Library

(Recorded in the Superior Class of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)

[Names] Chu (pronounced "Gou". Also written as "Gou"), Sang.
Su Song states: Lu Ji, in his *Commentary on the Classic of Poetry*, says that Gou tree is called Gu Sang in Youzhou, or sometimes Chu Sang. In Jingzhou, Yangzhou, Jiaozhou, and Guangzhou, it is called Gu. Lu Tuan in his *Pi Ya* interprets it as the "Gu" of grain, meaning "good," which is incorrect. Some consider Chu and Gou to be two different plants, which is also incorrect. Detailed analysis follows:

[Collection and Explanation] The *Shennong Bencao Jing* records: Chu Shi (Broussonetia papyrifera fruit) grows in Mount Shaoshi and is available everywhere. Collect the fruits in the eighth and ninth lunar months.
Tao Hongjing states: This is the modern Gou tree. People in the south make paper from it, also called Chu paper. People in Wuling make clothes from Gou bark, which are very durable.
Su Song states: There are two varieties: one has mottled bark, called Ban Gu; people now use its bark for hats. The other has white, unspotted bark, with branches and leaves largely similar. It is best to choose the variety whose leaves resemble grape leaves with lobes and bear fruit. Its fruits appear in early summer, size like a pellet, greenish, turning deep red by the sixth or seventh month when ripe. Collect in the eighth and ninth months, soak in water to remove skin and pulp, and take the central seeds. Duan Chengshi in *Youyang Zazu* says: Abandoned grain fields will inevitably grow Gou trees. Leaves with lobes are called Chu, without lobes are called Gou. Lu's *Poetry Commentary* says: People in Jiangnan process its bark into cloth. They also pound it to make paper, several zhang long, with excellent luster. They also eat its tender shoots as vegetables. Nowadays, Chu paper is widely used, but Chu cloth is rarely seen. Medical prescriptions value Chu Shi, while other parts are seldom used.
Li Shizhen states: According to Xu Shen's *Shuowen Jiezi*, Chu and Gou are the same plant, no need to distinguish, only male and female need differentiation. Male trees have mottled bark and leaves without forks, bloom in March forming catkins like willow flowers, do not bear fruit, and people collect flowers for food in lean years. Female trees have white bark and forked leaves, also bloom small flowers, bearing fruit like bayberries. When half-ripe, wash off seeds with cold water, preserve with honey as fruit food. Both types grow easily, leaves have many prickly hairs. Southerners peel and boil to make paper, also weave into cloth, but it is not durable and rots easily. Pei Yuan in *Guangzhou Ji* says: Barbarians take Gu bark, beat it熟ly to make Jieli cloth, used instead of felt, very warm. After wood decays, fungi grow, tasting good.

Chu Shi (Broussonetia papyrifera Fruit), also known as Gu Shi (*Shennong Bencao Jing*), Chu Tao

[Processing] Lei Xiao says: After collection, soak in water for three days, stir and change water, discard floating ones. Sun-dry, then soak in wine for one shichen (approx. 2 hours), steam from Si hour to Hai hour, dry by baking for use. *Jingyan Houfang* decoction method: On the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, collect five sheng of Gu seeds, boil in one dou of water until reduced to five sheng, filter dregs, simmer over low heat until thick like malt syrup for use.

[Flavor and Property] Sweet, Cold, Non-toxic.

[Indications] Impotence and edema, tonifies Qi, fills muscles, brightens eyes. Long-term use prevents hunger and aging, lightens the body (*Shennong Bencao Jing*). Strengthens sinews and bones, aids Yang Qi, tonifies deficiency and fatigue, strengthens waist and knees, improves complexion (Li Xun).

[Elucidation] Tao Hongjing states: Immortal recipes crush and extract juice to mix with pills, or take dry powder, enabling one to see spirits and communicate with gods.
Su Song states: For single herb use in immortal recipes, collect seeds when fruits are fully red, dry in shade, grind to powder, take two qian bi with water. Better with long-term use. *Baopuzi* records: At ten years old, able to walk and ride horses quickly.
Li Shizhen states: *Shennong Bencao Jing* records Chu Shi's great tonifying effects, while *Xiuzhen Mizhi Shu* claims long-term use causes bone softening paralysis. *Jisheng Milan* treats bone obstruction by drinking Chu Shi decoction; does this not indicate bone softening? Note: *Nantang Shu* records: Emperor Liezu choked on malt sugar, imperial physicians could not cure him. Wu Tingshao alone requested Chu Shi decoction, cured after one dose. Other physicians tried later without effect. Asked why, he replied: Choking was caused by sweetness, so this treats it. I believe this is the principle of softening hardness for bone obstruction; other physicians used it for other types of choking, hence ineffective.

