今西戎亦有之,其色差淡而明澈。南方者色深而重浊,彼土人多碾为物形。若谓千年
茯苓所化,则其间有沾着蜾蠃蜂蚁,宛然完具者,是极不知也。《地理志》云∶“林邑多琥
珀,实松脂所化耳。”此说为胜,但土地有所宜不宜,故有能化有不能化者。张茂先又为“
烧蜂窠所作”,不知得于何处。以手摩热,可以拾芥。余如经。
一如蒲黄,但其味差淡。治产后壮热、头痛颊赤、口干唇焦、多烦躁渴、昏闷不爽。
松花、川芎、当归、石膏、蒲黄五物等同为末,每服二钱,水二合,红花二捻,同煎七分,
去滓,粥后温温细呷。
松子,多东海来,今关右亦有,但细小味薄,与柏子仁同治虚秘。
取脂以疗马 疥。今未见用松脂者。老人虚秘,柏子仁、大麻子仁、松子仁等分,同研
,溶白蜡,丸桐子大。以少黄丹汤,服二三十丸,食前。尝官陕西,每登高望之,虽千万株
,皆一一西指。盖此木为至坚之木,不畏霜雪,得木之正气,他木不逮也。所以受金之正气
所制,故一一向之。
桂大热。《素问》云∶辛甘,发散为阳。故汉张仲景桂枝汤,治伤寒表虚皆须此药,是
专用辛甘之意也。《本草》第一又云∶“疗寒以热药”。故知三种之桂,不取菌桂、牡桂者
,盖此二种,性止温而已,不可以治风寒之病。独有一字桂,《本经》言甘辛大热,此正合
《素问》辛甘发散为阳之说,尤知菌、牡二桂不及也,然《本经》只言桂,仲景又言桂枝者
,盖亦取其枝上皮。其木身粗浓处,亦不中用。诸家之说,但各执己见,终无证据。今又谓
之官桂,不知缘何而立名。虑后世为别物,故书之。又有桂心,此则诸桂之心,不若一字桂
也。
Now in the Western Regions, this substance also exists; its color is lighter and clearer. In the South, the color is deeper and turbid, and local people often grind it into various shapes. If one claims it is transformed from thousand-year-old Poria Cocos (Fu Ling), then the fact that wasps and ants are found within it perfectly intact shows extreme ignorance. The *Geographical Records* state: "Linyi produces much Amber, which is actually transformed from pine resin." This explanation is superior, but due to differences in land suitability, some can transform while others cannot. Zhang Maoxian further claimed it was made from "burned beehives," but the source of this claim is unknown. When rubbed by hand until warm, it can attract mustard seeds. Other details remain as recorded in the classics.
Its efficacy is similar to that of Sparganii Pollen (Pu Huang), but its taste is slightly milder. It treats postpartum high fever, headache with red cheeks, dry mouth and scorched lips, excessive irritability and thirst, and mental confusion or discomfort. Grind Pine Flower (Song Hua), Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome (Chuanxiong), Angelica Sinensis Radix (Danggui), Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao), and Sparganii Pollen (Pu Huang) into a fine powder. Take two qian per dose, add two he of water and two pinches of Carthamus Tinctorius Flower (Honghua), decoct together until reduced to seven parts, filter out the dregs, and drink slowly while warm after meals.
Pine Seeds (Songzi) mostly come from the East Sea region; now they are also available in the Guanxi area, but they are smaller and have a thinner flavor. They can be used with Biota Seed (Baizi Ren) to treat deficiency-type constipation.
Pine Resin (Songzhi) is taken to treat equine scabies. Currently, the use of Pine Resin is rarely seen. For elderly patients with deficiency-type constipation, use equal parts of Biota Seed (Baizi Ren), Cannabis Sativa Seed (Dazhuren), and Pine Seed (Songziren). Grind them together, melt White Beeswax (Baila), and form pills the size of paulownia seeds. Administer twenty to thirty pills with a small amount of Yellow Lead Oxide (Huandan) decoction before meals. While serving as an official in Shaanxi, whenever I climbed high to look around, even thousands of pine trees all pointed westward. This is likely because this tree is extremely hardy, unafraid of frost and snow, possessing the upright qi of wood, which other trees lack. Therefore, it is constrained by the upright qi of metal, causing it to point westward.
Cinnamon Twig (Guizhi) is very hot. The *Suwen* states: "Acrid and sweet flavors disperse and belong to Yang." Thus, in the Han Dynasty, Zhang Zhongjing's Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) requires this herb for treating exterior deficiency patterns of Cold Damage, specifically utilizing the principle of acrid-sweet dispersion. The first volume of the *Bencao* also states: "Treat cold diseases with hot herbs." From this, we know that among the three types of cinnamon, Jun Gui (Jun Gui) and Mu Gui (Mu Gui) are not selected because their properties are merely warm, insufficient for treating wind-cold diseases. Only the so-called "Yi Zi Gui" (Single-Character Cinnamon) is described in the *Ben Jing* as having a sweet and acrid flavor and being very hot, which aligns perfectly with the *Suwen*'s statement that acrid-sweet disperses and belongs to Yang. This confirms that Jun Gui and Mu Gui are inferior. However, the *Ben Jing* only mentions "Gui," while Zhang Zhongjing mentions "Guizhi"; this is likely because he utilized the bark from the branches. The thick trunk part is not useful. Various schools of thought hold their own views without evidence. Now it is also called Official Cinnamon (Guan Gui); the origin of this name is unknown. To prevent future confusion with other substances, I record this here. There is also Guixin (Cinnamon Heart), which refers to the center of various cinnamons, but it is not as effective as Yi Zi Gui.