Library

[Background Information]
Book: Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)
Author: Li Shizhen
Dynasty: Ming Dynasty, Wanli Year 6
Chapter: Plantago (Cheqian)
Category: Materia Medica

(Listed as Superior Grade in *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
**Names**: Dangdao (from *Shennong Bencao Jing*), Maxi (from commentary on *Mao Shi*), Cheqian Cai (from *Jiu Huang Ben Cao*).
Li Shizhen states: According to *Er Ya*, Maxi is Cheqian. Lu Ji in the commentary on *Mao Shi* says: This herb grows in the hoof prints of cattle and horses, hence the names Cheqian (Plantain), Dangdao (On the Path), Maxi (Horse Shoe), and Niuyi (Cow Remains). "Xi" means shoe. People in Youzhou call it Niushu Cao (Cow Tongue Grass). Toads like to hide underneath, so in the Jiangdong region it is called Hamayi (Toad Coat). Additionally, *Han Shi Waizhuan* states: The straight-growing type is Cheqian; the side-growing type is Maxi, which may also be a forced interpretation.

**Collection and Explanation**: *Mingyi Bie Lu* states: Cheqian grows in the flat marshes, hills, and roadsides of Zhending. It is harvested on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month and dried in the shade.
Tao Hongjing states: It is very abundant around houses and roadside. The statement in *Han Shi* that Maxi is a woody plant resembling a plum tree, and eating its fruit benefits offspring, is erroneous.
Su Gong states: Those produced in Kaizhou are superior.
Su Song states: It is now found everywhere in the Jianghu, Huaidian, near Bianjing, and northern regions. In early spring, seedlings emerge; leaves spread on the ground like the face of a spoon. Plants growing for several years can reach over a chi in length. Several stems shoot up from the center, forming long spikes like rat tails. Flowers are very dense, green with a slight red tint. Fruits resemble Tingli seeds, dark red-black. Currently, people harvest the seedlings in May and the fruits in July and August. Some households garden them, especially in Shu. Northerners take the roots, dry them, and sell them as Ziwan (Aster Root), causing great misuse. Lu Ji stated that tender shoots make a slippery vegetable, but people no longer eat them now.
Li Shizhen states: Wang Ji's *Shanju Lu* contains methods for harvesting and eating Cheqian shoots, indicating ancients often used it as a vegetable. Wild people still collect and eat it now.

**Processing**: Li Shizhen states: When using, it must be washed with water to remove mud and sand, then sun-dried. For decoctions, stir-fry before use; for pills and powders, soak in wine overnight, steam until soft, mash into cakes, sun-dry, bake, and grind.

**Nature and Flavor**: Sweet, Cold, Non-toxic. *Mingyi Bie Lu* states: Salty. Lei Xiao states: Sweet, Neutral.
Chen Cheng states: Changshan (Dichroa Root) is its guiding herb.

**Indications**: Relieves pain from Qi stagnation and urinary difficulty (Qi Long), promotes urination, removes damp-bi. Long-term consumption lightens the body and delays aging (*Shennong Bencao Jing*). Treats dribbling urine, loss of appetite, nourishes the lungs, strengthens Yin, benefits essence, aids fertility, brightens eyes, and treats redness and pain (*Mingyi Bie Lu*). Removes wind-toxin, liver wind-heat, toxic wind attacking the eyes, redness/pain/opacity, headache with tearing, suppresses Dan-Shi toxicity, removes chest/heart heat/restlessness (Lu Ji). Guides heat from the small intestine, stops summerheat-damp diarrhea/dysentery (Li Shizhen).

**Elucidation**: Tao Hongjing states: Cheqian Zi has a cold, draining nature. Immortal texts also recommend ingesting it, saying it makes the body light, enables jumping across valleys, and prevents aging/death.
Su Song states: Cheqian Zi is used most frequently in medicine. Zhujing Wan uses Cheqian Zi and Tusizi in honeyed pills taken orally, considered a miraculous formula since ancient times.
Kou Zongshi states: Cheqian Zi promotes urination without depleting Qi, having the same effect as Fuling (Poria).
Li Shizhen states: According to *Shenxian Fushi Jing*, Cheqian is also called Diyi (Earth Lichen), the essence of Thunder. Ingesting it transforms the form; harvest in August. However, Cheqian seeds are already old by May, while the text mentions August harvest due to differences in local earth qi. Tang dynasty poet Zhang Ji wrote: "Kaizhou in May is said to have divine power. I feel ashamed that Wenjun pities my sick eyes, sending me [herbs] from three thousand li away." This confirms that May-harvested Kaizhou material is best and demonstrates its efficacy for eye diseases. Generally, when used for longevity/food therapy, it must be combined with other herbs, such as Zexie in Liuwei Dihuang Wan. If used alone, the draining effect is too strong, making it unsuitable for long-term use. Ouyang Xiu once suffered from acute diarrhea that imperial physicians could not cure. His wife bought a packet of medicine from a street vendor, which cured him. Upon asking for the prescription, it was revealed to be Cheqian Zi powder alone, taken with rice drink (2 qian bi). It is said this herb promotes urination without moving Qi; when water passages clear, turbidity separates, and grain retention stops naturally.

