草三棱,文具京三棱条下。
\r阿魏\ph212.bmp\r,出西蕃及昆仑,今惟广州有之。旧说苗、叶、根极似白芷。捣
根汁,日煎作饼者为上
,截根穿曝干者为次。今广州出者,云是木膏液滴酿结成。二说不同。谨按段成式《酉阳杂
俎》云∶阿魏木,生波斯国,呼为阿虞木,长八、九尺,皮色青黄;三月生叶,似鼠耳,无
花实;断其枝,汁出如饴,久乃坚凝,名阿魏。或云取其汁和米、豆屑,合酿而成,乃与今
广州所上相近耳。
\r芦荟\ph213.bmp\r,出波斯国,今惟广州有来者。其木生山野中,滴脂泪而成。采
之不拘时月。俗呼为
象胆,以其味苦而云耳。芦荟治湿痒,搔之有黄汁者。刘禹锡着其方云∶余少年曾患癣,初
在颈项间,后延上左耳,遂成湿疮,用斑猫、狗胆、桃根等诸药,徒令蜇 ,其疮转盛。偶
于楚州,卖药人教用芦荟一两,研,炙甘草半两,末,相和令匀,先以温浆水洗癣,乃用旧
干帛子拭干,便以二味合和傅之,立干,便瘥,神奇。又治 齿。崔元亮《 海上方》云∶
取芦荟四分,杵末,先以盐揩齿令先净,然后傅少末于上,妙也。
\r缩沙蜜\ph214.bmp\r,出南地,今惟岭南山泽间有之。苗茎作高良姜,高三、四尺;
叶青,长八、九寸,
阔半寸以来;三月、四月开花在根下;五、六月成实,五、七十枚作一穗,状似益智,皮紧
浓而皱如栗纹,外有刺,黄赤色。皮间细子一团,八漏可四十余粒,如黍米大,微黑色,七
月、八月采。
Cao Sanleng (Samolus valerandi), its detailed description is found under the entry for Jing Sanleng (Bupleuri Radix).
Asafoetida (Ferulae Resina), originates from Xifan and Kunlun regions, and is currently only available in Guangzhou. Old theories state that its seedlings, leaves, and roots closely resemble Bai Zhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix). The best quality is obtained by crushing the roots to extract juice, which is then sun-dried and boiled into cakes; a secondary quality is obtained by cutting the roots, piercing them, and drying them in the sun. It is said that the Asafoetida produced in Guangzhou today is formed by the dripping and fermentation of tree resin. These two explanations differ. According to Duan Chengshi's *Youyang Zazu*: The Asafoetida tree grows in Persia and is called Ayumu, standing eight or nine chi tall, with greenish-yellow bark; it produces leaves in March resembling mouse ears, without flowers or fruits; when branches are broken, sap flows out like malt sugar, hardening over time into what is named Asafoetida. Some say it is made by mixing this sap with rice and bean bran to ferment, which is close to the Asafoetida presented in Guangzhou today.
Aloe (Aloes Folium), originates from Persia, and is currently only imported via Guangzhou. Its trees grow in mountains and wild areas, forming through the dripping of resinous tears. They can be harvested at any time of the year. Commonly known as "Elephant Gall" (Xiang Dan) due to its bitter taste. Aloe treats damp itching where scratching yields yellow fluid. Liu Yuxi recorded his prescription: In my youth, I suffered from tinea capitis/corporis, initially on the neck, later spreading to the left ear, becoming a damp sore. Using various drugs such as Mylabris (Ban Mao), Dog Gallbladder (Gou Dan), and Peach Root (Tao Gen) merely caused stinging pain, worsening the soreness. While in Chuzhou, a medicine seller taught me to use one liang of Aloe, ground into powder, and half a liang of roasted Licorice Root (Zhi Gan Cao), also ground into powder. Mix them evenly. First wash the tinea area with warm fermented grain water, then dry with an old dry cloth. Apply the mixed powders topically. It dries immediately and heals miraculously. It also treats dental caries (Qu Chi). Cui Yuanliang's *Haishang Fang* states: Take four fen of Aloe, pound into powder. First clean teeth thoroughly with salt, then apply a small amount of the powder topically. Excellent effect.
Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus Rotundus), originates from southern regions, and is currently only found in the mountainous and marshy areas of Lingnan. Its seedlings and stems resemble Gao Liang Jiang (Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma), growing three to four chi high; leaves are green, eight to nine cun long, and about half a cun wide; flowers bloom at the root base in March and April; fruits mature in May and June, with 50 to 70 fruits per spike, resembling Yi Zhi Ren (Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus), with tight, thick, wrinkled skin like chestnut patterns, covered with spines, yellow-red in color. Inside the skin is a cluster of fine seeds, about forty grains per unit, sized like millet, slightly black, harvested in July and August.