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[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, bitter, cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Gu poison (parasitic poisoning) causing abdominal pain, greenish-yellow complexion, emaciation with visible bones (lin lu gu li), decocted juice 1-2 sheng drunk (Shizhen). Mainly treats wind-phlegm obstruction in the abdominal organs, cough with rebellious qi (Susuong).

(Lower Grade in *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
[Names] Baiyao (*Bielu*), Gengcao (*Bielu*), Qipen (*Benjing*).
Shizhen said: The root of this herb is solid and the stem is straight, hence the name. *Wu Pu Bencao* calls it Liru, Fuhu, Fangtu; these names are not seen in medical texts, likely being obscure terms. Jiegeng and Qipen are of the same category, having sweet and bitter varieties. Thus, in *Benjing*, Jiegeng is also named Qipen, while nowadays it is commonly called sweet Jiegeng. It was not until *Bielu* that a separate entry for Qipen appeared, dividing them into two substances. However, their properties, flavors, and functions differ significantly; therefore, the account in *Bielu* should be considered correct.
[Collection and Explanation] *Bielu* states: Jiegeng grows in the valleys of Songshan Mountain and Yuanju. Roots are harvested in the second and eighth months and dried in the sun.
Pu said: Leaves resemble those of Qipen, stems are like pen tubes, purple-red in color, sprouting in the second month.
Hongjing said: Found everywhere near roads, sprouting in the second and third months, edible when boiled. Jiegeng effectively treats Gu poison. Common prescriptions use this herb, naming it Qipen. There is another Qipen which can detoxify medicines and may be confused with Ginseng; its leaves are very similar. The difference lies in the smooth, hairless underside of Qipen leaves, and the leaves do not grow opposite each other as in Ginseng.
Gong said: Both Qipen and Jiegeng have alternate leaf arrangements or whorls of three to four pairs, all growing on a single upright stem. Since the leaves are easily confused, they are distinguished by whether the root has a "heart" (core).
Song said: Now found everywhere. Roots are about the thickness of a little finger, yellowish-white. Sprouts emerge in spring, stems over one chi high. Leaves resemble apricot leaves but are longer and oval, growing in opposite pairs of four; tender leaves are also edible when boiled. Small purple-blue flowers bloom in summer, resembling Convolvulus flowers, bearing seeds in autumn. Roots are harvested in the eighth month; those with a "heart" are Jiegeng, while those without are Qipen. Jiegeng from Guanzhong has yellow skin, resembling Malva roots. Stems are thin and green. Leaves are small, green, resembling Chrysanthemum leaves.
[Processing] Shuo said: Do not use wooden stems that resemble Jiegeng but taste fishy and astringent. When using Jiegeng, remove the sharp, hard tip of 2-3 fen and lateral branches. Finely chop on a locust wood cutting board. Mix with paste made from fresh Lily Bulb, soak in water for one fu period (approx. 2 hours), filter out, and dry over slow fire. For every 4 liang of Jiegeng, use 2.5 liang of Lily Bulb.
Shizhen said: Nowadays, simply scrape off the floating skin, soak in rice washing water overnight, slice, and stir-fry lightly before use.
[Flavor and Nature] Pungent, slightly warm, slightly toxic. Pu said: Shennong and Yi He: Bitter, non-toxic; Yellow Emperor and Bian Que: Pungent, salty; Qibo and Leigong: Sweet, non-toxic. Lidang: Greatly cold. Quan: Bitter, pungent. Shizhen said: Bitter, pungent, and neutral should be considered correct.
Zhicai said: Jiepi is its guiding agent. Averse to Baiji, Longyan, and Gentiana scabra; avoid pork. With Oyster Shell and Polygala, treats anger; with Niter and Gypsum, treats Cold Damage. White porridge resolves its toxicity.
Shizhen said: It counteracts Arsenic. The "Jiepi" mentioned by Zhicai is unknown.
[Indications] Chest and hypochondriac pain like knife stabbing, abdominal fullness with rumbling intestines, fright palpitations (*Benjing*).
