（《蜀本草》）
【释名】马苋（《别录》）、五行草（《图经》）、五方草（《纲目》）、长命菜（同上）、九
头狮子草。时珍曰∶其叶比并如马齿，而性滑利似苋，故名。俗呼大叶者为 耳草，小叶者
为鼠齿苋，又名九头狮子草。其性耐久难燥，故有长命之称。《宝藏论》及《八草灵变篇》
并名马齿龙芽，又名五方草，亦五行之义。颂曰∶马齿苋虽名苋类，而苗、叶与苋都不相似。
一名五行草，以其叶青、梗赤、花黄、根白、子黑也。藏器曰∶《别录》以马齿与苋同类。
二物既殊，今从别品。
【集解】
弘景曰∶马苋与苋别是一种，布地生，实至微细，俗呼马齿苋，亦可食，小酸。
保升曰∶此有二种∶叶大者不堪用；叶小者节叶间有水银，每十斤有八两至十两已来。
然至难燥，当以槐木捶碎，向日东作架晒之，三、两日即干如隔年矣。入药须去茎，其茎无
效。
曰∶凡使勿用大叶者，不是马齿苋，亦无水银。
时珍曰∶马齿苋，处处园野生之。柔茎布地，细叶对生。六、七月开细花，结小尖实，
实中细子如葶苈子状。人多采苗煮晒为蔬。方士采取，伏砒结汞，煮丹砂，伏硫黄，死雄制
雌，别有法度。一种水马齿，生水中，形状相类，亦可 食。
见王西楼野《菜谱》。
菜
【气味】酸，寒，无毒。恭曰∶辛，温。
宗 曰∶人多食之，然性寒滑。
【主治】诸肿 疣目，捣揩之。破 癖，止消渴（藏器）。
能肥肠，令人不思食。治女人赤白下（苏颂）。饮汁，治反胃诸淋，金疮流血，破血癖
症瘕，小儿尤良。用汁治紧唇面 ，解马汗、射工毒，涂之瘥（苏恭）。治自尸脚阴肿（保
升）。作膏，涂湿癣、白秃、杖疮。又主三十六种风。煮粥，止痢及疳痢，治腹痛（孟诜）。
服之长年不白。治痈疮，杀诸虫。生捣汁服，当利下恶物，去白虫。和梳垢，封疔肿。又烧
灰和陈醋滓，先灸后封之，即根出（《开宝》）。散血消肿，利肠滑胎，解毒通淋，治产后虚
汗（时珍）。
【发明】时珍曰∶马齿苋所主诸病，皆只取其散血消肿之功也。
颂曰∶多年恶疮，百方不瘥，或痛 不已者。并捣烂马齿敷上，不过三、两遍。此方
出于武元衡相国。武在西川，自苦胫疮 痒不可堪，百医无效。及到京，有厅吏上此方，用
之便瘥也。李绛记其事于《兵部手集》。
【附方】旧十六，新二十三。
三十六风结疮∶马齿苋一石。水二石，煮取汁，入蜜蜡三两，重煎成膏。涂之。（《食
疗》）。
诸气不调∶马齿苋煮粥，食之。（《食医心镜》）。
禳解疫气∶六月六日，采马齿苋晒干。元旦煮熟，同盐、醋食之，可解疫疠气。（唐瑶
《经验方》）。
筋骨疼痛，不拘风湿气、杨梅疮及女人月家病，先用此药止疼，然后调理∶干马齿苋一
斤（湿马齿苋二斤），五加皮半斤，苍术四两，舂碎，以水煎汤洗澡。急用葱、姜擂烂，冲
热汤三碗，服之。暖处取汗，立时痛止也。（《海上名方》）。
香港脚浮肿∶心腹胀满，小便涩少。马齿草和少粳米，酱汁煮食之。（《食医心镜》）。
男女疟疾∶马齿苋捣，扎手寸口，男左女右。
产后虚汗∶马齿苋（研汁）三合，服。如无，以干者煮汁。（《妇人良方》）。
产后血痢，小便不通，脐腹痛∶生马齿苋菜（杵汁）三合，煎沸入蜜一合，和服。（《产
宝》）。
小儿血痢∶方同上。（《心镜》）。
肛门肿痛∶马齿苋叶、三叶酸草等分，煎汤熏洗，一日二次，有效。（《濒湖方》）。
痔疮初起∶马齿苋不拘鲜干，煮熟急食之。以汤熏洗。一月内外，其孔闭，即愈矣。（《杨
氏经验方》）。
赤白带下，不问老、稚、孕妇悉可服∶取马齿苋（捣绞汁）三大合，和鸡子白二枚。先
温令热，乃下苋汁，微温顿饮之。不过再作即愈。（崔云亮《海上方》）
小便热淋∶马齿苋汁服之。（《圣惠方》）
阴肿痛极∶马齿苋，捣敷之，良。（《永类钤方》）
中蛊欲死∶马齿苋，捣汁一升饮，并敷之。日四、五次。（《寿域》）
腹中白虫∶马齿苋水煮一碗，和盐、醋空腹食之。少顷白虫尽出也
。（孟诜《食疗》）
紧唇面 ∶马齿苋煎汤日洗之。（《圣惠方》）
目中息肉，淫肤、赤白膜∶马齿苋一大握洗净，和芒硝末少许，绵裹安上。频易之。（《龙
木论》）
风齿肿痛∶马齿苋一把，嚼汁渍之。即日肿消。（《本事方》）
漏耳诸疮，治耳内外恶疮，及头疮、肥疮、 疮。黄马散∶用黄柏半两，干马齿苋一两，
为末。敷之。（《圣惠》）
项上 疮《外台》∶用马苋阴干烧研，腊猪脂和，以暖泔洗拭，敷之。《简便》∶治瘰
未破。马齿苋同靛花捣掺，日三次。
腋下狐臭∶马齿苋杵，以蜜和作团，纸裹泥固半寸浓，日干，烧过研末。每以少许和蜜
作饼，先以生布揩之，以药夹胁下，令极痛，久忍，然后以手巾勒两臂。日用一次，以瘥为
度。（《千金方》）
小儿火丹∶热如火，绕脐即损人。马苋捣涂，日二。（《广利方》）
小儿脐疮，久不瘥者∶马齿菜烧研敷之。（《千金》）
豌豆 疮∶马齿苋，烧研敷之，须臾根逐药出。不出更敷。（《肘后》）
疔疮肿毒∶马齿莱二分，锻石三分，为末，鸡子白和，敷之。
反花恶疮∶马齿苋一斤。烧研，猪脂和敷。圣惠蛀脚 疮∶干马齿苋研末，蜜调敷上。
一宿其虫自出，神效。（《海上方》）
足趾甲疽，肿烂者∶屋上马齿苋、昆仑青木香、印成盐，等分和匀，烧存性，入光明朱
砂少许，敷之。（《外台秘要》）。
疮久不瘥积年者∶马齿苋捣烂封之。取汁煎稠敷亦可。（《千金》）。
马咬人疮，毒入心者∶马齿苋煮，并汤食之（《圣惠》）。
射工溪毒∶马齿苋，捣汁一升服，以滓敷之，日四、五次良。（崔元亮《海上方》）。
毛虫螫人，赤痛不止∶马齿苋捣熟封之，妙。（《灵苑方》）。
蜂虿螫人∶方同上。（张文仲方）。
蜈蚣咬伤∶马苋汁涂之。（《肘后》）。
小儿白秃∶马齿苋，煎膏涂之。或烧灰，猪脂和涂。（《圣惠方》）。
