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The leaves resemble those of chrysanthemum but are thinner, with many fine branches. Both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves are green. The plant grows four to five chi tall. Its stem is white, resembling that of Artemisia argyi (Mugwort) but thicker. It bears small flowers and fruits similar to Mugwort, containing tiny seeds; it propagates very easily. (Li Shizhen)

It tastes bitter and pungent, has a slightly cold qi, and is slightly warm in nature. It descends and belongs to yin with slight yang. It enters the blood aspect of the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian. It treats stasis of blood in the five zang organs, fluid retention in the abdomen, abdominal distension, retained fluids, and pain in the heart and abdomen.

[Discussion] According to formula books, Dahuang appears to be an agent for moving stagnant blood. However, this cannot be generalized. Blood becomes unobstructed not merely through dredging.

Also known as Bianzhu, it grows in the valleys of Donglai and is found everywhere. In mid-spring, it spreads over the ground. The seedlings resemble Dianthus superbus (Qumai), and the roots resemble Artemisia species (Haocao). The stems are weak with short nodes, purple-red like hairpins. The leaves are slender and green, resembling bamboo leaves. Flowers emerge from the nodes, very fine, pale yellow-green or light red, resembling the flowers of Polygonum tinctorium (Baolan), and subsequently produce seeds. (Ke Zongshi)

Its flavor is bitter and its nature is neutral. It treats impetigo, scabies, carbuncles, and hemorrhoids, and kills parasites. (Shennong Bencao Jing) It treats cholera and jaundice, and promotes urination. (Li Shizhen) It treats painful and difficult urination due to heat-strangury. It treats pediatric food stagnation from previous meals.

[Discussion] Xushu is generally considered a diuretic and purgative herb. Observing its creeping vines and short nodes where flowers bloom at every joint, appearing sealed then opened, and opened then sealed, it likely has the function of killing parasites at each joint and treating diseases arising from dampness transformation.

Jicai (Houttuynia cordata) was classified in the vegetable section in all previous materia medica until Mr. Yang reclassified it into the low-lying grass category, showing unique insight. Li Shizhen’s Bencao Gangmu still lists Jicai in the vegetable section under the smooth/slippery class, citing Zhao Shuwen's claim that purple Jicai can be used to feed pigs. This is being stuck on the name "Jicai" without revising the classification. During the Spring and Autumn period, Goujian had incidents involving the gathering of Jicai, presumably related to tasting... [Text fragment].

Those produced in the Hexi valleys and Longxi are superior; those from the western mountains of Wenshan in northern Yizhou are secondary. In February, they sprout curled and yellowish-red. When leaves unfold, they grow in fours. They are thick, long, and dense, resembling the leaves of Rumex crispus (Sheeti/Yangti). The stems are about three chi high. The taste is sour and crisp. In March, flowers are yellow; in May, fruits turn black. Roots are harvested in August. The root shape also resembles Sheep's Sorrel. Large roots are bowl-sized, about two chi long. Sliced and dried in the shade, the texture resembles brocade, and the color is deep purple. (Ke Zongshi)

It is extremely bitter and cold, with strong aroma and flavor. It sinks and descends, belonging to yin. It enters the blood aspect of the Hand and Foot Yangming, Foot Taiyin, and Hand and Foot Jueyin meridians. Huangqin serves as its guiding drug. The Shennong Bencao Jing states it treats lower jiao blood stasis, blood obstruction, alternating chills and fever, breaks up masses and accumulations, cleanses the stomach and intestines, eliminates the old and generates the new, promotes the passage of water and grain, harmonizes the middle jiao, aids digestion, and calms the five zang organs. Various materia medica texts treat various conditions of excess heat and obstruction, clearing heat accumulation in the stomach and intestines, draining epigastric fullness and abdominal distension. (All refer to heat binding in the blood.) It resolves phlegm-solidities, relieves congestion, moves earth qi stagnation, and regulates blood vessels. Its bitter and harsh descending action treats damp-heat syndromes of the middle and lower jiao, and treats... [Text fragment].

Therefore, its nature is fierce and sharp, leveling obstacles wherever it goes. Zhang Jingyue treated insufficient Heart Qi causing hematemesis and epistaxis using Dahuang, Huangqin, and Huanglian... Why? Zhu Danxi said: Precisely because of insufficient yin qi in the Shaoyin meridian, leading to... [Text fragment], Dahuang drains excessive fire to restore harmony. The Liver is the mother of the Heart and the residence of blood. Therefore... [Text fragment]. Dahuang is a blood-level herb. Disease in the Heart... [Text fragment]. Insufficient Heart Qi, while pathogenic fire in the Pericardium, Liver, Spleen, and Stomach... If soft upon palpation, Zhang Zhongjing uses Dahuang Huanglian Xiexin Tang to treat pi-man (glomus/fullness), which is caused by cold damaging the Ying level and pathogens taking advantage of deficiency... [Text fragment]. Pi-man caused by Taiyin disorder involves turbid qi... Blood level, also in the upper Wan region.) Jie-xiong (chest bind) in the qi level uses only Xiaoxianxiong Tang. Cold pathogen seems to receive normal transformation from water, yet flares upward producing bitterness. The Suwen states: "Cheng nai zhi, zhi ze sheng hua." If there is non-action, transformation becomes difficult. Abandoning similar bitter flavors to enter cannot manifest its efficacy.

