Library

[Names] Chousu (from *Riben Bencao*), Qingbaosu.
Li Shizhen said: *Ribenzi* explains Shuisu as follows: It is also called Chousu and Qingbaosu; this is exactly this herb, mistakenly written as Shuisu. Its shape resembles Shuisu but smells foul, and resembles Baosu but is green in color, hence the two names.

[Collection and Explanation] Chen Zangqi said: According to Su Gong: In Jiangzuo, Shuisu is called Qisu. Note: Shuisu leaves have edges like goose teeth, with a fragrant and pungent aroma. Qisu leaves are slightly longer, hairy on top, with a foul smell, and can also be eaten as a raw vegetable.
Li Shizhen said: Qisu grows in flatlands everywhere. The leaves resemble wild Su but are slightly longer, hairy and foul-smelling. Mountain people eat it as a vegetable, but the leaves are not very good.

[Aroma and Flavor] Pungent, warm, non-toxic.

[Indications] Diarrhea and dysentery caused by cold qi. Eating raw eliminates acid water in the stomach.

[Appendix] Shiqisu Chen Zangqi said: Pungent, warm, non-toxic. Mainly treats wind-cold qi, sores and scabies itching, hemorrhoidal bleeding; decocted juice for oral administration. Grows among mountain rocks, with fine leaves and purple flowers, one to two chi high, used by mountain people.

Xicao Category, Volume 1, 53 Species

(From *Shennong Benjing*, Upper Grade)

[Names] Jiehua (from *Benjing*), Nüjie (from *Bielu*), Nühua (from *Bielu*), Nüjing (from *Bielu*), Rijing (from *Bielu*), Gengsheng (from *Bielu*), Fuyanian (from *Bielu*), Zhiqiang (from *Erya*), Jinrui (from *Gangmu*), Yincheng (from *Bielu*), Zhouying (from *Bielu*).
Li Shizhen said: According to Lu Tian's *Piya*: The character Ju was originally written as "Ju" (鞠), derived from "Ju". "Ju" means exhaustion. *Liji · Yueling* records: In the ninth month, chrysanthemums bloom yellow flowers. The floral events reach their end here, hence called "Ju". The name Jiehua also takes its meaning from responding to solar terms. Cui Shi's *Simin Yueling* says: Nüjie and Nühua are names for chrysanthemum flowers. Zhiqiang and Rijing are names for chrysanthemum roots. *Baopuzi* says: The Rijing, Gengsheng, and Zhouying mentioned in immortal recipes all refer to the same chrysanthemum, differing only in names for root, stem, flower, and seed. Song said: Tang Dynasty's *Tianbao Danfang Tu* records white chrysanthemum: Originally native to valleys and fields in Nanyang. People in Sichuan call it Huifengju, Runan...

[Collection and Explanation] *Bielu* states: Chrysanthemum flowers grow in the rivers, marshes, and fields of Yongzhou. Roots are harvested in the first month, leaves in the third, stems in the fifth, flowers in the ninth, and fruits in the eleventh; all are dried in the shade. Tao Hongjing said: There are two types of chrysanthemum: One has purple stems, fragrant aroma, sweet taste, and leaves suitable for soup; this is true chrysanthemum. The other has green, large stems, an odor like mugwort and wormwood, and a bitter, inedible taste; named Kuyi, it is not true chrysanthemum. Their flowers look very similar, distinguished only by sweet and bitter tastes. Nanyang Li County has the most; now they grow everywhere nearby, easily propagated by seeds. There is also white chrysanthemum, with similar stems and leaves, but white flowers, harvested in May. Immortal classics consider chrysanthemum to have wonderful uses, though hard to obtain frequently; it is suitable for regular consumption. Chen Zangqi said: White chrysanthemum grows in plains and swamps, blooms in May, purple-white in color. Song said: Grows everywhere, best from Jul Tan in Nanyang. Fine seedlings sprout on the ground in early spring, lush in summer, flowers in autumn, fruits in winter. However, there are many varieties. Only those with purple stems, fragrant aroma, thick and soft leaves, edible when tender, tiny flowers, and very sweet taste are true; those with green, large stems, fine leaves, strong mugwort-like odor, large flowers, and bitter taste are named Kuyi, not true. Nanyang chrysanthemum also has two types: White chrysanthemum has leaves as large as mugwort, green stems, thin roots, white flowers with yellow centers; yellow chrysanthemum has leaves resembling tonghao, with entirely yellow flowers and centers. Those who take food-medicine usually use white. Another type blooms small flowers, with petals resembling small beads below, called Zhuziju, said to be good for medicine.
Kou Zongshi said: In recent times, there are nearly twenty species of chrysanthemum. Only those with single petals, small yellow flowers, deep green small thin leaves, blooming in September according to the season, are authentic. Single-petal white chrysanthemum from Dengzhou also enters medicine. Others are not used in medical classics.
Li Rui said: Large and fragrant flowers are Ganju; small and yellow flowers are Huangju; small flowers with foul odor are Yeju.
Li Shizhen said: There are a hundred varieties of chrysanthemum, with perennial roots growing naturally, each varying in stem, leaf, flower, and color. Liu Mengquan, Fan Zhineng, and Shi Zhengzhi of the Song Dynasty all wrote *Ju Pu*, yet could not record them all. Stems vary in growth habit (erect or creeping) and color (purple, red, green); leaves vary in size, density, thickness, shape (pointed or blunt); flowers vary in petal count (double or single), presence of center, seed production, color (yellow, white, red, purple), shade of mixed colors, and size; flavors vary in sweet, bitter, and pungent; and there are summer, autumn, and winter chrysanthemums. Generally, only single-petal, sweet-tasting ones enter medicine; those recorded in *Ju Pu* such as Ganju, Dengzhou Huang, and Dengzhou Bai are examples. Ganju originally grew in mountains and wilds, now cultivated by people. Its flowers are fragmented, quality not very high. Centers resemble bee hives, containing fine seeds, which can also be sown. Tender leaves and flowers can be fried and eaten. White chrysanthemum flowers are slightly larger, less sweet, also harvested in autumn. Chrysanthemums without seeds are called Mujú. Ash scattered on the ground kills frogs and tadpoles. This statement comes from *Zhouli*.

