Explanations of the classic of Materia Medica
本草经解
(A Translation of the Ben Cao Jing Jie)

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preface

Ben Cao Jing Jie (本草经解) is published by Ye Tianshi (叶天士) in 1724. The lists of medical herbs in this book are excerpted from mainly Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (神农本草经) and the other books on Ben Cao.

1) 曲直 (Qu Zhi) : This means that yin first comes into being from yang as bud sprouts from seed in spring.

2) 炎上 (Yan Shang) : This means keeping on ascending as plants and trees keep growing and development in summer.

3) 稼穡 (Jia Se) : This means bring it up and nourishing.

4) 從革 (Cong Ge) : This means that following the prior and then revolution occurs. Metal is the qi of sternness and killing (肅殺), in fall which is connected with metal, the weather gets to transform from warm to cool, the qi in fall gets to transform from ascending to descending, change happens as like revolution.

5) 潤下 (Run Xia): This means descending.

In Wu Xing (五行)

l Water 1:6 (1/6=0.16) > Wood 3:8 (3/8=0.375) > Fire7:2 (7/2=3.5)

From to fire (summer), the proportion of yang gradually increases, therefore ascending of qi happens.

Yang ascends with separating yin.

l Fire7:2 (7/2=3.5) > Soil 10:5 (10/5=2) > Metal 4:9 (4/9=0.44) > Water 1:6 (1/6=0.16)

From fire (summer) to water (winter), the proportion of yin gradually increases, therefore descending of qi happens.

Yin descends with storing yang.

This is diagramed in Fuxi Bagua.

Fuxi Bagua describes the circulation of yin and yang, rising and falling.

When yang increases, upbearing [ascending] occurs, heating occurs. (生長)

When yin increases, downbearing [descending] occurs, cooling occurs. (收藏)

In Si Qi [四氣. Four qi] and Wu Wei [五味, five flavor]

The natures[qi] of warm and heat are in ascending mechanism. Warm half ascends and heat ascend.

The natures[qi] of cool and cold are in descending mechanism. Cool half descend and cold descend.

But how about sour flavor which is connected with wood?

Does sour flavor make qi to ascend? Of course not. The flavors of sour and bitter are in descending mechanism. The flavors of sweet and pungent are in ascending mechanism.

The sour of Bai Shao Yao supplies yin to the liver, in other words, it supplements liver yin or liver blood. The sour of Wu Wei Zi supplies yin to the lungs. Rising of yin causes [vacuous] fire to descend.

The pungent and sweet of Ma Huang disperses in exterior.

Si Qi [四氣. Four qi] of warm, heat, cool, and cold is in engendering relationship with Wu Xing, but Wu Wei [五味, five flavor] is in restraining relationship with Wu Xing.

So when one studies Ben Cao [herbs], one should think and consider whether the qi and flavor descend or ascend in which part or to which part.

This method can be applied to our diet. Someone who suffers from gastritis which belongs to stomach heat pattern should avoid eating the foods which has pungent and heat nature.

【 Di Huang. Radix Rehmanniae. 地黄】

气寒。味甘。无毒。主伤中。逐血痹。填骨髓。长肌肉。作汤除寒热积聚。除痹。疗折跌绝筋。久服轻身不老。生者尤良。

Qi is cold, flavor is sweet and none poisonous, governs middle damage, eliminates blood impediment, fills up the joints and marrow, grows up the flesh, eliminates cold, heat, accumulation, and gatherings, eliminates impediment, treats sinews damage. Taking it for long time makes the body light and not to age. Using in raw is better.

地黄气寒。禀天冬寒之水气。入足少阴肾经。味甘无毒。得地中正之土味。入足太阴脾经。气味重浊。阴也。阴者中之守也。伤中者。守中真阴伤也。地黄甘寒。所以主之。痹者血虚不运。而风寒湿凑之。所以麻木也。地黄味甘益脾。脾血润则运动不滞。气寒益肾。肾气充则开合如式。血和邪解而痹瘳矣。肾主骨。气寒益肾。则水足而骨髓充。脾主肌肉。味甘润脾。则土滋而肌肉丰也。作汤除寒热积聚者。汤者荡也。或寒或热之积聚。汤能荡之也。盖味甘可以缓急。性滑可以去着也。其除痹者。血和则结者散。阴润则闭者通。皆补脾之功也。其疗折跌绝筋者。筋虽属肝。而养筋者脾血也。味甘益脾。脾血充足。则筋得养而自续也。久服气寒益肾。肾气充所以身轻。味甘益脾。脾血旺则华面。所以不老。

