Yin and treating delayed speech in children. Combined with Fuling, Jian Lan Ye (Orchid Leaf), and Zhuling, it treats cough due to fluid-phlegm.