Benefits the five zang organs and gastrointestinal tract, nourishes blood and qi, removes wind-cold-damp bi syndrome, warms the middle to digest grains, treats sore throat, and expels Gu poison (*Bielu*). Treats dysentery, breaks up blood stasis and accumulated qi, eliminates phlegm accumulation, clears lung heat and shortness of breath/cough, removes cold pain in the abdomen, mainly treats sudden evil invasion and pediatric convulsions (Zhenquan).
Directs qi downward, stops cholera with spasms, epigastric/abdominal fullness and pain, tonifies the five deficiencies, nourishes qi, dispels pathogenic factors and warm pathogens, breaks up masses and lung abscesses, nourishes blood and discharges pus, tonifies internal leakage and sore throat (Daming). Opens orifices, clears wind-heat from the lungs, benefits head and eyes/throat, resolves stagnation and pain in the chest/diaphragm, relieves nasal congestion (Yuansu).
Treats cold vomiting (Gaog). Mainly treats mouth and tongue ulcers, red swollen painful eyes (Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Haogu said: Jiegeng is slightly warm in nature, bitter and pungent in flavor. Its flavor is strong while its qi is light, belonging to Yin within Yang, and has an ascending action. It enters the Qi level of the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian.
Yuansu said: Jiegeng clears lung qi and benefits the throat. Being white in color, it serves as a guiding herb for the Lung organ.
When used together with Licorice Root, it acts as a "boat and oar" vehicle. For harsh purgatives like Rhubarb that descend heavily, if one wishes to guide them to the highest part of the chest to achieve efficacy, pungent and sweet agents must be used to ascend. Just as iron or stone sinks in a river and cannot float without a boat, so too does adding this herb prevent other medicines from sinking excessively.
Shizhen said: In Zhu Gong's *Huoren Shu*, for chest oppression without pain, Jiegeng and Aurantium are used to open the lungs, benefit the diaphragm, and direct qi downward. In Zhang Zhongjing's *Shanghan Lun*, for cold-solid chest binding, Jiegeng, Fritillaria, and Croton seed are used to warm the middle, digest grains, and break accumulations. For lung abscess with expectoration of pus, Jiegeng and Licorice Root are used for their bitter-pungent lung-clearing and sweet-warm fire-draining properties, as well as their ability to discharge pus/blood and tonify internal deficiency. For Shaoyin syndrome with sore throat after 2-3 days, Jiegeng and Licorice Root are used for bitter-pungent cold-dispelling and sweet-neutral heat-clearing effects, harmonizing cold and heat. Later generations renamed this Ganjie Tang, widely treating various throat and mouth diseases. Emperor Renzong of Song added Schizonepeta, Saposhnikovia, and Forsythia, naming it Rusheng Tang, emphasizing its efficacy. According to Wang Haogu's *Yilei Yuanrong*: for loss of voice, add Chebula; for inability to speak, add Pinellia; for rebellious qi, add Tangerine Peel; for phlegm-cough, add Anemarrhena and Fritillaria; for cough-thirst, add Schisandra; for alcohol toxicity, add Kudzu Root; for shortness of breath, add Ginseng; for vomiting, add Pinellia and Ginger; for spitting pus-blood, add Aster; for lung atrophy, add Donkey-hide Gelatin; for chest/diaphragm discomfort, add Aurantium; for chest/heart oppression, add Immature Bitter Orange; for red eyes, add Gardenia and Rhubarb; for facial swelling, add Poria; for skin pain, add Scutellaria; for macules, add Saposhnikovia and Schizonepeta; for epidemic toxin, add Plantago Seed and Rhubarb; for insomnia, add Gardenia. Zhenheng said: Dry cough is due to phlegm-fire郁 in the lungs, best treated with Jiegeng to open it; dysentery with abdominal pain is due to Lung Metal qi stagnating in the Large Intestine, also requiring Jiegeng to open it before using dysentery herbs. This herb opens and lifts qi and blood, thus suitable for use among qi-regulating herbs.
