（《别录》下品）
【释名】茭草（《说文》）、蒋草。
时珍曰∶按∶许氏《说文》∶菰本作 ，从瓜谐声也。有米谓之凋菰，已见谷部菰米下。
江南人呼菰为茭，以其根交结也。蒋义未详。
【集解】保升曰∶菰根生水中，叶如蔗、荻，久则根盘而浓。夏月生菌堪啖，名菰菜。
三年者，中心生白苔如藕状，似小儿臂而白软，中有黑脉，堪啖者，名菰首也。
藏器曰∶菰首小者，擘之内有黑灰如墨者，名乌郁，人亦食之。晋张翰思吴中 、菰，
即此也。
颂曰∶菰根，江湖陂泽中皆有之。生水中，叶如蒲、苇辈，刈以秣马甚肥。春末生白茅
如笋，即菰菜也，又谓之茭白，生熟皆可啖，甜美。其中心如小儿臂者，名菰手。作菰首者，
非矣。《尔雅》云∶出隧，蘧蔬。注云∶生菰草中，状似土菌，江东人啖之，甜滑。即此也。
故南方人至今谓菌为菰，亦缘此义。其根亦如芦根，冷利更甚。二浙下泽处，菰草最多。其
根相结而生，久则并土浮于水上，彼人谓之菰葑。刈去其叶，便可耕莳，又名葑田。其苗有
茎梗者，谓之菰蒋草。至秋结实，乃雕胡米也。岁饥，人以当粮。
宗 曰∶菰乃蒲类。河朔边人，止以饲马作荐。八月开花如苇。结青子，合粟为粥食，
甚济饥。杜甫所谓“波漂菰米沉云黑”者，是也。
菰笋
一名茭笋（《日用》）、茭白（《图经》）、菰菜（同）。
【气味】甘，冷，滑，无毒。
诜曰∶滑中，不可多食。
颂曰∶菰之种类皆极冷，不可过食，甚不益人，惟服金石人相宜耳。
【主治】利五脏邪气，酒 面赤，白癞 疡，目赤。热毒风气，卒心痛，可盐、醋煮食
之（孟诜）。去烦热，止渴，除目黄，利大小便，止热痢。杂鲫鱼为羹食，开胃口，解酒毒，
压丹石毒发（藏器）。
菰手
一名菰菜（《日用》）、茭白（《通志》）、茭粑（俗名）、蘧蔬（音氍 ）。
【气味】甘，冷，滑，无毒。大明曰∶微毒。
诜曰∶性滑，发冷气，令人下焦寒，伤阳道。禁蜜食，发痼疾。服巴豆人不可食。
【主治】心胸中浮热风气，滋人齿（孟诜）。煮食，止渴及小儿水痢（藏器）。
菰根
【气味】甘，大寒，无毒。
颂曰∶菰根亦如芦根，冷利更甚。
【主治】肠胃痼热，消渴，止小便利。捣汁饮之（《别录》）。烧灰，和鸡子白，涂火烧
疮（藏器）。
【附方】旧二。
小儿风疮∶久不愈者。用菰蒋节烧研，敷之。（《子母秘录》）。
毒蛇伤啮∶菰蒋草根烧灰，敷之。（《广济方》）。
叶
【主治】利五脏（大明）。
菰米 见谷部。
(Recorded in the Lower Category of *Bie Lu*)
[Names] Jiaocao (from *Shuowen Jiezi*), Jiangcao.
Li Shizhen says: According to Xu Shen's *Shuowen Jiezi*, the character for Gu originally appeared as "𦸝", with 'Gua' (melon) as the radical and phonetic component. If it produces grain, it is called "Diaogu", which has been recorded under the entry for Gumi in the Grain Section.
People in the Jiangnan region call Gu "Jiao" because its roots are interwoven. The meaning of "Jiang" remains unclear.
[Collection of Explanations] Bao Sheng says: The root of Gu grows in water; its leaves resemble those of sugarcane or reeds. After a long time, the roots become intertwined and thick. In summer, mushrooms grow from it and are edible, named Gucail.
For plants that have grown for three years, a white, moss-like substance grows in the center resembling lotus root. It looks like a child's arm, white and soft, with black veins inside. This is edible and is called Gusou.
