以建平宜都及梓州龙州者为上。木皮鳞皱。肉浓色紫多液者。入药最良。
皮
味苦辛微甘。气大温。气味俱浓。其体重浊。阳中之阴。降也。入足太阴手足阳明经。
主治温中散结气。除胀满。（因其辛以提滞气）疏胃湿滞。治胃中冷逆呕吐。及腹疼泄利。
疗寒湿霍乱。化水谷。止吐酸水。除冷积。更同他药治湿热诸证及下痢。 性宜有毒。以其
得阳气之正。故无毒。（仲淳） 浓朴平胃除腹胀。若元气虚弱。虽胀。宜斟酌用之。误服
脱人元气。惟寒胀大热药中兼用。乃结者散之之神药也。（洁古） 气实人误服参 。胀闷
作喘。宜此泻之。（丹溪） 与枳实大黄同用。则泻实满。苦能下气也。与陈皮苍术同用。
则除湿满。温能益气也。与解利药同用则治伤寒头痛。与治痢药同用则浓肠胃。（海藏） 浓
朴辛热苦温之药。辛能散结。苦能燥湿。温热能祛风寒。所主诸证。何莫非肠胃气逆壅滞。
及痰饮留结。饮食生冷所致。至于益气浓肠胃。盖指邪气去正气自益。积滞消肠胃自浓之意。
非消散之外。复有补益之功也。（仲淳） 同陈皮枳壳麦芽山楂草果砂仁矾红。治伤食腹胀。
同苍术黄连橘皮甘草葛根白术。治湿热作泻。 同槟榔木香黄连滑石橘皮白芍甘草。治滞下
初起。 同白术人参白芍茯苓。消腹胀。 佐生姜陈皮藿香砂仁半夏。止胃寒呕吐。 同三
棱蓬术槟榔人参青皮。治积年冷癖坚块。 有患肠风下血。大便时鲜血四射。淋漓不止。年
久面色痿黄。腰痛腿酸。四肢无力。阳事痿弱。缘下血投苦寒剂经年。故致病剧也。先制煎
方服之。后照方倍加为两。作丸服效。姜朴五钱。神曲一钱。土炒白术一钱。炒麦芽一钱。
北五味一钱焙研。加陈黄米四十九粒。水二碗。煎八分。空心服。凡肠风下血者。多系脾胃
虚寒。不能摄血。服之皆效。虽酒客湿热下注放血者。服之亦效。按浓朴佐参术诸补剂。化
补中之滞以消胀。其义固然。兹方乃用以为君。白术止助其健运。五味稍敛其耗散。又有消
导之味。而取效于下血。可以思其用矣。
〔论〕 草木之四时不凋者。或得于纯阴。或得于纯阳。浓朴气味苦辛。色性赤烈。纯
阳之木也。其苦味应于花赤而皮紫。是味归于形。其形色紫赤应于气之温。是形归乎气。不
可想其纯阳而能散结之用欤。 （天地之气。至夏而阳盛阴衰。在气化应然。原非偏至之戾
气也。浓朴所谓纯阳。即禀乎此气。其能散元气者。亦如夏时之宣泄已极。非谓其辛热太甚
也。）夫苦能下泄。苦从乎温。则不下泄而温散。卢氏所云从内而外。以司夏出横偏之令者。
若苦合于寒。则直下泄。如枳壳辈是已。夫气之生化在中土。此味苦中觉有微甘。所以直归
中土而散结气。苦味从温。所以能就气分而散之。凡病乎寒湿之邪者。实为的对。其病乎湿
热者。有苦寒以清热燥湿。而假此苦温以散其结。亦罔不奏功。至先哲首以除胀满为言。惟
虚而无邪之胀满。不宜混用。若寒湿实邪。固其正治。即湿热为病。如浓味积热及外感郁热
者。亦实胀也。苦寒药中。可假浓朴以除之。或中气虚而患湿热。则必审虚与实。孰多孰少。
更审乎时之久暂。以定攻补之多少。此味又未可去也。如苦寒除邪之味多。而健脾者少。用
此散湿热之结。恐苦寒直攻。不能径散也。又如苦甘健脾之味多。而除热者少。用此化补益
之骤。恐苦甘径补。不能直受也。（湿热不宜纯甘。虚而有湿热者。宜于苦甘。） 即此推之
他证。凡可投浓朴者。悉如斯矣。 浓朴始尝味苦。苦中微甘。最后有辛。意非辛也。乃苦
温之余烈。俗所云麻味也。故以姜制之。犹制半夏之义耳。然则浓朴从苦温以散结。不若枳
壳从苦寒以泄滞矣。夫气以温热为升为补。而苦甚者。乃从升补中以散之。以寒凉为降为泄。
而苦甚者。乃从降泄中以导之。故浓朴之治。宜于寒。或宜于湿。而枳壳之治。宜于热。或
宜于燥。当各从其所对以投之。如施浓朴于燥热之结。犹可借从治以奏功。若施枳壳于寒湿。
是气本下而复降之。不惟无益而有害矣。
缪氏云。性味散而不收。略无补益。凡病气虚不能归元。血槁不能润降。（膈证等） 老
人娠妇及产后。咸忌。
〔修治〕 去粗皮。用姜汁拌浸。仍用姜渣同炒。以姜渣黑色为度。
以建平、宜都以及梓州、龙州出产的浓朴为上品。其木皮呈鳞片状皱纹，肉质浓厚、颜色紫红且汁液多者，入药效果最好。
【皮】
味道苦、辛，略带甘味。气性大温。气味都非常浓厚，质地沉重而浑浊，属于阳中之阴，主降。归足太阴脾经和手、足阳明大肠经、胃经。
主治：温中散结气，消除胀满。（因为其辛味能提升停滞之气）疏解胃中湿滞，治疗胃中寒冷引起的逆气呕吐，以及腹痛腹泻。
治疗寒湿霍乱，消化水谷，止住吐酸水，消除冷积。还可配合其他药物治疗湿热各种证候及痢疾。本性似乎有毒，因为它得阳气之正，所以实际上无毒。（仲淳注）浓朴能平胃除腹胀，但如果元气虚弱，即使有胀满，也应斟酌使用。误服会耗脱人的元气。只有在寒胀病中使用大热药物时兼用此药，才是解散结气的妙药。（洁古注）气实之人误服人参后，出现胀闷气喘，适宜用此药来泻实。（丹溪注）与枳实、大黄同用，则能泻除实满，因为苦味能下气。与陈皮、苍术同用，则能除湿满，因为温性能益气。与解表药同用，则能治疗伤寒头痛。与治痢药同用，则能厚肠胃。（海藏注）浓朴是辛热、苦温的药物，辛能散结，苦能燥湿，温热能祛风寒。所主治的各种证候，何尝不是由于肠胃气逆壅滞，以及痰饮留结、饮食生冷所致呢？至于说它能益气、厚肠胃，大概是指邪气去除后正气自然增益，积滞消除后肠胃功能自然强健的意思，并非在消散之外，还有补益的功效。（仲淳注）
配伍应用：
与陈皮、枳壳、麦芽、山楂、草果、砂仁、矾红同用，治疗伤食引起的腹胀。
与苍术、黄连、橘皮、甘草、葛根、白术同用，治疗湿热引起的泄泻。
与槟榔、木香、黄连、滑石、橘皮、白芍、甘草同用，治疗痢疾初起。
与白术、人参、白芍、茯苓同用，消除腹胀。
佐以生姜、陈皮、藿香、砂仁、半夏，止胃寒呕吐。
与三棱、蓬术（莪术）、槟榔、人参、青皮同用，治疗多年的冷癖坚块。
医案举例：