[Attached Prescriptions] Ten old, eight new. Chest fullness without pain: Equal parts Jiegeng and Aurantium. Decoct 2 zhong water to 1 zhong, take warm (*Nanyang Huoren Shu*). Cold Damage with abdominal distension: Caused by yin-yang disharmony, treated with Jiegeng Banxia Tang. Jiegeng, Pinellia, Citrus Peel 3 qian each, Ginger 5 slices. Decoct 2 zhong water to 1 zhong, take (*Nanyang Huoren Shu*).
Phlegm-cough with wheezing urgency: Jiegeng 1.5 liang. Powder. Decoct half sheng of urine from an uncircumcised boy to 4 he, strain, take warm (*Jianyao Jizhong Fang*). Lung Abscess Cough: Chest fullness, chills, rapid pulse, dry throat, no thirst, frequent expectoration of turbid foul-smelling sputum, eventually spitting pus like millet porridge. Treated with Jiegeng Tang. Jiegeng 1 liang, Licorice Root 2 liang. Decoct 3 sheng water to 1 sheng, divide into two warm doses. Recovery occurs when pus-blood is spit out morning and evening (*Jingui Yuhan Fang*). Pharyngitis/Dangerous Qi: Jiegeng 2 liang. Decoct 3 sheng water to 1 sheng, take in one dose (*Qianjin Fang*). Shaoyin Sore Throat: Shaoyin syndrome, 2-3 days, sore throat. Give Licorice Root Decoction first; if ineffective, give Jiegeng Tang. Jiegeng 1 liang, Licorice Root 2 liang. Decoct 3 sheng water to 1 sheng, divide doses (*Shanghan Lun*). Mouth/Tongue Ulcers: Same formula above. Gum Swelling/Pain: Equal parts Jiegeng and Coix Seed. Powder, take (*Yonglei Fang*). Alveolar Osteitis Pain, Gingival Swelling: Jiegeng powder mixed with jujube pulp into pills size of soap beans. Wrap in silk, bite. Rinse mouth with Schizonepeta decoction (*Jingyan Houfang*). Gangrenous Teeth/Foul Rot: Equal parts Jiegeng and Fennel. Burn, grind, apply (*Weisheng Yijian Fang*). Liver Wind Eye Blackness: Eye pain due to excess liver wind. Treated with Jiegeng Wan. Jiegeng 1 jin, Black Morning Glory Seed (first flush) 3 liang. Powder, honey pills size of wu zi. Take 40 pills with warm water, twice daily (*Baoming Ji*). Epistaxis: Jiegeng powder, take 1 cun bi with water, four times daily. One formula adds Raw Rhinoceros Horn shavings (*Puji Fang*). Hematemesis/Hematochezia: Same formula above. Blunt trauma with intestinal blood stasis, persistent and recurrent. Jiegeng powder, take 1 dao gui with rice soup (*Zhouhou Beifang*). Gu Poison with bloody stool like chicken liver, bleeding over a shi day and night, damage to four zang organs, heart intact, or broken nose near death. Bitter Jiegeng powder, take 1 cun bi with wine, three times daily. If unable to swallow, force open mouth and pour. Heart will feel restless then calm, stops after seven days. Eat pig liver soup to tonify. Excellent efficacy. One formula adds equal parts Rhinoceros Horn (*Gujin Lu Yan*). Pregnancy Evil Invasion, Abdominal Pain: Jiegeng 1 liang (chopped). Water 1 zhong, Ginger 3 slices, decoct to 6 fen, take warm (*Shenghui Fang*). Pediatric Ke Wu, Death-like State Unable to Speak: Jiegeng (burned/grinded) 3 qian, take with rice soup. Also swallow a small amount of Musk (*Beiji Fang*).
Lu Tou (Root Crown)
[Indications] Vomiting upper jiao wind-heat and phlegm-excess. Freshly ground to powder, taken with hot water 1-2 qian to induce vomiting (Shizhen).