Library

[Classified as Lower Grade in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*]
【Names】 Ju (from *Erya*), Xiama Xian (from *Bencao Gangmu*).
Li Shizhen said: Its root is bitter and pungent, piercing the throat like a halberd, hence the name. Now common people call it "Xiama Xian" (Immortal that Dismounts Horses), meaning its efficacy is very rapid. Guo Pu annotated *Erya* saying: "Qiao, Ju, is just Daji."
【Collection and Explanation】 The *Bielu* says: Daji grows in Changshan. Collect roots in the twelfth month, dry in shade.
Su Baosheng said: The seedling resembles Gansui but is taller and sturdier; leaves have white juice, flowers yellow. Roots resemble fine Kusenshen, skin yellow-black, flesh yellow-white. Collect seedlings in May, collect roots in February and August for use.
Su Song said: It is abundant in many regions. Red buds sprout in spring, gradually growing into clumps, about one chi high. Leaves resemble small clusters of young willow. In March and April, yellow-purple flowers bloom, round like apricot blossoms, or like Wuyi. Roots resemble fine Kusenshen; collect roots in autumn and winter, dry in shade. Those from Huaidian have round stems, three to four chi high, yellow flowers, heart-shaped leaves resembling Lily seedlings. Those growing in Jiangnan have leaves resembling Peony.
Li Shizhen said: Daji grows abundantly in marshes. Straight stems two to three chi high, hollow inside, exuding white latex when broken. Leaves are long and narrow like willow leaves but not rounded, with tips densely clustered upwards. Purple Daji from Hangzhou is the best grade; local Daji from Jiangnan is second. White Mian Daji from the north has soft, cotton-like root bark; it is extremely potent and can harm people. Weak individuals taking it may even vomit blood; this must be known.
Root
【Processing】 Lei Xiao said: Do not use wild attached ones; accidental ingestion causes uncontrollable qi leakage, which can be resolved by decocting Qicai soup. After collection, finely chop on a locust wood mortar board, mix with Arisaema leaves, steam from Si hour to Shen hour, then remove Arisaema leaves.
Li Shizhen said: For all collected material, boil in rice water until soft, remove the core/bone, sun-dry for use. Arisaema leaves are numbing and toxic, so they should probably not be used.
【Flavor and Nature】 Bitter, cold, slightly toxic. The *Bielu* says: Sweet, extremely cold. Li Quan said: Bitter, pungent, highly toxic.
Zhang Yuansu said: Bitter, sweet, pungent, slightly yang within yin. Drains Lung, damages true qi.
Li Shizhen said: When combined with Jujube, it does not damage the Spleen.
Xu Zhicai said: Antagonistic to Gancao; resolve toxicity with Changpu.
Zhen Quan said: Feared by Changpu, Phragmites, and rat feces.
Meng Shen said: Adzuki bean acts as an assistant; dislikes Dioscorea.
【Indications】 Gu poison, twelve types of fluid retention diseases, abdominal distension with acute pain and accumulations, wind-stroke with skin pain, vomiting and reverse flow of qi (*Shennong Bencao Jing*).
Cervical and axillary carbuncles, headache. Induces sweating, promotes urination and defecation (*Bielu*). Expels toxins, treats epidemic jaundice and warm malaria, breaks up masses (Meng Shen).
Expels evil blood and fixed masses, borborygmus in abdomen, relieves hot stranguria, achieves cure (Su Song).
【Elucidation】 Cheng Wuji said: The bitterness of Daji and Gansui drains water, which is governed by the Kidney.
Li Haogu said: Daji and Gansui are both drugs that drain water; dampness excess is removed by bitter dryness.
