\r野狼毒\ph276.bmp\r,生秦亭山谷及奉高,今陕西州郡及辽、石州亦有之。苗叶似商
陆及大黄,茎叶上有毛
;四月开花,八月结实;根皮黄,肉白。二月、八月采根,阴干。以陈而沉水者良。葛洪治
心腹相连常胀痛者。用野狼毒二两,附子半两,捣筛,蜜丸如桐子大。一日服一丸,二日二丸
,三日三丸。再一丸,至六日,又三丸;自一至三常服
,即瘥。《千金》疗恶疾,以野狼毒,秦艽分两等,捣末,酒服方寸匕,日二常服之,瘥。
\r鬼臼\ph277.bmp\r,生九真山谷及冤句,今江宁府、滁、舒、商、齐、杭、襄、峡
州、荆门军亦有之,多
生深山岩石之阴。叶似蓖麻、重楼辈;初生一茎,茎端一叶,亦有两歧者,年长一茎,茎枯
为一臼,二十年则二十臼也;花生茎间,赤色,三月开,后结实,根肉皮须,并似射干,俗
用皆是射干,当细别之。七月、八月采根,曝干用。古方治五尸、鬼疰、百毒、恶气方用之
。一说鬼臼生深山阴地,叶六出或五出,如雁掌。茎端一叶如伞,盖旦时东向,及暮则西倾
,盖随日出没也。花红紫如荔枝,正在叶下,常为叶所蔽,未常见日。一年生一叶,既枯则
为一臼,及八、九年则八、九臼矣。然一年一臼生而臼腐,盖陈新相易也,故俗又名曰害母
草。如芋魁、乌头辈亦然。新苗生则旧苗死,前年之魁腐矣。而本
草注谓全似射干,今射干体状虽相似,然臼形浅薄,大异鬼臼。鬼臼如八、九天南星侧比相
叠,而色理正如射干。要者,当使人求苗采之,市中不复有也。
Wild Langdu (Stellera chamaejasme), grows in the valleys of Qinting and Fenggao. Currently, it is also found in various prefectures of Shaanxi, as well as Liao Prefecture and Shizhou. Its seedlings and leaves resemble those of Phytolaccae Radix (Phytolacca acinosa) and Rheum Palmatum (Rhubarb); the stems and leaves have hairs; flowers bloom in April, and fruits mature in August; the root bark is yellow, while the internal flesh is white. The roots are harvested in February and August and dried in the shade. Those that are aged and sink in water are considered superior. Ge Hong treated conditions characterized by continuous distending pain connecting the heart and abdomen using two liang of Wild Langdu and half a liang of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Prepared Side Root of Chinese Monkshood). These were pounded, sifted, and formed into honey pills the size of Torreya seeds. On the first day, one pill was taken; on the second day, two pills; on the third day, three pills. Then one more pill was taken, and on the sixth day, three pills again; taking them continuously from the first to the third day would result in recovery. *Qianjin Fang* treats malignant diseases by mixing equal parts of Wild Langdu and Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix (Gentian Root), pounding them into powder, and administering one fangcun bi (a square-inch measure) with wine twice daily for continued use, leading to recovery.
Guibai (Podophyllum emodi), grows in the valleys of Jiuzhen and Yuanju. Currently, it is also distributed in Jiangning Prefecture, Chuzhou, Shuzhou, Shangzhou, Qizhou, Hangzhou, Xiangzhou, Xiastate, and Jingmen Jun, mostly growing in the shady areas of deep mountains and rocks. The leaves resemble those of Ricinus Communis (Castor Bean) and Paris Polyphylla (Seven-leaf One-flower); initially, there is only one stem with a single leaf at the tip, though some may bifurcate. Each year, a new stem grows, and when the old stem withers, it forms one "mortar" (a corm-like node); after twenty years, there will be twenty mortars. Flowers grow between the stems, are reddish, bloom in March, and bear fruit afterward. The root flesh, bark, and fibrous roots resemble Belamcandae Rhizoma (Blackberry Lily Rhizome), but folk usage often confuses it with Belamcandae Rhizoma, so careful distinction is necessary. The roots are harvested in July and August and sun-dried for use. Ancient prescriptions used it for treating Five Corpse Diseases, Gui Zhu (Ghost Attachment), Hundred Toxins, and Evil Qi. Another account states that Guibai grows in the shady places of deep mountains, with leaves having six or five lobes, resembling goose feet. The single leaf at the stem tip resembles an umbrella canopy, facing east in the morning and tilting west by evening, likely following the sunrise and sunset. The flowers are red-purple like lychee, located beneath the leaves, often obscured by them, rarely seeing sunlight. It produces one leaf per year; once withered, it becomes one mortar. By eight or nine years, there are eight or nine mortars. However, each year a new mortar grows while the old one rots, representing the exchange of old and new, hence the folk name "Mother-Harming Grass." This is similar for Colocasia Esculenta Corms (Taro) and Aconiti Radix (Monkshood Root). When new shoots emerge, the old shoots die, and the corms from the previous year rot. Although herbal commentaries state it looks entirely like Belamcandae Rhizoma, although the body shape of modern Belamcandae Rhizoma is similar, its mortar shape is shallow and thin, greatly differing from Guibai. Guibai resembles the side-by-side overlapping of Tian Nan Xing (Arisaema Consanguineum) from eight or nine years, and its color and texture indeed resemble Belamcandae Rhizoma. Crucially, one must seek out plants with seedlings for harvesting, as they are no longer available in markets.