《圖經衍義本草》Vol. 13

Zhimu is bitter in flavor, cold in nature, and non-toxic. It mainly treats wasting thirst and internal heat. It can also dispel pathogenic influences, ease swelling in the limbs, promote urination and reduce edema, and replenish deficiencies to strengthen the body’s original Qi. It can also treat cold damage, chronic malaria, irritability with fever, discomfort below the ribs, pathogenic and foul influences between the chest and diaphragm, wind-induced sweating, and internal jaundice. Taking too much, however, may cause diarrhea.

Zhimu is also known as Qimu (with “qi” pronounced like “qi” in “qi”), Lianmu, Yeliao, Dishen, Shuishen, Shuijun, Huomu, Diyoru (with “di” pronounced either “chi” or “ti”), Nülei, Nüli, Ercao, Lulie, Jiufeng, Erzongcao, Donggen, Shuixu, Shenfan, and an unrecorded name. The Tang Materia Medica also lists it as Changzhi. It grows in the valleys around Henei. Its roots are dug up in the second and eighth lunar months and dried in the sun for later use.

The Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica says: Zhimu grows in the valleys of Henei. Today it is also found in prefectures and counties along the Yellow River, as well as in Jiezhou and Chuzhou. Its roots are yellow, shaped like changpu, and soft in texture. The plant is highly vigorous: even after being dug up, it continues to grow until it dries out. It blooms with blue-green flowers in the fourth month and bears fruit in the eighth. The roots are harvested in the second and eighth months, dried, and used as medicine.

The Treatise on the Properties of Medicinals says: Zhimu has a mild medicinal nature. It can treat restlessness and oppression in the heart, bone-steaming fever, fever that comes and goes during consumptive illness, postpartum debility, kidney Qi deficiency, chills, and general weakness. It may be added as appropriate for people who are weak and have a dry mouth.

Tao Yinjü says: Zhimu is now also produced in Pengcheng. It resembles changpu, is soft in texture, and is highly vigorous; after being dug up, it continues to grow until it dries out. Zhimu is especially effective for treating heat pathogens that have become bound, and may also be used for fever and restlessness in malaria. Guo says it grows on mountains and has leaves like Chinese chives.

Fan Zi says: Zhimu produced in the Sanfu region is called “Timu.” Those with yellow-white coloring are considered best.

The Rihuazi says: Zhimu is bitter and sweet in flavor. It treats fever from consumptive illness and infectious wasting disease (a category of contagious, debilitating illnesses described by people in antiquity). It also promotes passage through the small intestine, transforms phlegm, dispels wind, relieves cough, moistens and nourishes the heart and lungs, replenishes deficiency, calms the spirit, and stops palpitations.

Lei Gong says: To prepare Zhimu, first cut it into pieces on a pagoda tree chopping board, then dry-roast it and pound it in a wooden mortar. Do not let it come into contact with iron.

The Shenghui Formulae records: When pregnancy has not yet reached full term and there is abdominal pain, as if labor is about to begin, grind two liang of Anemarrhena into a fine powder and use honey to make pills the size of parasol-tree seeds. Take them at any time, twenty pills per dose, with rice water. The Yang Formula gives the same account.

Fritillaria

Fritillaria tastes pungent and bitter. Its nature is neutral and slightly cold, and it is non-toxic. Ancient texts say it can be used for fever and restlessness caused by cold damage, painful and frequent urination, hernias and abdominal masses, throat obstruction (a swollen, painful, blocked throat), failure of breast milk to flow, wounds caused by blades and other weapons, and convulsions attributed to Wind. They also record its use for abdominal masses, fullness below the heart, sensitivity to wind and cold, dizziness, stiffness of the neck, coughing and wheezing. It can also relieve feverish restlessness and thirst, promote sweating, harmonize the Five Viscera, and open the marrow.

Fritillaria is also called Empty Plant, Medicinal Fruit, Bitter Flower, Bitter Vegetable, Merchant’s Herb, and Mother of Le. It grows in Jin. Its roots are gathered in the tenth lunar month and dried in the sun. Ancient texts say it can be combined with Magnolia Bark and Baiwei. Peach blossom is incompatible with it; Gentiana macrophylla, arsenolite, and Chinese alangium are substances it fears. It is incompatible with Aconite, so they should not be used together.

The Illustrated Materia Medica records: Fritillaria grows in Jin and is now also found in Hezhong, Jiangling Prefecture, Yingzhou, Shouzhou, Suizhou, Zhengzhou, Caizhou, Runzhou, Chuzhou, and other places. Its roots vary in shape and are yellowish white, resembling shells gathered in a cluster; hence the name “Fritillaria,” or “clustered shells.” It sprouts in the second lunar month, with slender green stems and green leaves shaped like buckwheat leaves. In the seventh month, it bears blue-green flowers shaped like those of Pengzi. One account says it should be gathered in the eighth month; another holds that the fourth month, when garlic ripens, is the better time.

The book also relates an old story. In Jiangnan, a merchant developed a sore on his left upper arm that looked like a human face. He had no other obvious symptoms. As a joke, he dripped wine into the “mouth” on the sore, and its surface turned red; when he fed it food, it seemed to eat. After feeding it a great deal, the merchant felt the flesh inside his arm swell. If he did not feed it, the whole arm became numb. A physician had him try various medicines, including mineral and plant remedies, but none worked. When they tried Fritillaria, the sore seemed to furrow its brow and close its mouth. Believing the medicine had worked, the merchant used a small reed tube to hold the sore open and poured in Fritillaria. After several days, the opening scabbed over, and the sore eventually healed. The book says, however, that people at the time did not know what kind of illness it was.

The Treatise on the Nature of Medicinals says: Fritillaria is a slightly cold ministerial medicine. It can be used for deficient heat and difficult labor. It may also be ground into powder and taken when the placenta does not descend; grind seven bulbs and take the powder with wine. Applying the powder to the eyes is said in ancient texts to remove a corneal opacity that obstructs vision. The book also records its use for rebellious Qi in the chest, epidemic illness, and jaundice. Combined with Forsythia, it can treat a goiter in the neck.

Tao Hongjing says: Fritillaria now also grows in nearby regions. Because its shape resembles shells gathered in a cluster, it is called Fritillaria.

Taking fritillary (a Chinese medicinal herb) can eliminate the need to eat grains without causing hunger.

The Tang Materia Medica says: Fritillary leaves resemble garlic leaves. The best time to gather it is in the fourth month, when garlic ripens. By the tenth month, the shoots and leaves have withered, and the roots are no longer good. The finest varieties come from Runzhou, Jingzhou, and Xiangzhou; it is also found in various prefectures south of the Yangtze. Fritillary tastes sweet with a hint of bitterness, and is not pungent. According to the Erya, it is also called “Shang.”

The Rihuazi says: Fritillary transforms phlegm and nourishes the heart and lungs. Grind it into powder, mix it with sugar, and form it into pills; held in the mouth, they can stop coughing. Burn it to ash and mix it with oil to make an application for severe sores in people or livestock.

Lei Gong says: To prepare fritillary, first place it in the ash of willow wood and roast it until it turns yellow, then split it open. Remove the tiny core, about the size of a grain of rice, from the inner cavity. Next, mix it with glutinous rice and stir-fry them together on a flat griddle. When the rice turns yellow, discard it and take out the fritillary. A kind with a single, round bulb, not split into two lobes and without wrinkles on its surface, is called “Cinnabar Dragon Essence” and must not be used as medicine. If taken by mistake, it will cause the sinews and vessels to lose their ability to contract permanently. Taking it with yellow essence and the juice of a small blue plant can cure this at once.

The Bieshuo says: On examination, fritillary clearly helps disperse stagnant Qi in the chest and heart. The line “I go to gather the meng plant” in the Classic of Poetry refers to it. The poet originally used gathering herbs to express frustration at being unfulfilled. Today, fritillary is used to treat blocked Qi in the heart, sorrow, and gloom, and it is indeed very effective.

Dahurian Angelica Root

Dahurian angelica root tastes pungent, is warm in nature, and is non-toxic. It chiefly treats women’s abnormal red or white vaginal discharge, absent menstruation, and swelling of the genital area, as well as alternating chills and fever, wind invading the head, and watery eyes. It promotes the growth and nourishment of the skin and can be made into a face cream. It also treats wind disorders, chronic thirst, vomiting, distention and fullness in the flanks, wind-related pain, dizziness, and itchy eyes. It can also be made into a medicinal plaster or face cream to give the complexion a lustrous appearance. Dahurian angelica root is also called fragrant herb, white chai, Xiao (pronounced “jiao”), Wan, Fuli, and Zefen. Its leaves are called Li (pronounced “li”), and their stalks can be used in bathwater. It grows in valleys and damp lowlands in Hedong. Gather the roots in the second or eighth month and dry them in the sun. It combines well with Chinese angelica root and should not be used with Inula flower.

The Illustrated Materia Medica says: Dahurian angelica root grows in valleys and damp lowlands in Hedong. It is now found in many regions and is abundant in the Wu region. Its roots are more than a foot long, white, and uneven in thickness. Its stalks rise at least five inches above the ground. Leaves appear in spring, growing in opposite pairs; they spread and sway, are purple, and are about three fingers wide. The flowers are white with a slight yellow tinge. The plant sets seed after the start of summer, and its shoots and leaves wither after the start of autumn. The best roots are yellow and lustrous.