有人患肠风下血，大便时鲜血喷射而出，淋漓不止，多年面色萎黄，腰痛腿酸，四肢无力，性功能痿弱。这是因为长期服用苦寒剂治疗下血，导致病情加重。先按方制煎剂服用，后来照方剂量加倍制成丸药服用，效果显著。方药组成：姜制浓朴五钱，神曲一钱，土炒白术一钱，炒麦芽一钱，北五味子一钱（焙干研粉），加陈年黄米四十九粒。用水两碗，煎至八分，空腹服用。凡是肠风下血的患者，多属于脾胃虚寒，不能统摄血液，服用此方皆有效。即使是酒客因湿热下注导致的出血，服用此方也有效。按语：浓朴辅助人参、白术等补剂，是为了化解补药中的滞气以消除胀满，这个道理固然正确。但此方将浓朴作为君药，白术只是帮助其健运，五味子稍微收敛其耗散，又有消导的药物，却能取效于下血，可以思考其用药用意了。
【论】
草木中四季不凋谢的，有的是得纯阴之气，有的是得纯阳之气。浓朴气味苦辛，色泽性质赤烈，属于纯阳之木。它的苦味对应花色赤红而皮色紫，这是味归于形。它的形色紫赤对应气性的温，这是形归于气。不可不想到它纯阳的性质具有散结的作用吧。（天地之气，到了夏天阳气盛而阴气衰，这在气化上是理所当然的，原本不是偏颇乖戾的邪气。浓朴所谓的纯阳，就是禀受了这种气，它能疏散元气，也像夏季宣泄到了极点一样，并不是说它辛热太过。）苦味能向下泄，如果苦味伴随温性，就不会向下泄而是温散。卢氏所说的从内向外，行使夏季发散横溢的命令，就是这个意思。如果苦味合于寒性，就会直接向下泄，像枳壳这类药物就是这样。气的生化在中焦脾胃，这个味道苦中带微甘，所以直归中焦而散结气。苦味从温，所以能在气分层面散结。凡是患有寒湿邪气的病，确实是对症良药。如果是湿热病，有用苦寒药清热燥湿，而借助此苦温药来散其结滞，也没有不奏效的。至于先哲首先提到消除胀满，只有虚无邪气的胀满，不宜混用。如果是寒湿实邪，固然是正治之法；即使是湿热致病，如浓味积热及外感郁热者，也是实胀。在苦寒药中，可借用浓朴来消除。或者中气虚弱而患湿热，则必须审察虚与实，哪个多哪个少，更要审察时间的久暂，以确定攻邪与补正的多少。此时此味（浓朴）也不可去掉。如果苦寒除邪的药多，而健脾的药少，用此药散湿热之结，恐怕苦寒药直接攻伐，不能直接散结。又如苦甘健脾的药多，而除热的药少，用此药化解补益药的骤进，恐怕苦甘药直接进补，身体不能直接承受。（湿热不宜纯用甘味，虚而有湿热者，宜于苦甘并用。）由此推及其他证候，凡是可使用浓朴的，都像这样。
浓朴初尝味道苦，苦中带微甘，最后有辛味，意不在辛，而是苦温之后的余烈，俗称为麻味。所以用姜来炮制，就像炮制半夏的道理一样。然而，浓朴是从苦温来散结，不如枳壳从苦寒来泄滞。气以温热为升为补，而苦味重的，乃是从升补之中来散结；以寒凉为降为泄，而苦味重的，乃是从降泄之中来引导。所以浓朴的治疗，适宜于寒证或湿证，而枳壳的治疗，适宜于热证或燥证，应当各自针对其所对的病机来投药。如果把浓朴用于燥热之结，还可以借从治之法奏效；如果把枳壳用于寒湿，那是气本已下行又再降之，不仅无益反而有害。
缪氏说：浓朴性味散而不收，几乎没有补益作用。凡是病属气虚不能归元，血枯不能润降的（如膈证等），老人、孕妇及产后妇女，都应忌用。
The best quality *Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex* (Houpo, 厚朴) comes from Jianping, Yidu, Zizhou, and Longzhou. The bark has a scaly, wrinkled texture. Those with thick flesh, purple color, and abundant juice are the most effective for medicinal use.
[Bark]
Taste: Bitter, pungent, slightly sweet. Nature: Greatly warm. The flavor and qi are both strong and dense; its substance is heavy and turbid. It belongs to Yin within Yang, and its action is descending. It enters the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian and the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian.
Main indications: Warms the middle jiao and dissipates stagnant qi, removes distension and fullness. (Because its pungency lifts stagnant qi.) Resolves dampness stagnation in the stomach, treats cold reversal vomiting due to cold in the stomach, as well as abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Treats cold-damp Huoluan (cholera-like syndrome), transforms food and fluids, stops acid regurgitation, removes cold accumulation. It can also be combined with other herbs to treat