Flower (Leaves, roots, stems, and fruits have the same effects)
[Aroma and Flavor] Bitter, neutral, non-toxic. *Bielu* says: Sweet.
Zhang Yuansu said: Sweet ones enter medicine; bitter ones do not.
Wang Haogu said: Bitter and sweet, cold nature, ascending and descending, yin with slight yang.
Li Shizhen said: *Benjing* states chrysanthemum is bitter; *Bielu* states it is sweet. Various schools believe sweet is chrysanthemum, bitter is Kuyi, taking only sweet for medicine. Carefully checking: Zhang Hua's *Bowuzhi* says chrysanthemum has two types, seedlings and flowers identical, only taste differs slightly; bitter ones are not fit for eating. Fan Zhineng's *Pu* preface says only Ganju is edible and enters medicine/food. The remaining yellow and white flowers are both bitter; although not edible, they all enter medicine. For treating head wind, white is especially good. Based on these two statements, chrysanthemum class naturally has sweet and bitter types; food must use Ganju, while medicine can use various chrysanthemums, except using wild chrysanthemum named Kuyi. Thus Jinghuan's *Mushu Xiantan* says: True chrysanthemum extends life, wild chrysanthemum drains people. Just as Huangjing prolongs life and Gouwen kills. Xu Zhicai said: Baizhu, Gouqigen, Sangbaipi, and Qingxiangye are its guiding herbs.

[Indications] Various head winds causing dizziness, swelling, pain, eyes feeling like falling out, tearing, dead skin/muscle, aversion to wind-damp bi. Long-term use promotes blood and qi, lightens the body, resists aging, and extends life (*Benjing*). Treats lower back pain coming and going in a relaxed manner, removes chest烦热 (restless heat), calms stomach and intestines, benefits five pulses, harmonizes four limbs (*Bielu*). Treats head and eye wind-heat, wind-induced fainting, bone pain in the brain, dissipates all wandering wind on the body, benefits blood vessels, with no taboos (Zhen Quan). Making pillows brightens eyes; leaves also brighten eyes, edible raw or cooked (Daming). Nourishes eye blood, removes nebula (Yuan Su). Mainly treats liver qi deficiency

[Aroma and Flavor] Bitter, pungent, neutral, non-toxic.

[Indications] Wind dizziness, can prevent hair whitening (Hongjing). Dyes beard and hair black. Combined with Jusheng (Sesame), Fuling, and honey pills, removes wind dizziness, turns white preventing aging, benefits complexion (Cangqi).

