论苦味"坚阴"

苦味药有泄和燥的作用,且能＂坚阴＂。坚阴即固守保存阴液之意,实际上是借助某些苦寒药物的清热泄火作用,泻火之亢,以全阴气,又称泻火存阴或泻火保阴。苦味坚阴不同于甘寒养阴之濡润滋养,大体可分为三个方面：平相火,固肾阴;清热泻火,顾护阴津;泻下以存阴。既不能把＂坚阴＂理解为苦寒之性味有直接的滋阴养阴作用,也不能一味强调苦寒泻火,而不顾及阴津的滋养,泻火只是一种手段、方法,存阴才是目的、效果。仅就苦味本身而言,只有苦燥伤阴之弊而无益阴之力,故对阴虚无火之证,切不可用苦味药去＂坚阴＂。

Discussion on strengthening yin of Chinese herbs with bitter-flavor

Chinese herbs with bitter flavor have the function of purgation and dryness as well as strengthening yin.Strengthening Yin means keeping and maintaining yin fluid.Actually,it is to draw assistance from some Chinese herbs with bitter flavor to purge excessive fire in order to maintain yin qi by heat-clearing and fire-purging,that is to say purging fire to keep or save yin.Strengthening yin of bitter herbs is different from the moistening and nourishing function of sweet-cold herbs.It can be generally divided into three aspects: purging ministerial fire and restoring renal yin,clearing heat and purging fire to maintain yin fluid;purging to preserve yin.Strengthening yin doesn't mean the property and flavor of bitter-cold can nourish yin directly.We should not only emphasize clearing fire by using herbs with bitter in flavor and cold in nature,but also pay attention to nourish yin.It is causal relation that exists between purging fire and maintaining yin.The former is only a means and method,and the latter is objection and effect.Because the bitter-flavor can only damage yin by bitterness and dryness but is not good at benefiting yin,we cannot strengthen yin by using bitter herbs in treating yin-deficiency syndrome without excessive fire.