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Bamboo Shoots: The *Bencao* records: Sweet in taste, non-toxic. Mainly treats polydipsia (symptoms similar to diabetes), promotes diuresis, benefits Qi, and can be consumed for a long time. Cui Yu states: Sweet in taste, slightly cold. Mainly promotes diuresis, stops polydipsia, and treats the five types of hemorrhoids. Meng Shen states: Bamboo shoots move Qi and can induce cold syndromes; they should not be eaten in excess. (Japanese name: Takanahanai.)

White Melon Seeds: The *Bencao* records: Sweet in taste, neutral and cold, non-toxic. Mainly makes one look radiant and healthy, benefits Qi, and prevents hunger. Long-term consumption lightens the body and delays aging. Tao Hongjing's commentary states: There are several types of ripe melons; removing the pulp before eating is harmless. If one feels they have eaten too much, soaking them in water will cause them to dissipate. It is also stated in the *Bowuzhi*: When water reaches the neck, one can eat countless melons. Cui Yu states: Sweet, cold, and non-toxic; promotes diuresis and removes phlegm-fluid retention. Unripe melons are cold; yellow-ripe melons are neutral. The pulp is sweet, tonifies the middle, removes wind-stroke from the stomach and intestines, kills three types of parasites, and stops dizziness. The *Yangsheng Yaoji* states: Eating two melon stems or two calyxes can be fatal. Ma Wan states: Melons with two noses are fatal if eaten. Meng Shen states: Being very cold, it can induce jaundice and aggravate chronic cold conditions. Those with abdominal masses should not eat it in excess. (Japanese name: Uri.)

Winter Melon: The *Bencao* records: White winter melon is slightly cold. It mainly reduces abdominal distension due to fluid retention, promotes urination, and stops thirst. Tao Hongjing's commentary states: Winter melon is cold and purgative, detoxifies, and stops polydipsia. The *Shennong Jing* records: Sweet in taste, non-toxic, stops thirst, and clears heat. Cui Yu states: People with abdominal distension due to wind-cold should avoid winter melon as it worsens the condition and may cause gastric reflux. Zhang Xuanyuan states: Eating winter melon suppresses cinnabar-stone toxicity and removes heat from the head and face. (Japanese name: Kamuri.)

Yue Melon: Meng Shen states: Cold, benefits yang. Benefits the stomach and intestines, stops thirst, but should not be eaten long-term. It moves Qi; although it stops thirst, it still induces various sores, causes deficiency, and leads to inability to walk or stand. The *Bencao* Tao commentary states: Yue melons used for pickling are cold when eaten. The *Shiyi* states: Promotes urination, clears heat, and resolves alcohol toxicity. (Note: Harmful substance. Japanese name: Tonari Uri.)

Cucumber: Meng Shen states: Cold, should not be eaten in excess. It induces chills and fever and triggers malaria. Zhang Xuanyuan states: Induces wind-pathogen, generates hundred diseases, diminishes sexual function, induces sores and scabies, and triggers podagra (gout). It should not be eaten immediately after an epidemic disease, or the illness will recur. (Note: Harmful substance. Japanese name: Karashi Uri.)

Eggplant: Cui Yu states: Sweet, salty, and warm, slightly toxic. Mainly fills the skin, benefits strength. Patients with podagra boil the seedlings and leaves to soak their feet; this effectively removes toxic qi. The *Seven Volumes Classic* states: Warm and neutral. Excessive consumption moves Qi and damages yang. (Japanese name: Nasubi.)

Black Nightshade: The *Bencao* states: Bitter, cold, non-toxic. Eating it relieves fatigue and reduces sleepiness, and removes deficiency-heat swelling. Its seeds treat carbuncles. Cui Yu states: Benefits strength. Meng Shen states: The seeds are excellent for treatment. Red ones resembling pearls are called Dragon Pearls; long-term consumption turns hair black and prevents aging. The *Yangsheng Yaoji* states: Tonifies the five zang organs, lightens the body, and improves vision. (Japanese name: Hinasubi.)

Gourd: The *Bencao* states: Bitter, cold, toxic. Mainly treats severe edema (swelling of face, eyes, and limbs), promotes water elimination, and induces vomiting. Su Jing's commentary states: Gourd is not a different category from winter melon gourd; it is sweet and cold, promotes diuresis, and stops polydipsia. Tao Hongjing's commentary states: There are other gourds of the same category. The small ones are called ladle gourds, which are superior to regular gourds when eaten. The *Shiyi* states: Decoction dropped into the nose expels yellow fluid, treating cold damage, nasal congestion, and jaundice. It is also stated that those poisoned by bitter gourd should drink millet bran decoction. The *Picang* states: Gourd refers to King Melon. Ladle gourds are used for holding wine, playing the qin, and reading for entertainment. (Japanese name: Nigabi Sako.)

