\r芦荟\pd196.bmp\r
味苦，寒，无毒。主热风烦闷，胸膈间热气，明目镇心，小儿癫痫惊风，疗五疳，杀
三虫及痔病疮 ，解巴豆毒。一名讷会，一名奴会，俗呼为象胆。盖以其味苦如胆故也。生
波斯国，似黑饧。（今附）
臣禹锡等谨按药性论云∶ 荟亦可单用。杀小儿疳蛔，主吹鼻，杀脑疳，除鼻痒。南海
药
谱云∶树脂也，本草不细委之，谓是象胆，殊非也。兼治小儿诸热。
图经曰∶ 荟，出波斯国，今唯广州有来者。其木生山野中，滴脂泪而成。采之不拘时
月。
俗
呼为象胆，以其味苦而云耳。芦荟治湿痒，搔之有黄汁者。刘禹锡着其方云∶余少年曾患癣
，初在颈项间，后延上左耳，遂成湿疮。用斑蝥、狗胆、桃根等诸药，徒令以蜇，其疮转盛
。偶于楚州，卖药人教用 荟一两研，炙甘草半两末，相和令匀，先以温浆水洗癣，乃用旧
干帛子拭干，便以二味合和敷之，立干，便瘥，神奇。又治 齿。崔元亮《海上方》云∶取
荟四分，杵末，先以盐揩齿令先净，然后敷少末于上，妙也。
雷公云∶凡使，勿用杂胆，其象胆干了，上有青竹纹斑并光腻，微微甘，勿使和众药捣，
此
药先捣成粉，待众药末出，然后入药中。此物是胡人杀得白象，取胆干入汉中是也。
Aloe Vera (Luhui)
Bitter, cold, non-toxic. Primarily treats heat-wind-induced restlessness and oppression, as well as heat qi in the chest and diaphragm; brightens the eyes and calms the heart spirit; treats epilepsy and convulsions in children; cures five types of *gan* syndrome (chronic malnutrition diseases in children); kills intestinal parasites, hemorrhoids, and sores; resolves the toxicity of *Euphorbia pekinensis* root (Badou). Also known as Ne Hui or Nu Hui, commonly called Elephant Gallbladder (Xiangdan). This is likely because its taste is bitter like gallbladder bile. It originates from Persia and resembles black maltose syrup. (Currently appended)
Minister Yuxi et al. respectfully cite *Yao Xing Lun* (Treatise on the Properties of Medicinals): Aloe vera can also be used alone. It kills roundworms associated with pediatric *gan* syndrome, is indicated for nasal insufflation therapies, treats cerebral *gan*, and relieves nasal itching. *Nan Hai Yao Pu* (Pharmacological Spectrum of the Southern Seas) records: It is a resin. The *Ben Cao* (Materia Medica) did not investigate this carefully, claiming it is elephant gallbladder, which is entirely incorrect. Additionally, it treats various heat syndromes in children.
*TU Jing Ben Cao* (Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica) records: Aloe vera comes from Persia; currently, only Guangzhou receives shipments. The tree grows in mountains and wild areas, forming through dripping sap that solidifies into tears. It can be harvested at any time of the year.
It is commonly called Elephant Gallbladder merely because of its bitter taste. Aloe vera treats wet tinea (ringworm) with itching, where scratching yields yellow exudate. Liu Yuxi recorded his prescription stating: "In my youth, I suffered from tinea, initially on the neck, later spreading to the upper left ear, becoming a wet sore. I used various drugs such as *Mylabris* (Banmao), dog gallbladder, and peach root, which vainly irritated the skin, causing the sore to worsen. Accidentally in Chuzhou, a medicine seller taught me to use one liang of Aloe vera ground into powder, combined with half a liang of prepared Licorice root (Zhigancao) powder, mixed evenly. First, wash the tinea area with warm fermented grain water, then dry it with an old dry cloth, and apply the mixture of these two ingredients. It dries immediately and heals promptly, which is miraculous." It is also used to treat dental caries. Cui Yuanliang's *Hai Shang Fang* (Prescriptions from the Sea Above) states: Take four fen of Aloe vera, pound it into powder. First, clean the teeth by rubbing with salt, then apply a small amount of the powder on top. This is excellent.
Lei Gong says: When using Aloe vera, do not mix it with other animal gallbladders. The dried elephant gallbladder has green bamboo-like patterns and is smooth and glossy on the surface, with a slightly sweet taste. Do not let it be pounded together with other medicines. This drug should first be pounded into powder; after all other medicines are powdered, then add it to the mixture. This substance is what Hu people obtain by killing white elephants, taking their gallbladders, drying them, and transporting them to the Central Plains.