葵菜、韭菜、芥菜、萝卜、生姜、紫苏、薄荷、菖蒲，以上俱见前卷。
葱白
葱白辛平发伤寒，阳明额痛痢肠宽，除风肿治腹心痛，通肾和肝胎自安，实性辛温补中气，汁止衄溺血相干。
葱，空也，其叶中空，惟虚乃聪也。一云葱，青白色也。葱白，即茎也。无毒。气浓味薄，升也，阳也。
入手太阴、足阳明经。主伤寒伤风，头痛欲破，骨节痛，寒热出汗。东垣云∶散伤风阳明头痛之邪，止伤寒阳
明下痢之苦。又治中风面目浮肿，喉痹不通，霍乱转筋，及奔豚、香港脚心腹痛。此药利关节，通大小肠，又能
通肾阳气，俾阴证回阳，除肝邪气，明目安胎，止血和中，利五脏，杀百药毒及一切鱼肉毒。又茎叶用盐捣，
詈射工溪毒，蜈蚣、狐尿刺，蛇虫伤，并扑损金疮，水入皲肿痛。大抵发散为功，多食昏人神，拔气上冲，
虚人正月食之，发面上游风。若烧葱和蜜食，杀人。葱实，主明目温中，补不足，益精。葱汁，平，主吐衄溺
血。解藜芦毒。葱有数种，惟经冬不死，分茎栽植而无子者，入药最佳。
大蒜
大蒜有毒攻痈毒，辟恶散暑止痛腹，化鱼肉吐 癖痰，过服伤脏损人目。
食之白人须发，若多算者之须易白也。味辛，温。主痈肿恶疮疼痛，人所不识者，取独头蒜三四枚捣烂，
入麻油和研，浓贴肿处，干即易之。一切疥癣，丹毒， 疮，蛇虫、蜈蚣咬，并捣贴之，或隔蒜用艾灸之亦好。
辟水恶瘴气。疫气，蛊毒，劳疟，中暑，霍乱转筋腹痛，嚼烂温水送下。性属火善散，化肉食，故人喜食之。
破冷气，烂 癖，昔有患癖及食鸡子多过者，每日食三枚，口吐涎物，下部如火即效。此物气味极荤，煮为
羹极俊美，熏气亦微。下气温中，消食，伤肉食者，吃一餐最妙。醋浸经年者良。熟食亦可，若生食、久食，
伤肝损目，伤肺引痰，伤肾竭精，伤心清血，伤脾损气，四八月食之伤神，损胆肾气。又合青鱼 食，令腹
内生虫，或肿，或成疝疾。有目疾者，尤宜忌之。损性伐命，莫此为甚。
小蒜
小蒜有毒归脾肾，下气温中霍乱定，更消谷食除痹风，多服损心目亦病。
气味似大蒜，其形小者是也。归脾肾，下气温中，止霍乱腹中不安，消谷和胃，除风邪痹毒瓦斯、诸蛊毒，
敷疔肿、蛇虫沙虱疮。久服损心力，损目。合生鱼食，令人夺气。又一种山蒜，似大蒜而臭。山人以治积块及
妇人血瘕，醋摩服之，效。
薤
薤味辛苦止吐痢，定喘散水消结聚，外敷金创汤火伤，疮中风寒水肿治。
薤，解也，能也。薤虽辛，不荤五脏，乃能去腥。叶似韭而阔，多白。无实。有赤、白二种，赤者疗疮
生肌，白者冷补，皆春分莳之，至冬叶枯。凡用葱薤，皆去青留白，白冷而青热也。无毒。入手阳明经。止霍
乱干呕，久痢冷泻，产后诸痢，疳痢，妇人赤白带下，胸膈卒痛，肺气喘急。俱捣汁饮之，取其滑而泄滞气也。
又能
除水气，温中散结，去寒热，安魂益气，宜心归肾，续筋力，利病患。药芝也，养生家常食之。煮羹、作 、
炒食并得。惟生食引涎唾，若合牛肉食成瘕疾。单方∶治金创疮败，诸疮中风，寒水作肿，生捣热涂之。与蜜同
捣涂火疮，效。
菘菜
菘菜味甘温无毒，通利肠胃解酒宿，更止热嗽除胸烦，中虚冷人不可服。
主通利肠胃，解酒渴，消食下气，治瘴气，止热嗽，除胸中烦，杀鱼腥，和羊肉甚美。中虚者食之过多
发冷病，惟生姜可解。有热者可常食之。又叶晒令半干，次早取入坛内，以热饭饮浸之，三日后则酸如醋，
谓之 水。入药可吐痰涎；和五味作汤食，益脾胃，解面毒、酒毒。
苋实
苋实甘寒入血分，能除寒热利二便，散肝风热青盲翳，叶补阴气益产前。
言其茎、叶皆高硕可见，故字从见，指事也。或云其子去翳膜，眼有所见也。苋有六种，惟白苋入药，
无毒。丹溪云∶下血而又入血分，且善走，散寒热，利大小便，性寒滑故也。治肝风客热、青盲赤瞎、白翳黑
花，为末，每夜茶下方寸匕；又杀蛔虫，益气益精。叶，补阴分气虚，除热通九窍。多食动气，令人烦闷，
冷中损腹。若与鳖同食，生鳖瘕。又素难产者，取苋和马齿苋临月常食，令滑胎易产。赤苋，茎纯紫，
味辛，寒，无毒。主赤痢，气痢，射工砂虱虫毒。
马齿苋
马齿苋味酸大寒，散血凉肝退翳漫，止渴利便攻赤痢，风热痈疮捣汁餐。
形如马齿，兼治马疥，故名。无毒。能凉肝血，治目盲白翳，退寒热，止烦渴，破 瘕，杀虫，利大小
