古称神农氏辨别百草之性。咀味穷理。列为成书。后人定之。名曰本草纲目。然品汇既
多。
篇章亦富。不无烦衍错杂之病。能贯通而得其要者诚难其人。昌黎韩子有言。记事者提要。
纂言者钩玄。苟或昧于阴阳类聚群分。未能推明其所以然。而欲临症补泻。得其所当然。难
矣。叶君天士儒者。喜读书。尤邃于易。尝着易经象训十二卷。因易以悟医。通乎其理。撰
述颇多。本草经解其一也。集中所载。择汤液中要品而得其精。家侄悦田从学有年。得其指
示。抄录此书。出入必偕。近游六安。省舍弟于奎光清署。得谒州刺史杨公。公一见之。反
复赞叹。以为诠释之精。无逾此编。即命远斋公子付之梓人。以公当世。使学人识其要领。
于本草之精义。洞然豁然。纲举目张。忘乎其纂辑之劳。而具有贯通之益。其于人之疾也。
庶无谬乎。愿以此编为良医家法也。
雍正二年十一月日长至 锡山王云锦书于荷经之凝斋
气微寒。味甘。无毒。补五脏。安精神。定魂魄。止惊悸。除邪气。明目。开心益
智。久服轻身延年。
人参气微寒。禀天秋令少阴之气。入手太阴肺经。味甘无毒。禀地中正之土味。入足太
阴脾
经。气浓于味。阳也。肺为五胖之长。百脉之宗。司清浊之运化。为一身之橐龠。主生气。
人参气寒清肺。肺清则气旺。而五脏俱补矣。精者阴气之英华。神者阳气之精灵也。微寒
清肺
。肺旺则气足而神安。脾属血。人身阴气之原。味甘益脾。脾血充则阴足而精安。随神往来
者谓之魂。并精出入谓之魄。精神安。魂魄自定矣。气虚则易惊。血虚则易悸。人参微寒益
气。味甘益血。气血平和。惊悸自止。邪之所凑。其气必虚。人参益气。正气充足。其邪自
不能留。故能除邪气。五脏藏阴者也。五脏得甘寒之助。则精气上注于目而目明矣。心者神
之处也。神安所以心开。开者朗也。肾者精之舍也。精充则伎巧出而智益。久服则气足。故
身轻。气足则长生。故延年也。
制 方:
人参同五味子、麦冬。名生脉散。补阴生津液。同辰砂。治惊。同炮姜。则补气温中。
同白
术、炮姜、甘草。名理中汤。治胸中寒邪痞塞。同白茯、白术、甘草。名四君子汤。治脾湿
不
治
食入即
同
苏
治
血虚发热。同炮姜、北味、白术、甘草、白芍。治中气虚喘。同黄 、甘草、天冬、麦冬、
生
地、熟地、北味、苁蓉。治肾虚水泛成痰。同乳香各一钱。丹砂五分末。鸡蛋清和姜汁调服。
治横生倒产。同归身、麦冬、五味。治闻雷即晕。同赤茯、龙齿、辰砂。治离魂。同陈皮。
治房后困倦。同柴胡、大枣、生姜。治虚劳发热。同赤茯、麦冬。治齿缝出血。同莲肉、川
莲。
白芍、甘
草。治血虚腹痛。同附子、肉桂、炮姜。治寒厥。同附子、北味。治气脱中寒。同白术、麦
冬、
五味。治中暑倦怠。同白芍、沉香。治气虚胸满。同升麻。补上焦元气。泻肺中伏火。同白
茯。补下焦元气。泻肾中伏火。同沉香、茯神。治心虚邪客作痛。同黄 、白芍、北味。治
汗多亡阳。同知母、石膏、粳米、甘草。名人参白虎汤。治气虚伤暑。同附子、白芍、白术
、白茯、甘草。治小儿慢惊。同菖蒲、莲肉。治产后不语。同附子、肉桂、麦冬、五味。治
下虚寒而上大热。同黄 、天冬、北味、牛膝、杞子、菖蒲。治中风不语。同大枣、白芍、
甘草、枣仁、圆肉。治脾阴虚。同木瓜、藿香、橘红。治气虚反胃。同姜皮各两许。水煎露
服。治气虚疟久不止。
Ancient texts state that Shennong distinguished the properties of hundreds of herbs. He tasted them to exhaustively understand their principles and compiled them into a book. Later generations refined it, naming it *Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica). However, since there are numerous categories of substances and abundant chapters, there are inevitably problems of verbosity, redundancy, and confusion. It is indeed difficult to find someone who can integrate them comprehensively and grasp the essentials. Han Yu of Changli said, "Those recording events should extract the main points; those compiling discourses should hook out the profound mysteries." If one is ignorant of classifying and grouping according to Yin and Yang, and fails to deduce the reasons why, yet wishes to apply tonification and purgation in clinical practice to achieve the appropriate outcome, it would be difficult.
