味甘,性寒无毒,入胃小肠二经。逐瘀血,通血闭,止吐衄,下五淋,利小便,理劳
伤。补虚羸,除肠胃客热,治妇人崩漏。
按∶茅根利水,本入小肠,而胃则其实受,故亦入之。
味辛,性温有毒,入肝肾二经。主心腹冷气,不能食,腰足挛痹,不能行,丈夫血损
劳伤,老人失溺无子。强阳道,补精血,明眼目,坚骨髓。洗净去皮,铜刀切如豆大,生稀
布袋盛,于乌豆水中浸一宿,酒拌,蒸半日,晒干用,勿犯铁器,忌牛肉、牛乳。
按∶仙茅性温,本入肾经,而肝者肾所生也。故兼入之。传云∶十斤乳石,不及一斤仙
茅,盖表其功尔。中其毒者,令人舌胀,急煎大黄朴硝汤饮之,复以末掺舌间,即解。素有
火证者勿用。
雷公云∶凡采得后,用清水洗令净,刮去皮,于槐砧上切豆许大,却用生稀布袋盛,蒸
一宿用。
味辛苦,性温无毒,入心肺二经。主下气破血开郁,疗尿血淋血金疮,楚产蝉肚者佳
按∶郁金本草言其性寒,自《药性论》始言其治冷气,今观其主疗,都是辛散之用,性
寒而能之乎?夫肺主气,心主血,郁金能行气血,故两入之。丹溪云∶属火而有土与水,古
人用以治郁遏不散者,故名。
味辛苦,性温无毒,经络主治与郁金同功,更烈。
按∶姜黄本草亦曰性寒,而陈藏器及日华子咸谓其热,辨之悉矣!能伤元气,用者审之。
Mao Gen (Imperatae Rhizoma): Sweet in taste, cold in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Stomach and Small Intestine meridians. Expels blood stasis, unblocks blood obstruction, stops hematemesis and epistaxis, treats five types of strangury (Wu Lin), promotes urination, regulates labor injury. Tonifies deficiency and emaciation, clears exogenous heat from the stomach and intestines, treats uterine bleeding (Beng Lou) in women.
Commentary: Mao Gen promotes water metabolism; originally entering the Small Intestine meridian, but due to its actual effects reaching the Stomach, it also enters the Stomach meridian.
Xian Mao (Curculiginis Rhizoma - *Note: The text title says Jiang Huang, but the description matches Xian Mao*): Pungent in taste, warm in nature, toxic. Enters the Liver and Kidney meridians. Primarily treats cold qi in the heart and abdomen, inability to eat, spasm and bi-syndrome in the waist and feet, inability to walk, labor injury due to blood loss in men, and urinary incontinence with infertility in the elderly. Strengthens the sexual function, tonifies essence and blood, brightens the eyes, strengthens bone marrow. Wash clean, remove skin, cut into bean-sized pieces with a copper knife, place in a raw thin cloth bag, soak overnight in black soybean water, mix with wine, steam for half a day, dry in the sun for use. Avoid iron vessels; contraindicated with beef and cow's milk.
Commentary: Xian Mao is warm in nature and originally enters the Kidney meridian; since the Liver is generated by the Kidney, it also enters the Liver meridian. It is said: "Ten jin of Ru Shi (Litharge) cannot equal one jin of Xian Mao," highlighting its efficacy. Those who suffer from its toxicity will experience tongue swelling; urgently decoct Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) and Pu Xiao (Natrii Sulfas) soup to drink, and apply the powder to the tongue to resolve the toxicity. Those with existing fire syndromes should not use it.
Lei Gong said: After harvesting, wash thoroughly with clear water, scrape off the skin, cut into bean-sized pieces on a locust wood cutting board, place in a raw thin cloth bag, steam overnight, and then use.
Yu Jin (Curcumae Longae Rhizoma): Pungent and bitter in taste, warm in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Heart and Lung meridians. Primarily descends qi, breaks blood stasis, opens depression, treats hematuria, bloody strangury, and metal wounds. The cicada-belly type produced in Chu is considered superior.
Commentary: Ben Cao states Yu Jin is cold in nature, but starting from Yao Xing Lun, it is said to treat cold qi. Observing its primary indications, they are all applications of pungent dispersion; can a cold nature achieve this? The Lung governs qi, and the Heart governs blood; Yu Jin can move qi and blood, hence it enters both meridians. Dan Xi said: It belongs to Fire but contains Earth and Water. The ancients used it to treat stagnant and unresolved conditions, hence the name Yu Jin (Depressed Gold).
Jiang Huang (Curcumae Longae Rhizoma): Pungent and bitter in taste, warm in nature, non-toxic. Its meridian indications and therapeutic functions are the same as Yu Jin, but more potent.
Commentary: Ben Cao also states that Jiang Huang is cold in nature, while Chen Cangqi and Ri Hua Zi both consider it hot; the distinction is clear! It can damage Yuan Qi (Primal Qi); users should exercise caution.