便，治大人血痢，小儿疳痢，产后血痢。又治诸淋，香港脚，心腹胀满，头面浮肿，反胃。治三十六种风结疮，
七十二等痈肿毒。生捣汁，服一碗，即下所积恶物细虫，外又煎膏涂之。此药虽寒滑，能行血调气，肥肠，
亦美剂也。烧灰和陈醋渣，先灸疔肿以封，即根出。马汗毒疮有虫，内服外敷。凡使，勿用大叶者，当用叶小
节间有水银者，每干之十斤中，得水银八两者佳。然至难燥，当捶碎晒两三日即干。入药去茎节。子，主青盲
目翳。明目，除邪气，去寒热。为末，每一钱煮葱、豉、五味粥和食之，效。
莴苣根
莴苣根寒治骨蒸，更医二痢面黄凝，疔肿用汁茎中取，欲治蛇伤叶止疼。
苣，大也。茎叶大而味苦，又名苦苣，即野苣也。人家常食者为白苣。江外岭南吴人无白苣，常植野苣以
供厨馔，无毒。根主骨蒸，赤白痢，并煮服之，更除面目及舌下黄，又折取茎中白汁，敷疔肿出根，取汁滴痈
上立溃碎。茎叶，蛇触之则目盲、故敷蛇咬有验。今人种为菜，生食之开胃强力，利五脏，调十二经脉，多
食轻身少睡。霍乱后胃气逆烦，生捣汁饮之。虽冷甚益人，惟同血食作痔疾。《衍义》云∶敷疔肿甚效。青苗
阴干，以备冬月为末，水调敷。白苣，苦，平，补筋骨，利五脏，开胸膈壅气，通经脉，去口气，令人齿白，
聪明，少睡，可常食之。惟患冷气及产后食之寒中。
苦
苦 无毒性亦凉，壮力能治面目黄，尿血单煎酒水服，拔疔烂蚕敷蛇伤。
强力止困，治面目黄，汁敷疔肿即出根，又敷蛇虫咬。蚕蛾出时切不可取拗，令蚕青烂。蚕妇亦忌食。
野苦 ，五六回拗后，味甘，滑于家 。单苦 菜饮，治尿血，酒与水煎服之，效。
荠
荠味甘温能和中，疏利五脏尤凉肝，子治目痛青盲翳，根叶烧灰痢疾安。
荠，齐也，好也。《诗》云∶其甘如荠。叶作菹羹，味佳。无毒。和中，利五脏及肝气。凡患气及服丹石
人食之动痼疾。又与面同食令人背闷，子，亦呼为菥 子。味甘，平。主目痛青盲翳膜，解热毒，补五脏不足。
四月八日收之良。根叶烧灰为末，蜜汤下，治赤白痢极效。
根汁点暴赤眼痛。煮荠法∶取荠一二升许，净洗，入淘了米三合，冷水三升，生姜二指大，生油一蚬壳，不用
盐醋，又不须搅动，俟羹熟取食，能引血归肝明目，治疮，与夜读服熊胆之意同。此幽人山居之禄，不可忽也。
葫芦
葫芦味甘平微毒，利水消浮止渴烦，瓠虽稍苦性无异，虚胀冷人切莫吞。
葫芦，亦瓠也。《诗》谓之壶，枯者可为壶，嫩者可为茹。有甘有苦，苦如胆者堪渡水，不堪食与入药。
主大水面目浮肿，下水令人吐，除烦止渴，治心热，利小肠，润心肺，下石淋，吐蛔虫，疗蛊毒，吐血。又患
香港脚及虚胀冷气人不可食，惟服丹石人相宜。花，日干为末，敷鼠 。
茄
茄味甘寒能缓火，大治风热腰脚跛，化痰逐瘀消乳痈，发痼发疮非相左，肠风口糜蒂烧灰，根洗冻疮煎
数朵。
茄者，连茎之名。有数种，入药多用黄茄。无毒。治大风热痰，取黄茄不计多少，以新瓶盛贮，埋土中
经年，尽化为水，取出，入苦参末为丸，食后临卧酒下三十丸，甚效。又治腰脚风血积冷，筋急拘挛疼痛，取
茄子五十斤细切洗净，以水五斗煮浓去渣，再煎至一升，入粟粉同煎，令稀稠得所，更入麝香、朱砂末，为丸
梧子大，每旦及近暮，酒下三十丸，一月乃瘥，男女通用。此膏又可敷发背乳痈恶疮，冷如冰雪。又治扑损肌
肤青肿，用老黄茄种切片，瓦上焙为末，临卧酒下二钱，恶血散而痛肿止，一夜消尽无痕。本草又云，久冷人
不可多食，损人动气，发疮，发痼疾，不与煎膏敷疮之说相左耶！盖热疮涂之则愈，体冷服之生疮，夏月当时
食之犹可。蒂烧灰和蜜调敷口疮、牙痛，酒调服治肠风下血，皆甘以缓火之意也。根及枯茎叶煎汤渍，洗冻疮
良。又苦茄树小有刺，其子主痹，醋磨涂痈肿，效。
白冬瓜
白冬瓜甘寒无毒，除热止渴性最速，更利水胀治诸淋，久病瘦人最忌服，子醒脾胃悦人颜，更消脓血聚
肠腹。
初生青绿，经冬则皮白如涂粉，故名。主解胸中积热烦闷，止消渴，除小腹水胀，疗五淋，利大小便。压
丹石毒、鱼毒，并绞汁服之。又煮食，练五脏，为下气故也。欲瘦健者可长食，欲肥者勿食。丹溪云∶性急而
走，久病与阴虚者忌之。《衍义》云∶发背一切痈疽，削一大块置疮上，热则易之，分散热毒，亦取其走而急
