Library

[Classified as Lower Grade in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*]

**Names:** Wushan (Crow Fan, from *Benjing*), Wusha (from *Bielu*), Wuchui (from *Bielu*), Wupu (from *Benjing*), Fengyi (Phoenix Wing, from *Shiyi*), Guishan (Ghost Fan, from *Tusuxiang*), Bianzhu (Flat Bamboo, from *Gangmu*), Xianrenzhang (Immortal's Palm, from *Tusuxiang*), Yexuanhua (Wild Daylily, from *Gangmu*), Caojiang (Grass Ginger, from *Bielu*).

Tao Hongjing stated: In medical formularies, "Shegan" is often pronounced as "Ye".

Su Song stated: The morphology of Shegan (*Belamcanda chinensis*) features stems that are sparse and long, resembling the long pole held by an archer, which is how it got its name. Tao Hongjing expressed doubt about pronouncing it as "Ye", likely because ancient character pronunciations were often interchangeable. For instance, the Han dynasty official title "Puye" (Assistant Minister), who was in charge of archery matters, was also pronounced as "Ye", without any distinct meaning difference.

Li Shizhen stated: Its leaves grow in clusters, spreading horizontally on one side, resembling a crow's wing or a fan; hence the names Wushan, Wusha, Fengyi, Guishan, and Xianrenzhang. Commonly called Bianzhu (Flat Bamboo) because its leaves grow flat and its roots resemble bamboo. The roots and leaves also resemble Barbarian Ginger, hence the name Caojiang (Grass Ginger). "Sha" means fan.

**Collection and Explanation:** *Mingyi Bielu* states: Shegan grows in valleys and fields of Nanyang. The roots are harvested on the third day of the third lunar month and dried in the shade.

Tao Hongjing stated: This is the root of Wusha, which is yellow in color and widely planted in courtyards and terraces. People say its leaves are those of Iris (*Iris tectorum*), yet there is also something called Yuantou (Iris Head); these two are merely similar, and likely not Wusha. Additionally, there is another plant called Shegan that resembles this but has white flowers and longer stems, looking like an archer holding a pole. Thus, Ruan Ji's poem says: "Shegan overlooks the layered city." This variety is not used for medicinal purposes.

Zhen Quan stated: The leaves of Iris (*Iris tectorum*) all resemble Shegan, but the flowers are purple-green, and it does not shoot up tall stems. The root resembles Galangal (*Alpinia officinarum*) but with white flesh, named Yuantou.

Han Baosheng stated: Shegan is two to three chi tall, with yellow flowers and black seeds. The root has many fibrous hairs, the skin is yellow-black, and the flesh is yellow-red. It is found everywhere; roots are harvested in the second and eighth lunar months, peeled, and sun-dried.

Chen Cangqi stated: Shegan and Iris (*Iris tectorum*) are similar, and people often fail to distinguish them. Shegan is the plant cultivated as the ornamental flower Fengyi (Phoenix Wing), with leaves like bird wings, blooming red flowers with crimson spots in autumn. Iris (*Iris tectorum*) is also cultivated; its seedlings are lower than Shegan, shaped like Iris, and blooms purple-green flowers in summer.

Ma Zhi stated: The root of Shegan is moist, resembling Galangal in size, pale reddish-yellow and hard. Harvested in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth lunar months.

Su Song stated: It is now available everywhere. Households cultivate it; shoots emerge in spring, growing one to two chi high. Leaves are large like Barbarian Ginger but narrow, long, and spread horizontally, sparse like wing feathers, hence named Wusha. Stems shoot up from the leaves, resembling Daylily (*Hemerocallis citrina*) stems but stiffer. Flowers bloom in June, yellow-red with fine veins on petals. Black seeds form in autumn. Another theory: Shegan often grows between mountain cliffs; although its stems are slender, they are woody. Thus, *Xunzi* states: "In the west there is a tree named Shegan, with stems four cun long, growing atop high mountains." This refers to that. The white-flowered variety mentioned by Tao Hongjing is naturally a type of Shegan.

Zhu Zhenheng stated: The root is called Shegan, the leaf is called Wusha; those with purple flowers are correct, while those with red flowers are not.

Kou Zongshi stated: According to various annotations, Shegan is not a single species; there are varieties with white, yellow, purple, and red flowers. Danxi (Zhu Zhenheng) exclusively selected the purple-flowered variety, presumably having tested it and found it effective.

Li Shizhen stated: Shegan is currently known as Bianzhu. What people cultivate today are mostly the purple-flowered variety, called Zijiehudie (Purple Butterfly). It blooms in the third and fourth lunar months, with six petals, large as Daylily flowers. The fruit capsules are as large as a thumb, resembling Paulownia seeds, divided into four compartments, each containing over ten seeds. The seeds are as large as peppercorns but purple, extremely hard, and unbreakable by biting. Withers starting in July. Tao Hongjing believed Shegan and Iris (*Iris tectorum*) were the same species. Su Gong and Chen Cangqi believed the purple-green flowering ones were Iris (*Iris tectorum*) and the red-flowering ones were Shegan. Han Baosheng believed the yellow-flowering ones were Shegan. Su Song believed the red and yellow-flowering ones were Shegan, and the white-flowering ones were also related. Zhu Zhenheng believed the purple-flowering ones were Shegan, and the red-flowering ones were not. Each holds a different view; what is the basis? Carefully examined: Zhang Yi's *Guaya* states: Iris (*Iris tectorum*) is Shegan. *Yitongguayan* states: At Winter Solstice, Shegan grows. *Tusuxiang Jun Bencao* agrees, describing it as green. There are varieties with purple flowers, yellow flowers, and green-blue flowers. It grows abundantly in Jiangnan, Huguang, Sichuan, and Zhejiang plains. Juice extracted in August can be used to process Realgar (*Xionghuang*), reduce Orpiment (*Fuhuang*), and refine Cinnabar (*Dansha*), possessing fire-resistant properties. Based on this, Iris (*Iris tectorum*) and Shegan belong to the same category, differing only in flower color. Just as Peony (*Mudan*), Herbaceous Peony (*Shaoyao*), and Chrysanthemum (*Juhua*) differ in color but belong to the same genus. Generally, their medicinal efficacy is not far apart.

