\r薏苡仁\pj42.bmp\r
味甘，气微寒。无毒。近道俱出，真定（郡名，属北直隶。）者良。多生旷野泽中，
茎高三四尺许。叶类垂黍，花开浅黄。结实而名薏珠，小儿每穿为戏。医家采用，舂壳取仁
。
或和诸药煎汤，（炒熟微研入之。）或搀粳米煮粥。（薏苡仁粒硬，须先煮半熟，才搀粳米同
煮，粥方稠粘。）专疗湿痹，且治肺痈。筋急拘挛，屈伸不便者最效；（此湿痹证。）咳嗽涕
唾，脓血并出者极佳。（此肺痈证。）除筋骨邪入作疼，消皮肤水溢发肿。利肠胃，主渴消。
久服益气轻身，多服开胃进食。但此药力和缓，凡用之时，须当倍于他药尔。若挖根
煮汁，
可攻蛔堕胎。肺痈服之，亦臻神效。
（谟）按∶《衍义》云∶《本经》谓主筋急拘挛，须分两等，大筋缩短，拘急不伸，此是
因热
拘挛，故此可用；倘若因寒筋急，不可用也。又云∶受湿者亦令筋缓。再按丹溪曰∶寒则筋
急，热则筋缩。急因于坚强，缩因于短促。若受湿则弛，弛因于宽长。然寒于湿未尝不挟热
，而三者又未始不因于湿。薏苡仁去湿要药也。二家之说，实有不同。以《衍义》言观之，
则筋病因热可用，因寒不可用。以丹溪言观之，则筋病因寒、因热、因湿皆可用也。盖寒而
留久，亦变为热。况外寒湿与热皆由内湿启之，方能成病。（内湿病酒面为多，鱼肉继以成
之。若甘滑、陈久烧炙、辛香、干硬皆致湿之因，宜戒之。）谓之曰∶三者未始不因于湿
，是诚盲者日月，聋者雷霆欤。
薏苡仁（Coicis Semen）
味甘，气微寒。无毒。各地均有出产，真定（郡名，属北直隶。）所产者品质优良。多生长在旷野沼泽之中，茎高约三四尺。叶片类似垂下的黍米叶，花朵呈浅黄色。结出果实名为薏珠，小孩常将其穿起来玩耍。医家采用时，需舂去外壳取得种仁。
或者与其他药物一起煎汤服用，（需炒熟后轻微研磨加入。）或者掺入粳米煮粥。（薏苡仁颗粒坚硬，必须先煮至半熟，才能掺入粳米同煮，粥才会浓稠粘腻。）专门治疗湿痹（因湿邪阻滞经络引起的关节疼痛、重着等症），并且治疗肺痈（肺部化脓性病变）。对于筋脉拘急挛缩，屈伸不便者最为有效；（这是湿痹证的表现。）对于咳嗽、涕唾中脓血并出者效果极佳。（这是肺痈证的表现。）能去除筋骨间邪气入侵引起的疼痛，消除皮肤水肿溢出的症状。通利肠胃，主治口渴消渴。长期服用可益气轻身，多服可开胃进食。但是此药力温和缓慢，凡使用时，剂量须加倍于其他药物。如果挖掘根部煮汁，可以驱除蛔虫并导致堕胎。肺痈患者服用薏苡仁，也能达到神奇的效果。
（陈嘉谟）按语：《衍义》说：《本经》提到主治筋急拘挛，需要分为两种情况，大筋缩短，拘急不能伸展，这是因为热邪导致的拘挛，所以此处可以使用；如果是因寒邪导致的筋急，则不可使用。又说：受湿邪也会导致筋缓。再参考朱丹溪的说法：寒则筋急，热则筋缩。急是因为坚强，缩是因为短促。如果受湿邪则筋弛缓，弛缓是因为宽长。然而寒邪未尝不夹杂热邪，而这三者又未尝不是因为湿邪引起。薏苡仁是祛湿的要药。两家的说法，确实有所不同。从《衍义》的观点来看，筋病因为热邪可用，因为寒邪不可用。从朱丹溪的观点来看，筋病因为寒、因为热、因为湿都可用。大概寒邪停留日久，也会变为热邪。况且外感寒湿与热邪都是由内湿引发，才能成病。（内湿病多由饮酒、面食引起，鱼肉随后促成。若甘滑、陈旧烧炙、辛香、干硬都是致湿的原因，应当戒除。）所以说：三者未尝不是因为湿邪，这真是对盲人如日月般显眼，对聋人如雷霆般震撼啊。
**Coicis Semen (Job's Tears Seed)**
The flavor is sweet, and the nature is slightly cold. It is non-toxic. It is produced in various regions, but those from Zhending (a commandery name, belonging to North Zhili) are of superior quality. It mostly grows in open fields and marshes. The stem is about three or four chi tall. The leaves resemble those of hanging millet, and the flowers are pale yellow. It bears fruit known as "Yi Zhu" (Job's Tears pearls), which children often string together for play. When used by physicians, the husk is pounded off to obtain the kernel.
It may be decocted with other herbs, (after being stir-fried until cooked and slightly ground.) or mixed with japonica rice to make porridge. (Since Coicis Semen kernels are hard, they must first be boiled until half-cooked before adding japonica rice; only then will the porridge become thick and sticky.) It specifically treats Bi syndrome caused by dampness (joint pain and heaviness due to damp obstruction) and lung abscess (purulent lesions of the lung). It is most effective for tendon spasms and contractures, where flexion and extension are difficult; (this indicates Bi syndrome due to dampness.) It yields excellent results for coughing with purulent sputum and blood; (this indicates lung abscess.) It expels pathogenic factors invading the bones and muscles causing pain, and resolves edema caused by fluid overflowing in the skin. It promotes intestinal and gastric function, and primarily treats thirst and Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome). Long-term consumption tonifies Qi and lightens the body, while excessive consumption opens the appetite and promotes food intake. However, its medicinal action is mild and slow; therefore, when used, the dosage must be doubled compared to other herbs. If the root is dug up and decocted into juice, it can expel roundworms and induce abortion. For patients with lung abscess, taking Coicis Semen also achieves miraculous effects.
Annotation by Chen Jiamo: *Yanyi* states that regarding the claim in *Ben Jing* that it treats tendon spasms and contractures, one must distinguish between two conditions. If the large tendons shorten and become rigid without extending, this is a spasm caused by heat, so it can be used here; however, if the tendon rigidity is caused by cold, it should not be used. It further states that dampness can also cause tendon laxity. Furthermore, Zhu Danxi stated: Cold causes tendon tension (ji), heat causes tendon shortening (suo). Tension arises from stiffness, shortening arises from brevity. Dampness causes relaxation (chi), which arises from elongation. Nevertheless, cold often harbors heat, and these three conditions (cold, heat, dampness) all originate from dampness. Coicis Semen is a crucial herb for removing dampness. The views of these two schools differ significantly. Based on *Yanyi*, tendon diseases caused by heat can be treated with it, but those caused by cold cannot. Based on Zhu Danxi’s view, tendon diseases caused by cold, heat, or dampness can all be treated with it. Generally, cold lingering for a long time transforms into heat. Moreover, external cold-dampness and heat are all initiated by internal dampness to form disease. (Internal dampness is mostly caused by alcohol and flour-based foods, followed by meat and fish. Sweet, slippery, aged roasted foods, pungent-aromatic foods, and dry-hard foods are all causes of dampness and should be avoided.) Thus, saying that these three [conditions] do not originate from dampness is like showing the sun and moon to the blind or thunder to the deaf.