第四章．治喘息方

Chapter 4. Herb formula for asthma

1．参赭镇气汤

1. Shenzhe Zhenqi Tang

治阴阳两虚，喘逆迫促，有将脱之势。亦治肾虚不摄，冲气上干，致胃气不降作满闷。
This formula is to treat asthma, short of breath, due to Yin-Yang both deficiency. The condition is so svere to threaten life and the Yin Qi and Yang Qi are to escape. It is also used to treat fullness due to Stomach Qi not falling, which is again due to the Kidnes weakness, which causes the Qi in the Lower Jiao rush reversely up.

野台参（四钱） 生赭石（六钱，轧细） 生芡实（五钱） 生山药（五钱） 萸肉（六钱，去净核）生龙骨（六钱，捣细） 生牡蛎（六钱，捣细） 生杭芍（四钱） 苏子（二钱，炒捣）

Wild Taishen 12 gram, Daizheshi 18 gram (make into powder), Qianshi 15 gram, Shanyao 15 gram, Shanyurou 18 gram (remove kernel), Longgu 18 gram, Baishao 12 gram, Souzi 6 gram.

生赭石压力最胜，能镇胃气冲气上逆，开胸膈，坠痰涎，止呕吐，通燥结，用之得当，诚有捷效。虚者可与人参同用。
The herb Daizheshi is powerful to suppress. It works to suppress the reversely up-rushed Stomach Qi, to open and loose the chest and diagram, to remove phlegm, to stop nausea, and to remove dry-block in the intestine. If used in a proper way, its effect is marvelous. If the person is in a weak condition, use it together with Renshen.

仲景旋复代赭石汤，赭石、人参并用。治“伤寒发汗，若吐若下解后，心下痞硬，噫气不除者”。参、赭镇气汤中人参，借赭石下行之力，挽回将脱之元气，以镇安奠定之，亦旋复代赭石汤之义也。
Master Zhang Zhongjing used Xuanfu Daizheshi Tang, in which the Daizheshi and the Renshen are used as couple. It is used to treat the fullness in the abdomen and continuous hiccup, which happens after vomiting therapy, or bowel-cleansing therapy, or a sweat therapy.

一妇人，年三十余，劳心之后兼以伤心，忽喘逆大作，迫促异常。其翁知医，以补敛元气之药治之，觉胸中窒碍不能容受。更他医以为外感，投以小剂青龙汤喘益甚。延愚诊视，其脉浮而微数，按之即无，知为阴阳两虚之证。盖阳虚则元气不能自摄，阴虚而肝肾又不能纳气，故作喘也。为制此汤，病患服药后，未及复杯曰：“吾有命矣。”询之曰：“从前呼吸惟在喉间，几欲脱去，今则转落丹田矣。”果一剂病愈强半，又服数剂全愈。
A woman, about 30 years of old, due to heavy labor work and emotional hurt, suddenly had asthma and short of breath. Her father-in-law knew medicine, so gave her Qi-nourishing and Qi-restraining herbs for treatment. She then felt fullness and bloating in the chest. The second doctor though that she had a common cold, gave her small amount of Xiao Qinglong Tang, but her asthma was even worse. When I saw her, her pulse was floating and slightly frequent, which felt disappeared when touch heavier. I considered it was the Yin-Yang both deficiency condition. Because the Yuan Yang is insufficient, the Yuan Qi cannot hold the Qi, and because the Yin is not sufficient, the Liver and Kidney cannot contract the Qi into the body, so cause the asthma. The Shenzhe Zhenqi Tang was so prescribed to her. After drink of the tea, before she put down the cup, she said, “I can live again”. She said, she felt breath was only on the throat level, which was almost to stop. Now the the breath can move down to the lower abdomen. One dose made her condition improve much better. Several more doses solved her problem.

