由跋,文具半夏条下。
\r虎掌\ph247.bmp\r,生汉中山谷及冤句,今河北州郡亦有之。初生根如豆大,渐长
大,似半夏而扁,累年
者其根圆及寸,大者如鸡卵。周匝生圆芽二、三枚或五、六枚;三月、四月生苗,高尺余;
独茎上有叶如爪,五、六出分布,尖而圆;一窠生七、八茎,时出一茎作穗,直上如鼠尾;
中生一叶如匙,裹茎作房,旁开一口,上下尖,中有花,微青褐色;结实如麻子大,熟即白
色,自落布地,一子生一窠。九月苗残取根,以汤入器中,渍三、七日,汤冷乃易,日换三
、四遍,洗去涎,曝干用之。或再火炮。今冀州人菜园中种之,亦呼为天南星。江州有一种
草,叶大如掌,面青背紫,四畔有芽如虎掌,生三、五叶为一本,冬青。治心痛寒热积气。
不结花实,与此名同,故附见之。
\r莨菪子\ph248.bmp\r,生海滨川谷及雍州,今处处有之。苗茎高二、三尺许,叶似
地黄、王不留行、红蓝
等而三指阔;四月开花,紫色;苗、荚、茎有白毛;五月结实,有壳作罂子,状如小石榴,
房中子至细,青白色,如米粒,一名天仙子。五月采子,阴干。谨按《本经》云∶莨菪性寒
,后人多云大热,而《史记》淳于意传云∶淄川王美人怀子而不乳,意饮以浪荡药一撮,以
酒饮之,旋乳。且不乳岂热药所治。又古方主卒癫狂,亦多单用莨菪,不知果性寒邪?《小
品》载治癫狂方云∶取莨菪三升,作末,酒一升,渍数日出,捣之,以向汁和绞,去滓,汤
上煎,令可丸,服如小豆三丸,日三。当觉口面急,头中有虫行,额及手足有赤色处,如此
并是瘥候。未知再服,取尽,神良。又《箧中方》主肠风,莨菪煎。取莨菪实一升治之,曝
干,捣筛,生姜半斤,取汁,二物相合银锅中,更以无灰酒二升,投之,上火煎令如稠饧,
即旋投酒,度用酒可及五升以来,即止煎,令可丸,大如梧子。每旦酒饮通下三丸,增至五
、七丸止。若丸时粘手,则菟丝粉衬隔煎熬,切戒火紧,则药易焦而失力矣。初服微热,勿
怪。疾甚者,服过三日,当下利,疾去,利亦止,绝有效。
Youba (Siphonostegia chinensis) is described in detail under the entry for Banxia (Pinellia Rhizome).
Huzhang (Arisaema consanguineum), grows in the valleys of Hanzhong and Yuanju (present-day Heze, Shandong), and is also found in various prefectures of Hebei today. The newly formed root is as large as a bean, gradually enlarging; it resembles Banxia but is flatter. Roots that have grown for several years are round and about one cun in diameter, with larger ones resembling chicken eggs. Two to three or five to six round buds grow around the periphery. In March and April, shoots emerge, growing over one chi tall. Leaves on the single stem resemble claws, distributed in fives or sixes, with pointed and rounded tips. A cluster produces seven or eight stems, occasionally sending up one stem bearing a spike inflorescence, straight upward like a rat's tail. A leaf shaped like a spoon grows in the middle, enclosing the stem to form a spathe-like chamber with an opening on the side, pointed at both ends, containing flowers that are slightly greenish-brown. The fruit is as large as hemp seeds, turning white when ripe, falling naturally to the ground; each seed can generate a new cluster. In September, after the foliage withers, the roots are harvested. They are soaked in hot water in a vessel for three to seven days, changing the water when it cools, rinsing three or four times daily to remove slime, then sun-dried for use. Alternatively, they may be processed by fire-roasting. Currently, people in Yizhou cultivate it in vegetable gardens and also call it Tiannanxing (Arisaema Rhizome). In Jiangzhou, there is a herb with leaves as large as a palm, green on the front and purple on the back, with buds around the edges resembling tiger paws; it has three to five leaves per plant and remains evergreen in winter. It treats heart pain, alternating chills and fever, and accumulated qi. It does not produce flowers or fruits; because its name is the same, it is recorded here as an appendix.
Langdangzi (Hyoscyami Semen), grows in coastal river valleys and Yongzhou, and is now ubiquitous. The seedling stems are about two to three chi high. The leaves are about three fingers wide, resembling those of Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), Wangbuliuxing (Vaccariae Semen), and Honglan (Carthami Flos). Flowers appear in April, purple in color. The seedlings, pods, and stems bear white hairs. Fruits mature in May; they have a shell forming a capsule-like structure, resembling small pomegranates. The seeds inside are very fine, pale green-white, resembling rice grains. Also known as Tianxianzi (Datura Seed). Seeds are collected in May and dried in the shade. According to the *Shennong Bencao Jing*, Langdang is cold in nature, whereas later authors often claim it is extremely hot. However, the *Records of the Grand Historian* (Biography of Chunyu Yi) states: When the concubine of the King of Zichuan was pregnant but unable to lactate, Chunyu Yi administered a measure of Langdang medicine, taken with wine, after which she immediately lactated. If inability to lactate were caused by heat, would it be treated with hot medicines? Furthermore, ancient prescriptions for sudden onset of mania and epilepsy often use Langdang alone; thus, it is uncertain if it is truly cold in nature. The *Xiaopin Fang* records a prescription for mania and epilepsy: Take three sheng of Langdang, grind into powder, soak in one sheng of wine for several days, then extract, boil the juice until it can be formed into pills, taking three pills the size of small beans three times daily. One should feel tightness in the mouth and face, a sensation of insects crawling in the head, and red spots on the forehead and extremities; these are signs of recovery. It is unknown if continued administration until completion yields miraculous results. Another text, *Qiezhong Fang*, for treating intestinal wind, uses Langdang decoction: Process one sheng of Langdang fruit, dry in the sun, grind and sieve. Mix with half a jin of ginger juice. Combine these two ingredients in a silver pot, add two sheng of unadulterated wine, and boil over fire until thick like syrup. Add wine as needed, up to approximately five sheng total, then stop boiling and form into pills the size of wu zi (fruits of Sophora japonica). Take three pills orally with wine every morning, increasing to five or seven pills as tolerated. If the pills stick to hands during preparation, use Dodder seed powder (Cuscutae Semen) as a dusting agent during heating; beware of high heat, as the medicine will scorch and lose efficacy. Mild heat upon initial ingestion is normal. For severe cases, after more than three days of administration, diarrhea should occur, expelling the disease, and the diarrhea will cease; this is indeed highly effective.