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(From *Bencao Shiyi* / Supplement to Materia Medica)
Chen Cangqi stated: It treats metal weapon wounds (trauma caused by sharp metal objects), promotes tissue regeneration, stops bleeding, and should be ground into a fine powder for external application. It originates from Huizhou; its leaves resemble those of *Ampelopsis japonica* (Bailian).

(From *Bencao Shiyi* / Supplement to Materia Medica)
Chen Cangqi stated: Bitter in taste, neutral in nature, non-toxic. It treats heat toxins, as well as toxins from snake, dog, insect bites, and carbuncles/sores. It originates from Enzhou in Lingnan. The roots are harvested and dried in the shade.
Its efficacy is similar to Chen Family Baiyao, but the vines differ.
Li Dangzhi stated: The vines resemble those of *Solomon's seal* (Tugua), and the roots are also similar. Pungent in taste, warm in nature. It treats various toxic vapors and snakebites. The root is ground with water and taken orally; all toxins will be vomited out.
Chen Cangqi stated: Bitter in taste. It treats metal weapon wounds, promotes tissue regeneration, stops bleeding, tonifies the waist and knees, and reconnects tendons. It originates from Turfan. It is white like ash, said to be made by mixing Duan Shi (calcined gypsum or similar mineral) with other herbs.
Su Song stated: The currently used Lingxianxian originates from Luzhou. Its roots are yellowish-white, resembling *Poria cocos* (Fuling) but softer and less dense. The shoots grow three to four chi high; in spring and summer, the leaves resemble mint; the flowers resemble *Ipomoea nil* (Qianniuhua) and are purple, with white ridges. Roots are harvested in February and August and sun-dried.

(Song Dynasty *Kaibao Bencao*)
[Names] Li Shizhen stated: "Wei" implies its fierce nature. "Lingxian" implies its miraculous efficacy.
[Collected Explanations] Su Song stated: It originates from Shangluo Mountain in Shangzhou, Hua Mountain, and Pingze. Those harvested where no sound of flowing water is heard are superior. It grows before other grasses, has square stems, and opposite leaves. Roots are harvested on Bing, Ding, Wu, and Ji days in winter.
Bao Sheng stated: Roots are harvested from late September to December and dried in the shade. Harvesting in other months is unsuitable.
Su Song stated: It is now found in Shaanxi, Hedong, Hebei, Bian East, and various prefectures in Jianghu. Initially growing as a vine, the stem resembles a hairpin shaft and has four edges. The leaves resemble willow leaves, arranged in layers of six or seven leaves each, like a wheel, with up to seven layers. In July, it produces six-petaled flowers, pale purple or greenish-white. The flower spikes resemble *Thesium chinense* (Putai) or chrysanthemum heads. The fruits are green. The roots are dense with many fibrous roots, resembling grain roots, rotting annually; roots are harvested in September.
Li Shizhen stated: The roots extend laterally each year, becoming denser with age. One root cluster produces hundreds of fibrous roots, some reaching two chi in length. Initially yellow-black, turning deep black when dry, commonly known as "Iron-foot Lingxianxian." There are other varieties with similar roots but different colors (yellow or white), which are unusable.

[Aroma and Flavor] Bitter, warm, non-toxic.
Wang Haogu stated: Sweet, purely Yang in nature, enters the Taiyang Meridian.
Li Gao stated: Can ascend and descend, belonging to Yang within Yin.
Li Shizhen stated: Slightly pungent and salty, not bitter. Contraindicated with tea and noodle soup.
[Indications] Treats various wind pathogens, unblocks the five Zang organs, removes cold stagnation in the abdomen, phlegm and fluid retention in the heart and diaphragm, long-standing accumulations (Zhengjia), pus and foul fluids in the bladder, cold pain in the waist and knees, and fractures. Long-term use prevents epidemic fevers and malaria (*Kaibao Bencao*). It expels old and new stagnations, eliminates phlegm and saliva in the chest, and disperses wind pathogens in the skin and large intestine (Li Gao).
