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(From "Bencao Huibian")

[Names] Jinzhen Yintai (Golden Cup, Silver Terrace). Li Shizhen said: This plant thrives in low, damp places and cannot lack water, hence its name Shuixian (Narcissus). "Jinzhen Yintai" describes the shape of the flower.

[Collection and Explanation] Su Gong said: The leaves and flowers of Narcissus resemble garlic, and its fragrance is very clear and pure. Planted in fertile soil in early September, it blooms luxuriantly; planted in poor soil, it does not bloom. Harvest the roots in early May, soak them overnight in urine from a young boy, dry them, and hang them in a warm place. If the perennial root is not replaced, the growth will be more vigorous. Li Shizhen said: Narcissus grows in clusters in damp areas. Its roots are long like garlic and shallot, wrapped in red skin. Leaves grow in winter, resembling shallots and garlic. In early spring, stems emerge like scallion bulbs. Several flowers bloom at the stem tip, as large as hairpin heads, shaped like wine cups with five pointed petals facing upward, yellow centers, resembling cups. The flowers are crystal clear and elegant, with a quiet fragrance. There is a double-petaled variety with wrinkled petals, light yellow below and pale white above, not cup-shaped. People value it and call it true Narcissus, which is incorrect; it is merely one species with two varieties. There are also red-flowered types. According to Duan Chengshi's *Youyang Zazu*: "Nazhi" comes from Fulin country, with roots as large as chicken eggs, seedlings three or four chi tall, leaves like garlic leaves, a central stalk, flowers at the stem tip with six red-and-white petals, yellow-red centers, no seeds, growing in winter and dying in summer. Pressing the flowers for oil and applying it to the body removes wind-pathogens. Based on these characteristics, it resembles Narcissus; could the difference lie in foreign nomenclature?

Roots

[Properties and Flavor] Bitter, slightly pungent, slippery, cold, non-toxic. Tusu Zhenjun said: Extracting its juice can stabilize mercury, boil realgar, and resist fire toxins.

[Indications]

Flowers

[Properties and Flavor] Missing.

[Indications] Used to make fragrant pomade for applying to the body and combing hair, removing wind-pathogens. Also treats five-heart fever in women. Mix equal parts of dried lotus leaf and Red Peony Root (*Chi Shaoyao*), grind into powder, take 2 qian with boiling water each time; the heat will subside naturally (Li Shizhen, from *Weisheng Yijian Fang*).

(From *Shennong Bencao Jing*, Middle Grade)

[Names] The root is named Rugen (from *Bencao Jing*), Langen (from *Bencao Jing*), Dijin (from *Bielu*). Li Shizhen said: The leaves of Imperata are spear-like, hence called Mao (Cogon grass). Its roots are interconnected, hence called Ru. The *I Ching* says: "Pulling cogon grass pulls up the roots," referring to this. There are several types: those flowering in summer are Mao; those flowering in autumn are Jian. Their medicinal functions are similar, but names differ. The *Classic of Poetry* says: "White flowers of Jian, bound bundles of Mao." *Bielu* did not distinguish between Mao and Jian as two species, stating that Maogen (Imperata root) is also called Dijian and Dijin, while a nameless unused herb also appears as Dijin, also called Jiangen. Likely, the roots of both resemble sinews, so they can be collectively called Dijin, but cannot both be named Jiangen. This is corrected here.

[Collection and Explanation] *Mingyi Bielu* states: Maogen grows in valleys and fields of Chu, harvested in June.

Tao Hongjing said: This is the current Bai Mao Jian. The *Classic of Poetry* says: "Dew on the Jian and Mao," referring to it. Its root is sweet like slag celery.

Su Song said: It grows everywhere. Sprouts appear in spring, spreading on the ground like needles, commonly called Maozhen, edible and beneficial for children. White fluffy flowers appear in summer, withering in autumn. The roots are extremely white, harvested in June. There is also Jian, a type of Mao. Lu Ji's *Caomu Shu* states: Jian resembles Mao but is smooth and hairless; the lower five cun of the root contains white powder, making it tough and suitable for ropes, especially after retting. Unretted is called Ye Jian, with medicinal efficacy equal to Mao.

