Library

[Nomenclature] Jifulan (Compendium of Materia Medica), Safalang.

[Collected Explanations] Li Shizhen stated: Saffron originates from the regions of Western Fan Huihui and Tianfang, which is the same as the red safflower found in those areas.
During the Yuan Dynasty, it was used in culinary preparations. According to research: Zhang Hua's *Bowuzhi* records that Zhang Qian obtained red safflower seeds from the Western Regions; thus, this is the same plant, with slight variations due to different geographical locations and climatic conditions.

[Flavor and Properties] Sweet in taste, neutral in nature, non-toxic.

[Therapeutic Actions] Treats mental depression and accumulation, stagnation of Qi causing chest tightness, and promotes blood circulation. Long-term consumption brings joy to the heart. It also treats palpitations and fright (supplemented by Li Shizhen).

[Attached Prescriptions] One new prescription.
Transmitted by people... (Wang Xi, *Medical...* [Text incomplete])

[Nomenclature] She.
Li Shizhen stated: According to Fu Hou's *Zhonghua Gujin Zhu*, rouge originated during the reign of King Zhou of Shang. It was made by condensing the juice of red safflower. Mixed with grease for women's facial cosmetics, produced in the Yan region, hence named "Yanzhi" (Rouge). Sometimes written as "She". The Xiongnu people called their wives "Yanzhi" (Yanzhi), with a pronunciation similar to Yanzhi, meaning its color is as lovely as rouge. Commonly written as "Yanzhi" or "Yanzhi" are incorrect.

[Collected Explanations] Li Shizhen stated: There are four types of rouge:
One type is made by dyeing Hu powder (white lead powder) with red safflower juice. This is what Su E's *Yanyi* refers to as having leaves like thistle and flowers like cattail, produced in the West, known in China as red safflower, used to dye powder for women's complexion.
Another type is made by dyeing powder with the juice of mountain yanzhi flowers. This corresponds to the description in Duan Gonglu's *Buhu Lu*: flowers growing in clusters in the mountains of Duanzhou, leaves resembling indigo, blooming in the first lunar month like smartweed. Locals harvest the buds to make rouge powder, which can also dye silk fabrics, similar to red safflower.
A third type is made from the juice of pomegranate flowers, recorded in Zheng Qian's *Hu Bencao*.
A fourth type is made by dyeing cotton with dragon's blood resin, called Hu Yanzhi, referring to the purple stem mentioned in Li Xun's *Nanhai Yao...*
Generally, all these can be used in medicines treating blood disorders. Additionally, the seeds of Malabar spinach can have their juice extracted and mixed with powder for facial application, also called Hu Yanzhi, see the Vegetable Section.

[Flavor and Properties] Sweet in taste, neutral in nature, non-toxic.

[Therapeutic Actions] Treats pediatric ear diseases; drip the infused juice into the ear (*Kaibao Bencao*). Promotes blood circulation and resolves toxin from smallpox (supplemented by Li Shizhen).

[Attached Prescriptions] Five new prescriptions.
Infant thrush (white patches like paper): Use raw rouge, mix with breast milk, apply externally. Effective overnight. For boys, use female breast milk; for girls, use male breast milk. (*Jijian Fang*)
Fistula swelling and pain: Seven pig gallbladders, ten pieces of cotton rouge washed with water, mix evenly, apply seven times until cured. (*Jiuji Fang*)
Preventing smallpox lesions from entering the eyes: Chew rouge to extract juice and apply to the eyes. (*Jijian Fang*)
Smallpox lesions sinking inward: Three qian of dry rouge, one walnut (roasted until carbonized but retaining efficacy), grind into powder. Take one qian with wine decocted with coriander, take again for effect. (*Jiuji Fang*)