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(From *Bencao Shiyi* [Supplement to Materia Medica])
【Jijie (Collected Explanations)】 Chen Cangqi stated: It grows in flatlands, leaves resemble those of *Polygonum tinctorium* (Kuzhang) but are smaller, nodes are red, height is one to two chi. Planting it repels snakes. Another variety has round stems resembling ramie (*Boehmeria nivea*), also effective for applying to snake venom.
Li Shenwei stated: According to *Baiyi Fang*, there is a grass at Dongguan resembling ramie, with square stems and red nodes, effective for applying to snake venom as if freshly picked, named She Wang Cao (Snake Net Grass). There is also Shu Wang Cao, which is the Mang Cao mentioned later.
【Qiwēi (Flavor and Properties)】 Missing.
【Zhuzhi (Main Indications)】 Stings from snakes, scorpions, and other venomous insects. Take roots and leaves, pound into a paste, and apply to the bite site; yellow fluid will drain out (Chen Cangqi).

(From *Shennong Bencao Jing*, Middle Grade)
【Shiming (Names)】 Kuzhang (*Bencao Shiyi*), Dachong Zhang (*Yaoxing Lun*), Banzhang (*Rihua Bencao*), Suan Zhang. Li Shizhen said: "Zhang" refers to its stem, "Hu" (Tiger) refers to its spots. Some say it is also called Dunniu Xi, which is incorrect. A variety of Banzhang resembling [missing character] head shares the same name but is a different substance.
【Jijie (Collected Explanations)】 Tao Hongjing stated: It is abundant in fields, resembling large *Polygonum multiflorum* (Dama Liao), with spotted stems and round leaves. Su Baosheng stated: It is found everywhere. It grows in low, wet areas, growing tree-like up to over one zhang high, with red stems and yellow roots. Roots are harvested in February and August and dried in the sun.
Su Song stated: Currently produced in Fenzhou, Yuezhou, and Chuzhou, found everywhere. Seedlings emerge in March, stems resemble bamboo shoots, with red spots on them, branching early. Leaves resemble small apricot leaves. Flowers bloom in July, fruits mature in September. Those from the South do not flower. Root bark is black, turning yellow when broken, resembling willow roots. Some grow over one zhang high. *Erya* states: [Character], Hu Zhang. Guo Pu's annotation states: Resembles *Persicaria orientalis* (Hongcao) but coarser, with fine spines, can be used to dye red. This is it.
Kou Zongshi stated: This is an herbaceous plant. The *Shu Ben* version stating it grows tree-like over one zhang high is incorrect. Generally resembling *Chrysanthemum indicum* (Hanju), but flowers, leaves, stems, and stamens are slightly larger. Stems and leaves have pale black spots. Flowers bloom successively in June and July, ending in mid-September. Petals are four-parted, color like peach blossoms, slightly larger and darker on the outside. Abundant at the foot of mountains and by waters in Shaanxi.
Han Baosheng stated: When using, do not mistake it for the roots of Tianlan or Banxiu, as their root shapes and flavors are similar.
Su Ji stated: Various annotations claim resemblance to Hong, Xing, or Hanju, which differ greatly. Could this be due to different origins?
Li Shizhen stated: Its stem resembles *Persicaria*; leaves are round like apricot; branches are yellow like willow; flowers resemble chrysanthemum; color resembles peach blossom. Viewing them together, there is no difference.
【Xiuzhi (Processing)】 Su Song stated: After harvesting, cut finely, wrap in leaves overnight, then dry for use.
【Qiwēi (Flavor and Properties)】 Slightly warm. Li Quan stated: Sweet, neutral, non-toxic.
Kou Zongshi stated: Slightly bitter. Nowadays, people often decoct root juice for drinking in summer. Without licorice (*Gancao*), it is unpalatable. The main text does not mention flavor. *Yaoxing Lun* states: Sweet. This is the taste of licorice, not Hu Zhang.
【Zhuzhi (Main Indications)】 Promotes menstruation, breaks stagnant blood masses (*Shennong Bencao Jing*). Soaked in wine and taken, treats sudden Jia (abdominal masses) (Tao Hongjing). Wind in inter-articular spaces and blood stasis, decocted juice taken as wine (Chen Cangqi).
