\r酸浆\ph179.bmp\r,生荆楚川泽及人家田园中,今处处有之。苗似水茄而小,叶亦
可食;实作房如囊,囊
中有子如梅李大,皆赤黄色,小儿食之尤有益,可除热;根似菹芹,色白,绝苦,捣其汁饮
之,治黄病多效。五月采,阴干。《尔雅》所谓 (音针),寒浆。郭璞注云∶今酸浆草,江
东人呼为苦 是也。今医方稀用。
\r紫参\ph180.bmp\r,生河西及冤句山谷,今河中解、晋、齐及淮、蜀州郡皆有之。
苗长一、二尺;根淡紫
色如地黄状;茎青而细,叶亦青,似槐叶,亦有似羊蹄者;五月开花,白色似葱花,亦有红
紫而似水荭者;根皮紫黑,肉红白色,肉浅而皮深。三月采根,火炙令紫色。又云∶六月采
,晒干用。张仲景治痢紫参汤主之。紫参半斤,甘草二两,以水五升,煎紫参,取二升,内
甘草,煎取半升,分温三服。
\r淫羊藿\ph181.bmp\r,俗名仙灵脾。生上郡阳山山谷,今江东、陕西、泰山、汉中、
湖湘间皆有之。叶青
似杏,叶上有刺;茎如粟秆;根紫色有须;四月开花白色,亦有紫色,碎小独头子;五月采
叶,晒干。湖湘出者,叶如小豆,枝茎紧细,经冬不凋,根似黄连。关中俗呼三枝九叶草,
苗高一、二尺许,根叶俱堪使。
Physalis (Physalis alkekengi), growing in the rivers, marshes of Jingchu and people's gardens, is now available everywhere. Its seedlings resemble those of Solanum melongena var. esculentum but are smaller; the leaves are also edible; the fruit forms a bladder-like capsule containing seeds the size of plums or jujubes, all reddish-yellow; children eating it is particularly beneficial for clearing heat; the root resembles Apium graveolens var. rapaceum, is white in color, extremely bitter, and its juice, when extracted by crushing and drunk, is effective in treating jaundice. Collected in May, dried in the shade. The "Erya" refers to this as "Xian" (pronounced zhen), also known as cold syrup. Guo Pu noted: "This is the current Physalis grass, called Kuji in Jiangdong." It is rarely used in modern medical prescriptions.
Zi Shen (Scutellaria barbata), growing in the valleys of Hexi and Yuanju, is now found in Jiezhou, Jinzhou, Qizhou of Hezhong Prefecture, as well as in various commanderies along the Huai River and Shu regions. The seedlings grow one to two chi tall; the roots are pale purple, resembling Rehmannia glutinosa; the stems are green and slender, the leaves are green, resembling Sophora japonica leaves, some resembling Rumex patientia; flowers bloom in May, white like scallion flowers, some red-purple resembling Althaea rosea; the root bark is purple-black, the flesh is red-white, with shallow flesh and deep bark color. Roots are collected in March and roasted over fire until purple. Another method states: collected in June, sun-dried for use. Zhang Zhongjing treats dysentery with Zi Shen Tang as the primary formula. Zi Shen 8 liang, Gan Cao 2 liang, decocted in 5 sheng of water; boil Zi Shen to obtain 2 sheng, add Gan Cao, continue boiling to obtain half a sheng, divide into three warm doses.
Yin Yang Huo (Epimedium), commonly known as Xian Ling Pi. Growing in the valleys of Yangshan, Shangjun, it is now found in Jiangdong, Shaanxi, Mount Tai, Hanzhong, and Huxiang. The leaves are green like apricot leaves, with spines on the surface; the stems resemble millet stalks; the roots are purple with fibrous roots; flowers bloom in April, white or purple, small and solitary; leaves are collected in May and sun-dried. Those from Huxiang have leaves like small beans, tight and slender stems, evergreen through winter, with roots resembling Coptis chinensis. In Guanzhong, it is colloquially called San Zhi Jiu Ye Cao (Three-branch Nine-leaf Grass); the seedlings grow about one to two chi tall, and both roots and leaves are usable.