Malabar Spinach: The *Bencao* states: Sweet, cold, non-toxic. Mainly treats malignant sores, dysuria, promotes urination, resolves Shu pepper toxicity, and its leaves are the chief among vegetables. Tao Hongjing's commentary states: Planted in autumn, it produces seeds through winter to spring, called winter malabar spinach. It is very slippery and purgative, capable of expelling stone dysuria. Su Jing's commentary states: Northerners call it fragrant herb. Regular consumption is said to remove bad breath. The *Shennong Jing* states: Sweet and cold; long-term consumption benefits bone qi. Cui Yu states: Benefits liver and gallbladder qi, improves vision; mainly treats internal heat polydipsia and unresolved heat in drinkers. Meng Shen states: If eaten when hot, it causes heat and stifling. The *Shanfu Jing* states: Malabar spinach leaves are particularly cold and purgative. The *Qianjin Fang* states: Eating malabar spinach every ten days, due to its slipperiness, unblocks the five zang organs and moves qi. Ma Wan states: Malabar spinach with red stems and yellow backs is fatal if eaten. (Japanese name: Apanpi.)

Wasabi: Cui Yu states: Pungent. Eating it as pickles benefits people. Making it into a paste provides a delightful flavor. (Japanese name: Wasabi.)

Lepidium apetalum: The *Bencao* states: Sweet, cold, non-toxic. Mainly expels various stone dysurias and stops snake venom. Cui Yu states: Sweet and very cold; eating it expels stones and snake venom. (Japanese name: Ibaeriri.)

Amaranth: The *Bencao* states: Sweet, cold, non-toxic. Mainly clears blindness and white opacities, improves vision, removes evil pathogens, promotes bowel and bladder movements, removes chills and fever, kills roundworms, and benefits strength. Su Jing's commentary states: Mainly treats various swellings and warts. The *Shiyi* states: Forbidden to eat with turtle meat; placing chopped turtle meat and amaranth in water transforms it back into a live turtle. The *Seven Volumes Classic* states: Sweet, benefits strength, prevents hunger. Cui Yu states: Benefits strength. The daughter of Lord Xinling was eighteen and unmarried but pregnant. Her father forced her to ask how she became pregnant and threatened to kill her. She replied: "I did nothing but love eating this vegetable." Her father, suspicious, had a young maid eat amaranth, who became pregnant within months and gave birth safely. (Japanese name: Hiyu.)

Shepherd's Purse: The *Bencao* states: Bitter, cold, non-toxic. Mainly treats alopecia and scabies, removes vaginal erosion, oozing sores, jaundice, and hemorrhoids, and kills three types of parasites. The *Wanbi Fang* states: Treats gu poisoning. Cui Yu states: Tonifies the five zang organs and benefits strength. (Japanese name: Shi.)

Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris): The *Bencao* states: Sweet, warm, non-toxic. Mainly benefits liver qi and harmonizes the middle. Meng Shen states: Tonifies deficiencies of the five zang organs. Leaves move qi. Tao Hongjing's commentary cites the *Book of Songs*: "Who says shepherd's purse is bitter? It is as sweet as honey." Cui Yu states: Sweet and fragrant; tonifies heart and spleen. (Japanese name: Natana.)

Fresh Ginger: The *Bencao* states: Pungent, slightly warm. Mainly treats headache and nasal congestion from cold damage, counterflows qi cough, and stops vomiting. Long-term consumption removes bad breath and clarifies the spirit. The *Shennong Jing* states: It reduces will and intelligence, damages heart nature, and should not be taken in excess. (Note: The *Shiyi* states: No evidence that ginger consumers are foolish or non-consumers are wise; this is baseless talk.) The *Shanfu Jing* states: Do not eat ginger after sweet porridge, or it causes vomiting and cholera-like disorder. Do not eat fresh ginger on an empty stomach, as it tends to cause thirst. Cui Yu states: Removes phlegm, directs qi downward, dispels wind-pathogen, pungent in taste, and is the main seasoning food. The *Shijing* states: Men eating too much suffer from loose anus; women suffer from enlarged genitalia. Meng Shen states: Removes nasal congestion and chest bad odor. The *Yangsheng Yaoji* states: Slightly warm, especially good to eat, but not in excess. Damages heart qi. Also states: Eating on an empty stomach causes upward flare-up, prone to bone-steaming fever and abscesses. (Japanese name: Tochinokami.)