various heat-damp syndromes and dysentery. Although its nature seems toxic, it is actually non-toxic because it embodies the upright Yang qi. (Note by Zhongchun) *Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex* (Houpo, 厚朴) calms the stomach and removes abdominal distension. However, if the Yuan Qi (Original Qi) is deficient, even if there is distension, it should be used with caution. Misuse can deplete the person's Yuan Qi. It is only appropriate to use it alongside large hot herbs for cold-type distension, making it a miraculous herb for dispersing stagnation. (Note by Jiegu) For individuals with excess qi who mistakenly take Ginseng and subsequently experience distension, oppression, and wheezing, this herb is suitable to drain the excess. (Note by Danxi) When used together with *Aurantii Fructus Immaturus* (Zhishi, 枳实) and *Rhei Radix et Rhizoma* (Dahuang, 大黄), it drains excess fullness because bitterness can direct qi downward. When used with *Chenpi* (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) and *Atractylodis Rhizoma* (Cangzhu, 苍术), it removes damp-fullness because warmth can benefit qi. When used with exterior-resolving herbs, it treats headache due to Shanghan (Cold Damage). When used with dysentery-treating herbs, it thickens the intestines and stomach. (Note by Haizang) *Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex* (Houpo, 厚朴) is a pungent-hot and bitter-warm herb. Pungency can disperse nodules, bitterness can dry dampness, and warmth-heat can dispel wind-cold. All the syndromes it treats are essentially caused by rebellious and obstructed qi in the intestines and stomach, retention of phlegm-fluids, or consumption of cold/raw foods. Regarding its ability to benefit qi and thicken the intestines and stomach, this refers to the idea that when pathogenic factors are removed, healthy qi naturally benefits, and when accumulations are resolved, intestinal and stomach functions naturally strengthen. It does not possess tonifying effects beyond its dispersing actions. (Note by Zhongchun)
Formulas/Combinations:
Combined with *Chenpi* (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), *Aurantii Fructus Immaturus* (Zhishi, 枳实), *Shenqu* (Massa Medicata Fermentata), Hawthorn, *Tsao-ko Fruit* (Caoguo, 草果), *Amomi Fructus* (Sharen, 砂仁), and Alum-processed Red Earth (Fan Hong), it treats food-stagnation abdominal distension.