一妇人，年二十余，因与其夫反目，怒吞鸦片。已经救愈，忽发喘逆，迫促异常。须臾又呼吸顿停，气息全无，约十余呼吸之顷，手足乱动，似有蓄极之势，而喘复如故。若是循环不已，势近垂危，延医数人，皆不知为何病。后愚诊视其脉，左关弦硬，右寸无力，精思良久，恍然悟曰：此必怒激肝胆之火，上冲胃气。夫胃气本下行者也，因肝胆之火冲之，转而上逆，并迫肺气亦上逆，此喘逆迫促所由来也。逆气上干，填塞胸膈，排挤胸中大气，使之下陷。夫肺悬胸中，须臾无大气包举之，即须臾不能呼吸，此呼吸顿停所由来也（此理参观升陷汤后跋语方明）。迨大气蓄极而通，仍上达胸膈，鼓动肺脏，使得呼吸、逆气遂仍得施其击撞，此又病势之所以循环也。《神农本草经》载，桂枝主上气咳逆、结气、喉痹、吐吸（吸不归根即吐出），其能降逆气可知。其性温而条达，能降逆气，又能升大气可知。遂单用桂枝尖三钱，煎汤饮下，须臾气息调和如常。

A lady, about 20 years of old, had quarrel with her husband so she swallowed a opium. She was already saved from this condition. But soon later, she had sudden asthma. Her breath was very urgent. Soon again, her breath stopped without any air in or out. After about ten times of breath circle, her extremes moved madly and her asthma turned even worse. The condition circled as such and her life was in dangerous. Several doctors were invited to have a look, none could tell what disease she had. When I saw her, her pulse was string and hard on the left side, but weak on the right side. I thought for a pretty long time. Later I realized that it must be due to the stimulation to the Liver-Gall bladder Fire by angry. The Fire rushed up press the Stomach Qi. The Stomach Qi in normal condition moves down, but now it moved up in abnormal manner, so it again pressed the Lung Qi up too. This should be the reason for her asthma. The reversed Qi up in the chest pressed the Big Qi in the chest and made it down to sink. The lung hangs in the chest and fold with the Big Qi all of the time. If the Big Qi sink, the lung would have no way to have normal breath. This is the reason for her stopped breath. … It is indicated in the book 《Shennong Bencao Jing》that herb Guizhi works for asthma, reversed Qi, blocked Qi, throat Bi syndrome, short of breath that is due to the in-coming are cannot move deep to the bottom. Clearly, it can work to suppress the reversed Qi. It herbal nature is warm, can suppress the reversed Qi, so to raise the Big Qi. Consider this, I prescribed her the single herb Guizhi (use its tip part) 9 gram. After she drunk the herbal tea, her breath turned normal.

夫以桂枝一物之微，而升陷降逆，两擅其功，以挽回人命于顷刻，诚天之生斯使独也。然非亲自经验者，又孰信其神妙如是哉！继用参赭镇气汤，去山药、苏子，加桂枝尖三钱、知母四钱，连服数剂，病不再发。此喘证之特异者，故附记于此。
The single and simple herb Guizhi can suppress the reversed Qi and can also raise the Big Qi. Its double functions can save body life. It is really a gift from the Great Nature. Without my own experience, how could we believe its marvelous! Later, I let her drink the Shenzhe Zhenqi Tang, in which the herb Shanyao and souzi were removed, but Guizhi tip 9 gram and Zhimu 12 gram were added. After several doses, her condition did not recur any longer. Because her asthma is very special, so I cite it here. 