Diseases in the five zang organs primarily affect the heart and abdomen. Between the stomach and intestines, or in the heart-abdomen division, summer heat... leads to masses and accumulations, transforming into alternating chills/fever and distension/fullness. These are all due to the failure of Heart Fire to descend. Dahuang can... [Text fragment]. For dysentery with red and white discharge, in the early stage, it can be combined with Zhike, Binglang, Danggui, Gancao, and Huashi to make pills. This is attacking the pathogen directly. To treat the stomach, combine with alkali, Bai Lian, Ruxiang, Moyao, and Chen Xiaofen fried, mixed with vinegar and honey for external application as a ring plaster for carbuncles. Steep 8 liang of Dahuang in yellow wine, add Qianhu 8 liang and Juhong 4 liang, along with Qingmengshi 2 liang and Yanxiao... powder 2 liang. Take powders, form pills the size of wutzu seeds. Regular dose: 10-20 pills. Minor illness: ... [Number missing] pills. Swallow with warm water, lie down immediately without moving, waiting for the medicine to drive out upper jiao phlegm stagnation. The next day... [Text fragment]. Contraindicated in pregnancy with watery diarrhea. Western Dahuang mixed with honey and Zhuli, steamed and dried nine times, formed into pills with starch paste. For heat-phlegm in the upper and middle jiao causing hemihemicrania unresponsive to other drugs, threatening vision, it also treats... [Text fragment]. For nocturnal emissions during sleep, take 3-2 qian with Shengma Chenpi Decoction before bed; stop when damp-heat is cleared. Take half qian of head powder, 3 qian each. For those with cold limbs, take with wine; for those without cold limbs but with five-palm heat, take with honey. Excess syndromes are caused by damp-heat. Fire and Yuan Qi in the human body cannot coexist; if fire stagnates, Yuan Qi is not robust. One dose of Dahuang makes hardness remain as before, but one must examine deficiency and excess before use. Excess syndromes can certainly be treated; even deficiency-fire... requires tonification. Because the stagnated matter cannot be removed without cleansing agents. For dry-blood qi pain, use Jinwen Dahuang... 1 sheng, boiled into paste. (Optionally add Xiangfu). Form pills the size of Euryale seeds. Take one pill dissolved in wine before sleep. Bowel movement occurs 1-2 times, red leakage (menstruation/hemorrhage) flows naturally. This is a fairy medicine for regulating menstruation. Recorded to show that vinegar-boiled Dahuang treats not only masses. For unbearable vertigo due to damp-heat, take powdered Dahuang fried in wine with clear tea... [Number missing]. Recorded to show the supreme efficacy of Dahuang.

[Discussion] Dahuang is called the General. It cleanses heat accumulation, excess heat, and damp-heat in the stomach and intestines, acting swiftly and forcefully. Those produced west of the Yellow River inherit Metal qi... [Text fragment]. Blood stasis... by... its... obstruction) indeed. In summary... [Text fragment]. (That is, the Sanjiao mutually governs wind-cold-dryness-dampness causing disease. Such as mass accumulations... swift and fierce, due to... victory) Metal is the child of Earth and guides... transformation, blood is generated. Metal is the mother of Water... and utilizes Water. (The use of Water... can only drain damp-heat in the qi, cannot... cold flavor, generally using Niuxi to drain dampness... jiao, this principle is not fully understood. For... Earth and Water combine virtue to establish the ground... can injure Yuan Qi and consume Yin Blood. All cases of Stomach cold, Blood deficiency, pregnancy, and postpartum should not lightly use it. (Li Shizhen) All blood obstructions due to blood depletion, rather than not... obstruction due to... lower abdominal pain... and cannot... leg wind qi... invade, breast...

[Preparation] To resolve spleen accumulation and blood masses, use vinegar boiling into paste. Wine-soaked and baked ones utilize cold via heat. (Jiegou) Not borrowing wine power... steeped and steamed ripe... or wine-steamed slightly ripe is acceptable. For early-stage heat dysentery... use. However, there are difficulties in rigid application. For example, in attacks of leg and foot wind qi... powder 6 fen, put into a broken chicken egg, mix evenly, and steam...