Library

(Grade Shang / Upper Grade in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*)

**[Names]** Di Kui (from *Benjing*), Di Mai. Wang Shu (Guo Pu's annotation of *Erya* refers to "Wang"), Yi Ming (from *Yaoxing Lun*), Bai Di Cao (from *Bencao Gangmu*). Li Shizhen said: Di Fu and Di Mai are named for the similarity in their seed shapes. Di Kui is named because its seedling and taste resemble *Brassica rapa* var. *pekinensis* (Kui). Ya She (Duck Tongue) is named for its shape resembling a duck's tongue. Ji Nv (Prostitute) is named because its branches are lush and have many tips. Yi Ming is named because its seeds have the function of improving vision. After the seeds fall, the plant ages; the stems can be made into brooms, hence the names such as "Broom" and "Wang Broom".

**[Collection and Explanation]** *Bielu* states: Difuzi grows in the flat marshes and fields of Jingzhou. The fruits are harvested in August and October and dried in the shade. Tao Hongjing said: It is now abundant in the fields, and people generally take the stems and seedlings to make brooms. Its seeds are very fine and are used in tonifying pills and powders, but are not much used in Daoist immortal scriptures. Su Gong said: People in the fields call it Dimai Cao, and people in the north call it Xianyi Cao. The leaves are thin, the stems are red, and it grows in cultivated fields. The seedlings are extremely weak and cannot support themselves. To say now that it can be used for brooms suggests a lack of true understanding of this plant. Meng Shen said: Difu is the same as Luozhouzi. The seeds are greenish, resembling the frass of silkworms after they have slept and risen. Su Song said: It is found near the ground in Shuchuan and Guanzhong. When first growing in poor soil, it is five or six cun tall, with roots resembling Artemisia argyi, red stems, and green leaves, looking quite like Nanyanhuacao (Schizonepeta). It opens yellow-white flowers in March, bears greenish-white seeds, and the fruits are harvested in August and September. *Shenxian Qijing San* says: Difuzi is the essence of stars. Some say its seedling is Duzhou, also known as Yashucao. Tao Hongjing stated that the stems and seedlings could be made into brooms, while Su Gong said its seedlings were too weak to bear weight; these two views differ, yet current physicians consider it to be Duzhou. The map of Mizhou states that the root is clustered, with twenty or thirty stems per cluster, some red and some yellow, opening yellow flowers in July, and its fruit is Difuzi. By August, the stems mature and can be harvested. This perfectly matches Duzhou. Perhaps those from the northwest are short and weak, which is why Su Gong said so. Li Shizhen said: The tender seedlings of Difu can be eaten as vegetables. One clump has dozens of branches, clustering tightly and growing straight up. Its nature is most soft, so when old it can serve as a durable broom. Su Gong said it cannot be used for brooms, referring only to its tender seedlings. Its seeds are very abundant. *Erya* says: Wang Shu. Guo Pu's annotation says: Wang Shu. It resembles Chenopodium album and can be made into brooms; the Jiangdong region calls it Luozhou. This view is correct.

**[Flavor and Toxicity]** Bitter, Cold, Non-toxic. Li Shizhen said: Sweet, Cold.

**[Indications]** Treats Bladder Heat, promotes urination, tonifies the Middle Jiao, and benefits Essence and Qi. Long-term use makes the ears and eyes clear, lightens the body, and delays aging (*Benjing*). Removes heat from the skin, keeps the skin moist, dissipates malignant sores, hernia, and masses, and strengthens Yin (*Bielu*). Treats scrotal diseases, removes wind-heat, and can be used for bathing decoctions. Taken together with Yangqishi, it treats male impotence, tonifies Qi, and increases strength (Zhen Quan). Treats external heat causing erysipelas and swelling (*Rihua Bencao*).

**[Elucidation]** Chen Zangqi said: All diseases arise from deficiency. In cases of deficiency with much heat, add Difuzi and Gancao.

**[Prescriptions]** Three old prescriptions, seven new ones.
Wind-Heat Red Eyes: Roasted Difuzi one sheng, raw Dihuang half jin. Extract the juice, mix to form cakes, dry them, and grind into powder. Take three qian each time, on an empty stomach with wine.
Eye Pain and Squinting: For any eye pain or squinting caused by foreign bodies with heat. Take the white juice of Difuzi and frequently instill it into the eyes. (Wang Tao, *Waitai Miyao*)
Leitou Feng Swelling and Unconsciousness: Luozhouzi mashed with fresh ginger, taken hot with wine to induce sweating, leading to recovery. (*Shengji Zonglu*)
Hypochondriac Pain: Difuzi ground into powder, taken with wine, one fangcun bi dose. (*Shouyu Shenfang*)
Critical Hernia: Difuzi (i.e., Luozhouzi), roasted until fragrant and ground into powder. Take one qian each time, washed down with wine. (*Jianbian Fang*)
Huxian Hernia and Scrotal Swelling, resulting from heavy lifting, sudden onset of Yin hernia, pediatric Huxian hernia, or injury causing scrotal swelling: Use Difuzi five qian, Baizhu two and a half qian, Guixin five fen, ground into powder. Take three qian with water or wine. Avoid raw green onions, peaches, and plums. (*Bixiao Fang*)
Chronic Lower Back Pain with Periodic Flare-ups: Harvest Difuzi in June and July, dry and grind into powder. Take one fangcun bi dose with wine, five or six times a day. (*Zhouhou Beiji Fang*)
Incessant Bloody Dysentery: Difuzi five liang, Diyü and Huangqin one liang each, ground into powder. Take one fangcun bi dose each time, mixed with warm water. (*Taiping Shenghui Fang*)
Pregnancy Complicated by Strangury, with Heat, Pain, Soreness, and Restlessness in Hands and Feet: Difuzi twelve liang, four sheng of water, decocted to two and a half sheng, divided into doses. (*Zimu Milu*)
Limbs Warts: Equal parts Difuzi and Baifan, decocted in water for frequent washing. (*Shouyu Shenfang*)

**[Seedlings and Leaves]**
**[Flavor and Toxicity]** Bitter, Cold, Non-toxic.
Li Shizhen said: Sweet, Bitter. Burned to ash and decocted into frost, it can refine Pishi, Fenshuang, Shuiyin, Liu Huang, Xionghuang, and Naosha.
**[Indications]** Juice extracted by crushing and taken internally treats bloody and non-bloody dysentery; burning to ash is also effective. Decocted to wash the eyes removes heat-induced night blindness, astringency, and pain (*Bielu*). Treats large intestine diarrhea and harmonizes Qi.

**[Elucidation]** Li Shizhen said: According to Yu Tuan's *Yixue Zhengchuan*: Yu Tuan's brother, aged seventy, suffered from strangury in autumn, occurring many times a day. A hundred methods failed. Later, he obtained a prescription: crush Difuc grass to extract natural juice and take it, whereupon urination immediately resumed. Such a humble object possesses the power to revive life. Li Shizhen notes: *Taiping Shenghui Fang* treats urinary retention by decocting a large handful of Dimai Cao in water. Ancient formulas also commonly use this. This herb benefits Yin Qi and unblocks the Small Intestine. Without Yin, Yang cannot transform; this aligns with Li Dongyuan's intent in treating urinary retention using Huangbai and Zhimu to nourish Kidney Yin.

**[Prescriptions]** One new prescription.
Traumatic Eye Depression and Protrusion: Difu (washed to remove dirt) two liang. Crush and extract juice, instill a few drops each time. In winter, boil dried material to make a concentrated juice. (*Taiping Shenghui Fang*)