Tao Hongjing said: Angelica dahurica is now found everywhere not far from human settlements. It often grows in low, damp places, and is especially abundant around Hedong. Its leaves can also be boiled in water to make a bathing wash. Daoists use aromatic baths made with Angelica dahurica; these are said to drive out “corpse worms,” a kind of internal pest described in Daoist health practices.

Yuxi said: According to Fanzi Jiran, Angelica dahurica is produced in Qi Commandery and is gathered in spring. The best kind is yellow, lustrous, and of good quality. The Treatise on the Nature of Medicinals says that Angelica dahurica is an important medicinal. It can treat stabbing pains in the chest and abdomen and dispel pathogenic wind. It may also be used for uterine bleeding, vomiting and reflux, blurred vision and tearing, bloody painful urination in women, and lower back pain. It can also help expel pus.

The Daily Use Materia Medica says that Angelica dahurica can be used for red eyes and eye growths, as well as threatened miscarriage, downward movement of the fetus, removing stagnant blood and promoting the formation of fresh blood, breast abscesses, abscesses on the back, scrofula (enlarged lymph nodes in the neck), and intestinal wind, hemorrhoids, and fistulas. It can also expel pus, treat sores, scabies, and ringworm, relieve pain, promote the growth of flesh, and address facial blemishes and scars.

Lei Gong said: After gathering Angelica dahurica, do not mix together four roots that have grown joined to one another; these are called “Sanggong vine.” Nor should you let iris leaves become mixed into the medicine. After harvesting the Angelica dahurica, scrape off its outer skin and slice it thinly. Slice the Polygonatum just as thinly. Use a bamboo knife to cut both ingredients, in equal amounts, and steam them twice, for a full day each time. Then take them out to dry in the sun, discard the Polygonatum, and use only the Angelica dahurica.

The Secret Record of the Zimu says: For a child with a fever, boil Angelica dahurica in water and bathe the child in it. Keep the child out of drafts after bathing.

The Essential Secrets from the Outer Receptacle says: To treat erysipelas and hidden eruptions (red, itchy rashes on the skin), boil Angelica dahurica, including its roots and leaves, in water and wash the affected area with it. This is said to be effective.

The Expanded Materia Medica says: Angelica dahurica is also called “ju,” and the kind produced in Wu is better. The classics say it can expel pus. Nowadays, some people use it to treat vaginal discharge: putrid pus in the intestines that drains continuously and has a strong foul smell, followed by cold pain around the navel and abdomen. This is thought to be caused by corrupted pus and blood, and is difficult to cure if left untreated. Use one liang of Angelica dahurica, two liang of the root of single-leaf red hollyhock, and half a liang each of white peony root and alum. First heat the alum until it is dry, then grind it separately into a fine powder. Grind the other ingredients into powder, then combine them all and use wax to form pills the size of Chinese parasol-tree seeds. Take ten to fifteen pills on an empty stomach or before a meal, with rice broth. Once the pus has been expelled, use other medicines to restore and nourish the body.

Epimedium

Epimedium tastes acrid, is cold in nature, and is non-toxic. It primarily treats impotence, injuries to the genitals, and pain in the penis. It also promotes urination, increases strength, steadies the will, and strengthens the sinews and bones. It may also be used for scrofula, red and swollen abscesses, and sores on the lower body, and to wash out worms. Prolonged use by men may lead to infertility. It is also called “Gangqian” and grows in the mountain valleys of Yangshan in Shangjun. Dioscorea (Chinese yam) is its medicinal companion.

The Illustrated and Annotated Materia Medica says: Epimedium, commonly known as Xianlingpi, grows in the valleys around Yangshan in Shang Commandery. Today it is also found in Jiangdong, Shaanxi, Mount Tai, Hanzhong, and the regions of Hunan and Hubei.

Its leaves resemble apricot leaves, with spines along the edges. The stalk resembles a millet stem, and the roots are purple with fine rootlets. It flowers in the fourth month, producing small, solitary blossoms that may be white or purple. The leaves are gathered in the fifth month and dried for use. The Epimedium produced in Hunan and Hubei has leaves resembling those of the small bean, and dense, slender stems that remain evergreen through winter; its roots resemble coptis. In the Guanzhong region, it is commonly called “Three Branches, Nine Leaves Grass.” The plant grows to about one or two feet tall, and both its roots and leaves are used medicinally.

Tao Hongjing says that taking this herb increases sexual desire. In the western and northern parts of Shu, there is a kind of “lustful ram” that mates a hundred times in a day. It is said to have earned this name because it ate this herb, hence the name “lustful ram’s Epimedium.”

The Tang Materia Medica says: The leaves of this herb resemble those of the small bean; they are round and thin, and the stems are slender but tough. It is found in many places. The herb commonly called “Xianlingpi” is this one.

Yuxi says that, according to the Shu Materia Medica, Epimedium is warm in nature. The commentary says that specimens growing where the sound of water cannot be heard are of better quality.

The Daily Materia Medica says: For Xianlingpi, purple ganoderma is used as an assisting ingredient in a prescription, and it is best taken with wine. It may be used to treat various cold-type disorders caused by pathogenic wind, and Qi weakened by overexertion; to strengthen the lower back and knees and invigorate the heart; and for men with depleted Yang who cannot achieve an erection, women with depleted Yin who cannot conceive, tightened sinews and bones, weakness in the limbs, and the dullness and forgetfulness of old age. It is also known by the common names “Huang Dezu,” “Thousand Taels of Gold,” “Dried Chicken Tendon,” “Grass That Lets Go of the Staff,” and “Grass That Abandons the Staff.”

Lei Gong says: To prepare Xianlingpi, first use scissors to trim away the flower stalks and other parts around the edges of the leaves. Then chop it finely and stir-fry it with sheep fat until the fat has been used up. For each pound of Xianlingpi, use four taels of sheep fat.

The Prescriptions of Sagely Beneficence records a wine infusion of Xianlingpi for treating hemiplegia, inability to move the hands and feet, and numbness of the skin: Take one pound of the finest Xianlingpi, chop it finely, and place it in a raw-silk bag. Put the bag in a vessel that will not leak wine, add one dou of wine without added ash, and seal it tightly with layers of thick paper so that no air can enter. Infuse for two days in spring and summer, or five days in autumn and winter. Afterward, warm and drink the wine as needed, taking an amount suited to the individual and stopping at a mild buzz; do not become heavily intoxicated. When the wine is gone, another batch may be prepared. The original text says this prescription is “never without effect.” While preparing it, take care not to let chickens or dogs see.

The Book of Tested Prescriptions records: For treating sores and rashes that have spread to the eyes, use Xianlingpi, Clematis, and other ingredients…

Grind the medicinal ingredients into powder. After meals, take one qian and seven fen with rice water; children should take half a qianbi (an ancient measuring spoon for medicine).

The Mirror of the Food Physician says: Epimedium can nourish men and enhance sexual function. It can also regulate the Spleen and Stomach and relieve coldness in the knees. Soak one jin of Epimedium in one dou of wine for two days, then drink it; this is said to work well.

Baikal Skullcap

Baikal skullcap tastes bitter, is neutral in nature, and is extremely cold in medicinal property. It is non-toxic. It treats many conditions, including jaundice, intestinal diarrhea, loose stools, dysentery, absent menstruation, bleeding, malignant sores, suppurating carbuncles, and burns. It can clear phlegm-Heat and accumulated Heat in the Stomach, relieve painful and difficult urination, aid digestion, and promote the flow of the small intestine. It is also used for women’s amenorrhea, persistent vaginal discharge, and bleeding, as well as abdominal pain in children.

Baikal skullcap is also called “rotting intestine,” “hollow intestine,” “inner emptiness,” “yellow pattern,” “menstrual skullcap,” and “jealous wife.” Its seeds can be used to treat intestinal stagnation and bloody, pus-filled stools. It grows in mountain valleys and in Yuanju. Harvest the roots on the third day of the third lunar month and dry them in the shade. Combined with magnolia bark and Coptis, it treats abdominal pain. Combined with Schisandra, peony root, and oyster shell, it is said to aid fertility. Combined with Astragalus, white root, and red beans, it treats scrofula (swollen lymph nodes in the neck). Cornelian cherry and dragon bone can serve as its guiding medicines. Baikal skullcap is incompatible with scallion seeds and is counteracted by cinnabar, peony, and Veratrum.

The Illustrated Materia Medica says: Baikal skullcap grows in the mountain valleys of Zigui and in Yuanju. Today it is also found in nearby prefectures and districts in Sichuan, Shu, Hedong, and Shaanxi. The plant grows to a little over one chi, with a stem as thick as a chopstick. Leaves cluster around the base and somewhat resemble those of lithospermum. The plant is usually about one chi tall, though some have only a single stem. Its leaves are slender, long, green, and paired; it blooms with purple flowers in the sixth lunar month. The root is yellow, about as thick as anemarrhena, and four or five cun long. Harvest the roots in the second or eighth lunar month, dry them in the sun, and use them.