Li Shizhen said: Phlegm-saliva, as a substance, rises and falls with Qi, reaching everywhere. Entering the Heart, it confuses orifices causing epilepsy, delirium, and hallucinations; entering the Lung, it blocks orifices causing thick sticky cough and sputum, panting, and cold back; entering the Liver, it stagnates and gathers, causing hypochondriac pain, dry retching, and alternating chills and fever; entering meridians and collaterals, it causes numbness and pain; entering sinews and bones, it causes pulling and hidden pain in the neck, chest, back, waist, flanks, hands, and feet. Chen Wuzhe's *Sanyin Fang* uses Kongxian Dan as the primary treatment, achieving remarkable effects. This is the root treatment for phlegm. The root of phlegm is water and dampness. Upon encountering Qi and Fire, it coagulates into phlegm, fluid retention, saliva, mucus, and masses. Daji can drain water-dampness from Zang-Fu organs; Gansui can circulate water-dampness through meridians and tunnels; Baijiezzi can dissipate phlegm-qi in the interstices of skin and fascia. Only those who master their use can achieve miraculous results. Furthermore, Qian Zhongyang stated that the Kidney is True Water, subject only to tonification and not purgation, yet he also mentioned the syndrome of acne turning black and returning to the Kidney, treating it with Baixiang Yuan to purge the Kidney. This is not purging the Kidney itself, but purging its Fu organ so that water is eliminated; thus, purging the Fu organ makes the Zang organ naturally less full. The Fu organ here is the Bladder. I believe Baixiang Yuan not only purges the Fu organ, but precisely applies the principle of "purging the son when the father is excess," purging the Liver when Kidney pathogenic excess exists. Daji is bitter and astringent, turns water green-blue when soaked, indicating it is a drug for the Liver and Gallbladder. Hence, Baixiang Yuan also treats cough with expectoration of green-blue water. Green and blue are the colors of Shaoyang Wind-Wood. Zhang Zhongjing also said: Epigastric fullness and stuffiness, pain radiating to the hypochondrium, dry retching, and shortness of breath are treated with Shizao Tang. This formula also contains Daji. Dry retching and hypochondriac pain—are these not disorders of the Liver and Gallbladder? Thus, the action of Baixiang Yuan in draining the Liver and Gallbladder is clear. The Liver belongs to the East, suitable for purging rather than tonifying. Moreover, Xieqing and Xiehuang both involve purging the son, using the same purging method; why specifically should the Kidney only be purged via its Fu organ? Elder Jiegou treated the syndrome of acne turning black and returning to the Kidney using Xuanfeng San instead of Baixiang Yuan, which also embodies the intent of purging the son. Generally, when pathogens overcome fire and heat, water becomes increasingly depleted; when wind carries fire, Earth suffers deficiency. Thus, internal depletion of fluids and blood prevents pus formation, leading to cyanotic, black, dry, and depressed lesions. Purging the wind-fire toxins thereby saves the Kidney and supports the Spleen. Some say the Spleen is deficient and Kidney hyperactive, hence purging the Kidney to support the Spleen; this is incorrect. The True Water of the Kidney cannot be purged; only the trapped pathogenic toxins are purged.
【Attached Prescriptions】 One old prescription, ten new prescriptions.
Baixiang Yuan, treats cough with expectoration of green-blue water, and also treats acne returning to the Kidney, purple-black dry depression, without aversion to cold; purgation is indicated. If not black, do not purge:
Hongya Daji, any amount, dried in shade, boiled in rice water until very soft, remove the core, sun-dry, then boil again in the original juice until exhausted, roast into powder, make pills the size of millet seeds with water. Take 10–20 pills each time,
for constipation. Use one liang of Daji and three Jujubes. Boil together in one bowl of water, dry in sun, remove Daji, bake Jujube flesh into pills, take orally, starting from a small dose increasing gradually, stopping when bowel movement occurs.
For bone traction, shooting pain moving around, and skin numbness resembling paralysis, do not mistakenly treat as wind-Qi, wind-toxin, or sores/abscesses. Also treats severe headache unable to lift head, or
White Gansui and White Baijiezzi (lightly stir-fried) each one liang, made into powder, mixed with ginger juice and wheat paste into pills the size of mustard seeds. Take 7 pills or 20 pills each time, swallow with saliva. If purgation is desired, take 50–60 pills. (*Sanyin Fang*)
Edema with panting, scanty urine, and ascites: Daji (stir-fried) two liang, Ganjiang (roasted) half liang, made into powder. Take three qian each time, washed down with ginger soup. Stop when urination and defecation occur. (*Shengji Zonglu*)
Water disease with swelling and fullness, regardless of duration: Daji, Danggui, and Jupi each one liang (sliced). Boil in two sheng of water to obtain seven he, take in one dose. Passing two to three dou of water is normal, do not be surprised. For severe cases, no more than two doses are needed for recovery. Avoid alcohol and meat for one year, and it will never recur. This prescription comes from Zhang Shangke. (Li Jiang *Bingbu Shouji*)
Water-Qi swelling: Daji one liang, Guangmuxiang half liang. Made into powder. At dawn, take one qian half with wine, after passing greenish water, replenish with congee. Avoid salty foods. *Jianbian Fang*: Burn Daji to retain its nature, grind into powder, take one qian bi with wine on an empty stomach.
Edema with abdominal distension like a drum, or whole-body swelling: Use one dou of Jujubes, place in a pot, cover with water, cover with Daji roots and seedlings, seal with a tile basin, cook until done, eat Jujubes at any time. Once all Jujubes are consumed, the disease will surely heal. Another Daji Powder: Equal parts Daji, Baiqianniu, and Muxiang, made into powder. Take one qian each time, split open one pig kidney, sprinkle powder inside, bake in wet paper until cooked, eat on an empty stomach.
If left-sided, collapse the left; if right-sided, collapse the right. (Zhang Jiegou *Huofa Jiyao*)
Loose and painful teeth: Chew Daji on the painful area, effective. (*Shengsheng Bian*)
Wind-stroke with fever: Four liang of Daji and Kushen, one dou of Baicujiang, boil thoroughly and wash with it, stop when feeling cold. (*Qianjin Fang*)