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(Shangpin, High Grade, in *Shennong Bencao Jing*)

**Names:** Li Shizhen said: This is *Jue Ming* (Cassiae Semen) with the shape of a horse's hoof, named for its efficacy in improving vision. There are also *Cao Jue Ming* (Herbaceous Cassia) and *Shi Jue Ming* (Abalone Shell), all possessing similar effects.
*Cao Jue Ming* is *Qingxiangzi* (Celosiae Fructus), which Tao Hongjing referred to as *Qi Hao*.

**Collection and Explanation:** *Bielu* (Recorded by Famous Physicians) states: *Jue Ming Zi* grows in the marshes of Longmen, harvested on the tenth day of the tenth lunar month, and dried in the shade for one hundred days.
Tao Hongjing said: Longmen is north of Chang'an. It is now found everywhere. The leaves resemble *Jiang Mang*. The seeds resemble a horse's hoof, hence called *Ma Ti Jue Ming* (Horse-Hoof Cassia). When used, they should be crushed. Additionally, there is another *Cao Jue Ming*, which is the seed of *Qi Hao*, listed in the Xiapin (Low Grade).
Su Song said: It is now cultivated in gardens by households everywhere. Seedlings emerge in early summer, growing three or four chi high. The roots are purplish. The leaves are like those of alfalfa (*Muxu*) but larger. Yellow flowers bloom in July, forming pods. The seeds are like green mung beans but sharper, harvested in October. According to *Erya*: [Missing Character], *Jue Guang*. Guo Pu explained: Medicinal herb *Jue* [Missing Character], red flowers, fruits resembling *Shanzhuyu* (Corni Fructus). Some say it is also [Missing Character]. In Guanxi, it is called [Missing Character] (pronounced 'Jie Gou'). This description differs significantly from this species. There is another *Ma Ti Jue Ming*, with leaves like *Jiang Dou* and seeds shaped like a horse's hoof.
Kou Zongshi said: *Jue Ming* seedlings are four or five chi high and can be eaten as vegetables in spring. Pods form in late autumn, with seeds inside resembling sheep kidneys. It is widely planted in Hunan and Hubei, sometimes growing in patches in rural areas. The Shu edition of *Tujing* states that leaves resembling broad alfalfa are very accurate.
Li Shizhen said: There are two types of *Jue Ming*: One is *Ma Ti Jue Ming*, with stems three to four chi high, leaves larger than alfalfa, small at the base and rounded at the tip, opening during the day and closing at night. They pair up to form pods like young cowpeas, five to six cun long.
Inside each pod are dozens of seeds, irregularly connected, shaped like a horse's hoof, blue-green in color, and excellent for eye medications. The other type is *Jiang Mang Jue Ming*, known as *Shan Biandou* (Mountain Broad Bean) in *Jiu Huang Bencao*. Its stems resemble *Ma Ti Jue Ming*, but the leaves have small bases and pointed tips, exactly like locust leaves, and do not close at night. Deep yellow five-petaled flowers bloom in autumn, forming pods the size of a little finger, about two cun long. Seeds inside are arranged in rows, flat like *Huang Kui Zi* (Malvae Semen), brown in color, sweet and slippery in taste. The leaves of both types can be used as yeast for wine making, commonly called *Du Zhan Gang*. However, the tender shoots, flowers, and seeds of *Jiang Mang* can be boiled as vegetables or brewed as tea, whereas the shoots and pods of *Ma Ti Jue Ming* are tough and bitter, inedible. Su Song claimed [Missing Character] is *Jue Ming*, which is quite different; it is likely another plant.

**Flavor and Properties:** Salty, neutral, non-toxic. *Bielu* states: Bitter, sweet, slightly cold.
Xu Zhicai said: *Shi Shi* (Achyranthes Fruit) is its guiding drug; it dislikes *Da Ma Zi* (Cannabis Seed).

