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(Shangpin, Middle Grade in *Shennong Bencao Jing*)

**Names:** Zidan (Purple Cinnabar) (*Bielu*), Zicao (Purple Grass) (pronounced 'ao'), Zaicao (*Guangya*, pronounced 'zili'), Miao (*Erya*, pronounced 'miao'), Dixue (Earth Blood) (*Wu Pu*), Yaxiancao (Crow's Grasping Grass).
Li Shizhen says: This herb has purple flowers and a purple root, and can be used to dye purple, hence the name. *Erya* writes it as "Zicao". The Yao and Dong people call it "Yaxiancao".

**Collection and Explanation:** *Bielu* states: Zicao grows in the valleys of Dangshan and the Chu region. The roots are harvested in March and dried in the shade.
Tao Hongjing says: It is now produced in Xiangyang, mostly coming from Xinye in Nanyang. Locals cultivate it; it is the same plant used for dyeing purple today, but it is no longer used in medical prescriptions. *Bowuzhi* states: Zicao from Yangshan in Pingshi is particularly good. That from Wei State dyes a deep black. In recent years, it has also been cultivated in Dongshan, with a color slightly lighter than that from the North.
Su Gong says: It is found everywhere, and some households cultivate it. The seedling resembles Lanxiang (Orchid Fragrance), with a red stem and green nodes. It blooms with purple-white flowers in February. It bears white fruit, which ripens in autumn.
Li Shizhen says: To cultivate Zicao, sow seeds along the ridges in March. Harvest the herb when the seeds mature in September. Harvest the roots around the Spring She festival and dry them in the shade. The root head has white hairs resembling down. If harvested before flowering, the root color is bright and clear; if harvested after flowering, the root color is dark and poor. When harvesting, press flat with a stone and sun-dry. During storage, avoid contact with human urine, donkey or horse manure, and smoke, as all will turn the herb yellow.

**Root**

**Processing:** Lei Xiao says: For use, take one jin of the herb, melt three liang of wax into water, steam the herb mixed with this solution. Once the water is dry, remove the root head and the whiskers on both sides, then finely chop for use.

**Flavor and Nature:** Bitter, Cold, Non-toxic. Zhen Quan says: Sweet, Neutral. Zhang Yuansu says: Bitter, Warm.
Li Shizhen says: Sweet, Salty, Cold. Enters the Pericardium and Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian.

**Indications:** Evil qi in the heart and abdomen, the five jaundices, tonifying the middle and augmenting qi, benefiting the nine orifices, promoting water passages (*Benjing*). Treats abdominal swelling, fullness, and pain. Combined into an ointment, it treats pediatric sores and facial sores (*Bielu*). Treats malignant sores and tinea (Zhen Quan). Treats macules, papules, and smallpox toxins, invigorates blood, cools blood, and benefits the large intestine (Li Shizhen).

**Elucidation:** Su Song says: Zicao was rarely used in ancient formulas. Modern physicians often use it to treat sores and rashes that fail to erupt due to cold damage or seasonal epidemics, using it to promote eruption. *Wei Zhou Duxing Fang* treats pea pox by boiling Zicao decoction for drinking; later generations followed this practice, finding its effect particularly rapid. Li Shizhen says: Zicao is sweet and salty in flavor and cold in nature, entering the Pericardium and the blood aspect of the Liver Meridian. Its efficacy lies primarily in cooling blood and invigorating blood, and benefiting the large and small intestines. Therefore, for eruptions that wish to emerge but have not yet done so, where blood heat and toxin are abundant and stool is constipated, it is suitable for use. For eruptions that have emerged but are purple-black with constipation, it may also be used. However, if the eruptions have emerged and are bright red and active, or white and depressed with free bowel movements, [it should be strictly avoided]. Furthermore, Zeng Shirong's *Huoyou Xinshu* states: Zicao is cold in nature; it can still be used for children with solid Spleen Qi, but for those with deficient Spleen Qi, it may instead cause diarrhea. Ancient formulas only used the root down/hairs, taking advantage of their initial acquisition of Yang Qi, using similarity to trigger similarity, thus used to vent smallpox. People today do not understand this principle and use it indiscriminately, which is incorrect.

**Attached Prescriptions:** Three old, six new. Dissolve smallpox toxin: Zicao 1 qian, Chenpi (Aged Tangerine Peel) 0.5 qian, Congbai (Scallion White) 3 cun. Decoct with fresh drawn water and take orally. Seal the vessel tightly to prevent gas escape, take half he when warm, then even if sores erupt, they will be mild. Do not use if bowel movements are free. Can also be taken as a decoction. (*Jingyan Houfang*)
Smallpox toxin black carbuncle: Zicao 3 qian, Xionghuang (Realgar) 1 qian. Grind into powder, mix with Zhiyan juice (Vermilion Juice), pierce the lesion with a silver hairpin, and apply drops; extremely effective. (*Jijian Fang*)
Carbuncle and ulcer with constipation: Zicao and Gualou Shi (Trichosanthes Fruit) in equal parts, decoct with fresh water and take orally. (*Zhizhi Fang*)
Pediatric white alopecia: Apply juice decocted from Zicao. (*Shenghui Fang*)
Sudden urinary strangury: Zicao 1 liang, grind into powder, take 2 qian with well-water before each meal. (*Shenghui Fang*)
Postpartum dribbling urine: Same formula as above. (*Chanbao*)
Bite from malicious insects: Apply oil decocted from Zicao. (*Shenghui Fang*) Fire-yellow disease with body heat, cooling in the afternoon, red spots on the body resembling black dots, is incurable. Suitable for moxibustion/cauterization on the palms and soles of hands and feet, back center, Baihui (DU20), and Xialian (SI9).
Internal Zicao Decoction: Zicao and Wulan (Isatis Leaf/Root) each 1 liang, Muxiang (Aucklandia Root) and Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome) each 0.5 liang. Coarsely crush and sieve, take 5 qian bi per dose, decoct with water and take orally. (*Sanshiliu Huang Fang*)