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[Classified as Upper Grade in *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica)]
[Correction] Transferred from the Vegetable Section to here.
[Names] Lu Kui (Dew Okra) (*Bencao Gangmu*), Hua Cai (Slippery Vegetable).
Li Shizhen said: According to *Erya Yi*, "Kui" means to measure or judge. The leaves of Kui tilt towards the sun, preventing sunlight from shining directly on the roots; this is wisdom in measuring (adapting to nature). Ancient people harvested Kui only after the dew had dried, hence the name Lu Kui. People now call it Hua Cai, referring to its slippery nature. In ancient times, Kui was the chief among the five vegetables, but it is no longer eaten today, so it has been transferred to this section.
[Collection and Explanation] *Bielu* (Recorded by Shen Nong) states: Dong Kuizi (Winter Okra Seed) grows in Mount Shaoshi.
Tao Hongjing said: Okra planted in autumn, covered and nurtured through winter, producing seeds in spring, is called Dong Kui. Its medicinal property is extremely slippery. Spring okra seeds are also slippery but unsuitable for medicine, so usually refers to common okra. Practitioners of arts lightly stir-fry okra seeds until they pop, not exceeding one night.
Su Gong said: This is the commonly eaten okra. There are several varieties, most of which are not used medicinally.
Su Song said: Okra grows everywhere. The seedlings and leaves make delicious vegetables. Dong Kuizi is used most frequently in ancient prescriptions. Okra includes Shu Kui (Hollyhock), Jin Kui (Mallow), Huang Kui (Yellow Mallow), Zhong Kui, Tu Kui, all having medicinal functions.
Li Shizhen said: Okra was once a staple food grown by ancients, but rarely planted now. There are two types: purple stem and white stem, with white stem being superior. Large leaves, small flowers, purple-yellow in color. The smallest variety is named Ya Jiao Kui (Duck-foot Okra). The fruit is as large as a fingertip, thin-skinned and flat, containing light and hollow seeds resembling elm samaras. Those planted in April-May can keep seeds. Those planted in June-July are Autumn Okra; those planted in August-September are Winter Okra, harvested over a year; replanted in January are Spring Okra. However, perennial roots sprout in spring. According to Wang Zhen's *Nongshu*: Okra is a Yang herb. It grows easily, abundant in suburbs, thriving in both fertile and barren soils. As the chief of hundred vegetables, it prepares meals for four seasons. It is robust and drought-resistant, sweet in taste and non-toxic. It can prevent famine, be pickled or cured, dried stalks serve as firewood, and roots/seeds are not specially cultivated.
[Flavor and Properties] Sweet, Cold, Slippery, Non-toxic. As the chief of hundred vegetables, its heart harms humans (*Bielu*).
Tao Hongjing said: Okra leaves are particularly cold and purgative; do not eat too much.
Su Song said: Seedlings and leaves make delicious vegetables, but their slippery nature offers no benefit to humans.
Meng Shen said: Although cold, eating it hot causes heat, oppression, and agitates wind qi. Eating it in any season triggers old diseases. After an epidemic illness, eating it causes blindness. Raw frosted okra agitates five types of retained fluids, causing vomiting of water. When taking various medicines, avoid eating okra heart, as it is toxic. Avoid yellow-backed, purple-stemmed varieties. Do not consume with carp or broomcorn millet, as it harms humans.
Li Shizhen said: For those bitten by rabid dogs, okra must never be eaten again, or the disease will recur. Okra should be eaten with garlic; without garlic, do not eat it. It is incompatible with Realgar (Xionghuang).
[Indications] A vegetable for the Spleen. Benefits the Spleen, promotes Stomach Qi, lubricates the Large Intestine (Su Song).
Treats malignant sores, disperses pus and blood, leukorrhea in women, infantile dysentery due to heat toxicity, and erysipelas; all suitable for consumption (Wang Ying). Suitable for those taking Dan Shi (mineral pills) (Meng Shen).
Moistens dryness, opens orifices, with effects similar to the seed (ibid.).
