气味苦寒，无毒。主治头秃疥瘙，除热，女子阴蚀。
（羊蹄一名牛舌草，一名秃菜。羊蹄以根名，牛舌以叶名，秃菜以治秃疮名也。所在有
之，
近水及下湿地极多，秋深则生，凌冬不死，春发苗，高三四尺，叶大者长尺余，如牛舌之形
，入夏起台，开青白花，花叶一色，成穗结子，夏至即枯，根长近尺，赤黄色如大黄胡萝卜
之形，故一名羊蹄大黄，俗人谓之土大黄。子名金荞麦。烧炼家用以制铅汞。）
羊蹄，水草也，生于川川泽及近水湿地。感秋气而生，经冬不凋，至夏而死，盖禀金水
之精
治头秃疥瘙。水能清热，故除热。苦能生肌，故治阴蚀。
气味辛温，有大毒。主治贼风在皮肤中淫淫痛，温疟，恶毒，诸痹。
（羊踯躅近道诸山皆有之，茎高三四尺，叶似桃叶，夏开花五出，蕊瓣皆黄色，羊食其
花叶
闹羊花。）
羊踯躅花色黄，气味辛温，禀火土金相生之化。羊乃火畜而兼土金，南方赤色，其畜羊，
火
在卦为兑，金也。此花大毒，亦禀火土金之化，羊食之，则同气相感而受其毒，是以踯躅而
死。金主皮毛，土主肤肉，
火主血脉，主治贼风在皮肤中淫淫痛，治
随经内薄，治温疟恶毒，治
火主之经脉也。诸痹乃皮脉肉之痹，而踯躅亦治之也。
（按∶闹羊花羊食之则死，缘此花有毒故也，谓同气相感而受毒，此说似属蛇足，不必
参究
至此。李时珍曰∶此物有大毒，曾有人以其根入酒饮，遂至于毙。《和剂局方》治中风瘫痪
，伏虎丹中亦用之，不多服耳。）
[Flavor and Nature] Bitter, cold, non-toxic. Indicated for head baldness, scabies with itching, elimination of heat, and treatment of female genital erosion/ulceration.
(Alpine dock is also known as Ox-tongue grass or Bald-cure vegetable. It is named Alpine dock after its root, Ox-tongue after its leaf, and Bald-cure after its use in treating alopecia. It grows everywhere, especially in abundance near water sources and low-lying damp areas. It emerges in late autumn, survives through winter, sprouts in spring, growing three to four chi tall. The leaves can be over one chi long, shaped like an ox's tongue. In summer, it sends up a scape, producing pale green-white flowers; the flowers and leaves share the same color, forming spikes that bear seeds, withering by the Summer Solstice. The roots are nearly one chi long, reddish-yellow in color and shaped like Rhubarb (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) or carrots, hence also called Alpine dock Rhubarb, commonly referred to as Earth Rhubarb. The seed is named Golden Buckwheat. Used by alchemists to refine lead and mercury.)
Alpine dock is an aquatic plant, growing in river marshes and damp areas near water. It arises from the influence of autumnal Qi, does not wither through winter, and dies in summer, likely due to inheriting the essence of Metal and Water.
Water has the ability to clear heat, thus eliminating heat. Bitter flavor promotes tissue regeneration, thus treating genital erosion.
[Flavor and Nature] Pungent, warm, highly toxic. Indicated for wandering pain caused by Thief Wind within the skin, Warm Malaria, malignant sores, and various Bi syndromes.
(Alice rhododendron is found on mountains along roadsides. The stem is three to four chi tall, leaves resemble peach leaves, blooming in summer with five-petaled flowers; both stamens and petals are yellow. Sheep eating its flowers and leaves suffer toxicity; this is the Flower of Alice Rhododendron.)
The flower of Alice rhododendron is yellow, with a pungent and warm flavor, inheriting the transformative interaction of Fire, Earth, and Metal. Sheep are Fire animals possessing Earth and Metal qualities. The South corresponds to the color red, and its associated animal is the sheep. In the Eight Trigrams, Fire corresponds to the Dui trigram, which relates to Metal. This flower is highly toxic, also inheriting the transformation of Fire, Earth, and Metal. When sheep consume it, they are affected by the resonance of similar energies (Tong Qi Xiang Gan), thereby suffering toxicity, leading to death in hesitation. Metal governs the skin and hair, Earth governs the flesh, and Fire governs the blood vessels. It treats wandering pain caused by Thief Wind in the skin, treats pathogens penetrating inward along meridians, treats Warm Malaria and malignant sores, and treats pathologies of the meridians governed by Fire. Various Bi syndromes involve obstruction of the skin, vessels, and flesh, which Alice rhododendron also treats.
(Note: Sheep die upon consuming the Flower of Alice Rhododendron because of its toxicity. The theory that they suffer toxicity through resonance of similar energies seems superfluous and need not be deeply investigated. Li Shizhen stated: This substance is highly toxic; there was a case where someone drank wine infused with its root, resulting in death. The *Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang* uses it in the Tiger Subduing Pill (Fuhu Dan) for treating stroke-induced paralysis, but only in small doses.)