Zhang Zhongjing’s four Xiexin Tang prescriptions for treating Cold Damage and fullness beneath the heart all use Baikal skullcap because it can clear various forms of Heat and promote the flow of the small intestine. For diarrhea that persists after a purgative has been wrongly used in a Greater Yang disease, some prescriptions also use Baikal skullcap and Coptis. Baikal skullcap is also used to calm the fetus, so physicians commonly prescribe it. These uses are recorded here because it has recently proved effective in many cases.

The Thousand Gold Pieces Prescriptions records an adjusted Three-Yellow Pill submitted by the governor of Ba Commandery. It may be used to treat men’s five strains and seven injuries, wasting thirst, and failure to gain muscle, as well as women’s vaginal discharge and sudden alternating chills and fever in the hands and feet. Long-term use is said to make a person run as swiftly as a horse. Avoid eating pork while taking it.

Tao Hongjing says that Baikal skullcap has a pill form called “Seed Skullcap.” Zhang Zhongjing also frequently used Baikal skullcap in prescriptions for miscellaneous diseases.

Yuzhou also produces baical skullcap root. The rounded kind is called “seed baical skullcap” and is of the finest quality. The kind split open in the middle is called “old baical skullcap”; since its interior has rotted, it is also known as “rotten intestine.” The best specimens are dark in color and firm in texture.

The Tang Ben Zhu says: Baical skullcap leaves are slender and grow in opposite pairs, usually in clumps, though some plants have a single stem. Today, those produced in Yizhou, Fuzhou, and Jingzhou are the best. Those from Yanzhou are large and also very good; they are called “pig-tail baical skullcap.”

Su Jing says, according to the Treatise on the Nature of Medicinals: In a prescription, baical skullcap serves as a ministerial herb. It tastes bitter and sweet and can treat heat toxins, steaming bone (a condition marked by heat felt within the bones), alternating chills and fever, and disorders of the bowels and stomach. It disperses stagnant Qi, treats the five strangury disorders (various conditions that impede urination), promotes the flow of Qi, and relieves discomfort in the joints. It also clears heat and stops thirst, and treats heat-related abdominal pain and distension and hardness in the chest and abdomen.

The Rihuazi says: Baical skullcap can direct Qi downward. It is used for seasonal febrile illnesses and boils, helps expel pus, and treats breast abscesses and abscesses on the back.

The Qianjin Yifang records a treatment for strangury: Take four liang of baical skullcap, place it in a cloth bag, and boil it in five sheng of water until three sheng remain. Divide the decoction into three doses.

The Meishi Fang records a treatment for fire erysipelas (a condition involving red, burning skin): Pound baical skullcap into powder, mix it with water, and apply it to the affected area.

Dog’s Backbone

Dog’s backbone tastes bitter and sweet, is neutral and slightly warm in nature, and is non-toxic. It treats stiffness in the lower back and back, restricted joint movement or joints that alternately tighten and loosen, pain and numbness throughout the body, and knee pain caused by cold and dampness. It is especially beneficial for older people. It also treats urinary incontinence, weakness in men’s legs and feet, lower back pain, invasion by pathogenic Wind, persistent dribbling urination, shortness of breath, blurred vision, and difficulty bending or extending the shoulders and back. It is also used for internal injuries in women and heaviness in the joints. Dog’s backbone is also known as “hundred branches,” “strong spine,” “supporting canopy,” and “supporting sinews.” It grows in the mountain valleys around Changshan. The roots are gathered in the second and eighth months and dried in the sun. It is used with tokoro as an auxiliary herb and should not be taken with Patrinia.

The Illustrated Classic says: Dog’s backbone grows in the mountain valleys around Changshan. Today it is also produced in the Taihang Mountains and in Zizhou, Wenzhou, and Meizhou. Its root is black, three or four cun long and about two fingers wide. The shoots are slender and green, about one chi high, and bear no flowers. The stems and leaves resemble those of the Japanese shield fern, but are finer. The root is long and has many branches; its shape resembles a dog’s backbone, hence its name. The root flesh is blue-green. Roots are gathered in spring and autumn, dried in the sun, and used as medicine. Modern prescriptions also use dog’s backbone with golden-yellow hairs.

The Treatise on the Nature of Medicinals says: Dog’s backbone tastes bitter and pungent and is slightly warm in nature. It can treat weakness in the legs and feet in men and women caused by pathogenic Wind and toxic Qi, pathogenic dampness obstructing the body, and kidney Qi deficiency. It also strengthens the sinews and bones.

Tao Hongjing says: Dog’s backbone is now found throughout the mountains and wilds. Its appearance resembles that of smilax, but differs slightly: its stems and leaves are less fleshy, its joints are more widely spaced, and its stem is thick and grows straight upward…

Its leaves are round and spiny, with red veins. The roots are uneven and ridged, shaped like a ram’s horn, and have a fine, firm texture. This is the medicinal plant in question.

The Tang Commentary says: “This plant’s shoots resemble those of guanzhong. Its roots are long and much branched, shaped like a dog’s spine, and the flesh of the root is blue-green. The kind now used around the capital is this one.” What Tao Hongjing described was actually the spiny bixie, not gouji. Among the people of the Jiangdong region, this medicinal plant remains especially common.

Yuxi says: According to Wu’s account, gouji is also called gouqing and chijie. Shennong, Tongjun, Huangdi, Qibo, Leigong, and Bianque all considered it sweet in taste and non-toxic; Ji’s account describes it as slightly warm in nature. It resembles bixie: its stem joints are like bamboo, it is spiny, its leaves are round and reddish, and its roots are yellow-white and also resemble bamboo roots. The Qibo Classic says that its stems have no joints, its leaves have rounded tips and are blue-red, its outer skin is white, and its leaf veins are red.

Leigong says: Do not substitute toushanteng when using it. Its thick roots resemble those of toushanteng, but the latter tastes extremely bitter and must not be taken. To prepare it, first chop the medicinal material finely, mix it with wine, and steam it from the hour of the Snake (9–11 a.m.) until the hour of the Monkey (3–5 p.m.). Remove it and dry it in the sun for later use.

Shilongrui

Shilongrui tastes bitter, is neutral in nature, and is non-toxic. It treats impediments caused by Wind, Cold, and Dampness, as well as pathogenic Qi between the heart and abdomen. It promotes free movement of the joints, relieves vexation and distension, regulates Kidney Qi and Stomach Qi, and replenishes deficient Yin. It can also be used for symptoms such as seminal emission and coldness in the penis. Taken over a long period, it can make the body light and strong, brighten the eyes, slow aging, and give the skin a lustrous sheen.

The fruit of shilongrui is called luguo, and is also known as disheng, shineng, penggen, and tiandou. It grows in valleys, marshes, and near rocks around Mount Tai. Gather the fruit on the fifth day of the fifth month; gather the medicinal bark in the second and eighth months, then dry it in the shade for storage. Daji can assist its effects; it is incompatible with snake slough and wuzhuyu.

The Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica says: Shilongrui grows in valleys, marshes, and near rocks around Mount Tai. Tao Hongjing says that this plant is found everywhere in places near the capital. Nowadays it is produced only in Yanzhou. Each clump has several stems, which are blue-purple; each stem bears three leaves. The leaves are short and small, with many notches along their edges, and the fruit resembles tinglizi and is yellow. Gather the fruit in the fifth month and the medicinal bark in the second and eighth months; dry them in the shade before use. It dispels various kinds of pathogenic Wind and clears agitation and heat in the heart.

Su Gong says that the plant commonly called shuijin has young shoots resembling fuzi and fruit resembling mulberries, and grows in low, damp places. This is actually shuijin, not shilongrui. What is now produced in Yanzhou agrees with the descriptions in the Classic of Materia Medica and in Tao Hongjing’s account, and is therefore the genuine shilongrui.

Tao Hongjing says that it can now also be gathered nearby. Its fruit is rather large and somewhat resembles shechuangzi …

Bianxu is not the true bianxu. Some say it is the seed of a plant called xucai, which grows on the rocks of the Eastern Mountain. Its leaves are small and short, and its yellow seeds resemble tingli and taste slightly pungent. This is the genuine plant called bianxu.

The Tang Ben Zhu says that the medicinal plant used today is commonly called shuijin. Its shoots resemble those of fuzi, and its fruit resembles mulberries, so it is also called “ground mulberry.” It grows in low, damp places and ripens in the fifth month. Both its leaves and fruit taste pungent. The seeds produced in the south of the mountains are large, like sunflower seeds; those produced in the Guanzhong region and Hebei are small, like tingli, and have weaker medicinal effects. Tao Hongjing held that the small-seeded kind was the genuine plant, but this view is incomplete.

The Supplementary Records of Famous Physicians also says that shuijin treats toxic swellings, boils, sores, roundworms, and dental ailments. The character jin in shuijin is pronounced “jin,” with the same sound as the word for “cautious.”

Chen Cangqi says that the fruit of rui tastes pungent. He consulted Su Jing’s Newly Revised Materia Medica, which says that shuijin treats toxic swellings, bites from snakes and insects, and dental ailments. Chen Cangqi believed that the shuijin described by Su Jing was definitely shilongrui, not another kind of herb. The Erya says that ji is a kind of jin herb, and Guo Pu’s commentary identifies it as the shoots of wutou. Under the entry for tianxiong, Su Jing also says that the leaves of shilongrui resemble those of jin herb, and that it is also called shuijin. According to Su Jing, shuijin is fuzi, which is also called jin herb. This shows that shuijin and jin herb are two different plants that share the same name.