Di huang’s qi is cold, it is supplied with the cold water qi of heaven-winter, enters the foot lesser yin kidney channel. Its flavor is sweet none poisonous, it is supplied with soil flavor of earth-center, it enters the foot greater yin spleen channel. The qi and flavor are heavy and turbidity, [this herb belongs to] yin.

Yin is the guardian of the middle, middle damage means that true yin which guards the middle is damaged. Di huang is sweet and cold, therefore it governs middle damage. Impediment indicates that blood is vacuous so it fails to move, wind, cold, and damp gather there, therefore numbness and tingling occur. Di huang is sweet and boosts the spleen, when spleen blood is moist, movement will not stagnate, cold qi boosts the kidney, when kidney qi is sufficient, opening and closing are in order, and blood gets harmonious and evil resolves, hence impediment recovers. The kidney governs the joints, cold qi boosts the kidney, and then water gets sufficient and the joints-marrow is charged. The spleen governs the flesh, sweet flavor moistens the spleen, and then soil gets nourished and the flesh gets abundant.

When it eliminates cold, heat, accumulations, and gatherings, it can eliminate accumulations and gatherings with cold or heat, generally sweet flavor can relax tension, the property of slippery can remove something fixed. In eliminating of impediment, when blood is harmonious, binds are dissipated, when yin is moist, block frees, these are the action of supplementing of the spleen. When it treats sinews damage, although the sinews are connected with the liver, nourishing of the sinews is spleen blood. Sweet boosts the spleen, when spleen blood is sufficient, the sinews get nourished and are spontaneously joined.

Taking cold qi for long time boosts the kidney, when kidney qi is sufficient, the body gets light. Sweet boosts the spleen, when spleen blood is exuberant, its effulgent shows on face, therefore it prevents one from aging.

制方: 地黄同大蓟、小蓟各半。捣取自然汁。和童便服。治血热吐衄症。同麦冬。治产后烦闷。同沙蒺藜、苁蓉、鹿茸、山茱萸、北味。治男子精寒。同白茯、丹皮、泽泻、山茱萸、山药。名六味汤丸。治一切阴虚症。同人参、远志、麦冬、枣仁、柏仁、茯神、甘草。治心虚怔忡悸忘。同黄、川莲、黄柏、枣仁、五味、麦冬、圆肉、牡蛎。治盗汗不止。同麦冬、五味、牛膝、杞子、车前、阿胶、天冬。治尿血。同麦冬、五味、牛膝。治下部无力。同砂仁。治胎动下血腰痛。同生姜。治产后中风。同醋炒黄。治肠风不止。同肉桂、山药、山茱萸、丹皮、泽泻、白茯。名七味汤丸。治命门火衰。同肉桂、附子、山茱萸、白茯、丹皮、泽泻、山药丸。名肾气丸。治命门虚寒。

Combinations

Combined with Da Ji and Xiao Ji (half-half), taking them in natural juice by grinding, and then take it with Tong Bian (urine of baby), this treats blood heat with hematemesis or epistaxis.

Combined with Mai Men Dong, this treats postpartum vexation and oppression.

Combined with Sha Ji Li, Rou Cong Rong, Lu Rong, Shan Zhu Yu and Bei Mi, this treats the essence cold of man.

Combined with Bai Fu Ling, Dan Pi, Ze Xie, Shan Zhu Yu, and Shan Yao, this is called Liu Wei Di huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia), this treats all kinds of yin vacuity signs.

Combined with Ren Shen, Yuan Zhi, Mai Men Dong, Da Zao Ren, Bai Zi Ren, Fu Shen, and Gan Cao, this treats heart vacuity with fearful throbbing, palpitations, and forgetfulness.

Combined with Huang Qi, Huang Lian, Huang Bai, Da Zao Ren, Wu Wei Zi, Mai Men Dong, Long Yan Rou, and Mu Li, this treats unceasing night sweating.

