\r荛花\pj258.bmp\r
味苦、辛，气寒。有毒。生咸阳川谷，及河南中牟。苗似胡荽刺无，花类芫花色白，
状极细四五月采，力甚猛熬令赤收。入药剂中，急欲行水。有是证者，斟酌投煎。破积聚大
坚瘕症，疗痰癖咳逆上气。咽喉内肿痛，疰气可散；脐腹下 癖，气块能消。
\r淄州贯众\pj259.bmp\r
味苦、气微寒。有毒。在处山谷有，背日阴湿生。茎有三棱，皮系赤色。叶青绿如小
鸡翅，根紫黑似老鸱头。故《本经》款中亦载曰∶此谓草鸱头也。（一说∶根形如大爪，下
有
黑须毛。）二八月采根阴干，赤小豆 菌为使。驱诸毒，理金疮恶毒；杀三虫，去寸白蛔虫
。仍除头风，更破症瘕。
\r凫茨\pj259a.bmp\r
味甘，气平、微寒。无毒。苗似龙须，叶如芋状。根黑指大，皮浓有毛。（又一种皮
薄无毛者亦同。）今人谓之荸荠，《本经》载曰乌芋。凫鸟喜食，又得此名。水田莳之，在
处有者。三月三日，采根曝干。主产后血闷攻心，理产难子胞不下。压丹石除胸膈痞气，下
石淋退面目疸黄。风肿能消，痹热堪却。开胃进食，益气温中。性善毁铜，着之即碎，故为
消坚削积要剂也。多食则生他证，卒食则呕水来。孕妇食动胎，小儿食脐痛。叶采捣
烂，蛇
咬可敷。
Rao Hua (Adonis Root)
Taste: Bitter, Acrid. Nature: Cold. Toxicity: Toxic. Habitat: Grows in river valleys of Xianyang and Zhongmu County, Henan. Morphology: Seedlings resemble Coriandrum sativum (Hu Sui, 胡荽) but lack spines; flowers are similar to those of Genkwa Flos (Yuan Hua, 芫花) but white in color, extremely fine. Harvesting: Collected in April and May; potency is very strong, must be boiled until reddish before storage. Action: In prescriptions, it acts rapidly to promote water metabolism. Indication: For patients with corresponding syndromes, decoction dosage should be carefully adjusted. Efficacy: Breaks up accumulations and hard masses (Jia Zheng, 瘕症); treats cough and rebellious Qi caused by Phlegm-Pi (Tan Pi, 痰癖). It dissipates swelling and pain inside the throat and Zhu Qi (Zhu Qi, 注气) diseases; eliminates Pi masses under the navel and abdominal Qi lumps.
Guan Zhong from Zizhou (Cyrtomium Rhizome)
Taste: Bitter. Nature: Slightly Cold. Toxicity: Toxic. Habitat: Found in mountain valleys everywhere; grows in shady, damp places. Morphology: Stem has three edges; skin is reddish. Leaves are green like small chicken wings; rhizome is purple-black resembling the head of an old owl. Historical Note: The *Shennong Bencao Jing* also records this as "Grass Owl Head" (Cao Chi Tou, 草鸱头). (Another theory: Rhizome shape resembles large claws with black hairy roots underneath.) Harvesting: Rhizomes collected in February and August, dried in shade. Adjuvants: Red adzuki beans (Chi Xiao Dou, 赤小豆) and fungi. Efficacy: Drives out various toxins; manages malignant sores from metal injuries; kills three types of parasites and removes Taenia (Cun Bai Hui Chong, 寸白蛔虫). Clears Head Wind (Tou Feng, 头风); further breaks up masses and accumulations.
Fu Ci (Eleocharis Rhizome / Water Chestnut)
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Neutral, Slightly Cold. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Morphology: Seedlings resemble dragon whiskers; leaves resemble taro. Rhizome is black, finger-sized, with thick hairy skin. (Another variety with thin skin and no hair is similar.) Current Name: People call it Bi Qi (Water Chestnut); *Shennong Bencao Jing* records it as Wu Yu (Wu Yu, 乌芋). Etymology: Named because wild ducks enjoy eating it. Cultivation: Planted in paddy fields, found everywhere. Harvesting: Rhizomes collected on the third day of the third lunar month, sun-dried. Indications: Mainly for postpartum blood stagnation attacking the heart; manages difficult labor where the placenta fails to descend. Suppresses toxicity from mineral pills (Dan Shi, 丹石); clears chest and diaphragm fullness; promotes urination for stone stranguria (Shi Lin, 石淋); reduces jaundice of the face and eyes. Eliminates wind-induced swelling; expels bi-heat. Opens the stomach and promotes appetite; benefits Qi and warms the middle. Property: Good at destroying copper; crumbles upon contact, thus it is a crucial agent for resolving hardness and reducing accumulations. Adverse Effects: Excessive consumption causes other symptoms; sudden large intake induces vomiting of water. Contraindications: Pregnant women should avoid as it may disturb the fetus; children consuming it may experience umbilical pain. External Use: Leaves picked and pounded into a paste can be applied for snake bites.