味苦、辛，微寒，平、温，无毒。主筋骨间寒热，湿痹，拘挛，明目，坚齿，利九窍，
去白虫、长虫。主风头痛，
脑鸣，目泪出。益气，久服轻身能老。令人光泽，脂致，长须发。小
恶乌头、石膏。小荆即应是牡荆，牡荆子大于蔓荆子而反呼为小荆，恐或以树形为言。
复不知蔓荆树若高硕耳。
〔谨
案〕此荆子，今人呼为牡荆子者是也。其蔓荆子大，故呼牡荆子为小荆；实亦等者，言其功
舆蔓荆同也。蔓荆苗蔓生，
故名蔓荆。生水滨，叶似杏叶而细，茎
子为牡荆子也。
味苦、温、无毒。主除骨间寒热，通利胃气，止咳逆，下气。生河间南阳宛朐山谷，或
平寿、都乡高堤岸上，牡荆
生田野。八月、九月采实，阴干。
得术、柏实、青葙共疗头风，防风为之使，恶石膏。河间、宛朐、平寿并在北，南阳在
西，论蔓荆，即应是今作杖
棰之荆，而复非见。其子殊细，正如小麻子，色青黄。荆子实小大
如乌豆大，正圆黑，仙术
多用牡荆，今人都无识之者。李当之《药录》乃注溲疏下云∶溲疏一名阳胪，一名牡荆，一
名空疏。皮白，中空，时有
节。子似枸杞子，赤色，味甘、苦，冬月熟，俗乃无识者。当此实是真，非人篱域阳胪也。
案如此说，溲
都不同，其形类乖异，恐乖实理。而仙方用牡荆，云能通神见鬼，非唯其实，
乃枝叶并好。又云有荆树，必枝枝相对，此是牡荆，有不对者，既非牡荆。既为父，则不应
有子。如此，并莫详虚实，须更博访，乃详之耳。
〔谨案〕此即作棰杖荆，是也。实细，
黄
黑色，茎劲作树，不为蔓生，故称之为牡，非无实之谓也。案《汉书·郊祀志》，以牡荆茎
为幡竿，此明则蔓不堪为竿。今所在皆有，此荆非《本经》所载。案今生出乃是蔓荆，将以
附此条后，陶为误矣。《别录》云∶荆叶，味苦，平，无毒。主久痢、霍乱、转筋、血淋，
下部疮湿KT 。薄脚，主香港脚肿满。其根，味甘、苦，平，无毒。水煮服，主心风、头风、
肢
体诸风，解肌发汗。有青赤二种，赤者为佳。出《类聚方》，今医相承，多以牡荆为蔓荆，
此极误也。
[Mandarin Jasmine Fruit (Calyx of Vitex trifolia)]
Taste: bitter, pungent. Nature: slightly cold; some records state neutral or warm. Non-toxic. Primarily treats cold-heat sensations in the muscles and bones, damp-bi (joint pain and numbness caused by dampness pathogen), muscle spasms and contractures, brightens the eyes, strengthens teeth, benefits the nine orifices, expels white worms and long worms (intestinal parasites). Treats wind-induced headache, tinnitus in the brain, and tearing. Tonifies qi; long-term use makes the body light and delays aging. Imparts luster to the complexion, moisturizes the skin, and promotes the growth of beard and hair. Slightly incompatible with Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Wutou, 乌头) and Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao, 石膏). "Xiao Jing" (Small Jing) should be Viticis Fructus (Mojingzi, 牡荆子). The fruit of Viticis Fructus is larger than that of Calyx of Vitex trifolia, yet it is called "Small Jing," likely referring to the tree's form. It is unclear if the Vitex trifolia tree grows tall and robust.
[Commentary] This Jing seed is what people today call Viticis Fructus (Mojingzi, 牡荆子). Because the fruit of Calyx of Vitex trifolia is large, the fruit of Viticis Fructus is called "Small Jing"; the fruits are similar in efficacy, meaning their therapeutic effects are the same as Calyx of Vitex trifolia. The shoots of Vitex trifolia grow as vines, hence the name. It grows near water, leaves resemble apricot leaves but are finer, and the stem is vining.
[Viticis Fructus (Mojingzi, 牡荆子)]
Taste: bitter, warm. Non-toxic. Primarily eliminates cold-heat sensations in the bones, unblocks and benefits stomach qi, stops cough and counterflow qi, and directs qi downward. Grows in the valleys of Hejian, Nanyang Wanqu, or on high embankments in Pingshou and Duxiang; Viticis Fructus grows in fields. Harvest the fruits in August and September, dry in the shade. Combined with Atractylodis Rhizoma (Baizhu, 白术? Note: Text says 'Zhu', likely Atractylodes or similar), Platycladi Semen (Bai Zi Ren, 柏子仁), and Celosiae Semen (Qingxiangzi, 青葙子) to treat head wind; Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fangfeng, 防风) acts as an assistant herb; incompatible with Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao, 石膏). Hejian, Wanqu, and Pingshou are all in the north, while Nanyang is in the west. When discussing Vitex trifolia, it should refer to the荆 (Jing) used for making canes today, but it does not look like the common variety. Its seeds are very fine, like small hemp seeds, yellowish-green. The fruit of Jing is about the size of a black bean, perfectly round and black. Immortal formulas often use Viticis Fructus, but people today cannot recognize it. Li Dangzhi’s *Yao Lu* notes under Desmodii Caulis (Soushu, 溲疏): "Soushu is also known as Yanglu, Mojing, Kongshu. Bark is white, hollow inside, sometimes jointed. Seeds resemble Lycii Fructus (Gouqizi, 枸杞子), red in color, sweet and bitter taste, ripens in winter, unrecognized by laypeople." This fruit should be the true one, not the Yanglu from others' fences.
According to this description, Soushu is completely different, with dissimilar shapes, which likely contradicts reality. However, immortal formulas use Viticis Fructus, claiming it can facilitate spiritual communication and vision of ghosts, benefiting not only the fruit but also the branches and leaves. It is said that Jing trees have opposite branches; this is Viticis Fructus. If branches are not opposite, it is not Viticis Fructus. If it is the father, it should not have a son. Thus, the truth and falsehood remain unclear, requiring further extensive inquiry to verify.
[Commentary] This is indeed the Jing used for making canes. The fruit is small, yellowish-black, the stem is sturdy and arborescent, not vining, hence called "Male" (Mu), implying substance rather than lack of fruit. According to *Book of Han · Records of Sacrifices*, the stem of Viticis Fructus was used as banner poles, clearly indicating that Vitex trifolia is unsuitable for poles. It is now found everywhere; this Jing is not the one recorded in *Shennong Bencao Jing*. Investigation shows that what grows today is actually Vitex trifolia, appended here by Tao Hongjing in error. *Bencao Jing Jiu Yi* states: "Jing Ye (Leaves of Vitex), taste bitter, nature neutral, non-toxic. Treats chronic dysentery, cholera, muscle cramps, hematuria, damp sores in the lower jiao, and swelling of the legs (Hongjiaojiao, 香港脚). Root: taste sweet, bitter, nature neutral, non-toxic. Decocted in water, treats heart wind, head wind, wind affecting limbs, releases the muscle layer and induces sweating. There are green and red varieties, with red being superior." From *Leiju Fang*. Modern physicians mistakenly use Viticis Fructus (Mojingzi, 牡荆子) as Calyx of Vitex trifolia (Manjingzi, 蔓荆子), which is a great error.