今人谓之荸荠。皮浓、色黑、肉硬白者,谓之猪荸荠。皮薄、泽色淡紫、肉软者,谓
之羊荸荠。正二月,人采食之。此二等,药罕用。荒岁,人多采以充粮。
药品中今未见用,惟崔元亮方中收之。果实中为上品,多食亦令人发虚热。此物喜双
,实尤可爱。本朝有蔡君谟《荔枝谱》,其说甚详。唐杜牧诗云∶“一骑红尘妃子笑,无人
知是荔枝来。”此是川蜀荔枝,亦可生置之长安也。以核熳火中烧存性,为末,新酒调一枚
末服,治心痛及小肠气。
犬伤人,量所伤大小,烂嚼沃破处,以帛系定,至瘥无苦。又汤去皮,研一升,以
水一升半,翻复绞取稠汁,入生蜜四两、甘草一茎约一钱,银石器中熳火熬成稀膏,瓷器盛
。食后、夜卧,入少酥,沸汤点一匙匕服,治肺燥喘热,大肠秘,润泽五脏。如无上证,更
入盐点尤佳。
《本经》别无治疗,《日华子》言多食伤神。有数种皆热,小儿尤不可食,多致疮痈
及上膈热。晒蓄为干果,其深赭色,核大而扁者,为金杏。此等须接,其他皆不逮也。如山
杏辈,只可收仁。又有白杏,至熟色青白或微黄,其味甘淡而不酸。
桃品亦多,京畿有白桃,光,小于众桃,不益脾。有赤点斑而光如涂油。山中一种
,正是《月令》中桃始华者,但花多子少,不堪啖,惟堪取仁。《唐文选》谓“山桃,发红
萼”者,是矣。又,太原有金桃,色深黄。西京有昆仑桃,肉深紫红色。此二种尤甘。又饼
子桃,如今之香饼子,如此数种入药,惟以山中自生者为正。盖取走泄为用,不取肥好者。
如伤寒八、九日间,发热如狂不解,小腹满痛,有瘀血,用桃仁三十个,汤去皮尖,麸炒赤
色,别研,虻虫三十枚,去翅,水蛭二十枚,各炒,川大黄一两,同为末,再与桃仁同捣,
令匀,炼蜜丸如小豆大,每服二十丸,桃仁汤下,利下瘀血恶物,便愈。未利,再服。
Nowadays, it is called *Manihot esculenta* (Biqi, 荸荠). Those with thick skin, black color, and hard white flesh are called "pig Biqi" (Zhubiqi, 猪荸荠). Those with thin skin, pale purple luster, and soft flesh are called "sheep Biqi" (Yangbiqi, 羊荸荠). In the first and second lunar months, people harvest and eat them. These two types are rarely used in medicine. In years of famine, many people harvest them to supplement their food supply.
It is currently not used in medicinal preparations, except that it is included in the formulas of Cui Yuanliang. Among fruits, it is classified as a superior grade; excessive consumption may also induce deficiency heat (Xure, 虚热). This plant prefers to grow in pairs, and its fruits are particularly delightful. In our dynasty, Cai Junmo wrote the *Litchi Pu* (Catalogue of Lychees), which provides very detailed descriptions. The Tang poet Du Mu wrote: "A rider kicks up red dust, making the concubine smile; no one knows it is lychee arriving." This refers to the lychees from Sichuan and Shu, which could be transported fresh to Chang'an. By roasting the pit until the original nature remains (Cunxing, 存性), grinding it into powder, and taking one measure of the powder mixed with new wine, it treats heart pain and Qi stagnation in the small intestine (Xiaochang Qi, 小肠气).
For dog bites, depending on the size of the wound, chew the kernel thoroughly and apply it to the broken skin, securing it with cloth until healed without suffering. Additionally, take one sheng of peeled kernels, add one and a half sheng of water, and repeatedly squeeze to extract thick juice. Add four liang of raw honey and one stick of licorice root (weighing approximately one qian), and simmer slowly in a silver or earthenware vessel until it becomes a thin paste. Store in a porcelain container. After meals and before sleep, mix with a little butter and take one spoonful dissolved in boiling water. It treats lung dryness with wheezing and heat (Feizao Chuanre, 肺燥喘热), constipation of the large intestine (Dachang Mi, 大肠秘), and moistens the five zang organs (Wuzang, 五脏). If the above symptoms are absent, adding salt for administration is even better.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* contains no other therapeutic records. *Rimazishi Bencao* states that excessive consumption harms the spirit (Shen, 神). Several varieties are hot in nature; children especially should not eat them, as excessive intake often leads to sores and carbuncles (Chuangyong, 疮痈) and heat in the upper jiao (Shangge Re, 上膈热). Dried fruits with deep ochre color and large, flat pits are called "golden apricots" (Jinxing, 金杏). These varieties require grafting; others do not compare. For example, wild apricots like those from mountains can only have their kernels collected. There are also white apricots; when fully ripe, they are greenish-white or slightly yellow, with a sweet and bland taste, not sour.
There are many varieties of peaches. Near the capital, there are white peaches, shiny and smaller than common peaches, which do not benefit the spleen. Some have red spots and shine like oiled paint. One variety found in mountains corresponds to the "peaches beginning to bloom" mentioned in the *Yueling* (Monthly Ordinances); however, it has many flowers but few fruits, is inedible, and is only suitable for extracting kernels. The *Tang Wenxuan* mentions "mountain peaches, showing red calyxes," referring to this type. Furthermore, Taiyuan has golden peaches with deep yellow color. The Western Capital has Kunlun peaches with deep purplish-red flesh. These two varieties are particularly sweet. There is also the "cake peach," resembling modern fragrant cakes. Among such varieties used in medicine, only those growing wild in mountains are considered authentic. This is because their efficacy lies in their dispersing and draining properties (Zouxie, 走泄), not in being plump and fine. For instance, in typhoid fever (Shanghan, 伤寒) between the eighth and ninth days, if there is fever with delirium that does not resolve, fullness and pain in the lower abdomen, and blood stasis (Yuxue, 瘀血), use thirty peach kernels. Remove skins and tips, stir-fry with bran until reddish-brown, and grind separately. Use thirty male flies (Mengchong, 虻虫) with wings removed, twenty leeches (Shuizhi, 水蛭), each stir-fried, and one liang of Rhubarb from Chuan (Chuan Dahuang, 川大黄). Grind all together into fine powder, then pound again with the peach kernels until uniform. Form pills the size of small beans using refined honey. Take twenty pills per dose, administered with a decoction of peach kernels. This promotes the discharge of blood stasis and foul matter, leading to recovery. If discharge does not occur, administer another dose.