畏辛夷，火炙紫黑用。
味苦，微寒，无毒。入足厥阴，手太阴、阳明大肠。开心腹积聚，散腹胁坚胀。止唾衄，
消
痈肿，调血痢，破血瘀，通经脉，治金疮。利大小便，治赤白痢。消胸中之痞结，止肺家之
疼痛。
生河西及兖州山谷，今所在有之。茎青而细，五月开白花似葱花，亦有红紫而似水荭者。
根
淡紫黑色，肉带红白，状如小紫草。近时多以此伪蚤休，不可不知。
吐血不已，同甘草、阿胶为末，糯米汤下。（验方第一。）
面上酒刺，同人参、丹参、沙参、苦参、胡桃仁丸服。（第二。）
紫参汤 紫参 甘草
水煎。治下痢腹痛。（诸方第一。）
蜡水拌蒸，去须用。
甘、苦、咸，寒，无毒。足厥阴药也。凉血活血，发痘提疹，利小便，通大肠。治恶疮
癣
，除心腹邪气。大便滑者忌之。
生砀山及楚地。春社前后采之。今所在皆有。人家种之，三月逐垄下子，九月子熟时刈
草，
春社采根。苗似兰香，茎赤节青，染烛及染紫者多用之。古方惟用茸，取其初得阳气，以发
痘疮。今人不达此理，一概用之，非矣。
小儿头上疖毒，同当归、黄蜡、香油熬膏敷。（验方第一。）
痘不出，赤色，便秘，用二两热汤渍之，泡封勿泄，温时取服。（第二。）
痘赤便秘，同陈皮、葱白服。（第三。）
痘疔，为末三钱，雄黄末一钱，胭脂取汁合，银针挑破点之。（第四。）
痈疽便毒，同栝蒌煎服。（第五。）
小儿白秃，煎汁敷之。（第六。）
小便猝淋，水煎末服。（第七。）
产后淋沥，便秘，方同上。（第八。）
Zi Shen (Radix Arnebiae / Radix Lithospermi) fears Xin Yi (Flos Magnoliae Bungei); it should be roasted over fire until purple-black for use.
It tastes bitter, is slightly cold in nature, and is non-toxic. It enters the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian, Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, and Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. It resolves accumulations and masses in the heart and abdomen, dissipates hardness and distension in the abdomen and hypochondrium. It stops hemoptysis and epistaxis, reduces carbuncles and swellings, regulates bloody dysentery, breaks up blood stasis, unblocks meridians and collaterals, and treats traumatic injuries from metal weapons. It promotes urination and defecation, and treats red and white dysentery. It resolves chest stuffiness and knotting, and relieves pain in the lungs.
It grows in the Hexi region and valleys of Yanzhou, and is now found everywhere. The stem is green and slender; it blooms with white flowers in May resembling scallion flowers, and there are also varieties that are red-purple resembling Polygonum orientale. The root is pale purple-black, with flesh showing red and white hues, resembling small Zi Cao (Arnebia). Recently, many people use this herb to counterfeit Chou Wu Geng (Rhizoma Paridis), which must not be overlooked.
For incessant hematemesis, combine Zi Shen with Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis) and E Jiao (Colla Corii Asini), grind into powder, and take with glutinous rice decoction. (Verified Formula No. 1.)
For facial acne rosacea (jiu ci), combine Zi Shen with Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng), Dan Shen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae), Sha Shen (Radix Adenophorae seu Glehniae), Ku Shen (Radix Sophorae Flavescentis), and Hu Tao Ren (Semen Juglandis) to form pills for oral administration. (Formula No. 2.)
Zi Shen Tang (Decoction of Zi Shen): Composed of Zi Shen and Gan Cao. Decoct in water. Treats dysentery accompanied by abdominal pain. (First among various formulas.)
Zi Cao (Radix Arnebiae / Radix Lithospermi) is mixed with wax water, steamed, and the rootlets removed before use.
It tastes sweet, bitter, and salty; is cold in nature, and non-toxic. It is a medicine for the Foot Jueyin Meridian. It cools the blood and invigorates blood circulation, promotes the eruption of smallpox and raises rashes, promotes urination, and unblocks the large intestine. It treats malignant sores and tinea, and eliminates pathogenic qi in the heart and abdomen. It is contraindicated for those with loose stools.
It grows in Dangshan and Chu regions. It is harvested around the Spring She festival. It is now cultivated everywhere. People plant it: sowing seeds along ridges in March, harvesting the aerial parts when seeds mature in September, and harvesting roots around the Spring She festival. The seedlings resemble Lan Xiang (Chrysanthemum indicum or similar aromatic herb); the stem is red with green nodes. It is widely used for dyeing candles and producing purple dye. Ancient formulas only used the young shoots (rong), taking advantage of its initial acquisition of yang qi to promote the eruption of smallpox. Modern people do not understand this principle and use the whole herb indiscriminately, which is incorrect.
For pediatric furuncles and toxic swellings on the head, combine Zi Cao with Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), Huang La (Cera Flava), and Xi You (Sesamum Oleiferm Seed Oil) to boil into an ointment for external application. (Verified Formula No. 1.)
For smallpox that fails to erupt, appearing red, accompanied by constipation, use two liang of Zi Cao soaked in hot water. Seal the container tightly to prevent leakage, and take when warm. (Formula No. 2.)
For red smallpox with constipation, administer Zi Cao together with Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae) and Cong Bai (Bulbus Allii Cepae). (Formula No. 3.)
For smallpox ding (nodule), grind Zi Cao into three qian of powder, mix with one qian of Xiong Huang (Realgar) powder, combine with juice extracted from Yan Zhi (Vermilion/Cinnabar), puncture the lesion with a silver needle, and apply the mixture. (Formula No. 4.)
For carbuncles, ulcers, and bi du (acute suppurative disease in the groin/abdomen), decoct Zi Cao together with Gua Lou (Fructus Trichosanthis) for oral administration. (Formula No. 5.)
For pediatric alopecia capitis (white baldness), decoct the juice and apply externally. (Formula No. 6.)
For sudden onset of strangury (cu lin), decoct in water and take the powder. (Formula No. 7.)
For postpartum dribbling urine and constipation, the formula is the same as above. (Formula No. 8.)