身面瘢痕∶马齿苋汤日洗二次。（《圣惠方》）
杂物眯目不出∶用东墙上马齿苋，烧灰研细，点少许于 头，即出也。（《圣惠方》）。
子
【主治】明目，《仙经》用之（《开宝》）。延年益寿（孟诜）。青盲白翳，除邪气，利大
小肠，去寒热。以一升捣末，每以一匙用葱、豉煮粥食。或着米糁、五味作羹食（《心镜》）。
【附方】新一。
目中出泪，或出脓∶用马齿苋子、人苋子各半两为末，绵裹铜器中蒸熟，熨大 头脓水
出处。每熨以五十度为率，久久自绝。（《圣惠》）。
(Shu Bencao)
[Names] Ma Xian (from Bie Lu), Wu Xing Cao (Five Elements Herb, from Tu Jing), Wu Fang Cao (Five Directions Herb, from Gang Mu), Chang Ming Cai (Longevity Vegetable, ibid.), Jiu Tou Shi Zi Cao (Nine-Headed Lion Grass). Li Shizhen said: Its leaves are arranged like horse teeth, and its nature is slippery like Amaranthus, hence the name. Commonly, those with large leaves are called Er Cao (Ear Herb), and those with small leaves are called Shu Chi Xian (Mouse Tooth Amaranth), also known as Jiu Tou Shi Zi Cao. Its nature is durable and difficult to dry, thus the name "Longevity". Ba Zang Lun and Ba Cao Ling Bian Pian both call it Ma Chi Long Ya (Horse Tooth Dragon Sprout), also named Wu Fang Cao, which also implies the meaning of Five Elements. Su Song said: Although Ma Chi Xian is named after the Amaranth category, its seedlings and leaves do not resemble Amaranthus at all. It is also called Wu Xing Cao because its leaves are green, stems red, flowers yellow, roots white, and seeds black. Chen Cangqi said: Bie Lu considered Ma Chi Xian and Amaranth to be of the same category. Since these two substances are distinct, it is now classified into a separate category.
[Collection and Explanation]
Tao Hongjing said: Ma Xian and Amaranth are two different species, growing flat on the ground, with extremely tiny fruits. Commonly called Ma Chi Xian, it is edible and slightly sour.
Su Baosheng said: There are two varieties: those with large leaves are unsuitable for use; those with small leaves contain mercury between the nodes, approximately 8 to 10 taels per 10 jin. However, they are very difficult to dry. They should be crushed with locust wood and dried on an east-facing rack in the sun. In three or two days, they become dry like aged herbs. For medicinal use, the stems must be removed as they have no efficacy.
A certain physician said: Do not use large-leaved varieties; they are not Ma Chi Xian and contain no mercury.
