《圖經衍義本草》Vol. 19

Wood-sorrel has a sweet taste with a slight bitterness and is non-toxic. It treats eye disorders and reduces nebulae, the thin films that cloud the eyes and impair vision. It also disperses accumulated stagnation. Wood-sorrel benefits the Liver and Gallbladder, brightens the eyes, treats intestinal wind—bleeding caused by pathogenic wind in the intestines—and stops dysentery. It can also treat persistent menstrual bleeding in women.

Combined with ox-horn gum and musk, wood-sorrel treats dysentery that has lasted a long time or repeatedly returned. Combined with Yu Yu Liang, Chinese angelica, and Sichuan lovage, it treats uterine flooding and spotting, as well as vaginal discharge that is red or white. Combined with pagoda-tree fungus and mulberry ear fungus, it treats intestinal bleeding caused by intestinal wind. Combined with pagoda-tree seeds and bitter orange, it is suitable for treating bleeding hemorrhoids.

Wood-sorrel grows in Qin, Long, Hua, Cheng, and other regions, often near water. The plant grows to about one chi tall and forms clumps. Each stem is jointed; it has no flowers or leaves, and is blue-green. It does not wither in winter. It is gathered for use in the fourth month.

The Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica says: “Wood-sorrel grows around Qin, Long, Tong, and Hua. It is slightly bitter, non-toxic, brightens the eyes, treats wind, and stops dysentery. It grows in valleys near water. Its solitary stems resemble arrow shafts and have no leaves. They are one or two chi long and green, and do not wither in winter. The stems are distinctly jointed, and may be gathered at any time. Physicians today often use wood-sorrel, especially to treat intestinal hemorrhoids that have persisted for years and ongoing rectal bleeding.”

A formula for persistent rectal bleeding uses two liang each of wood-sorrel and bitter orange peel, one liang of dried ginger, and four fen of rhubarb. Chop the four ingredients and fry them together in a small decoction pot until black, but retain three-tenths of their medicinal properties; do not scorch them completely. Then pound them and sift the powder. Take two qian at a time, mixed with warm millet broth, before meals. It works very well.

The Guangli Formula gives this method for persistent rectal bleeding: Take twelve fen of chopped wood-sorrel and add one sheng and eight ge of water. Decoction it down to eight ge, then strain out the herbs. Drink it warm on an empty stomach in two doses. Take the second dose after about the time it takes to walk five li.

The Yanyi says: “Chop wood-sorrel, lightly fry it, then pound it into a fine powder. Take two qian at a time, mixed with boiling water, before meals. It treats obstructed Qi in the small intestine and bladder. Take it gradually in this way, and it will surely be effective.”

Yinjincao has a bitter taste, a neutral nature, and is non-toxic. It treats chronic cough, rebellious Qi with labored breathing, longstanding cold disorders, palpitations, and skin conditions such as scabs and itching, white scalp ringworm, and sores. It also kills tiny insects on the skin. It can be used as a yellow dye, giving objects a golden-yellow color. Yinjincao grows in the valleys and streams around Qingyi and is gathered in the ninth and tenth months. This herb is incompatible with woodlice, small creatures of the pill-bug kind. Tao Hongjing says that Qingyi lies in the western part of Yizhou.

The Bencao records that the leaves of jincao resemble bamboo leaves, but are thinner and more delicate. Its stems are also round and slender. It grows beside water on plains and along streams in mountain valleys. In the areas around Jingzhou and Xiangzhou, people boil it to make yellow dye, producing a bright, attractive color. It is also effective for washing sores. Locally, it is commonly called “green grass.” The “wangchu” mentioned in the Erya refers to this plant.

According to the Erya Commentary, jincao is also called “lurong”; some people today call it “chijiaosha.” The “green bamboo” in the line “I gaze toward the Qi’s banks, where green bamboo grows luxuriantly” from the “Wei Feng” section of the Book of Songs refers to this plant as well. The Treatise on the Nature of Medicinal Substances records that jincao can serve as an assistant medicinal, used to treat various severe sores.

Pugongcao tastes sweet, is neutral in nature, and is non-toxic. It treats breast swelling and pain in women, known as breast abscess. Boil it in water and drink the liquid, then apply the herb to the affected area; the swelling and pain will soon subside. It is also called “gounoucao.”

The Tang Materia Medica Annotation says that pugongcao leaves resemble endive, its flowers are yellow, and when broken it exudes a white sap. People often eat it as food. The Illustrated Materia Medica from Shu records that its flowers resemble chrysanthemums but are larger; both its stems and leaves release white sap when broken, and can be eaten raw. It grows in damp lowland areas and fields, and is gathered in the fourth and fifth months.

The Illustrated Materia Medica says that early materia medica texts did not record which prefectures produced pugongcao. Today it can be found in damp lowland areas and fields everywhere. It sprouts in early spring. Its leaves resemble endive and have fine prickles. A flower stalk rises from the center of the leaves, bearing a single yellow flower at its tip, shaped like a coin. When the stalk is broken, white sap flows out, and people also eat the plant. Its common name is “pugongying.” It is said that this name arose as a corruption of “pugongying” (the older form).

Boiling pugongcao in water and drinking the liquid can treat breast abscess in women; crushed and applied to a sore, it is also very effective. It can also treat injuries caused by thorns, including the kind commonly called “fox-urine thorn.” Crush the roots and stems, extract the white sap, and apply it to the affected area. Repeated applications will relieve the pain and heal the wound. This treatment appears in Sun Simiao’s Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand in Gold. The book records that on the night of the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the fifth year of the Zhenguan era, Sun Simiao struck the back of his left middle finger against a tree in the courtyard. By dawn, the pain was unbearable. Ten days later, the injury had grown deeper, the sore had become raised, and its color resembled that of a fully ripe red bean. Remembering that an elder had described this treatment, he followed the prescription. As soon as the herb was applied, the pain eased and the sore healed; in less than ten days, he had recovered completely. Yang Yan’s Prescriptions for a Journey South also records the treatment’s effectiveness.