Mr. Ye Tianshi was a Confucian scholar who loved reading and was particularly profound in the *I Ching* (Book of Changes). He once wrote twelve volumes of *Yijing Xiangxun* (Illustrated Instructions on the Book of Changes). Through the *I Ching*, he comprehended medicine and understood its principles, producing many writings; *Bencao Jingjie* (Explanation of the Classic of Materia Medica) is one of them. The collection selects essential ingredients from decoctions and captures their essence. My nephew, Yuetian, studied under him for years, received his guidance, and copied this book, accompanying him wherever he went. Recently, while traveling in Lu'an, I visited my younger brother at the Qing Office in Kuiguang and had the opportunity to meet Prefect Yang. Upon seeing the book, Prefect Yang repeatedly praised it, believing that no other work explained its subtleties better than this compilation. He immediately ordered Mr. Yuanzhai's son to have it printed for public distribution, so that scholars could recognize its key points, gain clear insight into the profound meaning of Materia Medica, and achieve a systematic understanding, forgetting the labor of compilation but benefiting from comprehensive integration. Regarding human diseases, errors might thus be avoided. I wish for this compilation to serve as the standard method for good physicians.
Written by Wang Yunjin of Xishan at Ningzhai of Hejing on the Winter Solstice, November of the second year of Yongzheng [1724].
Ren Shen (Ginseng Root): Its Qi is slightly cold, its taste is sweet, and it is non-toxic. It tonifies the Five Zang Organs, calms the Spirit (Shen), stabilizes the Soul (Hun) and Ethereal Soul (Po), stops fright and palpitations, eliminates pathogenic factors, brightens the eyes, opens the mind, and benefits wisdom. Long-term use lightens the body and prolongs life.
Ren Shen (Ginseng Root) possesses a slightly cold Qi, inheriting the Qi of Shaoyin (Lesser Yin) of autumn, entering the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian. Its taste is sweet and non-toxic, inheriting the neutral Earth flavor of the earth, entering the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian. The Qi is denser than the taste, representing Yang. The Lung is the leader of the Five Zang Organs and the ancestor of all meridians, governing the transformation of clear and turbid Qi, acting as the bellows of the body, and primarily generating vital Qi. Ren Shen (Ginseng Root)'s cold nature clears the Lung; when the Lung is clear, Qi becomes vigorous, thereby tonifying all Five Zang Organs. Essence (Jing) is the brilliance of Yin Qi; Spirit (Shen) is the spirit of Yang Qi. Ren Shen (Ginseng Root)'s slight coldness clears the Lung; when the Lung is vigorous, Qi is sufficient and Spirit is calm. The Spleen governs Blood and is the source of the body's Yin Qi; Ren Shen (Ginseng Root)'s sweetness tonifies the Spleen; when Spleen Blood is充盈 (full), Yin is sufficient and Essence is secure. That which travels with the Spirit is called Hun (Ethereal Soul); that which enters and exits with Essence is called Po (Corporeal Soul). When Spirit and Essence are calm, Hun and Po naturally stabilize. Qi deficiency leads to easy fright; Blood deficiency leads to easy palpitations. Ren Shen (Ginseng Root)'s slight coldness tonifies Qi, and its sweetness tonifies Blood; when Qi and Blood are harmonious, fright and palpitations cease spontaneously. Wherever pathogens gather, Qi must be deficient. Ren Shen (Ginseng Root) tonifies Qi; when Righteous Qi (Zheng Qi) is sufficient, pathogens cannot remain. Thus, it can eliminate pathogens. The Five Zang Organs store Yin; aided by sweet and cold properties, Essence and Qi flow upward to the eyes, making them bright. The Heart is the residence of Spirit; because Spirit is calm, the Heart opens (becomes radiant). The Kidney is the dwelling of Essence; when Essence is full, skills emerge and wisdom increases. Long-term use makes Qi sufficient, hence the body feels light; sufficient Qi leads to longevity, hence life is prolonged.