**Indications:** Blindness (*Qing Mang*), ocular discharge and skin overgrowth, red and white membranes, red eyes with pain and tearing. Long-term use improves essence and brightness, lightens the body (*Ben Jing*). Treats bluish lips and mouth (*Bielu*). Assists Liver Qi, benefits essence. Applied topically with water to reduce swelling and toxicity. Applied to Taiyang acupoints to treat headache. Applied to the brain and heart area to stop severe epistaxis. Made into pillows to treat wind-headache and improve vision, superior to black beans (*Rihua*). Treats liver wind-heat causing red eyes and tearing. Each morning, take one spoonful of clean powder, swallow on an empty stomach; after one hundred days, one can see objects in the dark (Zhen Quan). Benefits Kidney, resolves snake venom (Zhen Heng).
Leaves eaten as vegetables benefit the five zang organs and improve vision, very effective (Zhen Quan).

**Elucidation:** Li Shizhen said: *Xianggan Zhi* states: Planting *Jue Ming* in gardens prevents snakes from entering. Zhu Danxi stated that *Jue Ming* resolves snake venom, based on this. Wang Dang's *Shanju Lu* states: Plant *Jue Ming* in spring, harvest and eat the leaves, and its [Missing Character] is also edible. Avoid brewing as tea; excessive consumption leads to wind disorders. Note: The shoots and pods of *Ma Ti Jue Ming* are tough and bitter, unsuitable for eating. Even if consumed, benefiting the five zang organs and vision, how could it cause wind disorders? Liu Ji's *Feixue Lu* states: Do not plant *Jue Ming* at home, as children born will be lame. This is a rumor from pedantic scholars and should not be believed.

**Attached Prescriptions:** One old prescription, seven new ones.
Chronic blindness: Two sheng of *Jue Ming Zi* ground into powder. Take one fangcun bi (square-inch measure) with porridge drink after each meal. (*Waitai Miyao*)
Blindness and night blindness: One sheng of *Jue Ming*, five liang of *Difuzi* (Kochiae Fructus), ground into powder. Form pills the size of wutong seeds. Take twenty to thirty pills with rice drink. (*Puji Fang*)
Tonify Liver and improve vision: One sheng of *Jue Ming Zi*, two sheng of *Manjingzi* (Vitex Fructus). Boil in five sheng of wine, dry in sun, grind into powder. Take two qian per dose with warm water, twice daily. (*Shenghui Fang*)
Red, swollen, painful eyes: Stir-fry and grind *Jue Ming Zi*, mix with tea, apply to both Taiyang acupoints. Replace when dry; cured overnight. (*Yifang Zhaixuan*)
Wind-heat headache: Same formula as above.
Incessant epistaxis: See Indications section.
Spreading tinea: One liang of *Jue Ming Zi* ground into powder, add a small amount of mercury and *Qingfen* (Calomel), grind until no stars appear. Rub onto broken skin, immediate cure.
This is a family recipe of Dongpo. (*Qixiao Liangfang*)
[Missing Character] two liang, three sheng of water, boil to one sheng, divide into two doses. Generally, blood stasis causes sores. The Liver stores blood; *Jue Ming* harmonizes Liver Qi without damaging Yuan Qi. (Xu Xueshi *Benshi Fang*)

**Appendix:** *Jiang Mang* (*Bencao Shiyi*) Chen Cangqi said: Tao said: *Jue Ming* leaves resemble *Jiang Mang*. Note: *Jiang Mang* grows by roadsides, leaves smaller than *Jue Ming*, neutral nature, non-toxic. Roasted as a drink, extremely fragrant, resolves phlegm, stops thirst, induces wakefulness, regulates the middle. Sui monk Chou collected it to make a five-colored drink for Emperor Yangdi; this is it. There is also *Jiang Du*, character with earth radical, pronounced 'Tu', also named *Jiang Li Zi*, a grass resembling *Guan*, grows by the sea, can be made into mats, unlike *Jue Ming* leaves. Li Shizhen said: *Jiang Mang* is also a type of *Jue Ming*, hence still commonly called *Du Zhan Gang*. See Collection and Explanation below.
*He Ming Cao* (*Bencao Shiyi*)
Chen Cangqi said: Sweet, cold, non-toxic. Treats acute heat strangury, red and scanty urination, pediatric [Missing Character] disease, improves vision, promotes urination, stops bloody dysentery. Crush and squeeze juice to take. Grows in damp places, leaves like four-out flowers, close at night.