(散,钱氏)马兜铃,鼠粘甘草杏糯停。肺虚火盛人当服,顺气生津嗽哽宁。(阿胶两
半,马兜铃焙、鼠粘子炒、甘草炙、糯米各一两,杏仁七钱。牛蒡利膈滑痰,杏仁降润气嗽。
李时珍曰∶马兜铃非取补肺,取其清热降气,肺自安也。其中阿胶、糯米,乃补肺之正药。
(仲景)芍药多,(即桂枝加芍药汤再加饴糖,名建中。)桂姜甘草大枣和。更加饴糖补
中脏,虚劳腹冷服之瘥。(芍药六两,桂枝、生姜各三两,甘草一两,枣十二枚,饴糖一升。)
增入黄 名亦尔,〔再加黄 两半,各黄 建中汤(《金匮》)。若除饴糖,则名黄 五物汤,
不名建中矣。今人用建中者,绝不用饴糖,何哉?〕表虚身痛效无过。又有建中十四味,阴
斑劳损起沉 。(亦有阴证发斑者,淡红隐隐,散见肌表,此寒伏于下,逼其无根之火熏肺
而然,若服寒药立毙。)十全大补加附子,麦夏苁蓉仔细哦。(即十全大补汤加附子、麦冬、
半夏、肉苁蓉,名十四味建中汤。十四味除茯苓、白术、麦冬、川芎、熟地、肉苁蓉,名八
味大建中
(东垣)蔓荆,升葛参 黄柏并。并加芍药炙甘草,耳聋目障服之清。(参、 各五钱,
蔓荆子、葛根各三钱,黄柏、白芍各二钱,升麻钱半,炙草一钱,每服四钱。人之中气不足,
清阳不升,则耳目不聪明。蔓荆、升、葛,升其清气;参、 、甘草,补其中气,而以芍药
平肝木,黄柏滋肾水也。)
(From Qian Yi's formula) Aristolochiae Fructus (Madouling, 马兜铃), Arctii Fructus (Niubangzi, 牛蒡子), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao, 甘草), Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Xingren, 杏仁), and Glutinis Rice (Nuomi, 糯米) are used in appropriate proportions. It should be taken by those with Lung deficiency and hyperactive fire; it promotes the flow of Qi, generates fluids, and alleviates cough with hoarseness. (Donkey-hide gelatin [Ejiao, 阿胶] is half a liang, Aristolochiae Fructus is roasted, Arctii Fructus is stir-fried, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma is honey-fried, and Glutinous Rice is each one liang, Armeniacae Semen Amarum is seven qian. Arctii Fructus benefits the diaphragm and lubricates phlegm, while Armeniacae Semen Amarum descends Qi and moistens to stop cough. Li Shizhen stated: Aristolochiae Fructus is not used for tonifying the Lung, but for clearing heat and descending Qi, so that Lung Qi becomes tranquil naturally. Among them, Donkey-hide gelatin and Glutinous Rice are the true herbs for tonifying the Lung.)
(From Zhang Zhongjing's formula) The dosage of Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao, 白芍) is large. (This is Guizhi Tang [Cinnamon Twig Decoction] with increased Baishao and added Maltose [Yitang, 饴糖], named Jianzhong Tang.) Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guizhi, 桂枝), Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Shengjiang, 生姜), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and Jujubae Fructus harmonize. Adding Maltose tonifies the Middle Jiao organs; it cures deficiency-wasting conditions accompanied by cold pain in the abdomen. (Paeoniae Radix Alba six liang, Cinnamomi Ramulus and Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens three liang each, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma one liang, twelve Jujubae Fructus, and one sheng of Maltose.) Adding Astragali Radix (Huangqi, 黄芪) results in a similar name, [i.e., adding half a liang of Astragali Radix creates Huangqi Jianzhong Tang (from Jin Gui Yao Lue). If Maltose is removed, it is named Huangqi Wuwu Tang and no longer called Jianzhong. Why do modern practitioners use Jianzhong Tang without absolutely using Maltose?] It has unparalleled efficacy for body pain caused by exterior deficiency. There is also a fourteen-ingredient Jianzhong Tang, used for deep-seated ailments arising from yin macules and consumptive diseases. ([There are cases of yin-pattern macule eruption, where the spots are faintly light red and scattered on the skin surface. This is due to cold pathogens lurking below, forcing rootless fire to harass the Lung. Taking cold-natured herbs would lead to immediate death.] Shiquan Dabu Decoction [Ten Complete Tonifying Decoction] plus Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi, 附子), Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong, 麦冬), Pinelliae Rhizoma (Banxia, 半夏), and Cistanches Herba (Rongrong, 肉苁蓉) requires careful consideration. [This is Shiquan Dabu Decoction plus Fuzi, Maidong, Banxia, and Rongrong, named Shisiwei Jianzhong Tang. Removing Poria (Fuling, 茯苓), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu, 白术), Maidong, Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong, 川芎), Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Shudihuang, 熟地), and Cistanches Herba from the fourteen ingredients yields Bawei Dajianzhong...])
(From Li Dongyuan's formula) Viticis Fructus (Manjingzi, 蔓荆子), Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma, 升麻), Puerariae Radix (Gegen, 葛根), Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen, 人参), Astragali Radix (Huangqi, 黄芪), and Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai, 黄柏) are combined. Added are Paeoniae Radix Alba and honey-fried Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma; deafness and visual impairment will clear after taking it. (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Astragali Radix are each five qian, Viticis Fructus and Puerariae Radix are each three qian, Phellodendri Cortex and Paeoniae Radix Alba are each two qian, Cimicifugae Rhizoma is one and a half qian, honey-fried Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma is one qian, take four qian per dose. When a person's Middle Qi is insufficient and Clear Yang fails to ascend, the ears and eyes lose their acuity. Viticis Fructus, Cimicifugae Rhizoma, and Puerariae Radix raise the Clear Qi; Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Astragali Radix, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma tonify Middle Qi, while Paeoniae Radix Alba pacifies Liver Wood, and Phellodendri Cortex nourishes Kidney Water.)