（《本经》中品）
【释名】苦菜（《纲目》）、苦
（《别录》）、马草（《别录》）。
弘景曰∶根作陈败豆酱气，故以为名。
时珍曰∶南人采嫩者，曝蒸作菜食，味微苦而有陈酱气，故又名苦菜，与苦 、龙葵同
名。亦名苦 ，
【集解】《别录》曰∶败酱生江夏川谷，八月采根，曝干。
弘景曰∶出近道。叶似 ，根形如柴胡。
恭曰∶此药不出近道，多生冈岭间，叶似水莨及薇衔，丛生，花黄根紫，作陈酱色，其
叶殊不似 也。
颂曰∶江东亦有之，状如苏恭所说。
时珍曰∶处处原野有之，俗名苦菜，野人食之，江东人每采收储焉。春初生苗，深冬始
凋。
初时叶布地生，似菘菜叶而狭长，有锯齿，绿色，面深背浅。夏秋茎高二、三尺而柔弱，
数寸一节。节间生叶，四散如伞。颠顶开白花成簇，如芹花、蛇床子花状。结小实成簇。其
根白
根（苗同）
【修治】 曰∶凡收得便粗杵，入甘草叶相拌对蒸，从巳至未，去甘草叶，焙干用。
【气味】苦，平，无毒。《别录》曰∶咸，微寒。权曰∶辛、苦，微寒。大明曰∶酸。
时珍曰∶微苦、带甘。
【主治】暴热火疮赤气，疥瘙疽痔，马鞍热气（《本经》）。
产后腹痛（《别录》）。治毒风 痹，破多
渴（甄权）。治血气心腹痛，破症
【发明】时珍曰∶败酱，乃手足阳明、厥阴药也。善排脓破血，故仲
科皆用之。乃易得之物，而后人不知用，盖未遇识者耳。
【附方】旧二，新三。
肠痈有脓∶薏苡仁附子败酱散
∶用薏苡仁十分，附子二分，败酱五分。捣为末。每以方寸匕，水二升，煎一升，顿服。小
盒饭下，即愈。（张仲景《金匮玉函》）
产后恶露七、八日不止∶败酱、当归各
六分，续断、芍药各八分，芎 、竹茹各四分，生地黄（炒）十二分，水二升，煮取八合，
空心服。（《外台秘要》）
产后腰痛，乃血气流入腰腿，痛不可转者∶败酱、当归各
八分，芎 、芍药、桂心各六分，水二升，煮八合，分二服。忌葱。（《广济方》）产
后腹痛如锥刺者∶败酱草五两，水四升，煮二升。每服二合，日三服，良。（《
卫生易简方》）
蠼 尿疮绕腰者∶败酱煎汁涂之，良。（《杨氏产乳》）
(Recorded in the Middle Category of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
[Names] Bitter Vegetable (*Bencao Gangmu*), Ku (*Bielu*), Horse Grass (*Bielu*).
Tao Hongjing stated: The root has the odor of aged, spoiled bean paste, hence the name.
Li Shizhen stated: In southern regions, tender leaves are harvested, sun-dried, steamed, and eaten as vegetables. The taste is slightly bitter with an aroma of aged bean paste, hence also named Bitter Vegetable. It shares names with *Sonchus* (Ku Ju) and *Solanum nigrum* (Longkui). It is also called Ku Ju.
[Collection and Explanation] *Bielu* states: Baijiang grows in the river valleys of Jiangxia. The roots are harvested in August and dried in the sun.
Tao Hongjing stated: It is produced in areas near roads. The leaves resemble [missing character, likely referring to a specific wild vegetable], and the root shape resembles *Bupleuri Radix* (Chaihu).
Su Gong stated: This herb does not grow near roads but is abundant on hills and ridges. The leaves resemble *Hyoscyamus niger* (Shui Langdang) and *Orobanche* (Wei Xian), growing in clusters. The flowers are yellow, roots purple, presenting the color of aged bean paste. Its leaves do not resemble [missing character] at all.
Su Song stated: It is also found in the Jiangdong region, with a morphology as described by Su Gong.