The Mei Master’s Prescriptions records that when a woman does not nurse her child herself after giving birth, her milk may collect and form a breast abscess. In such a case, pugongcao can be crushed and applied to the swelling, with the dressing replaced three or four times a day.

Gujingcao tastes pungent, is warm in nature, and is non-toxic. It treats throat obstruction, tooth pain caused by wind pathogens, and various …

Glabrous dayflower is used to treat sores and scabies, as well as ailments in horses such as worms and dry, scorched hair on the forehead. It can be gathered in grain fields during the second and third months. It is also called “Star-Crowned Herb”: its flowers are white, tiny, and round like stars, which is how it got its name.

Liu Yuxi and others add that, according to Rihua Zi, glabrous dayflower is cool in nature. It can be mixed into fodder and fed to horses to help them grow fat. It grows in fields during the second and third months, bears white flowers, and produces something like grains of sand formed from congealed mercury.

The Illustrated Materia Medica says: Earlier materia medica texts did not record which prefecture or region produced glabrous dayflower; today it is found everywhere. It grows in grain fields in spring. Its leaves and stems are green, while its roots and flowers are white. The flowers are gathered for medicine during the second and third months. It is also called Star-Crowned Herb, a name that comes from its fine leaves and small, round, white flowers resembling stars. There is another kind of glabrous dayflower, with fine leaves, a longer, jointed stem, and slightly red roots, found around Qin and Long. Ancient prescriptions rarely used it, but today it is often included in remedies for diseases of the mouth and teeth.

Chen Cangqi says: Glabrous dayflower tastes sweet and is neutral in nature. It is also used in medicines for horses and is distinguished by its white flowers and fine leaves.

The Collected Proven Prescriptions records: To treat pain on one side of the head or pain across the whole head, take one liang of glabrous dayflower, grind it into powder, and mix it with white flour. Spread the mixture on a paper flower-shaped patch and apply it to the painful area. Replace it when it dries.

Ox-blight herb tastes bitter, is slightly cold in nature, and is non-toxic. It is used to treat skin sores and heat disorders. It can be boiled to make a bath that kills lice and small insects on cattle and can also treat cattle diseases. This herb grows in the mountain valleys of Guiyang.

Tao Hongjing says: People today no longer recognize this herb. Cattle epidemics occur frequently, and yet even cattle doctors, who need medicines, do not know it.

The Tang Materia Medica says: The leaves of ox-blight herb resemble those of sanjin and stone parsley, while its roots resemble slender Qin gentian. It grows in flat, low-lying, damp fields. In the countryside it is called “ox-blight,” and it is very effective against cattle lice. The medicinal material kept by the Court of Imperial Sacrifices is called “bian te”; some also call it “bian du.”

Liu Yuxi and others add, citing the Illustrated Materia Medica of Shu: Its leaves resemble those of stone parsley, aconite, and other plants. It is now found in Ningzhou. The roots are gathered in the second and eighth months and dried in the sun.

The Illustrated Materia Medica says: Ox-blight herb grows in the mountain valleys of Guiyang and is now also found in Luzhou and Ningzhou. Its leaves resemble those of sanjin and stone parsley, and its roots resemble slender Qin gentian. It grows mostly in flat, damp places. It is gathered in the second and eighth months and dried in the sun; today it is rarely used. The Classic of Materia Medica says it kills cattle lice and small insects. Su Gong’s commentary says that the medicinal material kept by the Court of Imperial Sacrifices is called “bian te.” Today, a herb in Luzhou is called “bian te.” It flowers in the sixth month and bears fruit in the eighth. Its roots are gathered and pounded into powder, then mixed with oil to kill nits.

The shoots of Shigen have broadly similar medicinal effects. It may be Niubian, though the pronunciation and written form of the word “bian” are both different. Could it have been written incorrectly because the sounds are similar? For now, it is recorded here as an addendum.

Ku’ao (the second syllable is pronounced like “ao” in “padded jacket”): Slightly cold in nature. It is used to treat sores and rashes on the face, around the eyes, and over the body caused by contact with lacquer.

Tao Hongjing says: This herb grows everywhere. Local people gather the stems and eat them raw. Gather it on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, dry it in the sun, and burn it to ash. The ash is used to treat wounds caused by knives and swords, and is very effective.

The Tang Materia Medica commentary says: Some people now mistake it for Loulu, but this is incorrect.

After consulting the Illustrated Materia Medica of Shu, Yuxi and others say: Its fruit resembles Maiji; its stem is round and has no thorns. Gather the shoots in the fifth month; they can be eaten raw. It grows in damp, low-lying places throughout the country.

The Treatise on the Nature of Medicinals says: Ku’ao herb can also be used on its own. It is bitter in taste and non-toxic.

Rihua’s work says: It is cold in nature and can treat erysipelas, a condition involving red, swollen, hot skin.

The Treatise on Food Therapy says: Ku’ao is slightly cold in nature, and eating it raw can treat lacquer rash. Gather it on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, dry it in the sun, and burn it to ash. Apply the ash to sores and rashes on the face, around the eyes, and over the body caused by lacquer. Do not eat too much, and do not eat it with vinegar.

Cujiaocao: Sour in taste, cold in nature, and non-toxic. It is used to treat malignant sores, Guo sores, and fistulous sores. Crush it and apply it to kill various small insects. It grows beside roads.

The Tang Materia Medica commentary says: Its leaves resemble tiny duckweed, growing in clumps, with three leaves at the tip of each stem. It is also called Cumu grass and Jiuxuan grass. Another commentary says: It grows in shady, damp places and is commonly known as little sour mao. Eating it can relieve heat and quench thirst. Gather it in the fourth or fifth month and dry it in the shade. The Tang Materia Medica was the first to include it as an addendum in a medicinal text.

