（《别录》中品）
【释名】虎蓟（弘景）、马蓟（《范
华》）、鸡项草（《图经》）、
小蓟是猫蓟，叶并多刺，相似。田野甚多，方药少用。
虎、曰猫，因其苗状狰狞也。曰马者，大也。牛蒡，因其根似牛蒡根也。鸡项，因其茎似鸡
之项也。千针、红花，皆其花状也。郑樵《通志》谓《尔雅》之KT ，曰狗毒者即此，未
知是否？
【集解】《别录》曰∶大小蓟，五月采。
恭曰∶大小蓟，叶虽相似，功力有殊。大蓟生山谷，根疗痈肿；小蓟生平泽，不能消肿，
而俱能破血。
颂曰∶小蓟处处有之，俗名青刺蓟。二月生苗，二、三寸时，并根作菜，茹食甚美。四
月高尺余，多刺，心中出花，头如红蓝花而青紫色，北人呼为千针草。四月采苗，九月采根，
并阴干用。大蓟苗根与此相似，但肥大尔。
宗 曰∶大、小蓟皆相似，花如髻。但大蓟高三四尺，叶皱；小蓟高一尺许，叶不皱，
以此为异。作菜虽有微芒，不害人。
大蓟根叶（同）
【气味】甘，温，无毒。弘景曰∶有毒。权曰∶苦，平。
大明曰∶叶凉。
【主治】女子赤白沃，安胎，止吐血鼻衄，令人肥健（《别录》）。
捣根绞汁服半升，主崩中血下立瘥（甄权）。叶∶治肠痈，腹脏瘀血，
作晕扑损，生研，酒并小便任服。又恶疮疥癣，同盐研 之（大明）。
小蓟根（苗同）
【气味】甘，温，无毒。大明
曰∶凉。
【主治】养精保血（《别录》）。破宿血，生新血，暴下血血崩，金疮出血，呕血等，绞
取汁温服。作煎和糖，合金疮，及蜘蛛蛇蝎毒，服之亦佳（藏器）。治热毒风，并胸膈烦闷，
苗∶去烦热，生研汁服（并大明）。作菜食，除风热。夏月热烦
瘥（孟诜）。
【发明】大明曰∶小蓟力微，只可退热，不似大蓟能健养下气也。
恭曰∶大小蓟皆能破血。但大蓟兼疗痈肿，而小蓟专主血，不能消肿也。
【附方】旧六，新九。
心热吐血口干∶用刺蓟叶及根，捣绞取汁，每顿服二小盏。（《圣惠方》）
舌硬出血不止∶刺蓟捣汁，和酒服。干者为末，冷水服。（《普济方》）
九窍出血∶方同上。（《简要济众》）
卒泻鲜血∶小蓟叶捣汁，温服一升。（《梅师方》）
崩中下血∶大、小蓟根一升，酒一斗，渍五宿，任饮。亦可酒煎服，或生捣汁。温服。
又方∶小蓟茎叶洗切，研汁一盏，入生地黄汁一盏，白术半两，煎减半，温服。（《千金方》）
堕胎下血∶小蓟根叶、益母草五两。水二大碗，煮汁一碗，再煎至一盏，分二服，一日
服尽。（《圣济总录》）
金疮出血不止∶小蓟苗捣烂涂之。（孟诜《食疗本草》）
小便热淋∶马蓟根，捣汁服。（《圣惠方》）
鼻塞不通∶小蓟一把，水二升，煮取一升，分服。（《外台秘要》方）
小儿浸淫，疮痛不可忍，发寒热者∶刺蓟叶新水调敷疮上，干即易之。（《简要济众方》）
癣疮作痒∶刺蓟叶，捣汁服之。（《千金方》）
妇人阴痒∶小蓟煮汤，日洗三次。（《普济方》）
诸 不合∶虎蓟根、猫蓟根、酸枣根、枳根、杜衡各一把，斑蝥三分。炒为末，蜜丸枣
大。
疔疮恶肿∶千针草四两，乳香一两，明矾五钱，为末。酒服二钱，出汗为度。（《普济
方》）
(Recorded in the Middle Category of *Bencao Jingjiu Zhushu*)
[Names] Tiger Thistle (Tao Hongjing), Horse Thistle (*Fang Wang Fang*), Chicken-Neck Grass (*Bencao Tujing*).
Xiao Ji (Cirsium setosum) is also called Cat Thistle. Both have thorny leaves and are similar in appearance. They grow abundantly in fields but are rarely used in prescriptions.
The names "Tiger" or "Cat" refer to their fierce-looking seedlings; "Horse" refers to their large size; "Burdock" refers to their roots resembling those of Arctii Fructus (Niu Bang Zi); "Chicken-Neck" refers to their stems resembling a chicken's neck; "Thousand Needles" and "Red Flower" describe the shape of their flowers. Zheng Qiao, in *Tongzhi*, suggested that the plant mentioned in *Erya* as "Gou Du" (Dog Poison) is this species, but it is uncertain whether this is correct?
[Collection and Explanation] *Bencao Jingjiu Zhushu* states: Da Ji (Cirsium japonicum) and Xiao Ji are harvested in May.
Su Gong said: Although Da Ji and Xiao Ji have similar leaves, their efficacies differ. Da Ji grows in mountain valleys, and its root treats carbuncles and swellings; Xiao Ji grows in plains and marshes, cannot reduce swelling, but both can invigorate blood and dispel stasis.