也。九月食霜瓜令反胃。叶，杀蜂螫肿毒。藤，烧灰洗黑 并疮疥湿。子，甘平，无毒。醒脾滞，除烦满不乐，
令人悦泽，好颜色。《别录》云∶主腹内结聚，破溃脓血，最为肠胃内壅要药。又去皮肤风刺、黑 ，润肌肤，
可作面脂。多年损伤不瘥，熬末温酒调服。入药须霜后取，置之经年，破出核，洗燥，去壳取仁，微炒用之。
凡瓜皆能寒中，惟冬瓜则温中也。
胡荽
胡荽辛温微有毒，善止头疼热四肢，消谷更通心腹气，喷痘酒煎不用医。
胡，狐也；荽，臊也，久食令人腋气如狐臊也。止头疼，拔四肢热，消谷，通心窍，通大小肠，通小腹
气。小儿痘疮不出，用酒煎沸，以物盖定，候冷去渣，微微从项以下遍身喷之，除面不喷，其痘速出。久食损
人精神、多忘，发胡臭、香港脚、痼疾。子，主肠风五痔，蛊毒，及食肉中毒，下血不止，顿痞黄者，煮冷汁服
之。齿痛，煎汤含之。小儿秃，油煎敷之。入药炒用。
又石胡荽，俗名鹅不食草，气寒，无毒。通鼻气，利九窍，吐风痰，不任食。又熟挪内鼻中，去翳膜。
水芹
水芹味甘平无毒，能益气血养精神，更消烦渴除黄胆，带下崩中治妇人。
芹，英也。产于水浒，而英秀异于他菜，可作菹食。无毒。益气，保血脉，养精神，壮筋力，令人肥健
嗜食。除身热烦渴，利大小肠，治五
种黄病，女人赤沃，崩中漏下，小儿霍乱吐泻；兼去头中热风，杀石药毒。醋和食之损齿，患鳖瘕人不可食。
又三月、八月龙带精入芹菜中，人遇食之，变成蛟龙瘕，发则似癫面色青，小腹满痛，状如怀胎，服硬糖二三
升，日二服，吐出如龙子，遂愈。
芸苔
芸苔最不宜多食，发病生虫极损阳，主破 瘕通结血，更除丹肿乳痈疮。
《衍义》云∶芸苔不甚香，经冬根不死，辟蠹。于诸菜中亦不甚佳，此人间所啖菜也。味辛，温，无毒。
久食损阳气，发痼疾，发疮，口齿痛，生腹中诸虫，先患腰脚及胡臭人不可食。但能破 瘕血结，产后血风瘀
血，疗游风，丹肿，乳痈。子，压油敷头，令发长黑。妇人经后食之断产。
竹笋
竹笋化痰更利水，爽胃利膈消渴止，冷证香港脚人休餐，干者难化滞脾土，地笋即是泽兰根，吐衄血病堪
作主。
味甘，无毒。下气，消痰，利水，爽胃气，利膈化热，止消渴，益气，可常食。惟有冷证、动气、香港脚人
不可食。新者稍可食，陈者难化不益脾。昔有小儿食干笋噎喉中，喘急瞑目，似慢惊，以巴豆药吐出乃愈。诸
笋皆发冷血及气，惟苦竹笋不发痰，主不睡，去面目舌上热黄，止渴除热，解酒毒，明目健人，利水道，理
风热香港脚，取蒸煮食之。地笋，甘温，无毒。利九窍，通血脉，止吐血、衄血，治产后心腹痛，一切血证食之，
肥白人。蒲笋，即棕笋也。甘寒，无毒。去热燥，利小便。芦笋，即芦根也。茭笋，即菰根也。俱见前卷。
菌
菌味甘芳性本温，开胃止泻悦神魂，木耳凉血故止血，石耳清心养胃元。
菌有五色，种则一类，俗呼为菇。芳者呼为蕈菇，不芳者呼为荒菇。生滑干涩。有地生者，有木生者，
或又名木鸡。有土壤粪灰中，或竹林虚坯处夏雨后尽生，此及湿热相感而成。多食发湿热，少食其气芳香，悦神
开胃。其味稍涩，能止泻止吐。冬间及春初无毒，夏秋有毒，为蛇过也，误中胀闷欲死者，急与甘草汤或黑
豆煮汁饮解之。又枫树上菌食之，令人笑不止，地浆水解之，亦解诸菌毒。木耳，性冷，无毒，凉血，止肠 下
血，勿与小儿食，不能克化。石耳，甘，寒，无毒。清心养胃，止血。蘑菇，甘，平，无毒。河南产者佳。
可食，无甚益损。
芋 园圃莳者佳。味辛，平，有毒。主宽肠胃，充肌肤，滑口，令人肥曰，产后煮食破宿血，去死肌。汁，止
Amaranth (Kui Cai), Chinese Chive (Jiu Cai), Mustard Green (Jie Cai), Radish (Luo Bo), Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang), Perilla (Zi Su), Mint (Bo He), and Acorus Tatarinowii (Chang Pu) are all recorded in previous volumes.