Turnip: The *Bencao* states: Bitter, warm, non-toxic. Mainly benefits the five zang organs, lightens the body, benefits qi, and can be eaten long-term. Su Jing's commentary states: Turnip is called Manjing in the north. The *Shiyi* states: Seeds treat acute jaundice and biliary obstruction/intestinal constipation. It is also said that no spiders exist in turnip gardens due to mutual aversion. Cui Yu states: Benefits the five zang organs; steamed and applied roots reduce foot swelling. One dou pounded and boiled in three dou of water to yield one dou of juice, taken thickly, is a miraculous medicine for abdominal masses, cholera, and fullness. The *Shennong Jing* states: Roots should not be eaten in excess as they cause qi distension. Su Jing's Podagra Treatise states: Patients with podagra should not eat Manjing. The *Seven Volumes Classic* states: Called 'X' in Chen-Chu, 'Rao' in Lu-Qi, 'Wujing' east and west of the pass, and 'Dajie' in Zhao-Wei. (Japanese name: Anana.)

Chinese Cabbage: The *Bencao* states: Sweet, warm, non-toxic. Mainly unblocks and promotes gastrointestinal movement, removes chest irritability, and resolves polydipsia. The *Shiyi* states: Removes fishy odors, moves pathogens. In southern lands without ginger, this vegetable is widely used. Cui Yu states: Sweet, slightly cold, non-toxic. Among vegetables, Chinese cabbage is best for blood nourishment. Harmonizes the middle, has no adverse interactions, and allows for large consumption. Meng Shen states: Those with cold patterns in the abdomen should not take it; those with heat patterns taking it do not develop disease. The vegetable is cold in nature. (Japanese name: Okanana.)

Radish: The *Bencao* states: Pungent and sweet, warm, non-toxic. Mainly strongly directs qi downward, digests grains, removes phlegm, and strengthens the person. Raw juice treats polydipsia with great efficacy. Cui Yu states: Pungent and aromatic, warm; resolves toxicity from grains, fish, and meat. The tender leaves are also a primary raw vegetable, digesting food, harmonizing the middle, benefiting the nine orifices, and aiding people. The *Seven Volumes Classic* states: Radishes kept in soil for a long time are harmful to eat. Ma Wan states: Eating radish roots at night disperses qi and is harmful. Meng Shen states: Radish is cold, benefits five zang joints, removes wind-stroke from five zang organs, lightens the body, benefits qi, and the root digests food and directs qi downward. It greatly benefits joints, removes wind-stroke, refines evil qi in the five zang organs, and makes the skin fair. (Japanese name: Onabu.)

Mustard: The *Bencao* states: Pungent, warm, non-toxic, enters the nose. Mainly removes kidney pathogenic qi, benefits the nine orifices, brightens eyes and ears, stabilizes the middle, and long-term consumption warms the middle. Tao Hongjing's commentary states: Resembles Chinese cabbage but hairy, pungent taste. Cui Yu states: Stabilizes the middle. There are many types of mustard; mouse mustard gets its name because mice eating its flowers lose their fur. Sparrow mustard gets its name because sparrows eating its seeds gain flight ability. The *Seven Volumes Classic* states: Two types, large and small mustard, treated similarly. Meng Shen states: Raw consumption triggers cinnabar-stone toxicity; should not be eaten in excess. (Japanese name: Karashi.)

White Lettuce: Cui Yu states: Bitter, cold, non-toxic. Mainly improves vision and is essential for appetite. Meng Shen states: Cold, mainly supplements tendon strength. Zhang Xuanyuan states: Benefits five zang organs, opens chest and diaphragm, retains cold qi, unblocks meridians, nourishes bones and tendons, whitens teeth, enhances intelligence, reduces sleepiness, and can be eaten regularly. It has slight cold properties; although it may cause abdominal coldness, it ultimately does not harm. However, it should not be eaten postpartum as it causes cold invasion and lower abdominal pain. (Japanese name: Chisa.)

