今用皮。以蜜匀炙,与青黛各一分,同为末,入生龙脑一字,研匀。治心脾热,舌颊
生疮。当掺疮上,有涎即吐。又张仲景柏皮汤,无不验。《伤寒论》中已着。
先花后叶,即木笔花也。最先春,以其花未开时,其花苞有毛,光长如笔,故取像曰
木笔。有红、紫二本,一本如桃花色者,一本紫者。今入药当用紫色者,仍须未开时收取。
入药,去毛苞。
今初春先生荚者是。去上皱涩干枯者,将中间嫩处,锉、干、 为粉。当歉岁,农将
以代食。叶青嫩时收贮,亦用以为羹茹。嘉 年,过丰、沛,人阙食,乡民多食此。
有大小两种,小芜荑即榆荚也。揉取仁, 为酱,味尤辛。入药,当用大芜荑,别有
种。然小芜荑 造多假,以外物相和,切须择去也。治大肠寒滑及多冷气,不可缺。
酸枣微热。经不言用仁,仍疗不得眠。天下皆有之,但以土产宜与不宜。嵩阳子曰∶
“酸枣县,即滑之属邑,其木高数丈,味酸,医之所重。今市人卖者,皆棘子。”此说未尽
。殊不知小则为棘,大则为酸枣,平地则易长,居崖堑则难生。故枣多生崖堑上,久不樵则
成干,人方呼为酸枣,更不言棘,徒以世人之意如此,在物则曷若是也,其实一本。以其不
甚为世所须,及碍塞行路,故成大木者少,多为人樵去。然此物才及三尺,便开花结子。但
窠小者气味薄,本大者气味浓,又有此别。今陕西临潼山野所出者亦好,亦土地所宜也,并
可取仁。后有白棘条,乃是酸枣未为大时,枝上刺也。及至长成,其刺亦少,实亦大。故枣
取大木,刺取小窠也,亦不必强分别尔。
Now, the bark of the cypress is used. It is evenly coated with honey and roasted, then mixed with equal parts (one fen) of Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis), ground together into a powder. Add one zi (approximately 0.5-1 gram) of raw Longnao (Borneolum Syntheticum), and grind uniformly. This is used to treat heat in the Heart and Spleen, causing sores on the tongue and cheeks. The powder should be sprinkled onto the sores; if saliva is produced, it should be spat out. Additionally, Zhang Zhongjing's Baipi Tang (Cypress Bark Decoction) is invariably effective, as recorded in *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders).
The flowers bloom before the leaves appear; this is also known as Mubi Hua (Magnolia Flower). It blooms earliest in early spring. Because when the flower buds are not yet open, they are covered with hairs and are bright and long like a brush, it is named "Mubi" (Wooden Brush) based on its shape. There are two varieties: red and purple. One resembles the color of peach blossoms, and the other is purple. For medicinal use, the purple variety should be employed, and it must be harvested before blooming. When preparing for medicinal use, remove the hairy buds.
This refers to the pods that appear in early spring. Remove the wrinkled, astringent, dry, and withered parts. Take the tender middle part, chop it, dry it, and grind it into powder. In years of poor harvest, farmers use it as a food substitute. When the leaves are green and tender, they can be collected and stored, and also used to make soups or vegetables. During the Jiayou era, passing through Feng and Pei, people lacked food, and villagers ate much of this plant.
There are two types of Wuyi (Celtis seeds): small and large. Small Wuyi is actually Yu Jia (Ulmus seed). Rubbing the kernels to make a paste yields a particularly pungent taste. For medicinal purposes, large Wuyi should be used, which is a distinct species. However, small Wuyi is often adulterated with other substances during processing, so careful selection and removal of impurities are essential. It is indispensable for treating cold and slippery conditions of the Large Intestine and excessive internal cold qi.
Suanzao (Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa) has a slightly warm nature. Medical classics do not specify using the kernel, but it still treats insomnia. It grows everywhere, but its quality depends on whether the local soil is suitable. Songyangzi said: "In Suanzao County, a subordinate county of Hua Prefecture, the trees grow several zhang high, have a sour taste, and are valued by physicians. What is sold in markets today are all Jizi (thorny branches)." This statement is incomplete. In fact, what is small is Jizi (thorny bush), and what is large is Suanzao (wild jujube). They grow easily on flat land but are difficult to cultivate in cliffs and gullies. Therefore, Ziziphus trees mostly grow on cliffs and gullies; if left uncut for a long time, they become timber, at which point people call them Suanzao and no longer refer to them as Jizi. This is merely due to common perception; in reality, they are the same species. Because they are not highly demanded by society and obstruct paths, few grow into large trees, as most are cut down by people. However, this plant begins to flower and bear fruit as soon as it reaches three chi in height. Plants with smaller crowns have weaker aroma and flavor, while those with larger trunks have stronger aroma and flavor, representing another distinction. Those produced in the wild mountains of Lintong, Shaanxi, are also good, being suited to the local environment, and their kernels can be harvested. The white thorny twigs appearing later are actually the thorns of young Suanzao before it matures into a large tree. As it grows mature, the thorns decrease, and the fruits become larger. Thus, for Ziziphus, one selects large trees, and for thorns, small bushes; there is no need to force a rigid distinction.