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[Background Information]
Book: Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)
Author: Li Shizhen
Dynasty: Ming Dynasty, 6th Year of Wanli
Chapter: Willow (Liu)
Category: Materia Medica

(Listed in the Lower Grade in *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
**Explanatory Names**: Xiao Yang (from *Shuowen Jiezi*), Yangliu.
Tao Hongjing stated: Liu refers to what is now known as water willow.
Su Gong stated: Willow and water poplar are completely dissimilar. The leaves of water poplar are round, broad, and pointed, with short and stiff branches. The leaves of willow are narrow, long, and greenish, with long and soft branches.
Tao's identification of willow as water poplar is incorrect.
Zangqi stated: People in the Jiangdong region generally call it Yangliu, while people in the north do not use the term "Yang." Poplar branches and leaves are short; willow branches and leaves are long.
Li Shizhen stated: Poplar branches are hard and tend to rise up, hence called "Yang"; willow branches are weak and droop downwards, hence called "Liu." They are likely one genus with two species. Su Gong's description is correct. According to *Shuowen Jiezi*: Yang is Pulu willow. The character consists of the wood radical and the phonetic component "Yang." Liu is small yang. The character consists of the wood radical and the phonetic component "Mao," pronounced like "You." Furthermore, *Erya* states: Yang is Pulu willow. Mao is Ze willow. Cheng is He willow. Since they can all be referred to as Yang, people in the south still commonly refer to them collectively as Yangliu. Yu Zongben in *Zhongshu Shu* stated: Inserting upright yields willow, inserting upside down yields poplar. This explanation is far-fetched and misses the meaning of "rising up."

**Collection and Explanation**: *Bielu* stated: Liu Hua (willow flowers/catkins) grow in the rivers and marshes of Langya.
Su Song stated: It is found everywhere today, commonly known as Yangliu. Its varieties are not limited to one: Pulu willow is water willow, with strong and tough branches suitable for making arrows, mostly growing in Hebei. Qiliu grows near water, with coarse white leaves and slightly reddish wood grain, suitable for making wheel hubs. Nowadays, people take its thin strips, soften them by heating, and bend them into boxes and chests. As mentioned in *Mencius*, qiliu is used to make cups and trays, all grown in this manner. In early spring, soft catkins emerge, which are the yellow stamen flowers. By late spring, after leaves mature, the fluff from the flowers flies with the wind. Seeds attaching to clothing can breed insects; falling into ponds, they transform into duckweed. In ancient times, firewood from elm and willow was collected in spring. Tao Zhu Gong said that planting a thousand willow trees would suffice for firewood and charcoal. Their tender buds can be boiled for tea.

**Liu Hua (Willow Catkins)**
**Explanatory Name**: Liuxu (from *Shennong Bencao Jing*).
**Correction of Errors**: See below.
**Flavor and Properties**: Bitter, cold, non-toxic.
**Indications**: Wind-water jaundice, facial heat and darkening (from *Shennong Bencao Jing*). Scabies, sores, malignant ulcers, and metal wounds. **Liu Shi (Willow fruits)**: Indicated for suppurating carbuncles, expelling pus and blood. **Juice from seeds**: Treats thirst (from *Bielu*). **Hua (Flowers/Catkins)**: Stops bleeding, treats damp-bi syndrome, limb spasms and stiffness, and knee pain (as recorded by Zhen Quan).

**Elucidation**:
Tao Hongjing stated: When willow catkins mature, they fly with the wind like snow. One should use those that have not yet fully unfurled. The seeds also fly with the flowers and should be soaked in water to extract juice.
Zangqi stated: *Shennong Bencao Jing* mistook willow catkins for flowers; this is a significant error. The flower is the initial yellow stamen, while the seed is the flying catkin.
Cheng stated: Willow catkins can be used to make felt, replacing wool for mattresses. They are soft and cool, making them particularly suitable for infants to sleep on.
Zong stated: Willow catkins appear when the yellow stamens dry out. Collecting them is beneficial for applying to moxibustion sores. The catkins are connected to small black seeds at their base, rising with the wind and growing upon contact with moisture, similar to how *Crepidiastrum sonchifolium* or *Viola philippica* flowers fall and form seeds into catkins. The ancients mistook catkins for flowers, saying flowers look like snow; this is wrong. Zangqi's view is correct. The texts regarding fruits and seed juice were misunderstood by various schools and are rarely used today.
Li Shizhen stated: Regarding *Shennong Bencao Jing*'s indication for wind-water jaundice, it refers to Liu Hua. *Bielu*'s indications for malignant ulcers, metal wounds, suppurating carbuncles, and expelling pus/blood, as well as *Yaoxing Lun*'s indications for stopping bleeding and treating bi syndrome, refer to Liu Xu and Shi. The flower is tender stamen, which can be crushed for juice ingestion. Seeds and catkins are connected and hard to distinguish, usable mainly for topical application to stop bleeding and wrap bi-symptoms. The mention of "seed juice treating thirst" likely refers to soaking both seeds and catkins together, grinding, and ingesting the juice. Additionally, Cui Shi's *Simin Yueling* states: In the third month...