Li Shizhen said: Ma Chi Xian grows wild in gardens everywhere. It has soft stems spreading on the ground and fine opposite leaves. In June and July, it blooms with small flowers and produces small pointed fruits containing fine seeds resembling Thlaspi seeds. People often harvest the seedlings, boil and dry them as vegetables. Daoist practitioners collect this herb to fix arsenic and condense mercury, boil cinnabar, fix sulfur, and transform male and female minerals, following specific methods. A variety called Water Ma Chi grows in water, looks similar, and is also edible.
See Wang Xilou's Wild Vegetable Recipe Book.
[Flavor and Properties] Sour, cold, non-toxic. Su Gong said: Pungent, warm.
Su Song said: Many people eat it, but its nature is cold and slippery.
[Indications] Treats various swellings and warts; apply by crushing and rubbing. Breaks up accumulations and masses, stops polydipsia (Chen Cangqi).
Enriches the intestines and reduces appetite. Treats leukorrhea (red and white discharge) in women (Su Song). Drinking the juice treats regurgitation and various strangury conditions, bleeding from metallic wounds, breaks up blood stasis and masses, and is particularly effective for children. Using the juice to treat tight lips and facial conditions, resolves horse sweat toxicity and toxic plant insect bites; application leads to recovery (Su Gong). Treats spontaneous swelling and pain of the genitals (Su Baosheng). Made into an ointment, it treats damp tinea, alopecia capitis, and whip marks. It also treats thirty-six types of wind pathogens. Cooked as porridge, it stops dysentery and malnutrition dysentery, and treats abdominal pain (Meng Shen). Long-term consumption prevents graying of hair. Treats carbuncles and sores, kills various parasites. Taking the raw crushed juice induces the passage of foul matter and removes tapeworms. Mixed with comb dirt and applied, it seals carbuncles. Burned to ash and mixed with old vinegar residue, applied after moxibustion, it extracts the root of the lesion (Kaibao Bencao). Disperses blood and reduces swelling, promotes intestinal lubrication and fetal delivery, detoxifies, promotes urination, and treats postpartum deficiency sweating (Li Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Li Shizhen said: The various diseases treated by Ma Chi Xian all rely solely on its ability to disperse blood and reduce swelling.
