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(Shennong Bencao Jing, Lower Category)
[Flavor and Nature] Acrid, neutral, toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats edema, hernia, mass accumulation (zhijia), and bi-syndrome. External application with heat can eliminate carbuncles and swellings; it can also dispel demonic spirits and entities.
[Verification] Says: It grows in the valleys of Xianyang. It is also found elsewhere. In spring, shoots emerge, reaching three to four chi in height. The stems are greenish-red and extremely brittle. Branches intersect, and leaves are opposite each other; the leaves resemble ox tongues and are long. In summer and autumn, white flowers bloom in clusters, though some have red flowers. Those with red flowers have red roots, while those with white flowers have white roots. The white-rooted variety is used medicinally; the red-rooted variety is associated with seeing ghosts and is highly toxic. The root resembles a radish; those resembling the human form possess spiritual properties. Erya calls it "Shanglu," Guangya calls it "Mawei," and Zhouyi calls it "Xianlu." For processing, take the roots of the white-flowered variety, scrape off the skin with a copper knife, slice thinly, soak in running water from the east for two nights, remove, layer with black soybean leaves, steam in a steamer from Wu hour to Hai hour, wait until cool, remove the bean leaves, dry in the sun, and chop for use. If black soybean leaves are unavailable, black soybeans may be substituted.

[Interpretation] Says: "Shang" corresponds to the Metal tone, implying knowing the inside from the outside and the outside from the inside. "Lu" refers to high, flat land, the path traveled by the sun, moon, and seasons throughout the year. Heaven has four Lu, and humans have four streets, which are the pathways for Ying-Wei (Defensive and Nutritive Qi) and blood qi circulation. Therefore, Shanglu treats edema caused by fluid retention and hernias/mass accumulations caused by Qi obstruction, because these conditions lose their ability to circulate internally and externally ("Changlu"). Furthermore, using fire heat to fumigate and eliminate external carbuncles addresses cases where there is only an external manifestation without an internal cause. As for killing demonic spirits, this is due to its strong Metal Qi, which carves away and eliminates things that do not belong to its kind.

(Shennong Bencao Jing, Lower Category)
[Flavor and Nature] Bitter, cold, toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats abdominal masses (difu shanjia), abdominal fullness, facial and ocular edema, retained fluid (liuyin), and old food stagnation. It breaks up hard masses and accumulations, and promotes the free flow of the water and grain passages (bowels).
[Verification] Says: It grows in the valleys of Zhongshan; only those from Mount Tai and Jiangdong are of good quality. Recently, those from Jingkou are considered superior, while those from Jiangdong are rated as secondary. The seedlings resemble Euphorbia lathyris (Zeqi). They are finely chopped on a locust wood chopping block, soaked in decoction of raw Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) and natural juice of Shepherdia canadensis (Jiqing) for three days. When the water turns black, strain it out, wash seven or eight times with running water from the east until the water is clear. Remove, dry in the sun, store in earthenware vessels, and bake until crisp. Melon tip (Gua Di) serves as the guiding herb. It is incompatible with Polygalae Radix (Yuanzhi) and counteracts Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao).

[Interpretation] Says: Although the flavor is extremely bitter, the name "Gansui" implies "sweetly complying" or "gratifyingly fulfilling," referencing the Zuo Zhuan phrase "accept it and feel satisfied and pleased." This is because its efficacy complies with (sui) the desires of the Earth element. Its formulation is grand and urgent; its action is unblocking and purging. Sweet flavor belongs to Central Earth; only it can comply with the desires of Earth. Therefore, for hard masses, accumulations, hernias, and retained fluids or old food stagnation that fail to promote the free flow of the water and grain passages, leading to overflow causing abdominal distension and facial/ocular edema, all are treated by unblocking and purging, thereby complying with their desires. However, since its flavor and nature are bitter and cold, it is biased towards treating heat as the cause; thus, it is not suitable for cold syndromes.