Library

(Haiyao Bencao)

[Names] Ziran Gu (Natural Grain, Haiyao Bencao), Yuyuliang.

[Collection and Explanation] Canger states: "Bowuzhi" records that on the isles of the East Sea, there is a grass named [missing character]. It bears fruit, which tastes like barley. It ripens in July, and people harvest it until winter. It is called Ziran Gu, also known as Yuyuliang. This is not the stone Yuyuliang.

Li Dang says: The fruit of this grass is like a ball, harvested in August. Local people often eat it, but it has never been seen in China proper.

Li Shizhen says: According to "Fang Xiaoru Ji", there is a poem titled "Hai Mi Xing", which is likely a type of this grass. The poem says: "By the sea grows a grass named Hai Mi, larger than mugwort but smaller than shepherd's purse. Women gather in groups by day carrying baskets, picking and washing them in the sea. Returning home, they clean pots and burn pine branches, cooking rice for breakfast to relieve hunger. Do not complain of its bitterness making it hard to swallow; life relies on it for a fleeting moment."

[Aroma and Flavor] Sweet, neutral, non-toxic.

[Indications] Relieves hunger, lightens the body (Canger). Tonifies deficiency, emaciation, and exhaustion; warms the stomach and intestines; stops vomiting and rebellious qi. Long-term consumption strengthens the person (Li Dang).

(Shennong Benjing, Upper Grade)

[Correction] Moved from the Grass section to this section based on "Qianjin Fang".

[Names] Jielü (pronounced Li, Benjing), Qishi (pronounced Qi, Bie Lu), Ganmi (Bie Lu, pronounced Gan; Tao Hongjing wrote Zhu, Lei Xiao wrote Jingmi), Huihuimi (Jiu Huang Bencao), Yizhuzi (Tujing).

Li Shizhen says: The origin of the name Yiyi is unclear. Its leaves resemble those of Lishi but are more spreading, and look like the seedlings of Qishu, hence the names Jielü and Qishi. Ganmi refers to the harder part, implying strength. The seedling is called Wu. "Jiu Huang Bencao" states: Huihuimi is also called Xifan Shusu. Commonly known as Caozhuer.

[Collection and Explanation] "Mingyi Bie Lu" states: Yiyiren grows in the plains and swamps of Zhending and in fields. Harvest the fruits in August; harvest the roots at any time.

Tao Hongjing says: Zhending County belongs to Changshan Commandery. It is abundant nearby, and households plant it. Those produced in Jiaozhi have the largest seeds, locally called Zhu. Thus, Ma Yuan consumed them in Jiaozhi and brought them back as seeds; slanderers claimed they were pearls. Fruits that are layered are superior. Use the kernels.

Su Song says: Currently, Lianghan varieties are mostly used, but their efficacy is inferior to Zhending ones. Select those that are greenish-white.

Canger says: Steam the seeds in a steamer until fragrant, dry them in the sun, and shell them to obtain the kernels. They can also be ground.

Su Song says: Yiyi grows everywhere. In spring, stems emerge, three to four chi high. Leaves resemble millet leaves. It opens red and white flowers, forming spikes. Fruits form in May and June, greenish-white, shaped like beads but slightly longer, hence called Yizhuzi. Children often string them like beads for play. Harvest the fruits in September and October.

Meng Shen says: When using Yiyi, do not use Jingmi, which has large grains and no taste, commonly called Jing. Yiyiren has small grains, is greenish, sweet in taste, and sticks to the teeth when chewed.

Li Shizhen says: People often cultivate Yiyi. In February and March, perennial roots sprout naturally. Leaves resemble young cogon grass. In May and June, stems shoot up, flower, and bear fruit. There are two types: one that sticks to the teeth, pointed with thin shells, is Yiyi. Its grain is white like glutinous rice, usable for porridge, rice, flour products, and brewing wine. The other is round with thick, hard shells, which is Bodizi. Its grain is scarce, i.e., Jingmi. It can only be strung into prayer beads, hence also called Nianzhu. Its roots are all white, as thick as a spoon handle, and sweet at the nodes.

