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(Jin. Listed in the Lower Grade of *Shennong Bencao Jing* [Divine Farmer's Materia Medica])

[Names] Huangcao (Yellow Grass, from *Wu Pu Bencao*); Lvzhu (Green Bamboo, from *Xinxiu Bencao*).

Li Shizhen stated: This grass is green and can be used to dye yellow, hence its names Huangcao and Lvcao. "Jin" and "Jin" are phonetic variations of the word "green" in northern dialects. In ancient times, this grass was offered as tribute to dyers, thus it was called "Wangchu" (King's Fodder), and ministers who faithfully advised the ruler were referred to as "Jinchens" (Loyal Ministers). The *Classic of Poetry* states: "Gathering green all morning." The *Shuowen Jiezi* states: "Jin grass can dye yellow." The *Book of Han* states: "The ribbons of feudal lords are made of Jin." Jin Zhuo's annotation notes: "Jin grass grows in Langya, resembles mugwort and can be used for dyeing, hence the ribbon is named after it." All these refer to this grass.

Su Song stated: The *Erya* records: "Lv is Wangchu." Sun Yan's annotation says: "It is the Lvru grass." It is now called Chijiaosha. The *Classic of Poetry* states: "The green bamboo is luxuriant."

[Collection and Explanation] *Mingyi Bielu* [Record of Famous Physicians] states: Jin grass grows in the river valleys of Qingyi. It is harvested in the ninth and tenth months and can be used to dye gold.

Wu Pu stated: It grows in the mountain valleys of Mount Tai.

Su Gong stated: Qingyi is a county name located west of Yizhou. Now it grows everywhere beside flat marshes and streams. The leaves resemble bamboo but are thin and delicate; the stems are also round and small. People in Jingxiang boil it to dye yellow, producing a very bright and beautiful color. Its common name is Lvru grass.

[Flavor and Properties] Bitter, neutral, non-toxic. Wu Pu stated: Shennong and Lei Gong considered it bitter.

Xu Zhicai stated: It is incompatible with Shufu (Rat Burden).

[Therapeutic Actions] Treats chronic cough with wheezing and rebellious qi, palpitations due to long-term cold, scabies, tinea capitis, and other skin conditions; kills small parasites on the skin (*Shennong Bencao Jing*).

Treats pathogenic heat causing body fever and pediatric febrile diseases (Wu Pu). Washes various malignant sores effectively (Meng Shen).

(Listed in the Upper Grade of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)

[Names] Ci (from *Erya*); Pangtong (from *Shennong Bencao Jing*); Quren (from *Shennong Bencao Jing*); Zhixing (from *Shennong Bencao Jing*); Chayu (from *Shennong Bencao Jing*); Shengtui.

Tao Hongjing stated: It grows abundantly on roads and walls, with leaves spreading on the ground. The fruits have spines, resembling water caltrops but smaller. Chang'an has the most abundant supply, and pedestrians often wear wooden clogs to avoid injury. Nowadays, the military casts iron versions and scatters them on enemy paths, called Tiejili (Iron Caltrops). The *I Ching* states: "Sitting on caltrops," indicating danger and injury; the *Classic of Poetry* states: "There are weeds on the wall, which cannot be swept away," using its thorny nature to symbolize disorder. It is rarely used in prescriptions.

Li Shizhen stated: "Ji" means swift; "Li" means sharp; "Ci" means thorn. Its thorns injure people swiftly and sharply. "Quren" and "Zhixing" are named because they hinder or injure people.

[Collection and Explanation] *Mingyi Bielu* states: Jili Zi (Fructus Tribuli) grows in the flat marshes of Fengyi or by the roadside. The fruits are harvested in the seventh and eighth months and dried in the sun.

Su Song stated: They can also be harvested in winter, appearing yellowish-white. Guo Pu’s annotation of the *Erya* states: "Creeping along the ground, with fine leaves, fruits having three angles that prick people," referring to this plant.