Su Song said: For chronic malignant sores that do not heal despite hundreds of treatments, or where pain persists, crush Ma Chi Xian and apply it. After only two or three applications, it heals. This prescription originated from Chancellor Wu Yuanheng. While in Western Sichuan, Wu suffered from unbearable itching and leg sores, unresponsive to many doctors. Upon arriving in the capital, a hall official presented this prescription, which resulted in a cure. Li Jiang recorded this event in Bingbu Shouji.
[Prescriptions] Sixteen old prescriptions, twenty-three new prescriptions.
Thirty-Six Wind Knot Sores: One shi of Ma Chi Xian. Two shi of water, boiled to extract juice, add three liang of beeswax, and re-boil into an ointment. Apply externally. (Shiliao).
Qi Disharmony: Boil Ma Chi Xian into porridge and eat. (Shiyi Xinjing).
Expelling Epidemic Qi: On the sixth day of the sixth month, harvest and dry Ma Chi Xian. On New Year's Day, boil it cooked and eat with salt and vinegar to resolve epidemic qi. (Tang Yao's Experience Prescription).
Bone and Tendon Pain, regardless of wind-dampness, yaws, or menstrual disorders: First use this medicine to stop pain, then regulate. One jin of dried Ma Chi Xian (two jin fresh), half jin of Eucommia Bark, four liang of Atractylodes Rhizome, pounded coarse. Decoct in water for bathing. Immediately pound green onion and ginger, mix with three bowls of hot bathwater, and drink. Rest in a warm place to induce sweating; pain stops immediately. (Haishang Mingfang).
Hong Kong Foot Edema: Abdominal fullness, scanty and difficult urination. Cook Ma Chi Cao with a little japonica rice and soy sauce, and eat. (Shiyi Xinjing).
Malaria in Men and Women: Crush Ma Chi Xian, tie around the cunkou pulse point. Left hand for men, right hand for women.
Postpartum Deficiency Sweating: Three he of Ma Chi Xian (crushed juice), taken orally. If unavailable, decoct dried material. (Furen Liangfang).
Postpartum Bloody Dysentery, Urinary Retention, Umbilical Abdominal Pain: Three he of fresh Ma Chi Xian (pounded juice), boiled, add one he of honey, mix and take. (Chanbao).
Pediatric Bloody Dysentery: Same prescription as above. (Xinjing).
Anal Swelling and Pain: Equal parts Ma Chi Xian leaves and Oxalis corniculata, decoct for fumigation and washing, twice daily. Effective. (Binhu Fang).
Early Hemorrhoids: Ma Chi Xian, fresh or dried, boiled and eaten immediately. Fumigate and wash with the decoction. Within a month, the orifice closes, and it heals. (Yangshi Jingyan Fang).
Red and White Leukorrhea, suitable for elderly, young, and pregnant women: Take three large he of Ma Chi Xian (crushed and juiced), mix with two egg whites. Warm slightly, add the juice, and drink while warm. Heal within two doses. (Cui Yunliang's Haishang Fang).
Hot Strangury: Take Ma Chi Xian juice. (Shenghui Fang).
Severe Genital Swelling and Pain: Crush Ma Chi Xian and apply. Good effect. (Yonglei Qianfang).
Poisoning by Gu causing near death: Drink one sheng of Ma Chi Xian juice and apply externally. Four to five times daily. (Shouyu).
White Worms in Abdomen: Decoct one bowl of Ma Chi Xian in water, mix with salt and vinegar, eat on an empty stomach. White worms will be expelled shortly. (Meng Shen's Shiliao).
Tight Lips and Facial Conditions: Wash daily with Ma Chi Xian decoction. (Shenghui Fang).
Eye Polyps, Skin Overgrowth, Red and White Membranes: Wash one large handful of Ma Chi Xian, mix with a little Mirabilite powder, wrap in cotton, and apply. Change frequently. (Longmu Lun).