**Attached Prescriptions**: 6 Old, 6 New.
Blood strangury with pain: Cheqian Zi sun-dried and powdered, 2 qian per dose, taken with decoction of Cheqian Ye (*Puji Fang*).
Stone strangury with pain: Cheqian Zi 2 sheng, placed in a silk bag, boiled in 8 sheng water until 3 sheng remain, drink (*Zhouhou Fang*).
Elderly strangury with high fever: Cheqian Zi 5 he, wrapped in cloth and boiled for juice, add Qingliang Mi 4 he, cook into porridge and eat (*Qinlao Shu*).
Pregnant woman with heat strangury: Cheqian Zi 5 liang, Kui Gen (sliced) 1 sheng, boil in 5 sheng water until 1.5 sheng remain, divide into 3 doses, stop when urination improves (*Meishi Fang*).
Facilitates delivery: Cheqian Zi powdered. Take 1 cun bi with wine. Non-drinkers use water. *Shi Jing* says: "Gathering Fu Yi allows women to joyfully conceive." Lu Ji notes: Treats difficult labor.
Breech presentation not delivering: Cheqian Zi powdered, 2 qian with wine (*Zimu Milu*).
Cold numbness/pain in genitals spreading to scrotum, swelling fatal: Cheqian Zi powdered, 1 cun bi with drink, twice daily (*Qianjin Fang*).
Hidden rash entering abdomen, body swelling, stiff tongue: Cheqian Zi powder applied externally, effective (*Qianjin Fang*).
Itching/pain in lower yin: Frequent washing with Cheqian Zi decoction (*Waitai Miyao*).
Long-standing internal cataract: Cheqian Zi, Gan Dihuang, Maidong equal parts, powdered, honey pills size of wu zi. Effective after repeated trials (*Shenghui Fang*).
Tonify deficiency and brighten eyes: Zhujing Wan: Treats Liver/Kidney deficiency, blurry vision, floaters, opacity, tearing in wind. Long-term use tonifies Liver/Kidney, enhances vision:
Cheqian Zi, Shu Dihuang (wine-steamed/baked) each 3 liang, Tusizi (wine-soaked) 5 liang, powdered, refined honey pills size of wu zi. Take 30 pills with warm wine, twice daily (*Heji Jufang*).
Wind-heat dimness/astringency/pain in eyes: Cheqian Zi, Xuanzhou Huanglian each 1 liang, powdered. Take 1 qian with warm wine after meals, twice daily (*Shenghui Fang*).

[Note: The provided text contains a second section starting with "Processing" that appears to refer to Cheqian Cao (Herb) rather than just the seed, though the header is missing or merged. I will translate the subsequent sections as they appear.]

**Processing**: Li Shizhen states: When using, select one cluster with nine leaves, containing stamens, stems up to 1 chi 2 cun long. Use leaves, stamens, and roots together, clean soil, weigh 1 yi for full potency. Use leaves, do not use stamens/stems. Chop fine, spread on new tile to dry.

**Nature and Flavor**: Sweet, Cold, Non-toxic.
Tusux Zhenjun states: Can subdue Liu Huang (Sulfur), Jie Caosha, subdue Wu Fan (Five Alum), Fen Shuang (White Lead Powder).

**Indications**: Metal wounds, stops bleeding, epistaxis, blood stasis/masses, lower bleeding, dark urine, relieves irritability, directs Qi downward, eliminates parasites (*Mingyi Bie Lu*).
Treats Yin hernia (Cai Zhi). Leaves: Treats seminal emission, hematuria, tonifies Five Viscera, brightens eyes, promotes urination, unblocks five types of strangury (Zhen Quan).

**Elucidation**: Tao Hongjing states: Leaf juice ingested effectively treats seminal emission.
Kou Zongshi states: Tao's statement is greatly mistaken. This herb is sweet and slippery, promotes urination, and leaks essence/jing. Someone ate it frequently as a vegetable and lost control of urination, nearly being misled by it.

**Attached Prescriptions**: 4 Old, 7 New.
Urinary retention: Cheqian Cao 1 jin, water 3 sheng, decoct to 1.5 sheng, divide into 3 doses. One variation: add Donggua juice. Another: add Sangye juice (*Baiyi Fang*).
Newborn urinary obstruction: Cheqian crushed for juice, add little honey, instill (*Quanyou Xinjian*).
Hematuria: Cheqian Cao (crushed juice) 5 he, taken on empty stomach (*Waitai Miyao*).
Unstopping epistaxis: Fresh Cheqian Ye, crushed for juice, drink (*Tujing Bencao*).
Metal wound bleeding: Cheqian Ye crushed and applied (*Qianjin Fang*).
Unstopping heat dysentery: Cheqian Ye crushed for 1 zhan juice, add 1 he honey, warm and drink (*Shenghui Fang*).
Postpartum blood leakage into large/small intestines: Cheqian Cao (juice) 1 sheng, add 1 he honey, boil once, divide into 2 doses (*Cui Shi Fang*).
Dampness-related lower back pain: Hamacao (with root) 7 clusters, Congbai (with root) 7 clusters, Jujube 7 pieces, boil in 1 bottle of wine, take regularly, lifelong prevention (*Jianbian Fang*).
Throat obstruction/tonsillitis: Hamayi, Fengwei Cao pounded to paste, add little Shuangmei Rou, Zhujiu, grind again, squeeze juice, brush affected area with goose feather, effective immediately.
Red painful eyes: Natural juice of Cheqian Cao, mix with Puxiao powder, apply to eyelids at bedtime, wash off next morning. For children's eye pain, Cheqian Cao juice mixed with Zhuli drops (*Shengji Zonglu*).
Slight opacity in eyes: Cheqian Ye, Gouqi Ye equal parts, rub in hands to extract juice, wrap in two layers of Sangye, hang in shady place overnight, break Sangye and drop juice, 3-5 times sufficient (*Shibian Liangfang*).