**Attached Prescriptions**: Six new prescriptions.
**Hematemesis and Hemoptysis**: Roast willow catkins until dry, powder them, and take one qian with rice drink. (*Jingyan Fang*).
**Metal Wounds Bleeding**: Apply willow catkins directly to the wound. Bleeding stops immediately. (*Waitai Miyao*).
**Pustules on Face**: Mix equal parts willow catkins and calomel. Apply mixed with lamp oil. (*Puji Fang*).
**Rapidly Spreading Gum Disease (Zouma Yagan)**: Burn poplar catkins to retain their charred nature, add a small amount of musk, and apply. (*Baoyou Daquan*).
**Leprosy and Severe Ulcers**: Poplar catkins (4 liang, pounded into cakes, stuck to walls, dried, removed, soaked in rice wash water for one hour, taken out, dried on tiles, and powdered) 2 liang; White snake and Black snake, 1 each (remove head and tail, soak in wine, take meat); Full scorpion, centipede, toad venom, realgar, each 5 qian; Sophora root and Gastrodia elata, each 1 liang. Powder these ingredients. Decoct Ephedra herb in water to obtain juice, boil into a paste, mix with the powder to make pills the size of tung tree seeds. Coat with cinnabar. Take 50 pills per dose with warm wine. Three times a day, continue until cured. (Sun's *Jixiao Liangfang*).

**Leaves**
**Flavor and Properties**: Same as Liu Hua.
**Indications**: Malignant scabies, crusty sores, and equine scabies. Boil and wash; immediate cure. Also treats internal blood stasis in the heart and abdomen, and relieves pain (*Bielu*). Decoct water to wash lac dermatitis (Tao Hongjing). Treats epidemic febrile diseases, tuberculosis consumption (Chuanshi Guzheng Lao), and reduces edema/fluid retention. Boil into an ointment to knit bones and muscles, relieve pain. Treats severe fever and oppression in patients taking mineral drugs, heat oppression from burns/scalds entering the abdomen, and carbuncles (*Rihua Bencao*). Treats leukoderma...

**Attached Prescriptions**: One old, five new.
**White Turbid Urine**: Decoct Qingming willow leaves as tea, continue until cured. (*Jijian Fang*).
**Infant Erysipelas with Restlessness**: 1 jin of willow leaves. With 1 dou of water, boil to obtain 3 sheng of juice. Wash the red areas, 7-8 times daily. (*Zimu Milu*).
**Eyebrow Loss**: Dry shaded weeping willow leaves into powder. Each time, mix with ginger juice in an iron vessel, and massage nightly. (*Shenghui Fang*).
**Sudden Onset of Unidentifiable Malignant Ulcers**: Decoct willow leaves or bark in water, add a little salt, and wash frequently. (*Zhouhou Fang*).
**Malignant Ulcers on Face**: Same prescription as above.
**Ulcerated Chickenpox with Maggots**: Lie on a mat covered with tender willow leaves; maggots will crawl out, leading to recovery. (Li Lou's *Qifang*)

**Branches and Inner Bark of Roots**
**Flavor and Properties**: Same as Liu Hua.
**Indications**: Phlegm-heat strangury. Can be used as a bath decoction to wash wind-swelling and itching. Decoct in wine to gargle for toothache (Su Gong). For infants with chills and fever on days 1 and 5, decoct branches for bathing (Zangqi).
Decoct and ingest to treat jaundice and white turbid urine. Decoct in wine and apply hot compresses to various painful swellings to dispel wind, relieve pain, and reduce swelling (Li Shizhen).

**Elucidation**:
Su Song stated: Willow branches, bark, and roots are also used in medicine.
Ge Hong's *Zhouhou Fang*: Often used to treat carbuncles, abscesses, toxic swellings, and mastitis. Wei Zhou's *Duxing Fang*: Mainly indicated for carbuncles and reverse-flow ulcers; decoct willow branches and leaves to make an ointment for application. Nowadays, people use it as a bath decoction...
Li Shizhen stated: Willow branches dispel wind, reduce swelling, and relieve pain. Tender branches shaved into toothbrushes are excellent for cleaning teeth.

