（本经下品）
【气味】苦温，有大毒。
【主治】主心腹寒热结气，积聚伏梁，伤筋痿拘挛，利水道。
【核】曰∶出汉中山谷，及冤句、安东、河北州郡，近道亦有之。四月生苗，高尺余。
独茎上有叶如爪，一窠生八九茎，时出一茎作穗，直上如鼠尾。中生一叶如匙，裹茎作房，
旁开一口，上下尖。中有花，青褐色。结实如麻子，熟便白色，自落布地，一子只一窠。九
月叶残取根。但初孕之根，仅如豆大，渐长者似半夏而扁，年久者始圆及寸，大如鸡卵。周
匝生芽，三四枝，或五六枝，圆如指顶，宛若虎掌。冀州一种，呼天南星，二月生苗，高一、
二
二、八月采根，似芋而扁，与 相类，人多误采，了不可辨。但 茎斑花紫，南星根小
肌腻，炮之易裂为别。然南星即虎掌，同类而异种。其根大者，周匝亦有圆芽，但不若虎掌
茎叶似爪，五出分列也。江州一种，草虎掌，叶大如掌，面青背紫，三四叶为一本，经冬不
凋，不结花实，根之四畔，亦有圆芽，名象虽同治疗迥别。修事，取重一两者，气专力倍。
用治风痰，生用须温汤洗净，再以白矾作汤，或皂角煎汁，浸二三日，每日一换，浸足暴干
。熟用，择黄土地上，掘一小坑，深五六寸，先以炭火烧红，次用好酒沃之，乃安虎掌于坑
内，上以瓦盆覆定，灰泥固济，过夜取用。设急用，用湿纸包裹，埋糠灰火中，周匝绽裂，
便可用矣。一法∶以酒浸一宿，用桑柴火蒸之，尝令洒酒入甑内，令气猛。一伏时取出，竹
刀剖开，味不麻舌为度。一法以生姜杵碎，和黄泥包虎掌煨熟，去泥焙用。若造曲用，生
姜汁，及矾作汤，和虎掌末作小饼子，安篮内，楮叶包盖，俟上有黄衣生，取晒收之。造胆
星法∶将虎掌研末，腊月取黄牯牛胆汁和匀，纳胆囊内，悬系有风处，干之，年久弥佳。蜀
漆为之使。恶莽草。
先人云∶名色性气，合属燥金；味苦气温又得火化，为肺金之用药也。与易称 万物令
燥者合其德，当治风，第可平诸疾生风，不可平风生诸疾，以非真实燥故。其治诸暴强直，
支痛里急，筋缩 戾，平以虎掌，风从燥已矣。
【 】曰∶命名虎掌，不独茎叶根 形相似也，虎力在掌，故主寒热气结，积聚伏梁，
以及心腹，若探囊耳。盖掌用在筋，且风生从虎，故主厥阴风木，变生筋主为病，以致筋痿
挛拘也。风行水涣，故并利水道。
（厥阴变眚，则风木之化不行焉。虎啸风生，从其类也。风感水受，水道乃行，故利水
道。）
【《神农本草经》列为下品】
【气味】味苦，性温，有大毒。
【主治】主要治疗心腹部的寒热邪气结聚、积聚病及伏梁病，损伤筋脉导致的痿软和拘挛，以及通利水道。
【考证】曰：产于汉中山谷，以及冤句、安东、河北各州郡，邻近道路也有出产。四月生苗，高一尺多。
独茎上有叶如爪状，一丛生八九茎，时常抽出一茎结成穗，直立向上如鼠尾。中间生一叶如匙形，包裹茎部形成房室，
旁边开一口，上下尖。中有花，呈青褐色。结实如麻子，成熟后变白，自然脱落铺在地上，一粒种子只长一丛。九
月叶子枯萎时采挖根部。但刚孕育的根，仅如豆子大，逐渐长大的似半夏而扁平，年代久远的才圆且达一寸大，大如鸡蛋。周
围生出芽，三四枝，或五六枝，圆如手指顶端，宛如虎掌。冀州有一种，称为天南星，二月生苗，高一、二
尺，八月采挖根部，形状像芋头而扁平，与虎掌相似，人们常误采，难以分辨。但虎掌茎有斑点花紫，天南星根小
肉质细腻，炮制后易裂为区别。然而天南星即虎掌，同类而异种。其根大的，周围也有圆芽，但不像虎掌
茎叶如爪，五出分列。江州有一种，草虎掌，叶大如手掌，面青背紫，三四叶为一株，经冬不
凋谢，不结花实，根的四周，也有圆芽，名称虽同治疗却截然不同。加工处理，选取重一两的，药气专一效力加倍。
用于治疗风痰，生用需用温水洗净，再用白矾煮水，或皂角煎汁，浸泡两三天，每天更换一次，浸透后晒干。
熟用，选择黄土地，挖一个小坑，深五六寸，先用炭火烧红，然后倒入好酒，将虎掌放入坑
内，上面用瓦盆覆盖固定，用灰泥密封加固，过夜后取用。如果急需使用，用湿纸包裹，埋在糠灰火中，周围绽裂，
就可以使用了。一种方法：用酒浸泡一夜，用桑柴火蒸它，经常洒酒入甑内，使蒸汽猛烈。一个时辰取出，用竹刀剖开，以味道不麻舌为标准。另一种方法用生姜捣碎，和黄泥包裹虎掌煨熟，去掉泥焙干使用。如果制作曲药用，用