Scallion White (Cong Bai)
Scallion white is pungent and neutral, capable of dispersing and treating Shanghan (Cold Damage); it relieves forehead pain associated with the Yangming channel and intestinal distension due to dysentery; it dispels wind, reduces swelling, and treats abdominal and heart pain; it unblocks Kidney Qi, harmonizes Liver Qi, and naturally stabilizes the fetus; its substantive nature is pungent and warm, tonifying Middle Jiao Qi; its juice stops epistaxis and hematuria.
"Scallion" implies "empty," as its leaves are hollow inside; only through emptiness can one be wise. Another view states that "scallion" refers to its greenish-white color. Scallion white refers to the stem. It is non-toxic. The qi is strong while the flavor is light; it ascends and belongs to Yang.
It enters the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian. It primarily treats Shanghan and Shangfeng (Wind Strike), severe headache as if splitting, joint pain, alternating chills and fever, and sweating. Li Dongyuan stated: It dissipates pathogenic factors causing Yangming headache from Wind Strike and alleviates the suffering of Yangming diarrhea from Shanghan. It also treats facial and ocular edema caused by Zhongfeng (Wind Stroke), obstruction of the throat (Hou Bi), Huoluan (Cholera-like syndrome) with muscle cramps, Ben Tun (Rushing Pig disease), and Xiangjiao (Foot Qi/Beriberi) causing heart and abdominal pain. This herb benefits the joints, unblocks the large and small intestines, promotes Kidney Yang Qi to restore Yang from Yin syndromes, expels Liver pathogenic factors, brightens the eyes, calms the fetus, stops bleeding, harmonizes the middle, benefits the five Zang organs, and detoxifies hundred medicines and all fish/meat poisons. Additionally, crushing the stems and leaves with salt and applying or spraying it treats She Gong Xi Du (aquatic insect poison), centipede bites, Fox Urine Ci (toxic plant/insect injury), snake and insect bites, as well as traumatic injuries and metal wounds (Jin Chuang), preventing water entry that causes cracking and swelling. Generally, its function is dispersion; excessive consumption dulls the spirit and forces Qi upward. Deficient individuals should avoid eating it in the first lunar month, as it may trigger You Feng (wandering wind/rash) on the face. Eating roasted scallion with honey is fatal. Scallion seeds primarily brighten the eyes, warm the middle, tonify deficiencies, and benefit essence. Scallion juice is neutral and primarily treats vomiting, epistaxis, and hematuria. It resolves Lulu (Veratrum) toxicity. Among various types of scallions, the variety that survives winter, propagates by division without seeds, is best for medicinal use.
Garlic (Da Suan)
Garlic is toxic; it attacks carbuncle toxins, repels evil qi, disperses summerheat, stops pain, resolves abdominal accumulation, transforms fish/meat stagnation, and vomits phlegm from Pi accumulations; however, excessive consumption damages the Zang organs and impairs vision.
Consuming it whitens hair and beard, similar to how calculators (those who scheme often) go gray prematurely. Flavor is pungent, nature is warm. It primarily treats painful carbuncles and malignant sores of unknown origin. Take three or four single-clove garlics, crush them, mix with sesame oil, and apply thickly to the swollen area, changing when dry. For all types of tinea, erysipelas, Ding sores, snake/insect/centipede bites, apply crushed garlic externally, or perform moxibustion through garlic slices. It repels damp-evil miasma. For epidemic qi, Gu poison, Lao Nue (chronic malaria), summerheat stroke, and Huoluan with abdominal pain/cramps, chew thoroughly and swallow with warm water. Its nature belongs to Fire and is good at dispersing; it transforms meat food, which is why people enjoy eating it. It breaks cold Qi, resolves Pi accumitions. In the past, patients with Pi accumulation or excessive egg consumption ate three cloves daily; spitting saliva and feeling heat in the lower body indicated efficacy. This substance has a strong fishy/odorous taste; cooked as soup it is delicious, and its smoke is mild. It directs Qi downward, warms the middle, aids digestion, and is ideal for meat stagnation. Vinegar-preserved for a year is superior. Cooked consumption is acceptable, but raw or long-term consumption damages the Liver and eyes, harms the Lungs inducing phlegm, exhausts Kidney Essence, clears Heart Blood, damages Spleen Qi, injures the Spirit in the 4th and 8th months, and depletes Gallbladder and Kidney Qi. Eating it with dark carp causes internal parasites, swelling, or hernia. Those with eye diseases must strictly avoid it. No other substance damages nature and life more severely.
