味苦、辛,微寒,无毒。主治皮肤热,大腹水气,四肢面目浮肿,丈夫阴气不足。利大
小肠,明目,轻身。一名漆茎,大戟苗也。生太山川泽。三月三日、七月七日采茎叶,阴干。
(小豆为之使,恶薯蓣。)
是大戟苗,生时摘叶有白汁,故名泽漆,亦能啮人肉。(敦煌卷子本《新修》卷十,《大
观》卷十,《政和》二五六页)
味辛、苦,温、微温,有小毒。主治咳逆上气,喉鸣喘,咽肿,短气,蛊毒。鬼疟,疝
瘕,痈肿,杀虫鱼,消胸中痰水,喜唾,水肿,五水在五脏皮肤,及腰痛,下寒毒、肉毒。
久服令人虚。一名去水,一名毒鱼,一名杜芫。其根名蜀桑根,治疥疮,可用毒鱼。生淮源
川谷。三月三日采花,阴干。决明子为之使,反甘草。
近道处处有,用之微熬,不可近眼。(敦煌卷子本《新修》卷十,《大观》卷十四,《政
和》三六○页)
味苦、辛,寒、微寒,有毒。主治伤寒,温疟,下十二水,破积聚,大坚,症瘕。荡涤
肠胃中留癖,饮食寒热邪气,利水道。治痰饮咳嗽。生咸阳川谷及河南中牟。六月采花,阴
干。
中牟者,平时惟从河上来,形似芫花而极细,白色。比来隔绝,殆不可得。(敦煌卷子
本
味咸、甘,温、微温,冷利,有小毒。主治结气,胁下满,惊悸,除水,去五脏间寒热,
补中下气。消胸上痰结,唾如胶漆,心胁痰水,膀胱留饮,风气湿痹,皮间死肉,目中眵 ,
利大肠,通血脉,益色泽。一名金沸草,一名盛椹,一名戴椹。其根∶主风湿。生平泽川谷。
五月采花,日干,二十日成。
出近道下湿地,似菊花而大。又别有旋 根,乃出河南来,北国亦有,形似川芎,唯合
旋
《政和》二五一页)
[Ze Qi (Euphorbia helioscopia)]
Bitter, acrid, slightly cold, non-toxic. Treats skin heat, abdominal fluid retention (ascites), edema of the four limbs and face, and insufficiency of kidney qi in men. Promotes urination through the large and small intestines, brightens the eyes, and lightens the body. Also known as Qijing, it is the seedling of Daji (Euphorbia pekinensis). Grows in the rivers and marshes of Mount Tai. Harvest stems and leaves on the third day of the third lunar month and the seventh day of the seventh lunar month; dry in the shade. (Adzuki bean serves as its guiding herb; incompatible with Dioscorea.)
Because it is the seedling of Daji, when leaves are picked during growth, white juice flows out, hence the name Ze Qi; this juice can also bite/injure human flesh. (From Dunhuang manuscript edition of Xinxiu Bencao Vol. 10, Daguan Bencao Vol. 10, Zhenghe Bencao p. 256)
[Xuan Fu Hua (Inula Flower)]
Acrid, bitter, warm or slightly warm, slightly toxic. Treats cough with rebellious qi, wheezing with throat sounds, sore throat, shortness of breath, gu poison, ghost malaria (a type of malaria), hernia and mass, carbuncle and swelling, killing fish parasites, eliminating phlegm-fluid in the chest, excessive salivation, edema, five types of water retention in the five zang organs and skin, lower back pain, lower jiao cold toxin, and meat toxin. Long-term use causes debility. Also known as Qu Shui, Du Yu, and Du Yuan. Its root is named Shusang Gen, treats scabies, and can be used to poison fish. Grows in the valleys of Huaiyuan. Harvest flowers on the third day of the third lunar month; dry in the shade. Cassia Seed serves as its guiding herb; incompatible with Licorice Root.
Commonly found in nearby regions; use after slight roasting; avoid contact with eyes. (From Dunhuang manuscript edition of Xinxiu Bencao Vol. 10, Daguan Bencao Vol. 14, Zhenghe Bencao p. 360)
[Kuan Dong Hua (Coltsfoot Flower)]
Bitter, acrid, cold or slightly cold, toxic. Treats Shanghan (Cold Damage), Wen Nue (Warm Malaria), downward movement of water fluids in the twelve meridians, breaking accumulation and hard masses, zheng and jia masses. Cleanses retained pathogenic factors in the stomach and intestines, dietary cold-heat pathogens, promotes water passages. Treats phlegm-fluid cough. Grows in the valleys of Xianyang and Zhongmu, Henan. Harvest flowers in June; dry in the shade.
Zhongmu Kuan Dong Hua usually comes from upstream of the Yellow River, resembles Yuanhua (Genkwa Flos) but is extremely fine, white in color. Recently, due to isolation, it is hardly obtainable. (From Dunhuang manuscript edition...)
[Xuan Fu Hua (Variety/Description)]
Salty, sweet, warm or slightly warm, cold and slippery, slightly toxic. Treats qi stagnation, fullness under the hypochondrium, palpitations, removing water, eliminating cold-heat between the five zang organs, tonifying middle jiao qi, descending qi. Eliminates phlegm-knot in the upper chest, saliva like glue/lacquer, phlegm-fluid in heart and hypochondrium, retained fluid in bladder, wind-damp bi syndrome, dead flesh in skin, eye discharge, promotes large intestine function, unblocks blood vessels, enhances complexion luster. Also known as Jinfei Cao, Sheng Shen, Dai Shen. Its root: treats wind-damp. Grows in plains, marshes, and valleys. Harvest flowers in May; sun-dry for twenty days to complete.
Produced in nearby low wetlands, resembles Chrysanthemum flower but larger. Additionally, there is another Xuanfu root, coming from Henan, also found in northern countries, resembling Chuanxiong Rhizoma, only rotating together... (Zhenghe Bencao p. 251)