（宋《图经》）
【释名】鱼津草。
颂曰∶唐《天宝单方图》言∶此草原生永阳池泽及河海边。临汝人呼为牛荭草，河北信
都人
名水节，河内连内黄呼为水棘，剑南、遂宁等郡名龙移草，淮南诸郡名海荏。岭南亦有，土
地尤宜，茎叶肥大，名海精木，亦名鱼津草。
时珍曰∶此草不着形状气味，无以考证。芹菜亦名水英，不知是此否也？
【气味】苦，寒，无毒。
【主治】骨风（苏颂）。
【发明】颂曰∶蜀人采其花合面药。凡丈夫、妇人无故两脚肿满连膝胫中痛，屈申急强
者，名骨风。其疾不宜针灸及服药，惟每日取此草五斤，以水一石，煮三斗，及热浸脚，并
淋膝上，日夜三、四度。不经，五日即瘥，数用神验。其药春取苗，夏采叶及花，秋冬用根。
肿甚者，加生椒目三升，水二斗。用毕，即摩粉避风。忌油腻、生菜、猪、鱼
（《本经》上品）
【释名】时珍曰∶按陆佃《埤雅》云∶《月令》∶仲夏令民无刈蓝以
郑玄言∶恐伤长养之气也。然则刈蓝先王有禁，制字从监，以此故也。
【集解】《别录》曰∶蓝实生河内平泽，其茎叶可以染青。
弘景曰∶此即今染 碧所用者，以尖叶者为胜。
恭曰∶蓝有三种∶一种叶围径二寸许，浓三、四分者，堪染青，出岭南，太常名为木蓝
子；
陶氏所说
不堪为淀，惟作碧色尔。
颂曰∶蓝处处有之，人家蔬圃作畦种。至三月、四月生苗，高三、二尺许，叶似水蓼，
花红白色，实亦若蓼子而大，黑色。五月、六月采实。但可染碧，不堪作淀，此名蓼蓝，即
医方所用者也。别有木蓝，出岭南，不入药。有菘蓝，可为淀，亦名马蓝，《尔雅》所谓
“，马蓝”是也。又福州一种马蓝，四时俱有，叶类苦 菜，土人连根采服，治败血。江
宁
一种吴蓝，二月内生，如蒿，叶青花白，亦解热毒。此二种虽不类，而俱有蓝名，且古方多
用吴蓝，或恐是此，故并附之。
宗 曰∶蓝实即大蓝实也。谓之蓼蓝者，非是。乃《尔雅》所谓马蓝者。解诸药毒不可
阙也。实与叶两用。注不解实，只解叶，为未尽。
时珍曰∶蓝凡五种，各有主治，惟蓝实专取蓼蓝者。蓼蓝∶叶如蓼，五、六月开花，
成穗细小，浅红色，子亦如蓼，岁可三刈，故先王禁之。菘蓝∶叶如白菘。马蓝∶叶如苦 ，
即郭璞所谓大叶冬蓝，俗中所谓板蓝者。二蓝花子并如蓼蓝。吴蓝∶长茎如蒿而花白，吴人
种之。木蓝∶长茎如决明，高者三四尺，分枝布叶，叶如槐叶，七月开淡红花，结角长寸
许，累累如小豆角，其子亦如马蹄决明子而微小，迥与诸蓝不同，而作淀则一也。别有甘蓝，
可食，见本条。苏恭以马蓝为木蓝，苏颂以菘蓝为马蓝，宗 以蓝实为大叶蓝之实，皆非矣
。今并开列于下。
蓝实
【气味】苦，寒，无毒。权曰∶甘。
【主治】解诸毒，杀蛊 疰鬼螫毒。久服头不白，轻身（《本经》。 音其，小儿鬼也）。
填骨髓，明耳目，利五脏，调六腑，通关节，治经络中结气，使人健少睡，益心力（甄权）。
疗毒肿（苏颂）。
蓝叶汁（此蓼蓝也）
【气味】苦、甘，寒，无毒。
【主治】杀百药毒，解野狼毒、射罔毒（《别录》。弘景曰∶解毒不得生蓝汁，以青 布渍
汁亦善）。汁涂五心，
珍）。
(Song Dynasty *Tujing Bencao*)
[Names] Yuzhen Cao (Fish Saliva Grass).
Su Song stated: The Tang Dynasty *Tianbao Danfang Tu* records: This grass originally grew in the ponds, marshes of Yongyang, and along riverbanks. People in Linyu called it Niuhong Cao (Cow Red Plant), people in Xindu, Hebei called it Shuijie (Water Joint), people in Lianhuang, Henei called it Shuiji (Water Thorn), people in Jian'nan, Suining and other commanderies called it Longyi Cao (Dragon Moving Grass), and people in various commanderies of Huainan called it Hairen (Sea Perilla). It is also found in Lingnan, where the land is particularly suitable for its growth; with thick stems and leaves, it is called Haijingmu (Sea Essence Tree) or also Yuzhen Cao.
Li Shizhen stated: This grass lacks descriptions of shape and taste, making verification impossible. Celery is also named Shuiying (Water Herb); I wonder if this refers to that plant?
[Taste and Properties] Bitter, Cold, Non-toxic.
[Indications] Gu Feng (Bone Wind) (Su Song).