There is another variety, Baijili (White Tribulus), now produced in Shayuan, Tongzhou, where it is most abundant in grazing lands for horses, and also found by roadsides. It has green leaves and slender creeping vines, spreading over sand. It blooms yellow-purple flowers in the seventh month, smaller than pea flowers. It bears pods in the ninth month, and the seeds can be harvested. The fruit tastes sweet with a slight fishy odor, is brownish-green, similar to silkworm eggs but slightly larger. It closely resembles Mazilizi (Seeds of Iris lactea), but Mazilizi is slightly larger.

Chen Cangqi stated: There are two types of Jili: one is Du Jili, which grows creeping on roadsides today. It opens small yellow flowers and bears spiny fruits. The other is Bai Jili, produced in the grazing areas of Shayuan, Tongzhou. The seeds resemble sheep kidneys and are the size of millet grains; they are used in kidney-tonifying medicines and are widely used today. For treating wind disorders, only Spiny Tribulus (Ci Jili) is used.

Li Shizhen stated: The leaves of Jili resemble those of newly sprouted Gleditsia sinensis, neat and pleasing. Ci Jili resembles the seeds of Beta vulgaris var. rubra and small water caltrops, with three angles and four spines, containing kernels inside. Bai Jili produces pods about one inch long, containing seeds the size of sesame, shaped like sheep kidneys and greenish, now called Shayuan Jili. These distinctions should be noted.

[Processing] Lei Xiao stated: When preparing, select clean herbs, steam them from Wu hour (11 AM–1 PM) to You hour (5–7 PM), dry them in the sun, pound in a wooden mortar until spines are removed, mix with wine, steam again from Wu to You hours, dry in the sun, and use.

Meng Shen stated: For medicinal use, whether in pills or powders, stir-fry to remove spines before use.

[Flavor and Properties] Bitter, warm, non-toxic. *Mingyi Bielu* states: Pungent, slightly cold. Zhen Quan stated: Sweet, slightly toxic.

Li Gao stated: Its nature is dispersing and unblocking; long-term use does not cause coldness nor stagnation-heat. It should be considered warm in nature.

Xu Zhicai stated: Aconitum carmichaelii (Fuzi) serves as its guiding herb.

[Therapeutic Actions] Expels evil blood, breaks up masses and accumulations, treats throat obstruction and difficulty in lactation. Long-term use promotes muscle growth, brightens the eyes, and lightens the body (*Shennong Bencao Jing*). Treats pruritus caused by wind, headache, cough with rebellious qi damaging the lungs and pulmonary萎 (pulmonary atrophy/abscess), relieves restlessness, and directs qi downward. Treats pediatric head sores, carbuncles, and genital ulcers; can be made into powder for rubbing (*Mingyi Bielu*). Treats various wind-induced sores, purulent vomiting, and removes dryness-heat (Zhen Quan). Treats Ben Tun (running piglet syndrome) and kidney qi issues, chest and diaphragm fullness due to lung qi, induces labor and aborts fetuses, benefits essence, treats coldness of the Water Organ (Kidney), frequent urination, and stops dribbling urine and diarrhea (Zhen Quan, Li Shizhen).

[Attached Prescriptions] Nine old prescriptions, eight new prescriptions.

Dietary Regimen: One dan of Jili Zi (harvested when ripe in the 7th and 8th months). Dry in the sun, pound to remove spines, and grind into powder. Take 2 qian each time, mixed with fresh cool water, three times daily without interruption. This allows grain avoidance and longevity. After one year of use, one feels no cold in winter and no heat in summer; after two years, the elderly regain youth, white hair turns black, and lost teeth regrow. After three years, the body becomes light and one achieves longevity (*Shenxian Mizhi*).

Pain radiating from waist and spine: Pound Jili Zi into powder, mix with honey to make pills the size of broad beans. Take two pills with wine, three times daily (*Waitai Miyao*).

Generalized edema: Decoct Du Jili daily and wash the affected area (*Taiping Shenghui Fang*).

