味苦，寒，无毒。主消渴，内痹，瘀血，月闭，寒热，酸疼，益气，愈聋。疗诸邪气，
热结，鼠 ，散痈肿留血，
妇人带下不通，下乳汁，止小便数不禁，逐四肢骨节中水，疗马骨刺人疮。一名土瓜。生鲁
地平泽田野，及人家垣墙间。
三月采根，阴干。
今土瓜生篱院间亦有，子熟时赤，如弹丸大。根今多不预干，临用时乃掘取，不堪入大
方，正单行小小尔。《礼记·月
令》云∶王瓜生，此之谓也。郑玄云菝 ，殊为谬矣。
〔谨案
〕
北间者，累累相连，大如枣，
皮黄肉白。苗子相似，根状不同。试疗黄胆、破血，南者大胜也。
味甘，寒，无毒。主解百药毒。
根茎都似人参，而叶小异，根味甜绝，能杀毒。以其与毒药共处，而毒皆自然歇，不正
入方家用也。
大温，无毒。主暴冷，胃中冷逆，霍乱腹痛。
出高良郡。人腹痛不止，但嚼食亦效。形气与杜若相似，而叶如山姜。
〔谨案〕生岭南
者
味亦不甚辛，其实一也。今相与呼细者为杜若，大者为高良姜，
此非也。
味苦，平，无毒。主寒热鬼疰，中风湿痹，女子带下病，无子。一名马屎蒿，生南阳川
泽。方云一名烂石草，主恶
疮，方药亦不复用。
〔谨案〕此叶大如茺蔚，花红白色，实，八月、九月熟，俗谓之虎麻
是也。一名马新蒿，所在有
之。
茺蔚苗短小，子夏中熟。而初生二种，极相似也。
[Wagua (Trichosanthes cucumerina)]
Taste: bitter. Nature: cold. Toxicity: non-toxic. Indications: Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome, similar to diabetes), Nei Bi (internal obstruction of qi and blood), Yu Xue (blood stasis), Yue Bi (amenorrhea), Han Re (alternating chills and fever), Suan Teng (muscle soreness and pain), Yi Qi (benefiting qi), Yu Long (curing deafness). Treatments: Various pathogenic factors, Re Jie (heat accumulation), Shu Liu (scrofula/lymphatic tuberculosis), San Yong Zhong Liu Xue Xue (dispersing carbuncles, swelling, and retained blood), Fu Ren Dai Xia Bu Tong (female leukorrhea with obstruction), Xia Ru Zhi (promoting lactation), Zhi Xiao Bian Shu Bu Jin (stopping frequent and incontinent urination), Zhu Si Zhi Gu Jie Zhong Shui (driving out water-dampness from the four limbs and joints), Liao Ma Gu Ci Ren Chu (treating sores caused by horse bone splinters). Alternate name: Tu Gua. Habitat: Flat marshy fields in Lu region, and between walls of residential compounds.
Collection: Roots harvested in the third lunar month, dried in shade.
Current status: Tu Gua also grows among fences and courtyards; fruits turn red when ripe, size like a bullet. Currently, roots are mostly not pre-dried but dug up just before use; they are unsuitable for large prescriptions, only suitable for single-herb use or small prescriptions. The *Book of Rites · Monthly Ordinances* states: "Wagua grows," referring to this plant. Zheng Xuan's identification as Bae (Smilax glabra) is highly erroneous.
[Commentary]
In the north, Wagua fruits grow in clusters, size like dates, yellow skin, white flesh. Seedlings look similar, but root shapes differ. In trials for treating Huang Dan (jaundice) and Po Xue (breaking blood stasis), the southern variety is significantly superior.
[Maxiaohao (Pedicularis species)]
Taste: sweet. Nature: cold. Toxicity: non-toxic. Indications: Jie Bai Yao Du (detoxifying various medicines).
Description: Rhizomes resemble Ginseng (Renshen), but leaves are slightly different; roots taste extremely sweet and can kill toxins. Because it coexists with toxic substances and neutralizes their toxicity naturally, physicians do not include it in standard prescriptions.
[Gao Liang Jiang (Galangal)]
Nature: greatly warm. Toxicity: non-toxic. Indications: Bao Leng (sudden cold exposure), Wei Zhong Leng Ni (cold reversal in the stomach), Huo Luan Abdominal Pain (abdominal pain due to cholera-like disorder).
Origin: Gaoliang Commandery. For unceasing abdominal pain, chewing and eating it is effective. Morphology resembles Du Ruo (Pollia japonica), but leaves resemble Shan Jiang (Zingiber mioga).
[Commentary]
Those growing in Lingnan have a pungent taste that is not very strong; essentially, they are the same. Currently, people call the smaller ones Du Ruo and the larger ones Gao Liang Jiang; this distinction is incorrect.
[Mashihao (Another Pedicularis species)]
Taste: bitter. Nature: level (neutral). Toxicity: non-toxic. Indications: Han Re Gui Zhu (chills, fever, and ghostly transmission diseases), Zhong Feng Shi Bi (wind-cold-damp bi-syndrome), Nv Zi Dai Xia Bing (female leukorrhea disease), Wu Zi (infertility). Alternate name: Ma Shi Hao. Habitat: Rivers and marshes in Nanyang. Medical texts state another name is Lan Shi Cao, indicating treatment for E Chuang (malignant sores); however, it is no longer used in prescriptions.
[Commentary]
This herb has leaves as large as Chongwei (Leonurus japonicus), flowers are red and white, fruits mature in August and September. Commonly called Hu Ma, this is it. Another name is Ma Xin Hao, found everywhere.
Chongwei seedlings are short and small, fruits mature in summer. These two varieties are extremely similar when first sprouting.