即尔雅棠棣。山野处处有之。树高五六尺。叶花及树。并似大李。惟子小若樱桃。熟时
赤色。甘酸而香。有少涩味也。
味酸辛苦。气平。性润而降。阴中之阳。脾经气分药。更入手阳明太阳经。 主治化血
润燥。泻结气。破癖气。治大肠气结燥。涩滞不通。泄五脏膀胱急痛。腰胯冷脓。下气利水
道。并主大腹水肿。四肢面目浮肿。
附案 一妇因悸而病。既愈。目张不得瞑。钱仲阳令煮郁李酒饮之。使醉而愈。盖因目
系内连肝胆。恐则气结。胆横不下。郁李能去结。随酒入胆。结去胆下。则目能瞑矣。 同
当归地黄麻仁桃仁麦冬生蜜肉苁蓉。治大便燥结不通。甚者加大黄。
〔论〕 郁李仁之利水。本于散结气。夫水乃气所化。气属阳主动。动者能使之结。则
属于阴矣。气之元固起于阴中之阳。气之结即由于阳中之阴。一散其结。而阳斯化。水斯行。
故洁古谓为脾经气分药。而本经用治大腹水肿面目四肢浮肿者也。夫脾乘出地之阳而上行。
布中气以统血。故五脏皆有阴气。而脾为之枢。郁李仁主疗。大抵皆脾气之所周。然则洁古
破血之说。不等于他味。即所云润燥。亦由其宣阴结以化血。以血结则气燥。血化则营卫和
而燥者润也。且其散结之功。宁独奏之行水哉。举七情之结以伤阴。遂以塞阳者。当可类推
之以为治矣。(观钱氏用治目不得瞑可见)缪氏言性专降下。善导大肠燥结。利周身水气。
然下后多令人津液亏损。燥结愈甚。乃治标救急之药。津液不足者。慎勿轻用。
〔修治〕先以汤浸。去皮尖。再用生蜜浸一宿。漉出阴干。研如膏用。
This is the *Tangdi* (Choi tree) mentioned in the *Erya*. It grows everywhere in the mountains and fields. The tree is five to six chi tall. Its leaves, flowers, and trunk resemble those of the large plum (*Prunus salicina*), except that its fruit is small, like a cherry. When ripe, it is red. It tastes sweet and sour with a fragrance, having a slight astringency.
Its taste is sour, bitter, and pungent. Its nature is neutral. Its medicinal property is moistening and descending. It belongs to "Yin within Yang." It is a herb entering the Qi aspect of the Spleen meridian. It further enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine meridian and the Foot-Taiyang Bladder meridian. Its main indications are resolving blood stasis, moistening dryness, draining stagnant Qi, breaking up accumulations and masses, treating constipation due to Qi stagnation and dryness in the Large Intestine with sluggish obstruction, relieving acute pain in the five Zang organs and the Bladder, treating cold pus in the waist and hips, directing Qi downward, promoting urination, and managing abdominal edema as well as edema of the four limbs and face.
Case Record A woman became ill due to palpitations. After recovery, she suffered from insomnia with her eyes open. Qian Zhongyang instructed her to drink decoction made with *Yuliren* (Prunus japonica Seed) and wine until intoxicated, after which she recovered. This is because the visual system connects internally to the Liver and Gallbladder; fear causes Qi stagnation, leading to rebellious Gallbladder Qi that fails to descend. *Yuliren* can remove stagnation. Accompanied by wine entering the Gallbladder channel, once the stagnation is resolved, the Gallbladder Qi descends, allowing the eyes to close for sleep. Combined with Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), Maren (Cannabis Fructus), Taoren (Persicae Semen), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), raw honey, and Rousongrong (Cistanches Herba), it treats severe constipation due to dryness and obstruction. In severe cases, Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) is added.
[Discussion] The diuretic effect of *Yuliren* (Prunus japonica Seed) stems from its ability to dissipate stagnant Qi. Water is transformed from Qi. Qi belongs to Yang and is active; when activity leads to stagnation, it falls under Yin. The origin of Qi indeed arises from "Yang within Yin," but Qi stagnation occurs due to "Yin within Yang" (obstruction of Yang by Yin pathogens). Once the stagnation is dispersed, Yang transforms, and water flows. Therefore, Jiegu (Zhang Yuansu) refers to it as a herb for the Qi aspect of the Spleen meridian. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* uses it to treat abdominal edema and edema of the face, eyes, and four limbs. Spleen Earth carries the Yang energy emerging from the earth and ascends, distributing Middle Qi to govern Blood. Thus, all five Zang organs possess Yin Qi, with the Spleen acting as the pivot. The therapeutic effects of *Yuliren* largely cover the functions governed by Spleen Qi. Consequently, Jiegu's claim regarding breaking blood does not equate to other herbs. The so-called "moistening dryness" is achieved by venting Yin stagnation to transform Blood. Since Blood stagnation leads to Qi dryness, transforming Blood harmonizes Ying and Wei, thereby moistening dryness. Moreover, its function of dissipating stagnation is not limited to promoting water metabolism. Conditions where emotional stagnation damages Yin and subsequently obstructs Yang can be treated by analogy based on this principle (as seen in Qian's treatment of insomnia). Miao states that its nature is specifically descending, effectively guiding out Large Intestine dryness and promoting fluid metabolism throughout the body. However, its use often depletes Body Fluids, worsening dryness and constipation. It is a herb for treating symptoms and emergency relief. Those with insufficient Body Fluids should avoid using it lightly.
[Processing] Soak first in hot water, remove the skin and tips. Then soak in raw honey overnight, drain, and dry in the shade. Grind into a paste for use.