[Invention] Zhu Zhenheng said: Yellow chrysanthemum belongs to Earth and Metal, contains Water and Fire, can nourish yin blood, thus nourishing the eyes.
Li Shizhen said: Chrysanthemum grows in spring, luxuriates in summer, flowers in autumn, fruits in winter, fully experiencing the four qi, enduring dew and frost, leaves do not fall when withered, flowers do not drop when dry, flavor combines sweet and bitter, nature is peaceful. Ancients said it removes wind-heat, benefits liver and nourishes yin, likely unaware it gains much essence from Metal and Water, benefiting both Metal and Water organs. Nourishing water controls fire; benefiting metal pacifies wood. When wood is pacified, wind stops; when fire descends, heat clears. Using it to treat various head and eye conditions has profound meaning. Yellow enters Metal-Water yin division; white enters Metal-Water yang division; red acts in women's blood division. All can enter medicine; subtlety and clarity depend on the practitioner. Seedlings can be vegetables, leaves tea, flowers food, roots/fruits medicine, bags for pillows, brewing for drink; from root to tip, all have merit. No wonder ancients compared it to gentlemen, Shennong listed it in upper grade, hermits picked it for wine, poets ate fallen petals. Fei Changfang said: Drinking chrysanthemum wine on the ninth day of the ninth month can ward off misfortune. *Shenxian Zhuan* says: Kang Fengzi and Zhu Ruzi both became immortals by taking chrysanthemum. *Jingzhou Ji* says: Hu Guang suffered long-term wind emaciation, drank Jul Tan water and lived long. Chrysanthemum is so precious, how can it be matched by common flowers? Zhong Hui's *Ode to Five Beauties of Chrysanthemum* says: Round flowers hanging high, aligning with celestial pole. Pure yellow without impurity, color of posterior earth. Planted early, blooms late, virtue of a gentleman; bursting buds through frost, symbolizing integrity; light in cup, food of immortals. *Xijing Zaji* says: Collect chrysanthemum stems and leaves, mix with sorghum rice to brew wine, ripe by next September, use it.

[Attached Formulas] Five old, six new.
Taking Ganju: *Yutan Fang* says: Wang Ziqiao turning white and increasing age formula: Use Ganju, harvest seedlings on Yin days of the third month, named Yuying; harvest leaves on Yin days of the sixth month, named Rongcheng; harvest flowers on Yin days of the ninth month, named Jingjing; harvest roots/stems on Yin days of the twelfth month, named Changsheng. Dry all four in shade, after 100 days take equal parts, pound thousand times into powder on auspicious days, take one qianbi with wine. Or make honey pills size of wutong seeds. Take seven pills with wine, three times a day. After 100 days, body light and moist; after one year, white hair turns black; after two years, lost teeth regenerate; after five years, an eighty-year-old becomes a child. Meng Shen said: Harvest leaves in first month, stems on fifth day of fifth month, flowers on ninth day of ninth month.
Taking Baiju: *Taiqing Lingbao Fang* cites: Two jin of white chrysanthemum flowers on ninth day of ninth month, one jin of Fuling. Pound and sieve into powder. Take two qian each time, mixed with warm wine, three times a day. Or make pills size of chicken eggs with refined pine resin, take one pill each time. Mainly treats dizziness; long-term use gives good complexion and prevents aging. Cangqi said: *Baopuzi* mentions Liu Sheng Dan method: Use white chrysanthemum juice, lotus juice, diexue juice, chu juice, mix with dan and steam-eat.
White Chrysanthemum Wine: *Tianbao Danfang*: Treats men and women suffering long-term head wind dizziness and stuffiness, dry falling hair, chest phlegm obstruction, where attacks cause spinning dizziness and dim vision, feeling like fainting. Moxibustion two Fengchi points, fourteen moxa cones each, then take this wine and powder, permanently cured. Method: Late spring/early summer, collect soft white chrysanthemum seedlings, dry in shade, pound to powder, take one fangcunbi empty-stomach with unfermented wine, twice daily, gradually increase to three fangcunbi. If not drinking alcohol, mix with soup/gruel juice, also effective. August/September, collect flowers, sun-dry, cut three da jin, put in raw silk bag, store in three dou of wine, take after seven days, three times daily, keeping wine effect continuous is best. (Song Su *Tujing*)
Wind-heat headache: Chrysanthemum, Shigao, Chuanxiong each three qian, powder. Take one and a half qian, mixed with tea. (*Jianbian Fang*)
Acne entering eyes causing nebula: White chrysanthemum, Gujingcao, Lvdoupi equal parts, powder. Take one qian each time, with one dried persimmon cake, one bowl of millet washing water, boil until water is gone, eat persimmon, three cakes daily. Superficial cases show effect in 5-7 days, deep in half a month. (*Renzhai Zhizhi Fang*)
Post-illness nebula: White chrysanthemum, Chantui equal parts, powder. Take two or three qian each time, add little honey, decoct in water. Suitable for adults and children, repeatedly verified. (*Jiuji Fang*)
Carbuncle near death: A handful of chrysanthemum, squeeze juice one sheng, enter mouth immediately alive, this is a divine effective formula. Harvest roots in winter. (*Zhouhou Beiji Fang*)
Women's vulvar swelling: Ganju seedlings pounded and decocted in soup, fumigate first then wash. (Wei Shi *Defang*)
Alcohol intoxication not waking: Real chrysanthemum from ninth day of ninth month powdered, drink one fangcunbi. (*Waitai Miyao*)
Blurry vision: Shuangmei Wan: Use one jin Ganju flowers, six liang Hongjiao (remove eyes), powder, mix with fresh Dihuang juice into wutong-sized pills. Each...

Flower Surface Water
[Indications] Benefits complexion, strengthens yang, treats all wind (Daming).