**Attached Prescriptions**: Ten old, ten new.
**Early Jaundice**: Decoct willow branches to obtain half a sheng of thick juice, take in one dose. (*Waitai Miyao*)
**Spleen and Stomach Weakness, Poor Appetite, Indigestion, Symptoms resembling Cardia Obstruction**: On Qingming Day, take a large handful of willow branches, decoct in water, cook millet rice. Sprinkle flour, roll into beads, dry, and hang in a bag in a ventilated place. For use, pour boiling water over rice as desired. When rice sinks, remove from heat. When rice floats, check if no hard center remains; if cooked, eat in one meal. Over time, the flour disperses and loses stickiness. Named Luosuo Rice. (Yang Qi's *Jianbian Fang*).
**Wandering Qi Pain**: A disease of qi pain where suddenly one area feels bruised, unbearable pain, wandering without fixed location. At rest, the area is cold as frost/snow. This is caused by sudden cold injury. Decoct white bark of willow/poplar in white wine, apply warm compress. If red spots exist, prick to bleed; this is excellent. For any sudden swelling and acute pain, hot compress stops it immediately. (Yao Zengtan's *Jiyuan Fang*).
**Wind-Toxin Sudden Swelling**: Same prescription as above.
**Sudden Swelling and Pain of Genitals**: 20 pieces of willow branch (3 chi long), finely chopped. Decoct in water until very hot. Wrap swollen area with old cloth, still wash with hot water. (*Jiyuan Fang*).
**Goiter in Neck**: 30 jin of willow roots exposed at water edges. With 1 hu of water, boil to obtain 5 sheng. Use 3 dou of glutinous rice, brew like normal wine, drink daily. (*Fan Wang Fang*).
**Gum Swelling and Pain**: Weeping willow branch, sophora bark, mulberry bark, white poplar bark in equal parts. Decoct in water, hold hot in mouth, spit out when cool. Another formula: Decoct willow, locust, and mulberry branches into a paste, add ginger juice...
**Wind-Worm Toothache**: Roll white bark of willow/poplar to finger thickness, chew and hold, letting juice soak tooth roots. Cured after several times. Another formula: Hold a handful of chopped willow branches, add little salt flowers, decoct in sour rice water, gargle; very effective. Another formula: 1 sheng chopped willow branches, 1 sheng soybeans, stir-fry together until beans are cooked. Store in porcelain jar, soak in 3 sheng clear wine for 3 days. Frequently gargle and expectorate saliva; cured in 3 days. (*Gujin Luyan*)
**Ear Pain with Pus**: Willow root, finely cut, thoroughly pounded, applied to site. Change when dry. (*Doumen Fang*)
**Fistula Swelling and Pain**: Red whiskers of willow root, decoct in water, wash daily. *Zhai Xuan Fang*: Burn willow branches in a jar, smoke the area; effusion indicates efficacy.
**Mastitis/Mary Milk (Acute Mastitis)**, initially hard and purple, unresponsive to other treatments: Thoroughly pound willow root bark, warm by fire, wrap with cloth and apply hot compress. Replace when cold; resolved overnight. (*Zhouhou Fang*)
**Reverse-Flow Malignant Ulcer**, flesh protruding like rice grains, deep-rooted with suppuration: 3 jin willow branches and leaves, 5 sheng water, decoct to 2 sheng juice, boil into syrup-like consistency. Apply three times daily. (*Shenghui Fang*)
**Heavenly Stove Erysipelas**, redness starting from back: Willow wood ash, mix with water and apply. (*Waitai Miyao*)
**Burns and Scalds**: Burn willow bark to ash, apply. Alternatively, decoct inner root bark in lard, apply frequently. (*Zhouhou Fang*)
**Hemorrhoids like Melon, Swollen and Painful like Fire**: Decoct willow branches into thick soup, wash. Moxibustion 3-5 cones. Physician Wang Ji suffered from this; the post station clerk used this moxibustion method. He felt heat enter the intestines, passed large amounts of bloody feces painfully, but within a moment it subsided, and he rode away. (*Benshi Fang*)

**Liu Jiao (Willow Gum)**
**Indications**: Malignant ulcers, and forming sand-like stones (Li Shizhen).

**Liu Jisheng (Willow Parasite)**
See later section on Parasitic Plants.

**Liu Er (Willow Ear)**
See Vegetable Section, Wood Ear.

**Liu Du (Willow Borer)**
See Insect Section.