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[Loulu] (Pronounced 'ao'. Listed as Lower Grade in *Bie Lu*).
[Names] Gou, [Missing Character] (*Erya*), Kuban.
Li Shizhen said: Plants in their early stage are called "[Missing Character]". This herb can be eaten when young, hence its name.
[Collected Explanations] Tao Hongjing said: Loulu is found everywhere; people in the north take the stems and eat them raw.
Su Baosheng said: It grows in low and damp places everywhere. The stem is round and thornless, edible raw; the seeds resemble those of Cirsium japonicum (Maoji). Collect the herbs on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month and dry them in the sun.
Su Gong said: What people nowadays call Loulu is incorrect.
Li Shizhen said: The "Gou" and "[Missing Character]" mentioned in *Erya* refer to this Kuban. Its root is as thick as a thumb, hollow inside, with moss-like growths at the stem tip resembling Cirsium; it is edible when newly sprouted. Xu Shen stated in *Shuowen Jiezi*: People in Jiangnan eat it to direct Qi downward. Nowadays, people in eastern Zhejiang pick its tender shoots during the Qingming Festival to eat, claiming it prevents sores and boils for a year. It can also be crushed for juice and cooked with rice; the color remains clear and does not spoil over time. *Zaohua Zhinan* states: Larger ones are called Kuji, with leaves like Di[Missing Character]; those without flowers or fruits are called Dichangcao, with juice as bitter as gallbladder bile. It grows in wet places everywhere and can be used in household stoves.
[Aroma and Flavor] Bitter, slightly cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Eczema caused by lacquer affecting the face, eyes, and whole body. Burn to ash and apply topically, or eat raw (*Bie Lu*). Burn to ash to treat metal wounds (Jinchuang) and erysipelas (Dandu) (*Tang Bencao*). Decoct to wash hemorrhoids,

[Loulu] (Listed as Upper Grade in *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
[Names] Yelan (*Shennong Bencao Jing*), Jia Hao (Su Gong), [Missing Character].
Li Shizhen said: The dark northwest corner of a house is called "Lou"; anything black is called "Lu". This herb turns black after autumn, unlike other grasses, hence the name Loulu. *Tang Yun* writes it as KT; its pods resemble hemp, hence the common name Gui Youma (Ghost Sesame).
[Collected Explanations] *Bie Lu* states: Loulu grows in the valleys of Qiao Mountain. Collect the roots in August and dry them in the shade.
Tao Hongjing said: Qiao Mountain should be where the Yellow Emperor was buried, located in Shang Commandery. It is now produced near the roads. Market vendors use the herbs. In folk practice, the root is named Luli Gen, rubbed with vinegar to treat sores and scabies.
Su Gong said: This medicine is commonly known as Jia Hao. The stems and leaves resemble Artemisia lavandulaefolia (Baihao), with yellow flowers and pods. The pods are long like fine hemp pods, about the thickness of a chopstick, with four or five segments. After July and August, they turn black, distinct from other grasses, belonging to the Artemisia category. Usually, the stems, leaves, and seeds are used; roots are rarely seen in use. The Luli referred to is called Mulilu in southern mountains, which is toxic and is not Loulu. Nowadays, people mistake Cirsium maackii (Maji) resembling Kuban for Loulu, which is also incorrect.
Kou Zongshi said: Notes in another edition state that Loulu stems are as thick as chopsticks, 4-5 chi high, with seed capsules resembling sesame pods but smaller. People in Jiangdong use the herbs, which are superior to roots. Those from Jiangning and Shangdang are excellent. Tao's Luli and Su's Mulilu are incorrect. Loulu is distinct.
Chen Cangqi said: Southerners use the herbs, northerners use the roots. It grows like a tree, similar to Cornus officinalis (Zhuyu), 2-3 chi high, toxic, kills gu poison, and mountain people use it to wash sores and scabies.
Su Baosheng said: Leaves resemble Polygala sibirica (Jiaohao); most abundant in low areas of Caozhou and Yanzhou. Collect stems in June and July, dry in the sun, turning darker than other grasses.
Meng Shen said: Flowers and herbs are both usable. Shape and flavor resemble dried Arctium lappa (Niubang), with white flower heads.
Su Song said: Now found in prefectures east of Bian, as well as Qinzhou and Haizhou. Old descriptions say stems and leaves resemble Baihao, yellow flowers with pods, stems chopstick-thick, capsules small like sesame. Among current illustrations, only those from Danzhou are somewhat similar; Yizhou's look like Peony; Qinzhou's resemble single-petal chrysanthemum, purple, 5-7 branches on one stalk; Haizhou's are purple-blue, like single-petal lotus, with white fuzz below the calyx and around the root. Roots are thin like Vitex rotundifolia (Manjing) and resemble scallion roots, black, called Laowenghua by Huaidian people. Although flowers differ among the three regions, leaves are similar, except Qinzhou and Haizhou have serrated leaves. How should physicians choose? Follow old texts; Danzhou origin is best. Additionally, Feilian is also named Loulu in materia medica, said to resemble Kuban. Its root is white inside and black outside when fresh, black like Scrophularia ningpoensis (Xuanshen) when dry. Collect flowers in July-August, dry in shade. This description is close to Qinzhou and Haizhou illustrations, but locals there only call it Loulu, not Feilian.