Yiyiren

[Processing] Meng Shen says: For every qianliang, stir-fry together with one qianliang of glutinous rice until cooked, discard the glutinous rice, and use the Yiyiren. Some use salt water treatment.

[Aroma and Flavor] Sweet, slightly cold, non-toxic. Meng Shen says: Neutral.

[Indications] Treats tendon stiffness and spasms, inability to flex or extend, chronic wind-damp bi syndrome, directs qi downward. Long-term use lightens the body and benefits qi (Benjing). Removes pathogenic factors from bones and tendons causing numbness, promotes gastrointestinal function, reduces edema, and improves appetite (Bie Lu). Cooking into rice or flour products treats lack of hunger and warms qi. Boiling for drinking treats thirst, kills roundworms (Canger). Treats lung abscess and pulmonary qi accumulation of pus and blood, cough with sputum, and rebellious qi. Decoction breaks toxic swellings (Zhen Quan). Effectively treats wet and dry podagra (Meng Shen). Strengthens spleen and benefits stomach, tonifies lung and clears heat, dispels wind and overcomes dampness. Eating as rice treats cold qi. Drinking decoction promotes urination.

[Elucidation] Kou Zongshi says: "Benjing" states Yiyiren is slightly cold and treats tendon stiffness and spasms. Spasms have two types: In the commentary of "Suwen", excessive heat in large tendons causes shortening and contraction, leading to stiffness and inability to extend; this is heat-induced spasm, so Yiyi can be used. If "Suwen" mentions cold-induced tendon stiffness, Yiyi should not be used.

Cold causes tendon stiffness; cold-heat complex causes tendon contraction; if only heat without cold affects the tendons, it causes laxity; dampness causes elongation and weakness. This herb has mild potency; doubling the dose is usually required for effectiveness.

Zhu Zhenheng says: Cold causes stiffness, heat causes contraction. Stiffness results from rigidity, contraction from shortness. Dampness causes laxity and elongation. However, cold and dampness often harbor heat. All three are caused by dampness, but external dampness cannot cause disease without internal dampness initiating it. Thus, damp diseases arise from alcohol followed by meat and fish. Sweet, slippery, aged, roasted, and pungent-aromatic substances are all causes of dampness.

Li Shizhen says: Yiyiren belongs to Earth and is a Yangming herb, thus strengthening the spleen and benefiting the stomach. Since deficiency requires tonifying the mother, it is used for lung abscess and pulmonary carbuncle. Diseases of bones and tendons are treated fundamentally via the Yangming channel, so it is used for spasms, stiffness, and wind-bi. Earth controls water and removes dampness, so it is used for diarrhea, dysentery, and edema. Note: The annotation for the ancient formula Xiao Xuming Tang states: For stroke with tendon stiffness and spasms, delayed speech, and wiry pulse, add Yiyiren. This also reflects the principle of supporting the spleen to suppress the liver. Additionally, "Hou Hanshu" records: Ma Yuan often consumed Yiyi fruits in Jiaozhi, stating they lighten the body and reduce desires to overcome miasma. Zhang Shizheng's "Juan You Lu" records: Xin Qiji suddenly suffered from hernia, heavy and cup-sized. A Daoist advised frying Yizhu with yellow earth from the east wall, boiling into a paste, and taking it; symptoms resolved after a few doses. Cheng Shasui suffered similarly, and Xin Qiji's method was effective. "Bencao" considers Yiyi an upper-grade heart-nourishing herb, hence its merit.

Su Song says: Yiyiren is widely used for heart and lung conditions. Fan Wang treated lung abscess, and Zhang Zhongjing treated wind-damp and chest bi, both with specific methods. "Jisheng Fang" treats lung damage with hemoptysis by dipping sliced cooked pig lungs into Yiyiren powder and eating on an empty stomach. Yiyi tonifies the lung, and pig lung acts as a guiding herb. Zhao Junyou reports frequent success.