After consulting the Illustrated Materia Medica of Shu, Yuxi and others say: Its leaves resemble duckweed. Two larger leaves grow together at the end of a branch, with small yellow flowers blooming between them and black fruit forming afterward. It grows in damp, low-lying places. Gather the leaves in summer for use.

The Illustrated Materia Medica says: Cujiaocao is commonly called suanjing. Earlier books do not identify the prefectures or districts where it grows, saying only that it grows beside roads. Today it is abundant in damp, low-lying places in the south and in household gardens, and can occasionally be found in the north. Its leaves resemble duckweed and grow in clumps; three leaves grow at the tip of each stem, with small yellow flowers between them and black fruit afterward. Gather the leaves in summer for use. Children often pick and eat the tender leaves when they first emerge. People in the south also use it to polish brass vessels, making them white as silver and bright and gleaming.

Zuoyehe grass: Sour in taste, neutral in nature, and non-toxic. It is used to treat dryness and pain in the mouth, watery dysentery containing undigested food, and bloody dysentery; it can also stop bleeding. It grows on rooftops in the Shangdang region and resembles peng grass. When it first sprouts, it is also called Wasong. Gather it in summer and dry it in the sun.

A Tang-dynasty commentary on the Bencao says that the leaves of wa song resemble those of mugwort and grow to more than a foot tall. Seen from a distance, the plant looks like a pine tree, especially when it has just sprouted. It most often grows on the roofs of old houses tiled with clay.

Other editions say that wa song now grows throughout the country and can be used medicinally, chiefly in preparations for promoting and nourishing hair growth. The Tang commentary was the first to record this use. Liu Yuxi and others add, citing the Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica from Shu, that wa song is gathered in the sixth and seventh months and dried in the sun.

The Shenghui Formula says that for wind-related headaches and dandruff, wa song can be dried and burned to ash. Filter the ash through water, heat the liquid, and wash the hair with it five to seven times.

Ruotou (pronounced “ruo,” that is, juruo, commonly called konjac) has a pungent flavor, a cold nature, and is poisonous. It is used to treat abscesses and swellings caused by wind toxins; the plant can be pounded and applied to the swollen area. It can also be pounded, cooked with ash-water into a cake, and served as a dish with various seasonings. Its cold nature makes it useful for treating wasting thirst, but eating it raw irritates the throat and can cause bleeding there. Ruotou grows in the Wu and Shu regions. Its leaves resemble those of youba, and its tuberous root, as large as a bowl, grows in damp, shady places. When raindrops fall beneath its leaves, seeds form. It is also called juruo.

Another plant, banzhang, has young shoots resembling ruotou. In autumn it flowers, with an upright stalk bearing red fruit. Its root can also be applied to abscesses, swellings, and poisonous sores, but it is highly toxic and must not be eaten. The root resembles that of ruotou. Liu Yuxi and others cite the Rihuazi in saying that banzhang is another name for tiger cane, the plant described in the preceding entry.

The Illustrated Classic says that the related information is given under the entry for tiannanxing.

Xiakucao (prunella) has a bitter, pungent flavor, a cold nature, and is non-toxic. It treats alternating chills and fever, scrofulous lumps in the neck, chronic ulcers of the neck or armpit, and sores on the head. It can also disperse accumulations in the abdomen, goiters and nodules, and bound Qi; treat swollen feet and damp impediment; and promote lightness of the body. It is also called xiju, naidong, and yanmian. It grows in the mountain valleys of Shu Commandery and is gathered in the fourth month. Tuguā is used with it as a companion medicinal.

The Tang commentary says that xiakucao grows in flat, damp places and has leaves resembling those of xuanfuhua. It sprouts in early spring and sends up flower spikes in the fourth month. The flowers are purplish white, like those of danshen, and the plant withers in the fifth month. It is found throughout the country.

The Illustrated Classic says that xiakucao is native to the mountain valleys of Shu Commandery, but now also grows in the regions of the Yellow and Huai Rivers and in the prefectures of Zhejiang. Its leaves appear after the winter solstice and resemble those of xuanfuhua. It flowers in the third and fourth months, with purplish-white spikes like those of danshen, and its seeds also form in spikes. Xiakucao is gathered in the fourth month.

The Concise Formula for Universal Relief records that when liver deficiency causes pain in the eyeballs, continuous cold tears, pain in the sinews and vessels, or sensitivity to light, one may take “Liver-Tonifying Powder.” Grind half a liang of xiakucao and one liang of xiangfuzi into powder. Take one qian at a time, mixed with la cha, at any time.

The Yanyi says that xiaku grass is now also called “yuchou.” It begins growing in autumn and remains green through winter. It flowers white in spring, then withers after setting seed in midsummer. Ancient medical formularies used its ash as an ingredient in medicines for tightening the skin. When the young shoots first appear, they can be prepared as food, but they must first be soaked and washed to remove their bitterness. The herb can also treat scrofula, a kind of tubercular swelling of the neck’s lymph nodes, and chronic fistulas that have failed to close.

Yanbao grass is nontoxic and is used to treat involuntary urination during sleep. Burn it until charred, grind it into powder, and take one square-inch-spoonful with water. It can also treat hiccups and rebellious Qi. The plant grows in swallows’ nests.

The Qianjin Fang records that when a woman passes blood in her urine without apparent cause, she can burn grass from a Hu swallow’s nest to ash, grind it, and take half a coin’s weight with wine. The same remedy is used for men. The Sun Zhenren’s Dietary Prohibitions records that if a severe sore suddenly develops on the lower back, beginning near the pit of the stomach and already oozing pus, powder made from grass in a Hu swallow’s nest can be mixed with water and applied to it. If the sore spreads throughout the body, it may become life-threatening, so treatment should begin promptly.