Yuxi quotes the Treatise on the Nature of Medicinals, which says that shilongrui dispels various wind pathogens and clears agitation caused by heat in the heart.

The Yan Yi says that shilongrui comes in two kinds: the water-growing kind has smooth leaves with rounded tips, while the land-growing kind has hairy leaves with pointed tips. The water-growing kind should be used as medicine. The land-growing kind is called tianzhi. Crush a few of its leaves and bind them to the arm overnight; if a large blister forms, as though the skin had been burned, it is this plant. Only the land-growing shilongrui can be used to replenish deficient Yin, treat persistently cold genitalia, and address seminal emission. Its other uses are as described in the classic.

Mao Root

Mao root tastes sweet, is cold in nature, and is non-toxic. It treats damage from overwork, weakness, and wasting; replenishes the center and strengthens Qi; dispels blood stasis and conditions caused by obstruction of the blood vessels; regulates alternating chills and fever; promotes urination; and treats dribbling or difficult urination. It also clears lingering heat in the stomach and intestines, relieves thirst, and strengthens the sinews and bones. It can also be used to treat uterine bleeding in women. Taking it over a long period benefits the body.

The shoots of mao promote the discharge of fluids. Mao root is also called lan root, ru root, diguan, dijin, and jiandu. It grows in the valleys and fields of Chu, and its roots are gathered in the sixth month.

The Illustrated Classic says that mao root grows in the valleys and fields of Chu, and is now found throughout the regions. In spring, its young shoots emerge and spread along the ground, shaped like needles; for this reason, people commonly call them “mao needles.”

Eating more of this plant is very beneficial for children. It blooms with white flowers in summer, covered in fine, soft hairs, and withers in autumn. Its roots are white, sweet, and palatable. The roots are gathered in the sixth lunar month for medicinal use.

Tao Hongjing said that this is what is now called white cogongrass, also known as jian. The ancient poem “Dew on the jian and mao” refers to it. The root of white cogongrass resembles a coarse celery root and tastes sweet. Taking it can help one abstain from grain, so it is well suited for dietary practice, though folk remedies rarely use it.

The Tang Materia Medica says that jian flowers taste sweet, are warm in nature, and are non-toxic. They treat nosebleeds, vomiting blood, and sores caused by moxibustion.

Chen Cangqi said that mao needles—the tender shoots of white cogongrass before it sends up a flower stalk—taste sweet, are neutral in nature, and are non-toxic. They treat malignant sores and swollen infections. Before a swollen sore has burst, mao needles may be decocted and taken: one needle is said to make one opening in the sore break through, and two needles to make two openings break through. Fresh mao needles, pounded and applied to wounds caused by metal objects, stop bleeding; taken as a decoction, they can also treat nosebleeds and sudden profuse bleeding from below. White cogongrass with white flowers has the same effects. Mao needles are also called mao shoots.

Chen Cangqi also said that thatch from a roof can treat sudden vomiting of blood: take three sheng, chop it, boil it in wine, and drink one sheng. Rotten thatch from a roof can be ground with soybean paste and applied to smallpox sores and silkworm bites. This thatch is also called “centipede thatch.” Water dripping from a thatched roof can counteract mica poisoning.

The Rihuazi Materia Medica says that mao needles are cool in nature and promote the flow of the small intestine. They can be used for carbuncles, swellings, and poisonous sores. If a swollen sore is soft but has not yet formed pus, decoct mao needles in a concentrated brew and mix it with wine before taking. Pounded mao flowers applied to knife or arrow wounds stop bleeding and relieve pain. The root can be used for menstrual irregularities in women. The Rihuazi Materia Medica also says that the root promotes the flow of the blood vessels and treats dribbling urination; here, it refers to the root of white cogongrass with white flowers.

The Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies records a treatment for heat disorders: take four sheng of white cogongrass root, chop it, and boil it in one dou and five sheng of water until reduced to five sheng. Let it cool to a suitable temperature and drink it three times a day. Another method uses it to treat bamboo or wooden splinters lodged in the flesh.

Aster Root

Aster root tastes bitter and acrid, is warm in nature, and is non-toxic. It chiefly treats Qi surging upward and cold and heat bound together in the chest. It can also be used for damage from overexertion and for limbs that are weak and unable to move. It calms the Five Viscera and treats coughing up pus and blood, panting, and palpitations. It is also used for the five forms of taxation, general weakness and deficiency, and childhood convulsions. Aster root is also called ziqian and qingyuan. It grows in the mountain valleys of Fangling and around Zhending and Handan. Its roots are gathered in the second and third lunar months and dried in the shade. Coltsfoot is its assisting herb. It should not be used together with tianxiong, qumai, leiwang, yuanzhi, or yinchenhao.

The Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica says that aster root grows in the mountain valleys of Fangling and around Zhending and Handan. Today it is also produced in Yaozhou, Sizhou, Shouzhou, Taizhou, Mengzhou, and Xingguojun. In the third lunar month, its young shoots grow close to the ground, with three or four leaves joined together. In the fifth and sixth lunar months, it blooms with yellow, purple, or white flowers and produces black seeds. The plant itself is covered with fine white hairs, and its roots are slender and soft.

The roots of aster are dug up in the second or third lunar month and dried in the shade for later use. There is also a white variety called white aster.

The Ancient and Modern Proven Prescriptions regards aster as an important medicinal herb. A prescription recently used with good results for a persistent cough calls for one liang each of aster with the root crowns removed and coltsfoot flowers, and half a liang of stemona root. Pound the ingredients together and sift them into a fine powder. For each dose, take three qian and seven fen, add three slices of fresh ginger and one dark plum, and boil them together to make a decoction. Take the powder with the decoction, once after meals and once before bed.

Tao Yinjü said: Aster grows abundantly in places not far from towns, close to the ground, and its flowers are purple. It originally has fine white hairs, and its roots are soft and slender. There is also a white variety called white aster, which is no longer used today.

A note in the Tang Materia Medica says: White aster is nüwan, and its medicinal effects are the same as those of aster. When aster is unavailable, white aster may be used instead. Tao Yinjü said that white aster was no longer used, perhaps because he was not yet familiar with this herb.

Yuxi said: According to the Treatise on the Properties of Medicinals, aster tastes bitter and is neutral in nature; in a prescription, it serves as a ministerial ingredient. It treats corpse affliction—a chronic, contagious illness as understood in antiquity—tonifies deficiency, and directs Qi downward. It also treats rebellious Qi between the chest and flanks, as well as illnesses attributed to demons and spirits, taxation Qi, and deficiency heat.

The Rihuazi Materia Medica says: Aster harmonizes the middle burner and treats lung atrophy and coughing up blood. It transforms phlegm, relieves thirst, nourishes the skin, and replenishes the marrow. The root is purple, jointed, and shaped like a series of steps. Roots that are lustrous and soft are considered best.

Lei Gong said: Before using aster, remove the fibrous hairs from the root. A plant that is white as plain silk is called “sheep’s-beard grass”; it is not the same as aster. After harvesting, first remove the soil from the root crown, then rinse the herb in running water flowing eastward. Soak it in honey overnight. The next day, take it out and dry it over a fire. To process one liang of aster, use two fen of honey.

The Thousand Gold Pieces Prescriptions records: To treat a woman who suddenly cannot urinate, grind aster into a fine powder and take three pinches with well water; urination will become free. If there is blood in the urine, five pinches will stop the bleeding.

The Doumen Prescription records: To treat “throat-winding wind,” in which the throat closes and the patient cannot eat or drink and is in grave danger, wash the rhizome of “returning-soul herb,” place it in the mouth, and guide it into the throat. When foul phlegm is expelled, the condition will improve; the remedy is highly effective. Then let the patient dissolve and swallow horse-tooth mirabilite. It is said to eradicate the illness. “Returning-soul herb” is aster; in the south it is also called “liquid morning glory.”

The Yan Yi says: The root of aster is used medicinally. It is slender, soft, and purple, and can strengthen Lung Qi. Its properties and uses are explained in detail in the relevant classic texts. A note in the Tang Materia Medica says that white aster may be used when aster is unavailable, and that white aster is nüwan. The name white aster does not appear in today’s Materia Medica; it was probably removed when the Materia Medica was compiled in the Tang dynasty.

Chinese madder.

Lithospermum root (zicao) tastes bitter, is cold in nature, and is non-toxic. It chiefly treats pathogenic influences in the area between the heart and abdomen and the five kinds of jaundice. It can replenish the Qi in the middle region, leaving a person with ample strength; it also helps open the nine orifices and the waterways through which bodily fluids are expelled, and treats abdominal swelling, distention, and pain. Added to a medicinal plaster, it can treat childhood sores and rashes, as well as facial pimples. Lithospermum root is also called “Purple Elixir” and “Purple Aster.” It grows in the valleys of Dangshan and in Chu. Gather the roots in the third month and dry them in the shade.

The Illustrated Canon says: Lithospermum root grows in the valleys of Dangshan and in Chu. Today it is found in many places, and some people grow it in their gardens. Its roots can be used to dye cloth purple. The Erya calls it “miao,” and the Guangya calls it “cili.” Its shoots resemble orchid grass, and its stems have blue-green nodes. It flowers in purple and white in the second month, then bears white fruit in autumn. Gather the roots in the third month and dry them in the shade.

