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[Classified as Upper Grade in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*]
**Names:** (Pronounced "xian"), Shuixiang (*Benjing*), Xiangshui Lan (*Kaibao*), Nülan (*Gangmu*), Xiangcao (*Gangmu*), Yanweixiang (*Kaibao*), Daze Lan (*Paozhi Lun*), Jianze Cao (Tao Hongjing), Lanze Cao (*Tangben*), Shengtou Cao (*Gangmu*), Duliang Xiang (Li Dangzhi), Hai'er Ju (*Gangmu*), Qianjin Cao.
Su Gong recorded: The leaves resemble those of *Kalimeris indica* (Malan), hence the name Lancao. Its leaves have lobes, commonly called Yanweixiang. People at that time boiled water to bathe, treating wind pathogens, hence also called Shuixiang Lan.
Zangqi said: Lancao grows by the marshes. Women mixed it with oil for their hair, hence called Lanze. Sheng Hongzhi's *Zhongzhou Ji* states: Duliang Mountain produces this fragrant herb.
Li Shizhen said: Duliang refers to present-day Wugang Prefecture; there is also a Duliang Mountain in Xuyi County, Linhuai, which produces this fragrant herb. Lan is a fragrant herb that can ward off misfortune. Lu Ji's *Mao Shi Caomu Niao Shou Chongyu Shu* states: In the Zheng custom, men and women hold Lan by the water in the third month to purify themselves. Essentially, "Lan" serves to block (Lan) evil qi, and " " serves to restrain (Xian) distractions; their meanings are identical. *Huainanzi* states: If men plant Lan, it grows beautiful but lacks fragrance. Thus, Lan must be planted by women to become fragrant; the name "Nülan" may originate from this. Its leaves resemble chrysanthemum; women and children like to wear it, so the names "Nülan" and "Hai'er Ju" may derive from this. *Tang Yao Jingyan Fang* states: Families in Jiangnan plant it, harvesting it in summer to place in hair, preventing greasiness, hence called Shengtou Cao. This explanation aligns with the meaning of "Jianze." Ancients referred to both Lan and Hui as fragrant herbs, such as Lingling Xiangcao and Duliang Xiangcao. Later generations abbreviated the term, generally calling them Xiangcao. In recent times, people only know Orchid (Lanhua) and do not know Lancao. Only Fang Hui of Xugu verified and corrected this, strongly arguing that ancient Lancao is the present-day Qianjincao, commonly known as Hai'er Ju. His theory is reliable. See details under "Correction of Errors."

**Collection:** *Bielu* states: Lancao grows in Taiwu Ponds and Marshes, harvested in April and May.
Tao Hongjing said: Physicians and apothecaries generally do not recognize or use it. Taiwu likely refers to the residence of Taibo of Wu State, hence the name Taiwu. There is currently Jianze Cao in the Jiangdong region, named Lanxiang, which might be this. Li Dangzhi said: It is the Duliang Xiangcao planted by people today. Zelan is also called Duliang Xiang.
Su Gong said: Lan is the Lanze fragrant herb. It has round stems and purple calyxes, blooming white in August. Commonly named Lanxiang, boiled for bathing. It grows by streams and creeks; people also plant it widely to decorate courtyards and pools. What Tao Hongjing cited as Jianze Cao and Duliang Xiang is this, but he could not identify it precisely.
Baosheng said: It grows in low, wet areas. Leaves resemble Zelan, pointed, long, and lobed; flowers are red-white and fragrant.
Zangqi said: Lancao and Zelan share the same name. Tao could not distinguish them, and Su Jing arbitrarily separated them. Lancao grows by marshes, leaves are smooth and glossy, slightly purple underneath, harvested in May and June and dried in shade; this is Duliang Xiang. Zelan leaves have slight hairs at the tips, are not smooth/glossy, stems are square with purple nodes; freshly picked it is slightly pungent, drying retains pungency. Su Gong stated that the one blooming white in August is Zelan, yet used it to annotate Lancao, which is a significant error.