Duckweed herb tastes bitter, is extremely cold in nature, and is nontoxic. It treats alternating chills and fever, miasmatic malaria, phlegm retention, edema, abdominal masses, and impaired circulation of Qi and Blood. It is also used for erysipelas in children, fever, convulsions, abdominal distention, swelling of the body or face, hot dysentery, and toxic sores such as those caused by snake or dog bites, boils, and carbuncles. Boiled and taken with red adzuki beans, it helps drain retained fluids, ease damp impediment, and promote urination.

Duckweed herb grows on level ground in Jiangdong and Huainan. Its leaves resemble bamboo leaves, and the plant stands one to two feet tall. Its flowers are deep blue-green, and its horn-shaped fruit resembles a bird’s beak. People in the north call it “chicken-tongue herb,” and also “bizhuo herb.” People in the Wu region call it “zhizhi,” because the pronunciations of “zhi” and “zhuo” are similar. It is also called “green bamboo,” a name that reflects the vivid beauty of its flowers.

The root of shancigu has mild toxicity. It treats abscesses, fistulas, scrofula, and nodules, and can be ground with vinegar for external application. It is also used to remove dark facial spots, though it causes the skin to peel. Shancigu grows in damp places in the mountains and is also called “golden lantern flower.” Its leaves resemble plantain, and its root resembles arrowhead. In the Lingling region there is another kind, called round shancigu, whose root resembles a small garlic bulb; its therapeutic effects are broadly similar.

A traditional remedy records that to treat a swollen sore, the stems and leaves of shancigu, also called deer-hoof grass, should be pounded into a paste, mixed with honey, and applied over the sore. When clear blood begins to flow, the remedy will have taken effect.

Qing seed tastes bitter, is neutral in nature, and is nontoxic. It treats red-and-white dysentery and dysentery with alternating chills and fever. It can be ground into powder and taken, or a small amount can be swallowed to disperse abscesses and swelling.

The Tang Materia Medica Commentary says that “qing” is also written “qing.” People use the plant’s bark to twist into cord.

According to the notes in another edition, the fruit of qingma is the seed produced by the hemp-like plant that people today use to weave cloth and twist rope. It resembles a hemp seed and has a hot nature. It can treat abscesses and swellings that have hardened but have no pus head; after it is swallowed, its medicinal effect concentrates at the affected area. Gather the fruit in the ninth or tenth month and dry it in the shade. The Tang Materia Medica was the first work to record this medicinal substance.

After consulting the Illustrated Manual of the Materia Medica from Shu, Yuxi and others said: Qingma grows to about four chi tall. Its leaves resemble those of ramie, its flowers are yellow, and its fruit capsules resemble those of hollyhock. The seeds inside are black. Ancient prescriptions also use its roots. Gather the fruit in the eighth month.

The Illustrated Manual says: Earlier materia medica texts did not record which prefectures and counties produced qingma; today it grows everywhere. People in the north cultivate it to weave cloth and twist rope. The plant grows four or five chi tall, and sometimes reaches six or seven chi. Its leaves resemble those of ramie, but are thinner. The flowers are yellow, and the fruit is enclosed in a capsule like that of hollyhock, with black seeds inside. Gather the fruit in the ninth or tenth month, dry it in the shade, and use it as medicine. Ancient prescriptions also use its roots.

The Yang Family’s Prescription for Childbirth records: To treat red or white dysentery, take one liang of qingma seeds, dry-fry them until fragrant, and grind them into powder. Take one qian with honey water, for no more than two doses.

Chicheshizhe has a pungent, bitter taste and a warm nature, and is poisonous. It treats illnesses caused by wind-cold and invading pathogenic influences, as well as Gu poison, abdominal masses (zhengjia), and disorders of Qi involving accumulations in the five organs.

The Tang Materia Medica notes: The shoots of chicheshizhe resemble those of xiangru or lanxiang. Its leaves and stems are red, and its roots are purplish red. It grows in shaded places in mountain valleys. It is produced in Xiangzhou. Gather the roots in the eighth or ninth month and dry them in the sun. The Tang Materia Medica was the first work to record it. After consulting the Illustrated Manual of the Materia Medica from Shu, Yuxi and others said: Its roots are purple and resemble those of madder. It grows in the mountain valleys of Jingzhou and Xiangzhou. Gather it in the second or eighth month.

The Treatise on the Nature of Medicines says: Chicheshizhe is mildly poisonous and can treat malignant wind and cold Qi. Taking it can make the skin lustrous and improve the complexion.

Lei Gong says: Chicheshizhe was originally called “Little Brocade Branch.” To process it, first pound it coarsely, mix it with the urine of a seven-year-old child, steam it, and then dry it in the sun. For every five liang of herb, one sheng of a child’s urine is sufficient.

Langbazi is mildly poisonous. It treats malignant sores and scabies, and can also kill insects and fish.

Tao Hongjing says: Langbazi is produced around Jiaozhou and Guangzhou and is flat in shape. Pound it, mix it with rice, and throw the mixture into water; fish of every size will rise to the surface and die. People also grind it with bitter vinegar to treat scabies, with good results.

The Tang Materia Medica notes: Today, in the area around the capital, huanghuanzi is called langbazi. It is also called “Dugu” or “Jiug ge.” The substance from Jiaozhou and Guangzhou described by Tao Hongjing, which is now sent from those regions as a medicinal product, is indeed huanghuanzi, and nothing else. According to the notes in another edition, langbazi has a bitter taste and a cold nature. It is a climbing plant with purple flowers.

Wuyou (roof moss) is sweet in flavor and cold in nature. It treats heat conditions that shift unpredictably across the skin’s surface, as well as symptoms that alternate between chills and fever. It also helps the Qi of the small intestine and bladder flow freely. It grows in shady places on rooftops and is usually gathered in the eighth or ninth month.