Small Garlic (Xiao Suan)
Small garlic is toxic, enters the Spleen and Kidney meridians, directs Qi downward, warms the middle, stabilizes Huoluan, digests grains, removes Bi-wind, and treats eye diseases; however, excessive intake damages the heart and eyes.
Its flavor and nature resemble large garlic but it is smaller in size. Enters Spleen and Kidney meridians, directs Qi downward, warms the middle, stops Huoluan and abdominal discomfort, digests grains, harmonizes the Stomach, dispels wind-pathogenic factors, Bi-toxic qi, and various Gu poisons; applies topically to Ding sores, snake/insect/sandfly sores. Long-term use damages Heart force and eyes. Eating with raw fish deprives the person of Qi. There is a type called Mountain Garlic, resembling large garlic but smelly. Mountain people use it to treat mass formations and women's Blood Jia (blood masses), grinding with vinegar for oral administration, which is effective.
Leek / Wild Leek (Xie)
Wild leek is pungent and bitter, stops vomiting and dysentery, calms asthma, disperses water, eliminates nodules; applied externally treats metal wounds, scalds/burns, sores affected by wind-cold, and edema.
"Xie" means "resolve" or "able." Although pungent, wild leek does not offend the Five Zang organs like other pungent vegetables; rather, it removes fishy odors. Leaves resemble chives but are broader and whiter. It bears no fruit. There are red and white varieties; red ones heal sores and generate flesh, white ones provide cooling tonification. Both are planted around the Spring Equinox and wither in winter. When using scallion and wild leek, remove the green parts and keep the white parts, as white is cool-natured and green is hot-natured. It is non-toxic. Enters the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Stops Huoluan dry heaving, chronic cold diarrhea, postpartum dysentery, infantile malnutrition dysentery, women's leukorrhea (red/white discharge), sudden chest/diaphragm pain, and lung asthma/wheezing. Crush and drink the juice for all these conditions, utilizing its slippery nature to drain stagnant Qi. It also eliminates water retention, warms the middle, disperses nodules, removes cold/heat, calms the soul, benefits Qi, facilitates Heart-Kidney interaction, strengthens tendons, and benefits patients. It is a medicinal fungus/herb commonly eaten by health cultivators. Suitable for boiling into soup, making pancakes, or stir-frying. Raw consumption induces salivation; eating with beef causes Jia masses. Single prescription: For broken metal wounds, sores affected by wind-cold, and edema from cold-water, crush fresh and apply hot. Mix with honey, crush, and apply to burns for efficacy.
Chinese Cabbage (Song Cai)
Chinese cabbage is sweet and warm, non-toxic, unblocks and benefits the intestines and stomach, resolves alcohol intoxication, stops hot cough, removes chest vexation; those with Middle Jiao deficiency-cold must not consume it.
Primarily unblocks intestines/stomach, resolves alcohol thirst, aids digestion, directs Qi downward, treats miasma, stops hot cough, removes chest vexation, kills fishy odors, and pairs excellently with mutton. Excessive consumption by those with Middle Jiao deficiency triggers cold diseases, resolvable only by fresh ginger. Those with heat may eat it regularly. Dried half-way, placed in a jar next morning, soaked in hot rice water, after three days it becomes sour like vinegar, called "Suan Shui" (sour water). Medicinally, it induces vomiting of phlegm-saliva; combined with five flavors as soup/food, it benefits Spleen/Stomach, resolves facial toxin and alcohol toxin.
Amaranth Seed (Xian Shi)
Amaranth seed is sweet and cold, enters the Blood level, eliminates chills/fever, benefits urination and defecation, disperses Liver wind-heat, treats blindness and corneal opacity; leaves tonify Yin Qi and benefit prenatal health.
The name derives from its tall, visible stems and leaves ("Jian" means see), indicating ideographic origin. Some say its seeds remove corneal opacity, enabling sight. There are six types of amaranth; only white amaranth is used medicinally and is non-toxic. Zhu Danxi stated: It stops bleeding and enters the Blood level, moving freely to disperse cold/heat and benefit urination/defecation due to its cold and slippery nature. Treats Liver wind-external heat, blindness, red eyes, white corneal opacity, and black spots; powdered, take one square-inch spoonful nightly with tea. Also kills roundworms, benefits Qi and Essence. Leaves tonify Yin-level Qi deficiency, clear heat, and open the nine orifices. Excessive consumption moves Qi, causes vexation, and damages the cold Spleen. Eating with soft-shelled turtle generates Turtle Jia. For difficult labor, consuming amaranth and Purslane near term lubricates the birth canal. Red Amaranth has purple stems, is pungent, cold, and non-toxic. Treats bloody dysentery, Qi dysentery, and She Gong/Sandfly insect poison.
Purslane (Ma Chi Xian)
Purslane is sour and very cold, disperses blood, cools Liver, reduces corneal opacity, stops thirst, benefits urination, treats bloody dysentery, and wind-heat carbuncles are treated by drinking crushed juice.
