味苦，平、微寒，无毒。主风湿痹历节痛，惊痫吐舌，悸气，贼风，鼠 ，痈肿，暴症，
逐水，疗痿蹶。久服轻身
明目。一名麋衔，一名承膏，一名承肌，一名无心，一名无颠。生汉中川泽及宛朐、邯郸。
七月采茎、叶，阴干。
得秦皮良。 俗用亦少。
〔谨案〕此草丛生，似茺蔚及白头翁。其叶有毛，茎赤，疗
贼风大效，南人谓之吴风草。
一名鹿衔草，言鹿有疾，衔此草，瘥。又有大、小二种∶楚人犹谓大者为大吴风草，小者为
小吴风草也。
味酸，温，无毒。主益气，咳逆上气，劳伤羸瘦，补不足，强阴，益男子精。养五脏，
除热，生阴中肌。一名会及，
一名玄及。生齐山山谷及代郡。八月采实，阴干。
苁蓉为之使，恶萎蕤，胜乌头。 今第一出高丽，多肉而酸、甜，次出青州、冀州，味
过酸，其核并似猪肾。又有
建平者，少肉，核形不相似，味苦，亦良。此药多膏润，烈日曝之，乃可捣筛。道方亦须用。
〔谨案〕五味，皮肉甘、
酸，核中辛、苦，都有咸味，此则五味具也。《本经》云∶味酸，当以木为五行之先也。其
叶似杏而大，蔓生木上。子作
房如落葵，大如 子。一出蒲州及蓝田山中。
味甘，温，无毒。主益气，去面 黑色，媚好。其根，味辛，主腹中寒热邪气，利小便。
久
花，一名金沸，一名美草。生豫州平泽。五月采，阴干。
东人呼为山姜，南人呼为美草，根似杜若，亦似高良姜。腹中冷痛，煮服甚效；作丸散
服之，辟谷止饥。近有人从
南还，遂用此术与人断谷，皆得半年百日不饥不瘦，但志浅嗜深，不
花赤色，殊辛美，子状如豆
蔻。此旋花之名，即是其花也，今山东甚多。
〔谨案〕此即生平泽，旋 是也。其根似筋，
故一名筋根。旋花，陶所
说真山姜尔。
陶复于下品旋 注中云∶此根出河南，北国来，根似芎 ，惟膏中用。今复道似高良姜，二
说自相矛盾。且此根味甘，
山姜味辛，都非此类。其旋 膏疗风，逐水止用花，言根亦无妨，
然不可以杜若乱之也。又将旋 花名金沸，作此别名非也。《别录》云∶根，主续筋也。
[Wei Xian]
Bitter in taste, neutral or slightly cold in nature, non-toxic. Indicated for wind-damp bi syndrome (painful obstruction due to wind and dampness), li jie tong (migratory joint pain), fright epilepsy with tongue protrusion, palpitations and qi disorder, zei feng (sudden onset of wind pathogen), shu lou (scrofula/lymphatic tuberculosis), carbuncles and swellings, bao zheng (sudden onset of accumulation disorders), promotes water elimination, and treats wei jue (limb flaccidity and weakness). Long-term consumption lightens the body and brightens the eyes. Also known as Mi Xian, Cheng Gao, Cheng Ji, Wu Xin, and Wu Dian. Grows in river marshes of Hanzhong, as well as Wanqu and Handan. Harvest stems and leaves in July, dry in shade. Compatible with Qin Pi. Rarely used by common people.
[Note] This herb grows in clumps, resembling Chongwei (Leonurus japonicus) and Baitouweng (Pulsatilla chinensis). Its leaves are hairy, and its stem is red. It is highly effective in treating zei feng; people in the south call it Wu Feng Cao (Wu Wind Grass). Also known as Lu Xian Cao (Deer-Grasping Grass), said that when deer are ill, they grasp this grass, and their illness heals. There are two varieties, large and small: People in Chu still refer to the large one as Da Wu Feng Cao and the small one as Xiao Wu Feng Cao.
[Wuweizi]
Sour in taste, warm in nature, non-toxic. Indicated for tonifying qi, cough with rebellious qi, emaciation due to labor injury, supplementing deficiencies, strengthening yin, and benefiting male essence. Nourishes the five zang organs, clears heat, and generates flesh in the yin region. Also known as Hui Ji and Xuan Ji. Grows in mountain valleys of Qi and Dai Commandery. Harvest fruits in August, dry in shade. Cong Rong (Cistanche Herba) serves as an assistant herb; adverse reaction with Ruifeng (Polyporus); overcomes Wutou (Aconiti Radix). The first grade comes from Goryeo (Korea), fleshy, sour, and sweet; the second grade comes from Qingzhou and Jizhou, overly sour, with seeds resembling pig kidneys. Those from Jianping have less flesh, dissimilar seed shape, bitter taste, but are also good quality. This medicine is often moist and resinous; it must be sun-dried under intense sunlight before being pounded and sifted. Daoist prescriptions also require its use.
[Note] The skin and flesh of Wuwei Zi are sweet and sour; the core is pungent and bitter; overall, there is a salty taste. Thus, the five flavors are complete. The *Ben Jing* states: "Sour in taste, should take wood as the precursor of the Five Elements." Its leaves resemble apricot leaves but are larger, growing as vines on trees. The fruit forms chambers like Luokui (Abelmoschus manihot), size similar to Tusizi (Cuscutae Semen). One source produces it in mountains of Puzhou and Lantian.
[Xuanhua]
Sweet in taste, warm in nature, non-toxic. Indicated for tonifying qi, removing black spots on the face, and enhancing beauty. Its root is pungent in taste, indicated for cold and hot evil qi in the abdomen, and promoting urination. Long-term [text missing]... Also known as Jin Fei and Mei Cao. Grows in flat marshes of Yuzhou. Harvest in May, dry in shade.
People in the east call it Shan Jiang (Mountain Ginger); people in the south call it Mei Cao. The root resembles Du Ruo (Costus root) and also resembles Gaoliang Jiang (Alpinia officinarum). For cold pain in the abdomen, boiling and drinking is very effective; taking it as pills or powders helps in Bigu (grain avoidance) and stopping hunger. Recently, someone returning from the south used this technique to help others practice Bigu, achieving six months to one hundred days without hunger or weight loss, but people's aspirations are shallow and desires deep, cannot [text missing]... Flowers are reddish, extremely pungent and delicious; seeds resemble Doukou (Cardamom). The name "Xuan Hua" refers to its flower; it is now abundant in Shandong.
[Note] This is the Xuanhua growing in flat marshes. Its root resembles sinews, hence also named Jin Gen (Sinew Root). Xuan Hua is the true Shan Jiang described by Tao Hongjing.
Tao Hongjing noted in the lower category entry for Xuan Hua: "This root comes from Henan and northern regions, root resembles Xiongqiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong), used only in plasters." Now it is said to resemble Gaoliang Jiang; these two statements contradict each other. Moreover, this root is sweet in taste, while Shan Jiang is pungent; they are not of the same category. Its Xuan Hua paste treats wind disorders; water-draining uses only the flower; claiming the root is acceptable, but one must not confuse it with Du Ruo. Naming Xuan Hua as Jin Fei and using it as an alias for this plant is incorrect. The *Bie Lu* states: "Root, indicated for healing sinews."