（别录下品）
如泡亦如幻，如影亦如电。
【气味】辛平，无毒。
【主治】主喉痹重舌，失声久嗽，头面卒肿，崩淋吐衄，除侵淫马疥，疗痈疽。久败疮
疡
【核】曰∶生湿地，及腐木上。五六月卒然而发，紫褐虚浮，宛如丸鞠，大者如斗，重
不过钱许，弹之即有尘出。一名灰菰。修事∶密室中，置筐帏纸，如洒金箱式，张布衬盘，
缓
【 】曰∶马勃之生也奇甚，宛若野马尘埃，生物之以息相吹也。如暗乱晦蒙之眚，孛
孛有
【气味】苦寒，有毒。
【主治】主下气，疗脚满水肿，除风毒，利小便。
【核】曰∶处处有之。黑白两种，黑多野生，白多种莳。二月生苗引蔓，缠绕篱落，高
二三丈。黑蔓有白毛，断之出白汁；叶作三棱，如枫树叶；花不成瓣，微红带碧，如旋复、
鼓子花状，日出则开，日西则萎；实有蒂裹，生青枯白；核与棠 子核一样，但色深黑耳。
白蔓无毛，有柔刺，微红色，断之出浓汁；叶圆无棱，有斜尖，如薯蓣、何首乌叶，花小于
黑，浅碧带红，开萎亦同；实蒂长寸许，生青枯白，核大色白耳。其实嫩时，蜜煎为果，呼
作天茄，谓其蒂如茄也。多食损人脾，泄人气。修事∶晒干，淘去枯浮者；再晒干，酒润蒸
之，从巳至未，缓火焙燥，舂去皮用。
缪仲淳先生云∶黑白牵牛子，自宋以后，北人尝以取快。李明之着有传，极力辟除。若
果水气射肺，致喘满大腹，及大肠风秘，下焦郁遏者，卓有殊功。倘属血分，或脾胃薄弱，
虽有痞积，切勿取快一时也。
【 】曰∶牵牛子，星名也。何鼓谓之牵牛。何鼓，儋荷也。故楚人呼牵牛曰儋鼓。又
星纪斗牵牛也。牵牛斗者，日月五星之所终始，故曰星纪。牵牛子者，十二子丑为牛，牛隐
语也。盖天开子，地辟丑，黑白气分为两，人生寅而三才具。然则牵牛子者，以开以辟，以
生之为功用也。故祭星曰布，布者，取其象之布散也。经云∶阳气者，若天与日，失其所，
则因于气为肿，四维相代，形气乃绝。是以气上则升不布，气下则布不升。牵牛子儋荷布散
以为功，故可待越升以为眚。第性偏陨堕，但可施于形气之阳有余。不可加诸藏神之阴不足，
为
（花萼日出开，日西萎，即日散为星之为象。昼呼夜吸之为用，四维相代，形气乃绝。
为水为肿者，此以风毒为因，水亦风水为水矣。仍使之升而布，布而升，互为制节，无偏废
矣。）
[Recorded in the Lower Grade of the Bie Lu]
Like a bubble, illusory; like a phantom, fleeting; like a shadow, following form; like lightning, swift.
[Flavor and Nature] Pungent, Neutral, Non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats Hou Bi (sore throat with swelling and obstruction), Chong She (swelling of the tongue resembling a second tongue), aphonia, chronic cough; sudden swelling of the head and face; metrorrhagia and metrostaxis (uterine bleeding and nosebleeds); removes impetigo and tinea corporis; treats carbuncles, sores, and chronic non-healing ulcers.
[Verification] Says: Grows in damp places and on rotting wood. It appears suddenly in the fifth and sixth lunar months, purple-brown, hollow and buoyant, resembling a ball. The large ones are as big as a dou (a unit of volume), weighing no more than one qian (approx. 3-4 grams). When flicked, dust comes out. Also known as Hui Gu. Processing: In a sealed room, place baskets, curtains, and paper, similar to a gold-sprinkling box setup, spread out a lining tray, slowly...