Named for its shape resembling horse teeth and its ability to treat horse mange. Non-toxic. Cools Liver Blood, treats blindness and white corneal opacity, reduces chills/fever, stops vexation/thirst, breaks Jia masses, kills parasites, benefits urination/defecation, treats adult bloody dysentery, infantile malnutrition dysentery, and postpartum bloody dysentery. Also treats various Lin syndromes, Xiangjiao (foot qi), abdominal fullness, head/facial edema, and regurgitation. Treats thirty-six types of wind-knotted sores and seventy-two types of carbuncle toxins. Drink one bowl of fresh crushed juice to expel accumulated foul matter and fine worms; externally apply boiled ointment. Though cold and slippery, it moves blood, regulates Qi, nourishes intestines, and is an excellent agent. Burn to ash, mix with vinegar residue, moxa the Ding sore first, then seal; the root will emerge. Internal and external application for horse-sweat toxic sores with worms. When using, do not use large leaves; choose small leaves with silver-like nodes between joints. Ten catties dried should yield eight taels of this "silver." It is hard to dry; crush and sun-dry for two to three days. Remove stems/joints before use. Seeds treat blindness and corneal opacity, brighten eyes, expel evil qi, and remove chills/fever. Powder mixed with scallion, fermented soybean, and five-flavor porridge is effective.
Lettuce Root (Wo Ju Gen)
Lettuce root is cold, treats bone-steaming fever, treats bloody/non-bloody dysentery and yellow complexion; extract juice from stem for Ding sores, use leaves to stop pain from snake bites.
"Ju" means large. Stems and leaves are large and bitter, also called Bitter Ju or Wild Ju. Common household lettuce is White Ju. People in Jiangnan/Lingnan/Wu regions lack White Ju and plant Wild Ju for cooking; it is non-toxic. Roots treat bone-steaming fever, bloody/non-bloody dysentery; boil and drink. Removes yellowing of face and under-tongue. Break stem to extract white juice, apply to Ding sores to draw out roots; drip juice on carbuncles to rupture immediately. Leaves: snakes go blind upon touching them, so applying to snake bites is verified. Now grown as a vegetable; raw consumption opens appetite, strengthens strength, benefits five Zang, regulates twelve meridians, reduces weight, and decreases sleep. After Huoluan, if Stomach Qi rebels causing vexation, drink fresh crushed juice. Though very cold, it benefits humans, except when eaten with blood products, which causes hemorrhoids. *Yan Yi* states: Applying to Ding sores is very effective. Dry green shoots in shade, powder in winter, mix with water for application. White Lettuce is bitter and neutral, tonifies sinews/bones, benefits five Zang, opens chest/diaphragm congestion, unblocks meridians, removes bad breath, whitens teeth, improves intelligence, reduces sleep, suitable for regular consumption. Contraindicated for cold Qi syndromes and postpartum women as it causes cold damage to the middle.
Sonchus (Ku Mai)
Sonchus is non-toxic and cool, strengthens strength, treats yellow face; decoct alone with wine/water for hematuria, draws out Ding roots, applies to snake/insect bites.
Strengthens against fatigue, treats yellow face; juice applied to Ding sores draws out roots, also applied to snake/insect bites. Do not harvest when silkworm moths emerge, lest silkworms rot green. Silkworm farmers also avoid eating it. Wild Sonchus, after five or six harvests, becomes sweet and smoother than domestic varieties. Drinking pure Sonchus juice treats hematuria; decoct with wine and water for efficacy.
Shepherd's Purse (Qi)
Shepherd's purse is sweet and warm, harmonizes the middle, benefits five Zang especially cooling the Liver; seeds treat eye pain, blindness, and corneal opacity; roots/leaves burned to ash stabilize dysentery.
"Qi" means uniform or good. *Shi Jing* says: "Its sweetness is like Shepherd's purse." Leaves make excellent pickles/soup. Non-toxic. Harmonizes middle, benefits five Zang and Liver Qi. Those with Qi disorders or taking mineral pills should avoid it as it triggers chronic diseases. Eating with flour causes back oppression. Seeds, also called Ting Li Zi, are sweet and neutral. Treat eye pain, blindness, corneal opacity, resolve heat toxins, tonify five Zang deficiencies. Harvest best on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month. Roots/leaves burned to powder, taken with honey water, are extremely effective for bloody/non-bloody dysentery. Root juice drops treat acute red painful eyes. Cooking method: Take 1-2 sheng of cleaned Shepherd's purse, add 3 ge of washed rice, 3 sheng cold water, 2-finger piece of fresh ginger, one clam-shell of raw oil. Do not use salt/vinegar, do not stir. When soup is ready, eat. It guides blood to return to the Liver, brightens eyes, treats sores, similar to the intent of taking Bear Gallbladder during night reading. This is the fortune of recluses in mountains; do not neglect it.
Gourd (Hu Lu)
Gourd is sweet and neutral, slightly toxic, benefits water metabolism, reduces edema, stops thirst/vexation; Hu (bottle gourd) though slightly bitter has similar nature; those with deficiency-distension and cold must not swallow it.
