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Produced in the land areas of Suzhou. Grows in dense clusters. The stem is round, slender, long, and straight. Its pith is hollow and white.

Flavor: sweet and bland; Nature: neutral to cold. Enters the Heart and Small Intestine meridians. Attribute: Yang. Primarily descends Heart Fire (Heart Fire). Regulates Qi (Qi) and drains Lung heat. Treats dysfunction of the yin orifices. Cures the Five Stranguries (Wu Lin, five types of painful urinary disorders).

Promotes water metabolism.
The substance is light and floats, thus utilizing its floating property.
Able to promote the unblocking and draining of pathogenic heat.
The shell is hollow, with a sealed center.
Dengxin Cao Ash (Ash of Juncus Effusus Stem) 2 qian.

[Discussion]
Descending Heart Fire and regulating Qi are the specialties of Dengxin Cao (Juncus Effusus Stem). When Heart Fire descends, Lung Qi follows suit and moves downward, thereby ensuring the free flow of Qi. The Heart governs Blood. When Heart Fire descends and Qi flows freely, Blood harmonizes. If Qi is constrained by Fire, Qi transformation fails, and Blood also becomes disharmonious. Dengxin Cao descends Heart Fire, allowing Lung Metal to perform its functions properly; hence, its efficacy is as described.

[Processing]
This material is difficult to grind. It should be dyed with rice starch paste, dried, then ground into powder. Add water, stir, and clarify; the material that floats on the surface is Dengxin Cao. Dry it and use.

Also mentioned:
Most
Formula

Also known as Zhoumian Cao (Crinkle-leaf Plantain Herb). Another name is Hechu Cao. The root is named Du Niuxi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae). The seed is named Heshi (Semen Arctostaphyli). Referring to both root and herb collectively, it is called Tianmingjing (Fructus Arctii Lappa / Herba Plantaginis). The tender shoots
are green. They resemble the crinkled leaves of Chinese cabbage or mustard greens. They have a slight fox-like odor. As they grow taller, stems arise. They bloom with small yellow flowers resembling wild chrysanthemums. The fruit resembles Tonghao (Chrysanthemum coronarium). The seeds are also similar. They stick
to clothing very easily. The fox-like odor is particularly strong. When roasted, they become fragrant. The root is white. It resembles short Niuxi (Achyranthes root).
Another name is Disong. (Song refers to Chinese cabbage). It is easily confused with [another plant].
However, the back of the leaves of the other plant has three prominent veins. The hairs are numerous and soft. The back of Tianmingjing leaves has many veins. The hairs are few and stiff. This is the difference.
Leaf (Root and herb are the same)
Flavor: bitter, slightly pungent. Slightly sweet. Nature: cold. Slightly toxic. Fresh juice induces vomiting. Clears stagnant heat in the chest. Removes Bi syndrome (obstruction/pain). Stops bleeding from lower orifices and treats critical cases of Xuejia (blood masses). Promotes urination. Crushed and taken as juice, it expels phlegm and stops malaria. Kills three types of parasites. Applied externally to various swellings, sores, and snake bites. Also treats throat tightness and Houbi (throat obstruction). Rinse mouth with juice to stop toothache. (Referencing various Materia Medica texts). For any man or woman suffering from Ru'e (tonsillitis) swelling and pain, or children with acute or chronic convulsions, who are unconscious with clenched jaws, take Zhoumian Cao including the root. (i.e., Du Niuxi). Wash clean, crush, add good wine, squeeze out the juice, and administer orally. After a while, consciousness returns.
Apply the dregs to the neck area. Or mix with vinegar and apply topically. For throat swelling and blockage, with excessive phlegm-saliva retention such that water cannot be swallowed, use Disong including roots and leaves, crush and extract juice.
Add [herb/additive]. Excellent for removing phlegm. For Chanhou Feng (winding throat wind/acute laryngeal edema) swelling, grind Hechu Cao finely. Mix with raw honey to form pills the size of a marble. Hold one or two pills in the mouth at a time until cured. Dried material made into honey pills is also acceptable. For malignant sores and swellings, use Disong crushed juice. Take orally 3-4 times daily.

[Discussion]
Tianmingjing's flavor is bitter rather than pungent. Pungency is greater than sweetness. Bitterness directs downward and drains. Pungency disperses horizontally. When Pungent and Bitter combine with Sweet, they enter the Blood level to drive out
Heat.
Wherever located
Heshi (Semen Arctostaphyli)
Flavor: bitter, pungent, cool. Slightly toxic. In formulas for killing parasites. It is the most crucial herb.