Thistle: The *Bencao* states: Sweet, warm. Mainly nourishes essence and protects blood. Tao Hongjing's commentary states: Large thistle is tiger thistle, small thistle is cat thistle. Su Jing's commentary states: Large and small thistles look similar but differ in efficacy. The *Shiyi* states: Breaks old blood, stops new bleeding, treats sudden hematochezia, bloody diarrhea, traumatic wounds, hemorrhage, and hematemesis; take juice warm. Also good for metal wounds and bites from spiders, snakes, and scorpions. Cui Yu states: Nourishes spirit, makes one fat and strong, treats leukorrhea in women, calms the fetus, and stops hematemesis. Meng Shen states: Leaves can be cooked in soup, effectively clearing heat and wind. Fresh leaves applied stop bleeding from metal wounds. (Japanese name: Asami.)

Jing Vegetable: Cui Yu states: Stops diarrhea, sweet and bitter, slightly cold, slightly toxic. Mainly treats heart heat, irritability, and vomiting. Also known as [Name]. Root pounded and applied to nail infections extracts the abscess root. (Japanese name: Fufushi.)

Orchid Lily: Cui Yu states: Pungent, warm, non-toxic. Stops cough, cold diarrhea, and hiccups. (Japanese name: Saranoshi.)

Purslane: The *Bencao* states: Sour, neutral, non-toxic. Mainly treats chronic malignant sores. Su Jing states: This is Portulaca oleracea. The *Seven Volumes Classic* states: Treats polydipsia and miscellaneous sores. Zhang Xuanyuan states: Boiled as soup, it greatly benefits people. (Japanese name: Hakubairyo.)

Lange Grass: Cui Yu states: Pungent and fragrant, cold, neutral, non-toxic. Mainly promotes diuresis, wards off misfortune, prevents aging, and clarifies the spirit. (Japanese name: Ararashi.)

Coriander: Cui Yu states: Pungent and foul-smelling. Eating it regulates digestion and directs qi downward. Especially important for river and sea bird and fish sashimi. Meng Shen states: Digests grains; long-term consumption causes forgetfulness. Zhang Xuanyuan states: Benefits deficiencies of the five zang organs but should not be eaten in excess as it damages spirit. (Note: Harmful substance. Japanese name: Eji.)

Smartweed: The *Bencao* states: Pungent and warm, non-toxic. Mainly improves vision and warms the middle. Dispels wind-cold, eliminates fluid retention, facial/eye swelling, and abscesses. Leaves enter the tongue, remove pathogenic qi from large and small intestines, benefit the middle, and enhance will. The *Shiyi* states: Smartweed treats abdominal masses, also known as 'Nu Zeng', indicating it weakens sexual function and should not be near the yin area. Both smartweed and fish mint weaken yang. The *Seven Volumes Classic* states: Excessive consumption causes vomiting of water and further damages sexual function. The *Qianjin Fang* states: Yellow Emperor said: Excessive consumption of smartweed is toxic and causes heart pain. (Japanese name: Amata.)

Lotus: The *Bencao* states: Slightly warm. Mainly treats gu poisoning and malaria. Tao Hongjing's commentary states: Red ones are red lotus, white ones are cover-juice leaves. They are the same species. For food, red is superior; for medicine, white treats gu poisoning. Drinking its juice and lying on its leaves calls out the gu master's name. Excessive consumption damages medicinal potency. Not suitable for planting in podagra households. White lotus also repels snakes. Su Jing states: Treats various malignant sores, kills stinging gu poison roots, and treats rice/wheat awns entering the eye; juice instillation expels them. Cui Yu states: Commonly eaten, beneficial without harm. (Japanese name: Koma.)

Celery: The *Bencao* states: Sweet, neutral. Mainly treats leukorrhea in women, stops bleeding, nourishes essence, protects blood vessels. Benefits qi, makes one fat and strong, and increases appetite. Also known as Bingying. The *Shiyi* states: Stem and leaf juice treats sudden fever in children and alcohol-heat toxicity/nasal congestion/body heat in adults; promotes bowel/bladder movements. Cui Yu states: Sweet, slightly cold, non-toxic, promotes urination, removes fluid distension. Meng Shen states: Nourishes spirit, benefits strength, kills stone-drug toxicity. Zhang Xuanyuan states: Eating with vinegar harms people and blackens teeth. If not grown high, it is suitable for people. Water celery contains insects whose larvae harm humans. The *Yangsheng Yaoji* states: Celery with fine hairy leaves is fatal if eaten. (Japanese name: Serii.)

Water Shield: The *Bencao* states: Sweet, cold, non-toxic. Mainly treats sudden heat, asthma, and infant erysipelas. The *Seven Volumes Classic* states: Guangling people call it Jie, also known as Chun Cai or Water Reed. (Japanese name: Nashi.)