附录：
Appendix:

直隶青县张××来函：
Letter from Qing city, Zhili province:

定县吴××妻病，服药罔效。弟诊其脉，浮而无力。胸次郁结，如有物杜塞，饮食至胃间，恒觉烧热不下。仿参赭镇气汤之义，用野台参六钱，赭石细末二两。将二药煎服，胸次即觉开通。服至二剂，饮食下行无碍。因其大便犹燥，再用当归、肉苁蓉各四钱，俾煎服。病若失。
Mrs Wu lived in Ding city. She was sick. Her condition was no any improvement after taking herbs. Her brother saw her. He felt her pulse floating and weak. She felt fullness in the chest as there was stuff there to block. After eating, she felt the food stop in the stomach and felt burning there, not move down to intestine. Following the Shenzhe Zhenqi Tang, he sued wild Taishen 18 gram, and Daizheshi 60 gram. After drinking the herbal tea, she felt release of the chest. After the second tea, the food can move down also. For constipation, additional Gangui 12 gram and Shanyurou 12 gram were used. Then the problems all were solved. 

安徽绩溪章××来函：
Letter form Jixi city, Anhui province:

洪××，年五十余，家素贫苦，曾吸鸦片，戒未多年，由咳而成喘疾，勉强操劳，每届冬令则加剧，然病发时亦往往不服药而自愈。兹次发喘，初由外感，兼发热头痛。医者投以二活、防、葛，大剂表散，遂汗出二日不止，喘逆上冲，不能平卧，胸痞腹胀，大便旬余未行，语不接气，时或螈 ，种种见证，已濒极险。诊其脉，微细不起。形状颓败殊甚。详细勘视，诚将有阴阳脱离之虞。适日前阅赭石解，记其主治，揣之颇合。但恐其性太重镇而正气将随以下陷也，再四踌躇，因配以真潞党参、生怀山药、野茯神、净萸肉、广桔红、京半夏、龙骨、牡蛎、苏子、蒡子等，皆属按证而拟，竟与参赭镇气汤大致相同。一剂病愈大半，两剂即扶杖起行，三剂则康复如恒矣。前月遇之，自言冬不知寒，至春亦未反复。

Mr. Hong, about 50 years of old, was poor and took opium before. After stop the opium some years later, his cough turned into asthma but he still tried to have labor work. His condition was worse every winter. However, his condition can solve by itself without taking any medicine. This time, he had asthma again. It followed a common cold, during which he had fever and headache. Doctor gave him herb Duhuo, Qianghuo, Fangfeng, Gegeng in large amount to expel the Cold-Wind. He had heavy sweat for two day without stop. He also had asthma, hard to lie face up, fullness in the chest and abdomen, and constipation for several days, hard to speak. All symptoms suggested his dangerous condition. His pulse was subtle and weak with very stranger feeling as withered. The condition strongly suggests that there is a risk that her Yin-Yang is to escape. Just by chance that I studied the function of the Daizheshi several days ago, so I remembered its function and felt that its function matches the patient condition. However, I still worried that its nature might be too heavy, so the Big Qi might fall sink with it. After hesitated for some time, I used Dangshen, Shanyao, Fushen, Shanyurou, Jihong, Banxia, Longgu, Muli, Souzi, Niubangzi. All are chosen according to her symptoms, but the formula was just similar to the Shenzhe Zhenqi Tang. One dose of the formula made her most condition much better. Two doses allowed her get up to walk with helper. The third doses solved the problem completely. I met her last month. She said she did not feel cold even in winter. Her problem did not recur even up to spring.

2．薯蓣纳气汤

2. Shuyu Naqi Tang

治阴虚不纳气作喘逆。
This formula is to solve the asthma due to Yin deficiency, which is hard to inhale.

生山药（一两） 大熟地（五钱） 萸肉（五钱，去净核） 柿霜饼（四钱，冲服） 生杭芍（四钱）牛蒡子（二钱，炒捣） 苏子（二钱，炒捣） 甘草（二钱，蜜炙） 生龙骨（五钱，捣细）
Shanyao 30 gram, Shoudi 15 gram, Shanyurou 15 gram, Shishuanbing 12 gram (drink with herbal tea), Baishao 12 gram, Niubangzi 6 gram (fried and grind), Souzi 6 gram (fried, grind), Gancao 6 gram (processed with honey), Longgu 15 gram (grind).