Wind-Tooth Swelling and Pain: Chew one handful of Ma Chi Xian and rinse with the juice. Swelling subsides on the same day. (Benshi Fang).
Otorrhea and Various Sores, treating malignant sores inside and outside the ear, head sores, fatty sores, and suppurative sores. Huangma San: Half liang of Phellodendron Bark, one liang of dried Ma Chi Xian, powdered. Apply. (Shenghui).
Neck Sores (Waitai): Dry Ma Xian in shade, burn and powder, mix with lard pig fat. Wash with warm bran water, wipe, and apply. Jianbian: Treats unruptured scrofula. Crush Ma Chi Xian with indigo flower and apply, three times daily.
Axillary Bromhidrosis: Pound Ma Chi Xian, mix with honey to form balls. Wrap in paper and mud, thickness half cun, dry in sun, burn and powder. Take a small amount, mix with honey to make cakes. Wipe axilla with raw cloth,夹 the medicine under the arm to cause extreme pain, endure for a long time, then bind arms with a towel. Use once daily until healed. (Qianjin Fang).
Pediatric Erysipelas: Hot as fire, dangerous if around the navel. Crush Ma Xian and apply, twice daily. (Guangli Fang).
Pediatric Umbilical Sore, chronic non-healing: Burn Ma Chi Cai to ash and apply. (Qianjin).
Smallpox: Burn Ma Chi Xian to ash and apply. Roots of the sore will emerge with the medicine. Reapply if not expelled. (Zhouhou).
Carbuncle and Toxic Swelling: Two fen of Ma Chi Lai, three fen of Calcined Alumen, powdered, mix with egg white and apply.
Reverse Flower Malignant Sore: One jin of Ma Chi Xian. Burn to ash, mix with pig fat and apply. Shenghui formula for worm-eaten foot sore: Powder dried Ma Chi Xian, mix with honey and apply. Worms exit overnight, miraculous effect. (Haishang Fang).
Toe Nail Paronychia, swollen and rotten: House-top Ma Chi Xian, Kunlun Qingmuxiang, stamped salt, equal parts mixed evenly, calcined to retain nature, add a little Guangming Cinnabar, and apply. (Waitai Mi Yao).
Chronic Non-Healing Sores for Years: Crush Ma Chi Xian and seal/apply. Alternatively, juice can be boiled thick and applied. (Qianjin).
Dog Bite Wound, toxin entering heart: Boil Ma Chi Xian, consume with the soup. (Shenghui).
Toxic Plant Insect Poison: Drink one sheng of Ma Chi Xian juice, apply dregs externally. Four to five times daily is good. (Cui Yuanliang's Haishang Fang).
Hair-like Insect Sting, persistent redness and pain: Cook and crush Ma Chi Xian, apply. Excellent. (Lingyuan Fang).
Wasp/Hornet Sting: Same prescription as above. (Zhang Wenzhong's Formula).
Centipede Bite: Apply Ma Xian juice. (Zhouhou).
Pediatric Alopecia Capitis: Decoct Ma Chi Xian into ointment and apply. Or burn to ash, mix with pig fat and apply. (Shenghui Fang).
Body and Facial Scars: Wash twice daily with Ma Chi Xian decoction. (Shenghui Fang).
Foreign Body in Eye: Burn Ma Chi Xian from the east wall to ash, powder finely, put a small amount in the corner of the eye, and it will come out. (Shenghui Fang).
[Seed]
[Indications] Brightens the eyes, used in Immortal Classics (Kaibao Bencao). Prolongs life and benefits longevity (Meng Shen). Treats congenital blindness and white opacities, expels evil qi, promotes bowel and bladder function, removes cold and heat. Take one sheng, powder it, use one spoon each time with green onion and fermented soybeans to cook porridge. Or add rice grits and five-flavor berry to make a soup. (Shiyi Xinjing).
[New Prescriptions] One.
Tearing or Purulent Discharge from Eyes: Half liang each of Ma Chi Xian seeds and Ren Xian seeds, powdered. Wrap in cotton, steam in a copper vessel until cooked, and compress the site of pus accumulation. Compress fifty times per session; over time, it will naturally cease. (Shenghui Fang).