Chen Cangqi stated: The name Shegan has three origins: In Buddhist scriptures, "Shegan Diaoli" refers to a vicious beast resembling a blue-yellow dog that eats humans and climbs trees. The "Shegan" in Ruan Ji's poem "Shegan overlooks the layered city" refers to a tree, specifically a very tall one. The Shegan in Materia Medica is a herb, which is what people cultivate today.

Root

**Processing:** Lei Xiao stated: Whenever harvesting roots, first soak them in rice washing water overnight, drain, then boil them with Bamboo Leaves (*Zhuye*) from Wu hour (11 AM-1 PM) to Hai hour (9 PM-11 PM), and sun-dry for use.

**Flavor and Properties:** Bitter, Neutral, Toxic. *Mingyi Bielu* states: Slightly Warm. Long-term use causes deficiency. Han Baosheng states: Slightly Cold. Li Xun states: Slightly toxic.

Wang Haogu stated: Bitter, belonging to Yang within Yin.

Li Shizhen stated: Cold. Excessive use causes purging/diarrhea.

**Indications:** Cough with rebellious Qi, throat obstruction (*Houbi*) and sore throat, inability to breathe freely, disperses stagnant Qi, evil rebellion in the abdomen, excessive heat from food and drink (*Benjing*). Treats old blood stasis in the Heart and Spleen, coughing and spitting, foul breath odor, disperses hot Qi in the chest (*Bielu*). Rubbing with Vinegar (*Ku Jiu*) treats toxic swellings (Tao Hongjing). Treats Zhuguan (infectious disease/possession), resolves blood stasis, unblocks female amenorrhea, resolves phlegm, breaks masses, chest and diaphragm fullness/distension, asthma, Pi accumulation, opens the stomach and promotes appetite, calms the Liver and brightens the eyes (Kou Zongshi). Removes abscesses in the Stomach (Wang Haogu).

**Elucidation:** Zhu Zhenheng stated: Shegan belongs to Metal, containing Wood and Fire qualities. It moves accumulated Phlegm in the Taiyin and Jueyin meridians, causing nodules to dissolve rapidly. It also treats "Biandu" (abscess in the perineum/anus), caused by Dampness in the Foot Jueyin meridian triggered by fatigue. Take three cun of Shegan, decoct with Fresh Ginger, take before meals; promoting defecation three times is highly effective.

Li Shizhen stated: Shegan can descend Fire, thus it is a key herb in ancient formulas for treating *Houbi* (throat obstruction) and sore throat. Sun Simiao's *Qianjin Fang* uses Wusha Paste for *Houbi*. Zhang Zhongjing's *Jingui Yufang Fang* uses calcined Wushan (Shegan) for cough with rebellious Qi and a "toad-like" sound in the throat. All utilize its ability to descend the Ministerial Fire of the Jueyin meridian. When Fire descends, blood disperses, swelling subsides, and phlegm nodules resolve spontaneously, leading to symptom relief.

**Attached Prescriptions:** Two old prescriptions, eight new ones.

Sore throat and swelling: Powdered Shegan flowers/roots and Dougen (*Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix*), dried in shade, insufflated into the nose/throat. Miraculous effect. (*Xiuzhen Fang*)

Cold damage with throat closure and swelling: Decoct raw Shegan and Pig Lard (each 4 liang) until slightly charred, remove dregs, hold a date-sized amount in the mouth until healed. (Pang Anchang, *Shanghan Lun*)

Throat obstruction preventing intake of fluids: *Waitai Miyao*: Hold a slice of Shegan and swallow the juice. *Yifang Dacheng*: Grind fresh Bianzhu root to extract juice and swallow; bowel movement indicates resolution. Alternatively, grind with vinegar and hold in mouth to induce salivation. *Bianmin Fang*: One qian Zijiehudie root, 5 fen Huangqin (*Scutellariae Radix*), 5 fen Sheng Gancao (*Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma*), 5 fen Jiegeng (*Platycodonis Radix*), powdered, mixed with water and taken at once. Instant cure. Named "Duoming San" (Life-Seizing Powder).

Obstruction of both urination and defecation, unresponsive to other drugs: Juice of purple-flowered Bianzhu root (preferably from water edges), one cup orally. Immediately unblocks. (*Puji Fang*)

Hydropsy (*Shuigu*) with abdominal distension, splashing fluid sounds, dark skin: Juice of Guishan root, one cup orally. Water immediately drains. (*Zhouhou Fang*)

Yin hernia with swelling and stabbing pain, severe during attacks: Raw Shegan juice orally to promote evacuation. Can also be made into pills. (*Zhouhou Fang*)

Early stage Mastitis (*Ruyong*): Bianzhu root pieces resembling silkworm pupae, powdered with Daylily root, mixed with honey and applied externally. Miraculous effect. (*Yonglei Fang*)

Poison from "Shegong" (water bug/spider toxin) causing sores: Wusha and Shengma (*Cimicifugae Rhizoma*), each 2 liang, decocted in 3 sheng of water to 2 sheng. Take warm. Apply residue to sores. (Yaoengt'an, *Jiyan Fang*)