Combined with Mai Men Dong, Wu Wei Zi, Niu Xi, Gou Qi Zi, Che Qian Zi, E Jiao, and Tian Men Dong, this treats hematuria.

Combined with Mai Men Dong, Wu Wei Zi, and Niu Xi, this treats weakness of the legs.

Combined with Sha Ren, this treats threatened abortion, precipitation of blood, and lumbago.

Combined with Sheng Jiang, this treats postpartum wind strike.

Combined with Huang Qi (fried with vinegar), this treats unceasing intestinal wind.

Combined with Rou Gui, Shan Yao, Shan Zhu Yu, Dan Pi, Ze Xie, and Bai Fu Ling, this is called Qi Wei Tang Wan, this treats debilitation of the life gate fire.

Combined with Rou Gui, Fu Zi, Shan Zhu Yu, Bai Fu Ling, Dan Pi, Ze Xie, Shan Yao, this is called Shen Qi Wan, this treats the life gate vacuity and cold.

【 Tian Men Dong. Radix Asparagi. 天門冬】

气平。味苦。无毒。主诸暴风湿偏痹。强骨髓。杀三虫。去伏尸。久服轻身益气。延年不饥。

Qi is medium, flavor is bitter and none poisonous, governs hemi-impediment due to fulminant wind and damp, strengthens the joints and marrow, kills three worms, eliminate Fu Hu. Taking it for long time makes the body light, boosts qi, his/her life prolong, and one not to feel hungry.

天门冬气平。禀天秋平之金气。入手太阴肺经。味苦无毒。得地寒凉之火味。入手少阴心经。气味俱降。阴也。其主暴风湿偏痹者。燥者濡之。热者清之。着者润之也。盖风本阳邪。风湿偏痹。发之以暴。暴病皆属于火也。骨属肾。肾属水。天冬气平益肺。肺金生水。故骨髓强也。三虫伏尸。皆湿热所化。味苦可以祛湿。气平可以清热。湿热下逐。三虫伏尸皆去也。久服益肺。肺清则气充。故益气。气足则身轻。气治则延年。气满则不饥也。

Tian Men Dong’s qi is medium, it is supplied with metal qi of heaven-fall, enters the greater yin lung channel. Its flavor is bitter and none poisonous, it is supplied with fire flavor of earth-cold and cool, enters the hand lesser yin heart channel. The qi and flavor descend, [this herb belongs to] yin.

When it governs hemi-impediment due to fulminant wind and damp, dry should be soaked, something fixed should be moistened, generally wind is basically yang evil, hemi-impediment due to wind and damp occurs suddenly, generally sudden disease is connected with fire. The joints are connected with the kidney, the kidney is connected with water, Tian Men Dong’s medium boosts the lung, the lung engenders water, therefore the joints and marrow get strong.

Tree worms and Fu Hu are transformed from damp-heat, bitter can eliminate damp, medium can clear heat, then damp-heat is expelled downward, and then tree worms and Fu Hu remove.

Taking it for long time boosts the lung, when the lung is clear, qi get sufficient, therefore it boosts qi, when qi is sufficient, the body gets light, when qi is controlled, his/her life prolongs, when qi is full, one does not feel hungry.

制方: 天冬同麦冬、五味煎膏。治消渴。同生地、人参。滋养阴血。同生地、麦冬丸。煎逍遥散下。治妇人骨蒸。同生地、麦冬、白芍、鳖甲、牛膝、杜仲、续断、童便。治吐血。

Combinations:

Combined with Mai Men Dong and Wu Wei Zi, this treats wasting-thirst.

Combined with Sheng Di huang and Ren Shen, this nourishes yin and blood.

Combined with Sheng Di huang and Mai Men Dong, takes with Xiao Yao San (Rambling Powder), this treats steaming bone of women.

Combined with Sheng Di Huang, Mai Men Dong, Bai Shao Yao, Bie Jia, Niu Xi, Du Zhong, Xu Duan, and baby’s urine, thie treats hematemesis.

