乃小木也。生山土,长不过一、二尺,叶如石楠,四月生蕊,五、六朵成簇,垂如脂麻
铃样
,花作青白色。六、七月结小子如天竺子,霜后色红,俨如天竺子而大,俗呼矮脚樟,以其
似樟叶而本短也。山人每掘之入市,售作盆玩,又名叶下红。 李氏草秘∶叶下红一名平地
木,长五、六寸,茎圆,叶下生红子,生山隰等处。
治吐血杨春涯经验方∶叶底红即矮脚樟,用二两洗净,木槌捣烂,猪肺一个洗血净,将
叶入
肺管内,河、井水各三碗煮烂,至五更去叶,连汤食之。一、二次愈,多食绝后患。
陶殿元语予云,某抚军得宫传秘方,治吐血劳伤,怯症垂危,久嗽成劳,无不立愈,曾经试
验多人,用平地木叶干者三钱,猪肺连心一具,水洗净血,用白汤焯过,以瓦片挑开肺管,
将叶包裹,麻线缚好,再入水煮熟,先吃肺汤,然后去药食肺,若嫌味淡,以清酱蘸食,食
一肺后,病势自减,食三肺,无不愈者。但所用乃平地木,与叶下红有别,或一类相同,其
性本通耶。
治偏坠疝气 李氏草秘∶捣汁冲酒服半碗,屡效。
烂茶叶 经霜老茶叶
纲目茶子、茶油俱载,惟茶根及烂叶经霜老茶叶未收,故补之。
口烂 救生苦海∶茶树根煎汤代茶,不时饮,味最苦,食之立效。
It is a small shrub. It grows in mountain soil, reaching a height of no more than one or two chi (approx. 30-60 cm). The leaves resemble those of Photinia serratifolia (Shinan), and flower buds emerge in April, with five or six clusters hanging down like sesame bells; the flowers are greenish-white. In June and July, it bears small fruits resembling those of Peperomia pellucida (Tianzhuzi); after frost, they turn red, looking exactly like Peperomia pellucida but larger. Commonly called "Ai Jiao Zhang" (Dwarf Camphor Tree) because its leaves resemble camphor tree leaves while its trunk is short. Mountain dwellers often dig them up to sell in markets as potted ornamental plants, hence also known as Ye Xia Hong (Red Under Leaves). Li's *Caomi* records: Ye Xia Hong is also called Ping Di Mu (Flat-ground Wood), growing five or six cun (approx. 15-20 cm) tall, with round stems and red fruits growing beneath the leaves, found in mountainous and low-lying damp areas.
Experience prescription for treating hemoptysis (coughing up blood) by Yang Chunya: Use Er Liang (approx. 75g) of Ye Di Hong (same as Ai Jiao Zhang), wash clean, and pound into a paste using a wooden mallet. Take one pig lung, wash away blood impurities, insert the pounded herb into the bronchial tubes of the lung. Boil in three bowls each of river water and well water until tender. At dawn (Wu Geng time), remove the herbs and consume the soup along with the lung. One or two doses cure the condition; repeated consumption prevents recurrence.
Tao Dianyuan told me that a certain Provincial Governor possessed a secret prescription passed down from the palace for treating hemoptysis due to labor injury, critical weakness syndromes, and chronic cough leading to consumptive disease, achieving immediate cures without exception. He tested it on many people successfully. The method uses three Qian (approx. 9g) of dried Ping Di Mu leaves and one whole pig lung with the heart attached. Wash the lung clean of blood, blanch in boiling water, open the bronchial tubes with a tile, wrap the leaves inside, and tie securely with hemp thread. Cook thoroughly in water. First drink the lung broth, then remove the medicine and eat the lung meat. If the taste is bland, dip it in light soy sauce. After consuming one lung, the disease severity naturally decreases; after three lungs, all cases were cured. However, the material used here is Ping Di Mu, which differs from Ye Xia Hong. They may be of the same species or class, sharing similar medicinal properties.
Treatment for inguinal hernia (Pian Zhui): According to Li's *Caomi*: Crush fresh herbs to extract juice, mix with wine, and drink half a bowl. Repeated applications have proven effective.
Rotten Tea Leaves and Old Tea Leaves Frosted by Winter
The *Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica) records tea seeds and tea oil, but omits tea roots, rotten tea leaves, and old tea leaves frosted by winter. Therefore, these are added here.
Mouth Ulcers (Kou Lan): According to *Jiusheng Kuhai*: Decoct tea tree roots and use the liquid as tea, drinking frequently. The taste is extremely bitter, but it produces immediate effects upon consumption.