Su Song said: Xiao Ji is found everywhere, commonly known as Qing Ci Ji (Green Thorn Thistle). Seedlings emerge in February; when they reach two or three cun in height, the whole plant including roots is eaten as a vegetable and is very delicious. By April, they grow over one chi tall, become thorny, and produce flowers from the center. The flower heads resemble Carthami Flos (Hong Hua) but are blue-purple. People in the North call it Qian Zhen Cao (Thousand Needles Grass). The herbs are harvested in April for the aerial parts and in September for the roots, then dried in the shade. Da Ji's seedlings and roots are similar but larger.
Kou Zongshi said: Da Ji and Xiao Ji are very similar, with flowers resembling hair buns. However, Da Ji grows three to four chi tall with wrinkled leaves, while Xiao Ji grows about one chi tall with smooth leaves, which distinguishes them. As a vegetable, although slightly prickly, it does not harm people.
Da Ji Root and Leaves (Same efficacy)
[Aroma and Flavor] Sweet, Warm, Non-toxic. Tao Hongjing said: Toxic. Zhen Quan said: Bitter, Neutral.
Meng Shen said: Leaves are Cool.
[Indications] Treats leukorrhea (red and white discharge) in women, calms the fetus, stops hematemesis and epistaxis, and promotes robustness and health (*Bencao Jingjiu Zhushu*).
Crush the root, extract juice, and take half sheng. It immediately treats metrorrhagia and bleeding from the uterus (Zhen Quan). Leaves: Treat intestinal abscesses, abdominal organ blood stasis, and traumatic injuries. Crush raw and take with wine or urine. Also treats malignant sores and tinea corporis; crush with salt for external application (Meng Shen).
Xiao Ji Root (Leaves have same efficacy)
[Aroma and Flavor] Sweet, Warm, Non-toxic. Meng Shen said: Cool.
[Indications] Nourishes essence and preserves blood (*Bencao Jingjiu Zhushu*). Breaks old blood and generates new blood; treats sudden heavy bleeding, metrorrhagia, traumatic bleeding, and hematemesis. Extract juice and take warm. Prepared as a decoction with sugar, it treats metal wounds and spider/snake/scorpion venom; oral administration is also effective (Chen Cangqi). Treats heat-toxic wind and chest/epigastric oppression.
Seedlings: Relieve irritability and heat; crush raw and take juice (all from Meng Shen). Eaten as a vegetable, it dispels wind-heat. In summer, it relieves heat-induced irritability (Meng Shen).
[Elucidation] Meng Shen said: Xiao Ji has weak power and only clears heat; it is unlike Da Ji, which can strengthen and nourish the lower qi.
Su Gong said: Both Da Ji and Xiao Ji can invigorate blood and dispel stasis. However, Da Ji additionally treats carbuncles and swellings, whereas Xiao Ji specifically addresses blood disorders and cannot reduce swelling.
[Attached Prescriptions] Six old prescriptions, nine new prescriptions.
Heart-heat causing hematemesis and dry mouth: Use Cirsium leaves and roots, crush and extract juice. Take two small cups per dose (*Taiping Shenghui Fang*).
Stiff tongue with continuous bleeding: Crush Cirsium and take juice mixed with wine. If dried, powder it and take with cold water (*Pujifang*).
Bleeding from the nine orifices: Same prescription as above (*Jianyao Jizhong Fang*).
Sudden bloody diarrhea: Crush Xiao Ji leaves and take one sheng of juice warm (*Meishi Fang*).
Metrorrhagia and bleeding: One sheng of Da Ji and Xiao Ji roots, ten dou of wine. Soak for five nights and drink at will. Alternatively, decoct in wine or crush raw and take warm.
Another prescription: Wash and chop Xiao Ji stems and leaves, extract one cup of juice. Add one cup of fresh Rehmanniae Radix (Sheng Di Huang) juice and half liang of Atractyodis Rhizoma (Bai Zhu). Decoct until reduced by half and take warm (*Qianjin Fang*).
Abortion with bleeding: Five liang of Xiao Ji root and leaves plus Motherwort Herba (Yi Mu Cao). Two large bowls of water, decoct to one bowl, then further decoct to one cup. Divide into two doses and finish within one day (*Shengji Zonglu*).
Continuous bleeding from metal wounds: Mash Xiao Ji seedlings and apply externally (Meng Shen *Shiliao Bencao*).
Hot strangury (dysuria): Crush Horse Thistle root and take juice (*Taiping Shenghui Fang*).
Nasal congestion: One handful of Xiao Ji, two sheng of water. Decoct to one sheng and divide into doses (*Waitai Miyao*).
Infant impetigo with unbearable pain, accompanied by chills and fever: Mix Cirsium leaves with fresh water, apply to sores, and change when dry (*Jianyao Jizhong Fang*).
Itching tinea: Crush Cirsium leaves and take juice (*Qianjin Fang*).
Vulvar itching in women: Decoct Xiao Ji and wash three times daily (*Pujifang*).
Various non-healing fistulas: One handful each of Tiger Thistle root, Cat Thistle root, Sour Jujube Seed root, Aurantii Fructus root (Zhi Ke/Zhi Shi root), and Dichroae Radix (Du Heng), plus three fen of Mylabris (Ban Mao). Stir-fry, powder, and make honey pills the size of jujubes.
Carbuncles and malignant swellings: Four liang of Thousand Needles Grass (Qian Zhen Cao), one liang of Frankincense (Ruxiang), five qian of Alum (Ming Fan). Powder them. Take two qian with wine, until sweating occurs (*Pujifang*).