茯苓 복령 (복령)

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

1. 性平, 味甘, 無毒.

   Poria has a neutral nature, sweet taste, and no toxicity—a gentle, balanced herb that suits most constitutions.

2. 開胃, 止嘔逆, 善安心神.

   It opens the appetite, stops nausea, and quiets the heart and spirit.

3. 主肺痿痰壅.

   It treats lung wasting and phlegm congestion.

4. 伐腎邪, 利小便, 下水腫, 淋結, 止消渴, 療健忘.

   It drives out kidney pathogens, promotes urination, reduces edema, clears urinary blockage, quenches thirst, and helps forgetfulness.

5. 仙經服食亦爲至要,

   Taoist scriptures on immortality regarded it as a most essential ingestible.

6. 云其通神而致靈, 和魂而鍊魄, 明竅而益肌, 厚腸而開心, 調榮而理胃,

   They say it clears the spirit to reach the divine, harmonizes the soul while refining the corporeal essence, brightens the senses and nourishes the flesh, thickens the intestines and opens the heart, and balances the nutritive flow to regulate the stomach.

7. 上品仙藥也.

   It was ranked as a top-grade herb of immortality.

8. 善能斷穀不飢.

   It can sustain one through fasting without hunger.

9. 生山中, 處處有之.

   It grows in the mountains and is found nearly everywhere.

10. 松脂入地千歲爲茯苓, 其抱根而輕虛者爲茯神.

    Pine resin that seeps into the earth and ages a thousand years becomes Poria; the lighter, hollow piece embracing the root is called Fushen.

11. 二月八月採, 皆陰乾.

    It is harvested in the second and eighth lunar months, then dried in the shade.

12. 大如三四升器, 外皮黑, 細皺, 內堅白, 形如鳥獸龜鱉者, 良. 《本草》

    The best are the size of a three- or four-doe vessel, with black wrinkled skin and a firm white core shaped like a bird, beast, turtle, or soft-shelled turtle. (Bencao)

13. 有白赤二種.

    There are two kinds: white and red.

14. 白者, 入手太陰經ㆍ足太陽經ㆍ足少陽經, 赤者, 入足太陰經ㆍ手太陽經ㆍ少陰經.

    White Poria enters the Hand Taiyin, Foot Taiyang, and Foot Shaoyang channels; red Poria enters the Foot Taiyin, Hand Taiyang, and Shaoyin channels.

15. 又云, 色白者入壬癸, 色赤者入丙丁. 《湯液》

    It is also said that the white enters the water phase (Ren-Gui) and the red enters the fire phase (Bing-Ding). (Tangye)

16. 白色者補, 赤色者瀉. 《本草》

    White Poria tonifies, while red Poria drains. (Bencao)

17. 凡用, 去皮爲末, 水飛, 浮去赤膜, 曬乾用, 免致損目.

    To prepare, peel and grind, then levigate with water, skim off the red film that floats up, and sun-dry before use—this prevents harm to the eyes.

18. 陰虛人勿用. 《入門》

    Those with yin deficiency should avoid it. (Rumen)

19. 茯神

    On Fushen (spirit-poria).

20. 性平, 味甘, 無毒.

    Fushen likewise has a neutral nature, sweet taste, and no toxicity.

21. 療風眩風虛, 止驚悸.

    It treats wind-induced dizziness and wind-deficiency, and calms palpitations.

22. 治健忘, 開心益智, 安魂魄, 養精神, 安神定志.

    It cures forgetfulness, opens the heart and sharpens wisdom, settles the soul, nourishes the spirit, and steadies the will.

23. 主驚癎.

    It treats fright epilepsy.

24. 茯苓, 乃採斫訖多年, 松根之氣所生,

    Poria forms from the lingering essence of pine roots many years after the tree has been cut down.

25. 盖其氣味噎鬱未絶, 故爲是物.

    This happens because the resinous vapor remains pent up and unspent, taking shape as this substance.

26. 其津氣盛者, 方發泄於外, 結爲茯苓.

    When that essence is abundant, it issues outward and congeals into Poria.

27. 雖有津氣而不甚盛, 止能結伏於本根, 故曰茯神. 《本草》

    When the essence is present but less vigorous, it merely binds around the original root—this is what is called Fushen. (Bencao)

28. 松木, 斫不再抽芽, 其根不死, 津液下流, 故生茯苓ㆍ茯神.

    Once cut, a pine does not sprout again, yet its root does not die; the sap flows downward, giving rise to both Poria and Fushen.

29. 因用治心腎, 通津液. 《入門》

    Accordingly, it is used to regulate the heart and kidneys and to free the body's fluids. (Rumen)