Li Shizhen said: Lancao and Zelan are one category, two species. Both grow in wet places near water. In February, perennial roots sprout into clumps; purple stems, pale branches, red nodes, green leaves; leaves grow opposite on nodes, with fine teeth. However, if the stem is round, nodes are long, and leaves are smooth and lobed, it is Lancao; if the stem is slightly square, nodes are short, and leaves have hairs, it is Zelan. When tender, both can be picked and worn. After August and September, they age; tall ones reach three to four chi, flowering in spikes, resembling *Clinopodium chinense* (Jisu) flowers, red-white, containing fine seeds. Lei Xiao's *Paozhi Lun* refers to Da Zelan as Lancao; Xiao Zelan as Zelan. *Book of Rites* mentions wearing Lan; *Chu Ci* mentions stringing autumn Lan to wear; *Xijing Zabiji* records Han dynasty ponds planting Lan to summon spirits, or mixing powder in books to repel insects; these refer to these two Lans. Currently, people in Wu plant it, calling it Xiangcao, harvesting in summer, treating with wine/oil, bundling them, selling as head-grooming ornaments for wearing, which matches the description of Taiwu in *Bielu*. Various experts did not realize these two Lans are one thing, two species, differing only in efficacy regarding Qi and Blood, thus lacking fixed designation. The errors of Kou Zongshi and Zhu Zhenheng are particularly severe, so I verify below. Some say cultivated is Lancao, wild is Zelan, which is also acceptable.

**Correction of Errors:** Kou Zongshi said: Regarding the similarities and differences in various theories on Lancao, because precise identification was lacking, no definitive conclusion exists. Currently, it is abundant in the valleys of Jiangling, Dingzhou, and Lizhou, but absent in flat fields outside mountains, mostly growing in shady, secluded valleys. Leaves resemble *Ophiopogon japonicus* (Mendong) but are wider and tougher, reaching one to two chi, evergreen. Flowers are yellow-green with fine purple spots on central petals. Fragrant in spring is Chunlan, dark color; fragrant in autumn is Qiulan, light color. Full room fragrance when blooming, distinct from other flowers.
Zhu Zhenheng said: Lan leaves possess Metal-Water Qi but appear to have Fire. People know the value of its flower fragrance but ignore its leaf medicinal properties. Its leaves are powerful in dissipating long-accumulated stagnant Qi, referring to the variety planted beside desks today.
Li Shizhen said: What these two scholars described is the modern Orchid (Lanhua), not ancient Lancao. There are several types of Lan: Lancao and Zelan grow by water; Shanlan is Lancao growing in mountains. Lanhua also grows in mountains, distinct from these three. Lanhua near dwellings has leaves like *Ophiopogon japonicus* and blooms in spring; those in Fujian have leaves like *Miscanthus* and bloom in autumn. Huang Tingjian's statement that one flower per stem is Lan, multiple flowers per stem is Hui, likely arose from ignorance of Lancao and Huicao, forcing a distinction upon Lanhua. Lancao and Zelan are similar; thus Lu Ji said: Lan resembles Zelan, but is broader and longer-noded. *Li Sao* states: Green leaves, purple stems, pale branches, can be woven, worn, padded, oiled, or bathed with. *Book of Songs (Zheng)* states: Men and women hold Lan; Ying Shao's *Fengtong Tong* states: Ministers holding incense and grasping Lan during audiences. *Book of Rites* states: Feudal lords offer Xuncao, officials offer Lan. *Book of Han* states: Lan burns itself due to fragrance. As for Lanhua, it has leaves but no branches/stems suitable for weaving, wearing, padding, bathing, holding, oiling, or burning. Thus Zhu Xi's *Lisao Bianzheng* states: Ancient fragrant herbs must have fragrant flowers and leaves, unchanging in dry/wet