[Innovations] Su Song stated: During the Zhenyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, Zhou Junchao of Songyangzi wrote *The Biography of Lingxianxian*, stating: Lingxianxian dispels various wind pathogens, unblocks the twelve meridians, and takes effect from morning to evening. It vents cold pus and stagnant water causing diseases in the five Zang organs, causes mild bowel movements without diarrhea. After taking this herb, limbs feel light, hands and feet become slightly warm, and one feels cool. Previously, a person in Shangzhou suffered from inability to move limbs for decades, unable to walk. Physicians exhausted their skills without success. His relatives placed him by the road seeking help. A Silla monk saw him and said: This disease can be cured with one herb, provided it exists here. He was sent to search the mountains and indeed found Lingxianxian. Upon administration, he could walk after several days. Later, Deng Siqi, a mountain dweller, learned of this and spread the story. This herb treats wind-stroke with aphasia, limb paralysis, facial deviation, speech impediments, joint wind, periumbilical wind, fetal head wind, latent wind, severe wind, skin itching due to wind, vitiligo, heat-toxin wind sores, dizziness, limb numbness, waist and knee pain, inability to stand for long periods, trauma injuries, lower back pain, kidney wind obstruction, cold damage and miasma, aversion to cold with high fever, headache with runny nose, jaundice and black jaundice, facial edema, abdominal stagnation, heart phlegm-fluid, bladder pus, oral salivation, qi obstruction due to cold and heat, abdominal distension, craving for tea dregs, heart pain, Qi stagnation in the diaphragm, attacking cold Qi, Qi disorders of the spleen and lungs, cough and shortness of breath due to phlegm-heat, restlessness, red eyes due to Qi rising, ear suppuration, yin sweating and night sweats, constipation of large and small intestines, immediate relief upon intake, Qi dysentery, hemorrhoids, scrofula, tinea, amenorrhea in women, prolonged menstruation, Qi and Blood rushing to the heart, postpartum constipation, and infant idiopathic disease. Method: Harvest roots, dry in shade for over a month, grind to powder. Mix one Qianbi with warm wine and take on an empty stomach. If the patient tolerates strong medicine, increase to six Qianbi. Reduce dosage if diarrhea exceeds twice; stop when cured. Its nature is gentle and does not conflict with other herbs, but dislikes tea and noodle soup; Licorice and Gardenia can replace tea. Alternatively, wash and dry the single herb, grind to powder, moisten with good wine, place in a bamboo tube, seal tightly, steam nine times and sun-dry nine times. Add wine if dry. Mix with white honey to make pills the size of walnut seeds. Take 20-30 pills with warm wine. Cui Yuanliang's *Hai Shang Ji Yan Fang* details this method.
Meng Shen stated: For accumulations in the waist, kidneys, feet, and knees, and various cold diseases in the intestines that have persisted for years, it acts immediately.
Kou Zongshi stated: Its nature is swift; excessive use disperses the true Qi of the five Zang organs.
Zhu Zhenheng stated: Lingxianxian belongs to Wood and is a key herb for treating gout. It is suitable for conditions above and below, showing particular efficacy. Its nature moves rapidly and horizontally, hence Cui Yuanliang said it dispels wind and unblocks the twelve meridians, acting from morning to evening. Those harvested while hearing flowing water indicate a moving nature; those harvested without hearing water are better.
Li Shizhen stated: Lingxianxian is warm in nature, slightly pungent and salty. Pungency disperses Qi, saltiness drains Water. Thus, for diseases of wind-dampness, phlegm, and fluid retention, it has rapid effects in robust individuals. Its nature is generally draining and promoting; long-term use may damage true Qi, so it is unsuitable for those with weak Qi.
[Attached Prescriptions] Four old prescriptions, fifteen new ones. Hongjiao entering the abdomen, causing distension, fullness, and急促 breathing: Use Lingxianxian powder, 2 Qian per dose, taken with wine. Reduce dosage proportionally as pain decreases.