前方，治阴阳两虚作喘，此方，乃专治阴虚作喘者也。方书谓肝肾虚者，其人即不能纳气，此言亦近理，然须细为剖析。空气中有氧气，乃养物之生气也。人之肺脏下无透窍，而吸入之养气，实能隔肺胞，息息通过，以下达腹中，充养周身。肝肾居于腹中，其气化收敛，不至膨胀，自能容纳下达之气，且能导引使之归根。有时肾虚气化不摄，则上注其气于冲，以冲下连肾也。夫冲为血海，实亦主气，今因为肾气贯注，则冲气又必上逆于胃，以冲上连胃也。由是，冲气兼挟胃气上逆，并迫肺气亦上逆矣，此喘之所由来也。又《内经》谓肝主疏，泄肾主闭藏。夫肝之疏泄，原以济肾之闭藏，故二便之通行，相火之萌动，皆与肝气有关，方书所以有肝行肾气之说。今因肾失其闭藏之性，肝遂不能疏泄肾气使之下行，更迫于肾气之膨胀，转而上逆。由斯，其逆气可由肝系直透膈上，亦能迫肺气上逆矣，此又喘之所由来也。方中用地黄、山药以补肾，萸肉、龙骨补肝即以敛肾，芍药、甘草甘苦化阴，合之柿霜之凉润多液，均为养阴之妙品，苏子、牛蒡又能清痰降逆，使逆气转而下行，即能引药力速于下达也。至方名薯蓣纳气汤者，因山药补肾兼能补肺，且饶有收敛之力，其治喘之功最弘也。

The previous formula works for Yin-Yang deficiency. This formula is for Yin deficiency. Medical books said that, if there is Liver-Kidney deficiency, the person would feel hard to inhale. This is pretty true. …In this formula, Shoudi and Shanyao are to nourish the Kidney. Shanyurou and Longgu are to nourish the Liver, which also means to nourish the Kidney. Shaoyao and Gancao, for their sweet and bitter nature, can develop the Yin. Together with the Shishuanbing, all the three are good to develop the Yin. Souzi and Niubangzi can clear the phlegm and reduce the reversed Qi, e.g. can bring the herbal power down. For the name of the formula Shuyu Naqi Tang, the Shanyao nourish the Kidney and also supply the Lung, it also has restraining ability, so it is very suit to treat the asthma. Shuyu here is another name of the herb Shanyao.

或问：养气虽能隔肺胞通过，亦甚属些些无多，何以当吸气内入之时，全腹皆有膨胀之势？答曰：若明此理，益知所以致喘之由。人之脏腑皆赖气以撑悬，是以膈上有大气，司肺呼吸者也；膈下有中气，保合脾胃者也，脐下有元气，固性命之根蒂者也。当吸气入肺之时，肺胞膨胀之力，能鼓舞诸气，节节运动下移，而周身之气化遂因之而流通。且喉管之分支下连心肝，以通于奇经诸脉，当吸气内入之时，所吸之气原可由喉管之分支下达，以与肺中所吸之气，相助为理也。下焦肝肾（奇经与肾相维系）属阴，阴虚气化不摄则内气膨胀，遂致吸入之气不能容受而急于呼出，此阴虚者所以不纳气而作喘也。

(This paragraph is not translated).

3．滋培汤

3. Zipei Tang

治虚劳喘逆，饮食减少，或兼咳嗽，并治一切阴虚羸弱诸证。
This formula is used to treat asthma, reduced diet, or with cough, due to Xulao condition. It is also used to various weaknesses due to Yin deficiency.

生山药（一两） 于术（三钱，炒） 广陈皮（二钱） 牛蒡子（二钱，炒捣） 生杭芍（三钱） 玄参（三钱） 生赭石（三钱，轧细） 炙甘草（二钱）
Shanyao 30 gram, Baizhu 9 gram (fried), Chenpi 6 gram, Niubangzi 6 gram (fried and grind), Baizhao 9 gram, Xushen 9 gram, Daizheshi 9 gram, Zhi Gancao 6 gram.