Li Shizhen said: There are several types of Mao: Bai Mao, Jian Mao, Huang Mao, Xiang Mao, and Ba Mao, all with similar leaves. Bai Mao is short, blooming white flowers in spikes in March-April, bearing small seeds. Its roots are very long, white, soft like sinews, jointed, and sweet-tasting, commonly called Simao. It can be used for roofing and wrapping sacrificial offerings. The Maogen in *Bencao Jing* refers to this. When dried, the roots glow at night, so when rotting, they transform into fireflies. Jian Mao grows only on mountains, taller than Bai Mao, sending up stems in autumn, blooming in spikes like reed flowers, bearing sharp black seeds about one fen long that stick to clothes and prick. Its roots are short, hard like fine bamboo roots, jointless, slightly sweet, and usable medicinally, though less effective than Bai Mao. This corresponds to the "white wild Jian" mentioned in *Erya*. Huang Mao resembles Jian Mao but has leaves on the stem, white powder under the stem, and yellow hairs at the root base. Roots are short, fine, hard, and jointless. Blooms in late autumn like Jian, usable for ropes, anciently named Huang Jian. The Jianggen in *Bielu* refers to this. Xiang Mao, also known as Jing Mao or Qiong Mao, grows in Hunan and Jianghuai regions, has three-ridged leaves, and a fragrant aroma, usable for wrapping and pouring libations. This corresponds to the Jing Mao from Jingzhou mentioned in *Yu Gong*. Ba Mao grows in clumps, leaves as large as cattails, six to seven chi long, with two types, namely Mang. See the entry for Mang below.

Maogen (Imperata Rhizome)

[Properties and Flavor] Sweet, cold, non-toxic.

[Indications] Treats exhaustion and emaciation from overwork, tonifies the middle and boosts qi, removes blood stasis, blood obstruction, and alternating chills and fever, promotes urination (*Bencao Jing*). Treats five types of strangury, removes pathogenic heat in the stomach and intestines, stops thirst, strengthens sinews, and treats metrorrhagia in women. Long-term use benefits the person (*Bielu*). Regulates irregular menstruation in women, unblocks blood vessels and dribbling strangury (Daming). Stops various bleeding such as hematemesis and epistaxis, treats hiccups in typhoid, lung-heat wheezing, edema, jaundice, and detoxifies alcohol (Li Shizhen).

[Invention/Analysis] Tao Hongjing said: Maogen is excellent for fasting regimens. Rarely used in folk prescriptions, except for decocting juice to treat strangury and metrorrhagia. Li Shizhen said: Bai Maogen is sweet, clears latent heat, and promotes urination, thus stopping various bleedings, hiccups, wheezing, and thirst, and treating jaundice and edema. It is a fine herb. People neglect it because it is humble, preferring bitter-cold agents, thereby damaging the harmonious qi. How could they know this?

[Attached Prescriptions] Two old, thirteen new.

Fasting in Mountains: When fleeing to uninhabited areas, take fresh Bai Maogen, wash clean, chew, or sun-dry on stones until scorched, grind to powder, take one fangcun bi with water to fast without hunger (*Zhouhou Beiji Fang*). Cold Dysentery in Warm Disease: Caused by drinking water due to extreme heat. Cut Maogen and roasted Loquat Leaf (brushed off hairs) half a jin each. Decoct four sheng of water to two sheng, remove dregs, drink slightly warm (Pang Anchang, *Shanghan Zongbing Lun*).

Heat Hiccups in Warm Disease: Latent heat in the stomach causes chest fullness and rebellious qi, leading to hiccups. Or, after severe purging, cold deficiency in the stomach causes hiccups.

Rebellious Qi and Vomiting: Food enters and is immediately vomited. Maogen and Phragmites Rhizome (Lugen), two liang. Decoct four sheng of water to two sheng, take in one dose for good effect (*Shengji Zonglu*).

Lung Heat Wheezing: One handful of fresh Maogen. Crush, decoct two cups of water to one cup, take warm after meals. For severe cases, three doses suffice. Named Rushen Tang.