[Elucidation] Zhang Congzheng said: For chronic constipation, okra is suitable, naturally promoting unobstructed passage, utilizing slipperiness to nourish orifices. Li Shizhen said: According to Tang Wang Tao's *Waitai Miyao*: Epidemic macular rash spreads rapidly over the body, covered with white fluid, indicating toxic vapors. In the 4th year of Yonghui era under Emperor Gaozong, this rash flowed from the Western Regions to the interior seas. Boiling okra leaves and consuming them with minced garlic stops it. *Shenghui Fang* also states: For infantile macular eruption, squeeze juice from fresh okra leaves and administer small amounts to disperse toxic vapors. This corresponds to modern smallpox. Current treatments fear frequent urination/defecation depleting Yuan Qi, hindering pustule eruption. Okra lubricates orifices and promotes urination/defecation, seemingly inappropriate, yet relied upon in the past. Could differing environmental factors between ancient and modern times necessitate changing treatment methods?
[Attached Prescriptions] Three old, four new.
Epidemic Macular Rash: See above.
Strange Disease of Flesh Cones: Someone's fingernails/toenails suddenly grew long, growing inward piercing flesh, painful like a cone. Eating okra cures it. (*Qiji Fang* by Xia Ziyi)
Ulcers Not Healing: First wash with warm rice water, wipe clean. Warm okra leaves slightly over fire and apply. Within 200-300 leaves, draw out pus completely, then flesh regenerates. Avoid fish, garlic, sexual intercourse. (*Bixiao Fang*)
Burn Scalds: Apply okra powder. (*Shipin Bencao*)
Snake/Scorpion Bites: Drink okra juice. (*Qianjin Fang*)
Accidental Swallowing of Copper Coin: Drink frozen okra juice. (*Puji Fang*)
Dan Shi Reaction with Dry Mouth/Cough: Drink a cup of winter okra pickle juice after each meal, then lie down briefly. (*Shiliao Bencao*)
Root
[Flavor and Properties] Sweet, Cold, Non-toxic.
[Indications] Malignant sores, treats strangury, promotes urination, resolves toxicity of Shu Pepper (*Bielu*). For infants swallowing coins that won't pass, boil juice and drink; miraculous (Zhen Quan). Treats malnutrition sores oozing yellow fluid (Meng Shen). Opens orifices, facilitates childbirth, stops thirst, disperses toxic vapors (Li Shizhen).
[Attached Prescriptions] Five old, seven new.
Obstruction of Urine/Feces with Distension/Emergency: Fresh Dong Kui root 2 jin (crushed juice 3 he), Ginger 4 liang (juice 1 he). Mix well, divide into two doses. Continuous use leads to unblocking. Thirst with excessive drinking, difficult urination: Kui root 5 liang, Water 3 large bowls, boil juice, take at dawn, once daily. (*Shenghui Fang*)
Take 2 sheng at dawn daily. (*Waitai Miyao*)
Leaking Pregnancy with Bleeding, Blood Exhausted Fetus Dies: Burn Kui root/stalk to ash. Take with wine, size of a square inch spoon, three times daily. (*Qianjin Fang*)
Boils/Malignant Toxins: Sudden growth in flesh like bean/millet, plum/prune, red/black/white/green, with a core having deep roots reaching the heart, rotting bones/tendons, entering organs kills: Drink Kui root juice to reduce heat toxicity. (*Jiyan Fang* by Yao Sengtan)
Breast Engorgement/Mastitis: Powder Kui stalk and seeds. Take with wine, size of a square inch spoon, twice daily. (*Chanbao* by Zan Yin)
Body/Face Malnutrition Sores Oozing Yellow Fluid: Burn Kui root to ash, mix with lard, apply. (*Shiliao Bencao*)
Infant Maternal Sores: Apply powdered burned Kui root. (*Zimu Milu*)
Infant Tight Lips: Burn Kui root to ash, mix with butter, apply. (*Shenghui Fang*)
Sores at Mouth Corners: Use aged Kui root, burn to ash, apply. (*Waitai Miyao*)
Snake/Viper Bites: Crush Kui root, apply. (*Gujin Luyan*)
Resolve Fang Kui Toxicity: Drink crushed Kui root juice. (*Qianjin Fang*)
Dong Kuizi (Winter Okra Seed)
*Bielu* states: Harvest in December.
