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(From *Bencao Gangmu* [Compendium of Materia Medica])

[Names] (Identical to "Ruo" [Bamboo leaf]),
Li Shizhen stated: Ruo bamboo resembles bamboo but is weaker, hence the name. Because it grows in sparse and distant places, it is also called "Liao".

[Collection and Explanation] Li Shizhen stated: Ruo grows in flat, marshy areas in the southern regions. Its roots and stems resemble small bamboo; its nodes, husks, and leaves resemble reeds and silvergrass, but the upper surface of the leaves is green while the underside is pale. It is soft yet tough, with old and new leaves replacing each other, remaining evergreen throughout the four seasons. People in the south harvest the leaves to make rain hats, wrap tea and salt, package rice dumplings (Zongzi), and women use them as insoles for shoes.

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

[Indications] Hematemesis (vomiting blood), epistaxis (nosebleed), hemoptysis (coughing up blood), and hematochezia (blood in stool) in both men and women. The leaves should be charred to retain their properties (burnt to charcoal while keeping internal structure intact) and taken orally with warm water, one Qianbi dose. It can also promote urination, benefit Lung Qi, treat throat obstruction (Hou Bi), and reduce carbuncles and swellings (Li Shizhen).

[Attached Prescriptions] Twelve new prescriptions.

All eye diseases: Char the bamboo hat made of Ruo leaves, leach the ash with water to obtain the juice, and wash the eyes. Effect will be seen after prolonged use. (*Jingyan Fang* [Experience Formula])

Throat obstruction and pain: Equal parts of Ruo leaves and Jiedixin Cao (Herba Centipedae, Centipeda grass) charred to ash. Blow the powder into the affected area; very effective. (*Jijian Fang* [Collected Simple Formulas])

Sudden ear pain or redness and swelling inside the ear: Take the dark green Ruo leaves that have been exposed to frost and are beginning to decay, char them to retain properties, and grind into powder. Apply into the ear canal; pain stops immediately. (Yang Qi, *Jianbian Fang* [Convenient and Simple Formulas])

Lung congestion with epistaxis: Ruo leaves (charred to ash) 3 Qian, white flour 3 Qian. Grind uniformly and take 2 Qian with well water. (*Shengji Zonglu* [General Records of the Holy Emperor's Medical Repository])

Ruo leaf ash and silkworm paper ash in equal parts, ground into powder. Take 2 Qian per dose with rice drink. (*Shengji Zonglu*)

Changfeng Bianxue (Intestinal wind with bloody stool): Ruo leaves from tea baskets, charred to retain properties. Take 3 spoons per dose with glutinous rice soup on an empty stomach. Optionally add a small amount of Muxiang (Moschus, Musk). (*Baiyi Xuanfang* [Selected Formulas from Hundred Considerations])

Xuelin (Bloody strangury) in men and women, also treats Wulin (Five types of strangury): Ruo leaves from the necks of wine bottles used for boiling wine over many years (three to ten years old, especially good). Use seven pieces per dose, char to retain properties, add a small amount of Muxiang (Moschus, Musk), and take with aged rice drink, three times daily. Someone suffering from this was cured after two doses. In Fujian, such leaves are common on bottles used for summer wine brewing. (*Baiyi Xuanfang*)

Astringent and obstructed urination: Dried Ruo leaves 1 Liang (charred to ash), Huashi (Talcum, Talc) 0.5 Liang, ground into powder. Take 3 Qian per dose with rice drink. (*Puji Fang* [Universal Benevolent Prescriptions])

Zhuan Pao (Urinary retention/Cystocele) in men and women: Same method as above.

Chunai (Acute mastitis/Engorgement) and Ru Yong (Breast abscess): Char the Ruo leaves used for wrapping Zongzi on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, take 2 Qian with wine; the swelling disperses immediately. Repeatedly effective. (*Jiji Xianfang* [Urgent Immortal Formulas])

Dou Chuang Dao Ye (Inverted or collapsed pox lesions): Ruo leaf ash 1 Qian, Muxiang (Moschus, Musk) a small amount. Take with wine. (Zhang Degong, *Douzhen Bianlan Fang* [Practical Formulas for Pox and Rash])