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**Phytolacca Radix (Shanglu)**, commonly known as Zhangliu Gen. It grows in the valleys of Xianyang and is now found everywhere, mostly cultivated in household gardens.
In spring, it produces seedlings three to four chi high;
The leaves are green, long, and resemble ox tongues; the stems are greenish-red and extremely brittle; in summer and autumn, it bears clusters of reddish-purple flowers; the root is long like a radish. The roots are harvested in August and September and sun-dried. Its medicinal use pertains to the exterior (or specific topical application). Ancient alchemists frequently used it, and it can also be taken as a single herb. On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, harvest the roots, store them in bamboo containers, hang them in the northeast corner of the house, and dry them in the shade for one hundred days. Then, pound and sieve them, and take with well water drawn at dawn. This is said to be a secret method preserved by immortals. For those suffering from sudden pain in the throat caused by toxic vapors, slice the root, heat it, and apply it to the affected area through a cloth using moxibustion-like heat therapy; replace when cool, and relief will be immediate. The flowers treat chest oppression in the heart, forgetfulness, and propensity for errors. Take the flowers, dry them in the shade for one hundred days, grind into powder, and ingest one cun cube with water at dusk. Lie down and contemplate desired matters, and one will perceive a sensation in the eyes. *Erya* calls it Dang, *Guangya* calls it Mawei, and the *I Ching* calls it Xianlu. All refer to this Phytolacca. However, there are red and white varieties: those with red flowers have red roots, and those with white flowers have white roots. The red variety is not used in medicine; the white variety is used for both consumption and medicinal purposes. Another variety named Chichang has seedlings and leaves that are extremely similar but should not be consumed, as it damages tendons and depletes kidney essence; careful distinction is required.

**Herba Carpesii (Heshi)** grows in the Western Regions and is now found throughout the Jianghuai and Hengxiang areas. In spring, it produces seedlings with wrinkled leaves resembling Perilla frutescens (Zisu), large, pointed, elongated, and rough; the stems are about two chi high; in July, it bears yellowish-white flowers resembling chrysanthemum; in August, it fruits, producing seeds that are extremely sharp and fine, turning yellowish-black when dried. It can be harvested at any time. Southerners call its leaves Huo. According to records, [phonetic character] is indeed Huo; although the flowers and fruits appear similar, they are distinct species and must not be mixed. Among antiparasitic formulas, this is the most crucial. *Gujin Luyan*: To treat heart pain caused by roundworm biting, take ten liang of Herba Carpesii, pound and sieve it, mix with honey, and form pills the size of wetas (Wuzi). Swallow forty pills on an empty stomach with honeyed water. Increase daily to fifty pills. Avoid alcohol and meat. Wei Yun suffered from heart pain for ten years without cure; upon seeing this formula among miscellaneous prescriptions, he combined and took it, resulting in recovery. Li Jiang's *Bingbu Shouji Fang*: To treat children's abdominal pain caused by roundworms biting the heart and abdomen, use Herba Carpesii alone, finely ground, administered with juice from fatty pork. A five-year-old child takes two fen per dose; stop once the worms are expelled. Other dosages may be adjusted according to judgment.