痰郁肺窍则作喘，肾虚不纳气亦作喘。是以论喘者恒责之肺、肾二脏，未有责之于脾、胃者。不知胃气宜息息下行，有时不下行而转上逆，并迫肺气亦上逆即可作喘。脾体中空，能容纳诸回血管之血，运化中焦之气，以为气血宽闲之地，有时失其中空之体，或变为紧缩，或变为胀大，以致壅激气血上逆迫肺，亦可作喘。且脾脉缓大，为太阴湿土之正象，虚劳喘嗽者，脉多弦数，与缓大之脉反对，乃脾土之病脉也。故重用山药以滋脾之阴，佐以于术以理脾之阳，脾脏之阴阳调和，自无或紧缩、或涨大之虞。特是，脾与胃脏腑相根据，凡补脾之药皆能补胃。而究之脏腑异用，脾以健运磨积，宣通津液为主；胃以熟腐水谷、传送糟粕为主。若但服补药，壅滞其传送下行之机，胃气或易于上逆，故又宜以降胃之药佐之，方中之赭石、陈皮、牛蒡是也。且此数药之性，皆能清痰涎利肺气，与山药、玄参并用，又为养肺止嗽之要品也。用甘草、白芍者，取其甘苦化合，大有益于脾胃，兼能滋补阴分也。并治一切虚劳诸证者，诚以脾胃健壮，饮食增多，自能运化精微以培养气血也。
Accumulation of phlegm in the lung can cause asthma. Kidney weakness can reduce the ability in inhalation, so to cause asthma. So in history, doctors contributed the reason for the asthma only to the Lung and Kidney, the two organs. No one has ever related the reason to the Spleen-Stomach. They do not know that, the Stomach Qi should move down. If, for any reason, it does not move down but reverses up to press the Lung, there would be asthma too. Spleen is the blood container. It can buffer the returning blood. If, for any reason, its inside size is reduced to lose its buffering capacity, the returning and accumulated blood may spill up to the Lung, also to cause asthma. The Spleen pulse should be calm and big. The pulse in person with asthma is usually string and frequent, which is opposite of the normal Spleen pulse, so it the sick pulse of the Spleen. There, using herb Shanyao to nourish the Spleen Yin and using the Baizhu to supply the Spleen Yang, when the Spleen Yin and Yang is in harmony, the buffer capacity of the Spleen restored, there is no chance to cause asthma due to the Spleen. In addition, the Spleen and the Stomach is inside-outside relationship. Any herbs that could nourish the Spleen can also nourish the Stomach. … Too much intake of the nourishing herbs may cause block of the pathway of Stomach Qi moving down, so to cause fullness feeling. The Stomach Qi may turn up to cause the asthma. To prevent this side effect, it is needed to use some herbs to reduce the Stomach Qi. Such herbs in the formula are Daizheshi, Chenpi and Niubangzi. These herbs also work to clear the air conduct in the Lung, and to clear phlegm, so when they are used together with the Shangyao and Xuanshen, they also are able to solve cough. The reason to use the Gancao and Shaoyao, is for their sweet-bitter herbal nature, able to develop the Yin and to nourish the Spleen-Stomach. It is indicated that the formula can be used in various weakness conditions, since, when the Spleen-Stomach system burns normal, the person would have reasonable digestion ability, so the Qi and Blood in the body is easier to be developed.

一人，年二十二，喘逆甚剧，脉数至七至，用一切治喘药皆不效，为制此方。将药煎成，因喘剧不能服，温汤三次始服下，一剂见轻，又服数剂全愈。

A man, 22 years of old, suffered from severe asthma. His pulse was frequent up to seven times per breath-circle. No any commonly used herbal formula worded for his condition. He was given this formula. When the herbal tea was ready, he could not drink it for too severe asthma. He drunk it by three separated times. One dose made his asthma reduce, additional several doses solved the asthma completely.

