《黄帝内经》“苦味”探析

Discussion on Bitterness in Internal Classic of Huangdi

对《内经》苦味之品、苦味功效、苦味应用及用苦禁忌进行探析。《内经》中苦味之品以温热性质居多,有坚、温、燥、发、泄、下等功效,其中温、发之功效仅在"运气七篇"中提出,可能与苦味五行属火有关。《内经》应用苦味时除依据五行理论之外,尚有五脏苦欲补泻及运气理论中的特殊应用及配伍方法。应用苦味时不宜多用过用,否则伤本脏、伐所克之脏,还会走骨、伤脾、令人呕。研究结果提示我们,理解《内经》苦味配伍需从其功效出发,慎将后世本草属苦药物代入分析。

This article discusses bitterness in Internal Classic of Huangdi from the aspects of bitter things and their functions,applications and contraindications.Most bitter things in Internal Classic of Huangdi are warm and heat in nature,with functions of strengthening,warming,drying,dispersing,leaking,purging and so on.The functions of warming and dispersing are only mentioned in those chapters about Yunqi,and would be related to their five elements property：Fire.Bitterness is applied according to Five Element theory,Tonification and Purgation of Five Zang Organs theory and Yunqi theory.Bitterness should not be overused,or it would damage heart and lung according to Five Element theory,sometimes combine bones,damage spleen and bring out vomiting.The results infers that comprehension of application of bitterness in Internal Classic of Huangdi should be based on its functions,but not herbs with bitterness property in later Chinese materia medica.