Tao Yinjü said: “Wuyou is the green moss on tiled roofs. Peel it off, boil it, and take it.” Another commentary on materia medica says that wuyou is non-toxic. It treats childhood convulsions and epilepsy, fever, and restlessness caused by seasonal epidemics, and can also relieve thirst. The Illustrated Classic from Shu records that it is the moss growing in shady places on the north side of old tiled roofs.

Dijincao (spotted spurge) is pungent in flavor and non-toxic. It treats impaired circulation in the blood vessels and may also be used for disorders of Qi. It grows in nearby fields, and the variety from Chuzhou is especially good. Its stems and leaves are slender and weak, spreading along the ground. The stems are red and the leaves bluish-purple. It grows vigorously in summer, bears red flowers in the sixth month, and produces small fruits. The young plants and seeds are gathered for medicinal use.

The Illustrated Classic records that dijincao grows in fields in and around Chuzhou and has the same nature, flavor, and effects described above. Physicians use its young plants and seeds. Under the entry for luoshi, the Classic of Materia Medica mentions a plant also called “dijin,” but that is a climbing vine and is not the same kind of plant as the dijincao described here.

The Proven Formulas records: “To treat zangdu, a condition in which the stool is streaked with red and white blood, gather dijincao, wash and dry it, then grind it into powder. Take one qian with rice water. It is said to work quickly.”

Bai chuan ru (bamboo pith scraped from a damaged boat) is neutral in nature. It treats uterine bleeding in women, as well as persistent vomiting of blood and bloody dysentery.

Tao Yinjü said: “Bai chuan ru is bamboo pith scraped from the bamboo of a large boat, taken from the material used to plug leaks. It may be dried and boiled, or burned to ash and taken as a powder.”

The Thousand Gold Prescriptions records: “To treat involuntary urination in women, grind bamboo pith from an old boat into powder and take three qian mixed with wine.” The Secret Record of Mother and Child also records: “When blood appears in the stool or urine without cause, dry bamboo pith, grind it into powder, and take three qian with wine three times a day.”

Dengxincao (rush) is sweet in flavor, cold in nature, and non-toxic. Its roots and shoots treat the five types of painful, difficult urination; the fresh plant may be boiled and taken. Dengxincao grows in Jiangnan and Chuzhou, often in clumps, with long, straight, round stems. People commonly weave it into mats. Boiling an old mat and taking the liquid is said to work better.

An Empirical Prescriptions Collection treats children’s nighttime crying with rush pith: burn it to ash, smear the ash on the nipple, and then feed the child.

The Golden Prescriptions treats wounds with rush pith: chew a generous amount until soft, apply it to the wound together with saliva, and wrap it in cloth; this will stop the bleeding. Another prescription treats small insects or ants that have crawled into the ear and cannot be picked out: soak rush pith in oil and use it to draw the insect out.

Extended Materia Medica says: Rush pith also grows in Shaanxi. Steam the grass, dry it in the sun, and peel away its white inner pith for use in lamps; this is called “prepared rush.” If it is dried and peeled without steaming, it is called “raw rush.” Raw rush is the kind suitable for medicinal use.

Five-Poison Herb tastes sour, is neutral in nature, and is non-toxic. Its root treats carbuncles, deep sores, poisonous swellings, and red-and-white wandering eruptions (widespread red or white rashes). It can also be used for bites from insects, silkworms, snakes, and dogs. Grind it with vinegar and apply it to the wound, or warm the herb by roasting it and apply it. Its stems and leaves can also be applied. If there is concern that the poison may enter the abdomen, the herb may also be boiled and taken by mouth. It grows on level ground in Jiangdong. Its flowers and leaves resemble buckwheat; its roots are tough and hard, like those of dog’s-back fern. It is also called “Five-Ji” and “Snake Net.” Another plant, “Silkworm Net Herb,” resembles ramie and is also known by the same name as fish mint.

The material above is supplementary, from the writings of Chen Cangqi.

Mousequill Herb tastes sweet, is neutral in nature, and is non-toxic. It can regulate the middle Qi, replenish original Qi, stop diarrhea, transform phlegm, ease seasonal epidemics, reduce fever, and stop coughing. Mixed with rice flour and made into a dry food, it is fragrant and sweet. It grows on level ground and hillsides, reaching over a foot in height when mature. Its leaves have white hairs, and it bears yellow flowers. The Record of Seasonal Customs in Jingchu says that on the third day of the second month, people gathered the juice of Mousequill Herb, mixed it with honey, and made it into a dough ball called “Dragon-Tongue Cake,” eaten to prevent seasonal epidemics. People in Shannan call it “Fragrant Mao.” Its flowers, used with zelkova bark to dye cloth brown, yield a color that remains vivid even when the garment is worn out. People in Jiangxi call it “Mouse-Ear Herb.”

The material above is supplementary, from Chen Cangqi and Rihuazi’s Materia Medica.

Broomrape tastes sweet, is warm in nature, and is non-toxic. It treats the “Five Taxations and Seven Injuries” in men (various forms of exhaustion and debility), replenishes the lower back and kidneys, aids fertility, dispels wind, and invigorates the blood. It may be boiled and taken, or steeped in wine and taken. It grows among rocks in Shannan and resembles a lotus root. Dig it up when it first sprouts and dry it in the shade. It is also called “Chestnut Dang” and “Herb Cistanche.” It is included here as an additional entry.

The Food and Medicine Mirror records: Broomrape can promote sexual potency. Take two jin of Chestnut Dang (also called Broomrape), pound it and sift it into a fine powder, then steep it overnight in one dou of wine. Drink according to one’s needs.