Lithospermum root can be used when rashes or sores fail to emerge promptly during seasonal illnesses such as cold damage. It is often given to bring the rash out. The Weizhou Duxing Fang records using a decoction of lithospermum root to treat “pea sores,” an ancient name for a kind of pox. Later generations continued this practice, believing it to work quickly.

The Treatise on the Nature of Medicinals says that lithospermum root can also be used on its own. It tastes sweet and is neutral in nature, and can treat malignant sores and ringworm.

Tao Hongjing says: The lithospermum root produced today in Xiangyang mostly comes from the area around Xinye in Nanyang. Local people grow it to obtain purple dye. It is now seldom used in medical prescriptions.

The Record of Natural Things says: The lithospermum root produced on Yangshan in Pingshi is especially good. The state of Wei used it to make a very deep-colored dye. In recent years it has also been cultivated on Dongshan, though the dye is somewhat paler than that from Yangshan in Pingshi.

Lei Gong says: To prepare lithospermum root, first steam it with wax water, water made in ancient times using water from the twelfth lunar month. When the water has dried, remove the root crown and the fibrous roots on both sides, then chop it finely. For every pound of lithospermum root, use three ounces of wax. Melt the wax in a pot, pour it into water and boil to make wax water, then use this to process the root.

The Shenghui Fang records: For sudden dribbling and painful urination, pound one liang of lithospermum root into powder and, before meals, mix two qian and seven fen with well water and drink it. Another method treats insect bites: apply lithospermum root oil to the affected area.

The Jingyan Houfang records: For pox in infants or children, take two liang of chopped lithospermum root and pour one large cup of boiling water over it. Immediately cover the vessel tightly to keep the medicinal vapors from escaping. When the liquid has cooled to near body temperature, give the child between half a he and one he, according to the child’s age and size. Even if the sores emerge after drinking it, the illness should be less severe.

Peucedanum root (qianhu)

Peucedanum root tastes bitter, is slightly cold in nature, and is non-toxic. It chiefly treats excessive phlegm and congestion, oppression and fullness between the chest and ribs, and discomfort in the heart…

It can eliminate accumulations of Qi in the abdomen and headaches caused by pathogenic wind, dispel phlegm, direct Qi downward, and treat alternating chills and fever caused by cold damage. [The opening sentence of the original is incomplete, and the name of the medicine is unknown.]

An old text says it can brighten the eyes and strengthen Jing and Qi. Gather the roots in the second or eighth month and dry them in the sun. Pinellia can serve as an assistant herb; it is incompatible with Chinese honeylocust and counteracted by Veratrum. [The name of the medicine is also missing here.]

The Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica says: In the past, no place of origin was recorded for qianhu. Today it is found in Shaanxi, Hanzhong, Liangzhou, the Jianghuai region, Jingxiang, and places such as Xiangzhou and Mengzhou. In spring it sends up young shoots, bluish white in color and resembling wild celery. When first sprouting, it has white tender shoots three or four inches long, with a very fragrant smell and pleasant taste; its appearance also resembles cultivated celery. It flowers in the seventh month, with white blossoms like those of scallions, and bears fruit in the eighth month. Its roots are slender and bluish purple. Dig them up in the second or eighth month and dry them in the sun. The qianhu used in prescriptions today varies from place to place. The kind produced around the capital is yellowish white, dry and brittle, and nearly scentless. In the Jiangdong region there are three or four varieties. One resembles Chinese angelica, with black markings on the outer skin and yellow, oily flesh; its smell and taste are strong. Another is yellowish white in color and markings, like ginseng, but thinner and shorter, with a faint fragrance and taste.

Tao Hongjing says: Qianhu resembles bupleurum, but is softer in texture; its therapeutic effects are broadly similar. The Divine Farmer’s Classic of Materia Medica lists chaihu among the superior-grade medicines, but does not mention qianhu. Later medical prescriptions used qianhu and also recorded which substances it is incompatible with or counteracted by; these incompatibilities and counteractions among medicines do not all come from the Divine Farmer’s Classic. Qianhu grows throughout nearby regions, in low, damp places, and the kind from Wuxing is considered best.

Yuxi says: The Treatise on the Nature of Medicines records that qianhu is sweet and acrid in flavor. It dispels internal heat and directs Qi downward, and treats internal and external fever caused by epidemic illnesses. Taken by itself as a decoction, it works well.

The Daily Essentials says: Qianhu treats various forms of exhaustion and disorders of Qi, stops coughing, disperses masses, stimulates the appetite, and harmonizes the five organs. It is also used for cholera, muscle spasms, distress in the joints, regurgitation and vomiting, wheezing, supporting pregnancy, and various forms of malnourishment-related Qi disorders in children. Qianhu is produced in Yuezhou, Quzhou, Wuzhou, Muzhou, and other places. Gather it in the seventh or eighth month. The outer skin is black and the inside white.

Lei Gong says: Do not mistake the root of wild mugwort for qianhu when using it. The two look very much alike, but wild mugwort root tastes sour when chewed. Using it by mistake can cause regurgitation and loss of appetite. Genuine qianhu tastes sweet and slightly bitter. To prepare it, first scrape away the dark gray outer skin, rootlets, and soil with a knife. Slice it thinly, moisten it with sweet bamboo sap, then dry it in sunlight before use.

The Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library records: To treat a child’s crying at night, pound qianhu, sift it, and make it into pills with honey…

Lesser Beans: Take one pill each day with warm boiled water. Gradually increase the dose to five or six pills, continuing until the illness is cured.

Patrinia

Patrinia, the name of a Chinese medicinal herb, is named for its smell, which resembles spoiled bean paste. It tastes bitter and salty, has a neutral nature with a slight cooling quality, and is non-toxic. It is used to treat sudden fever, burns, red skin, itchy scabies, sores and abscesses, hemorrhoids, saddle-shaped red, swollen, hot, and painful areas, as well as swellings, edema, internal accumulations of heat, and wind impediment. It is also used for bodily weakness, postpartum illnesses, and pain. Other names include Deer Intestine, Deer Head, Horse Grass, and Marsh Patrinia. It grows in the mountain valleys around Jiangxia. The roots are gathered in the eighth month and dried in the sun.

The Illustrated Materia Medica says: “Patrinia grows in the mountain valleys around Jiangxia, and is now also found east of the Yangtze. It grows mostly among hills and ridges. Its leaves resemble water hemlock and maidenhair fern; it grows in clumps, has yellow flowers, and purple roots. The roots resemble bupleurum, and its smell is like spoiled bean paste, hence its name. Gather the roots in the eighth month, dry them in the sun, and use them.”

Tao Yinju says: “This herb is produced nearby. Its leaves resemble Siegesbeckia, its roots resemble bupleurum, and its smell is like spoiled bean paste, hence its name.”

The Tang Materia Medica Commentary says: “This herb is not produced nearby; it grows mostly among hills and ridges. Its leaves resemble water hemlock and maidenhair fern; it grows in clumps, has yellow flowers and purple roots, and smells like aged sauce. Its leaves do not resemble Siegesbeckia.”

Yuxi says: “According to the Treatise on the Nature of Medicinals, deer sauce is Patrinia. It tastes pungent and bitter and is slightly cool. It can treat toxic wind and impediment pain, and is used for long-standing accumulations of stagnant blood. It can transform pus into fluid, and is also used for various postpartum illnesses, abdominal pain, lingering rashes, and vexing thirst.”

The Essential Prescriptions of the Sun-Moon says: “Patrinia tastes sour. It can treat red eyes, cloudiness and growths in the eye, discharge from the ears, disorders of blood and Qi, pain in the heart and abdomen, and abdominal masses. It is also used for various prenatal illnesses, to induce labor, for retained placenta, blood fainting, draining pus, fistulas, nosebleeds, vomiting blood, red and white vaginal discharge, sores, scabies, and erysipelas. Another name for it is Sour Yi. Gather it in the seventh or eighth month.”

Lei Gong says: “After gathering Patrinia, pound it coarsely and mix it with licorice leaves. Steam it from the hour of the Snake until the hour of the Goat. Remove it and dry it over a fire, then discard the licorice leaves and keep the Patrinia for use.”

The Yang Family’s Record of Childbirth and Nursing says: “If a burn from the fluid discharged by a pseudoscorpion—a small, commonly seen arthropod—encircles the waist, boil Patrinia into a liquid and apply it. The burn will then heal.”

White Dittany

White dittany, the name of a Chinese medicinal herb, tastes bitter and salty, has a cold nature, and is non-toxic. It is used to treat head wind, jaundice, coughing and counterflow, dribbling urination, swelling and pain in the female genital area, damp impediment, numbness and stiffness of the flesh, and joints that cannot bend or extend. It is also used for restless movement of the limbs; intense heat in the abdomen during seasonal epidemics, accompanied by thirst, agitation, a desire to run, and loud shouting; childhood convulsions; and lingering pain after childbirth. It grows in the mountain valleys around Shanggu, and …

The white xian plant produced in Yuanju (an ancient place name): harvest its roots in the fourth or fifth month and dry them in the shade. White xian should not be used together with mantis egg cases, platycodon root, or poria.