Edema After Deficiency: Due to excessive water intake and difficult urination. Use a large handful of Bai Maogen and three sheng of adzuki beans. Decoct three sheng of water until dry, remove Maogen and eat beans; water follows urination out (*Zhouhou Beiji Fang*).

Five Types of Jaundice: Yellow Dan, Grain Dan, Wine Dan, Female Dan, Labor Dan. Yellow Sweat results from sweating heavily then entering water, causing slight swelling and sweat like yellow cypress juice. Use a handful of fresh Maogen, finely cut, cooked with one jin of pork as soup (*Zhouhou*).

Detoxifying Alcohol Poisoning: Fear of internal organ damage. Drink one sheng of Maogen juice (*Qianjin Fang*).

Hot Strangury in Urine: Four sheng of Bai Maogen, fifteen sheng of water, boil to five sheng, drink at appropriate temperature, three times daily (*Zhouhou Beiji Fang*).

Hematuria: Decoct Maogen in water, frequent drinking is best (*Tan Yeweng Fang*).

Labor Injury Hematuria: Equal parts Maogen and Dried Ginger. Add one spoonful of honey, decoct two zhong of water to one zhong, take once daily.

Unstopping Epistaxis: Powder Maogen, take two qian with rice wash water (*Shenghui Fang*).

Unstopping Hematemesis: *Qianjin Yi*: Decoct one handful of Bai Maogen in water and take. *Furen Liangfang*: Wash and crush roots for juice, drink one he daily.

Splinters/Bamboo Thorns in Flesh: Burn Bai Maogen to ash, mix with lard and apply. Good for swelling caused by wind invasion (*Zhouhou Beiji Fang*).

Maozhen (Young Shoots, from *Shiyi*)

[Properties and Flavor] Sweet, neutral, non-toxic. Daming said: Cool.

[Indications] Promotes water metabolism (*Bielu*). Treats xiao-ke (wasting-thirst), breaks blood stasis (Zhen Quan). Unblocks Small Intestine, treats epistaxis and sudden massive bleeding, decoct in water and take. Treats malignant sores, carbuncles, and unruptured soft boils.

Flowers

[Properties and Flavor] Sweet, warm, non-toxic.

[Indications] Decoct and drink to stop hematemesis and epistaxis, and pack the nose. Apply to non-healing moxibustion wounds, knife and arrow injuries to stop bleeding and pain (Daming).

Decayed Thatch on Roofs

[Properties and Flavor] Bitter, neutral, non-toxic.

[Indications] Sudden hematemesis. Chop three sheng, soak in wine, decoct one sheng and take. Grind with soy sauce paste and apply to impetigo and insect bite sores (Zangqi).

Four Corners of the House

[Invention/Analysis] Li Shizhen said: According to *Chen Wen Xiao'er Fang*: Treats ruptured and non-healing chickenpox sores. Take rotten thatch from old walls/houses for years, select, wash, bake dry, powder, and sprinkle. This likely utilizes its cold nature to detoxify, its absorption of rain/dew/frost/snow energy, and its ability to dry dampness.

[Attached Prescriptions] Three new.

Female Genital Itching: Rotten thatch from wall tops, Schizonepeta (Jingjie), and Gleditsia Sinensis (Yazao) in equal parts. Decoct water and fumigate/wash frequently (*Zhaxuan Fang*). Constipation Unrelieved by Medicine: Cangyan Salt three qian, seven nodes of rotten grass from eaves. Powder. Take one qian, blow into anus one cun deep with bamboo tube to open. Named Tijin San (*Shengji Lu*). Stroke with Five Corpse Poisons: Symptoms include abdominal pain and distension, inability to breathe, rushing up to heart/chest, attacking flanks, bulging, or pulling waist/spine. This is harm caused by corpse ghosts within the body. Take thatch from four corners of the roof, put in copper vessel, cover abdomen with three pieces of red cloth, place vessel on cloth, burn thatch until hot, chase pain with heat. Itching under feet indicates cure (*Zhouhou Beiji Fang*).