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(Shennong Bencao Jing [Classic of Materia Medica], Upper Grade)

[Names] Budiao Cao (Not-Wilting Grass, from Riben Huahao Bencao), Sanman Cao.
Li Shizhen said: The meaning of the names is truly incomprehensible.

[Collection and Explanation] Mingyi Bie Lu says: Bajitian naturally grows in the valleys of Ba Commandery and Xiapi. The roots are harvested in February and August and dried in the shade.
Tao Hongjing said: Now, those from Jianping and Yidu are also used; their roots resemble Peony but are thinner, with a red exterior and black interior. When used, the core must be removed.
Su Gong said: Its sprout is commonly known as Sanman Cao. The leaves resemble Tea leaves and do not wither through winter. The roots resemble linked pearls; the perennial root is greenish, while the tender root is white-purple. The method of use is the same, with those having a pearl-like shape and thick flesh being superior.
Meng Shen said: Purple like small rosary beads, with small pores, hard to pound.
Chen Cheng said: Bajitian originally has a core. During drying and shrinking, it may fall out by chance or be extracted, so the center is sometimes hollow, not because it naturally has small holes. Nowadays, people wanting the center to be purple often fake it by soaking it in soybean juice; this must be carefully examined.
Su Song said: It is now also produced in Jianghuai and Hedong prefectures, but not as good as that from Sichuan. It mostly grows inside bamboo forests. Those grown inland have leaves resembling Ophiopogon japonicus but thicker and larger, bearing fruit in autumn. Physicians nowadays consider purple ones as superior. People from Sichuan say there are no purple ones at all. At harvest time, some boil them with black beans to make them purple, which severely loses the aroma and flavor; this requires particular discernment. There is another kind, Shan Bajitian root, which looks exactly like Bajitian but is white. Locals harvest it, boil it in vinegar water, and mix it with Bajitian, making it indistinguishable. However, if broken open, those with a purple and fresh-clean center are fake; those with a purple center but also slight whiteness, mixed with pink powder, and slightly dull texture are genuine. Genuine Bajitian is also white when tender and becomes purple after boiling for drying, but its efficacy is weaker.

[Processing] Lei Xiao said: Whenever used, it must be soaked overnight in Goji berry decoction until slightly soft, then drained. Soak again in wine for one shichen (approx. 2 hours), drain, and simmer together with Chrysanthemum until scorched yellow. Remove the Chrysanthemum, wipe dry with cloth, and use.
Li Shizhen said: The current method: only soak in wine overnight, chop, and bake before use. If urgent, simply soak in warm water until soft and remove the core.

[Flavor and Properties] Acrid, Sweet, Slightly Warm, Non-toxic. Meng Shen said: Bitter.
Xu Zhicai said: Rubus chingii [Fupenzi] acts as its guide drug; it is incompatible with Polyporus umbellatus [Leiwan], Salvia miltiorrhiza [Danshen], and Epimedium [Chaosheng].

[Indications] Great wind pathogenic factors, impotence, strengthening sinews and bones, calming the five Zang organs, tonifying the middle, enhancing willpower, and benefiting Qi (Shennong Bencao Jing). Treating wandering wind on the head and face, pulling pain in the lower abdomen and genitals, tonifying the five deficiencies, benefiting essence, and benefiting men (Mingyi Bie Lu). Treating nocturnal emission due to dream intercourse in men, strengthening Yin and directing Qi downward, treating leprosy (Zhen Quan). Treating all types of wind pathogens, treating edema (Riben Huahao Bencao). Treating beriberi, dispelling wind diseases, nourishing the Blood Sea (Li Shizhen, from Xian Jing).

[Elucidation] Kou Zongshi said: Bajitian is a drug for the blood aspect of the Kidney meridian.
Zhen Quan said: Added for patients with deficiency and damage.
Chen Cheng said: A person addicted to alcohol, requiring five to seven cups daily, later suffered severely from beriberi. Someone advised using half liang of Bajitian (stir-fried with glutinous rice until the rice slightly changes color, discard the rice), and one liang of Rhubarb (chopped, stir-fried). Grind together into powder, form pills with mature honey. Take five to seventy pills with warm water. Abstain from alcohol, and thus recovered.

[Appendix] Bajiji Mingyi Bie Lu says: Bitter, toxic. Mainly treats malignant scabies with worms. Grows in high places, leaves are white and thorny, roots connect several...