得土中阳气,兼感平秋之燥气以生,故味辛苦,性寒,无毒,为下部血分去湿热实
症之要药。若饮食劳倦,阴虚内热,胃虚肾虚,胎前产后,热在上焦气分,切勿用此阴
小险见之药,以为乱阶。
防己,汉者主水气,名载君行;木者理风邪,职佥使列。故治腰已下至足湿热肿痛
香港脚,及利大小二便。退膀胱积热,消痈散肿,则非汉不能成功。若疗肺气喘嗽,膈间
支满,并除中风挛急,风寒湿疟热邪,此又全仗木者。总通十二经,散湿热仙药也。然
苦辛大寒,犹人险而健者也。可以治有余,不可以治不足。若虚症,必须佐以参苓二术为当耳。
主治(痘疹合参) 痘疹陷伏,因于湿热者,可酒洗浸,晒干用。
禀冬气而生,故味苦辛气寒无毒。入手太阴经。苦善下泄,辛则善散,寒能除热。
其性轻扬,厥状类肺,故能入肺除热,而使气下降,则喘嗽之症自平。且肺与大肠为表
里,脏热即清,腑热亦解,所以痔 疮俱治矣。
马兜铃,烧烟熏痔 疮,煎饮劫痰结喘促,去肺热,止咳清肺气补虚。根名青木
香,亦为散气药,故疝家必需,船蛇蛊毒更效。
主治(痘疹合参) 功效同前,去壳膜只取内子炒用。因体性轻浮,故功在至高之
脏。若肺虚挟寒者,不宜多用。
得地之阴气,兼得金之辛味,故味甘辛平,微寒无毒。入肝经血分,破瘀行血。凉
血宜生用;如欲止血,止崩宜炒黑用。
蒲黄,炒黑用,止吐血下血,补血损虚劳;生用破瘀血停积。疗肿毒疼痛,消瘀积
块,血热妄行,调女人月候不匀,产妇儿枕作痛,疗跌扑折损,理风肿痈疮,兼利小
便,诸血症宜。不论吐衄肠风,更治血尿血痢,然外因从标之血症,可建奇功。若内伤
不足之吐衄,难以取效也。
主治(痘疹合参) 功效同前,痘中夹血症者暂用之。
(防己)禀受大地中的阳气,又兼感秋季平和的燥气而生长,所以味道辛苦,性质寒凉,无毒,是治疗下部血分湿热实证的重要药物。如果是饮食不节、劳倦过度导致的阴虚内热,或者胃虚、肾虚,以及孕妇产前产后,或是热邪位于上焦气分的病症,千万不要使用这种阴柔且带有潜在风险的药物,以免成为病情混乱的开端。
防己中,汉防己主要主治水气病,在方剂中担任君药的角色;木防己主要调理风邪,在方剂中担任佐使药的角色。因此,治疗腰部以下至足部的湿热肿痛、脚气病,以及通利大小便,退除膀胱积热,消除痈肿,必须依靠汉防己才能成功。若是治疗肺气喘咳,胸膈间支撑胀满,并去除中风引起的肢体拘挛急迫,以及风寒湿疟疾和热邪,这完全依赖木防己。它总通十二经脉,是疏散湿热的仙药。然而,它味苦辛、性大寒,就像人一样险峻而刚健。它可以治疗有余之证(实证),不可以治疗不足之证(虚证)。如果是虚证,必须配合人参、茯苓、白术、苍术来辅助治疗才恰当。
主治(结合痘疹分析):痘疹陷伏,由湿热引起者,可用酒洗浸泡,晒干后使用。
(马兜铃)禀受冬季之气而生,所以味道苦辛,性质寒凉,无毒。归入手太阴肺经。苦味善于向下泄降,辛味善于发散,寒性能清除热邪。它的性质轻扬,形状类似肺脏,所以能入肺清除热邪,并使肺气下降,那么喘咳的症状自然平息。而且肺与大肠互为表里,脏热清除了,腑热也随之解除,所以痔疮都能治疗。
马兜铃,烧烟熏治痔疮,煎汤饮用可强力祛除痰结引起的喘促,去除肺热,止咳,清肺气,补虚损。其根名为青木香,也是行气散气的药物,所以疝气患者必需,对船蛇蛊毒疗效更佳。
主治(结合痘疹分析):功效同前,去掉壳膜只取内部种子炒制后使用。因为体质性质轻浮,所以功效作用于最高处的脏腑(肺)。如果是肺虚夹杂寒邪者,不宜多用。
(蒲黄)禀受地之阴气,又兼得金行的辛味,所以味道甘辛,性质平,微寒,无毒。进入肝经血分,破除瘀血,运行血液。凉血宜生用;如果想要止血,治疗崩漏宜炒黑后使用。
蒲黄,炒黑后使用,可止吐血、下血,补血损及虚劳;生用则破除瘀血停滞积聚。治疗疮肿毒疼痛,消除瘀积肿块,血热妄行,调理妇女月经不调,产妇因儿枕痛引起的疼痛,治疗跌打损伤骨折,理风肿痈疮,兼利小便,各种血症适宜使用。不论是吐衄、肠风,更治疗血尿、血痢,然而对于外因引起的从标论治的血症,可以建立奇功。如果是内伤不足引起的吐衄,难以取得疗效。
主治(结合痘疹分析):功效同前,痘疹中夹杂血症者暂时使用。
(Fangji) It absorbs the yang qi of the earth and is simultaneously influenced by the dryness of mild autumn to grow; thus, its taste is pungent and bitter, its nature is cold, it is non-toxic, and it is a crucial herb for treating damp-heat excess syndromes in the blood level of the lower body. If the condition arises from dietary irregularities and overwork leading to yin deficiency with internal heat, or from stomach deficiency and kidney deficiency, or during pregnancy (pre-partum) and postpartum periods, or when heat pathogen resides in the qi level of the upper jiao, one must absolutely avoid using this yin-natured and potentially hazardous herb, lest it become the cause of chaotic disease progression.
