（《本经》下品）
【释名】莞草（《别录》）、卑共（《别录》）。
时珍曰∶茵芋本作因预，未详其义。莞草与莆莞名同。
【集解】《别录》曰∶茵芋生太山川谷。三月三日采叶，阴干。
弘景曰∶好者出彭城，今近道亦有。茎叶状似莽草而细软，连细茎采之。方用甚稀，惟
合疗风酒。
大明曰∶出自海盐。形似石南，树生，叶浓，五、六、七月采。
颂曰∶今雍州、绛州、华州、杭州亦有之。春生苗，高三、四尺，茎赤。叶似石榴而短
浓，又似石南叶。四月开细白花，五月结实。三月、四月、七月采茎叶，日干。
茎、叶
【气味】苦，温，有毒。《别录》曰∶微温，有毒。
权曰∶苦、辛，有小毒。
【主治】五脏邪气，心腹寒热，羸瘦，如疟状，发作有时，诸关节风湿痹痛（《本经》）。
疗久风湿，走四肢，脚弱（《别录》）。
治男子女人软脚毒风，拘急挛痛（甄权）。一切冷风，筋骨怯弱羸颤。入药炙用
【发明】时珍曰∶《千金》、《外台》诸古方，治风痫有茵芋丸；治风痹有茵芋酒；治妇
人产后中风有茵芋膏，风湿诸方多用之。茵芋、石南、莽草皆古人治风妙品，而近世罕知，
亦医家疏缺也。
【附方】旧一，新二。
茵芋酒，治贼风，手足枯痹拘挛∶用茵芋、附子、天雄、乌头、秦艽、女萎、防风、防
己、石南叶、踯躅花、细辛、桂心各一两，十二味切，以绢袋盛，清酒一斗渍之。冬七、夏
三、春秋五日，药成。每服一合，日二服，以微痹为度。（方出胡洽居士《百病方》、《图经
本草》）茵芋丸，治风气积滞成香港脚，发则痛者∶茵芋叶、炒薏苡仁各半两，郁李仁一两，
牵牛子三两，朱砂末半两，上为末，炼蜜丸如梧子大。每服二十丸，五更，姜枣汤下，取利。
未利再服，取快。（《本事方》）
产后中风∶茵芋五两，木防己半斤，苦酒九升，渍一宿。猪脂四斤，煎三上三下，膏成。
炙手热摩千遍。（《千金方》）
(Recorded in the Lower Grade of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
[Names] Wancao (from *Mingyi Bielu*), Beigong (from *Mingyi Bielu*).
Li Shizhen stated: Yin Yu was originally written as "Yin Yu" (due yu), and its meaning is unknown. Wancao shares the same name as Puguang.
[Collection and Explanation] *Mingyi Bielu* states: Yin Yu grows in the valleys of Mount Tai. The leaves are harvested on the third day of the third lunar month and dried in the shade.
Tao Hongjing stated: The best quality comes from Pengcheng, and it is now also found along nearby routes. The stems and leaves resemble those of Mang Cao (*Dichroa febrifuga*) but are finer and softer; they are harvested together with the fine stems. It is rarely used in prescriptions, only for compounding wines to treat wind-dampness.
Meng Shen stated: It originates from Haiyan. Its shape resembles Shi Nan (*Acanthopanax sessiliflorus*); it is a tree with dense leaves, harvested in the fifth, sixth, and seventh lunar months.
Su Song stated: It is now also found in Yongzhou, Jiangzhou, Huazhou, and Hangzhou. Sprouts emerge in spring, growing three to four chi high, with red stems. The leaves resemble pomegranate leaves but are shorter and denser, and also somewhat like Shi Nan leaves. Small white flowers bloom in the fourth lunar month, and fruits mature in the fifth. The stems and leaves are harvested in the third, fourth, and seventh lunar months and sun-dried.
(The text notes "Stems and Leaves" as the medicinal parts.)
[Flavor and Properties] Bitter, warm, toxic. *Mingyi Bielu* states: Slightly warm, toxic.
Zhen Quan stated: Bitter, acrid, slightly toxic.
[Indications] Evil qi of the five zang organs, cold and heat alternating in the heart and abdomen, emaciation and weakness, symptoms resembling malaria with regular paroxysms, and rheumatic bi-pain in various joints (from *Shennong Bencao Jing*).
Treats chronic wind-dampness wandering through the four limbs, causing weakness in the feet (from *Mingyi Bielu*).
Treats soft-leg toxic wind in men and women, characterized by stiffness, spasm, and pain (from Zhen Quan). Treats all types of cold wind causing weak sinews and bones, trembling, and emaciation. For medicinal use, it must be processed by roasting.
[Elucidation] Li Shizhen stated: Ancient formulas such as those in *Qianjin Fang* and *Waitai Miyao* include Yin Yu Wan for treating wind-phrenzy; Yin Yu Jiu for treating wind-bi; and Yin Yu Gao for treating postpartum wind-stroke. Many formulas for wind-dampness make use of this herb. Yin Yu, Shi Nan, and Mang Cao are all excellent herbs for treating wind conditions according to ancient practitioners, yet they are rarely known in modern times, which constitutes an omission by physicians.
[Attached Prescriptions] One old prescription, two new prescriptions.
Yin Yu Jiu (Cinchona Twig Wine): Treats sudden wind pathogens (Ze Feng), resulting in withered numbness and spasms of the hands and feet. Use Yin Yu, Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root), Tianxiong (Prepared Aconite Lateral Root), Wutou (Aconite Root), Qin Jiao (Gentiana Macrophylla Root), Nuwei (Cissampelos Rhizome), Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root), Fangji (Stephania Tetrandra Root), Shi Nan Ye (Acanthopanax Leaf), Zhizhu Hua (Rhododendron Flower), Xixin (Asarum Root), and Guixin (Cinnamon Bark), each one liang. Cut the twelve ingredients, place them in a silk bag, and soak in one dou of clear wine. Soak for seven days in winter, three days in summer, and five days in spring and autumn. The medicine is ready. Take one ge per dose, twice daily, until a slight numbness is felt. (Prescription from Hu Qiajushi's *Baibing Fang* and *Tujing Bencao*)
Yin Yu Wan (Cinchona Twig Pill): Treats wind-pathogen accumulation leading to Hongxiangjiao (podagra/gout), which causes pain upon onset. Use Yin Yu Ye (Cinchona Twig Leaf) and Chao Yiyiren (Fried Coix Seed), each half liang; Yuliren (Prunus Armeniaca Seed), one liang; Qianniu Zi (Pharbitis Seed), three liang; Zhusha Mo (Cinnabar Powder), half liang. Grind the above into powder, mix with refined honey, and form pills the size of wu zi (wuju fruit seeds). Take twenty pills at wu geng (3–5 AM), washed down with ginger and jujube decoction, aiming for purgation. If no purgation occurs, take again until relief is achieved. (From *Benshi Fang*)
Postpartum Wind-Stroke: Yin Wu liang, Mu Fangji (Stephania tetrandra root), nine sheng of kujiu (vinegar), soaked overnight. Add four jin of pork lard, and decoct using the "three ups and three downs" method until a plaster is formed. Heat the plaster by hand and massage the affected area one thousand times. (From *Qianjin Fang*)