Sudden attack of Five Corpse Diseases: Pound Jili Zi into powder, mix with honey to make pills the size of broad beans. Take two pills, three times daily (*Zhouhou Beiji Fang*).

Wind-type constipation: Stir-fried Jili Zi 1 liang, Pig Tooth Gleditsia Sinensis Seed (skin removed, fried in lard) 5 qian. Grind into powder. Take 1 qian with salted tea soup (*Puji Fang*).

Amenorrhea: Du Jili and Angelica sinensis (Danggui) in equal parts, ground into powder. Take 3 qian with rice drink (*Rumen Shiqin*).

Inducing labor and expelling placenta, dystocia, retained fetus, retained placenta, and fetal death: Jili Zi and Fritillaria thunbergii (Beimu) each 4 liang. Grind into powder, take 3 qian with rice soup. If not delivered shortly, take again (*Meishi Jiyian Fang*).

Heart pain and vomiting clear fluid due to roundworms: Harvest Jili Zi on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, dry in shade, burn to ash. Take one fangcun bi (measure) on an empty stomach, three times daily (*Waitai Miyao*).

Thirty-year blindness: Bugan San (Liver-Tonifying Powder): Use Jili Zi (harvested on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month), dry in shade, and grind into powder. Take one fangcun bi with water after meals, twice daily (*Waitai Miyao*).

Loose, painful, or mobile teeth: Tu Jili (remove horns, grind raw) 5 qian, Dan Jiangshui (light fermented grain liquid) half bowl. Dip in the solution with salt and gargle while warm; highly effective. Alternatively, burn the root to ash and apply to the tooth to stabilize it (*Yuyao Yuanfang*).

Unstopping bleeding from loose teeth: Bai Jili powder, rub gently every morning (*Daozang Jing*).

Mobile toothache: Jili Zi or root powder, rub daily (*Ruizhutang Fang*).

Nasal congestion with discharge, anosmia for many years: Two handfuls of Jili, rolled over by carts on the road. Boil in one large cup of water until reduced to half a cup. Lie supine, fill mouth with rice, then instill one he of the juice into the nose. Within two instillations, sneeze out one or two polyps resembling red pupae, and the condition will resolve (*Taiping Shenghui Fang*).

Facial scars: Jili Zi and Gardenia jasminoides (Shanzhizi) each one he. Grind into powder. Mix with vinegar, apply at night, wash in the morning (*Jiuji Xianfang*).

Vitiligo: Six liang of Bai Jili Zi, raw and ground into powder. Take 2 qian with boiling water, twice daily. Roots eliminated in one month. After half a month of use, red spots appear in white patches; miraculous effect (*Sun Taoren Shiji*).

All types of carbuncles and sores: One sheng of Jili Zi, burned to ash, mixed with vinegar and applied to the head to draw out the root (*Waitai Miyao*).

Flower

[Therapeutic Actions] Dried in shade and ground into powder, taken with warm wine, 2–3 qian per dose, to treat vitiligo (Chen Cangqi).

Seedling

[Therapeutic Actions] Decoct for washing scabies, tinea, and wind-sores with itching (*Qianjin Fang*).

[Attached Prescriptions] Two old prescriptions, one new prescription.

Runny nose with clear mucus: Two handfuls of Jili seedlings, 2 liang of Coptis chinensis (Huanglian), five sheng of water. Decoct to one sheng, instill little by little into the nose to induce sneezing, no more than two instillations (*Shengji Zonglu*).

Various sores and swelling toxins: Wash Jili vines, cut into three-cun segments, obtain one dou. Boil in five sheng of water until reduced to two sheng, strain, put into a copper vessel, boil again until reduced to one sheng, transfer to a small vessel, and boil until syrup-like consistency. Apply to swollen areas (*Qianjin Fang*).

Quwugu Niao Chuang (Urticaria-like sores wrapping around the body leading to death): Mash Jili leaves and apply externally. If no leaves are available, use seeds (*Beiji Fang*).