Kou Zongshi said: Seeds sprout in spring, shouldn't be harvestable in December.
[Flavor and Properties] Sweet, Cold, Slippery, Non-toxic. Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin) guides its action.
[Indications] Viscera and bowels, cold/heat emaciation, five types of strangury, promotes urination. Long-term use strengthens bones, grows muscle, lightens body, prolongs life (*Benjing*).
Treats women's difficulty in lactation/internal blockage, swelling/pain (*Bielu*). Expels abscess heads (Meng Shen). Reduces Dan Shi toxicity, facilitates childbirth, treats dysentery (Li Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Li Shizhen said: Okra's flavor and qi are thin; bland and slippery belong to Yang, thus opening orifices, promoting lactation, reducing swelling, facilitating childbirth. Roots, leaves, and seeds have same functions. Note: Chenliu accumulation causing boils... Promoting fluid metabolism is very effective. This is the prescription of Zhang Buyu from Shangcai.
[Attached Prescriptions] Nine old, fourteen new.
Boil to obtain 1 sheng, drink. If not healed, prepare again.
*Shenghui*: Equal parts Okra seed (powder) and human milk. Mix and drink, immediate relief.
*Zhouhou Fang*: Okra seed 2 sheng. Water 4 sheng, boil to 1 sheng, add pig fat pill size of chicken egg, take at once. *Qianjin*: Okra seed powder, mix with pig fat into pills size of wu zi.
Blood Strangury: Okra seed 1 sheng, Water 3 sheng, boil juice, take three times daily. (*Qianjin Fang*)
Pregnancy Strangury: Dong Kuizi 1 sheng, Water 3 sheng, boil to 2 sheng, divide doses. (*Qianjin Fang*)
Pregnancy Bleeding: Same formula as above.
Postpartum Dribbling Urinary Obstruction: Okra seed 1 he, Pingshao (Mirabilite) 8 fen, Water 2 sheng, decoct to 8 he, dissolve salt and drink. (*Jiyan Fang*)
Pregnancy Edema/Heaviness, Difficult Urination, Chills/Dizziness upon rising: Okra seed and Poria 3 liang each. Make powder. Take size of square inch spoon with water, three times daily. Cures when urine flows freely. For inverted bladder, add hair ash, miraculous effect. (*Jingui Yaolue*)
Difficult Labor: Dong Kuizi 1 he, crush. Water 2 sheng, boil juice to 0.5 sheng, take at once, delivers shortly after. Someone did this successfully.
Inverted Birth/Jaw Lock: Stir-fry Dong Kuizi until yellow, make powder. Take 2 qian with wine, effective. (*Chan Shu*)
Lactation Obstruction: See Elucidation.
Fetal Death in Utero: Okra seed powder, take size of square inch spoon with wine. If jaw locked, force feed, revives upon ingestion. (*Qianjin Fang*)
Retained Placenta: Dong Kuizi 1 he, Achyranthes Root (Niuxi) 1 liang, Water 2 sheng, decoct to 1 sheng, drink. (*Qianjin Fang*)
Blood Dysentery/Postpartum Dysentery: Dong Kuizi powder. Take 2 qian each time, add 1 qian wax tea, mix with boiling water, three times daily. (*Shenghui Fang*)
Malaria Heat: Shade-dry Dong Kuizi, make powder. Take 2 qian with wine. On noon day, hold flower in hand, also removes malaria. (*Shenghui Fang*)
Abscess Without Head: Meng Shen said: After three days, swallow 200 okra seeds with water, opens same day. *Jingyan Houfang* says: Swallow one seed breaks it. Two seeds create two heads.
Initial Genital Swelling: Dong Kuizi powder, take 2 qian with wine. (*Rumen Shiqin*)
Facial Sores: Dong Kuizi, Biota Seed, Poria, Melon Seed each 1 liang. Make powder. Take size of square inch spoon with wine after meals, three times daily. (Tao Yin...)
Resolve Shu Pepper Toxicity: Decoct Dong Kuizi, drink juice. (*Qianjin Fang*)
Cold Recovery from Overexertion: Okra seed 2 sheng, Sorghum grain 1 sheng, cook porridge, eat, induce sweat, immediate peace. (*Shenghui*)