生姜汁，以及白矾煮水，和虎掌末做成小饼，放在篮子里，用楮叶包盖，等到上面长出黄衣，取出晒干收藏。制造胆
星的方法：将虎掌研成末，腊月取黄牛胆汁混合均匀，纳入牛胆囊内，悬挂在有风的地方，晾干，年代越久越好。蜀漆作为它的辅佐药。畏莽草。
先人说：名字、颜色、性质、气味，合属燥金；味苦气温又得火化，是肺金的用药。与《易经》所说“使万物干燥”的性质相合，应当治疗风病，但只能平息因其他疾病产生的风，不能平息因风产生的其他疾病，因为并非真正的燥邪所致。它治疗各种突然发生的强直，
肢体疼痛里急，筋脉收缩扭曲，用虎掌平治，风随燥气而解。
【注释】曰：命名为虎掌，不仅茎叶根
形状相似，虎力在掌，所以主治寒热气结，积聚伏梁，
以及心腹部病症，如同探囊取物一般。大概掌用在筋，且风生于虎，所以主治厥阴风木，变化产生筋脉为主的疾病，导致筋痿
挛拘。风行则水散，所以并通利水道。
（厥阴发生病变，则风木的生化功能不行。虎啸风生，属于同类相应。风感水受，水道乃行，所以利水
道。）
[Classified as Lower Grade in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*]
【Flavor and Nature】Bitter, warm, highly toxic.
【Indications】Primarily treats cold-heat qi stagnation in the heart and abdomen, accumulations (Ji Ju), Fu Liang disease, tendon damage leading to flaccidity and spasms/contractures, and promotes the free flow of water passages.
【Verification】It is stated: Originates from Zhongshan valleys in Han, as well as Yuanju, Andong, and various prefectures in Hebei; also found near roads. Seedlings emerge in April, over a chi high.
A single stem bears leaves like claws; one cluster produces eight or nine stems, occasionally sending up one stem to form a spike, standing straight up like a rat's tail. In the middle grows one leaf like a spoon, wrapping the stem to form a chamber,
with an opening on the side, pointed at top and bottom. Flowers are inside, greenish-brown. Fruits resemble hemp seeds, turning white when ripe, falling naturally to cover the ground; each seed produces only one cluster. In September, when leaves wither, roots are harvested. Initially, the young root is bean-sized; gradually growing ones resemble Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) but are flatter; those grown for many years become round and about one cun large, as big as a chicken egg.
