威靈仙 위령선 (위령선)

Original, read line by line 東醫寶鑑 · Tangaek — Decoctions vol. 3

1. 主諸風, 宣通五藏,

   It treats various wind disorders and helps the energy of the five viscera circulate smoothly.

2. 去腹內冷滯, 心膈痰水,

   It dispels cold stagnation in the abdomen and clears phlegm and fluid accumulated between the chest and diaphragm.

3. 癥瘕痃癖,

   It also breaks up hardened masses in the abdomen and lumps that can be felt along the flanks.

4. 膀胱宿膿惡水,

   It drains old pus and foul fluids that have lingered in the bladder.

5. 腰膝冷痛.

   It is widely used for cold, aching pain in the lower back and knees.

6. 久服無瘟疫瘧.

   Taken over a long period, it is said to ward off epidemic diseases and malaria.

7. 生山野.

   It grows naturally in mountains and open fields.

8. 九月末至十二月採, 陰乾,

   It is dug up between late September and December by the lunar calendar and dried in the shade.

9. 餘月不堪採.

   Roots harvested in other months are not suitable for medicinal use.

10. 鐵脚者佳.

    Roots that are dark and firm, resembling iron legs, are considered the finest.

11. 又云, 不聞水聲者良. 《本草》

    It is also said that roots grown where the sound of water cannot be heard are of better quality. (Bencao)

12. 治痛之要藥也.

    It is an essential medicine for relieving pain.

13. 聞流水聲響, 則其性好走,

    Roots that grow within earshot of flowing water tend to have an energy that disperses and runs off too quickly.

14. 故取不聞水聲者.

    For this reason, only roots grown away from the sound of water are selected for use.

15. 仙靈脾亦然.

    Xianlingpi (epimedium) is treated according to the same principle.

16. 酒洗, 焙乾用. 《丹心》

    It is washed with rice wine, then gently dried over low heat before use. (Danxin)