【 Mai Men Dong. Radix Ophiopogonis. 麥門冬】

气平。味甘。无毒。主心腹结气。伤中伤饱。胃络脉绝。羸瘦短气。久服轻身。不老不饥。

Qi is medium, flavor is sweet and none poisonous, governs binding qi in the heart and abdomen, damage of the middle and damage due to gluttony, the pulse belonging to the stomach on the verge of expire, emaciation, shortness of breath. Taking it for long time makes the body light, prevents one from aging, and makes one not to feel hungry.

麦冬气平。禀天秋平之金气。入手太阴肺经。味甘无毒。得地中和之土味。入足太阴脾经。气降味和。阴也。心腹者。肺脾之分。结气者。邪热之气结也。其主之者。麦冬甘平。平能清热。甘缓散结也。中者阴也。伤中者阴伤也。甘平益阴。故主伤中。脾为胃行津液者也。脾血不润。则不能为胃行津液。而伤饱之症生矣。味甘而润。滋养脾血。故主伤饱。脉者血之府。胃与脾合。胃络脉绝者。脾血不统。脉络不与胃相接也。甘润养阴。所以续脉。脾主肌肉。而禀气于胃。脾阴不润。则肌肉不长。而胃气上逆。肺亦能呼不能吸。而气短促矣。麦冬味甘益脾。故主羸瘦。气平益肺。故主短气也。久服肺气充。所以身轻。脾血润。所以不老不饥也。

Mai Men Dong’s qi is medium, it is supplied with medium metal qi of heaven-fall., enters the greater yin lung channel. Its flavor is sweet and none poisonous, it is supplied with harmonious soil flavor of earth-center, enters the foot greater yin spleen channel. The qi descends upward and the flavor is harmonious, [this herb belongs to] yin.

The heart and abdomen are the parts of the lung and spleen. Binding qi indicates that the qi of evil heat binds. When it treats binding qi, Mai Men Dong is sweet and medium, medium can clear heat, sweet alleviates and dissipates binding.

The middle is connected with yin, the damage of the middle means the damage of yin; sweet and medium boost yin, therefore it governs the damage of the middle.

The spleen moves the body fluids on behalf of the stomach, when spleen blood is not moist, it cannot move the body fluids on behalf of the stomach, the signs in damage due to gluttony arise; its flavor is sweet and moist, it nourishes spleen blood, therefore it treat damage due to gluttony. Pulse is the house of blood, the stomach is related with the spleen, when the pulse of stomach network is on the verge of expire, this indicates that the spleen fails to manage the blood, and the pulse and networks do not connect with the stomach mutually. Sweet with moist nourishes yin, therefore it makes pulse joined. The spleen governs the flesh, is supplied with qi from the stomach, when the spleen yin is not moist, the flesh does not grow up, and stomach qi counterflows upward, the lung can breathe out but cannot breath in, therefore shortness of breath arises; Mai Men Dong’s sweet flavor boosts the spleen, therefore it governs emaciation, the qi of medium boosts the lung, therefore it governs shortness of breath. Taking it for long time makes lung qi get sufficient, therefore the body gets light, and makes the spleen moist, therefore people does not age and feel hungry.

制方: 麦冬同川连。治消渴饮水。同甘草、粳米、大枣、竹叶。治劳气欲绝。同乌梅。治下利口渴。同人参、北味、杞子。治虚热病暑。同沙参、北味。治心肺虚热。

Combinations:

Combined with Huang Lian, this treats wasting-thirst with desire to drink water.

Combined with Gan Cao, Geng Mi, Da Zao, and Zhu Ye, this treats qi on the verge of expiry due to overexertion.

Combined with Wu Me, this treats diarrhea and thirst.

Combined with Ren Shen, Bei Wei, and Gou Qi Zi, this treats vacuous heat and summerheat pattern.

Combined with Sha Shen, Bei Wei, this treats the vacuous heat of the heart-lung

【 Zhu Li. Succus Bambusae. 竹沥】

气大寒。味甘。无毒。疗暴中风。风痹。胸中大热。止烦闷消渴劳复。

Qi is great cold, flavor is sweet and none poisonous, treats sudden wind strike, wind impediment, great heat in the chest, relieves vexation and oppression, wasting-thirst, taxation relapse.