Sprouts grow all around, three or four branches, or five or six, round like the tip of a finger, resembling a tiger's paw. In Jizhou, there is a variety called Tiannanxing (Arisaema Cum Bile), which sprouts in February, reaching one or two chi in height. Roots are harvested in August, resembling taro but flat, similar to [Huzhang], often mistakenly collected by people, making them hard to distinguish. However, Huzhang stems have spotted purple flowers, while Tiannanxing roots are smaller with fine texture, cracking easily when processed, which serves as a distinction. Nevertheless, Tiannanxing is essentially Huzhang, same species but different variety. Larger roots also have round buds around them, but unlike Huzhang, their stems and leaves do not resemble claws nor do they branch out in fives. In Jiangzhou, there is a variety, Caohuzhang (Herbaceous Tiger Palm), with leaves as large as a palm, green on the front and purple on the back, with three or four leaves per plant, remaining evergreen through winter, producing no flowers or fruits. The roots also have round buds on the sides. Although the name resembles [Huzhang], its therapeutic effects are completely different. For processing, select roots weighing one liang, as they possess concentrated qi and doubled efficacy.
To treat Fengtan (Wind Phlegm), if used raw, it must be washed clean with warm water, then soaked in a decoction of Bai Fan (Alumen) or Zaojiao (Gleditsiae Fructus) for two to three days, changing daily until fully soaked, then dried in the sun.
For cooked use, dig a small pit in yellow soil, five or six cun deep. First, heat charcoal until red, then pour good wine into it. Place the Huzhang in the pit, cover firmly with a clay pot, seal tightly with ash and mud, leave overnight, then use. If urgent use is needed, wrap in wet paper, bury in bran ash fire until cracks appear all around, then it is ready. Another method: Soak in wine overnight, steam using mulberry wood fire, frequently sprinkling wine into the steamer to maintain strong vapor. After one fu shi (approx. 2 hours), remove, cut open with a bamboo knife, until the taste no longer numbs the tongue. Another method: Crush fresh Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), mix with yellow mud to wrap the Huzhang, roast until cooked, remove mud, and bake for use. If used for making Qu (fermented starter), mix Huzhang powder with Shengjiang juice and Alumen decoction to form small cakes, place in a basket, cover with Chu Ye (Broussonetiae Folium), wait until a yellow mold grows on top, then take out, dry, and store. Method for preparing Danxing (Calculus Bovis): Grind Huzhang into powder, in the twelfth lunar month, mix evenly with Huanggu Niu Danzhi (Bovis Calculus), put into the gallbladder, hang in a windy place to dry; the older, the better. Shuqi (Polygalae Radix) acts as its assistant. It opposes Mangcao (Cichorii Radix).
My ancestor said: The name, color, nature, and flavor belong to Dry Metal; the bitter flavor and warm temperature further acquire Fire transformation, making it a herb for Lung Metal. Its virtue aligns with the *I Ching*'s statement "that which dries all things." It should treat Wind disorders, but only those wind generated by other diseases, not wind generating other diseases, because it does not address true Dryness pathogenesis. It treats sudden stiffness, limb pain and internal tension, tendon contraction and twisting; using Huzhang to calm these, the wind resolves with dryness.
[Commentary] states: Named Huzhang not only because the stems, leaves, and roots resemble a shape, but because the Tiger's power resides in the paw, thus it primarily treats cold-heat qi stagnation, accumulations, Fu Liang,
and heart/abdominal conditions, as easily as taking something from a bag. Generally, the paw is associated with tendons, and wind arises from the Tiger, thus it treats Jueyin Wind-Wood transformations manifesting as tendon diseases, leading to tendon flaccidity, spasms, and contractures. Wind moves and scatters water, thus it also benefits water passages.
(When Jueyin suffers pathological changes, the transformation of Wind-Wood fails. When the tiger roars, wind arises, following its kind. Wind interacts with Water, allowing water passages to flow, thus benefiting water passages.)