Puffball tastes pungent, is neutral in nature, and is non-toxic. It treats malignant sores and “horse mange” (mange on horses). It is also called “Horse Pibi” and grows in places in gardens where matter has long been rotting.

Tao Hongjing says: Among the people it is called “Horse-Fart Puffball.” It is purple in color, with a loose, soft texture.

Like the lungs of a dog, it scatters into powder when struck. Applying the powder to sores of various kinds is very effective.

Yuxi and others remark: The Illustrated Materia Medica from Shu says this is the horse dung fungus, soft in texture and resembling a tuft of purple floss. When struck, it scatters purple dust. It grows in damp places and on rotten wood and is gathered in summer and autumn.

The Extended Meaning says: Horse dung fungus is the substance referred to in the Tang poet Han Yu’s words, “Cow urine and horse dung fungus: gather them all and keep them together.” Some specimens are as large as a dou measure; even the small ones are as large as a sheng or a scoop. Remove the outer skin, knead the fungus with honey, add a little water, and take it as a drink. It can treat blockage of the throat and soreness of the throat.

Burn the toe strap of a worn-out wooden clog or xie (a type of wooden shoe) to ash, then take the ash dissolved in water. This can treat choking, obstruction, heart pain, and tightness in the chest.

A supplement from another commentary says: Wooden clogs and xie are shoes from the Jiangnan region, unfamiliar to people in the north. They are made of paulownia wood, with the upper woven from cattail leaves and a hemp cord threaded through a hole at the toe. Only shoes worn for a long time and nearly rotten are suitable for medicinal use. The Tang Materia Medica was the first to record this claim.

Yuxi and others remark: The Illustrated Materia Medica from Shu says to take clogs or xie that have been worn for a long time and are nearly rotten, boil them in water, and drink the liquid. This is effective.

Zhihan (a medicine transmitted from the Western Regions; its ingredients and precise method of preparation are not specified here) is sweet in taste, warm in nature, and non-toxic. It treats wounds caused by metal weapons, fractures, bruising, and internal injuries; it strengthens the sinews and flesh and disperses stagnant blood. It can also be used for bleeding from below, abdominal pain caused by stagnant blood after childbirth, and coldness within the body that prevents eating. Take it with wine or apply it to the affected area. This medicine comes from the Western Regions. Local people make it by boiling licorice, pine resin, tamarisk resin, rehmannia, and warm blood together. (This entry was added later.)

Chen Cangqi says: When people of the Western Regions test a medicine, they cut off one of a child’s feet, put the medicine in the child’s mouth, and then have the child try to walk. If the child can walk immediately, they consider it a superior medicine.

Water pepper (a type of smartweed that grows beside water) can treat snake venom. Pound it and apply it to the affected area, or squeeze out its juice and drink it; this can stop the venom from spreading through the body and causing agitation in the heart. Boil it in water, then soak and rub the feet in the liquid to reduce swelling caused by Qi.

The Tang Materia Medica commentary says: The leaves of water pepper resemble those of smartweed, its stems are red, and it tastes pungent. It grows in low, wet places beside water. A supplement from another commentary says: Water pepper grows in shallow water and marshes, which is how it got its name. Its leaves are larger than those of cultivated smartweed. Rub and wash them in water before eating; they taste better than smartweed seeds. The Tang Materia Medica was the first to record this claim.

Yuxi and others remark: The Rihuazi Materia Medica says water pepper is pungent in taste, cold in nature, and non-toxic. The Collected Proven Remedies records that to treat foot pain, first boil water pepper to make a wash. When it has cooled to a comfortable temperature, repeatedly pour it over the affected area. Once the sores have dried, they will heal.

You grass is sweet in taste, extremely cold in nature, and non-toxic. It treats damp impediment and dispels water accumulation; with red adzuki…

When cooking the beans for food, do not add salt. They can treat beriberi, persistent paralysis, edema caused by deficiency, and cramping in the lower abdomen. When the urine is red-yellow, scanty, and painful, pound the leaves and apply them to the toxic swelling, or squeeze out the juice and drink it to treat wasting-thirst.

This plant grows in paddy fields. It resembles knotweed grass, has relatively long leaves, and is eaten by horses. The Erya calls it “you” (pronounced like “you”) and says it trails through water. People in Jiangdong call it “you” and commonly refer to it as “you water grass.”

This is newly added material, recorded by Chen Cangqi.

The Yanyi says: “You grass” is called “qiu” (pronounced like “you”) in the Erya, and is also known as “man yu.” The Zuo Tradition says, “One fragrant plant and one foul-smelling plant; even after ten years, the foul smell remains.” It refers to this grass.

Decayed reed matting is non-toxic. It treats blood accumulation in the abdomen after childbirth, abdominal distension and pain, thirst caused by blood deficiency, incomplete discharge of lochia, and cessation of menstruation. It can also stop ordinary bleeding, expel stagnant blood, and treat ghost qi, zhu pain, and abdominal masses. Boil it in wine and drink it, or burn it to ash, grind it into powder, and take it with wine. The older it is and the stronger its smoky smell, the better. People in the east now make mats and screens mostly from woven grass. The Erya says that reed grass resembles cogongrass and can be twisted into rope.

This is newly added material, recorded by Chen Cangqi.

Xunshucao tastes bitter, is cold in nature, and is slightly toxic. It treats scabies, itching, and sores caused by gu poison, and also kills small insects. The Tang Materia Medica commentary says: Its leaves resemble plantain leaves and have no veins. Yellow-white flowers grow on its flower stalks. It often grows in clusters in ditches and low, damp places. Another commentary says that scabies, itching, and wind sores are all associated with insects. Grind the plant into powder, mix it into a paste, and apply it to the affected area; the condition will then heal. Gather the stems in the fourth or fifth month and dry them in the sun. This medicine was first included in the Tang Materia Medica commentary.