或问：药之健脾胃者，多不能滋阴分，能滋阴分者，多不能健脾胃，此方中芍药、甘草同用，何以谓能兼此二长？答曰：《神农本草经》谓芍药味苦，后世本草谓芍药味酸。究之，芍药之味苦酸皆有。陈修园笃信《神农本草经》谓芍药但苦不酸。然嚼服芍药钱许，恒至 齿，兼有酸味可知。若取其苦味与甘草相合，有甘苦化阴之妙（甘苦化阴说始于叶天士），故能滋阴分。若取其酸味与甘草相合，有甲己化土之妙（甲木味酸己土味甘），故能益脾胃。此皆取其化出之性以为用也。又陈修园曰：芍药苦平破滞，本泻药非补药也。若与甘草同用，则为滋阴之品，与生姜、大枣、桂枝同用，则为和营卫之品，与附子、干姜同用，则能收敛元阳，归根于阴，又为补肾之品。本非补药，昔贤往往取为补药之主，其旨微矣。按此论甚精，能示人用药变化之妙，故连类及之。
It might be asked: the herbs that nourish the Spleen-Stomach, mostly can not nourish the Yin. The herbs that nourish the Yin, usually cannot supply the Spleen-Stomach. Why in this formula, the use of Gancao and Shaoyao can work for the two aims? Answer: … If Shaoyao is used with Gancao, it is Yin-nourishing herb; if with Shenjiang, Dazao, and Guizhi, it is Yin-Wei harmonying herb; if with Fuzi and Ganjiang, it is Yang-restraining herb to restrain the Yuanyang into the Kidney, so it is also a Kidney-nourishing herb. …

西人谓：心有病可以累肺作喘，此说诚信而有征。盖喘者之脉多数，夫脉之原动力发于心，脉动数则心动亦数可知。心左房之赤血与右房之紫血，皆与肺循环相通。若心动太急，逼血之力过于常度，则肺脏呼吸亦因之速过常度，此自然之理也。然心与肾为对待之体，心动若是之急数，肾之真阴不能上潮，以靖安心阳可知。由是言之，心累肺作喘之证，亦即肾虚不纳气之证也。
(This paragraph is not translated)

西人又谓：喘证因肺中小气管，痰结塞住，忽然收缩，气不通行，呼吸短促，得痰出乃减。有日日发作者，又数日或因辛苦寒冷而发作者，又有因父母患此病传延者。发作时，苦剧不安，医治无良法。应用纸浸火硝水内，取出晒干，置盆内燃点，乘烟焰熏腾时，以口吸养气入肺（火硝多含养气）。或用醉仙桃干叶当烟吸之，内服樟脑鸦片酒壹贰钱、更加姜末一分半、白矾七厘共为散，水调服。虽未必能除根，亦可渐轻。按：此证乃劳疾之伤肺者，当名为肺劳。虽发作时甚剧，仍可久延岁月。其治法当用拙拟黄芪膏。
Western medicine stated: the asthma is due to the block of small branchi by phlegm. Such condition can happen every day, or happen after heavy labor work, after exposure to cold weather, or it is due to genetic reason. Upon onset of asthma, the man suffers very much. One way can be tried: rinse a paper into the water solution of potassium nitrate. Take it out to dry. Burn it in a basin. Have a breath the smoke. Alternatively, smoke the leaves of datura as cigarette; at the same time, intake little powder of camphor, opium, and fresh ginger, alum (seven li). It may not be able to cure the problem, but can reduce the symptom. Comments: the condition is due to the lung damage in Laoji condition. It should be named as Feilao (Fei means lung; lao means exhausting condition). It is bothering on outbreak, but the lifespan of the person can still be reasonably longer. The way to solve this condition is to take my Huangqi Gao (Gao here means plaster).