Zhang Gao said: One variety looks exactly like Loulu but tastes bitter and sour; mistaken ingestion causes persistent vomiting.
Li Shizhen said: According to Shen Kuo's *Bitan*, what physicians currently use as Loulu is actually Feilian. Feilian, also called Loulu, has herbs resembling Kuban and roots like Arctium with cottony heads; roots are collected. What Fujian calls Loulu has stems like sesame, 6-7 cun high, turning black as lacquer in late autumn; herbs are collected, which is true Loulu. See Feilian entry for details.
[Preparation] Zhang Gao said: Upon collecting Loulu, cut finely, steam with raw Licorice root opposite each other from Si hour to Shen hour, pick out and dry for use.
[Aroma and Flavor] Bitter, salty, cold, non-toxic. *Bie Lu* says: Very cold. Chen Cangqi says: Toxic.
Zhang Gao says: Non-toxic. It is a principal herb of the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian.
Meng Shen says: Forsythia suspensa (Lianqiao) acts as its guide drug.
[Indications] Skin heat toxins, malignant sores, carbuncles, hemorrhoids, damp bi syndrome, promotes lactation. Long-term use lightens the body, benefits Qi, clarifies ears and eyes, prevents aging and prolongs life (*Shennong Bencao Jing*). Stops enuresis, treats hot sores itching like millet beans, can be used as a bath decoction (*Tang Bencao*). Treats wind-induced red eyes, childhood high fever, trauma, reconnects bones and tendons, mastitis, scrofula, metal wounds, stops bleeding, expels pus, nourishes blood and flesh, unblocks meridians (*Tang Bencao*).
[Elucidation] Tao Hongjing said: This herb is beneficial for long-term use, yet rarely used in longevity formulas. Those from nearby regions only treat sores and scabies; market vendors use the herbs.
Loulu enters the Hand and Foot Yangming meridians. Ancient formulas for carbuncles and back abscesses prioritize Loulu Tang. Pang Anchang's *Shanghan Lun* uses Loulu leaves for carbuncles and preventing seasonal pox heat, substituting Gardenia jasminoides (Shanzhizi) if unavailable, utilizing its cold nature to resolve heat, likely unaware of its entry into the Yangming meridian.
[Attached Prescriptions] Two old, six new.
Roundworms in abdomen: Powder Loulu, mix with dough into a square-inch dose, take orally (*Waitai Miyao*).
Intermittent dysentery, imbalance of cold and heat: Pound 1 liang of Loulu into powder. Take 1 qian per dose, cook with 1 liang pork liver and a little salt in water until done, eat on an empty stomach (*Shenghui Fang*).
[Missing Character]: Mix half the medicinal powder, boil into paste, mix with remaining powder, make pills size of wutze seeds, take 30 pills with warm water (*Shengji Zonglu*).
Leukorrhea postpartum: Same formula as above.
Insufficient lactation due to qi and vessel obstruction, also treats meridian stagnation, breast distension and pain, pathogenic accumulation forming abscesses, natural internal resolution upon taking: 2.5 liang Loulu, 10 snake skins (charred), 10 Trichosanthes kirilowii (Gualu) (charred retaining carbon). Powderize. Take 2 qian per dose, mixed with warm wine, follow with hot soup later, stop when flow is established (*Heji Jufang*). Joint pain from Li-jie wind, tendon contraction: Guseng San: Use 0.5 liang Loulu (bran-fried), 0.5 liang Earthworm (Di Long, earth removed and fried). Powderize. Extract juice from 2 liang ginger, add 3 liang honey, boil 3-5 times, add 5 he of good wine. Take 3 cups, mix with 1 qian powder, drink warm (*Shengji Zonglu*).
All carbuncles and back abscesses, within two days of onset, presenting heat signs, should promptly take Loulu Tang to reduce toxicity and drain pus; it is a formula to vent heat and extract toxins, stopping when heat subsides: 0.5 liang Loulu, 1 liang Rhubarb (Da Huang, lightly fried), powderize finely. Take 2 qian per dose, mixed with Ginger and Jujube decoction (Li Xun *Yongju Jiyan Fang*).
White tinea capitis: Collect Loulu in May, burn to ash, mix with pig fat and apply (*Shengji Zonglu*).