Haisajin promotes the flow of the small intestine. Combined with gardenia fruit, natron, and borax, it can be used to treat fever and delirium caused by cold damage. It is produced in Qianzhong Commandery. Gather it in the seventh month. The plant is small, only one or two chi tall. Gather the whole plant and leave it in the sun until slightly dry. Hold paper underneath and strike the plant with a stick; the fine sand will fall onto the paper and can then be collected. Continue drying and striking until all the fine sand has fallen. It can be made into pills or powder. (Newly revised.)

The Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica says: Haisajin grows in the mountain valleys of Qianzhong, and is also found in Hunan. When it first sprouts, the plant is small and one or two chi tall. Gather it in the seventh month and dry it in the sun. Hold paper underneath and strike the plant so that the sand-like material falls onto the paper; continue drying and striking until it has all been collected. Haisajin promotes the flow of the small intestine and is also used to treat delirious fever caused by cold damage. In prescriptions used by physicians today to treat difficulty urinating and distension and discomfort below the navel, one liang of haisajin is used…

Half a liang of cured tea. Pound and grind these two ingredients into a fine powder. Take three qian at a time with a decoction of fresh ginger and licorice, at any time. If the symptoms still have not cleared, take another dose.

The root of daylily, commonly called lucong, is cool in nature and non-toxic. It treats gravelly urinary dribbling, in which sand-like deposits appear in the urine and urination is difficult, as well as disorders caused by fluid retention. It can also treat wine jaundice, a form of jaundice caused by drinking alcohol, which makes the whole body turn yellow. Pound the root, squeeze out the juice, and drink it; the tender shoots may also be cooked and eaten. The plant can also treat red, yellow, painful, and difficult urination, as well as restlessness and heat in the body. Daylily is also called lucong, and its flower is called yinan.

The Fengtu ji says that if a pregnant woman wears a daylily flower, she will give birth to a boy.

Newly added: See Chen Cangqi and the Riyuezi.

The Tujing says that daylily is commonly called lucong and grows in fields throughout the regions. It tastes sweet and is non-toxic. It can calm the Five Viscera and ease the heart and mind, making people happy and free of sorrow. It is also said to lighten the body and brighten the eyes. Gather the flowers in the fifth month and the roots in the eighth month for medicinal use. People now often gather its tender shoots and flower stalks as vegetables; they are said to ease the chest and diaphragm, and taste good as well.

Ji Kang’s Yangsheng lun says: “Silktree blossoms dispel resentment, and daylily makes people forget their worries.”

The Yanyi says: Wash the daylily root and grind it into juice. Take one large cup, add half a cup of fresh ginger juice, mix them, and sip small amounts from time to time. This treats high fever and nosebleeds.

Ge zhucao tastes pungent and bitter, is warm in nature, and highly toxic. It treats pain caused by gu poison, corpse-injection illness, and other malign influences. It grows in the mountain wetlands of the Qi and Lu regions.

The Tang Ben zhu says: Its leaves resemble bracken, and its roots are purple, like the roots of purple gromwell. Each plant has about twenty roots. Gather the roots in the second and eighth months, and the shoots in the fifth and sixth months, then dry them in the sun. The Tang Ben was the first work to record this medicine.

The Tang Ben yuzhu says: The Tujing records that it grows in the valleys of Qi and Yan prefectures.

Grass from a chicken nest treats children’s white scalp sores, a fungal infection of the scalp that causes hair loss. Burn it with the flowers of bai tou weng to make ash, then mix the ash with cured pork fat and apply it. Before applying the medicine, wash the sores with sour rice water. It can also treat night crying in children: place the grass beneath the sleeping mat without letting the child’s mother know.

Newly added: See Chen Cangqi and the Riyuezi.

The Qianjin fang gives this treatment for postpartum urinary incontinence: Burn grass from a chicken nest to make a powder and take two qian and seven fen with wine. It is said to cure the condition.

The seeds of cockscomb are cool in nature and non-toxic. They stop intestinal bleeding and red-and-white dysentery, and also treat uterine bleeding and vaginal discharge in women. For medicinal use, they should be stir-fried.

Newly added: See Chen Cangqi and the Riyuezi.

Dijiao tastes pungent, is warm in nature, and slightly toxic. It treats dribbling urination and painful swelling, and can also be used to kill wood-boring insects. It grows in Shangdang Commandery. Its shoots creep along the ground; the stems and leaves are very fine, and the flowers…

It bears small purple-white flowers that grow from old stems. (Newly added; definitive text)

Grass Sanleng: Its root tastes sweet and is neutral to warm in nature, with no toxicity. It can treat retained stagnant blood after childbirth, blocked menstruation, blood congealment, miscarriage, accumulations, abdominal masses, and related conditions. It can also relieve pain and regulate Qi. It is also called “Chicken-Claw Sanleng.” It grows in Shu and is harvested in the second and eighth months. It is appended here.

Hemingscao: It tastes sweet and is cold in nature, with no toxicity. It is used to treat sudden fever, urinary disorders, reddish and painful urination, and convulsions in children. It can also improve eyesight, promote urination, and stop bloody dysentery. Crush it, squeeze out the juice, and take it. It grows in low, damp places. Its leaves are shaped like four petals; when its flowers open at night, the leaves close together. Newly added; see Chen Cangqi.

Luyue: It tastes sweet and is warm in nature, with no toxicity. It is used to treat wind-related and blood-related illnesses, dispel various forms of cold discomfort, and help restore Yang Qi in the elderly. Soak it in wine and take it. It grows west of Guzang. Both its young shoots and roots resemble Huangjing, and deer like to eat it. Appended here.

Bai Tiangong: It is neutral in nature and is used to treat illnesses attributed to ghost possession and spirit apparitions. Tao Hongjing says this is a broken bamboo hat that someone has worn. Burn the bamboo from the hat to ash and take it with wine.