Zang Qi says: For small Gusou, when split open, if there is black ash like ink inside, it is called Wuyu, which people also eat. When Zhang Han of the Jin Dynasty missed the Chun geng (duckweed soup) and Gu of Wu Zhong, he was referring to this.
Song says: The root of Gu is found everywhere in rivers, lakes, ponds, and marshes. Growing in water, its leaves resemble cattails or reeds; cut and used to feed horses, they make them very fat. At the end of spring, white reed shoots emerge like bamboo shoots; this is Gucail, also known as Jiaobai. It can be eaten raw or cooked and is sweet and delicious. The part in the center resembling a child's arm is called Goushou. Calling it Gusou is incorrect. *Erya* states: "Chu sui, Qushu." The annotation says: Grows among Gu grass, resembling earth mushrooms; people in Jiangdong eat them, finding them sweet and smooth. This refers to this plant. Hence, southerners still refer to mushrooms as Gu, deriving from this meaning. Its root is similar to Phragmites root but has a stronger cold and purgative effect. In the low-lying areas of Zhejiang, Gu grass is most abundant. Its roots grow intertwined; over time, they float on the water surface along with soil, locally called Gugong. After cutting off the leaves, the land can be cultivated, hence also called Fengtian. The seedlings with stems are called Gujiangcao. By autumn, they bear fruit, which is Diaohu rice. During years of famine, people use it as grain.
Zong says: Gu belongs to the category of Phragmites. People on the northern border only use it to feed horses or as bedding. It flowers in August like reeds. It bears green seeds, which are made into porridge with millet to relieve hunger. This is what Du Fu referred to when he wrote, "The waves drift the Gumi, sinking like dark clouds."
Gusun
Also known as Jiaosun (*Riyong Bencao*), Jiaobai (*Tujing Bencao*), Gucail (same).
[Properties and Flavor] Sweet, cold, slippery, non-toxic.
Shen says: Slippery in nature, should not be consumed in excess.
Song says: All varieties of Gu are extremely cold and should not be overconsumed; they are not beneficial to humans, except for those taking mineral drugs (Dan Shi), for whom it is suitable.
[Indications] Promotes the elimination of pathogenic factors from the five Zang organs; treats facial redness after drinking alcohol, vitiligo sores, and red eyes. For heat toxins and wind pathogens, sudden heart pain, it can be boiled with salt and vinegar for consumption (Meng Shen). Removes irritability and heat, quenches thirst, eliminates yellow eyes, promotes urination and defecation, and stops hot dysentery. Made into a soup with crucian carp, it opens the appetite, resolves alcohol toxicity, and suppresses the toxicity triggered by Dan Shi drugs (Zang Qi).
Goushou
Also known as Gucail (*Riyong Bencao*), Jiaobai (*Tongzhi*), Jiaba (common name), Qushu (pronounced like "Qu").
[Properties and Flavor] Sweet, cold, slippery, non-toxic. Da Ming says: Slightly toxic.
Shen says: Slippery in nature, induces cold qi, causes coldness in the lower jiao, and damages sexual function. Contraindicated with honey, as it triggers chronic diseases. Not to be consumed by those taking Crotonis Fructus (Badou).
[Indications] Treats floating heat and wind pathogens in the chest and heart; nourishes teeth (Meng Shen). Boiled and eaten, it quenches thirst and treats pediatric watery dysentery (Zang Qi).
Gugen
[Properties and Flavor] Sweet, very cold, non-toxic.
Song says: Gugen is similar to Phragmites root but has a stronger cold and purgative effect.
[Indications] Treats deep-seated heat in the intestines and stomach, diabetes mellitus (Xiaoke), and promotes frequent urination. Crushed and the juice drunk ( *Bie Lu*). Burned to ash, mixed with egg white, and applied to treat burns (Zang Qi).
[Attached Formulas] Two old formulas.
Pediatric wind sores: For those that do not heal for a long time. Use the nodes of Gujiangcao, burn them to ash, grind into powder, and apply externally (*Zimu Milu*).
Poisonous snake bites: Burn the roots of Gujiangcao to ash and apply externally (*Guangji Fang*).
Ye (Leaves)
[Indications] Promotes the elimination of pathogenic factors from the five Zang organs (Da Ming).
Gumi See Grain Section.