一名水苏,一名龙脑薄荷
轻,宣,散热,理血
辛而微温。清肺下气理血,辟恶而消谷。
治头风目眩,肺痿血痢,吐衄崩淋,喉腥口臭,邪热诸病(《局方》有龙脑鸡苏丸)。
方茎中虚,似苏叶而微长,密齿面皱,气甚辛烈。
轻,发汗,退目翳
温微甘苦。中空轻扬,与麻黄同形、性;亦能发汗解肌,升散火郁、风湿,入足厥阴,
少阳血分。益肝胆。
治目疾,退翳膜(翳乃肝邪郁遏,不能上通于目),及疝痛脱肛,肠风痔 ,赤痢崩中
诸血病。
轻,发汗,利湿
辛散轻浮。入肺经,达皮肤,能发扬邪汗(丹溪曰∶浮萍发汗,甚于麻黄),止瘙痒、
消渴(捣汁服)生于水,又能下水气,利小便。
治一切风湿瘫痪(浮萍一味,蜜丸酒服,治三十六种风;浓煮汁浴,治恶疾疮癞遍身)。
烧烟辟蚊。
紫背者良。
一名 耳,即诗卷耳
轻,发汗,散风湿
甘苦性温。善发汗散风湿,上通脑顶,下行足膝,外达皮肤。
治头痛目暗,齿痛鼻渊,肢挛痹痛,瘰 疮疥(采根叶熬,名万应膏),遍身瘙痒(作
浴汤佳)。
去刺,酒拌蒸。忌猪肉(《圣惠方》云∶叶捣汁,治产后痢)。
宣,祛风
辛温,入肝经气分。益气强阴,通血脉,强筋力,疏痰气。
治诸风眩掉,头旋眼黑,语言不遂,风湿 (音顽)痹,小儿惊痫(诸风掉眩,皆属肝
木。肝病不能荣筋,故见前症。天麻入厥阴而治诸疾,肝气和平,诸疾自瘳)。血液衰少及
类中风者忌用(风药能燥血故也。昂按∶风药中须兼养血药,制其燥也。养血药或兼搜风药,
宣其滞也。古云;治风先治血,血行风自灭)。
根类黄瓜,茎名赤箭,有风不动,无风反摇,一名定风草。明亮坚实者佳,湿纸包煨熟
,切片,酒浸一宿焙用。
【鸡苏】
又名水苏,又名龙脑薄荷。
药性轻清,具有宣散、散热、理血的功效。
味辛而微温。能清肺降气、调理血液,驱除秽恶之气并促进消化。
治疗头风引起的目眩,肺痿,便血痢疾,吐血、衄血及崩漏淋证,咽喉腥臭、口臭,以及邪热所致诸病(《局方》中有龙脑鸡苏丸)。
茎呈方形且中空,形状类似苏叶但稍长,边缘有细密锯齿且表面皱缩,气味非常辛烈。
【浮萍】
药性轻,具有发汗、退除目翳的功效。
性温,味微甘苦。质地中空而轻扬,形态和药性与麻黄相似;也能发汗解肌,升散火郁和风湿之邪,入足厥阴肝经和少阳胆经的血分。
补益肝胆。
治疗眼疾,退除翳膜(翳是由于肝邪郁结遏阻,不能上通于眼睛所致),以及疝痛、脱肛、肠风痔漏、赤痢、崩中等各种血证。
【紫背浮萍】
药性轻,具有发汗、利湿的功效。
味辛,善于发散且性质轻浮。入肺经,达于皮肤,能发扬邪气使出汗(丹溪说:浮萍发汗的效果,胜过麻黄),止瘙痒、消渴(捣汁服用)。生于水中,又能下行水气,通利小便。
治疗一切风湿瘫痪(单用浮萍一味,制成蜜丸,用酒送服,可治三十六种风病;浓煮汁液洗澡,可治恶疾疮癞遍布全身)。
燃烧烟雾可驱避蚊虫。
以紫色背面的为佳。
【卷耳】
又名耳,即诗经中提到的卷耳。
药性轻,具有发汗、散风湿的功效。
味甘苦,性温。善于发汗、散风湿,上行通达头顶,下行通达足膝,外达皮肤。
治疗头痛、目暗,齿痛、鼻渊,肢体挛急痹痛,瘰疬疮疥(采集根叶熬制,名为万应膏),遍身瘙痒(作为浴汤效果佳)。
去刺后,用酒拌蒸。忌食猪肉(《圣惠方》记载:叶捣汁,治疗产后痢疾)。
【天麻】
功效为宣散、祛风。
味辛温,入肝经气分。益气强阴,通血脉,强筋力,疏化痰气。
治疗各种风病引起的眩晕抖动,头晕眼花,言语不利,风湿顽痹,小儿惊痫(各种风病引起的抖动眩晕,都归属于肝木。肝病不能滋养筋脉,所以出现前述症状。天麻入厥阴肝经而治疗各种疾病,肝气平和,各种疾病自然痊愈)。血液衰少及类中风者忌用(因为风药能燥伤血液。汪昂按语:使用风药时须兼用养血药,以制约其燥性。养血药或兼用搜风药,以宣通滞涩。古语说:治风先治血,血行风自灭)。
根部类似黄瓜,茎名赤箭,有风时不动,无风时反而摇动,又名定风草。以明亮坚实者为佳,用湿纸包裹煨熟,切片,用酒浸泡一夜后焙干使用。
[Jisu]
Also known as Shuisu (Water Mint) and Longnao Bohe (Camphor Mint).
