Library

[Compendium of Materia Medica]
[Nomenclature] You (pronounced 'You'), Guangming Cao (Light Grass, *Ecliptae Herba*) [from *Bencao Gangmu*].
Li Shizhen stated: The weed *You* flowers but does not bear fruit, hence the character contains 'Xiu' (showy). Its spike resembles a dog's tail, hence the common name Dogtail Grass. Its stem treats eye pain, hence alchemists call it Guangming Cao or Arahana Cao.
[Collection and Explanation] Li Shizhen stated: It grows abundantly in fields, plains, and along walls. The seedlings and leaves are smaller than millet, and the spikes resemble millet, being yellowish-white but sterile. Harvest the stems, store them in tube-shaped containers, and use them to treat eye diseases. The phrase "hating *You* for confusing the seedlings" refers to this plant.
Stem
[Indications] Treats verrucae vulgaris (common warts). Thread hair through the wart, and it will dry up and fall off. For patients with red eyes (conjunctivitis) or trichiasis (inverted eyelashes), evert the eyelid, dip one or two stems in water, and wipe away the stagnant blood; this is very effective (Li Shizhen).

[Newly Revised Materia Medica]
[Nomenclature] Lianzi Cao (Lotus Seed Grass) [from *Xinxiu Bencao*], Hanlian Cao (Dry Lotus Grass) [from *Bencao Tujing*], Motou Cao (Ink Head Grass) [from *Bencao Gangmu*], Mo Cai (Vegetable Ink) [from *Bencao Gangmu*], Husun Tou (Monkey Head) [from *Biyong Fang*], Zhuya Cao (Pig Tooth Grass).
Li Shizhen stated: *Li* refers to the black carp, whose intestines are also black. This herb has soft stems that exude black juice when broken, hence the name, commonly called Mo Cai. Its seeds are fine and resemble the shape of a lotus pod, hence the name 'Lian'.
[Collection and Explanation] Su Gong stated: *Li Chang* grows in low, wet areas and is abundant in ditches everywhere. The seedlings resemble *Inula japonica*. Harvest in February and August, and dry in the shade.
Su Song stated: It is found everywhere, especially in the south. There are two varieties: one has leaves resembling willow leaves with a glossy surface, stems like *Portulaca oleracea*, growing one to two feet tall, opening small white flowers, with fruits resembling small lotus pods; this is the variety Su Gong said resembled *Inula*. The other variety has withered and thin stems, resembling yellow lotus flowers, with round, pod-like fruits; southerners call it Lianqiao. Both varieties exude juice when stems are broken, which turns black shortly after, commonly known as Hanlian Zi or Jinling Cao.
Li Shizhen stated: There are two types of Hanlian: one with seedlings resembling *Inula* and small white flowers is true *Li Chang*; the other with yellow-purple flowers and lotus-pod-like fruits is Small Lianqiao, used by alchemists, see the entry for Lianqiao.
Herb
[Properties and Flavor] Sweet, sour, neutral, non-toxic.
[Indications] Treats bloody dysentery. For bleeding from acupuncture sores that cannot be stopped, apply externally to stop immediately. Juice applied to eyebrows and hair promotes rapid and dense growth [from *Xinxiu Bencao*].
Darkens beard and hair, tonifies Kidney Yin (Li Shizhen). Stops bleeding, discharges pus, unblocks the Small Intestine, applies to all sores and leech bites (Da Ming). Paste instilled into the nose replenishes the brain (Xiao Bing).
[Attached Prescriptions] One old prescription, eleven new prescriptions.
Jinling Jian, benefits beard and hair, turns white to black: Take one cheng of Jinling Cao, harvested after June, selecting green, tender parts without soil. Do not wash. Remove yellow leaves, pound thoroughly, squeeze juice using new cloth, filter through gauze, place in an oil-resistant vessel, and decoct in sunlight for five days. Then take one jin of ginger juice and one jin of white honey, mix, and decoct in sunlight, stirring constantly with a wooden comb until it resembles thin syrup; the medicine is ready. Take one spoon each morning and afternoon, dissolved in a cup of warm wine. If making pills, decoct further in sunlight until pillable, size of Sophora seeds, take thirty pills per dose. Best to prepare in large quantities during season; effect is very rapid (Sun Simiao, *Qianjin Yueling Fang*).
Blacken beard and strengthen teeth: *Shesheng Miaoyong Fang*: In July, take one jin of Hanlian Cao (with roots) (washed with pure wine), four liang of Qingyan (green salt) (marinated for three nights). Put together with juice into an oil pan, stir-fry until preserved nature remains, grind into powder. Use daily to brush teeth, swallowing saliva. Another method: Extract Hanlian juice, refine with salt until dry, grind into powder for brushing teeth. *Shouqin Yanglao Xinshu* Hanlian San: Blackens beard and strengthens teeth. Wen Wei said: Chancellor Lu Duan used this prescription at age seventy with no white hair, begged for it and finally obtained it. Later met Zhang Jingli Chaoqing, who transmitted the proportions. Hanlian Cao 1.5 liang, Mazhu Bing (hemp cake) 3 liang, Shengma and Qingyan 3.5 liang each, Hezi (with core) 20 pieces, Zaojiao 3 sticks, Yue Cansha (silkworm sand) 2 liang. Grind into powder, make pills the size of marbles using thin vinegar paste, dry, put in clay bottle, fire-roast until smoke appears preserving nature, take out and grind. Use daily to brush teeth.
Oblique and frontal headache: Instill *Li Chang* juice into the nose (*Shengji Zonglu*).
All eye diseases, nebula obstruction, cools the brain, treats headache, promotes hair growth. Prepare on the fifth day of the fifth month at dawn: One handful of Lianzi Cao, one handful of Lan Ye (Isatis leaf), one jin of oil. Soak together, seal tightly for forty-nine days. Before sleep, use an iron spoon to apply medicine and massage the vertex forty-nine times; long-term use is very good (*Shengji Zonglu*).
Tie arm to cure malaria: Pound Hanlian Cao until mashed, place on male left hand or female right hand, over the Cun Kou pulse point, press with ancient coins, tie with cloth. After a while, small blisters appear, called Tian Jiu (Heavenly Moxibustion). The malaria stops, very effective (Wang Zhizhong, *Zisheng Jing*).
Hematuria: Jinling Cao (also called Motou Cao) and Cheqian Cao in equal parts, pound to obtain natural juice, take three cups on an empty stomach, stop when cured (*Yixue Zhengchuan*).
Changfeng and Zangdu, continuous lower bleeding: Bake Hanlian Zi Cao on tiles, grind into powder. Take two qian per dose, washed down with rice drink (*Jiacang Jingyan Fang*).
Hemorrhoids and fistulas with sores: One bunch of Hanlian Cao, wash clean with roots and hairs, pound in stone mortar into paste, pour in one cup of very hot wine, take juice internally, apply residue externally. Severe cases resolve within three doses. Wang Mingfeng, Vice Minister of Imperial Carriages, suffered from this, could only move with a cane, recovered after taking it. Repeated treatments verified (Liu Songshi, *Baoshoutang Fang*).
Carbuncles and malignant swellings: Harvest Hanlian Cao on the fifth day of the fifth month, dry in shade, expose to dew overnight. When disease occurs, chew one leaf and paste it, protect externally with Xiaodu Gao. Carbuncle falls off in two to three days (*Shengji Zonglu*).
Wind toothache: Husun Tou Cao, add a little salt, rub in palm until pain stops (*Jixuan Fang*).