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(From *Tang Bencao*)
[Correction]
[Names] Le Cao (from *Bielu*); Gele Man (from *Shu Tujing*).
Li Shizhen said: This herb has fine thorns on its stems, which tend to snag human skin, hence the name "Le Cao" (Hooking Grass). It is erroneously called "Lv Cao", and also erroneously as "Lai Mei"; these are all variations in local dialects. The "Le Cao" mentioned in *Bielu* refers to this plant; they are now combined into one entry.
[Collection of Explanations] Su Gong said: "Lv Cao" grows beside old ruins and roads. Its leaves resemble those of castor bean (*Ricinus communis*) but are smaller and thinner, growing as a vine with fine thorns. It is also called Ge Man. Ancient prescriptions also used it occasionally.
Kou Zongshi said: It is abundant in wild areas. The leaves resemble hemp, the flowers are yellowish-white, and the seeds resemble hemp seeds. The common name is Gele Man. The stems and leaves are harvested in summer and dried for use.
*Bielu* states: Le Cao grows in mountain valleys and resembles Trichosanthes fruit (*Gualou*).
Li Shizhen said: Sprouts emerge in February, with fine thorns on the stems. Leaves grow opposite each other at nodes; each leaf has five pointed tips, slightly resembling castor bean leaves but with fine serrations. In August and September, small purple flowers bloom in clusters. The fruits resemble yellow hemp seeds.
[Flavor and Properties] Sweet, bitter, cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Le Cao: Treats blood stasis, stops seminal emission and excessive qi (from *Bielu*). Lv Cao: Treats the five types of strangury (Wu Lin), promotes urination, stops watery dysentery, and eliminates deficiency heat and thirst caused by malaria. Decocted or freshly crushed juice is taken orally (Su Gong). One he of fresh juice treats deficiency heat after sweating from Shanghan (Chen Cheng). Treats gao lin (fatty strangury), chronic dysentery, scabies, and leprosy-like sores (Su Song). Moistens the Sanjiao (Triple Burner), aids digestion of grains, benefits the five Zang organs, expels nine types of parasites, prevents warm epidemic diseases, and is applied externally for snake and scorpion bites (Li Shizhen).
[Attached Prescriptions] Three old, six new.
Urinary calculi (Shi Lin): Dig up the roots of Ge Lv, break them, and catch the juice in a cup placed under the break. Take one sheng; the stone should pass. If not, take again (from *Fan Wang Fang*).
Fatty strangury (Gao Lin): Crush fresh Lv Cao to obtain three sheng of juice, mix with two he of vinegar, and take in one dose. White fluid should be excreted in urine.
Hematuria and dribbling strangury: Same method as above. For postpartum patients with bloody sweat staining clothes red: Prescription same as above.
Chronic dysentery leading to gan syndrome: Powder the Gele Man vines, blow the powder into the anus via a tube. After no more than a few applications, the effect is miraculous.
New or chronic malaria: Use one handful of Ge Lv Cao (also known as Le Man, remove both ends, use dried material in autumn/winter) and equal parts of Hengshan powder. Soak the herbs in two large cups of light grain water, leave exposed under stars and moon overnight.
Generalized leprosy-like sores: One dan of Lv Cao. Boil in two shi of water until reduced to one shi of liquid, and soak the affected areas. Cure within three applications (all from Wei Zhou's *Duxing Fang*).
Black leprosy and wind sores: Three cheng of Ge Lv Cao (chopped and washed), one cheng of Motherwort (*Yimucao*, chopped). Boil in two shi five dou of water until reduced to one shi five dou. Remove dregs and pour into a vat. Immerse the body for one shichen (two hours), then exit. Sit in a sealed room, then take a hot bath for another shichen. Exit and lie warm to induce sweating; avoid exposure to wind. Bathe again the next day. If itching during bathing is unbearable, do not scratch; it will subside shortly. Repeat every three days until cured (from *Shengji Lu*).