Gourd is also called Hu. *Shi Jing* calls it Hu; dried it serves as a vessel, tender it serves as vegetable. Sweet and bitter varieties exist; bitter ones like gall are usable for floating across water but inedible and unusable medicinally. Treats massive edema of face/body, promotes urination causing vomiting, removes vexation, stops thirst, treats Heart heat, benefits small intestine, moistens Heart/Lungs, treats stone Lin, vomits roundworms, cures Gu poison, and stops hematemesis. Those with Xiangjiao (foot qi) and deficiency-distension/cold Qi must not eat it; suitable only for those taking mineral pills. Flowers dried and powdered applied to rat fistulas (Shu Lou).
Eggplant (Qie)
Eggplant is sweet and cold, moderates fire, greatly treats wind-heat causing limpness of waist/legs, transforms phlegm, drives stasis, resolves mastitis; triggering chronic diseases/sores is not contradictory; calyx burned to ash treats intestinal wind/mouth ulcers, roots wash frostbite.
"Qie" includes the stem. Several varieties exist; Yellow Eggplant is mostly used medicinally. Non-toxic. Treats severe wind-heat-phlegm: take unspecified amount of Yellow Eggplant, store in new bottle buried in earth for a year until liquefied. Extract, mix with Sophora flavescens powder, form pills. Take 30 pills with wine after meals/bedtime; very effective. Treats wind-blood accumulation-cold in waist/legs, tendon stiffness/spasm/pain: take 50 jin eggplant, slice clean, boil in 5 dou water to concentrate, strain, reduce to 1 sheng, add millet flour, cook to proper consistency, add musk and Cinnabar powder, form pills size of wu zi. Take 30 pills with wine morning and evening; cure in one month, applicable to both sexes. This ointment also applies to Back Carbuncles, mastitis, malignant sores, cooling like ice. Treats contusions/ecchymosis: bake old Yellow Eggplant seeds on tile to powder, take 2 qian with wine at bedtime; evil blood disperses, pain/swelling stops, disappears overnight without trace. Materia Medica states cold constitution persons should not eat much as it damages Qi, triggers sores/chronic diseases. Does this contradict the ointment claim? Heat sores heal with application; cold bodies suffer sores with ingestion. Summer consumption is acceptable. Calyx burned to ash mixed with honey treats mouth sores/toothache; wine-administered treats intestinal wind bleeding. All utilize sweetness to moderate fire. Roots and dried stems/leaves decocted wash frostbite effectively. Bitter Eggplant tree has small thorns; seeds treat Bi, ground with vinegar applies to carbuncles effectively.
White Winter Melon (Bai Dong Gua)
Winter melon is sweet and cold, non-toxic, clears heat, stops thirst rapidly, benefits water distension, treats various Lin syndromes; most contraindicated for chronically ill emaciated persons; seeds awaken Spleen/Stomach, beautify face, resolve pus/blood accumulation in intestines.
Initially green, turns white like powder in winter, hence the name. Resolves chest heat/vexation, stops consumptive thirst, removes lower abdominal water distension, treats five Lin syndromes, benefits urination/defecation. Suppresses mineral pill toxicity and fish toxicity; crush and drink juice. Boiled to exercise five Zang by directing Qi downward. Those wanting to slim/strengthen may eat long-term; those wanting to gain weight should not. Zhu Danxi stated: Nature is urgent and moving; contraindicated for chronic illness and Yin deficiency. *Yan Yi* states: For all Back Carbuncles/Ulcers, cut a large piece, place on sore, change when hot; disperses heat toxin, utilizing its urgent movement. Eating frost melon in September causes regurgitation. Leaves kill bee sting swelling/toxins. Vines burned to ash wash black spots and sores/tinea. Seeds are sweet, neutral, non-toxic. Awaken Spleen stagnation, remove vexation/fullness/unhappiness, bring luster/beauty to complexion. *Bie Lu* states: Treats intra-abdominal accumulation, ruptures pus/blood, essential medicine for gastrointestinal internal congestion. Removes skin wind-prickles/black spots, moisturizes skin,可做面脂 (face cream). Chronic injuries not healing: roast to powder, mix with warm wine. For medicine, harvest after frost, store for years, break open, wash dry, remove shell, take kernel, lightly roast. All melons chill the middle, except Winter Melon which warms it.
Coriander (Hu Sui)
Coriander is pungent and warm, slightly toxic, stops headache, clears heat in limbs, digests grains, unblocks Heart/Abdominal Qi; spray wine-decoction for measles without needing doctors.
"Hu" means fox; "Sui" means musk/odor; long-term consumption causes armpit odor like fox musk. Stops headache, extracts limb heat, digests grains, unblocks Heart orifice, large/small intestines, lower abdominal Qi. For children's measles not erupting: boil wine, cover, cool, strain, spray gently from neck down over body (avoid face); measles erupts quickly. Long-term consumption damages spirit, causes forgetfulness, triggers fox odor, foot qi, chronic diseases. Seeds treat intestinal wind, five hemorrhoids, Gu poison, meat poisoning, continuous bloody stool, sudden bloating/yellowing; drink cold decocted juice. For toothache, gargle decoction. For infantile alopecia, fry in oil and apply. Use fried for medicine. Stone Coriander, common name Goose Not-Eating Grass, is cold and non-toxic. Unblocks nasal Qi, benefits nine orifices, vomits wind-phlegm, inedible. Cooked and rubbed into nose removes corneal opacity.