White Xian

The Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica says: White xian grows in the mountain streams and valleys of Shanggu and around Yuanju. Today it is also produced in Hezhong Prefecture, Jiangning Prefecture, Chuzhou, and Runzhou. The plant grows a little over one chi tall. Its stem is green, and its leaves are slightly pale, resembling locust-tree leaves and, to some extent, evodia leaves. In the fourth month it bears pale purple flowers shaped like small hollyhocks. Its root resembles a turnip, with yellowish-white skin and firm flesh. Harvest the roots in the fourth or eighth month and dry them in the shade for use. Ge Hong records that, to treat a mouse fistula—an ancient term for a kind of ulcerated fistula—if the sore has opened and is draining pus and blood, one may boil white xian root bark, take one sheng of the liquid, and, it is said, vomit up a “mouse offspring,” an ancient name for something found in the diseased area. The illness will then be cured.

Tao Hongjing says: White xian can be found in many nearby regions, but the kind produced in Shu is best. Among ordinary people it is called “white sheep xian,” because its smell is much like the mutton-like odor of a sheep; some also call it “white mutton-smell.”

The Tang Materia Medica says: White xian leaves resemble evodia leaves. The plant grows a little over one chi tall; its roots are white and firm, and its flowers are purplish white. The roots should be harvested in the second month. If harvested in the fourth or fifth month, they become hollow and inferior in quality.

Yuxi says: According to the Treatise on the Nature of Medicinals, white xian root bark, used as an assistant ingredient, can treat various forms of heat-toxin, wind disorders, wind sores, scabies and ringworm, red and ulcerated skin, loss or brittleness of the eyebrows and hair, tightness of the skin, and fever with chills. It was also considered effective for several kinds of jaundice, including heat jaundice, alcohol jaundice, acute jaundice, grain jaundice, and fatigue jaundice.

The Rihuazi Materia Medica says: White xian can open and clear the orifices, benefit the nine orifices and the blood vessels, and be used for wind impediment, weakness and lack of strength in the sinews and bones, water retention in the small intestine, and headaches and eye pain caused by seasonal illnesses. The root bark is more potent; the flowers have the same uses as the root bark. White xian can also be eaten as a vegetable, and is also called “golden sparrow pepper.”

Ground Cherry

Ground cherry tastes sour and is neutral but somewhat cold in nature; it is non-toxic. Ancient books say it treats internal heat and restlessness, fullness and distension in the chest and abdomen, calms the spirit, replenishes strength, and promotes urination. In cases of difficult labor, swallowing its fruit is said to bring about delivery at once. Ground cherry is also called “vinegar cherry.” It grows in the marshes and fields of the Jing and Chu regions, as well as in people’s gardens. Harvest it in the fifth month and dry it in the shade for use.

The Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica says: Ground cherry grows in the marshes and fields of Jing and Chu; today it is found everywhere. The plant resembles water cress, but is smaller, and its leaves can also be eaten. The fruit grows inside a bladder-like calyx, which contains a fruit the size of a plum, colored reddish yellow. It is especially beneficial for children, and is said to clear heat.

Tao Hongjing says: People in many regions commonly grow ground cherry, and its leaves can also be eaten. The fruit is enclosed in a bladder-like calyx, is the size of a plum, and is yellow with a reddish tinge. Eating it can clear heat in children, and it can also be used for jaundice, often with good results.

Liu Yuxi says that, according to the commentary in the Shu Materia Medica, the root of sourgrass resembles the celery root found in pickled vegetables. It is whitish and extremely bitter. Pound it to extract the juice and take it; it is often effective for treating jaundice.

The Erya calls it “Needle Cold-juice.” Its commentary says this is sourgrass; people in the Jiangdong region call it “Bitter Needle.”

The Thousand Gold Prescriptions records a treatment for women’s red and white vaginal discharge: take sourgrass with three leaves, dry it in the shade, and grind it into a fine powder. On an empty stomach, swallow three qian and seven fen with warm wine.

The Formulas from the Garden of the Numinous records a treatment for sudden onset of various urinary disorders, with difficult, obstructed urination, reddish urine, and pain during urination. Take sourgrass with three leaves. It grows close to the ground in household courtyards or beside railings, bears yellow flowers, and tastes sour. Wash the tender leaves, grind them, and squeeze out the juice. Take one ge of juice, mix it with one ge of wine, warm the mixture in hot water, and drink it on an empty stomach. This will restore the flow of urine.

The Elucidation of the Materia Medica says that sourgrass now grows everywhere. Its seedlings resemble Chinese groundcherry; it bears small white flowers and forms green husks. When ripe, the husks darken, and the fruit inside is about the size of a cherry and is also red. The fruit contains tiny seeds resembling eggplant seeds. It has a grassy flavor when eaten. This is “Bitter Dan.” The Illustrated Classic now gives “Bitter Dan” its own separate entry, which is clearly a duplication; the original Classic of the Materia Medica did not include the name “Bitter Dan.”

Purple Ginseng

Purple ginseng is bitter and pungent, and cold in nature, though some say slightly cold; it is non-toxic. It treats accumulations in the chest and abdomen, as well as cold and heat pathogens. It opens the nine orifices and assists urination and bowel movements. It also treats accumulated heat in the intestines and stomach, coughing up blood, nosebleeds, blood accumulated in the intestines, abscesses, swellings, and sores. It can also relieve thirst and replenish Jing and Qi. Purple ginseng is also called Mou Meng, Zhong Rong, Tong Chang, and Ma Xing. It grows in mountain valleys in Hexi and Yuanju. Harvest the root in the third month and char it over a fire until it turns purple before use. Purple ginseng is incompatible with Magnolia flower, so this incompatibility should be taken into account when combining them.

The Illustrated Classic says that purple ginseng grows in mountain valleys in Hexi and Yuanju. It is now also found in Hezhong, Jiezhou, Jinzhou, and Qizhou, as well as in the Huai and Shu regions. The plant grows one or two chi tall. Its root is pale purple and shaped like rehmannia root. The stem is slender and green, and the leaves are also green; some resemble locust-tree leaves, while others resemble dock leaves. In the fifth month it bears white flowers shaped like onion blossoms.

Zhang Zhongjing used Purple Ginseng Decoction to treat dysentery: half a jin of purple ginseng and two liang of licorice. Simmer the purple ginseng in five sheng of water until two sheng of liquid remain. Add the licorice and simmer again until half a sheng remains. Divide into two doses and drink warm.

The Treatise on the Nature of Medicinals says that purple ginseng serves as an assistant ingredient. It is bitter and can disperse stagnant blood. It treats hardness and distention in the chest and abdomen, and can also treat obstruction of menstrual flow in women.

Tao Hongjing says that medical prescriptions today all call purple ginseng “Mou Meng,” but in practice it is not used very often.

The Tang Ben Zhu says that the leaves of zi shen resemble those of yangti grass. It bears purple flowers on greenish spikes, and its root bark is purple. The root flesh varies in color, including black and reddish white, while the outer skin is darker. It grows in many regions.

Gao ben (a Chinese medicinal herb) tastes pungent and bitter and is warm in nature; some accounts describe it as slightly warm or slightly cold. It is non-toxic. It is used to treat women’s shan jia—conditions involving abdominal lumps, distension, and pain—as well as swelling and pain in the genital area caused by cold, and cramping pain in the abdomen. It can also dispel Wind, treat headaches, moisturize the skin and improve the complexion. It may be used to ward off the effects of fog and damp, nourish the skin, and treat Wind disorders that cause the limbs to pull painfully and move with difficulty, as well as wounds caused by blades or swords. Gao ben can also be made into hair-washing preparations and face creams. Its fruit is used to treat Wind afflicting the limbs. Gao ben is also known as gui qing, di xin, and wei jing. It grows in valleys on Mount Chong. The roots are gathered in the first or second lunar month and dried in the sun; records say they spoil after thirty days. It should not be used together with li ru.

The Illustrated Materia Medica says that gao ben grows in the valleys of Mount Chong. It is now also found in the prefectures and districts of Western Sichuan and Hedong, as well as in Yan and Hangzhou. Its leaves resemble those of bai zhi and are fragrant. They also resemble those of xiong qiong (the medicinal herb chuan xiong), but xiong qiong has leaves like those of a larger water celery, while gao ben has finer leaves. The root of gao ben is above the sprouts, and its shape resembles a stalk of grain; this is why it is called “gao ben.”

Tao Hongjing says that people commonly use the rootlets of xiong qiong in place of gao ben, since the two are similar in shape and smell. However, the Tong Jun’s Materia Medica says that the sprouts of xiong qiong resemble gao ben. Other accounts say that the two differ in their flowers and fruit, and that they grow in different regions. Today, another kind of gao ben is found in the eastern mountains. It is very similar in shape and smell, but grows larger.

Yuxi says that, according to the Treatise on the Nature of Medicines, gao ben is classified as a ministerial herb. It is slightly warm and is counteracted by qing xiang zi. It treats various severe Wind disorders and gui zhu—a category of contagious or uncanny illnesses described in earlier times. It can also relieve pain and a feeling of cold in the lower back caused by Wind, promote urination, invigorate the blood, and treat Wind headache and gan pao, skin problems such as dark facial patches or eruptions.

