气味苦温，有大毒。主治心痛寒热，结气积聚，伏梁，伤筋痿拘缓，利水道。
（《本经》之虎掌，今人谓之天南星，处处平泽有之。四月生苗，状如荷梗，高一二尺，
一
茎直上，茎端有叶如爪，岐分四步，岁久则叶不生，而中抽一茎，作穗直上如鼠尾，穗下舒
一叶如匙，斑烂似素锦，一片裹茎作房。穗上布蕊满之，花青褐色，子如御粟子，生白熟则
微红，久又变为蓝色。其根形圆，色白，大如半夏二三倍。曰虎掌者，因叶形似之；曰天南
星者，以根形圆白，如天上南方之大星，取以为名也。）
天南星色白根圆，得阳明金土之气化，味苦性温，又得阳明燥烈之气化，故有大毒。主
治心
痛寒热结气者，若先入心而清热，温能散寒而治痛结也。积聚、伏梁者，言不但治痛结无形
之气，且治有形之积聚、伏梁。所以然者，禀金气而能攻坚破积也。伤筋痿拘缓者，言筋受
伤而痿拘能缓也。夫小筋受伤而驰长为痿，犹放纵而委弃也。大筋受伤而软短为拘，犹缩急
而拘挛也。阳明主润宗筋，束骨而利机关，故伤筋痿拘能缓。缓，舒缓也。利水道者，金能
生水，温能下行也。
气味苦寒，有小毒。主治蛊毒，十二水，腹满急痛，积聚，中风皮肤疼痛，吐逆。
（大戟始出常山，今近道皆有之，多生平泽，春生红芽，渐长丛高，茎直中空，叶长狭
如柳
，折之有白汁，三四月开黄紫花，根皮有紫色，有黄白色，浸于水中，水色青绿。杭州紫大
戟为上，江南土大戟次之，北方绵大戟根皮柔韧于如绵而色白，甚峻利能伤人。）
大戟生于西北，茎有白汁，味苦气寒，皮浸水中，其色青绿，乃禀金水木相生之气化。
水能
生木，则木气营运，故主治蛊毒。治蛊毒者，土得木而达也。金能生水，则水气营运，故主
治十二水。十二经脉环绕一身，十二水者，一身水气不行而肿也。腹满急痛，积聚，言蛊毒
之病，则腹满急痛，内有积聚，大戟能治之。中风皮肤疼痛，言十二水之病，则身中于风而
皮肤疼痛，大戟亦能治之。吐逆者，腹满急痛，积聚，则土气不和。中风皮肤疼痛，则肌表
不通，皆致吐逆，而大戟皆能治之也。
[Tian Nan Xing / Arisaema Rhizome]
The flavor is bitter and the nature is warm, with high toxicity. It primarily treats heart pain accompanied by alternating chills and fever, qi stagnation forming accumulations (Ji Ju), Fu Liang disease (abdominal masses), and can alleviate flaccidity, spasms, or laxity caused by tendon injury. It also promotes the free flow of water passages.
(Note: "Hu Zhang" in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* refers to what people today call Tian Nan Xing. It grows in flatlands and marshes everywhere. In April, shoots emerge, resembling lotus stems, one to two chi tall. A single stem rises straight up, with leaves at the tip shaped like claws, branching into four parts. After many years, leaves cease to grow, and a single stem emerges from the center, forming an ear-like spike rising straight up like a rat's tail. Below the spike, a leaf spreads out like a spoon, mottled like plain brocade, wrapping around the stem to form a sheath. The spike is covered with stamens; the flowers are blue-brown. The seeds resemble millet grains, white when fresh, slightly red when ripe, and turning blue after prolonged storage. The root is round and white, two to three times the size of Ban Xia. It is called "Hu Zhang" because its leaf resembles a tiger's paw; it is called "Tian Nan Xing" because its round, white root resembles a large star in the southern sky, from which the name is derived.)
Tian Nan Xing has a white color and a round root, inheriting the Qi transformation of Yangming Metal and Earth. Its bitter flavor and warm nature further inherit the dry and fierce Qi transformation of Yangming, hence its high toxicity. Regarding the treatment of heart pain, chills/fever, and qi stagnation: it first enters the Heart channel to clear heat, while its warming property disperses cold, thereby treating pain and qi knotting. Regarding Ji Ju (accumulations) and Fu Liang: this indicates that it not only treats intangible qi stagnation causing pain but also tangible accumulations and Fu Liang. This is because it inherits Metal Qi, enabling it to break hard accumulations. Regarding tendon injury, flaccidity (Wei), spasm (Ju), and laxity (Huan): it alleviates these conditions resulting from tendon injury. Injury to small tendons leads to elongation and relaxation, becoming Wei syndrome, akin to being abandoned or lax. Injury to large tendons leads to shortening and softness, becoming Ju syndrome, akin to cramping and contracture. The Yangming channel moistens the Zong Jin (general tendons), binds the bones, and facilitates joint movement; thus, it can alleviate tendon injury, Wei, Ju, and Huan. "Huan" means soothing or relaxing. Promoting water passages occurs because Metal generates Water, and warmth directs Qi downward.
[Da Ji / Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix]
The flavor is bitter and the nature is cold, with slight toxicity. It primarily treats Gu Du (poisonous worms/toxicity), Shier Shui (twelve waters/generalized edema), abdominal fullness with acute pain, accumulations, skin pain due to Wind Strike (Zhong Feng), and vomiting/reversal of Qi.
(Note: Da Ji originally grew in Changshan. Now it is found near roadsides, mostly in plains and marshes. Red buds sprout in spring, growing into dense, tall clumps. The stem is straight and hollow. Leaves are long and narrow like willow leaves. When broken, they exude white juice. Yellow-purple flowers bloom in March and April. The root bark is either purple or yellowish-white. When soaked in water, the water turns green-blue. Purple Da Ji from Hangzhou is the superior grade; Earth Da Ji from Jiangnan is secondary. Mian Da Ji from the North has root bark as soft and tough as cotton and white in color; its medicinal action is very峻烈 (pungent and drastic) and can harm people.)
Da Ji grows in the northwest, contains white juice in its stems, has a bitter flavor and cold nature, and its root bark turns green-blue when soaked in water. This reflects inheriting the generative Qi transformation of Metal, Water, and Wood. Since Water generates Wood, Wood Qi circulates freely, thus it treats Gu Du. Treating Gu Du works because Earth achieves unblocking through Wood. Since Metal generates Water, Water Qi circulates freely, thus it treats Shier Shui. The twelve meridians surround the body; "Shier Shui" refers to generalized edema caused by the failure of Water Qi to circulate throughout the body. Abdominal fullness, acute pain, and accumulations indicate that for diseases like Gu Du, where there is abdominal fullness, acute pain, and internal accumulations, Da Ji can treat them. Skin pain due to Wind Strike indicates that for diseases involving Shier Shui, if the body is struck by Wind leading to skin pain, Da Ji can also treat it. Vomiting and reversal of Qi occur because abdominal fullness, acute pain, and accumulations disrupt Earth Qi harmony, and skin pain from Wind Strike blocks the muscle surface; both lead to vomiting, which Da Ji can address.