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[Shennong Bencao Jing · Lower Grade]
【Flavor and Nature】Pungent, slightly warm, with slight toxicity.
【Indications】Primarily treats stabbing pain in the chest and hypochondrium, abdominal fullness, low-pitched borborygmus (intestinal rumbling), and qi disorders such as fright and palpitations.
【Verification】It is stated: Jiegeng grows in the valleys of Haoshan and Yuanju, and is now available everywhere. Seedlings emerge in the second and third lunar months; the stem resembles a writing brush tube, growing over one chi tall, with a purple-red color. The leaves resemble those of apricot, ginseng, or shepherd's purse, but apricot leaves are round, whereas Jiegeng leaves are elongated. Ginseng leaves grow opposite each other in pairs, while Jiegeng leaves typically grow in whorls of three to four, though not always. Shepherd's purse leaves are smooth and hairless on the underside; Jiegeng leaves are dull, rough, and hairy on the underside, which serves as a distinguishing feature. In summer, it bears small flowers that are purple-blue, resembling Convolvulus (morning glory). After autumn, it produces fruit. The root is white on the outside and yellow inside, with a central pith and a bitter taste. If there is no pith and the taste is sweet, it is shepherd's purse. In the Guanzhong region, there is a variety with thin green stems, small chrysanthemum-like leaves, and yellow roots resembling Althaea officinalis (hollyhock) roots, which can also be used medicinally. Another variety, Mu Jiegeng (Woody Jiegeng), has a root shape similar to true Jiegeng, but tastes fishy and astringent when chewed, making it unsuitable for medicinal use. Processing method: Remove the hard tip at the top by two to three fen, and trim off the lateral branches. Finely chop on a locust wood cutting board. Mix with fresh Lilii Bulbus paste, soak in water for one shichen (two hours), then remove and dry over slow fire. For every four liang of Jiegeng, use two tael and five qian of Lilii Bulbus. Jié Pí (joint skin/stalk skin) acts as an assistant drug. It is incompatible with Baiji (Bletillae Rhizoma) and Gentianae Radix (Longdan Cao), and pork should be avoided. Combined with Ostrac Shell (Muli) and Polygala Root (Yuanzhi), it treats anger-induced stagnation. Combined with Natrii Sulfas (Xiaoshi) and Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao), it resolves Cold Damage (Shanghan). Its toxicity can be resolved with plain rice porridge. However, the identity of "Jié Pí" remains unknown.
【Commentary】It is said: Jiegeng is like the lever of a Jie Gao (a traditional water-lifting device); it falls when tilted and stands upright when filled, carrying loads up and down, relying on a pivot mechanism. Thus, it aligns with the pivot herbs of Shaoyang (Lesser Yang) and Shao Yin (Lesser Yin). Lei Gong processed it with Lilii Bulbus to build its foundation; Yu Han assisted it with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) to refine it. Once the foundation is built and refined, the upper and lower qi mechanisms can be observed and regulated. The chest and hypochondrium are the domains of Shaoyang, hence it treats stabbing pain in these areas. As for abdominal fullness, low-pitched borborygmus, and palpitations/qi disorder, these indicate a failure of communication between the upper and lower. Fright causes qi to rise without descending, and fear causes qi to sink without rising; both are manifestations of pivot dysfunction. The *Qianjin Fang* uses Jiegeng to treat throat obstruction and pain, which belongs to the domain of Shao Yin, representing the pivot phenomenon of Shao Yin.