Water Dropwort (Shui Qin)
Water dropwort is sweet and neutral, non-toxic, benefits Qi/Blood, nourishes spirit, removes vexation/thirst, jaundice, leukorrhea/metrorrhagia in women.
"Qin" means hero/flourish. Grows by water, distinct from other vegetables, edible as pickle. Non-toxic. Benefits Qi, protects blood vessels, nourishes spirit, strengthens sinews/strength, makes fat/strong/appetite. Removes body heat/vexation/thirst, benefits intestines, treats five types of jaundice, women's red discharge/metrorrhagia, infantile Huoluan vomiting/diarrhea; removes wind-heat in head, kills mineral pill toxicity. Eating with vinegar damages teeth; those with Turtle Jia must not eat. In March/August, dragons deposit essence into celery; eating it causes Dragon-Jia formation,发作 like epilepsy with blue face, lower abdominal fullness/pain, resembling pregnancy; ingest 2-3 sheng hard sugar twice daily, vomit dragon-child-like object, then cured.
Rapeseed (Yun Tai)
Rapeseed should not be eaten excessively; triggers disease, generates worms, severely damages Yang; treats breaking Jia masses, unblocking congealed blood, removing erysipelas swelling, mastitis sores.
*Yan Yi* states: Rapeseed is not very fragrant, roots survive winter, repels insects. Not among the best vegetables, yet commonly eaten. Pungent, warm, non-toxic. Long-term consumption damages Yang Qi, triggers chronic diseases, sores, toothache, abdominal worms; those with prior leg/foot issues or fox odor must not eat. Only breaks Jia masses/blood stasis, postpartum wind-blood stasis, treats wandering wind, erysipelas swelling, mastitis. Seeds pressed for oil applied to head promotes black hair growth. Women eating after menstruation cease childbearing.
Bamboo Shoot (Zhu Sun)
Bamboo shoot transforms phlegm, benefits water, refreshes stomach, benefits diaphragm, stops consumptive thirst; those with cold syndromes and foot qi must not eat; dried ones are hard to digest and stagnate Spleen Earth; Di Sun is actually Polygonum Mollerveux root, main treatment for hematemesis/epistaxis.
Sweet, non-toxic. Directs Qi downward, transforms phlegm, benefits water, refreshes Stomach Qi, benefits diaphragm, transforms heat, stops consumptive thirst, benefits Qi, suitable for regular consumption. Contraindicated for cold syndromes, moving Qi, and foot qi. New shoots slightly edible; old ones hard to digest, do not benefit Spleen. Past case: child choked on dried shoot, gasping/closing eyes like slow convulsion; expelled via Croton seed medicine, then cured. All shoots trigger cold blood/Qi, except Bitter Bamboo Shoot which does not generate phlegm, treats insomnia, removes heat-yellow from face/tongue, stops thirst/clears heat, resolves alcohol toxin, brightens eyes, strengthens person, benefits water pathways, manages wind-heat foot qi; steam/boil and eat. Di Sun is sweet, warm, non-toxic. Benefits nine orifices, unblocks blood vessels, stops hematemesis/epistaxis, treats postpartum heart/abdominal pain, all blood syndromes; makes fat people fat. Pu Sun is Palm Shoot, sweet, cold, non-toxic. Removes heat/dryness, benefits urination. Lu Sun is Reed Rhizome. Jiao Sun is Zizania Rhizome. All recorded in previous volumes.
Mushrooms (Jun)
Mushrooms are sweet, fragrant, naturally warm, open appetite, stop diarrhea, delight spirit; Wood Ear cools blood thus stops bleeding; Rock Ear clears Heart, nourishes Stomach Yuan.
Mushrooms have five colors but same species, commonly called Gu. Fragrant ones called Xun Gu, non-fragrant called Huang Gu. Raw is slippery, dry is astringent. Ground-growing or wood-growing, also named Mu Ji. Grow in soil/mane/ash or bamboo forest debris after summer rain, formed by damp-heat interaction. Excessive consumption triggers damp-heat; moderate consumption fragrance delights spirit/opens appetite. Slightly astringent flavor stops diarrhea/vomiting. Non-toxic in winter/early spring; toxic in summer/autumn due to snake passage. If poisoned with bloating/near-death, urgently give Licorice soup or Black Bean decoction to detoxify. Mushrooms on Maple trees cause uncontrollable laughter; resolved by earth slurry water, which also resolves all mushroom toxins. Wood Ear is cold, non-toxic, cools blood, stops intestinal wind bleeding; do not feed children as they cannot digest. Rock Ear is sweet, cold, non-toxic. Clears Heart, nourishes Stomach, stops bleeding. Mushroom is sweet, neutral, non-toxic. Henan origin is best. Edible, little benefit/harm.
Taro (Yu)
Taro cultivated in gardens is best. Pungent, neutral, toxic. Broadens intestines/stomach, fills skin/flesh, smooths mouth, makes person fat/day, postpartum boiled eats breaks old blood, removes dead muscle. Juice stops