\r葶苈\ph232.bmp\r,生 城平泽及田野,今京东、陕西、河北州郡皆有之,曹州者
尤胜。初春生苗叶,高
六、七寸,有似荠;根白,枝茎俱青;三月开花,微黄;结角,子扁小如黍粒微长,黄色;
立夏后采实,曝干。《月令》∶孟夏之月,靡草死;许慎、郑康成注皆云∶靡草,荠、葶苈
之属是也。此草至夏则枯死,故此时采之。张仲景治肺痈喘不得卧,葶苈大枣泻肺汤主之。
葶苈
炒黄色捣末为丸,大如弹丸。每服用大枣二十枚,水三升,煎之取二升,然后内一弹丸,
更煎取一升,顿服之。支饮不得息亦主之。崔知悌方,疗上气咳嗽,长引气不得卧,或遍体
气肿,或单面肿,或足肿,并主之。葶苈子三升,微火熬,捣筛为散,以清酒五升渍之,冬
七日,夏三日。初服如桃许大,日三夜一,冬日二夜二。量其气力,取微利一、二为度。如
患急困者,不得待日满,亦可以绵细绞即服。其葶苈单茎向上,叶端出角,角粗且短,又有
一种苟芥草,叶近根下作奇,生角细长。取时必须分别前件二种也。又《箧中方》,治嗽含
膏丸,曹州葶苈子一两,纸衬熬令黑,知母一两,贝母一两,三物同捣筛,以枣肉半两,别
销沙糖一两半,同入药中,和为丸,大如弹丸,每服以新绵裹一丸,含之,徐徐咽津,甚者
不过三丸。今医亦多用。
Semen Lepidii et Descureniae (Tingli, 葶苈), grows in flatlands near cities, marshes, and fields. Currently, it is found in all prefectures of Jingdong, Shaanxi, and Hebei, with the produce from Caozhou being superior. In early spring, its seedlings and leaves emerge, reaching a height of six or seven cun, resembling Shepherd's Purse (Jicai, 荠); the root is white, and the branches and stems are green; flowers bloom in the third lunar month, slightly yellow; pods form, and the seeds are flat, small like broomcorn millet but slightly longer, and yellow. The fruits are harvested after the Start of Summer (Lixia, 立夏) and dried in the sun. *Yueling* states: "In the first month of early summer, delicate grasses die." Both Xu Shen and Zheng Xiang's annotations clarify that "delicate grass" refers to plants such as Shepherd's Purse (Jicai, 荠) and Semen Lepidii et Descureniae (Tingli, 葶苈). This herb withers and dies by summer, hence it is harvested at this time. Zhang Zhongjing treated Lung Abscess (Fei Yong, 肺痈) manifesting as wheezing and inability to lie down, using Tingli Dazao Xiefei Tang (Cocklebur and Jujube Decoction to Drain the Lungs) as the primary formula. The Semen Lepidii et Descureniae (Tingli, 葶苈) is stir-fried until yellow, pounded into powder, and formed into pills the size of bullet seeds. For each dose, take twenty Jujubes (Dazao, 大枣), add three sheng of water, decoct to obtain two sheng, then insert one pill-sized portion, continue decocting to obtain one sheng, and administer in a single dose. It also treats Zhi Yin (Branchy Fluid Retention, 支饮) causing dyspnea. Cui Zhiti's prescription treats ascending Qi and cough, prolonged breathing difficulty preventing lying down, generalized edema, facial edema alone, or pedal edema alone. Take three sheng of Semen Lepidii et Descureniae (Tingli Zi, 葶苈子), gently roast over low fire, pound and sieve into a powder. Soak in five sheng of clear wine for seven days in winter or three days in summer. The initial dose is the size of a peach pit, taken three times daily and once at night; in winter, twice daily and twice at night. Adjust according to the patient's strength, aiming for mild purgation of one or two bowel movements. If the condition is acute and critical, do not wait for the full soaking period; the juice may be extracted through fine silk gauze and administered immediately. Semen Lepidii et Descureniae (Tingli, 葶苈) has a single stem growing upward, with pods emerging from the leaf tips; the pods are thick and short. There is another variety, Goujie Grass (Goujie Cao, 苟芥草), whose leaves near the base have an unusual shape, producing long and slender pods. These two varieties must be distinguished during collection. Additionally, *Qie Zhong Fang* describes a plaster pill for containing in the mouth to treat cough: use one liang of Semen Lepidii et Descureniae (Tingli Zi, 葶苈子) from Caozhou, roasted on paper until black; one liang of Rhizoma Anemarrhenae (Zhimu, 知母); one liang of Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus (Beimu, 贝母). Pound and sieve these three substances together. Add half a liang of jujube pulp and one and a half liang of melted rock sugar, mix into the medicine, and form into pills the size of bullet seeds. Each dose consists of one pill wrapped in new cotton, held in the mouth, and slowly swallowed with saliva. Severe cases require no more than three pills. Physicians today also frequently use this method.