Combined with *Atractylodis Rhizoma* (Cangzhu, 苍术), *Coptidis Rhizoma* (Huanglian, 黄连), *Chenpi* (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Licorice, *Puerariae Radix* (Gegen, 葛根), and *Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma* (Baizhu, 白术), it treats diarrhea caused by heat-dampness.
Combined with *Arecae Semen* (Binglang, 槟榔), *Costi Rhizoma* (Muxiang, 木香), *Coptidis Rhizoma* (Huanglian, 黄连), Talcum, *Chenpi* (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), *Paeoniae Radix Alba* (Baishao, 白芍), and Licorice, it treats early-stage Li Xia (dysentery with tenesmus).
Combined with *Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma* (Baizhu, 白术), Ginseng, *Paeoniae Radix Alba* (Baishao, 白芍), and Poria, it reduces abdominal distension.
As an assistant to Ginger, *Chenpi* (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), *Agastaches Herba* (Huoxiang, 藿香), *Amomi Fructus* (Sharen, 砂仁), and Pinellia, it stops vomiting due to stomach cold.
Combined with *Bupleuri Radix* (Sanleng, 三棱 - note: text says Sanleng, usually Curcuma zedoaria is Ezhu/Pengzhu, but sticking to text entity), *Curcumae Rhizoma* (Pengzhu, 蓬术), *Arecae Semen* (Binglang, 槟榔), Ginseng, and *Bupleuri Radix* (Qingpi, 青皮), it treats chronic cold masses and hard lumps.
Case Study:
A patient suffered from Changfeng Xiexue (Intestinal Wind bleeding), where bright red blood sprayed out during defecation, dripping continuously for years. The complexion was sallow, lower back and legs were sore, limbs were weak, and sexual function was impotent. This condition worsened because bitter-cold formulas had been taken for years to treat bleeding. First, a decoction was prepared and administered according to the formula. Later, the dosage was doubled to make pills, which proved effective.
Formula: Ginger-processed *Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex* (Jiang Houpo, 姜厚朴) 5 qian, *Massa Medicata Fermentata* (Shenqu, 神曲) 1 qian, Earth-fried *Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma* (Tu Chao Baizhu, 土炒白术) 1 qian, Fried Malt (Chao Maiya, 炒麦芽) 1 qian, North Five-flavor Berry (Bei Wuwei, 北五味) 1 qian (baked and powdered), plus 49 grains of aged yellow rice. Decoct two bowls of water until reduced to 0.8 bowl. Take on an empty stomach.
Most cases of Intestinal Wind bleeding are due to deficiency-cold of the Spleen and Stomach failing to control blood; this formula is effective. Even for drinkers with bleeding due to damp-heat pouring downward, this formula is effective.
Commentary: Using *Magnoliai Officinalis Cortex* (Houpo, 厚朴) to assist tonics like Ginseng and *Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma* (Baizhu, 白术) resolves stagnation caused by tonification to reduce distension; this principle is sound. However, in this formula, *Magnoliai Officinalis Cortex* (Houpo, 厚朴) is used as the Sovereign herb. *Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma* (Baizhu, 白术) merely aids transportation, and Five-flavor Berry slightly astringes leakage. Combined with digestive herbs, it achieves efficacy in treating bleeding. One may reflect on its application here.
