气温,味甘、辛,纯阳。无毒。
《珍》云∶温肺止嗽。
《本草》云∶主咳逆上气,善喘,喉痹,诸惊痫寒热邪气,消渴,喘息呼吸。杏仁为之
使,得紫菀,良。恶皂荚、硝石、玄参。畏贝母、辛夷、麻黄、黄 、黄芩、黄连、青葙。
《药性论》云∶君。主疗肺气,心促急,热乏,劳咳,连连不绝,涕唾稠粘,肺痿,肺
痈吐脓。
《日华子》云∶润心肺,益五脏,除烦,补劳劣,消痰止嗽。肺痿吐血,心虚惊悸。
《衍义》云∶有人病嗽多日,或教以燃款冬花三两枚,于无风处,以笔管吸其烟,满口
则咽之,数日效。
《时习》云∶仲景射干汤用之。
气微寒,味苦、辛。无毒。
《本草》云∶主心腹积聚,寒热邪气,通九窍,利大小便。疗肠胃大热,唾血衄血,
肠中聚血,痈肿诸疮,止渴益精。
仲景治痢,紫参汤主之。紫参半斤,甘草三两,水五升,煎紫参取二升。却内甘草,煎
取半升,分温三服。
气寒,味苦,气沉,纯阴。
《心》云∶除湿。
《本草》云∶主心腹结气,症瘕积聚,黄胆,溺有余沥,逐水除痈肿,补中,明目止
泪。养肝胆气,安五脏,定志益精,利九窍,除伏热肠 ,止渴醒酒,小便黄赤,疗恶疮,
下部 ,平胃气,令人嗜食轻身。
《衍义》云∶有人病遍身风热细疹,痒痛不可任,连胸颈脐腹近阴处皆然,涎痰亦多,
夜不得睡。以苦参末一两,皂角二两,水一升,揉滤取汁,银、石器熬成膏,和苦参末为丸
,如梧桐子大,食后温水下二十丸至三十丸。次日便愈。
《时习》云∶苦参揩齿,久能病腰。
Donghua (Flower of Kolkwitzia amabilis / Adenophora stricta - *Note: In ancient texts, Kuandonghua usually refers to Adenophora or Periploca, but modern pharmacopoeia distinguishes. Here translated based on context as a lung herb*): Nature is warm, taste is sweet and acrid, belonging to pure Yang. Non-toxic.
*Zhenben* states: Warms the lungs and stops coughing.
*Bencao* states: Mainly treats cough with counterflow qi, excellent for calming asthma, bi syndrome of the throat (sore throat with obstruction), various convulsions and epilepsy due to cold-heat pathogenic factors, xiao ke (wasting-thirsting syndrome), wheezing and rapid breathing. Xingren (Apricot Seed) serves as its guiding herb; used together with Ziwan (Aster Root), it yields good results. It is incompatible with Zaojiao (Gleditsia Sinensis Fruit), Xiaoshi (Niter), and Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix). It fears Beimu (Fritillariae Bulbus), Xinyi (Magnolia Flower), Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba), Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), and Qingxiangzi (Celosiae Semen).
*Yaoxing Lun* states: Acts as the sovereign drug. Mainly treats lung qi disorders, chest and heart urgency, heat-induced fatigue, labor-induced cough that is continuous, thick and sticky sputum, fei wei (lung atrophy), and fei yong (lung abscess with pus expectoration).
*Rizhizi Bencao* states: Moistens the lungs and heart, benefits the five zang organs, eliminates irritability, tonifies deficiency and debility, resolves phlegm and stops coughing. Treats fei wei with hemoptysis, and palpitations due to heart deficiency.
*Yanyi* states: A person suffered from chronic cough for many days. Someone suggested burning three pieces of Kuandonghua in a windless place, inhaling the smoke through a brush tube until the mouth was full, then swallowing it. Effect was seen after several days.
*Shixi* states: Zhang Zhongjing used it in Shegan Tang (Belamcanda Decoction).
Zican (Codonopsis Radix / Scutellaria Barbata Root - *Historical ambiguity, often identified as Scutellaria barbata or Codonopsis in different eras, here treated as the herb named*): Nature is slightly cold, taste is bitter and acrid. Non-toxic.
*Bencao* states: Mainly treats accumulations and masses in the heart and abdomen, cold-heat pathogenic factors, unblocks the nine orifices, promotes urination and defecation. Treats excessive heat in the stomach and intestines, hemoptysis and epistaxis (nosebleed), blood stasis accumulation in the intestines, carbuncles and sores, stops thirst and nourishes essence.
For treating dysentery, Zhang Zhongjing used Zican Tang (Codonopsis/Scutellaria Decoction) as the primary formula. Zican 8 liang, Gancao (Licorice Root) 3 liang, water 5 sheng. Decoct Zican to obtain 2 sheng of liquid. Then add Gancao, decoct further to obtain half a sheng. Divide into three doses and take warm.
Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix): Nature is cold, taste is bitter, qi is sinking, belonging to pure Yin.
*Xinfa* states: Drains dampness.
*Bencao* states: Mainly treats knotting of qi in the heart and abdomen, zheng jia and accumulations (abdominal masses), huang dan (jaundice), dribbling urine after voiding, expels water and removes carbuncles/swelling, tonifies the middle, brightens the eyes and stops tearing. Nourishes the qi of the liver and gallbladder, calms the five zang organs, stabilizes the mind and nourishes essence, unblocks the nine orifices, clears latent heat from the intestines, stops thirst and awakens from alcohol intoxication, treats yellow-red urine, cures malignant sores, itching in the lower part (genital/anus area), harmonizes stomach qi, increases appetite, makes the body light.
*Yanyi* states: A person suffered from widespread fine rashes due to wind-heat, unbearable itching and pain, affecting the chest, neck, umbilicus, abdomen, and near the genitals. There was also much saliva and phlegm, and inability to sleep at night. Use 1 liang of Kushen powder, 2 liang of Zaojiao, 1 sheng of water. Rub and filter to extract juice, boil into a paste in silver or ceramic vessels, mix with Kushen powder to make pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take 20-30 pills with warm water after meals. Cured the next day.
*Shixi* states: Using Kushen to brush teeth can cause waist pain if done for a long time.