气味苦，微寒，无毒。主治皮肤热，大腹水气，四肢面目浮肿，丈夫阴气不足。
（泽漆《本经》名漆茎，李时珍云∶《别录》、陶氏皆言泽漆是大戟苗。日华子又言是大
戟
花，其苗可食。然大戟苗泄人，不可为菜。今考《土宿本草》及《宝藏论》诸书并云∶泽漆
是猫儿眼睛草，一名绿叶绿花草，一名五凤草。江湖原泽平陆多有之，春生苗，一科分枝成
丛，柔茎如马齿苋，绿叶如苜蓿叶，叶圆而黄绿，颇似猫睛，故名猫儿眼。茎头凡五叶中分
，中抽小茎五枝，每枝开细花，青绿色，复有小叶承之，齐整如一，故又名五凤草，绿叶绿
花草。茎有白汁黏人，其根白色，有硬骨，以此为大戟苗者，误也。据此则泽漆是猫儿眼睛
草，非大戟苗也。今方家用治水蛊、香港脚有效，尤与《神农》本文相合，自汉人集《别录》
，误以名大戟苗，故诸家袭之尔。）
（愚按∶泽漆与大戟同类，而各种用者，须知之。）
（李时珍曰∶泽漆利水功类大戟，人又见其茎有白汁，遂误以为大戟，大戟根苗皆有毒
泄人，而泽漆根硬，不可用
苗，亦无毒，可作菜食，而利丈夫阴气，甚不相侔也。）
泽漆五枝五叶，白汁白根，禀金土之精，故能制化其水，盖金生水而土制水也。气味苦
寒，
故主治皮肤热，土能制水，故治大腹水气，四肢面目浮肿，金能生水，故治丈夫阴气不足。
《金匮》有泽漆汤，治咳逆上气，咳而脉浮者，浓朴麻黄汤主之，咳而脉沉者，泽漆汤主之
。
[Taste and Nature] Bitter, slightly cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Skin heat, abdominal water retention (ascites), edema of the four limbs and face, insufficiency of Yin-Qi in men.
(Zeqi was named "Qijing" in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*. Li Shizhen stated: Both the *Bielu* and Tao Hongjing recorded that Zeqi is the seedling of Daji. Ri Huaizi further stated it is the flower of Daji, and its seedlings are edible. However, Daji seedlings purge the body's Qi and cannot be used as vegetables. Current examinations of texts such as *Tusuxingbencao* and *Baocanglun* indicate: Zeqi is *Euphorbia helioscopia*, also known as "Cat's Eye Grass," "Green Leaf Green Flower Grass," or "Five Phoenix Grass." It grows abundantly in rivers, lakes, plains, and dry land. Seedlings emerge in spring; one cluster branches into a tuft. The tender stems resemble those of *Portulaca oleracea* (Purslane); the green leaves resemble those of *Medicago sativa* (Alfalfa). The leaves are round, yellowish-green, resembling cat eyes, hence the name "Cat's Eye." Typically, five leaves branch from the stem tip, with five small stalks emerging from the center. Each stalk bears tiny flowers, bluish-green, supported by small leaves below, arranged neatly and uniformly, hence the names "Five Phoenix Grass" and "Green Leaf Green Flower Grass." The stems exude a white, sticky juice. The roots are white and hard-boned. Those who claim it is a seedling of Daji are mistaken. Based on this, Zeqi is Cat's Eye Grass, not a seedling of Daji. Currently, physicians use it effectively to treat hydroperitoneum (water gu) and podagra/foot qi, which aligns well with the original text of the *Shennong Bencao Jing*. Since Han dynasty scholars compiled the *Bielu*, erroneously naming it a seedling of Daji, subsequent authorities have followed this error.)
(My commentary: Zeqi belongs to the same category as Daji, but their various applications differ; this must be understood.)
(Li Shizhen said: Zeqi's diuretic function is similar to that of Daji. People see the white juice in its stems and mistakenly identify it as Daji. The roots and seedlings of Daji are toxic and purgative, whereas Zeqi has hard roots, its seedlings should not be used medicinally, are non-toxic, can be eaten as vegetables, and can benefit the Yin-Qi of men. The two are vastly different.)
Zeqi has five branches and five leaves, white juice, and white roots. It inherits the essence of Metal and Earth, thus enabling it to control and transform Water. Generally speaking, Metal generates Water, while Earth controls Water. Due to its bitter and cold nature, it treats skin heat. Because Earth controls Water, it treats abdominal water retention and edema of the limbs and face. Because Metal generates Water, it treats insufficiency of Yin-Qi in men.
The *Jin Gui Yao Lue* contains Zeqi Tang, indicated for cough with rebellious Qi ascending. For cases where cough is accompanied by a floating pulse, Houpo Mahuang Tang is the primary formula; for cases where cough is accompanied by a deep pulse, Zeqi Tang is the primary formula.