[Attached Prescriptions] Seven old, seven new.

Yiyiren Rice, treating cold qi: Pound Yiyiren thoroughly, cook as rice. The aroma should resemble wheat rice. Porridge is also good. (Guangji Fang)

Yiyiren Porridge, treating chronic wind-damp bi, tonifying righteous qi, promoting gastrointestinal function, reducing edema, removing pathogenic factors from the chest, treating tendon and vessel spasms: Grind Yiyiren into powder, cook with Jingmi as porridge, consume daily. Good. (Shiyi Xinjing)

Wind-damp body pain, worsening at dusk: Zhang Zhongjing's Mahuang Xingren Yiyiren Tang governs this: Mahuang 3 liang, Xingren 20 pieces, Gancao, Yiyiren...

Edema with panting and urgency: Use Yuliren 3 liang (ground). Filter water juice, cook Yiyiren rice, eat twice daily. (Duxing Fang).

Gravel-type hot strangury, unbearable pain: Use Yushu, i.e., Yiyiren. Seeds, leaves, and roots are all usable. Decoct and drink hot. In summer, drink chilled. Stop when unobstructed. (Yang Shi Jingyan Fang).

Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst) drinking: Cook Yiyiren into porridge for drinking and eating.

Zhou Bi with alternating severity and lateral preference: Yiyiren 15 liang, Da Fuzi 10 pieces (processed), grind into powder. Take one cunbi per dose, three times daily. (Zhang Zhongjing Fang).

Lung Abscess, coughing up pus and blood: Yiyiren 10 liang (crushed), water 3 sheng, decoct to 1 sheng, add a little wine, take. (Mei Shi).

Lung Carbuncle with coughing/sputum, rough skin on chest and heart: Boil Yiyiren in strong vinegar until thick, take warm in one dose. Blood in the lung should be vomited out to heal. (Fan Wang Fang).

Lung Carbuncle with hemoptysis: Yiyiren 3 he (mashed), water 2 large zhan, decoct to 1 zhan, add a little wine, divide into two doses. (Jisheng).

Sudden throat swelling/abscess: Swallow 2 Yiyiren seeds. Good. (Waitai).

Carbuncle/Furuncle not ulcerating: Swallow 1 Yiyiren seed. (Yao Sengtan Fang).

Abscess during pregnancy: Boil Yiyiren in water, drink frequently. (Furen Liangfang Buyi).

Toothache: Raw Yiyiren and Jiegeng, ground into powder. Apply/dose. No restriction for adults or children. (Yonglei Fang).

Root

[Aroma and Flavor] Sweet, slightly cold, non-toxic.

[Indications] Expels three types of parasites (Benjing). Boil juice to make gruel, very fragrant, expels roundworms, highly effective (Tao Hongjing). Boiled and taken, induces abortion (Canger). Treats sudden epigastric/chest fullness and hypochondriac pain: Chop and boil concentrated juice, take 3 sheng to settle (Su Song, from Zhouhou Fang). Crush juice, mix with wine, treat jaundice effectively (Li Shizhen).

[Attached Prescriptions] Two old, two new.

Jaundice like gold: Decoct Yiyi root, drink frequently.

Roundworm heart pain: Yiyi root 1 jin (chopped), water 7 sheng, boil to 3 sheng, take; worms die and exit completely. (Mei Shi).

Amenorrhea: Yiyi root 1 liang, decoct in water and take. Effective within a few doses. (Hai Shang Fang).

Wind-toothache: Yiyi root 4 liang, boil in water, gargle, replace when cool. (Yannian Milu)

Leaf

[Indications] Makes tea fragrant, benefits the middle jiao (Su Song). Boil for drinking in summer, warms stomach, benefits qi and blood. Bathing newborn infants prevents illness (Li Shizhen, from Suoluo Lu).