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Li Shizhen stated: In the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), among human substances, only hair is listed; thus, humans are distinguished from other entities. Later practitioners of medical arts went so far as to consider bones, flesh, gallbladder, and blood as medicines, which is extremely inhumane. Now, in this section, anything used by humans shall not be omitted. Only those that do not violate moral principles will be described in detail. Those that are cruel or unclean will be briefly mentioned, with explanations provided at the end of each entry. In total, there are thirty-seven types, without further classification. The old editions contained twenty-five types. Five have been moved to the "Utensils" section, and one has been transferred from the "Jade and Stone" section. *Shennong Bencao Jing* (one type, annotated by Tao Hongjing of Liang) *Mingyi Bielu* (five types, annotated by Tao Hongjing of Liang) *Tang Bencao* (one type, by Su Gong of Tang) *Bencao Shiyi* (eight types, by Chen Cangqi of Tang) *Rihua Bencao* (two types, by Da Ming of Song) *Kaibao Bencao* (one type, by Ma Zhi of Song) *Jia You Bencao* (four types, by Zhang Yuxi of Song) *Zhenglei Bencao* (one type, by Tang Shenwei of Song) *Bencao Mengquan* (one type, by Chen Jiamo of Ming) *Bencao Gangmu* (thirteen types, by Li Shizhen of Ming).

[Appendix] Wei Dynasty's *Wu Pu Bencao*, Li Dangzhi's *Yaolu*, Song Dynasty Lei Xiao's *Paozhi*, Qi Dynasty Xu Zhicai's *Yadui*, Sun Simiao's *Qianjin Fang*, Zhen Quan's *Xingyao Lun*, Tang Dynasty Meng Shen's *Shiliao*, Shu Han Baosheng's *Chongzhu*, Song Dynasty Kou Zongshi's *Yanyi*, Yuan Dynasty Li Gao's *Yixue Faming*, Wang Haogu's *Tangye Bencao*, Zhu Zhenheng's *Danxi Xinfa*.

(Total thirty-seven types, with two appendices.)

(Pronounced bèi. *Benjing*).
[Names] (Pronounced zǒng. Zhen Liyan),
Li Dangzhi said: Fabi refers to the hair of an unmarried boy.
Tao Hongjing said: I do not know what exactly Fabi is? It does not appear in dictionaries. Or it might be pronounced like 'suan' (garlic); nowadays people call graying hair 'suan fa', and calligraphers also refer to messy hair as 'quan'. It is likely that it refers to curly hair. The rationale regarding unmarried boys may not be fully clear.
Su Gong said: This Fabi refers to the root of the hair; those that are aged are extremely effective. The character 'bi' does not exist in dictionaries, so it is likely a miswriting of 'fa' (hair). Since there is 'luan fa' (messy hair), then hair can cure diseases. Using old and worn-out items follows this logic, such as boat reeds, decayed heavenly officials, and rush mats. Zhen Liyan's materia medica writes it as 'bi'. Bi also means hair. Quan refers to beautiful hair, having sound but no substance; Tao's statement is incorrect.
Kou Zongshi said: Fabi and luan fa are distinct. Fabi tastes bitter, referring to hair that has aged over years, similar to the principle that aged tangerine peel and Pinellia tuber are better for medicinal use. Nowadays people call it tou bi. In the entry for luan fa, there is naturally no meaning of using bi; the two meanings are very clear, and there is no need to search excessively.
Li Shizhen said: Fabi refers to cut hair; luan fa refers to hair fallen from combing. According to Xu Shen's *Shuowen Jiezi*: For adults, it is called kun; for children, it is called ti. Gu Yewang's * Yupian* states: Bi means kun. Bi refers to fabi. Both explanations are clear. In ancient times, criminals had their hair shaved, and women used it to form headdresses, hence it was called fabi. The *Zhou Li* states: The attire of queens and consorts included hair ornaments. Also, the *Book of Songs* says: "Hair like clouds, disdainful of bi." What Zhen Quan referred to as fabi, and Lei Xiao referred to as hair cut from the crown of a twenty-year-old man, aligns with this. Li Dangzhi considered it hair of an unmarried boy, Tao Hongjing thought it was curly hair, Su Gong thought it was hair roots, and Kou Zongshi thought it was aged hair; all were mistaken. Moreover, Gu Yewang lived before Su Gong, and Su Gong did not know that the character 'bi' existed in *Yupian*, showing a lack of research. The *Mao Chang Shi Zhuan* states: "Bei zhi tong tong." Bei refers to head ornaments, made of braided hair, which is this bi.

[Preparation] Lei Xiao said: Fabi should be hair cut from the crown of a man who is over twenty years old, free from disease, with a ruddy complexion. To be used in pills or ointments, first soak it in Sophora flavescens water overnight, drain, place in a bottle, heat until red-hot, let cool, and grind for use.
Li Shizhen said: Nowadays, people wash it clean with soap pod water, dry it, store it in a jar sealed tightly, and use it retaining its nature, which is also good.

[Flavor and Toxicity] Bitter, warm, non-toxic. *Bielu*: Slightly cold.

[Indications] Obstruction of the five stranguries and guan-ge syndrome, promoting urination through the water passages, treating pediatric epilepsy, and adult stroke with aphasia. It still possesses miraculous transformative powers (*Benjing*). Combined with egg yolk and decocted into water, it treats various childhood febrile diseases due to fright (*Bielu*). It stops bleeding, treats syncope due to blood stagnation, wind-stroke from metal wounds, and bloody dysentery; when used medicinally, it is burned to retain its charred nature. Used in decoctions for ointments, it promotes tissue regeneration and resolves blood stasis (Da Ming).

[Elucidation] Han Baosheng said: *Benjing* mentions "miraculous transformation." Li Dangzhi said: No other formulas demonstrate this transformation. According to *Yi Yuan*: Human hair transforms into eels. This explains the miracle of transformation. Chen Cangqi also said: Hanging fresh human hair on fruit trees prevents birds from eating the fruit. If a fugitive's hair is placed on a spinning wheel and turned backwards, the pursuer becomes disoriented. These are examples of miraculous transformations.
Li Shizhen said: Hair is the surplus of blood. Buried in soil, it remains intact for a thousand years; even when boiled to dryness, liquid still exudes. If accidentally ingested, it forms abdominal masses; if used therapeutically, it prevents graying. This is indeed the verification of miraculous transformation.

[Attached Formulas] Three old, three new.
Stone strangury with pain and difficulty: Burn fabi to retain its charred nature, grind into powder. Take one qian per dose, administered well water. (*Zhouhou Fang*)
Typhoid with jaundice: Burn fabi and grind, administer one cun-bi with water, three times daily. (*Shanghan Leiyao*)
Retained placenta: Use luan fa and tou bi knots, insert into throat and mouth. (Sun Simiao's Formula)
Pediatric Ke-wu (fright caused by seeing strangers): Take ten strands of fontanelle hair from the visitor and a small piece of the baby's umbilical cord, burn together and grind into powder. Mix with milk and feed to the infant, which will cure immediately. (*Qianjin Fang*)
Acute abdominal pain: Use thirty hairs from the patient, burn them, and take with wine. Then, mix mustard seed powder with water and apply to the umbilicus. Profuse sweating like rain will occur, bringing relief. (Tan Ye Weng's Formula)
Severe malignant ulcers: Take raw hair ash, two qian taken with rice soup. Externally, mix three parts raw hair ash, two parts soap pod thorn ash, and one part Bletilla striata rhizome into powder. Apply dry, or mix with pig bile. (*Zhizhi Fang*)