经不言根，《图经》加根字。处处有。叶如菜中菠 ，但无歧，而色差青白。叶浓，
花与子亦相似。叶可洁擦 浦器，根取汁涂疥癣。子谓之金乔麦，烧炼家用以制铅汞。又锉
根，研，绞汁，取三二匙，水半盏，煎一二沸，温温空肚服。治产后风秘，殊验。
蒴 与陆英，既性味及出产处不同，治疗又别，自是二物，断无疑焉。况蒴 花白，
子初青如绿豆颗，每朵如盏面大，又平生，有一二百子，十月方熟红，岂得言剩出此条，孟
浪之甚也。
今又谓之郁臭。自秋便生，经冬不瘁。春开白花，中夏结子，遂枯。古方九烧灰，
合紧面药。初生嫩时作菜食之，须浸洗，淘去苦水，治瘰 鼠漏。
蚤休无旁枝，只一茎，挺生，高尺余，颠有四五叶，叶有歧，似虎杖。中心又起茎，
亦如是生叶，惟根入药用。
根微苦，经不言味，此草药也。《蜀本·图经》言∶“作木，高丈余”。此全非虎杖
，大率皆似寒菊。然花、叶、茎、蕊差大为异，仍茎叶有淡黑斑。自六七月旋旋开花，至九
月中方已。花片四出，其色如桃花差大，外微深。陕西山麓水次甚多，今天下暑月多煎根汁
为饮，不得甘草，则不堪饮。《药性论》云∶“和甘草煎，尝之甘美。”其味甘，即是甘草
之味，非虎杖也。论其攻治则甚当。
Polygonum cuspidatum (Huzhang) treats scabies, and is especially effective for scabies in horses. It is rarely used in formulas intended for ingestion.
The classic texts do not mention the root; *Tujing* adds the character "root". It grows everywhere. The leaves resemble spinach found in vegetables but lack lobes, and the color is a bluish-white. The leaves are thick, and the flowers and seeds are similar. The leaves can be used to scour pottery vessels; the juice extracted from the root is applied topically to treat scabies and tinea. The seed is called Jinqiaomai (Golden Buckwheat), and alchemists use it to process lead and mercury. Additionally, the root is chopped, ground, and juiced; two or three spoons of this juice are mixed with half a cup of water, boiled briefly, and taken warm on an empty stomach. This treatment is highly effective for postpartum wind-constipation (postpartum constipation caused by wind pathogen).
*Adenophora* (Shuobi) and *Sambucus javanica* (Luying) differ in nature, flavor, and place of origin, and their therapeutic applications are distinct; thus, they are undoubtedly two different substances. Moreover, the flowers of *Adenophora* are white, and its seeds are initially green like mung beans, each flower being as large as the surface of a cup, with one or two hundred seeds per flower, ripening red only in October. How can one claim that the remaining text refers to this item? Such a statement is extremely rash.
It is now also called Yuchou. It begins growing in autumn and does not wither through winter. It blooms white flowers in spring, bears fruit in midsummer, and then withers. Ancient formulas burn it to ash and combine it with facial tightening preparations. When young and tender, it can be eaten as a vegetable, but must be soaked and washed to remove bitter water; it is used to treat scrofula and rat-fistula (lymphatic tuberculosis).
Paris polyphylla (Zaoxiu) has no lateral branches, consisting of only a single stem growing erect, over a chi in height. At the apex are four or five leaves, which are lobed and resemble those of Polygonum cuspidatum. A new stem arises from the center, growing similarly. Only the root is used medicinally.
The root is slightly bitter; the classics do not record its flavor. It is a herbaceous plant. *Shuben Tujing* states: "It grows like a tree, over a zhang high." This is completely unlike Polygonum cuspidatum; it generally resembles Chrysanthemum indicum (Hanju). However, the flowers, leaves, stems, and stamens differ significantly, and the stems and leaves bear pale black spots. It blooms successively from June and July until mid-September. The petals are four-parted, colored like peach blossoms but slightly larger, with a deeper hue on the exterior. It is very abundant at the foot of mountains and near waters in Shaanxi. Nowadays, during the hot months, many people decoct the root juice as a drink; without Licorice Root (Gancao), it is unpalatable. *Yaoxing Lun* states: "Decocted with Gancao, it tastes sweet." That sweetness is the taste of Gancao, not of Polygonum cuspidatum. Its discussion regarding therapeutic action is quite appropriate.