The Rihuazi Materia Medica says that gao ben can also treat epilepsy, as well as skin spots, dark patches, rosacea, and acne.

Shi wei (a Chinese medicinal herb) tastes bitter and sweet, is neutral in nature, and is non-toxic. It is used to treat feverishness from deficiency, pathogenic influences, and five types of urinary obstruction. It promotes urination, eases agitation, regulates the flow of Qi, and treats distension of the bladder. It can also replenish the five taxations, support the five organs, dispel severe Wind, and boost Jing and Qi. Shi wei is also known as shi zhe and shi pi. Before use, remove the yellow fuzz: it irritates the lungs and causes coughing, which can be difficult to treat if severe. Shi wei grows on rocks in the valleys of Mount Huayin. The best specimens grow where neither the sound of water nor the sound of people can be heard. Gather the leaves in the second lunar month and dry them in the shade. Talc and apricot kernels can be used alongside it. After consulting the Shu Materia Medica, Yuxi and others noted that the Shu text records it as luo shi. It works well when used together with chang pu.

The Illustrated Materia Medica says that shi wei grows on rocks in the valleys of Mount Huayin. It is now also found in Jin, Jiang, Chu…

Shiwe grows in the areas around Fuzhou and Jiangning Prefecture, where it forms clumps attached to rocks. Its leaves resemble willow leaves. The undersides are covered with fine hairs, and their markings look like skin; hence the name “Shiwe,” or “stone skin.” Plants growing where no sound of water can be heard are considered best. The leaves are gathered in the second and seventh months, dried in the shade, and then used. Physicians in the south dry-fry the leaves, grind them into powder, and mix the powder with cool wine for a very effective treatment of back sores.

Shiwe is also called “stone skin.” In Fuzhou, another plant also known by that name blooms in the third month. Its leaves are gathered that month and boiled in water for bathing to treat wind disorders. A plant that grows on old roof tiles is called “Wawei,” or “tile fern”; it can treat urinary disorders such as painful or difficult urination.

Tao Yinjü said: Shiwe spreads across rocks, and its leaves resemble skin, which is why it is so named. It is now found in many places; those growing where neither the sound of water nor human voices can be heard are best. Shiwe from Jianping has larger, thicker leaves.

Yuxi said: According to the Treatise on the Nature of Medicinals, Shiwe is slightly cold in nature. It can treat deficiency taxation and the “five stranguries” (various disorders that make urination difficult), as well as heat binding in the bladder, blocked urination, and fullness and distension caused by intense bladder heat.

Bixie

Bixie is bitter and sweet in taste, neutral in nature, and non-toxic. It treats pain in the lower back and back, stiffness of the sinews, bones, and joints, and generalized numbness and pain in the limbs caused by wind, cold, and dampness. It is also used for persistent malignant sores, heat pathogens that damage the internal organs, disorders caused by anger, impotence, involuntary urination, blood stasis in the joints, and slack, weak sinews and vessels in old age. Bixie is also called “red joints” and grows in the mountain valleys of Zhending. Its roots are gathered in the second and eighth months and dried in the sun. Coix seed helps Bixie exert its effects. Bixie should not be used with sunflower root, rhubarb, bupleurum, or oyster shell.

The Illustrated Materia Medica says: Bixie grows in the mountain valleys of Zhending. It is now also found in the He and Shan regions, eastern Jing, Jing, Shu, and elsewhere. Its roots are yellowish white, with many joints, and about three fingers thick. The young shoots and leaves are green, and the stems trail along the ground. The leaves are divided into three lobes and resemble those of Chinese yam or mung bean. The flowers may be yellow, red, or white; some plants do not flower but produce white seeds. The roots are gathered in spring and autumn and dried in the sun. Older accounts say there are two kinds of Bixie: the kind with prickles on its stems has roots that are white and firm; the kind without prickles has roots that are hollow and soft. The softer roots are considered best.

The Zhengyuan Guangli Formula records this treatment: For men with numbness in the waist and legs, sinews and vessels that alternately tighten and slacken, and an unsteady gait, take twenty-four parts Bixie and eight parts Eucommia bark. Pound and sift the ingredients. Each day, mix three qian and seven fen with warm wine and take it; gradually increase the dose to five qian and seven fen. Avoid eating beef.

Tao Yinjü said: Bixie is now found in many places. It resembles Smilax, but differs slightly: its roots are larger, it has fewer prickles at the joints, and its color is somewhat lighter.

The Tang Ben Commentary says: There are two kinds of Bixie. The kind with prickles on its stems has roots that are white and firm; the kind without prickles has roots that are hollow and soft. The soft-rooted kind is best. Its leaves resemble Chinese yam leaves, and its stems trail along the ground.

Li Yuxi quotes the Treatise on the Nature of Drugs: “Bixie (Dioscorea root, a Chinese medicinal herb) treats rheumatic pain and obstruction caused by cold pathogens. It can also relieve difficulty moving the lower back and legs, spasms in the hands and feet, and pain in the lower back from prolonged exposure to cold in men. It can also be used to treat fluid accumulation around the kidneys and in the bladder.”

Rihua Zi says that Bixie treats abscesses and swelling, paralysis and weakness, wind disorders, dizziness, epilepsy, and other conditions. It also benefits the kidneys, strengthens the sinews and bones, increases Jing and Qi, and improves eyesight. At the time, some people called it “white Smilax” when using it for people who had lost the ability to speak after a stroke.

Sun Shangyao used Bixie to treat intestinal hemorrhoids and fistulas, calling the prescription “Sage’s Powder.” Finely chop Bixie and take an equal amount of Guanzhong (another Chinese medicinal herb). Remove the leaves and dirt from each piece, then pound them together and sift into powder. Take two qian at a time, mixed with warm wine, on an empty stomach before meals.

Duheng

Duheng is pungent in flavor, warm in nature, and non-toxic. It primarily treats cough and rebellious Qi caused by wind-cold. It is fragrant and can impart its scent to clothing and the body. It grows in mountain valleys. Gather its roots on the third day of the third month, wash them, and dry them in the sun.

The Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica says that earlier works on materia medica did not record which prefectures produced Duheng, but today it is found throughout the Jianghuai region. According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas, a plant grows on Mount Tiandi that resembles a sunflower and smells like Miwu. It is called Duheng, and eating it enables horses to run well. Guo Pu’s commentary says that carrying this plant also makes horses run well; others believe that horses grow strong and swift after eating it.

The Erya calls it “Du,” and gives “Tulu” as another name. However, Duruo has also been called Duheng, so some have suspected that the passage actually refers to Duruo. Guo Pu’s commentary describes a fragrant plant resembling a sunflower; on that basis, the passage appears to refer to this Duheng.

The Treatise on the Nature of Drugs says Duheng can relieve rapid, labored breathing, dispel phlegm and fluid retention, and disperse stagnant, congealed blood. It also treats swellings in the neck.

Tao Hongjing says that Duheng’s roots and leaves closely resemble those of Xixin, though their fragrances differ slightly. It grows in many places and is seldom used in medicinal prescriptions. Daoist practitioners, however, take it as a supplement so that their bodies and clothing carry its fragrance.

The Tang Herbal Commentary says Duheng’s leaves resemble those of a sunflower, and its shape resembles a horse’s hoof, which is why it is commonly called “horse-hoof fragrance.” It grows in low, damp places near water, and its roots resemble those of Xixin and Baixian. Today, people sometimes use Jiji in place of Duheng, but this is a mistake. Jiji has only one stem, with four leaves at its tip and white flowers between the leaves. It has no fragrance, and taking it on its own can cause vomiting. It is used only to treat sores and scabies and must not be confused with Duheng.

Baiwei

Baiwei is bitter and salty in flavor, neutral in nature, extremely cold in medicinal property, and non-toxic. It primarily treats sudden windstroke, fever, distension in the limbs, and a dazed, confused state of mind, as well as frenzied behavior, pathogenic influences, alternating chills and fever, aching pain, and warm malaria.

Wash the hair at an appropriate time. This can treat ailments caused by being caught in the rain or wading through water after an injury, and can help unblock Yin Qi.

Jing (essence), also known as Baimu, Weicao, Chuncao, or Gumei, is beneficial when taken over a long period. It grows on plains, along rivers, and in valleys. The roots are gathered on the third day of the third lunar month and dried in the shade. It should not be used together with Astragalus root, rhubarb, kansui, dried ginger, dried lacquer, cornus fruit, or jujube.

The Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica says: This plant is now also found in the various prefectures of Shaanxi. Its stems and leaves are green and look much like willow leaves. It flowers red in the sixth or seventh month and bears fruit; its roots are yellowish white. Some now say it should be gathered in the eighth month.

Tao Hongjing says: This plant is found everywhere near human settlements. Its root resembles that of Achyranthes, but is shorter and smaller. Daoist practitioners and physicians often use it to treat fright, affliction by malign influences, wind madness, and zhu disorders—persistent illnesses thought to be caused by ghosts or spirits.

Yuxi says: According to the Treatise on the Nature of Medicinals, Baiwei is a minister herb. It can treat sudden stupor and drowsiness, loss of consciousness, and various disorders attributed to malign forces, ghosts, and spirits.

Baiwei is used for its leaves. Its fruits are merely empty husks, without seeds.