[Discussion]
Plants that do not shed leaves in the four seasons either derive from pure Yin or pure Yang. *Magnoliai Officinalis Cortex* (Houpo, 厚朴) has a bitter-pungent taste and red-acrid nature, belonging to pure Yang wood. Its bitter taste corresponds to red flowers and purple bark, meaning flavor returns to form. Its purple-red form corresponds to warm qi, meaning form returns to qi. One cannot fail to recognize its pure Yang nature's ability to disperse nodules. (The qi of Heaven and Earth becomes Yang-excess and Yin-deficient in summer. This is natural in Qi transformation, not a deviant pathogenic qi. The "pure Yang" of *Magnoliai Officinalis Cortex* (Houpo, 厚朴) derives from this qi. Its ability to scatter Yuan Qi is like the extreme release in summer, not implying excessive pungent-heat.) Bitterness can drain downward. If bitterness follows warmth, it does not drain downward but warms and disperses. As Lu Shi stated, moving from inside to outside, executing the expansive command of summer. If bitterness combines with cold, it drains directly downward, as seen with *Aurantii Fructus* (Zhike, 枳壳). The generation and transformation of Qi occur in the Central Earth (Spleen/Stomach). This taste is bitter with slight sweetness, so it directs straight to the Central Earth to disperse stagnant qi. Because bitterness follows warmth, it can disperse at the Qi level. For diseases caused by cold-damp pathogens, it is indeed a specific remedy. For heat-damp diseases, although bitter-cold herbs clear heat and dry dampness, borrowing this bitter-warm herb to disperse stagnation is also effective. Early philosophers first emphasized removing distension and fullness. Only distension without pathogenic factors (deficiency type) should not be mixed indiscriminately. For cold-damp excess pathogens, it is the correct treatment. Even for heat-damp diseases, such as those from rich food accumulation or external constraint-heat, it is excess distension. In bitter-cold formulas, *Magnoliai Officinalis Cortex* (Houpo, 厚朴) can be borrowed to remove it. If Middle Qi is deficient while suffering from heat-damp, one must examine whether deficiency or excess predominates, and consider the duration to determine the ratio of attacking and tonifying. In such cases, this herb cannot be omitted. If there are many bitter-cold herbs to eliminate pathogens but few to strengthen the Spleen, using this herb to scatter heat-damp stagnation prevents bitter-cold herbs from attacking directly without dispersing. Conversely, if there are many bitter-sweet herbs to strengthen the Spleen but few to clear heat, using this herb transforms the sudden influx of tonification, preventing bitter-sweet herbs from being directly absorbed. (Heat-damp should not be treated with purely sweet herbs; deficiency with heat-damp requires bitter-sweet combinations.) Extending this logic to other syndromes, whenever *Magnoliai Officinalis Cortex* (Houpo, 厚朴) is applicable, the principle remains the same.
*Magnoliai Officinalis Cortex* (Houpo, 厚朴) tastes bitter initially, slightly sweet in the middle, and finally pungent. The intent is not pungency, but the residual intensity of bitter-warmness, commonly described as a numbing sensation. Therefore, it is processed with Ginger, similar to the processing of Pinellia. Thus, *Magnoliai Officinalis Cortex* (Houpo, 厚朴) disperses nodules via bitter-warmness, whereas *Aurantii Fructus* (Zhike, 枳壳) drains stagnation via bitter-coldness. Qi rises and is tonified by warmth-heat; severe bitterness disperses within this rising-tonifying process. Qi descends and drains via coolness-cold; severe bitterness guides within this descending-draining process. Therefore, the treatment with *Magnoliai Officinalis Cortex* (Houpo, 厚朴) is suitable for cold or damp conditions, while *Aurantii Fructus* (Zhike, 枳壳) is suitable for heat or dryness conditions. Each should be matched to its corresponding pathology. Applying *Magnoliai Officinalis Cortex* (Houpo, 厚朴) to dry-heat stagnation might still achieve results through counter-treatment. However, applying *Aurantii Fructus* (Zhike, 枳壳) to cold-damp means directing downward qi further downward, which is not only ineffective but harmful.
Mu Shi said: Its nature and flavor are dispersing and not astringent, lacking any tonifying effect. It is contraindicated for conditions where Qi is deficient and cannot return to its origin, or Blood is dry and cannot moisten and descend (such as Ge Zheng / Diaphragmatic Syndrome). It is strictly forbidden for the elderly, pregnant women, and postpartum women.
[Processing]
Remove the rough outer bark. Mix with Ginger Juice and soak. Stir-fry together with Ginger residue until the ginger residue turns black.