\r薄荷\pq50a1.bmp\r
轻清入肺。味辛温而气禀芳香。解散上焦。清头目而善宣风热。(薄荷辛温香窜。体
温而用凉。入肺经轻浮上升。故能解散上焦风热。为解表之药。利咽喉。辟口气。虽因其用
凉而能治热证。然毕竟辛散之品。阴虚有火者仍宜远之。薄荷之性味功用。与冰片相似。体
温而用凉。其所谓清者。乃轻清之清。非清冷之清也。)
\r白芷\pq50a.bmp\r
为胃经之表药。祛寒燥湿味辛温。宣肺部之风邪。散肿排脓功达遍。升浮之气。头目
能清。香燥之功。崩淋可用。至若肠风脏毒。缘阳明湿浊为殃。即其泽面涂容。亦肌肉瘀邪
之滞。(白芷辛温香窜。色白。入手足阳明手太阴三经。祛风胜湿。是其所长。故为三经之
表药。以其上至肺而下至肠。故能上清头目。下治崩带肠风。至若排脓散肿乳痈等证。皆
肌肉病。阳明主肌肉。故白芷又为阳明主药也。)
\r 本\pq50.bmp\r
辛能达表。温可行经。风寒颠顶之疼。赖其解散。阴湿疝瘕之疾。借此宣除。气香独
走夫太阳。色紫堪行乎血分。( 本根似川芎。色紫形虚。辛温雄壮。气香味烈。入足太阳
经。兼通督脉。为发散风寒祛除寒湿之药。功用同于羌活。而香性独专。升性过之。至于治
妇人寒湿疝瘕等证。亦督脉为病耳。)
薄荷
质地轻清,入肺经。味道辛温,气味芳香。能疏散上焦邪气,清利头目,善于宣散风热。(薄荷性味辛温、香气窜透。药体性质温和但药效表现清凉。入肺经后轻浮上升,因此能够解散上焦的风热,属于解表类药物。能通利咽喉,去除口臭。虽然因其药性清凉而能治疗热证,但它终究是辛散的药物,阴虚火旺者仍应远离。薄荷的性味功用与冰片相似。药体性质温和但药效表现清凉。它所说的“清”,是指轻清之清,而非清冷之清。)
白芷
作为胃经的解表药。能祛寒燥湿,味道辛温。宣散肺部风邪,消散肿胀、排出脓液的功效广泛。其气机升浮,能清利头目。凭借香燥之功,可用于崩漏带下。至于肠风和脏毒(便血),是因为阳明经湿浊为患,此时可用白芷。甚至用它润泽面容涂抹肌肤,也是针对肌肉中瘀滞邪气的治疗。(白芷性味辛温、香气窜透,颜色白色,归手足阳明经和手太阴肺经。祛风胜湿是它的特长,因此作为这三条经脉的解表药。因为它上至肺而下至肠,所以能上清头目,下治崩漏、带下和肠风。至于排脓、消肿、乳痈等病症,都属于肌肉疾病,阳明经主司肌肉,所以白芷又是阳明经的主药。)
藁本
辛味能通达体表,温性能通行经络。风寒引起的头顶疼痛,依赖它来解散。阴湿导致的疝气和癥瘕(腹内结块)疾病,借此宣散消除。香气独特,专走足太阳经;颜色紫暗,可行于血分。(藁本根状似川芎,颜色紫暗,形态中空,性味辛温雄壮,气味浓烈。入足太阳经,兼通督脉,是发散风寒、祛除寒湿的药物。功用与羌活相同,但香气特性独专,升提之力超过羌活。至于治疗妇女寒湿引起的疝气和癥瘕等证,也是因为督脉受病所致。)
Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba)
Light and clear, entering the Lung Meridian. Flavor pungent and warm, aroma fragrant. Disperses pathogenic factors in the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner). Clears the head and eyes, excels at diffusing Wind-Heat. (Bohe is pungent, warm, and aromatic with a penetrating quality. Its nature is warm but its action is cool. Entering the Lung Meridian, it rises lightly and floats upward, thus able to disperse Wind-Heat in the Upper Jiao; it is an exterior-releasing herb. It benefits the throat and dispels bad breath. Although its cool nature allows it to treat heat syndromes, it remains fundamentally a pungent-dispersing substance, so those with Yin deficiency and fire should avoid it. The properties, flavor, and functions of Bohe are similar to Bingpian (Borneolum Syntheticum). Its nature is warm but its action is cool. The "clear" referred to here denotes lightness and clarity, not coldness.)
Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix)
Serves as an exterior-releasing herb for the Stomach Meridian. Dispels Cold, dries Dampness, flavor pungent and warm. Diffuses Wind-Evil from the Lungs. Scatters swelling and drains pus with widespread efficacy. Its Qi ascends and floats, clearing the head and eyes. Through its fragrance and dryness, it can be used for metrorrhagia and leukorrhea. As for Changfeng (Intestinal Wind) and Zangdu (Visceral Toxin), these arise from turbid Dampness in the Yangming Meridian causing harm. Even applying it to moisten the face and apply to the skin addresses stagnation of stasis and evil in the muscles. (Baizhi is pungent, warm, and aromatic, white in color, entering the Hand-Yangming, Foot-Yangming, and Hand-Taiyin meridians. Dispelling Wind and overcoming Dampness is its strength, hence it serves as an exterior-releasing herb for these three meridians. Because it reaches up to the Lungs and down to the Intestines, it clears the head and eyes above and treats metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, and intestinal wind below. Regarding conditions such as draining pus, scattering swelling, and breast abscesses, these are all muscle diseases. Since the Yangming Meridian governs the muscles, Baizhi is also the principal herb for the Yangming Meridian.)
Gaoben (Ligustici Rhizoma et Radix)
Pungency can reach the exterior, warmth can circulate the channels. For pain in the vertex caused by Wind-Cold, reliance is placed on its dispersing action. For diseases of Yin-Dampness such as hernia and zhijia (masses), this helps to diffuse and eliminate them. Its aromatic nature travels exclusively to the Foot-Taiyang Meridian; its purple color allows it to move within the Blood level. (The root of Gaoben resembles Chuanxiong, is purple in color and hollow in form, pungent and warm in nature, vigorous and strong, with a rich and intense aroma. It enters the Foot-Taiyang Meridian and connects with the Du Mai (Governing Vessel). It is an herb that disperses Wind-Cold and removes Cold-Dampness. Its functions are similar to Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), but its aromatic property is unique, and its ascending nature exceeds that of Qianghuo. Regarding the treatment of women's conditions such as Cold-Dampness hernia and masses, this is also due to disease of the Du Mai.)