Library

Radish Root (Laifu Gen) is born from the Qi of Earth and Metal. When raw, its taste is pungent and nature is cold; when cooked, its taste is sweet and nature is warm and neutral. Therefore, it descends Qi, aids digestion, and eliminates phlegm accumulation. For robust individuals or those needing to warm the middle and tonify deficiency, cooking it allows for widening the chest and diaphragm, promoting urination and defecation, resolving phlegm, and aiding digestion; this is the use of cooked Radish Root. To stop thirst, counteract the toxicity of wheat flour, circulate wind-qi, eliminate pathogenic heat, treat lung abscess with hemoptysis, lung heat, cough with phlegm, and dysentery, these are the uses of raw consumption. It enters the Foot-Taiyin Spleen, Hand-Taiyin Lung, Foot-Yangming Stomach, and Hand-Yangming Large Intestine meridians. Thus, it primarily treats diseases of the Spleen, Lung, Stomach, and Intestines. However, since its action is specifically to descend Qi, excessive consumption depletes Blood, causing premature whitening of beard and hair. Those taking Rehmanniae Radix (Dihuang) or Polygoni Multiflori Radix (Shouwu) should not consume it.

The seeds have a more pungent flavor than the root. Raw juice extracted by grinding can induce vomiting of wind-phlegm; mixed with vinegar and applied externally, it reduces swelling and detoxifies. Cooked, it descends Qi, calms asthma, aids digestion, removes distension, and stops qi-abscesses. Its nature is extremely pungent, so its ascending and descending actions are vigorous. In treating phlegm, it has the power to "push down walls and overturn battlements."

Radish Root can be eaten raw; leaves must be boiled before eating. It counters the toxicity of white flour and tofu. It is contraindicated to eat together with Polygoni Multiflori Radix (Shouwu) and Rehmanniae Radix (Dihuang); if mistakenly consumed, hair and beard may turn white. It digests food, removes phlegm accumulation, stops cough, and relieves thirst. Crushed raw juice used to grind ink, when swallowed, stops hemoptysis and hematochezia very quickly. *Yanyi* states: "To disperse stagnant Qi, use Ginger; to descend Qi, use Radish." However, excessive consumption of cooked Radish may cause stagnation in the chest and diaphragm, leading to overflow-dampness (Yiyin), because its sweet taste predominates over its pungency.

Radish Seeds (Laifuzi) resolve asthma and cough, descend Qi, and treat phlegm with the power to "push down walls and overturn battlements." Ground with water and taken orally, it induces vomiting of wind-phlegm; ground with vinegar and applied externally, it immediately reduces swelling and detoxifies. Entering the Lung, it descends Qi and calms asthma; entering the Spleen, it aids digestion and relieves bloating. Raw, it ascends and can induce vomiting; cooked, it descends and can promote bowel movement.

Commentary: Zhu Danxi said: "Radish Seeds treat phlegm with the power to 'push down walls and overturn battlements.' However, weak individuals who take it may find their Qi shallow and breathing difficult." Once, a Hu monk entered China. Seeing people eat wheat noodles, he exclaimed in alarm, "Eating this, how can one avoid illness?" But upon seeing people eat Radish, he said, "Fortunately, there is this [to counteract it]." Also, *Dongwei Zhi* records: A person suffered from mania. In a dream, a woman in red clothes led him into a hall. A young girl sang: "Five-colored pavilions shine clear at dawn, The Heavenly Mansion has always been here. Melancholy and stifled feelings cannot be fully expressed, One pill of Radish burns my palace." A Daoist priest said, "This is a poisoning from large wheat. The woman in red represents the Heart Spirit (Shen); the young girl represents the Subordinate Spirit (Fu Shen). Radish counters the toxicity of wheat, hence it says 'burns my palace' (destroying the spirit's residence)." He was treated with medicine and Radish Seeds, and recovered. Since then, Radish Seeds have shown miraculous effects in treating wheat-food stagnation.