气味苦平，无毒。主治浸淫疥瘙疽痔，杀三虫。
（ 蓄一名扁竹，处处有之，多生道旁，春时蔓延布地，苗似瞿麦，叶细绿如竹箬，茎
促节，节紫赤似钗股。三月
开细红花，如蓼蓝花状，结细子，炉火家烧灰炼霜用。）
《金匮要略》曰∶浸淫疮从口流向四肢者，可治。从四肢流来入口者，不可治。盖口乃
脾窍
，脾属四肢， 蓄禀火气而温土，故主治脾湿之浸淫。充肤热肉之血，不淡渗于皮毛，则为
疥瘙。 蓄禀东方之木气，故主治疥瘙，浸淫可治，则疽痔亦可治矣。疥瘙可治，则三虫亦
可治矣。缘其禀木火之气，通利三焦，从经脉而达于肌腠皮肤，故主治如此。
气味辛平，有毒。主治水肿，疝瘕，痹熨，除痈肿，杀鬼精物。
（商陆所在有之，春生苗，高二三尺，茎青赤，极柔脆，叶如牛舌而长，夏秋开花作朵，
根如萝卜似人形者有神。
有赤白二种，白根者，花白。赤根者，花赤。白者入药，赤者甚有毒，不可服，服之见鬼神。
俗名章柳，相传刻其根为
人能通鬼神也。）
商陆禀金土之气化，故气味辛平，以根花白者为良。主治水肿者，辛走气，土胜水，气
化则
水行，水散则肿消也。治疝瘕者，疝瘕乃厥阴肝木之病，而金能平之也。痹熨，犹言熨痹，
肌腠闭痹。商陆熨而治之，火温土也。除痈肿者，金主攻利也。杀鬼精物者，金主肃杀也。
[She]
Flavor: Bitter, neutral. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Impetigo (Jinyin), scabies and tinea (Sao), carbuncles (Ju), hemorrhoids (Zhi); kills three types of parasites (San Chong).
(Note: She, also known as Bianzhu, is found everywhere, mostly growing by roadsides. In spring, it spreads over the ground. The seedling resembles Dianthus superbus (Qumai). The leaves are slender, green, and resemble bamboo sheaves. The stem is short with nodes; the nodes are purple-red, resembling hairpin shafts. In March, it blooms with small red flowers, similar in shape to Polygonum tinctorium (Baolan) flowers. It bears small seeds, which are burned by furnace workers into ash for refining frost.)
The *Jingui Yaolue* states: "Impetigo spreading from the mouth to the four limbs is treatable. Spreading from the four limbs back to the mouth is untreatable." This is because the mouth is the orifice of the Spleen, and the Spleen governs the four limbs. She inherits Fire Qi to warm the Earth (Spleen/Stomach), thus treating impetigo caused by Spleen Dampness. If blood fails to fill the flesh and warm the muscles, and fails to leach out through the skin and hair follicles, scabies and tinea result. She inherits the Wood Qi of the East, thus treating scabies and tinea. Since impetigo is treatable, carbuncles and hemorrhoids are also treatable. Since scabies and tinea are treatable, the three parasites are also treatable. Because it inherits Wood and Fire Qi, it unblocks and benefits the Triple Burner, reaching the muscle interstices and skin via the meridians, hence its indications.
[Phytolaccae Radix (Shanglu)]
Flavor: Acrid, neutral. Toxicity: Toxic. Indications: Edema (Shuizhong), hernia and masses (Shanjia), bi-syndrome treated with moxibustion/warming (Biwu), elimination of carbuncles and swellings (Yongzhong); kills ghostly spirits and entities (Gui Jingwu).
(Note: Phytolacca is found everywhere. Seedlings emerge in spring, two to three chi high. The stem is greenish-red, extremely soft and brittle. The leaves are long, resembling ox tongues. Flowers bloom in clusters in summer and autumn. The root resembles a radish; those shaped like human forms possess spiritual efficacy. There are red and white varieties. White-rooted plants have white flowers; red-rooted plants have red flowers. The white variety is used medicinally. The red variety is highly toxic and should not be ingested; ingestion may cause hallucinations of seeing ghosts and spirits. Commonly known as Zhangliu. It is said that carving its root into human shapes allows communication with spirits.)
Phytolacca inherits the Qi transformation of Metal and Earth, hence its acrid and neutral flavor. The variety with white roots and flowers is superior. For treating edema: Acrid flavors move Qi; Earth overcomes Water. When Qi transforms, water moves; when water disperses, swelling subsides. For treating hernia and masses: These are diseases of Jueyin Liver Wood, which Metal can subdue. "Bi-wu" refers to warming/moxa-treatment for Bi syndrome, where muscle interstices are closed and obstructed. Using Phytolacca for warming treatment utilizes Fire to warm Earth. For eliminating carbuncles and swellings: Metal nature primarily governs attacking and draining. For killing ghostly spirits: Metal nature primarily governs肃杀 (solemn killing/astringency).