Rihua Zi says: Qumai can hasten childbirth and is also called Dumu Cao, Yanmai, or Yuemai. He also says that Shizhu can treat hemorrhoids, fistulas, and bloody stools; it can be boiled into a soup or porridge and eaten.

Lei Gong says: When using Qumai, use only the stamens and calyx, not the petals or leaves. Using all these parts together can obstruct breathing in the chest and may cause urinary incontinence. Before use, soak it for a full day in the liquid of Jin bamboo, then remove it and dry it in the sun for later use.

The Essential Secrets from the Outer Pavilion records: If something is lodged in the throat, grind Qumai into powder and mix it with water. Take one square-inch spoonful, an ancient medicinal measure roughly equal to a spoonful.

The Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand in Gold records: If labor has continued for several days without delivery, or the fetus has died in the womb and the mother is in danger, boil Qumai into a strong decoction and take it.

The Prescriptions of Master Mei records: If a bamboo or wooden splinter has pierced the flesh and cannot be removed, grind Qumai into powder and mix it with water; take one square-inch spoonful. Alternatively, boil Qumai to make a drink and take it three times a day. The Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand in Gold gives the same account.

The Prescriptions of the Cui Family records: To treat fish-navel sores—poisonous sores with a central depression resembling a fish’s navel—burn the medicine to ash, mix it with oil, and apply it to the swelling. This is very effective.

The Extended Materia Medica says: Qumai is used in the Eight-Herb Powder and is now an important medicinal. But if there is heat in the Heart channel while the Small Intestine is weak, taking Qumai may leave the Heart heat unresolved and instead cause other disorders in the Small Intestine. The reasoning seems to be that the Heart and Small Intestine are linked, so a medicine that enters the Small Intestine is used to treat the condition. Yet the classics do not say that Qumai treats Heart heat. If there is no obvious pathogenic heat in the Heart, the Heart should be treated directly. If the pathogenic heat has not been fully cleared, treatment should then proceed through the organ corresponding to the Heart, allowing the malign influence to gradually subside.

That is the meaning of “Eightfold Correct Powder.”

Scrophularia root

Scrophularia root tastes bitter and salty, is slightly cold in nature, and is non-toxic. It is used to treat cold and heat entangled in the abdomen, accumulations and masses, and ailments that persist after childbirth. It can supplement Kidney Qi and brighten the eyes. It is also used for sudden windstroke, fever from Cold Damage, distention and fullness in the chest and abdomen, madness or sudden unconsciousness caused by pathogenic Qi, chills during attacks of warm malaria, blood masses, and coldness in the lower burner. It can also dispel constraint in the chest, promote urination, relieve irritability and thirst, disperse nodules and abscesses in the neck, ease pain in the heart and abdomen, and soften hard masses. Long-term use is said to replenish deficiency, brighten the eyes, strengthen Kidney Yin, and boost Jing (essence).

Scrophularia root is also called Chongtai, Xuantai, Luchang, Zhengma, and Xian. Another alternate name is missing from the original text. It grows in the regions of Hejian, river valleys, and Yuanju. The roots are gathered in the third or fourth month and dried in the sun. It is incompatible with Astragalus, dried ginger, jujube, and Cornus fruit, and counteracts Veratrum.

The Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica records: Scrophularia root grows in Hejian and Yuanju and is now found in many regions. Shoots appear in the second month. The leaves resemble sesame leaves, as well as those of the scholar tree and willow. The stems are slender and bluish purple. It flowers in the seventh month, with blue-green blossoms, and bears black seeds in the eighth month. Another variety has white flowers and thick, square stems of reddish purple, covered with fine hairs and joints. It resembles bamboo and can reach five or six feet in height. Its leaves are about the size of a palm, pointed and long, with serrated edges. The roots are pointed and long, bluish white when fresh and purplish black when dry. New roots are thick and moist, with five to seven growing from each plant. They are generally dug up in the third, eighth, or ninth month and dried in the sun; some say they should be steamed before drying.

Tao Hongjing says: Scrophularia root is now produced in many nearby regions. Its stem resembles ginseng, but is longer and larger; the root is very dark and slightly fragrant. Daoist practitioners sometimes use it, including in the preparation of incense. The Tang Materia Medica commentary says: Both the root and shoots of Scrophularia have a foul odor, and its stem does not resemble ginseng. It is unclear why Tao Hongjing said that Daoist practitioners used it to make incense.

The Records of the Materia Medica by Rihua says: Scrophularia root can be used for wind disorders of the head, toxic heat, and wandering wind. It can also replenish deficiency and debility, and treat fright of the heart, irritability, fatigue, steaming bone syndrome, the pathogenic influences of “transmitted corpse,” and forgetfulness, as well as dispel swellings and toxins.

Lei Gong says: After gathering Scrophularia root, place it in a steamer, separating the layers with leaves of cattail, and steam it for two “fu periods.” Remove it and dry it in the sun. It must not come into contact with copper utensils. If cattail fibers are swallowed with it, they are said to choke the throat and injure the eyes, so remove them thoroughly before use.

Yuxi’s note: The Treatise on the Nature of Medicinals records that Scrophularia root is also called Zhima. It tastes bitter and is used to treat sudden outbreaks of heat and binding, as well as headache from heat-wind, relapse after Cold Damage, and tumors, goiters, and scrofulous nodules—swellings like tuberculous lymph nodes in the neck.

For fumigation therapy for those suffering from consumptive illness: Take one jin of Scrophularia root and six liang of nard, and grind them into a fine powder. Mix thoroughly with one jin of refined honey, place the mixture in a porcelain jar, seal it, and bury it in the ground to mature for ten days. Take it out, add six liang of ash powder, then mix in six liang of refined honey. Put it in a jar, seal it, and mature it underground for another five days. Take it out and burn it, so that the fragrance is continually inhaled through the nose. It is said that the illness will then heal on its own.

The Guangli Formula says that to treat scrofula (a condition resembling tuberculosis of the lymph nodes in the neck) that has not healed for many years, pound fresh Scrophularia root and apply it to the affected area, replacing it twice a day.

Qinjiao (pronounced “jiao,” a medicinal plant): Bitter and pungent in taste, neutral and slightly warm in nature, and non-toxic. It treats pathogenic cold and heat, cold-dampness impediment (painful obstruction caused by wind, cold, and dampness), and pain in the joints of the limbs. It promotes urination and treats disorders caused by wind, as well as stiffness and contraction of the sinews and vessels throughout the body; it can be used regardless of whether the illness is recent or longstanding. Qinjiao grows in the valleys of Feiwu Mountain. Its roots are gathered in the second and eighth months and dried in the sun. Sweet flag can serve as its messenger herb, assisting the effects of the other medicine in a formula.

The Illustrated Classic records: Qinjiao grows in the valleys of Feiwu Mountain and is now also abundant around Hezhou and Shanzhou. Its roots are yellow, with interwoven, winding markings, about one chi long and of varying thickness. Its stems grow five or six cun high. The leaves spread outward, and both stems and leaves are green; the leaves resemble those of lettuce. It blooms with purple flowers in the sixth month, shaped like kudzu flowers, and sets seed that same month. The roots are generally gathered in spring and autumn and dried in the shade.

Tao Hongjing said: “‘Feiwu’ may be a place name. Qinjiao from places such as Gansong, Longdong, and Canling is now considered superior when its roots are long and large, and yellowish white. All the roots have interwoven, netlike markings. Before use, they should be thoroughly crushed and cleaned of soil. Prescribers often write its name as ‘Qinjiao’ using the character for ‘glue,’ but, like pubescent angelica, it is commonly used to treat disorders caused by wind. Daoist practitioners do not use it this way.”

The Tang Materia Medica says: “Qinjiao from Jingzhou, Fuzhou, and Qizhou is now considered the finest. Its name is sometimes written with the characters for ‘zha,’ ‘jiu,’ or ‘jiao’; the correct character is ‘jiao.’”

Jinchai Gu: Sweet in taste, neutral in nature, and mildly toxic. It can neutralize various kinds of poison. If someone has been poisoned, it may be taken as a decoction or pounded fresh and swallowed; its effects are stronger when used fresh and it will certainly cause severe vomiting and diarrhea. Even those who have not been poisoned will vomit after taking it. It is used to expel hot phlegm, malaria, miasma, epidemic illness, and Gu poison. It also treats obstruction of the throat. Jinchai Gu grows in the mountain valleys of Lingnan. Its roots resemble those of Asarum, and it has thirty or forty stems. It is also called “Thirty Stems” or “Hairpin Stems,” and people in Lingnan often use it.

Ligecao: Pungent in taste, cold in nature, and mildly toxic. It treats scrofula, erysipelas (a condition involving red, swollen, hot, painful skin), childhood “Wugu” (an ancient disease term, often referring to childhood illnesses with no evident external cause), alternating chills and fever, abdominal distention and fullness, and phlegm-fluid retention and heat in the chest and diaphragm. Pound the fresh herb, extract its juice, and take one he; this will induce vomiting of accumulated matter from the chest and diaphragm. It grows in damp places such as the steps and courtyards of people’s homes.

The plant grows to about three inches high, with leaves resembling a fine mesh. It is most effective in treating malaria. This plant is found in the Jiangdong region but not in the north.

Illustrated and Explanatory Materia Medica, juan 13