Among Fangji varieties, Han Fangji primarily governs water qi disorders and serves as the Jun (Monarch) herb in formulas; Mu Fangji primarily regulates wind pathogens and serves as the Zuo-Shi (Assistant/Envoy) herb. Therefore, to treat damp-heat swelling and pain from the waist down to the feet, as well as Jiaoxie (foot strike/gout), and to promote urination and defecation, to retreat accumulated heat in the Bladder, and to dissipate abscesses and reduce swelling, only Han Fangji can achieve success. However, for treating lung qi rebellion with wheezing and cough, fullness and distension between the diaphragm, and for removing spasticity and urgency caused by Wind-Stroke, as well as Wind-Cold-Damp Malaria and heat pathogens, this relies entirely on Mu Fangji. It unifies the twelve meridians and is considered an immortal herb for dispersing damp-heat. Nevertheless, being pungent, bitter, and greatly cold, it is like a person who is dangerous yet vigorous. It can treat excess conditions but cannot treat deficiency conditions. For deficiency syndromes, it is appropriate to assist with Renshen (Ginseng), Fuling (Poria), Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome), and Cangzhu (Atractylodes Lancea Rhizome).
Indications (Integrated with Smallpox/Rash analysis): For smallpox/rash that has collapsed or receded due to damp-heat, it may be washed with wine, soaked, dried, and used.
(Madouling) It grows by absorbing the qi of winter; thus, its taste is pungent and bitter, its nature is cold, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Bitterness facilitates downward drainage, pungency facilitates dispersion, and coldness eliminates heat. Its nature is light and ascending, and its shape resembles the lungs; therefore, it can enter the lungs to clear heat and cause lung qi to descend, thereby naturally calming wheezing and cough. Furthermore, since the Lungs and Large Intestine are exterior-interiorly related, clearing organ heat also resolves bowels heat, so hemorrhoids and anal fissures are both treated.
Madouling, when burned to smoke and applied to hemorrhoids, or decocted for drinking, can forcefully resolve phlegm accumulation causing wheezing and shortness of breath, remove lung heat, stop cough, clear lung qi, and tonify deficiency. Its root is named Qingmuxiang (Qingmu Xiang), which is also a qi-dispersing herb, making it essential for hernia cases, and it is even more effective against snake bites and gu poison.
Indications (Integrated with Smallpox/Rash analysis): The efficacy is the same as above. Remove the shell and membrane, taking only the inner seeds, stir-fry, and use. Because its substance and nature are light and floating, its action targets the highest organs (Lungs). For those with lung deficiency accompanied by cold, it should not be used excessively.
(Puhuang) It absorbs the yin qi of the earth and combines with the pungent flavor of Metal; thus, its taste is sweet and pungent, its nature is neutral and slightly cold, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Liver Meridian blood level, breaking stasis and promoting blood circulation. To cool blood, use raw; if hemostasis is desired, particularly for metrorrhagia, use charred black.
Puhuang, when stir-fried until black, stops hematemesis and hematochezia, nourishes blood damage, and treats consumptive fatigue; used raw, it breaks blood stasis and stagnation. It treats swollen toxic pain, dissipates stasis-induced masses, addresses reckless bleeding due to blood heat, regulates irregular menstruation in women, treats uterine lochia pain (Ezhen pain) in postpartum women, manages traumatic fractures and injuries, resolves wind-swelling and carbuncles, promotes urination, and is suitable for various blood disorders. Whether dealing with hematemesis, epistaxis, or intestinal wind, it further treats hematuria and bloody dysentery. However, for blood disorders caused by external factors treated according to their branch manifestations, it can achieve remarkable results. For hematemesis and epistaxis caused by internal injury and deficiency, it is difficult to achieve efficacy.
Indications (Integrated with Smallpox/Rash analysis): The efficacy is the same as above. It is temporarily used for smallpox/rash cases complicated by blood disorders.