（本经中品）
【气味】苦平，无毒。
【主治】主腰脊痛强，骨节风，寒湿周痹，恶疮不瘳，热气。
【核】曰∶萆 ，一名赤节，一名百枝。出真定山谷，及河、陕、汴东、荆、蜀诸郡。
作蔓生，苗叶俱青。叶有三叉，似山薯叶，又似绿豆叶。花有红、黄、白数种，亦有无花结
白子者。根黄白多节。三指许大。大者如商陆，茎有刺者，根白实；无刺者，根虚软，软者
入药最胜。一种叶似荞麦，子作三棱，根如山薯而体硬。市肆皆以土茯苓为萆 ，又以萆
为狗脊者，误矣。薏苡为之使。畏葵根、大黄、茈胡、前胡。
先人云∶根多枝节，故一名赤节。主关节之疾，甚相当也。顾萆 之名，更宜于身之下矣。
【 】曰∶萆，覆蔽也； ，解脱也。风寒湿相合成周痹，覆蔽经脉骨节之外，致腰脊
骨节强痛，及恶疮不瘳热气，力可使之解脱。与狗脊功力似同而异，狗脊主关机失利于内，
致筋脉劲强于外；萆 主经脉劲强于外，致关机失利于内。虽咸从脾生，内外之情迥别耳。
（天地解而雷雨作，雷雨作而百果草木皆甲拆，萌 自内，解孚从外也。雷公炮炙论序，
一名竹木，亦以其有节也。主治漩多，漩多，即白浊，此风瘅客脬，下焦失于决渎耳，力能
通而解之，宜身之下，于此可见。）
(Recorded in the Middle Category of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
【Flavor and Nature】Bitter, neutral, non-toxic.
【Indications】Primarily treats pain and stiffness of the waist and spine, wind affecting the bone joints, generalized bi-syndrome caused by cold-dampness, malignant sores that do not heal, and heat conditions.
【Verification】It is said: *Bixie* (Dioscorea hypoglauca), also known as Chijie (Red Joint) or Baizhi (Hundred Branches). It grows in the valleys of Zhending, as well as in the commanderies of He, Shan, Bian East, Jing, and Shu.
It grows as a vine, with stems and leaves all green. The leaves have three lobes, resembling the leaves of *Dioscorea polystachya* (Chinese yam) or *Vigna radiata* (mung bean). Flowers come in red, yellow, and white varieties; some produce white seeds without flowering. The roots are yellowish-white and highly jointed. They are about three fingers wide. Larger ones resemble *Phytolacca acinosa* (pokeberry); those with thorny stems have solid roots, while those without thorns have hollow, soft roots, which are superior for medicinal use. Another variety has leaves resembling *Fagopyrum esculentum* (buckwheat), triangular seeds, and roots like yams but hard. In markets, *Smilax glabra* rhizome (Tufuling) is often mistaken for *Bixie*, and *Bixie* is mistaken for *Cibotium barometz* root (Gouji), which is incorrect. *Coix lacryma-jobi* seed (Yiyiren) acts as its guide drug. It is incompatible with *Abutilon theophrasti* root (Kuigen), *Rheum palmatum* (Dahuang), *Bupleurum chinense* (Zihú), and *Peucedanum praeruptorum* (Qianhu).
My late father said: Because the root has many branches and joints, it is named Chijie (Red Joint). This corresponds well to treating joint diseases. However, the name "Bixie" is more appropriate for the lower part of the body.
【Annotation】It is said: "Bi" means to cover or obscure; "Xie" means to release or untie. When wind, cold, and dampness combine to form generalized bi-syndrome, they cover and obscure the exterior of the meridians and bone joints, causing stiffness and pain in the waist, spine, and joints, as well as persistent malignant sores and heat. Bixie can exert force to release these obstructions. Its efficacy seems similar to that of *Cibotium barometz* root (Gouji) but differs in mechanism: Gouji treats internal dysfunction of the joints leading to external stiffness of tendons and vessels; Bixie treats external stiffness of the meridians leading to internal dysfunction of the joints. Although both originate from the Spleen earth, their internal and external dynamics are distinctly different. (As stated in the *I Ching*: "When Heaven and Earth resolve, thunder and rain arise; when thunder and rain arise, the shells of hundred fruits and grasses split open." Sprouting originates from within, while resolution occurs from without. In the preface to *Leigong Paozhi Lun*, it is also called Zhumu, likely due to its jointed nature. It indicates frequent urination; frequent urination refers to turbid urine (Baizhuo). This is due to wind-heat pathogen lodging in the Bladder, causing failure of the Lower Jiao to regulate water passages. Bixie has the power to unblock and resolve this, confirming its suitability for the lower part of the body.)