conditions, hence harvestable and wearable. Modern Lan/Hui only have fragrant flowers, leaves lack scent, weak texture easily withers, cannot be harvested/worn, clearly not what ancients meant. Ancient Lan resembled Zelan, while Hui is present-day Lingling Xiang. The present-day plant resembling *Miscanthus* with two flower types—when did the error occur? Xiong Taigu's *Jiyue Ji* states: Secular Lan grows in deep mountains/valleys, definitely not the ancient marsh Lan. *Dunzhai Xinlan* states: Chu Ci's Lan is debated as Duliang Xiang, Zelan, or Yilan; Zelan should be considered correct. The present-day plant resembling *Ophiopogon japonicus*, named Youlan, is not true Lan. Hence Chen Zhizhai wrote *Daolan Shuo* to mock it. Fang Xugu's *Dinglan Shuo* states: Ancient Lancao is present-day Qianjincao, commonly Hai'er Ju. Present-day so-called Lan, with tender leaves like *Miscanthus*, has roots named Tuxuduan; due to rich fragrance, it gets the name Lan. Yang Shen said: World mistakes plants like *Canna* or *Hemerocallis* for Lan; the concept of "Nine Wan" has been slandered long ago. Wu Cheng's *Lan Shuo* is detailed, stating Lan is an upper-grade medical herb, having branches/stems, a planted grass. Present-day so-called Lan has no branches/stems; due to Huang Tingjian's praise, world wrongly identifies it as *Li Sao*'s Lan. Kou's *Bencao* also succumbed to custom, doubting old theories. Medical classics are for practical use; how can they be wrong? Can present-day Lan really promote urination, kill gu poison, and remove phlegm masses? It thrives in Fujian; Zhu Xi, being from Fujian, surely knew local produce yet辨析ed thus? Why does the world still mistake non-Lan for Lan, so hard to resolve? Alas! Seeing such clear analysis by Confucian scholars, the errors of Kou and Zhu are evident; physicians using Lancao need no longer doubt.

**Processing:** See entry for Zelan.
**Flavor and Nature:** Pungent, Neutral, Non-toxic. Gao (Li Gao) said: Sweet, Cold.
**Indications:** Promotes urinary flow, kills gu poison, wards off misfortune. Long-term use benefits Qi, lightens the body, prevents aging, and clarifies the spirit (*Benjing*). Removes phlegm-rheum in the chest (*Bielu*). Generates blood, regulates Qi, nourishes Ying (*Lei Xiao*). Its aroma is fresh, generates fluids, stops thirst, moistens muscles, treats Xiao Ke and Dan Dan (*Li Gao*). Boiled water, bathes wind diseases (*Ma Zhi*). Reduces carbuncles/swelling, regulates menstruation. Decoction resolves cow/horse poisoning (*Li Shizhen*). Masters foul odors; fragrant grease can be made into paste for hair (*Zangqi*).
**Elucidation:** Li Shizhen said: According to *Suwen*: Five flavors enter the mouth, store in Spleen/Stomach, to circulate essence-Qi. Fluids in Spleen cause sweet taste in mouth; this arises from rich food. Qi overflows upward, transforming into Xiao Ke. Treatment uses Lan to remove stale Qi. Wang Bing annotated: Because Pungency can disperse. Li Dongyuan used Lan leaves in his Xiao Ke fluid-generating drink, based on this; see details under Zelan. Additionally, this herb soaked in oil applied to hair removes wind-dirt, making it fragrant and smooth. This is what *Shiji* refers to as "silk robe loosened, faintly smelling of fragrant grease." Cui Shi's *Sishi Yueling* describes making fragrant grease: Soak Lanxiang, Huoxiang, Jishe Xiang, and Medicago leaves in clear oil. Wrap in new cotton, soak in sesame oil, mix with lard, place in copper cauldron. Boil until settled, add small amount of Qinghao, cover bottle with cotton, pour out from cauldron spout, store in bottle.
**Attached Prescriptions:** One new prescription.
For death caused by eating poisonous cow/horse meat. Shengtou Cao (with roots and leaves), decoct in water and take, immediately dissolves. (*Tang Yao Jingyan Fang*)