Library

(Song Dynasty *Kaibao Bencao*)

[Names] Bibo.
Li Shizhen states: "Bibo" should be written as "Bibo" (Long Pepper, *Piper longum*), originating from *Nanfang Caomu Zhuang*, which is a foreign term. Chen Cangqi's *Bencao* writes it as "Bobo", *Funan Zhuan* writes it as "Bibo", and *Daming Huidian* writes it as "Bibo". Additionally, Duan Chengshi's *Youyang Zazu* states: Magadha country calls it "Biboli", and Fulin country calls it "Aliheta".

[Collection and Explanation] Su Gong says: Long pepper grows in Persia. It grows in clumps; its stems and leaves resemble ginger (*Zingiberis Rhizoma*), and its fruits are tight and fine, with a flavor more pungent and acrid than ginger. Barbarians brought it here for use in seasoning food.
Chen Cangqi says: Its root is named "Bobomo", resembling Bupleuri Radix (*Chaihu*) but black and hard.
Su Song says: It is now found in the Lingnan region, often growing within bamboo forests. In the first month, shoots emerge forming clumps, three to four chi high, with stems like chopsticks. The leaves are green and round like Houttuyniae Herba (*Jicai*), two or three cun wide like mulberry leaves, smooth and dark green on the surface. In the third month, white flowers bloom externally. In the seventh month, fruits form, about the size of a little finger, over two cun long, dark green-black, resembling mulberries but longer. Harvested in the ninth month, treated with ash lye and sun-dried. Southerners love its pungent fragrance; some eat the leaves raw. Those imported by sea have an even stronger pungent fragrance.
Li Shizhen says: Duan Chengshi claimed that Fangfeng seeds from Qingzhou could pass off as Long pepper, which is incorrect. Long pepper has a scent just like Piperis Fructus (*Hujiao*); its shape is one to two cun long, whereas Fangfeng seeds are round like Coriandri Fructus (*Yansui Zi*), and their sizes are completely mismatched.

[Processing] Lei Xiao says: When using, remove the stalks and use only the head. Soak in vinegar overnight, bake dry, and scrape off the skin and grain-like protrusions with a knife until clean before use, to avoid injuring the lungs and causing Qi rebellion.

[Flavor and Properties] Pungent, greatly warm, non-toxic.
Li Shizhen says: The Qi is hot and the flavor is pungent, belonging to Yang and floating. It enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. However, pungent and hot substances dissipate Qi and can stir up Fire in the Spleen and Lungs. Overuse causes blurred vision and is particularly unsuitable for culinary use.

[Indications] Warms the Middle, directs rebellious Qi downward, tonifies the waist and knees, eliminates fishy odors, promotes digestion, removes Cold in the Stomach, treats Yin Hernia and masses (Chen Cangqi). Treats Cold Qi in Cholera, Heart Pain, and Blood-Qi disorders (Tang Shenwei). Treats watery diarrhea and deficiency dysentery, vomiting and acid regurgitation, postpartum diarrhea and dysentery; combined with Asafoetida (*Asafetidae Resina*), it is effective. Combined with Chebulae Fructus (*Hezi*), Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (*Renshen*), Cinnamomi Ramulus (*Guixin*), and Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (*Ganjiang*), it miraculously treats intestinal rumbling and diarrhea due to deficiency-Cold of the Zang-Fu organs (Li Xun). Treats headache, Bi Yuan (nasal sinusitis), and toothache.

[Elucidation] Kou Zongshi says: Long pepper travels to the intestines and stomach; it is suitable for those with Cold Qi, vomiting, and fullness/pain in the heart and abdomen. Excessive consumption leaks True Qi, causing intestinal deficiency and a heavy sensation in the lower body.
Su Song says: According to the *Veritable Records of Tang Taizong*: During the Zhenguan era, the Emperor suffered from chronic Qi dysentery that did not heal despite treatment by famous physicians. He issued an edict seeking prescriptions. A guard submitted a prescription of Yellow Ox Milk boiled with Long pepper, which was effective when used by the Emperor. Liu Yuxi also recorded this event, stating that subsequent trials on patients with deficiency-Cold were invariably effective.
Li Shizhen says: The method of boiling with ox milk is detailed under the entry for Ox Milk in the Beast Section. Long pepper is a key herb for treating headache, Bi Yuan, and toothache, utilizing its pungent and hot nature to enter the Yangming Meridians and disperse floating Heat.

[Attached Prescriptions] Two old prescriptions, eight new ones.
Cold Phlegm and Nausea: One qian of Long pepper, ground into powder. Take half a qian before meals with rice soup. (*Shenghui Fang*). Acute diarrhea with cold body and spontaneous sweating, possibly vomiting, clear urine, and weak pulse: Treat with Yi Han Wan. Two and a half qian of Long pepper and Cinnamon Twig (*Rougui*), three and a half qian of Galangal (*Gaoliangjiang*) and Fresh Ginger (*Ganjiang*). Grind into powder, make pills with paste the size of wutong seeds. Take 30 pills each time with ginger soup. (*Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang*). Stomach Cold with sour taste and clear fluid flow, pain extending from the epigastrium to the umbilicus: Use Ban liang of Long pepper and one liang of Magnolia Bark (*Houpo*) soaked in ginger juice and stir-fried. Grind into powder, mix with hot crucian carp meat, and make pills the size of mung beans. Take 20 pills with rice drink for immediate effect. (Yu Jushi *Xuanqi Fang*). Miasma forming masses that do not dissipate in the abdomen: Use one liang of Long pepper and one liang of Rhubarb (*Dahuang*), both raw, ground into powder. Add a small amount of Musk (*Shexiang*), make pills with refined honey the size of wutong seeds. Take 30 pills with cold wine. (*Yonglei Qianfang*). Women's Blood-Qi pain and irregular bleeding or menstruation: Use equal parts of Salt-fried Long pepper and Polygoni Multiflori Caulis? No, Puhuang (*Puhuang* fried). Grind into powder, make pills with refined honey the size of wutong seeds. Take 30 pills with warm wine on an empty stomach; stops after two doses. Named Er Shen Wan. (Chen Shi's Prescription).
Hemicrania: Grind Long pepper into powder. Have the patient hold warm water in their mouth. Depending on whether the pain is on the left or right, inhale the powder through the corresponding nostril once. Effective. (*Jingyan Houfang*).
Clear Nasal Discharge: Blow Long pepper powder into the nose. Effective. (*Weisheng Yijian Fang*).
Wind-Worm Toothache: Rub Long pepper powder on the teeth; rinse with Xanthii Fructus decoction to remove saliva. *Bencao Quandu*: Use Long pepper powder and Momordica Seed (*Mubiezi*) flesh. Grind into a paste, dissolve, and insufflate into the nose. (*Shengji Zonglu*)

Bobomo (Root of Long Pepper)
[Flavor and Properties] Pungent, warm, non-toxic.
[Indications] Treats Five Exhaustions and Seven Injuries, Cold Qi with vomiting and reflux, abdominal distension and fullness, indigestion,阴汗 (cold sweat in genital area), cold hernia with testicular swelling, internal cold in women leading to infertility, coldness of the waist and kidneys, and removal of Blood-Qi stagnation (Chen Cangqi).