肺劳之证，因肺中分支细管多有瘀滞，热时肺胞松客气化犹可宣通，故病则觉轻；冷时肺胞紧缩其痰涎恒益杜塞，故病则加重。此乃肺部之锢疾，自古无必效之方。惟用曼陀罗熬膏，和以理肺诸药，则多能治愈。
The condition of Feilao is due to the accumulation and block of small branchi. On warm, it is loss so the breath can be easier and the person feels improvement of asthma; on cold, the branchi contracts, making the block worse, so the condition is worse. This is difficult lung condition to solve. There is basically no good way to solve it. The only thing might be tried is to prepare datura paste to eat, together with other Lung-improving herbs.

爰将其方详开于下：
Here is the way to prepare it.

曼陀罗正开花时，将其全科切碎，榨取原汁四两，入锅内熬至若稠米汤；再加入硼砂二两，熬至融化；再用远志细末、甘草细末各四两，生石膏细末六两，以所熬之膏和之，以适可为丸为度，分作小丸。每服钱半，若不效可多至二钱，白汤送下，一日两次。久服病可除根。若服之觉热者，石膏宜加重。

Collect datura flower. Chip it into small pieces. Grind and press it juice for 120 gram. Cook in pot with fire until it turns thick. Add borax 60 gram in, until it is melt. Add powder of Yuanzhi 120 gram, Gancao 120 gram, and Shigao 180 gram. Cook all into paste. Make the paste into pills, each 4.5 gram about. Eat one such pill each time, if the asthma is not improved, increase it to 6 gram. Eat it twice a day. Long term intake can cure the asthma. If the person feels hot during the pill intake, add the amount of Shigao in the pills.

肺脏具 辟之机。其 辟之机自如，自无肺劳病证。远志、硼砂最善化肺管之瘀，甘草末服，不经火炙、水煮，亦善宣通肺中气化，此所以助肺脏之辟也。曼陀罗膏大有收敛之力，此所以助肺脏之 也。用石膏者，因曼陀罗之性甚热，石膏能解其热也。且远志、甘草、硼砂皆为养肺之品，能多生津液，融化痰涎，俾肺脏辟之机灵活无滞，则肺劳之喘嗽自愈也。
… The herb Yuanzhi and Pengsha are good at clear the stagnation in the branchi. The powder of original Gancao, if not water-cooked or processed, is good to open the lung Qi, so help the function of lung. The datura plase has strong restraining power, so also help the lung to inhale. The use of Shigao is to reduce the side effect of hot from the datura. In addition, the Yuanzhi, Gancao and Pengsha all are Lung-nourishing herbs, being able to develop humidity in the lung, to dissolve the phlegm, so as to clear the branchi. Therefore, the asthma and cough in the lung is cured. 

按：醉仙桃即曼陀罗花也。其花白色，状类牵牛而大，其叶大如掌而有尖，结实大如核桃，实蒂有托盘如钱，皮有芒刺如包麻，中含细粒，如火麻仁。渤海之滨生殖甚多，俗呼为洋金花。李时珍谓：“服之令人昏昏如醉，可作麻药。”又谓：“熬水洗脱肛甚效。”盖大有收敛之功也。西人药学谓：用醉仙桃花实叶，俱要鲜者榨汁，或熬干，或晒干作膏。每服三厘，能补火止疼、令人熟睡，善疗喘嗽。正与时珍之说相似。然此物有毒不可轻用。今人治劳喘者，多有取其花与叶，作烟吸之者，实有目前捷效，较服其膏为妥善也。

Comments: … Dr. Li Shizheng said:  “The datura can make person drowsy as drunk. It can be used as anesthesia.”  “Its water solution can be used to solve anus prolapse”. It has restraining function. The western medicine also said: it can stop pain, improve sleep, and solve cough and asthma, similar to what was said by Dr. Li Shizheng. This herb however is toxic. It should not be used over. Current times, people use its follower and leave to smoke as cigarette, to solve asthma. It works better and fast than its paste form.