Various pains in waist and legs: *Qianjin Fang*: Lingxianxian powder, 1 Qian taken with warm wine on an empty stomach. Daily, aim for mild laxation. *Jingyan Fang*: 1 Jin of Lingxianxian. Wash, dry, soak in good wine for seven days, grind to powder, make pills with wheat paste the size of walnut seeds. Take 20 pills with the soaking wine.
Kidney wind obstruction, heavy waist and knees: Lingxianxian powder, honey pills the size of walnut seeds. Take 80 pills with warm wine. Mild expulsion of foul matter (like green pus/gel) in the early morning indicates wind-toxin stagnation. If not expelled, take 100 pills at night. After expulsion, take Fangzhang Wan (*Jiyan Fang*).
Ten bottles, sealed and boiled for the time it takes to burn one incense stick. Remove fire toxicity. Drink daily until cured (*Jijian Fang*).
Broken wind (tetanus): Lingxianxian Ban Liang, one clove of garlic, Sesame oil 1 Qian. Pound together, take with hot wine. Cure upon sweating (*Weisheng Yijian Fang*).
Raw Chuan Wutou and Wulingzhi, 4 Liang each. Grind to powder, make pills with vinegar paste the size of walnut seeds. Take 7 pills with salt water. Avoid tea (*Puji Fang*).
Qi pain in men and women, regardless of duration: Lingxianxian 5 Liang, raw Chinese leek roots 2.5 Qian, Lindera 0.5 Fen. One cup of good wine, one egg. Simmer over ash fire overnight. At dawn, check if eggshell is soft. Strain, take warm liquid, press with dry cloth, sleep on side towards the mass. Re-boil residue for next day's dose. Stinging pain in the mass confirms efficacy (*Zhaixuan Fang*).
Dysphagia and diaphragmatic Qi stagnation: A handful of Lingxianxian, half bowl of vinegar, half bowl of honey. Decoct to 0.5 portion. Take. Expulsion of old phlegm leads to cure (Tang Yao *Jingyan Fang*).
Retained phlegm and stagnant fluid, wheezing, coughing, vomiting, inability to eat: Lingxianxian (roasted), Pinellia (soaked in ginger juice and roasted). Grind to powder, make pills with soap pod extract the size of mung beans. Take 7-10 pills with ginger decoction, three times daily. One month for verification. Avoid tea and noodles.
Abdominal masses: Lingxianxian and Chu Tao'er, 1 Liang each. Grind to powder. Take 3 Qian with warm wine. Named Huitie Wan (*Puji Fang*).
Cold accumulation in large intestine: Lingxianxian powder, honey pills the size of walnut seeds. Take 10-20 pills with ginger decoction at first watch (*Jingyan Liangfang*).
Long-term intestinal wind bleeding: Lingxianxian and Celosia cristata, 2 Liang each. 2 Sheng rice vinegar, boil until dry, roast to powder, mix with egg white to make small cakes, roast dry and grind. Take 2 Qian with aged rice decoction, twice daily (*Shengji Zonglu*).
Hemorrhoid swelling and pain: 3 Liang Lingxianxian, 1 Dou water. Decoct. Fumigate then wash; re-warm if cooled (*Waike Jingyi*).
Foreign body stuck in throat: Lingxianxian 1.2 Qian, Amomum 1 Liang, sugar 1 Zan, 2 Zhong water. Decoct to 1 Zhong. Take warm. *Qiankun Shengyi*: Soak Lingxianxian in rice vinegar for two days, sun-dry, grind to powder, make pills with vinegar paste the size of walnut seeds. Take 2-3 pills with half tea/half water. To induce vomiting, take half spoon of Chalcanthite powder with 1-2 drops of oil and tea to probe vomiting. Decoction makes bones soft like cotton for swallowing, very effective.
Flying thread wrapping around genitals, swelling and pain threatening rupture: Crush Lingxianxian for juice, soak and wash. One person recovered (*Li Lou Guaizheng Fang*).
Smallpox lesions turning black and sinking: Iron-foot Lingxianxian (roasted and ground) 1 Qian, Borneol 1 Fen. Mix with warm water and take. Efficacy confirmed when scabs fall off. Intention similar to Baixiang Wan (*Rumen Shiqin*).