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(From *Tang Bencao*)

[Names] Tiankui (from *Tujing*).

[Collected Explanations] Su Gong stated: The seedling of Tu Kui resembles *Saururus chinensis* (Shi Long Rui), but its leaves are glossy, flowers are white like plum blossoms, and stems are purple-black. When boiled and eaten, it is extremely slippery. It grows in lowlands, marshes, and fields everywhere, and most people recognize it. Stems and leaves are harvested in June and July, dried in the sun, and used as medicine.

Yu Xi stated: Guo Pu, in his commentary on *Erya*, wrote: Tu Kui resembles common mallow (Kui) but is smaller; its leaves resemble lamb's quarters (Li), have hairs, and are edible and slippery when chewed.

Kou Zongshi stated: Tu Kui has green leaves resembling yellow hibiscus (Huang Shu Kui); its flowers resemble *Hibiscus mutabilis* (Ju Shuang Hua), which is very elegant. The plant form is quite small, resembling a single-leaf Shu Kui just opening. It has sandalwood-colored stamens, and the color resembles the stamen of the 'Yao Huang' variety of peony; this refers to Shu Kui. Liu Mengde of the Tang Dynasty referred to "Tu Kui and wild oats swaying in spring"...

Li Shizhen stated: Consulting Zheng Qiao's *Tongzhi*: Tu Kui is also known as Tiankui. Its shape resembles common mallow; leaves are as large as coins and thick, green on the surface and slightly purple on the reverse, growing on cliff rocks. Regarding cinnabar and other mineral drugs, they achieve their miraculous effects only with this herb. Therefore, *Leigong Paozhi Lun* states: "If you wish for firmness of form, how could you forget the purple back?" referring to its ability to solidify lead. This view was obtained from a monk in Tiantai. Furthermore, Nan Gong Cong considered it a spiritual herb growing near water. Extracting its natural juice to boil mercury makes it solid; it can also boil the Eight Minerals and resist fire. Additionally, Chu Yushi's *Gujin Luyan* records: Before the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, observe fasting. Rub hands once under the shade of a mulberry tree, bite Tu Kui and five-leaf grass, chew thoroughly, and apply saliva to the hands, rubbing carefully until even. Fast for another seven days without washing hands. If subsequently bitten by snakes, insects, scorpions, or venomous creatures, rub the affected area with these hands, and it will heal. I privately speculate: Ancient times had the discipline of incantation and prohibition; this belongs to that category, but I do not know why Tu Kui must be used, nor what meaning it takes.

[Properties and Flavor] Sweet, cold, non-toxic.

[Therapeutic Actions] Treats various stones causing the Five Stranguries (Wu Lin), stops tiger and snake venom. For various sores, crush and drink the juice. Applied externally to sores, it detoxifies and relieves pain (from *Tang Bencao*).