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(Recorded as a Superior Grade herb in *Bie Lu* [Secret Classic of the Other Author])
[Correction] Transferred from the Fruit Section to this section.
[Names] (Erya, pronounced Kui), (Erya), Western Country Grass (Tu Jing), Bilengjia (Tu Jing), Barley Bramble
Li Dangzhi said: The fruit resembles an overturned basin, hence the name.
Su Song said: It benefits the Kidney, reduces urination; after taking it, one should cover the urinal, thus deriving its name.
Li Shizhen said: It ripens in the fifth lunar month, with a blackish-red color, hence the common names Wu , Barley Bramble, Cha Tian , also called Zai Yang . Zhen Quan's *Bencao* also calls it Ma ,
[Collection and Explanation] *Bie Lu* says: Collect in the fifth lunar month.
Zang Qi said: Buddhist scriptures mention the Sumina flower used for lamp oil, referring to this flower. There are three varieties; those ripening in the fourth lunar month, resembling Rubus chingii (Fupenzi) in shape, and having a sweet taste, are the genuine ones. Others are unsuitable for medicinal use. People nowadays mistakenly use Rubus parvifolius (Maomei) as Fupenzi.
Su Song said: It grows everywhere, especially abundant in Qinzhou, Yongxing, and Huazhou. It has long stems, turning red and ripe in the fourth and fifth lunar months. Mountain people pick and sell them in time. The taste is sour and sweet, resembling lychee in appearance, cherry-sized, soft and red, lovely to behold. If left too long, maggots will grow on the branches; eating too much causes heat. It should be harvested when five or six parts ripe, then dried under the scorching sun. Nowadays, people extract juice to make jam. If water adheres during harvesting, it cannot be used for making jam.
Li Shizhen said: Pengli fruits ripen in the eighth and ninth lunar months, hence called Ge Tian ; Fupenzi ripens in the fourth and fifth lunar months, hence called Cha Tian , which aligns with *Bie Lu*'s "collect in the fifth lunar month." Both fruits are blackish-red when ripe, thus capable of tonifying the Kidney. Those that are red in the fourth and fifth lunar months belong to the Tiantian variety and are not suitable for medicinal use.
[Correction of Errors] Chen Cangqi said: In the Jiangdong region, Fupenzi is called Xuangouzi. They are identical in size, shape, taste, and efficacy. The North lacks Xuangouzi, while the South lacks Fupenzi; this is due to differences in growing seasons across regions, not because they are two different substances.
Gousha has a reddish color and different efficacy; this is now corrected.
[Processing] Chen Cangqi said: Harvest Fupenzi in the fifth lunar month and dry it under the sun. Otherwise, it rots easily.
Lei Xiao said: For use, wash away yellow leaves and pedicels with flowing water from the east. Mix the fruit with wine, steam overnight, wash twice with flowing water from the east, then dry before use.
Li Shizhen said: After harvesting, pound into thin cakes, dry, and store tightly sealed. Steaming with wine just before use is particularly excellent.
[Flavor and Toxicity] Sweet, neutral, non-toxic. Zhen Quan said: Sweet, acrid, slightly warm.
[Indications] Tonifies Qi, lightens the body, prevents hair whitening (*Bie Lu*). Tonifies deficiency, restores exhaustion, strengthens Yin and Yang, nourishes and lusters the skin, harmonizes the Five Viscera, warms the Middle Jiao, increases strength, treats consumptive disorders and wind-deficiency, tonifies the Liver, and improves vision. All should be pounded and sifted, taken orally with water in the morning, three qian per dose.
Impotence: Promotes firmness and length. Women who consume it may conceive (Zhen Quan). Consumption enhances complexion. Juice applied to hair prevents whitening (Zang Qi). Benefits the Kidneys, reduces urination. Extract juice, mix with a little honey, boil into a thin paste, and take by drops to treat Lung Qi deficiency and cold (Su Song).
[Elucidation] Li Shizhen said: Fupenzi and Pengli have largely similar functions. Although they are two distinct items, they are actually one species with two varieties. One ripens early, the other late; using both together is harmless. Their tonifying effects are similar to Mulberry Fruit (Sangshen). Rubus armeniacus (Shumei) must not be confused with them.
[Attached Prescriptions] New prescription 1.
Leaf
[Flavor and Toxicity] Slightly sour, salty, neutral, non-toxic.
[Indications] Extract juice and drip into eyes to remove redness and expel thread-like parasites (Zang Qi). Improves vision, stops tearing, absorbs dampness (Li Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Su Song said: According to Cui Yuanliang's *Haishang Jiyan Fang*: To treat dim vision, incessant cold tearing, Qingmang (blindness), and epidemic eye dimness. Take Western Country Grass, also known as Bilengjia or Fupenzi, dry it in the sun, pound into fine powder, wrap in thin silk, and soak in male breast milk for the time it takes to walk eight or nine li. Drip into the eyes, then lie supine. Not more than three applications are needed.
Li Shizhen said: According to Hong Mai's *Yijian Zhi*: The mother of Marshal Zhao of Tanzhou suffered from ulcerative blepharitis and trachoma for twenty years. An old woman said: "There are worms in the eyes; I will remove them." She went into the mountains, took vine leaves, chewed them, and collected the juice in a tube. Returning home, she covered the eye with black gauze and dripped the juice onto the lower eyelid. In a blink, worms emerged from the gauze; within days, the lower lid healed. She repeated the method for the upper lid, extracting dozens more worms until cured. Later, it proved effective for many others. This is indeed the leaf of Fupenzi, a miraculous remedy for eye diseases.
[Attached Prescriptions] New prescription 2. Toothache applying to eyes: Pound tender Fupenzi leaves to extract juice, drip into the eye three or four times. Worms will emerge with discharge and tears in clumps. If fresh leaves are unavailable, concentrated decoction of dried leaves works too. This is Barley Bramble. (*Zhaixuan Fang*)
Ulcerated sores: Powder Fupenzi leaves. Wash the wound with sour soup water, then apply the powder once daily until healed. (*Zhizhi Fang*)
Root
[Indications] For corneal opacity after smallpox. Wash and pound the root, settle the starch, dry it, mix with a little honey, and apply to the opacity/trachoma nodule two or three times daily; it will naturally disperse. Treat within one hundred days; if delayed, it becomes difficult to cure (Li Shizhen, *Huoyou Kouyi*).