Library

Nüqing (Female Green Snake), for detailed information, see the entry under Shehan (Snake Containing).

Caohao (Herb Mugwort), also known as Qinghao (Green Wormwood). It grows in the rivers and marshes of Huayin, and is now found everywhere. In spring, it sprouts seedlings with extremely fine leaves; when tender, people also harvest them to mix with various aromatic vegetables for consumption. By summer, it grows three to five chi high. After autumn, it blooms with small, pale yellow flowers, and seeds form beneath the flowers, resembling millet grains. The seeds are harvested between August and September and dried in the shade. The roots, stems, seeds, and leaves are all used medicinally. When dried and roasted, they make an aromatic tea, which is particularly excellent. Qinghao is also called Fangkui. When using this herb, if one uses the seeds, do not use the leaves; if one uses the roots, do not use the stems. Mixing these four parts may instead cause illness. Soaking them in the urine of a healthy boy is beneficial. It is most effective in treating Guzheng Relao (Bone-steaming consumptive fever). Ancient prescriptions often use it alone. Ge Hong treated initial injuries from metal blades by taking fresh Qinghao, pounding it into a paste, applying it to the wound, wrapping the injury with cloth, and healing once the bleeding stopped. In Cui Yuanliang's "Haishang Fang" (Sea Above Prescription), to treat Guzheng Guiqi (Bone-steaming ghostly qi, referring to symptoms resembling haunting due to deficiency and heat), take five dou of urine from a healthy boy, clarify it, and add five dou of Qinghao (preferably harvested in August or September with seeds attached). Finely chop the herb, mix the two substances, and place them in a large, good-quality cauldron. Boil vigorously until three dou of liquid remain. Remove the dregs, wash the cauldron clean and dry it, then pour the liquid back in. Simmer gently until approximately two dou remain. Then, add ten pig gallbladders and boil together until one and a half dou remain. Remove from fire, let cool, and store in new porcelain vessels. Before each dose, take two or three liang of Gancao (Licorice Root), roast it thoroughly, pound it into powder, mix with the decoction, and pound for one thousand strokes to form pills. Take twenty pills on an empty stomach with porridge water, gradually increasing to thirty pills.

Lianqiao (Forsythia Fruit), grows in the valleys and mountains of Mount Tai. It is now found near the capital, as well as in Hezhong Prefecture, Jiangning Prefecture, Zezhou, Runzhou, Zizhou, Yanzhou, Dingzhou, Yuezhou, Lizhou, and Nankang Jun. There are two varieties: Daqiao (Large Forsythia) and Xiaoqiao (Small Forsythia). They grow in damp lowlands or on hills. The leaves are greenish-yellow, narrow, and long, resembling elm leaves or those of Shuisu (Perilla frutescens). The stems are reddish, growing about three to four chi high. The flowers are yellow and attractive. In autumn, the fruit resembles a lotus pod, standing out above other grasses, hence its name. The root is yellow, similar to Artemisia roots. Harvest the pods in August and dry in the shade. The Xiaoqiao variety grows on hill plains; its leaves, flowers, and fruits resemble those of Daqiao but are smaller. Those grown in the south have narrow, small leaves and short stems, only one to two chi high. The flowers are yellow, and the pods are yellow-black, containing black seeds like millet grains. This is also called Hanliancao (Dry Lotus Grass); southerners use its flowers and leaves. Zhongpin Lichang (Eclipta Prostrata) is also called Hanlian. Some people mistake Lichang for Hanliancao, which is incorrect. "Erya" refers to it as "Lian," with aliases including Yiqiao, Liantiao, and Liancao. Modern southern physicians state that Lianqiao has two types: One resembles unopened Toona sinensis fruits; the shell is small, hard, and intact externally, without sepals. When cut open, it splits in the middle, emitting a strong fragrance. The dried fruit falls off easily when shaken and does not adhere to the stem. The other type resembles a lotus bud; the shell is soft, wrapped externally by sepals, lacks splitting lines, and has no fragrance. Even when dried for a long time, it remains attached to the stem. These two are very different. The lotus-bud-like type is extremely common in the low-lying areas of Jiangnan. The Toona-like type comes from Shu (Sichuan) and is considered superior to the Jiangnan variety. According to Bencao records, the Shu variety is superior. However, its stems and leaves have not been observed.