Library

[Spider Root / Zhizhuxiang]
Non-toxic.
Zhizhuxiang (Nardostachys jatamansi) is mainly used to repel epidemics, evil qi from sudden illness, ghostly qi, and corpse-transmission diseases (referenced from *Bencao Gangmu*).
【Origin】(Li Shizhen said): Zhizhuxiang grows in the mountains of Songpan, Maozhou, in the western region of Shu.
【Color】Black.
【Texture】Has coarse roots resembling a spider.
【Taste】Acrid (Xin).
【Nature】Warm.
【Odor】Fragrant.

[Thread Incense / Xianxiang]
Non-toxic.
Xianxiang (Thread Incense) is mainly used to fumigate various sores and tinea (referenced from *Bencao Gangmu*).
【Texture】(Li Shizhen said): There are many methods for making incense today, but only thread incense can be used in dermatology. Its formula varies, generally using large amounts of Bai Zhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Xiong Qiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Du Huo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix), Gan Song (Nardostachys Radix), San Nai (Kaempferia Galanga Rhizome), Ding Xiang (Caryophylli Flos), Huo Xiang (Pogostemonis Herba), Mu Gao Liang Jiang (Alpiniae Katsumadai Rhizome), Jiao Hui Xiang (Illicii Veri Fructus), Lian Qiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), Bo Mu (Cupressi Lignium), and Tou Lou Xiang (Styrax Resina) powder. These are mixed with a paste made from Ulmus bark flour, pressed into thread-like strips using a syringe-like tool. They may also be coiled into shapes or characters; those suspended by iron or copper wires are called "Long Gua Xiang" (Dragon-Hanging Incense).
【Taste】Acrid (Xin).
【Nature】Warm.
【Odor】Fragrant.
【Combined Treatment】For Yáng Méi Dú Chuāng (Syphilitic Chancre): Take Long Gua Xiang, Hai Er Cha (Child's Tea/Catechu), and Zao Jiao Zi (Gleditsiae Sinensis Spina) each at one qian, and Yin Zhu (Cinnabar) at two qian. Grind into powder, roll into paper wicks, light them, place in a bucket, and inhale the smoke three times a day for three days. Simultaneously take several doses of detoxifying internal medicine, and the sore will dry up.

[Rui Xiang Gen / Gardenia Root]
Non-toxic.
Rui Xiang Gen (Daphne Odora Root) is mainly used to treat Ji Hou Feng (Acute Sore Throat); use the fragrant white variety, grind with water, and gargle/instill (from *Yixue Jicheng*).
【Origin】(Li Shizhen said): It grows in the mountains of Nanling and other places.
【Plant Morphology】Branches and trunks are graceful, with soft twigs and dense leaves.
【Season】Evergreen throughout the year; blooms in clusters during the transition between winter and spring.
【Color】Slightly purple. ○ Flowers are 3-4 fen long, resembling Ding Xiang (Clove), available in yellow, white, and purple colors. (*Ge Gu Lun* states): Rui Xiang grows 3-4 chi tall, with several varieties: those with leaves like Loquat, like Bayberry, like Ko tree, bearing fruit balls, and those with twisted branches. Only the twisted-branch variety has purple flowers and strong fragrance; the loquat-leaf variety bears fruit; the twisted-branch variety has nodes curved as if broken. Its root is soft and fragrant.
【Harvest & History】Originally from Mount Lu; it became famous when people began cultivating it during the Song Dynasty.
【Taste】Root tastes sweet and salty.
【Odor】Fragrant.
【Qi/Nature】Strong fragrance.

[Moli Hua / Jasmine Flower]
Non-toxic.
Moli Hua (Jasminum sambac) is mainly steamed to extract oil and liquid, used as facial cream and hair pomade to promote hair growth, moisturize hair, and scent the skin; it can also be added to tea. ○ The root (is toxic). Main usage: grind one cun with wine and ingest; the person will fall into a coma for one day before waking; two cuns cause a two-day coma; three cuns cause a three-day coma. For fractures and dislocations requiring reduction, using this herb renders the patient insensible to pain (recorded by Wang Ji).
【Names】Nai Hua (Li Shizhen said): Written as "Mo Li" in *Caomu Zhuang* by Ji Han; "Mo Li" in *Luoyang Ming Yuan Ji*; "Mo Li" in Buddhist scriptures; "Mo Li" in *Wang Guilings Ji*; "Mo Li" in *Hong Mai Ji*. Essentially, "Mo Li" is a transliteration from foreign languages without standard characters, adapted to local meanings. (Wei Jun) calls it "Xia Ke"; (Zhang Shumin) calls it "Yuan Ke". (Yang Shen's *Danqian Lu* states): Ancient texts mention people pinning "Nai Hua", which is the current Mo Li flower.
【Origin】(Li Shizhen said): Mo Li originally came from Persia and was transplanted to the South Sea regions; now it is cultivated in Yunnan and Guangdong. Its nature fears cold and is not suitable for central China.
【Season】Blooms small white double-petaled flowers without stamens in early summer; stops blooming at the end of autumn.
【Plant Morphology】Weak stems, abundant branches, round-tipped green leaves, does not bear fruit. Varieties include double-petaled, red, and creeping types. Flowers open at night, fragrant and lovely. Women wear them as jewelry, mix them into creams, fumigate tea, or steam to extract liquid as a substitute for Rose Water. There is a variety similar to Mo Li but with larger petals and exceptionally clear fragrance, called "Gou Ya" (Dog Tooth) or "Xue Ban" (Snow Petal), found in Hainan. Su Jing and Zhi Jia Hua are related species.
Appendix: Su Jing (Li Shizhen said): Su Jing was also transplanted from the Western Regions, called "Ye Xi Ming Hua", recorded in *Youyang Zazu* as "Ye Xi Mi". Its branches and trunk are graceful, leaves smaller than Mo Li, flowers slender with four petals, yellow and white. Pressing the flowers yields oil that makes hair very smooth and fragrant.
Zhi Jia Hua (Carnation/Jasmine variant) has yellow and white varieties, blooms in summer, fragrance resembles...