Library

Commonly known as "Tucai" (Bald Vegetable).
Acrid, bitter, cold in nature, with slight toxicity. It has hooks on the sides of the stem, resembling *Salsola collina* (Bo Leng Cai), and withers after bearing seeds at the end of summer. This is the plant referred to.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Classic of Materia Medica) states it treats alopecia, scabies and pruritus, clears heat, and addresses vaginal erosion in women.

[Invention/Commentary] Yangti Root (Radix Rheae) belongs to Water and enters the Blood level. It is a crucial herb for dampness removal and killing parasites. Therefore, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* uses it to treat conditions such as alopecia, scabies, and vaginal erosion. Freshly harvested roots pounded with vinegar are applied topically to treat tinea. Adding Calomel (Qingfen) enhances its efficacy in killing parasites.

(Acorus Tatarinowii / Changpu) is acrid and warm, non-toxic. It resolves the toxicity of Croton seed (Badou) and Euphorbia kingiana (Daji).
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it treats Bi syndrome caused by wind-cold-dampness, cough with rebellious Qi, opens the orifices of the Heart, tonifies the Five Zang organs, unblocks the Nine Orifices, brightens the eyes and ears, and restores voice. It treats deafness, carbuncles and sores, warms the stomach and intestines, stops frequent urination, and long-term use makes the body light, prevents memory loss and confusion, extends lifespan, benefits intelligence, elevates aspirations, and prevents aging.

[Invention/Commentary] Acorus (Changpu) is an herb for the Hand-Shaoyin (Heart) and Hand-Jueyin (Pericardium) meridians; it is suitable for those with insufficient Heart Qi. The *Shennong Bencao Jing*'s statement that it tonifies the Five Zang organs is because the Heart is the Sovereign Monarch, and all Zang organs are connected to it. The initial mention of treating wind-cold-damp Bi syndrome utilizes its acrid-warm nature to develop Spleen Qi. Regarding the treatment of cough with rebellious Qi, this refers to wheezing and coughing caused by phlegm-damp obstruction, which requires searching and purging. However, wheezing and coughing due to Lung-Stomach deficiency and dryness cannot be treated with Acorus. Its ability to open the Heart orifice, unblock the Nine Orifices, brighten the eyes and ears, and restore voice all derive from its acrid-warm property that promotes the unblocking of orifices. When the Heart orifice is open and the Nine Orifices are unblocked, the toxicity of carbuncles and sores can be resolved. The Stomach and Intestines prefer warmth and dislike cold; once they are warmed, the urinary incontinence caused by Bladder deficiency-cold will naturally cease. Long-term use resulting in a light body is a verification of its dampness-removing effect. Preventing memory loss and confusion, extending lifespan, benefiting intelligence, elevating aspirations, and preventing aging are all manifestations of its power to tonify the Five Zang organs and unblock the Nine Orifices. It also treats Liver deficiency, epigastric pain, cholera with tendon contraction, eliminates Fuliliang epilepsy, and is effective in unblocking Phlegm-Dampness in the Heart and Spleen, which can be understood from these actions. The *Qianjin Fang* (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) uses Acorus alone decocted to treat restless fetus, threatened miscarriage with bleeding, blood stasis attacking the lower chest causing bleeding, and postpartum metrorrhagia that does not stop. It is strictly contraindicated for individuals with hyperactive Yang and deficient Yin, such as widows with sexual frustration, because its warm nature tends to stir up fire in the Pericardium, similar to how Yuanzhi assists Ministerial Fire. Observing the *Shennong Bencao Jing*'s statement that it stops frequent urination reveals its Yang-assisting power.