Library

(Recorded in the Middle Category of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)

**Names:** Wei Cao (from *Mingyi Bielu*), Bai Mu (from *Mingyi Bielu*), Chun Cao (from *Mingyi Bielu*), [Yin Wei], Gu Mei. Li Shizhen said: "Wei" means fine or small. Its root is slender and white. According to research: *Erya* states: "[Yin Wei] is spring grass." The pronunciation of "Wei" and "[Yin Wei]" are similar, thus *Baiwei* is a phonetic shift of "[Yin Wei]." *Mingyi Bielu* incorrectly identifies "[Yin Wei]" as the name for *Mangcao*.

**Collection:** *Mingyi Bielu* states: *Baiwei* grows in plains and river valleys. Collect the roots on the third day of the third lunar month and dry them in the shade. Tao Hongjing said: It is found everywhere near inhabited areas. Su Song said: Currently, it is also found in various commanderies of Shaanxi, as well as in Shuzhou, Chuzhou, Runzhou, and Liaozhou. Both stems and leaves are green, resembling willow leaves. It blooms red flowers in June and July, and bears fruit in August. Its roots are yellowish-white, similar to *Niuxi* but shorter and smaller; nowadays, people collect it in August.

**Processing:** Lei Xiao said: Upon collection, soak in rice washing water overnight, remove the root hairs, finely chop on a locust wood cutting board, steam from Si hour to Shen hour, then sun-dry for use. Li Shizhen said: Later generations only wash it with wine before use.

**Flavor and Nature:** Bitter, salty, neutral, non-toxic. *Mingyi Bielu* states: Greatly cold. Xu Zhicai said: Incompatible with Huangqin, Dahuang, Daji, Ganjiang, Dazao, Ganqi, and Shanzhuyu.

**Indications:** Sudden wind-stroke with body heat and limb fullness, sudden confusion and loss of consciousness, mania, delirium, and pathogenic qi invasion, alternating chills and fever with soreness and pain, warm malaria with shivering and regular paroxysms (from *Shennong Bencao Jing*). Treats internal injury leading to dripping discharge, promotes downward movement of water qi, benefits yin qi, and nourishes essence. Long-term use benefits the person (from *Mingyi Bielu*). Treats fright-evil and wind-madness diseases, and various evil spirits and demons (Tao Hongjing). Wind-warmth causing burning heat and excessive sleepiness, as well as hot strangury with enuresis, and traumatic bleeding (Li Shizhen).

**Elucidation:** Li Haogu said: Ancient formulas often used *Baiwei* to treat women's diseases, due to its recorded ability to treat internal injury and dripping discharge.
Li Shizhen said: Ancients frequently used *Baiwei*, but later generations rarely understood it. According to research: Zhang Zhongjing treated postpartum deficiency with vexation and vomiting, stabilizing the middle and boosting qi. In the *Zhupi Wan* formula, he used *Baiwei* and *Guizhi* each in 1 part, *Zhupi* and *Shigao* each in 3 parts, and *Gancao* in 7 parts. Made into large pills with jujube flesh, one pill was dissolved in water and taken per dose. He stated that if there is heat, double the amount of *Baiwei*, indicating that *Baiwei* is cold in nature and acts on the Yangming channel. Xu Zhicai's *Yaodui* states that *Baiwei* is incompatible with *Dazao*, yet this formula uses jujube flesh for the pills; this was likely to prevent the cold-natured herbs from damaging the spleen and stomach. Zhu Gong's *Huo Ren Shu* treats wind-warmth after sweating, where the body remains burning hot, with spontaneous sweating, heaviness, excessive sleepiness, snoring breath, and difficulty speaking; *Baiwei* is also used in the *Weirui Tang*. Sun Simiao's *Qianjin Fang* contains the *Zhaoshu Fahan Baiwei San*.

**Attached Formulas:** Five new ones.
Lung excess with nasal congestion and loss of smell/taste: *Baiwei*, *Beimu*, *Kuandonghua* each 1 liang, *Baibu* 2 liang. Grind into powder. Take 1 qian per dose, washed down with rice drink. (*Puji Fang*) Enuresis in women, regardless of pre- or postpartum: *Baiwei*, *Shaoyao* each 1 liang. Grind into powder. Take one fangcun bi with wine, three times daily. (*Qianjin Fang*)
Blood strangury and hot strangury: Same formula as above. Blood jue in women: A person usually free from illness suddenly appears dead, immobile, eyes closed, mouth clenched, or slightly aware, dizzy and fainting, waking up only after some time. This is called blood jue, also known as depression and dizziness. Excessive sweating leads to blood deficiency, with yang qi rising alone, blocking qi flow, hence the body seems dead. When qi moves and blood returns, yin and yang reconnect, so waking occurs after a while. This condition is particularly common in women. It is suitable to take *Baiwei Tang*: Use *Baiwei* and *Danggui* each 1 liang, *Renshen* half liang, *Gancao* 2.5 qian. Take 5 qian per dose, add two zhan of water, decoct to one zhan, and take warm. (*Benshi Fang*)
Traumatic bleeding: *Baiwei* ground into powder, applied externally. (*Rumen Shiqin*)