一名蓝
咸寒，无毒。
发明 青黛乃蓝淀浮沫搅澄掠出收干，泻肝胆，散郁火，治温毒发斑，及产后热痢下重
。《千金》金蓝丸用之，天行寒热头痛，水研服之。与蓝同类，而止血拔毒、杀虫之功似胜
于蓝。又治噎膈之疾，取其化虫之力也，和溺白垢，冰片吹口疳最效。
生水旁者曰水蓼，俗名荭草
咸微温，无毒。
《本经》明目温中，耐风寒，下水气，疗面浮肿，痈疡。
发明 蓼实治消渴去热，及瘰 癖痞腹胀，皆取其散热消积之功，即《本经》下水气，
面浮肿，痈疡之用。其荭草子专治痞积， 丸用之。蓼叶治大小肠邪气。黄帝云，蓼食过
多，毒发心痛。妇人月事不来不可食，蓼及蒜善为血淋带下。扁鹊云∶蓼食之，令人寒热，
损骨髓，杀丈夫阴气。
苦平，无毒。
《本经》主浸淫疥瘙疽痔，杀三虫。
发明 蓄利水散湿热，治黄瘅霍乱，疗小儿 病，女子阴蚀。《本经》专主浸淫疥
瘙疽痔，所主皆湿热之病，三虫亦湿热所化也。
苦辛温，无毒。酒浸焙焦，去刺研用。
《本经》主恶血，破症结积聚，喉痹，乳难。久服长肌肉，明目，轻身。
发明 白蒺藜性升而散，入肝肾经，为治风明目要药。风入少阴、厥阴经者，为响导。
目病，为风木之邪，风盛则目病；风去则目明矣。《本经》专破恶血积聚，治喉痹，乳难，
以苦能泄，温能宣，辛能润也。此言刺蒺藜之功用耳。久服长肌肉，明目，轻身，以其入肾
益精气也。此则专主沙苑蒺藜而言。其治痰、消痈肿，搜肾脏风气，又须刺者，为破敌之先
锋。《千金方》治白癜风，以一味为末，汤服二钱，日二服，服至半月，白处见红点，至一
月效。
Background Information:
Book: Benjing Fengyuan (Supplement to the Materia Medica) | Author: Zhang Lu | Dynasty: Qing | Chapter: Qingdai / ... / Baijili (Total 4 sections) | Category: Comprehensive
[Original Text]
Also known as Lan.
Salty, cold, non-toxic.
Invention/Commentary: Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis) is obtained by stirring, clarifying, skimming off the floating foam of Indigofera tinctoria sediment, and drying it. It purges the Liver and Gallbladder, dissipates constrained Fire, treats macules caused by warm-toxin, and treats postpartum heat-dysentery with tenesmus. It is used in Jinlan Wan from Qianjin Fang for epidemic cold-heat headache, taken with water after grinding. Although similar to Lan (Indigo Plant), its efficacy in stopping bleeding, extracting toxin, and killing parasites seems superior to that of Lan. It also treats dysphagia and food impaction (Yige Ge), utilizing its power to transform parasites. Mixed with white turbid urine sediment, applied as a powder with Borneol for mouth ulcers (Kougan), it is most effective.
Those growing near water are called Shuiliao, commonly known as Hongcao.
Salty, slightly warm, non-toxic.
Benjing: Brightens the eyes, warms the middle, withstands wind-cold, promotes urination to resolve fluid retention, treats facial edema, and sores/carbuncles.
Invention/Commentary: Liaoshi (Polygoni Hydropiperis Fructus) treats polydipsia and removes heat, as well as scrofula, masses, abdominal distension, all due to its ability to dissipate heat and eliminate accumulation. This corresponds to the use of Benjing for promoting urination to resolve fluid retention, treating facial edema, and sores/carbuncles. The seeds of Hongcao specifically treat masses and accumulation, used in pill form. Liaoye (Polygoni Hydropiperis Folium) treats pathogenic factors in the large and small intestines. Huangdi states that excessive consumption of Liaojiao causes toxicity leading to heart pain. Women with amenorrhea should not consume it; Liaojiao and garlic tend to cause bloody strangury and leukorrhea. Bianque states: Consuming Liaojiao causes chills and fever, damages bone marrow, and depletes the Yang Qi of men.
Bitter, neutral, non-toxic.
Benjing: Mainly treats oozing eczema, scabies, carbuncles, and hemorrhoids, kills three types of parasites.
Invention/Commentary: Xuzhong (Polygoni Avicularis Herba) promotes urination and disperses damp-heat, treats jaundice and cholera-like disease, treats pediatric convulsions, and female genital itching/ulceration. Benjing mainly focuses on oozing eczema, scabies, carbuncles, and hemorrhoids; all these conditions are diseases of damp-heat, and the three parasites are also transformed from damp-heat.
Bitter, acrid, warm, non-toxic. Soaked in wine, roasted until scorched, thorns removed, and ground for use.
Benjing: Treats stagnant blood, breaks mass formations and accumulations, treats throat obstruction (Houbi), and difficulty in lactation. Long-term use increases muscle mass, brightens the eyes, and lightens the body.
Invention/Commentary: Baijili (Tribuli Fructus) has an ascending and dispersing nature, enters the Liver and Kidney meridians, and is an essential herb for treating wind disorders and brightening the eyes. When wind enters the Shaoyin and Jueyin meridians, it acts as a guide. Eye diseases are caused by wind-wood pathogenic factors; when wind is excessive, eye disease occurs; when wind is eliminated, vision clears. Benjing mainly breaks stagnant blood and accumulations, treats throat obstruction and difficulty in lactation, because bitterness can drain, warmth can circulate, and acridity can moisten. This refers to the functions of CiJili (Spiny Tribulus). Long-term use increasing muscle mass, brightening eyes, and lightening the body refers to its entering the Kidney to benefit essence and Qi. This specifically refers to Shayuanjili (Astragali Complanati Semen). For treating phlegm, reducing swelling, searching out wind-dampness in the Kidneys, the spiny variety is required as the vanguard in breaking enemy forces. Qianjin Fang treats vitiligo by using this single herb ground into powder, taken with decoction, two qian per dose, twice daily. After half a month, red spots appear in the white patches; after one month, it is effective.