[Elucidation] Su Song stated: People in Shu collect its flowers to mix into facial cosmetics. Whenever men or women suffer from unexplained swelling of both feet extending to the knees and shins, accompanied by pain and stiffness limiting flexion and extension, this condition is named Gu Feng (Bone Wind). This disease is unsuitable for acupuncture or oral medication. Instead, one should take five jin of this grass daily, boil it in one shi of water until reduced to three dou, and soak the feet while hot, pouring the liquid over the knees as well. This should be done three to four times day and night. If not cured immediately, recovery occurs within five days; repeated use yields miraculous results. The herb is harvested as seedlings in spring, leaves and flowers in summer, and roots in autumn and winter. For severe swelling, add three sheng of fresh Sichuan peppercorn seeds to two dou of water. After treatment, apply powder and avoid wind. Avoid greasy foods, raw vegetables, pork, and fish.
(*Shennong Bencao Jing*, Upper Grade)
[Names] Li Shizhen stated: According to Lu Tuan's *Piya*: The *Liji Yue Ling* states: "In the second month of summer, order the people not to mow indigo plants." Zheng Xuan explained: "To avoid damaging the qi of growth." Thus, mowing indigo was prohibited by ancient kings, which explains why the character for 'indigo' (蓝) contains the component 'jian' (supervise/restrain).
[Collection and Analysis] *Mingyi Bielu* states: Lanshi (Indigo Fruit) grows in the plains and marshes of Henei; its stems and leaves can be used to dye blue.
Tao Hongjing stated: This is what is currently used to dye bi (cyan/green-blue); those with pointed leaves are superior.
Su Gong stated: There are three types of indigo: One type has leaves approximately two cun in circumference and three to four fen thick, suitable for dyeing blue, produced in Lingnan, known to the Taichang Temple as Mulanzi (Tree Indigo Seed); the type mentioned by Tao Shi is unsuitable for making indigo paste, producing only a bi color.
Su Song stated: Indigo grows everywhere; households plant it in garden beds. By March and April, seedlings emerge, growing about three to two chi high. Leaves resemble Polygonum hydropiper (Water Smartweed), flowers are red-white, and fruits resemble smartweed seeds but larger and black. Fruits are harvested in May and June. It can only dye bi, not make indigo paste; this is called Liaolan (Smartweed Indigo), which is the species used in medical prescriptions. There is also Mulan (Tree Indigo), produced in Lingnan, not used in medicine. There is Songlan (Napa Cabbage Indigo), which can make indigo paste, also called Malan (Horse Indigo), referred to in *Erya* as "Malan". Additionally, there is a variety of Malan in Fuzhou available year-round, with leaves resembling bitter vegetables; locals harvest it with roots to treat blood stasis. In Jiangning, there is Wulan (Wu Indigo), sprouting in February like mugwort, with green leaves and white flowers, capable of clearing heat toxins. Although these two varieties differ, they share the name 'lan', and ancient formulas often used Wulan, possibly referring to this type, so they are included here.
Kou Zongshi stated: Lanshi is actually Dayelan (Large Leaf Indigo) fruit. Calling it Liaolan is incorrect; it is the Malan mentioned in *Erya*. It is indispensable for detoxifying various medicines. Both fruit and leaves are used. Annotations explaining only the leaves without the fruit are incomplete.
Li Shizhen stated: There are five types of indigo, each with specific indications, but Lanshi specifically uses Liaolan. Liaolan: Leaves resemble smartweed, flowers in May-June forming small spikes, light red; seeds resemble smartweed; can be harvested three times a year, hence the ancient prohibition. Songlan: Leaves resemble napa cabbage. Malan: Leaves resemble bitter vegetables, i.e., the large-leaf winter indigo mentioned by Guo Pu, commonly known as Banlan (Board Indigo). The flowers and seeds of these two indigos resemble Liaolan. Wulan: Tall stems like mugwort with white flowers, cultivated in Wu regions. Mulan: Tall stems like Cassia obtusifolia, growing three to four chi high, branching with leaves resembling locust tree leaves, blooming pale red in July, forming pods about one cun long, clustered like small bean pods; seeds resemble Cassia seeds but smaller, distinct from other indigos, yet equally suitable for making indigo paste. There is also Ganan (Sweet Cabbage), edible, see relevant entry. Su Gong confused Malan with Mulan; Su Song confused Songlan with Malan; Kou Zongshi identified Lanshi as the fruit of large-leaf indigo; all were incorrect. Listed below are the correct classifications.
Lanshi (Indigo Fruit)
[Taste and Properties] Bitter, Cold, Non-toxic. Zhen Quan stated: Sweet.
[Indications] Resolves various toxins, kills gu-zhu ghost stinging toxins. Long-term consumption prevents graying of hair and lightens the body (*Shennong Bencao Jing*. Qi refers to child ghosts). Fills the marrow, clarifies ears and eyes, benefits the five zang organs, harmonizes the six fu organs, opens joints, treats qi stagnation in meridians, promotes health and reduces sleep needs, enhances heart power (Zhen Quan). Treats toxic swellings (Su Song).
Lanye Zhi (Blue Leaf Juice - from Liaolan)
[Taste and Properties] Bitter, Sweet, Cold, Non-toxic.
[Indications] Kills poison from hundred herbs, resolves wild wolf毒 (Aconitum ferox?) and she wang (curare-like) toxins (*Mingyi Bielu*. Tao Hongjing stated: For detoxification, fresh blue juice is not used; soaking blue cloth in juice is also effective). Apply juice to the five centers (palms, soles, chest)... (Li Shizhen added).