竹沥气大寒。禀天冬寒之水气。入足少阴肾经。味甘无毒。得地中正之土味。入足太阴脾经。气味降多于升。阴也。暴病皆属于火。火炽风生。以致僵仆。或偏痹不仁。竹沥甘寒。可以清热缓急。所以主之。胸中者。太阴脾经行之地。脾阴虚。则胸中大热矣。甘清寒热。所以主之。肾者水也。心者火也。水不制火。则心中烦闷而消渴矣。其主之者。甘寒可以壮水而清火也。劳复者。伤寒热病愈后。劳碌而复热也。其主之者。亦以甘寒能更清耳。

Zhu Li’s qi is great cold, it supplied with cold-water qi of heaven-winter, enters the foot lesser yin kidney channel. Its flavor is sweet and none poisonous, it is supplied with soil-flavor of earth-center, enters the foot greater yin spleen channel. The qi and flavor descend more than ascend less, [this herb belongs to] yin.

Sudden [occurring] disease is generally connected with fire, intense heat engenders wind, this causes falling down due to stiffness and hemiparesis; Zhu Li’s sweet with cold can clear heat and relax acute condition, therefore it governs sudden wind strike and wind impediment. The chest is the place where greater yin spleen channel moves, spleen yin vacuity causes great heat in the chest; sweet with cold clears heat, therefore it governs great heat in the chest.

The kidney is connected with water, the heart is connected with fire, when water cannot restrict fire, vexation and oppression in the heart and wasting-thirst arise; sweet with cold can strengthen water and clear fire. Taxation relapse means that after recovering from heat disease in cold damage, there is taxation and relapsing heat; sweet with cold can clear.

制方: 竹沥同姜汁。治中风。及小儿狂语。同生地、麦冬、花粉、石斛、苏梗、北味。治暴中风。同桔梗、甘草、麦冬。治肺痿咳嗽。

Combinations:

Combined with Sheng Jiang Juice, this treats wind strike and infantile manic raving.

Combined with Sheng Di Huang, Mai Men Dong, Tian Hua Fen, Shi Hu, Su Geng, Bei Wei, this treats sudden wind strike.

Combined with Jie Geng, Gan Cao, Mai Men Dong, this treats lung wilting with cough.

【 Lian Zi. Semen Nelumbinis. 莲子】

气平涩。味甘。无毒。主补中。养神。益气力。除百疾。久服轻身耐老。不饥延年。

qi is medium with stringent. flavor is sweet and none poisonous, governs supplementing of the middle, nourishes spirit, boosts qi force, eliminates one hundred disease, Taking it for long time makes the body light, prevents the body from aging, make one not to hungry, and makes his/her life prolong.

莲子气平涩。禀天秋收之金气。入手太阴肺经。味甘无毒。得地中正之土味。入足太阴脾经。以其仁也。兼入手少阴心经。气味升多于降。阳也。脾者五脏之中也。甘平益脾。所以补中。心者神之居也。芳香清心。所以养神。脾为万物之母。后天之本。肺主周身之气。先天之源。甘平益脾肺。所以益气力。心为十二官之主。主安则十二官俱安。而百病皆除也。久服轻身耐老者。益气和血之功。不饥延年者补脾养神之力也。

Lian Zi’s qi is medium with astringent, it is supplied with astringent metal qi of heaven-fall, enters the greater yin lung channel. Its flavor is sweet and none poisonous, it is supplied with soil-flavor of earth-center, enters the foot greater yin spleen channel. And its seed enters the hand lesser yin heart channel. The qi and flavor ascend more and descend less, [this herb belongs to] yang.

The spleen is the middle of the five organs, sweet with medium boosts the spleen, therefore it supplements the middle. The heart is the place where spirit resides, aroma clears the heart, therefore it nourishes spirit. The spleen is the mother of the myriad beings and the root of later heaven, the lung governs the qi of the whole body and the source of earlier heaven, sweet with medium boosts the spleen and lung, therefore it boosts qi force. The heart is the chief of the twelve officers, when the chief is calm, all of the twelve officers are calm, and then one hundred diseases are eliminated.

In taking it for long time makes the body light and prevents the body from aging, this is due to the action of boosting qi and harmonizing blood. In making one not to hungry and his/her life prolong, this is due to the action of supplementing the spleen and nourishing spirit.