[Attached Prescriptions] Six new formulas.
Water Qi and Drum Distension: Chu Shi Zi Wan (Pill). To purify the bladder. Use one dou of Chu Shi Zi (boil with two dou of water into paste). Poria 3 liang, Bai Ding Xiang 1.5 liang, grind to powder, mix with paste, form pills like wutong seeds. Start with small dose, increase until urination is clear and distension reduces. Follow with Zhizhong Tang to nourish. Avoid sweet, bitter, harsh tonics and stimulating foods. (Jiegou *Huofa Jiyao*).
Liver Heat causing Cornea Opacity: Grind Chu Shi Zi finely, take one qian with honey water after meals, twice daily. (*Zhizhi Fang*)
Sore Throat and Wind-Throat: Collect Chu Tao on fifth day of fifth lunar month (or sixth of sixth, seventh of seventh), dry in shade. Take one as powder, swallow well water. Severe cases use two. (*Jijian Fang*).
Stone Abscess on Body and Face, resembling acne but with thick skin: Pound Gu seeds, apply externally. (*Waitai Miyao*).
Metal Wound Bleeding: Pound Gu seeds, apply externally. (*Waitai Miyao*).
Blurred Vision: Chu Tao and Jingjie Sui each 500 units. Grind to powder, mix with refined honey to form pill size of a bullet. Chew one pill after meals, swallow with mint tea, three times daily. (*Weisheng Yijian Fang*).

Leaves
[Flavor and Property] Sweet, Cool, Non-toxic.
[Indications] Childhood fever, poor muscle growth. Can be used for bathing. Treats malignant sores promoting flesh growth (*Shennong Bencao Jing*). Treats wind-induced itching (Li Xun). For severe epistaxis, crush to get 3 sheng juice, drink repeatedly, stops after some time. Eat tender shoots to remove wind-bi in limbs, treat dysentery with red and white discharge (Su Song). Stir-fry, grind, mix with flour to make cakes, treat watery dysentery (Zhen Quan). Promotes urination, removes wind-damp swelling, leukorrhea, hernia, tinea (Li Shizhen).
[Attached Prescriptions] Six old, ten new.
Water and Grain Dysentery: See Acorn entry in Fruit Section.
Malaria Dysentery in Old and Young, over 100 times day and night: Take 3 liang dried Chu Ye (stir-fried), grind to powder. Take one fangcun bi with sour plum soup, twice daily. Wrap powder in lamb meat, insert into anus, stop when discharge ceases. (Yang Yan *Nanxing Fang*).
Childhood Dysentery with Red/White Discharge, Thirst, Vomiting upon Drinking: Roast Gou Ye until fragrant, soak in half sheng of cool drink until water turns green, remove leaves. Cut one papaya, put in juice, boil 2-3 times, remove papaya, sip slowly.
Rectal Prolapse: Dry five-flower Gou Ye to powder. Take two qian, mix with rice water. Also apply to prolapsed rectum. (*Shenghui Fang*).
White Turbid Urine: Gou Ye powder, steam with steamed bun dough, form wutong-sized pills. Take 30 pills with plain hot water. (*Jingyan Liangfang*).
Generalized Edema: Decoct Chu branches and leaves until thick like syrup. Take one bi on empty stomach, three times daily. (*Shenghui Fang*).
Deficiency Obesity and Facial Swelling, Chronic Qi Rising like Water Disease, but Feet Not Swollen: Use 8 liang Gu Chu Ye, boil in one dou water until reduced to six sheng, filter dregs, add rice to cook porridge, consume regularly. (*Waitai Miyao*).
Sudden Wind Aphasia: Chop Gu branches and leaves finely, boil in wine until foam appears, drink appropriate amount daily. (*Zhouhou Fang*).
Excessive Sleepiness: Dry Hua Gu Ye, grind to powder. Take one or two qian with hot water, stop when recovered. (Yang Yaofu Formula).
Hematemesis and Epistaxis: Crush Chu Ye to get one or two sheng juice, drink warm gradually. (*Shenghui Fang*).
All Eye Opacities: Collect soft Gu wood leaves in third month, dry and grind, add a little musk. Insert millet-grain sized amount into eye, opacity falls naturally. (*Shenghui Fang*).
Wood Hernia: Equal parts Chu Ye and Xiong Huang, grind to powder, bind with wine paste into wutong-sized pills. Take 50 pills with salted wine. (*Yixue Jicheng*).
Hernia Entering Scrotum: Collect Gu tree leaves on fifth day of fifth month, dry in shade, grind to powder. Take one or two spoons with warm wine on empty stomach. (*Jianbian Fang*).
Tinea with Wet Itching: Chu Ye, crush and apply. (*Shenghui Fang*).
Hemorrhoid Swelling and Pain: Half jin Chu Ye, crush and seal application. (*Jijian Fang*).
Viper Bite: Mix Chu Ye and Hemp Leaf, crush, extract juice, soak wound. (*Qianjin Fang*).
Fish Bone Choking: Chu Ye, crush juice, drink. (*Shibian Liangfang*)