Li Shizhen stated: It is found in fields and wilderness everywhere. The common name is Bitter Vegetable. Rural people eat it, and people in Jiangdong often harvest and store it. Sprouts emerge in early spring and wither in deep winter.
Initially, leaves grow flat against the ground, resembling *Brassica pekinensis* (Songcai) leaves but narrower and longer, with serrated edges. They are green, darker on the upper surface and lighter underneath. In summer and autumn, the stems are two or three chi high, soft and flexible, with nodes every few cun. Leaves grow from the nodes, spreading out like an umbrella. White flowers bloom in clusters at the apex, resembling the flowers of *Apium graveolens* (Qin) and *Cnidium monnieri* (Shechuangzi). Small fruits form in clusters. The roots are white.
[Processing] Lei Xiao stated: Upon harvesting, coarsely pound the herb. Mix with *Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma* (Gancao) leaves and steam together from Si hour to Wei hour. Remove the Gancao leaves, then dry by baking for use.
[Flavor and Toxicity] Bitter, Neutral, Non-toxic. *Bielu* states: Salty, Slightly Cold. Quan stated: Acrid, Bitter, Slightly Cold. Da Ming stated: Sour.
Li Shizhen stated: Slightly Bitter, with a hint of Sweetness.
[Therapeutic Actions] Treats sudden fire-heat sores, redness, scabies, carbuncles, hemorrhoids, and heat sensation akin to saddle-sores (*Shennong Bencao Jing*).
Postpartum abdominal pain (*Bielu*). Treats toxic wind bi-syndrome, breaks blood stasis, resolves masses, and relieves thirst (Quan). Treats blood and qi stagnation causing heart and abdominal pain, breaks neoplasms and accumulations.
[Innovation and Analysis] Li Shizhen stated: Baijiang acts on the Hand and Foot Yangming meridians and the Jueyin meridians. It excels at draining pus and breaking blood stasis; therefore, formulas by Zhang Zhongjing utilize it. It is an easily obtained substance, yet later generations failed to use it, likely due to a lack of knowledgeable practitioners.
[Attached Prescriptions] Two old prescriptions, three new ones.
Intestinal Abscess with Pus: Yiyiren Fuzi Baijiang San
Usage: Use 10 parts *Coicis Semen* (Yiyiren), 2 parts *Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata* (Fuzi), and 5 parts *Patriniae Herba* (Baijiang). Pound into powder. Take one fangcun bi (a square-inch measure) per dose. Add 2 sheng of water, decoct to 1 sheng, and take in one dose. If stool containing pus/blood is passed, the patient recovers. (From Zhang Zhongjing's *Jingui Yufan*)
Postpartum Lochia Discharge Persisting for 7-8 Days: Baijiang and *Angelicae Sinensis Radix* (Danggui) each 6 fen; *Dipsaci Radix* (Xuduan) and *Paeoniae Radix Alba* (Shaoyao) each 8 fen; *Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma* (Chuanxiong) and *Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam* (Zhuru) each 4 fen; *Rehmanniae Radix* (Sheng Dihuang, stir-fried) 12 fen. Add 2 sheng of water, decoct to obtain 8 he. Take on an empty stomach. (From *Waitai Miyao*)
Postpartum Lower Back Pain caused by Blood and Qi flowing into the waist and legs, making turning difficult: Baijiang and *Angelicae Sinensis Radix* (Danggui) each 8 fen; *Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma* (Chuanxiong), *Paeoniae Radix Alba* (Shaoyao), and *Cinnamomi Ramulus* (Guixin) each 6 fen. Add 2 sheng of water, decoct to obtain 8 he. Divide into two doses. Avoid Scallions. (From *Guangji Fang*)
Postpartum Abdominal Pain feeling like needle pricks: *Patriniae Herba* (Baijiang Cao) 5 liang, Water 4 sheng. Decoct to obtain 2 sheng. Take 2 he per dose, three times daily. Effective. (From *Weisheng Yijian Fang*)
Sores caused by Earwig Urine encircling the waist: Decoct Baijiang and apply the juice to the affected area. Effective. (From *Yangshi Chanru*)