[ ] Says: The growth of Ma Bo is very strange, resembling dust raised by wild horses, generated by the breath of living things blowing against each other. Like the disaster of darkness and confusion, appearing like the Bei star (comet)...
[Flavor and Nature] Bitter, Cold, Toxic.
[Indications] Primarily directs Qi downward, treats fullness and edema of the feet, dispels wind toxicity, promotes urination.
[Verification] Says: Found everywhere. There are black and white varieties. Black ones are mostly wild, while white ones are cultivated. Seedlings emerge in the second lunar month, sending out vines that entangle fences, growing two to three zhang high. Black vines have white hairs; when broken, they exude white juice; leaves are triangular-prismatic, resembling maple leaves; flowers do not form distinct petals, are slightly red with green tints, resembling flowers of Inula japonica (Xuan Fu Hua) or Convolvulus arvensis (Gu Zi Hua); they open at sunrise and wither at sunset; fruits have a calyx wrapper, green when fresh and white when dry; seeds resemble those of Pyrus betulaefolia (Tang Zi) but are darker.
White vines have no hair but have soft thorns, are slightly red, and exude thick juice when broken; leaves are round without edges, with oblique tips, resembling leaves of Dioscorea opposita (Shu Yu) or Polygonum multiflorum (He Shou Wu); flowers are smaller than the black variety, pale green with red, opening and withering similarly; fruit stalks are about one cun long, green when fresh and white when dry, with larger, whiter seeds. When young, the fruit can be candied with honey as a snack, called "Tian Qia" (Heavenly Eggplant), because its stalk resembles an eggplant. Excessive consumption damages Spleen Qi and depletes vital energy. Processing: Sun-dry, wash away floating and withered parts; sun-dry again, moisten with wine, steam from Si hour to Wei hour, dry with slow fire, pound off the skin, and use.
Mr. Miu Zhongchun said: Black and white Qian Niu Zi were used by northerners after the Song Dynasty for quick relief (referring to purgation). Li Dongyuan wrote a treatise refuting their misuse. If there is indeed water qi attacking the Lung, causing wheezing, chest fullness, abdominal distension, as well as intestinal wind constipation and lower jiao stagnation, it has remarkable efficacy. However, if it belongs to the Blood level, or if the Spleen and Stomach are weak, even if there are masses and accumulations, one must not use it merely for temporary relief.
[ ] Says: Qian Niu Zi is a star name. He Gu is called Qian Niu. He Gu means carrying on the shoulder. Thus, people of Chu called Qian Niu Dan Gu. It is also the Ox Star in the Dou constellation. Qian Niu and Dou are the starting and ending points of the sun, moon, and five planets, hence called Xing Ji (Star Era). Qian Niu Zi: Among the twelve Earthly Branches, Chou corresponds to the Ox; Ox is a hidden reference. Heaven opens at Zi, Earth expands at Chou, black and white Qi divide into two, and humans are born at Yin, completing the Three Powers. Thus, Qian Niu Zi functions by opening and expanding, by generating. Hence, sacrificing to stars is called Bu (spreading), taking its image of scattering. The Classic says: Yang Qi is like the sky and the sun; if it loses its proper position, it becomes swelling due to Qi stagnation. If the four dimensions alternate improperly, the form and Qi will be severed. Therefore, if Qi rises, it ascends but does not scatter; if Qi sinks, it scatters but does not ascend. Qian Niu Zi functions by carrying and scattering, so it can wait to transcend ascent and become a disaster. Its nature is biased towards falling and descending; it can only be applied to those with excess Yang in form and Qi. It must not be added to those with deficiency of Yin storing the Spirit...
(The calyx opens at sunrise and withers at sunset, symbolizing the scattering of stars. Inhaling by day and exhaling by night constitutes its function. If the four dimensions alternate improperly, form and Qi will be severed.
Regarding water and swelling: this is caused by wind toxicity; water is also wind-water. Still, make it ascend and scatter, scatter and ascend, mutually regulating each other, without bias.)