Library

(Sourced from the Song Dynasty *Jia You Ben Cao*)

[Names] Jindeng (Golden Lantern, from *Hai Yao Ben Cao Shi Yi*), Guidengqing (Ghost Lantern Stand, from *Bencao Gangmu*), Zhugu (Vermilion Aunt, from *Bencao Gangmu*), Luti Cao (Deer Foot Grass, from *Bencao Gangmu*), Wuyi Cao (Grass of No Righteousness). Li Shizhen said: The rhizome resembles that of *Sagittaria sagittifolia* (Water Arrowhead), and the flower resembles a lantern and is red, hence these names. Duan Chengshi in *Youyang Zazu* stated: The flowers and leaves of Jindeng do not appear simultaneously; people dislike planting it and call it Wuyi Cao. There is also a plant called Shijian Cao (Sword-Testing Grass), also known as Luti Cao, which shares the same name; see Volume 5 of the Herb section later.

[Collection and Explanation] Su Jing (Zangqi) said: Shancigu grows in wetlands in the mountains; its leaves resemble those of *Plantago asiatica* (Plantain), and its root resembles *Sagittaria sagittifolia* (Water Arrowhead). Ma Zhi (Daming) said: In Lingling, there is a type of clustered Ci Gu; its root resembles small garlic, and its therapeutic effects are roughly the same. Li Shizhen said: Shancigu is found everywhere. It produces leaves in winter, resembling the leaves of *Narcissus tazetta* (Daffodil) but narrower. In mid-February, it sends up a single stem, like an arrow shaft, about one chi high. White flowers bloom at the tip of the stem, with some being red or yellow, marked with black spots. The flower is composed of many florets clustered into one head, looking lovely like knotted silk threads. It bears fruit in March, which has three angles. By early April, the sprouts wither, and the roots should be dug up then; they resemble *Sagittaria sagittifolia* (Water Arrowhead) and small garlic. If delayed, the sprouts rot and become difficult to find. The root and sprout are extremely similar to *Allium victorialis* (Old Crow Garlic); the only difference is that Old Crow Garlic has no hairs, whereas Shancigu is wrapped in a hairy sheath. When used, remove the hairy sheath.

Root

[Properties and Flavor] Sweet, slightly pungent, slightly toxic.

[Indications] Carbuncles, sores, scrofula (*Luoli*), and tubercles. Grind with vinegar and apply externally. It can also peel human facial skin and remove scars (Su Jing). It treats carbuncles and furuncles, attacks toxins, breaks the skin, resolves various poisons and gu-poison, and snake, insect, and rabid dog bites (Li Shizhen).

[Attached Prescriptions] Five new prescriptions. Powder form.
Gum swelling and pain: Decoct the root of the Golden Lantern branch, use the decoction to gargle and spit out. (Sun Tianren, *Ji Xiao Fang*)
Carbuncles, furuncles, malignant sores, and jaundice. Take equal parts of Shancigu (with root) and *Xanthium sibiricum* (Cang Er Cao), pound into a paste, filter with one cup of good wine, and take warm. Alternatively, dry and powder it, taking three qian with wine each time. (*Qiankun Shengyi*)
Wind-phlegm epilepsy: Take one root of the Golden Lantern flower (resembling garlic), grind with clear tea liquor into a mud-like paste. At noon, take it mixed with tea, then lie in the sun for a long time. Eventually, vomit out an object the size of a chicken egg, and it will never recur. If vomiting does not occur, drink hot tea to induce vomiting. (*Qi Xiao Liang Fang*)
Wanbing Jiedu Wan (Ten Thousand Diseases Detoxifying Pill): Also known as Taiyi Zijin Dan or Yushu Dan. It resolves various toxins, treats various sores, unblocks joints, cures hundred diseases, and brings the dead back to life; details cannot be fully listed. It is indispensable for those staying at home, traveling far, marching armies, or mobilizing masses. Shancigu (peeled, washed thoroughly, dried) two liang, Chuan Wubeizi (Chinese Gallnut, washed and scraped, dried) two liang, Qianjinzi Ren (Seed of *Croton tiglium*, white ones, ground, oil pressed out using paper) one liang, Hongya Daji (Red-bud *Euphorbia lathyris*, de-rhizomed, washed, dried) one and a half liang, Shexiang (Musk) three qian. On auspicious days such as Dragon Boat Festival, Double Seventh Festival, Double Ninth Festival, or days governed by Tiande, Yue De, or Huang Dao, observe fasting and wear formal clothes in advance. Prepare the medicine with great care, grind into powder, set up offerings and pray, then sieve to ensure uniformity. Mix with thick rice gruel, pound in a wooden mortar a thousand times, and shape into pills weighing one qian each. For severe cases, take continuously until one or two bowel movements occur, then replenish with warm congee. For all kinds of food and drug poisoning, gu-poison, miasma, pufferfish, earth fungi, dead cattle/horses, etc., grind one pill with cold water and take orally; recovery follows vomiting or diarrhea. For carbuncles, back abscesses, furuncles, yaws, all malignant sores, wind-rash, erysipelas, hemorrhoids, grind with cold water or wine and apply externally several times a day for immediate resolution. For Yin-Yang Er Du Shang Han (Yin-Yang Two Poisons Cold Damage), mania, plague, throat obstruction, and throat wind, dissolve with cold water and several spoons of mint juice. For heart qi pain and various qi stagnations, dissolve with light wine. For diarrhea, dysentery, cholera colic, take with mint decoction. For stroke, qi blockage, locked jaw, facial paralysis, various epilepsy types, ghost fetus, muscle spasms, and bone pain, take with warm wine. For hanging, drowning, or spirit possession, if the heart remains warm, grind with cold water and administer. For tuberculosis (Chuan Shi Lao Zhai), dissolve with cold water; expelling foul matter and parasites is ideal. For chronic or recent malaria, dissolve when symptoms are about to erupt using peach twig decoction made with flowing water from the east. For amenorrhea in women, dissolve with safflower wine. For pediatric convulsions, five types of malnutrition (Gan), and five types of dysentery, take with mint decoction. For headache due to wind, grind with wine and apply to both temples. For abdominal distension, dissolve with malt decoction. For wind-worm toothache, grind with wine and apply, also swallow a small amount. For traumatic injuries, take with pine node decocted wine; for burns, scalds, venomous snakes, vicious dogs, and all insect bites, grind with cold water and apply externally, while also taking internally. (Wang Qiu, *Bai Yi Xuan Fang*)

Leaf

[Indications] Sores and swellings. Mix with honey, pound, and apply to the sore. Efficacy appears when clear blood flows out (Shen Wei). Applying to mastitis and perianal abscess is especially effective (Li Shizhen).

[Attached Prescription] One new prescription. Sore caused by stream poison: Pound Zhu Gu leaf and apply. Grows in eastern valleys; leaves resemble garlic leaves. (*Waitai Miyao*)

Flower

[Indications] Hematuria with painful, difficult urination. Combine with dried *Phellodendron amurense* (Di Bai) flower, take three qian each time, decoct in water and drink. (*Taiping Shenghui Fang*)