Bracken Fern: Cui Yu states: Salty, bitter, slightly cold, non-toxic. Tonifies the middle, benefits strength. Some say excessive consumption causes sleepiness and heavy body. Not suitable for yang-dominant people, but suitable for yin-dominant people. Eating one or two jin of bracken prevents illness for life; eaten as dried jerky or steamed in winter. Meng Shen states: Causes leg weakness and inability to walk, diminishes sexual function, shrinks penis, causes hair loss, nasal congestion, and dim vision in children. Children should not eat it as it prevents walking. The *Shiyi* states: Children eating it suffer leg weakness. The Four Old Men lived long eating mushrooms, while Yiqi died eating bracken; thus it is not a good substance. The *Sou Shen Ji* states: Jian Zhen went hunting in Dantu in February, ate a bracken stem, felt ill, vomited a small snake which dried into a fern upon viewing, and then recovered. This shows it should not be eaten raw. (Japanese name: Warabi.)

Artemisia Princeps: The *Seven Volumes Classic* states: Cold, no benefit or harm. Cui Yu states: Improves vision. Salty, warm, non-toxic. Opens the chest cavity, resembles mugwort but fragrant; making soup benefits people. (Japanese name: Onpoji.)

Water Shield (Oenanthe javanica): The *Bencao* states: Sweet, cold. Mainly treats polydipsia and heat-bi syndrome. Tao Hongjing's commentary states: Directs qi downward. Su Jing's commentary states: Long-term consumption is very suitable. Meng Shen states: Excessive consumption triggers hemorrhoids. The *Shiyi* states: Although an aquatic plant, it is hot in nature, obstructs qi, and those with warm diseases eating it often die because its slippery nature prevents spleen digestion. Regular consumption obstructs qi, causes joint qi urgency, and excessive salivation. Su Jing states: Top grade, mainly treats podagra. The error in the Podagra Treatise recommending its consumption is profound. (Japanese name: Numanaba.)

Artemisia capillaris: Cui Yu states: Salty, very cold, non-toxic. Mainly treats jaundice and polydipsia. (Japanese name: Kahoborai.)

Pinellia: The *Shiyi* states: Pungent, cold, toxic. Mainly treats carbuncles and wind-toxin. Grind and apply to swelling; boil in ash lye into cakes, season with five flavors, and eat to treat polydipsia. Raw juice pierces the throat and causes bleeding. Grows in Wu and Shu. Leaves resemble Pinellia, roots resemble [Name], likes shady places, raindrops on leaves produce offspring. Also known as [Name], has spotted branches, roots and seedlings similar, blooms straight red fruits in autumn. Roots applied to carbuncles are effective, but do not eat [Name]. (Japanese name: Korujiuku.)

Arctium Lappa: The *Bencao* states: Arctium fruit, also known as Niubang or Mouse Sticking Grass. Pungent, neutral. Mainly improves vision, tonifies the middle, treats wind-stroke, facial swelling, and polydipsia. Su Jing's commentary states: Roots treat toothache, leg weakness; carbuncles, cough, hernia, and blood accumulation. (Japanese name: Satasashisu.)

Artemisia Capillaris: Cui Yu states: Salty, very cold, non-toxic. Mainly treats jaundice and polydipsia. (Japanese name: Kahoborai.)

Wood Mushroom: The *Seven Volumes Classic* states: Sweet, warm, neutral. Eating it lightens the body and benefits the nine orifices. Any mushroom growing on toxic wood, if unrecognized and boiled/eaten, is fatal. Do not lightly consume. Also states: Rock ear is cold, grows on rocks, eating it is beneficial. Earth mushroom is warm and neutral, tonifies five zang organs and benefits qi. Cui Yu states: Mushrooms remove heat qi; raw is cold, dried is warm. The *Shiyi* states: Changed color upon gathering is toxic; glowing at night is toxic; undercooked is toxic; upside-down caps are toxic. Non-toxic in winter/spring, toxic in autumn/summer due to snake passage. White and soft winter mushrooms are non-toxic; long-term consumption benefits intestines/stomach. The *Yangsheng Yaoji* states: Wood mushroom is sweet, warm/neutral, lightens body, benefits nine orifices. Red mushrooms are inedible and harmful. Rolled mushrooms are harmful. Green mushrooms are inedible. Black fungus that is green or upside-down is harmful. Mushrooms from maple trees cause uncontrollable laughter. Treatment for mushroom poisoning causing delirium: Drink soybean decoction or earth slurry. (Japanese name: Shinotakai.)