（音芹。宋《图经》）
【释名】赤芹（《纲目》）、蜀芹（《图经》）、楚葵（同上）、苔菜（同上）、水卜菜。
时珍曰∶堇、蕲、芹、 ，四字一义也。详下。
【集解】颂曰∶紫堇，生江南吴兴郡。淮南名楚葵，宜春郡名蜀芹，豫章郡名苔菜，晋
陵郡名水卜菜也。
时珍曰∶苏颂之说，出于唐玄宗《天宝单方》中，不具紫堇形状。今按∶轩辕述《宝藏
论》云∶赤芹即紫芹也，生水滨。叶形如赤芍药，青色，长三寸许，叶上黄斑，味苦涩。其
汁可以煮雌、制汞、伏朱砂、擒三黄，号为起贫草。又土宿真君本草云∶赤芹生阴崖陂泽近
水石间，状类赤芍药。其叶深绿而背甚赤，茎叶似荞麦，花红可爱，结实亦如 荞麦。其根
似蜘蛛，嚼之极酸苦涩。江淮人三、四月采苗，当蔬食之。南方颇少，太行、王屋诸山最多
也。
苗
【气味】酸，平，微毒。
花
【气味】酸，微温，无毒。
【主治】大人、小儿脱肛（苏颂）。
【附方】旧一。
脱肛，凡大人、小儿脱肛，每天冷及吃冷食，即暴痢不止，肛则下脱，久疗不瘥者∶春
间收紫堇花二斤，曝干为散，加磁毛末七两，相和研细。涂肛上纳入，即使人 冷水于面上，
即吸入肠中。每日一涂药 面，不过六、七度即瘥矣。又以热酒半升，和散一方寸匕，空腹
服之，日再服。渐加至二方寸匕，以瘥为度。若五岁以下小儿，即以半杏子许，和酒服之。
忌生冷、陈仓米等物。（《天宝单方》）
(Sound same as "Qin". From Song Dynasty *Tu Jing Ben Cao* [Illustrated Materia Medica])
[Names] Chi Qin (Red Celery) (*Ben Cao Gang Mu* [Compendium of Materia Medica]), Shu Qin (Sichuan Celery) (*Tu Jing*), Chu Kui (Chu Basil), Tai Cai (Moss Vegetable) (ibid.), Shui Bu Cai.
Li Shizhen said: The characters Jin, Qi, Qin, and are semantically identical. See below for details.
[Collected Explanations] Su Song said: Zi Jin (Corydalis decumbens) grows in Wuxing Commandery, Jiangnan. In Huainan it is called Chu Kui; in Yichun Commandery it is called Shu Qin; in Yuzhang Commandery it is called Tai Cai; in Jinling Commandery it is called Shui Bu Cai.
Li Shizhen said: Su Song's statement originates from the *Tian Bao Dan Fang* [Single Prescriptions of Tianbao Era] during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, but does not fully describe the morphology of Zi Jin. Current investigation: Xuanyuan stated in *Bao Zang Lun* [Treatise on Precious Treasures]: Chi Qin is the same as Zi Qin (Purple Celery), growing by the water. The leaf shape resembles Chi Shaoyao (Red Peony Root), green in color, about three cun long, with yellow spots on the leaves, tasting bitter and astringent. Its juice can be used to process Fumini (Realgar), refine Mercury, settle Zhusha (Cinnabar), and control San Huang (Three Yellows), known as the herb that alleviates poverty. Additionally, *Tu Su Zhen Jun Ben Cao* states: Chi Qin grows in shady cliffs, ponds, and marshes near stones by the water, resembling Chi Shaoyao in form. Its leaves are dark green with very red undersides; the stems and leaves resemble Qiaomai (Buckwheat); the flowers are lovely red; the fruit also resembles Buckwheat. Its root resembles a spider; when chewed, it is extremely sour, bitter, and astringent. People in the Jianghuai region harvest the seedlings in March and April to eat as vegetables. It is scarce in the South but most abundant in the Taihang Mountains, Wangwu Mountains, and other ranges.
[Seedling]
[Flavor and Nature] Sour, neutral, slightly toxic.
[Flower]
[Flavor and Nature] Sour, slightly warm, non-toxic.
[Indications] Treats prolapse of the rectum in adults and children (recorded by Su Song).
[Attached Prescriptions] One old prescription.
Rectal Prolapse: For any case of adult or pediatric rectal prolapse, where sudden dysentery occurs due to cold weather or consumption of cold food, leading to persistent prolapse unresponsive to long-term treatment: Collect two jin of Zi Jin flowers in spring, dry them thoroughly, and grind into powder. Add seven liang of pulverized magnetic hair (from lodestone), mix and grind finely. Apply to the anus and insert manually, while simultaneously pouring cold water on the person's face, which will cause the intestine to retract. Apply this medicine once daily; no more than six or seven applications are needed for recovery. Alternatively, take half a sheng of hot wine mixed with one fangcun bi [unit of measure, approx. 2-3 grams] of the powder, taken on an empty stomach, twice daily. Gradually increase to two fangcun bi, stopping when cured. For children under five years old, administer an amount equivalent to half an apricot kernel mixed with wine. Avoid raw/cold foods and aged grain rice. (*Tian Bao Dan Fang*)