《本经》名野葛，红花者名火把草，黄花者名黄藤，《千金》名黄野葛
辛温，大毒。
《本经》主金疮乳 中恶风，咳逆上气，水肿，杀鬼疰蛊毒。
发明 野葛之毒甚于戈戟，故有钩吻之名。而风毒蛊疰用之以毒攻毒，苟非大剧。亦
难轻用。紫者破血结，青者破痰积。其叶与黄精叶相似，但钩吻叶有毛钩二个，黄精叶似竹
叶而无毛钩，可以明辨。误食钩吻叶，饮冷水即死，以死尸悬树上汁滴在地即生菌子，收之
名菌药。毒于野葛，蕹菜捣汁解之，取蕹菜汁滴野葛苗即萎死。中野葛毒，急不可得蕹菜，
多饮甘草汁、人屎汁，或白鸭血、白鹅血、羊血灌之亦解。
《本经》名菟萝
辛甘平，无毒。酒煮捣烂作饼焙干用。雷公曰∶凡使勿用天
碧草子真相似，只是味酸涩并粘也。菟丝最难得真，有人以子种出皆水犀草，今药肆所卖俱
系此类，然服亦有微功，不似假石莲子之大苦大寒大伤胃气，伐人天元也。至贱之物尚尔，
若此况珍贵之品，能无伪乎。
《本经》续绝伤补不足，益气力肥健人。
发明 菟丝子去风明目，肝肾气分药也。其性味辛温质粘，与杜仲之壮筋暖腰膝无异，
五味之中惟辛通四气，复兼四味，《经》曰，肾苦燥，急食辛以润之。菟丝子、五味子之属
是也。与辛香燥热之辛迥乎不同，此补脾肾肝三经要药。《本经》言续绝伤补不足，益气力
肥健人者，三经俱实而绝伤续，不足补，气力长，令人肥健矣。其功专于益精髓坚筋骨，止
遗泄，主茎寒精出，溺有余沥，去膝胫酸软、老人肝肾气虚腰痛膝冷，合补骨脂、杜仲用之
，诸经膜皆属于肝也。气虚瞳子无神者，以麦门冬佐之，蜜丸服效。凡阳强不痿，大便燥结
，小水赤涩者勿用。以其性偏助阳也。
In the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), it is named Yege (Wild Kudzu Root). The variety with red flowers is called Huobacao (Fire Torch Grass), and the one with yellow flowers is called Huangteng (Yellow Vine). In the *Qianjin Fang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold), it is referred to as Huangyege (Yellow Wild Kudzu Root).
It is acrid, warm in nature, and highly toxic.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states that it treats metal wounds (Jinchuang), breast abscesses (Ruyong), acute conditions caused by malignant wind (Zhongefeng), coughing with rebellious qi (Kenishangqi), edema, and can kill Gui Zhu Gu Du (toxins from evil spirits, miasma, or parasites).
[Commentary]
The toxicity of Yegen (Hook Kiss) is more severe than that of spears and halberds, hence its name "Gouwen" (Hook Kiss). When used for wind toxins, Gu toxins, and Zhu diseases, it employs the method of using poison to treat poison; unless the condition is extremely severe, it should not be used lightly. The purple variety breaks blood stasis, while the green variety breaks phlegm accumulation. Its leaves resemble those of Polygonatum (Huangjing), but Gouwen leaves have two hair-like hooks, whereas Huangjing leaves are like bamboo leaves without hooks, allowing for clear distinction. If Gouwen leaves are accidentally ingested, drinking cold water will cause death. If a dead corpse is hung on a tree, the dripping juice produces mushrooms on the ground, which are collected and called "Junyao" (Mushroom Medicine); these are more toxic than Yegen. Juice extracted from Ipomoea aquatica (Wengcai) can detoxify it; dropping Wengcai juice onto Yegen seedlings causes them to wither. In cases of acute Yegen poisoning where Wengcai is unavailable, drinking large amounts of Licorice (Gancao) juice, human urine juice, or administering white duck blood, white goose blood, or sheep blood can also resolve the toxicity.
In the *Shennong Bencao Jing*, Tusizi (Dodder Seed) is named Tuluó.
It is acrid, sweet, and neutral in nature, and non-toxic. It should be boiled in wine, pounded into a paste, formed into cakes, and baked dry before use. Lei Gong stated: When preparing this herb, do not use substances resembling Tianbicaozi (Heavenly Green Grass Seeds); they merely taste sour and astringent and are sticky. Genuine Tusizi is difficult to obtain. Some who cultivate it from seeds produce Shuixicao (Water Rhinoceros Grass). What is currently sold in pharmacies belongs to this category. Although it has minor efficacy when taken, it does not damage the Stomach Qi or deplete the Yuan Qi (Primal Qi) as severely as fake Shilianzi (Stone Lotus Seeds), which are extremely bitter, cold, and damaging. If even such cheap items are adulterated, how much more so for precious herbs?
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* records that it repairs injuries, tonifies deficiencies, benefits Qi and strength, and promotes robustness.
[Commentary]
Tusizi dispels wind and brightens the eyes; it is a herb acting on the Qi aspect of the Liver and Kidney. Its nature is acrid-warm and its texture is viscous, similar to Eucommia (Duzhong) in strengthening sinews and warming the waist and knees. Among the five flavors, only Acridity connects with the four Qi transformations, and it combines multiple flavors. As the *Neijing* states: "When the Kidney suffers from dryness, urgently consume Acrid substances to moisten it." This refers to herbs like Tusizi and Wuweizi. This differs significantly from acrid, aromatic, and drying-hot herbs. It is an essential herb for tonifying the Spleen, Kidney, and Liver meridians. The statement in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* regarding repairing injuries, tonifying deficiencies, benefiting Qi, and promoting robustness implies that when the Spleen, Kidney, and Liver are sufficient, injuries are repaired, deficiencies are filled, Qi and strength increase, and the body becomes robust. Its specific functions include benefiting Essence and Marrow, strengthening bones and sinews, stopping leakage, treating cold penis with seminal emission, dribbling urine after voiding, relieving soreness and weakness in the knees and shins, and addressing lower back pain and cold knees in the elderly due to Liver-Kidney Qi deficiency. It is often combined with Psoralea (Buguzhi) and Eucommia (Duzhong). All membranes and sinews belong to the Liver. For cases of Qi deficiency causing lack of spirit in the pupils, add Ophiopogon (Maidong) as an assistant and take as honey pills for efficacy. It is contraindicated for individuals with excessive Yang leading to persistent erection, dry constipation, or dark, scanty, painful urination, because its nature tends to assist Yang.