Prescription Formulations:
Ren Shen (Ginseng Root) combined with Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Berry) and Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber) is named Sheng Mai San (Generate the Pulse Powder), which tonifies Yin and generates body fluids. Combined with Chen Sha (Cinnabar), it treats fright. Combined with Pao Jiang (Roasted Ginger), it tonifies Qi and warms the middle. Combined with Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), Pao Jiang (Roasted Ginger), and Gan Cao (Licorice Root), it is named Li Zhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction), treating chest obstruction due to cold pathogens. Combined with Bai Fu Ling (Poria), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), and Gan Cao (Licorice Root), it is named Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction), treating Spleen dampness and failure to digest food. Combined with Su Ye (Perilla Leaf), it treats... [Text fragment]; Combined with Chi Fu Ling (Red Poria), Long Chi (Dragon Tooth), and Chen Sha (Cinnabar), it treats Li Hun (Wandering Soul). Combined with Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel), it treats fatigue after intercourse. Combined with Chai Hu (Bupleurum Root), Da Zao (Jujube Fruit), and Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger), it treats deficiency heat. Combined with Chi Fu Ling (Red Poria) and Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber), it treats bleeding from gum fissures. Combined with Lian Rou (Lotus Seed Flesh), Chuan Lian (Sichuan Lotus Seed), Bai Shao (White Peony Root), and Gan Cao (Licorice Root), it treats abdominal pain due to Blood deficiency. Combined with Fu Zi (Aconite Lateral Root) and Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark), it treats Cold Jue (Cold Extremities). Combined with Fu Zi (Aconite Lateral Root) and Bei Wei Zi (Northern Schisandra), it treats Qi collapse with interior cold. Combined with Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber), and Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Berry), it treats summerheat-induced fatigue. Combined with Bai Shao (White Peony Root) and Chen Xiang (Aquilaria Wood), it treats chest fullness due to Qi deficiency. Combined with Sheng Ma (Cimicifuga Rhizome), it tonifies Upper Jiao Original Qi and drains latent fire from the Lung. Combined with Bai Fu Ling (Poria), it tonifies Lower Jiao Original Qi and drains latent fire from the Kidney. Combined with Chen Xiang (Aquilaria Wood) and Fu Shen (Poria with Hostwood), it treats pain caused by pathogenic invasion due to Heart deficiency. Combined with Huang Qi (Astragalus Root), Bai Shao (White Peony Root), and Bei Wei Zi (Northern Schisandra), it treats excessive sweating leading to Yang collapse. Combined with Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizome), Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Jing Mi (Rice Grain), and Gan Cao (Licorice Root), it is named Ren Shen Bai Hu Tang (Ginseng White Tiger Decoction), treating Qi deficiency with summerheat injury. Combined with Fu Zi (Aconite Lateral Root), Bai Shao (White Peony Root), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), Bai Fu Ling (Poria), and Gan Cao (Licorice Root), it treats slow convulsion in children. Combined with Chang Pu (Acorus Rhizome) and Lian Rou (Lotus Seed Flesh), it treats muteness after childbirth. Combined with Fu Zi (Aconite Lateral Root), Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber), and Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Berry), it treats lower deficiency-cold with upper excess-heat. Combined with Huang Qi (Astragalus Root), Tian Dong (Asparagus Tuber), Bei Wei Zi (Northern Schisandra), Niu Xi (Achyranthes Root), Qi Zi (Goji Berry), and Chang Pu (Acorus Rhizome), it treats muteness due to wind-stroke. Combined with Da Zao (Jujube Fruit), Bai Shao (White Peony Root), Gan Cao (Licorice Root), Zao Ren (Ziziphus Seed), and Yuan Rou (Longan Aril), it treats Spleen Yin deficiency. Combined with Mu Gua (Chaenomeles Fruit), Huo Xiang (Patchouli Herb), and Ju Hong (Tangerine Red Peel), it treats regurgitation due to Qi deficiency. Combined with Jiang Pi (Tangerine Peel) in equal amounts (approx. 1 liang each), decocted in water and exposed to dew overnight, it treats persistent malaria due to Qi deficiency.