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[Correction] Transferred from the Wood Category to this category.
[Names] Muyezi (Wooden Medicinal Root) (Bencao Gangmu), Daku (Great Bitterness) (Bencao Gangmu), Chiyao (Red Medicinal Root) (Tujing Bencao), Hongyaozi (Red Medicinal Root). Li Shizhen said: According to Shen Kuo's "Mengxi Bitan", under the entry for Gancao (Licorice Root) in Bencao, it cites Guo Pu's annotation of "Erya" stating that "[Character], Daku" refers to Gancao (Licorice Root). It grows as a vine, leaves resemble Mint (Bohe) but are greenish-yellow, stems are red with nodes.
[Collected Explanations] Su Song said: Huangyaozi originally came from Lingnan. Now it is also found in mountains of Kuizhou, Xiazhou prefectures, and Mingzhou, Yuezhou, Qinzhou, and Longshan areas, with those from Zhongzhou and Wanzhou being superior. It is a vine plant, three or four chi high; roots and stems resemble small Mulberry trees. Roots are harvested in the tenth month. Those from Qinzhou are called Chiyao; leaves resemble Buckwheat, branches and stalks are red, blooming white flowers in the seventh month. When wet, its root is reddish-red; when dried in the sun, it turns yellow. The "Shennong Benjing" mentions Yaoshi Gen (Root of Yaoshi), stating it grows in valleys of Shujun. Su Gong said: It is the same as Yaozi, using its kernel. Suspected to be the fruit of Huangyaozi. However, it states leaves resemble Apricot, flowers are red and white, flesh tastes sour, which differs from Huangyaozi.
Li Shizhen said: Huangyaozi is now planted everywhere by people. Its stem is two or three chi high, soft with nodes, resembling a vine, but actually not a vine. Leaves are as large as a fist, about three cun long, also not resembling Mulberry leaves. Long roots are about one chi long, thick ones have a circumference of two or three cun. The fleshy part resembles Yangti Gen (Alkanna Root/Turmeric Root). People often crush its roots and put them into indigo vats for dyeing, claiming it changes color easily. Tang Dynasty Su Gong stated that Yaoshi Gen is Yaozi; Song Dynasty Su Song then considered it the fruit of Huangyaozi. However, currently Huangyaozi withers in winter and sprouts in spring, producing small flowers without fruits. Su Gong's so-called Yaozi does not specifically refer to Huangyaozi. Therefore, Su Song's statement cannot be trusted.
[Aroma and Flavor] Bitter, neutral, non-toxic.
Meng Shen said: Cool. Treats heat diseases of horse heart and lungs.
[Indications] Various malignant swellings, sores, throat obstruction (Houbi), snake and dog bite poison. Grind into powder, take with water, or hold in mouth and apply externally (Kaibao Bencao). Cools blood, descends fire, resolves goiter, detoxifies (Li Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Su Song said: Sun Simiao's "Qianjin Yueling Fang": For treating sudden onset goiter lasting one or two years. Use half a jin of Huangyaozi from Wanzhou; those that are tight and heavy are superior. If light and hollow, they are from other provinces, with slower efficacy, requiring double dosage. Take one dou of unadulterated wine, put the medicine in, seal the bottle mouth tightly. Burn with chaff for one shichen (two hours), wait until the wine cools before opening. Drink one cup occasionally, do not let the wine aroma cease. After three to five days, frequently look in a mirror; stop drinking when the goiter subsides, otherwise it will make the neck too thin. Liu Yuxi's "Chuanxin Fang" also records its efficacy, obtained from Zhang, an official in Yongzhou. Witnessed effective, tested again with miraculous results. The prescription is basically the same, with minor differences: stop heating when the wine aroma emerges outside and moisture appears at the bottle neck, without waiting for a whole night; the fire must not be too fierce.
[Attached Prescriptions] Two old prescriptions, five new ones. Goiter on the neck: One jin of Huangyaozi, washed and chopped, soaked in one dou of wine. Take one cup regularly morning and evening. Avoid all toxic foods and restrain anger. Measure the neck daily with a string to know the efficacy. (Doumen Fang)
Unceasing hematemesis: One liang of Yaozi, decocted in water and taken. (Taiping Shenghui Fang)
Hemoptysis and hematemesis: "Baiyi Xuanfang": Use equal parts of Puhuang (Lygodii Spora) and Huangyaozi, grind into powder, lick from the palm. Wang Gun's "Boji Fang": Use Huangyaozi...
Unceasing epistaxis: Huangyaozi ground into powder. Take two qian each time, administered with dilute gelatin soup. After a while, take one spoonful of flour mixed with fresh well water. "Bingbu Shouji Fang" uses only one bowl of juice ground with fresh well water, taken in one dose. (Jianyao Jizhong Fang)
Postpartum blood dizziness, evil matter rushing to the heart, cold limbs, blue lips, abdominal distension, coma: One liang of Hongyaozi, one qian of Honghua (Carthamus Flower), two zhan of water, two oil hairpins of a woman, decoct together to one zhan and take. Once urination and defecation are smooth, blood stasis will descend naturally. (Yushi Jiang Jingyan Fang)
Tianshui blister sores: Apply Huangyaozi powder externally. (Jijian Fang)