Eleven Additional Medicinal Substances Recorded by Chen Cangqi

Mao Lang and Goudu: Tao Hongjing says Goudu may be Mao Lang; Su Gong says Mao Lang is hairy Shuilongrui. The Baiyi Fang says there is a plant called Shuilang among vegetables. Its leaves are round and glossy, and it is poisonous. It grows by the water, where crabs often eat it. Su Gong’s commentary adds that another kind of Shuilang has no hairs; a plant called Maojia resembles Longrui and is also poisonous.

Yinming and Goudu: Tao Hongjing says there is a plant called Yinming. It is red, clings to trees, and bears hanging fruit. It grows in the sea and is poisonous. Another plant, Haijiang, also grows in the sea. It is red, resembles Longrui, and is highly toxic. These two may be the same thing, but no one today can identify them with certainty.

Poisonous Mushrooms and Earth Slurry: Tao Hongjing says poisonous mushrooms are often found in the mountains, and earth slurry can neutralize their poison. Those that grow on the ground are called jun; those that grow on trees are called ruo. People in Jiangdong call them xun. The Erya mentions “Zhongkui mushroom,” which its commentary identifies as a mushroom growing on the ground; some also call it “earth chicken” or “zhangtou.” Mushrooms that glow at night are poisonous; those that have not been thoroughly cooked are poisonous; those that, after cooking, show no shadow when held up to a person are poisonous; those beneath which harmful insects or birds have passed are poisonous; and those that are nearly rotting yet have no worms are poisonous. They are generally not poisonous in winter or spring. Those poisonous in autumn or summer may have been touched by a snake.

Grass Yuyuliang: The source text breaks off at “the vine is like…” and the meaning is incomplete.

Smilax is called “surplus grain.” Legend says that Yu the Great gathered it for food. Its roots resemble wine cups and grow in a connected chain, half exposed above the soil. The outer skin resembles Poria, while the inside is reddish and tastes astringent. People once ate it in place of grain, and after eating it they did not feel hungry. It can regulate the Qi in the middle, stop diarrhea, and aid walking, making people less prone to fatigue. According to legend, when Yu the Great once met with the feudal lords, he scattered grain on the ground. The grain later transformed into this plant, which is why it was named “surplus grain.” Today it grows mostly in coastal valleys.

Mouse-cloak grass: Tao Hongjing says there is another kind of mouse-cloak grass whose medicinal properties differ from those of the plant described here; that other plant has only a name and no actual medicinal use. The cloak grass discussed in this entry tastes bitter and is cold in nature. It treats warm malaria and alternating chills and fever, and can also promote the flow of Qi. It grows in the valleys of Huainan; this is the plant being described.

Lesser galangal: Du Ruo. Tao Hongjing says Du Ruo resembles lesser galangal. According to this text, lesser galangal is hot in nature and treats cold in the stomach, vomiting clear fluids, and difficulty swallowing food. It resembles ginger and grows in the Lingnan and Jiannan regions, where local people often eat it.

Grass silkworm: insect silkworm. Tao Hongjing says that the roots of the kind used among common people today are black. According to this text, grass silkworm grows on rocks in high mountains. Its root resembles a chopstick and has hairs and joints like a silkworm; its leaves resemble spikemoss. Mountain people soak it in wine to dispel wind and break up stagnant blood, and also use it to treat stream poison. It can be eaten after cooking. The Ben Jing lists it among insects; there is also another kind, the insect silkworm, which has already been described in the Supplementary Records.

Lacquer aunt grass: Chinese fir. Tao Hongjing says this plant has small leaves and grows mostly in crevices between rocks. According to this text, lacquer aunt grass resembles the tracks of a mouse and grows naturally in damp, shady places around steps and courtyards. It has a pungent smell. It treats lacquer sores: crush the grass and apply it, then replace the dressing once the area grows warm. It also treats sores caused by stream poison. Su Song says this is Shu yangquan. Yangquan is a larger plant, not the small plant described here; they simply share the same name.

Musk deer eye: cardamom. Tao Hongjing says musk deer eye is somewhat cold in nature. According to this text, it comes from Lingnan and is shaped like a musk deer’s eye. Eating it produces cold phlegm, and it has no other effects.

Pear bean: python. Tao Hongjing says the python’s gallbladder resembles a pear bean. It grows south of the Yangtze, with vines like kudzu and fruit like the Chinese honey locust pod, marked with patterns resembling a civet’s head; hence its name, pear bean. The Erya calls it “lü she zi.” People roast and eat it. It is also called “hu she,” and has no other effects.

Among plants, some are poisonous if eaten incorrectly. Gourds with two stems or two tips can harm people; gourds that taste very bitter are poisonous. Vegetables become poisonous if water dripping from the eaves falls on them. Yellow-flowered ground ivy can harm people, as can celery with red leaves. Eating the tender shoots of wild rice with honey causes diarrhea. Raw scallions must not be eaten with white meat (here referring to a certain kind of white meat), or blood will flow from all nine orifices. Eating hollyhock with black meat makes a person’s complexion look bad; eating mallow with rabid dog meat makes a person go mad; eating garlic chives with green fish causes worms to grow in the abdomen; Chinese chives must not be eaten with …

Eating too much beef may cause abdominal masses and lumps, or chronic ailments that are difficult to cure. If a pregnant woman eats beef and then ginger, the fetus may become thin. Eating beef with raw scallions and eggs may bring on a cough; eating it with pickled smartweed may weaken the body and cause the penis to become limp. Eating frost-bitten melons in the ninth month may lead to illness in winter. In the third month, one should avoid eating long-stored pickled vegetables, or one may develop a feverish illness and malignant sores in summer. If a bottle gourd is trampled by an ox, the seeds it bears will be bitter.

Illustrated and Annotated Materia Medica, juan 19