Light in nature, with the functions of dispersing, clearing heat, and regulating blood.
Pungent and slightly warm. Clears the lungs, directs qi downward, regulates blood, dispels evil odors, and promotes digestion.
Treats head wind causing dizziness, lung abscess with bloody discharge, bloody dysentery, hematemesis, epistaxis, metrorrhagia, and stranguria; foul breath from the throat and halitosis; and various diseases caused by pathogenic heat (Longnao Jisu Pill is found in *Ju Fang*).
The stem is square and hollow, resembling Perilla leaf but slightly longer, with dense serrations and a wrinkled surface, possessing a very pungent and strong odor.
[Fuping / Floating Duckweed]
Light in nature, with the functions of inducing sweating and eliminating cornea opacity.
Warm in nature, slightly sweet and bitter. Hollow and light in texture, similar in shape and property to Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang); it can also induce sweating and release the muscle layer, ascend and disperse fire stagnation and wind-dampness, entering the Blood aspect of the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian and Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian.
Benefits the liver and gallbladder.
Treats eye diseases and eliminates corneal opacities (opacity arises from liver pathogen stagnation and obstruction, preventing upward communication to the eyes); also treats hernia pain, rectal prolapse, intestinal wind hemorrhoids, bloody dysentery, metrorrhagia, and various blood disorders.
[Zibei Fuping / Purple-backed Floating Duckweed]
Light in nature, with the functions of inducing sweating and promoting diuresis.
Pungent, dispersing and light in nature. Enters the Lung Meridian, reaches the skin, and can promote the expulsion of pathogens through sweating (Danxi stated: The sweating-inducing effect of Fuping is greater than that of Mahuang); stops itching and treats polydipsia (administered as crushed juice). Grows in water, can also direct water qi downward and promote urination.
Treats all types of wind-damp paralysis (Using only Fuping, formed into honey pills and taken with wine, treats thirty-six types of wind diseases; boiling thickly for bathing treats severe sores and leprosy covering the whole body).
Burning smoke repels mosquitoes.
Those with purple backs are superior.
[Juan'er / Earleaf Achillea]
Also known as Er, referring to Juan'er mentioned in the Book of Songs.
Light in nature, with the functions of inducing sweating and dispersing wind-dampness.
Sweet and bitter, warm in nature. Excellent at inducing sweating and dispersing wind-dampness, ascending to connect with the crown of the head, descending to reach the feet and knees, and extending outward to the skin.
Treats headache and dim vision, toothache and sinusitis, limb cramping and bi-syndrome pain, scrofula, sores, and tinea (roots and leaves collected and boiled, named Wanying Gao), and generalized pruritus (best used as a bath decoction).
Remove thorns, stir-fry with wine before steaming. Avoid pork (*Shenghui Fang* records: Leaf juice treats postpartum dysentery).
[Tianma / Gastrodia Rhizome]
Functions: Dispersing and expelling wind.
Pungent and warm, enters the Qi aspect of the Liver Meridian. Benefits qi, strengthens yin, unifies blood vessels, strengthens sinews and muscles, and dissipates phlegm qi.
Treats various wind diseases causing vertigo and tremors, dizziness and blurred vision, speech impairment, wind-damp stubborn bi-syndrome, and pediatric convulsions (All wind diseases causing tremors and vertigo belong to Liver Wood. Liver disease fails to nourish sinews, hence the aforementioned symptoms. Tianma enters the Jueyin Liver Meridian to treat various diseases; when Liver qi is harmonious, various diseases heal spontaneously). Contraindicated in cases of blood deficiency and stroke-like syndromes (because wind-dispelling herbs can dry out blood. Wang Ang notes: When using wind-dispelling herbs, one must combine them with blood-nourishing herbs to restrain their drying nature. Blood-nourishing herbs may be combined with wind-searching herbs to promote circulation. Ancient saying: To treat wind, first treat the blood; when blood flows, wind extinguishes itself).
The root resembles cucumber; the stem is called Chijian (Red Arrow). It does not move when there is wind, but sways when there is no wind; also known as Dingfeng Cao (Wind-Stabilizing Grass). Those that are bright and solid are superior. Wrap in wet paper, roast until cooked, slice, soak in wine overnight, then bake for use.