Treats severe heat and irritability, stops thirst, promotes urination, suppresses all heat toxins (Li Quan). Treats postpartum blood vertigo, retention of lochia, abdominal distension and fullness, expels pus, treats sores, carbuncles, and toxic swellings, traumatic blood stasis, breaks wind-toxin qi stagnation (Tang Shenwei). Burned to ash, applied to various malignant sores. Roasted, powdered, mixed with refined honey into pills, taken with aged rice water, treats intestinal hemorrhoids with bleeding (Su Song). Powdered, taken with wine, treats postpartum blood stasis pain and fainting from falls (Li Shizhen).
【Faming (Elucidation)】 Li Quan stated: In summer, decocting roots with licorice makes a beverage, amber-colored and lovely, very sweet and delicious.
Placed in a bottle submerged in a well until ice-cold, locals call it "Frozen Beverage," considered superior to tea, extremely effective for resolving summer heat toxicity. Its juice dyes rice for congee/cakes, enhancing flavor. Powder soaked in wine, taken regularly, breaks female menstrual obstruction. Pregnant women should avoid it.
Li Shizhen stated: Sun Simiao’s *Qianjin Fang*: Treats female menstrual obstruction, abdominal accumulations, false distension with borborygmus, heavy limbs, and also male accumulations. Formula: Hu Zhang Jian. Take Hu Zhang roots from high ground, chop two hu, add 25 dou of water, boil to obtain 1.5 dou, remove dregs, add five sheng of pure wine, boil until thick like maltose. Take one he per dose, adjust until effective. Also, Xu Shimian’s *Benshi Fang*: Treats various stranguria in men and women. Wash clean one he of Kuzhang root, chop, add five cups of water, decoct to one cup, remove dregs, add a little frankincense (*Ruxiang*) and musk (*Shexiang*), take. Geng Mengde, Magistrate of Yin County, had a wife suffering from sand-stone stranguria for thirteen years. Urination was unbearable, sand and stones clattered in the chamber pot. Hundreds of prescriptions failed. Accidentally obtaining this prescription, she was cured in one night. I witnessed this personally.
【Fu Fang (Attached Prescriptions)】 Three old, four new.
Xiao Bian Wu Lin (Five Types of Dysuria): Kuzhang powdered. Take two qian, swallow with rice water. (*Jiyan Fang*)
Yue Shui Bu Li (Menstrual Irregularity): Hu Zhang three liang, Lingxiao Hua (*Campsis grandiflora*) and Moyao (*Myrrha*) one liang. Powdered. Take one qian with hot wine. Another formula: Treats menstrual obstruction, abdomen distended like a jar, shortness of breath nearing death: Hu Zhang one jin (remove tops, dry, slice), Tugua Gen (*Trichosanthes kirilowii* root juice) and Niuxi (*Achyranthes bidentata* root juice) two dou. Add one hu of water, soak Hu Zhang overnight, decoct to two dou, add the two juices, decoct until thick like maltose. Take one he with wine, twice daily and once at night, retained blood will pass. (*Shenghui Fang*)
Shi Yi Liu Du Gong Shou Zu (Seasonal Epidemic Toxin Attacking Hands and Feet), swelling and pain threatening amputation: Chop Hu Zhang roots, decoct juice, soak affected area. (*Zhouhou Beiji Fang*)
Fu Zhong Bao Zheng Ying Ru Shi (Sudden Hard Abdominal Mass Like Stone), stabbing pain, fatal within 100 days if untreated: Take Hu Zhang roots, ensure shadow does not touch water, obtain over ten shi weight, wash, dry, powder. Cook five shi of Jing Mi (rice), mix in, steep in five dou of good wine, seal until medicine dissolves and rice floats. Drink one and a half sheng. Avoid fish and salt. Alternatively, take one dou dry material, steep in thin wine, start with small doses, three times daily. Excellent, mass will pass. This formula for treating Zheng masses surpasses major drugs. (*Waitai Miyao*)
Qi Ben Strange Disease: Person suddenly feels rumbling sounds under skin like waves, unbearable itching, scratching draws blood without relief, called Qi Ben: Use Kuzhang, Renshen (*Ginseng*), Qingyan (*Halite*), Baizhu (*Atractylodes macrocephala*), Xixin (*Asarum*) each one liang. Make one dose, decoct in water, drink slowly until finished, then cured. (Xia Zi Yi *Qiji Fang*)
Take two qian, three times daily. Avoid alcohol, sexual activity, fish, noodles, soy sauce, and raw/cold foods. (*Weisheng Jiabao Fang*)