Branches and Stems
[Indications] Urticaria itching, decoct for bathing (*Shennong Bencao Jing*).
Crush to get thick juice, drink half sheng, treat urinary retention (Li Shizhen).
[Attached Prescriptions] One old, one new.
Head Wind with White Dandruff: Make pillow from Chu wood, replace with new every 60 days. (*Waitai Miyao*).
Sudden Red Eye Pain and Grittiness: Remove leaves from tender Chu branches, place on ground, burn, cover with bowl. Next day, soak ash in water, clarify, wash with warm liquid. (*Shenghui Fang*)

Tree White Bark
[Flavor and Property] Sweet, Neutral, Non-toxic.
[Indications] Drains water, promotes urination (*Shennong Bencao Jing*).
Treats edema and abdominal fullness (Zhen Quan). Sore throat (Wu Pu).
Decoct juice to brew wine, drink to treat abdominal edema, shortness of breath, cough. Powder form treats lower bleeding and metrorrhagia (Li Shizhen).
[Attached Prescriptions] One old, six new.
Intestinal Wind Lower Bleeding: Autumn harvest Chu bark, dry in shade, powder. Take three qian with wine, twice daily. (Add little musk if needed). (*Puji Fang*).
Blood Dysentery and Metrorrhagia: Equal parts Chu tree bark and Jingjie, powder. Mix with cold vinegar, take one qian. For metrorrhagia, take with decoction spoon, miraculous effect indescribable. (Wei Shi *Dexiao Fang*).
Male and Female Swelling Diseases, regardless of duration, Stormy Wind Entering Abdomen: Women postpartum using toilet, wind enters viscera, abdomen feels like horse whip, shortness of breath. Chu bark branches and leaves
Wind-Water Edema Floating, Whole Body Swelling: Chu Pi San: Use Chu white bark, Zhu Ling, Mu Tong each 2 qian, Sang Bai Pi 3 qian, Chen Ju Pi 1 qian.
Bladder Stone Water, Emaciated Limbs, Lower Abdominal Fullness: Gou root white bark, Sang root white bark each 2 sheng, Bai Zhu 4 liang, Black Soybeans 5 sheng, running water 1 dou, boil to 4 sheng, add clear wine 2 sheng, boil again to 3 sheng. Take twice daily, once at night. (*Jiyan Fang*).
Eye Membrane Opacity: Dry Chu white bark, shape like hairpin shaft, burn to ash, grind fine. Apply small amount, 3-5 times daily, until healed. (Cui Shi Formula).
Fish Bone Choking: Chu tree tender bark, crush into pills. Swallow with water, 20-30 pills. (*Weisheng Yijian Fang*).

White Juice Between Bark
[Names] Gou Jiao (*Bencao Gangmu*), Wujin Jiaoqi.
Li Xun states: Can combine with Cinnabar into balls, hence named Wujin Jiaoqi.
Li Shizhen states: Gou juice is very sticky. Now used to stick gold leaf. Ancient method for pasting scriptures: mix Chu tree juice with Bletilla and sifted flour paste, paper joining never detaches, superior to animal glue.
[Flavor and Property] Sweet, Neutral, Non-toxic.
[Indications] Treats tinea (*Shennong Bencao Jing*). Apply to snake, insect, bee, scorpion, dog bites (Li Xun).
[Attached Prescriptions] One old.
After Epidemic Disease, Fullness, Stabbing Distension in Flanks, Umbilical Area like Edema: Drink Gou branch juice as desired. Urination becomes smooth, swelling subsides. (*Waitai Miyao*).

Chu Pi Zhi (Paper made from Chu Bark) - See Vessels and Utensils Section, Paper.
Chu Er (Ear Mushroom) - See Vegetable Section, Wood Ear.