（《本经》中品）
【释名】马新蒿（《唐本》）、马矢蒿（《本经》）、练石草（《别录》）、烂石草（同上）、
虎麻。
时珍曰∶蒿气如马矢，故名。马先，乃马矢字讹也。马新，又马先之讹也。
弘景曰∶练石草，一名烂石草，即马矢蒿。今方药不复用之。
【集解】《别录》曰∶马先蒿、练石草，并生南阳川泽。
恭曰∶叶大如茺蔚，花红白色。二月、八月采茎叶，阴干用。八月、九月实熟，俗谓之
虎麻是也。一名马新蒿，所在有之。茺蔚苗短小，其子夏中熟。二物初生，极相似也。
禹锡曰∶按《尔雅》云∶蔚，牡 。注云，即蒿之无子者。《诗》云∶匪莪伊芳蔚。陆玑
云∶牡蒿也。三月始生，七月开花，似胡麻花而紫赤。八月生角，似小豆角，锐而长。一名
马新蒿，是也。
颂曰∶郭璞以牡 为无子，而陆玑云有子，二说小异。今当用有子者为正。
时珍曰∶《别录》牡蒿、马先蒿，原是二条。陆玑所谓有子者，乃马先蒿，而复引无子
之牡蒿释之，误矣。牡蒿详见本条。
【气味】苦，平，无毒。《别录》曰∶练石草∶寒。
【主治】寒热鬼疰，中风湿痹，女子带下病，无子（《本经》）。练石草∶治五癃，破石
淋，膀胱中结气，利水道小便（《别录》）。恶疮（弘景）。
【附方】旧一。
大疯癞疾，骨肉疽败，眉须堕落，身体痒痛∶以马先蒿（一名马矢蒿，一名烂石草），
炒捣末。每服方寸匕，食前温酒下，一日三服，一年都瘥。（《肘后方》）
(Recorded in the Middle Category of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
**Names**: Maxinhao (*Tangbencao*), Mashihao (*Shennong Bencao Jing*), Lianshicao (*Mingyi Bielu*), Lanshicao (ibid.), Huma.
Li Shizhen stated: This mugwort has an odor resembling horse manure, hence its name. "Maxian" is a textual error for "Mashi." "Maxin" is further a corruption of "Maxian."
Tao Hongjing stated: Lianshicao, also known as Lanshicao, is Mashihao. It is no longer used in current prescriptions and materia medica.
**Collection and Explanation**: *Mingyi Bielu* states that Maxianhao and Lianshicao both grow in the rivers and marshes of Nanyang.
Su Gong stated: The leaves are as large as those of *Leonurus japonicus* (Yimuyao), and the flowers are red and white. The stems and leaves are harvested in February and August and dried in the shade. The fruits mature in August and September; the common name for this is Huma. It is also called Maxinhao and is found everywhere. The seedlings of *Leonurus japonicus* are short and small, and its seeds ripen in summer. When first sprouting, these two plants look extremely similar.
Yuxi stated: According to *Erya*, "Wei" refers to *Artemisia verlotiorum* (Mu'ao). The commentary notes that this is mugwort without seeds. The *Classic of Poetry* says: "Not E but Fangwei." Lu Ji stated: This is Mu'ao. It begins to grow in March, blooms in July, resembles hemp flowers but is purple-red. In August, it produces pods, resembling small bean pods, sharp and long. It is also called Maxinhao.
Su Song stated: Guo Pu considered Mu'ao to be seedless, while Lu Ji claimed it had seeds; the two theories differ slightly. Currently, the variety with seeds should be regarded as correct.
Li Shizhen stated: In *Mingyi Bielu*, Mu'ao and Maxianhao were originally recorded as two separate entries. What Lu Ji referred to as having seeds was actually Maxianhao, yet he incorrectly used the seedless Mu'ao to explain it. See Mu'ao in its own entry for details.
**Flavor and Properties**: Bitter, neutral, non-toxic. *Mingyi Bielu* states: Lianshicao is cold.
**Indications**: Treats alternating chills and fever, Guizhu (a chronic wasting disease often associated with contagion or mental disturbance), wind-damp bi-syndrome (pain and numbness caused by obstruction of meridians by wind and damp pathogens), leukorrhea in women, and infertility (*Shennong Bencao Jing*). Lianshicao: Treats five types of Lin syndrome (urinary disorders characterized by difficulty and pain), breaks down stone Lin (dysuria caused by urinary calculi), resolves qi stagnation in the bladder, and promotes urination and water passages (*Mingyi Bielu*). Treats malignant sores (Tao Hongjing).
**Attached Prescriptions**: One old prescription.
For severe leprosy (Da Feng Laiji), resulting in rotting and destruction of flesh and bone, loss of eyebrows and beard, and itching and pain throughout the body: Take Maxianhao (also known as Mashihao or Lanshicao), stir-fry it, and pound it into powder. Take one fangcunbi (a square-inch measure) each time, taken with warm wine before meals, three times a day. Complete recovery can be achieved within one year (*Zhouhou Beiji Fang*).