宋以前通草、木通藥名變遷考

A Study on Herbal Name Change of Tong-Cao and Mu-Tong before Song Dynasty

通草、木通在歷史上所用藥名有別，產生異名同物、同名異物情況，頗具爭議，如張仲景當歸四逆湯究竟該用木通、通草，即為一例。為理解宋以前「通草」、「木通」藥名變遷的演進過程，並準確解讀宋以前本草、方書收錄藥物，本研究彙整本草、方書、綜合性醫書，及文史、博物書，加上成書時空、作者背景資訊進行分析。研究結果指出：正統本草書《神農本草經》、《本草經集注》、《新修本草》皆以「通草」指木通科的木通；北齊《藥對》出現「木通」藥名，唐代甄權《藥性論》將「通草」更名為「木通」；到了宋代「木通」成為常用之木通藥名，而「通草」成為通脫木之別名。在臨床用藥上，唐、五代前的方書以用「通草」藥名居多；到宋代以後轉變為用「木通」藥名佔多數。「川木通」在宋代是官方認可的木通品種，另有木通混淆品。此外，從整體來看，宋以前藥材使用率通草普遍低於木通。是故，探討古代典籍之方藥時，應先釐清藥名變遷之實況，才能理解各書撰成時的醫藥條件。

 

Herbal names change in different ancient times; the situation leads to the same herb called by different names, or the same name represents different herbs. Therefore, sometimes applying tong-cao or mu-tong is a controversial issue; for instance, Zhang Zhong-Jing’s “Dang Gui Si Ni Tang” should use mu-tong or tong-cao in Hang Dynasty. For understanding the process of historical development on the change of herbal names:“mu-tong” and “tong-cao” to precisely interpret herbal names written on bencao and medical formulary books, we arrange bencao, medical formula, comprehensive medical literatures, literary and historical books, and naturalistic materials, add information like time, place and background of the author to analyze. The research outcomes point out: authorized bencao books: Shennong Bencao Jing, Shennong Bencao Jing Jizhu, Xinxiu Bencao all addressed Akebia quinata (Lardizabalaceae), mu-tong, as “tong-cao”. The herbal name “mu-tong” appears on Yaodui written in Northern Qi Dynasty; besides, Yaoxing Lun composed in Tang Dynasty rename “tong-cao” to “mu-tong”. Until Song Dynasty, “mu-tong” stands for the herbal plant mu-tong, whereas “tong-cao” becomes an alternative name of tong-tuomu. With respect to clinical medication, before Tang and Five Dynasties, it is more often to use “mu-tong” rather than “tong-cao” among medical formulary books. “Chuan-mutong” is species recognized by the authority, Song Dynasty government and confused herbs of mu-tong exist. Overall, the usage rate of tong-cao is generally lower than mutong before Song Dynasty. As a result, while investigating formula and medicine records in ancient literature, we should differentiate the change of herbal names to understand certain medical conditions during its written time.