出北山及冤句越山江淮河陕汉黔诸州。根色白似菱。有三角。角头生芽。节有毛。质极
粘腻。
根味苦辛甘。气微寒。性涩而收。阳中之阴。肺药也。紫石英为之使。恶理石。畏李核
杏仁。反乌头。止肺血。疗肺伤。敷痈肿恶疮败疽。伤阴死肌。（此阳毒之伤其阴血者）除
白癣疥虫结热不散。止惊邪血邪。并刀箭疮伤火疮。生肌止痛。（诸本草）方书治咯血。小
便不禁。为面药。凡金疮不瘥。及痈疽方多用之。能入血分。泄热散结。逐腐。第其性涩。
破散中又有收敛。盖去瘀即以生新之药也。（仲淳）凡吐血不止。宜加白芨。（丹溪）试血法。
吐在水碗内浮者。肺血也。沉者。肝血也。半浮半沉者。心血也。各随所见。以羊肺羊肝羊
心煮熟。蘸白芨末。日日食之。（濒湖）一味为细末。米饮调三钱服。治损肺吐血。有奇效。
得白蔹红药子。加脑麝乳没。治一切痈疽肿毒。止痛散结排脓。有神。
附案 一妇年五旬。素因血虚生热化风。遍体有疙瘩。经年不愈。久之。少阳相火并于
阳明而患喉痹。疾暴势甚。喉中陡痒。作嗽气呛。遍喉血泡累累。上 一泡。大如鸡卵。口
塞不合。气涌更急。少顷。泡破血射如注。其皮尽脱。溃烂红肿。痛不可忍。且满口痰涎。
如羹如糊。此其为血泡。为喉皮溃烂。皆热壅于上。阴气大伤。缘汤药难吞。遂以养阴退阳
活血止痛诸药为末。或吹或点。诸证渐退。奈喉中皮溃而肌未生。痛不止。且因皮破致时作
嗽而血随出。后于吹药中。入白芨磨浆合丸。日夜噙化之。所患悉愈。可知此味和阴护阳。
乃能生肌。止痛。理或然也。
〔论〕白芨得秋金之令。性涩而收。其根色白。金气之所聚也。结实黄黑者。金气之由
母而趋子也。观其似菱有三角。角头生芽。质极粘腻。则其气之所急归。归于其子矣。惟金
水子母之气全。故咯血之治是为的对。至采根当以八九月者。专取归阴之盛气也。其味先苦
后辛。气复微寒。从下而上。以致阴气于肺。盖即收令中而有泄热散结之能。不仅着长于收
涩。总之。此味治肺伤有专功。肺主皮毛。为天表之阳。阳在上焦。无阴则不能化也。
缪氏曰。痈疽已溃。不宜同苦寒药服。
〔修治〕水洗。入丸。可磨汁作糊。
Baiji (Bletillae Rhizoma) is produced in Beishan, as well as Yuanju and Yuexue, and various prefectures such as Jianghuai, Heshan, Hanqian. The rhizome is white in color, resembling a water caltrop. It has three angles, with buds sprouting from the tips of the angles, and hairs at the nodes. The texture is extremely viscous.
The taste of the rhizome is bitter, acrid, and sweet; its nature is slightly cold. Its properties are astringent and consolidating, belonging to Yin within Yang. It is a herb entering the Lung meridian. Zi Shiying (Purple Quartz) serves as its guiding herb (Shi). It is incompatible with Lishi (Gypsum Fibrosum), and fears Lihe (Prunus salicina seed) and Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum). It is chemically antagonistic to Wutou (Aconiti Radix). It stops pulmonary hemorrhage, treats lung injury, and when applied externally, treats carbuncles, sores, malignant ulcers, and necrotic gangrene. For conditions where Yang toxicity injures Yin blood (this refers to Yang toxicity injuring Yin blood), it eliminates heat stagnation caused by white tinea and scabies parasites, stops fright evil and blood evil, and treats knife or arrow wounds as well as burns. It generates flesh and relieves pain. (According to various Materia Medica texts) Formulary books record its use for treating hemoptysis, urinary incontinence, and as a facial mask. It is frequently used in formulas for non-healing metallic injuries and carbuncles/gangrene. It can enter the Blood level, clear heat, dissipate nodules, and expel pus/necrotic tissue. However, due to its astringent nature, while it breaks up stasis, it also has a consolidating effect. It is essentially a herb that generates new tissue by removing stasis. (Zhongchun's commentary) For unceasing hematemesis, Baiji should be added. (Danxi's commentary) The "Test Blood Method": Spitting blood into a bowl of water: if it floats on the surface, it is Lung blood; if it sinks to the bottom, it is Liver blood; if it is half-floating and half-sinking, it is Heart blood. According to the observation, cooked sheep lung, liver, or heart should be dipped in Baiji powder and consumed daily. (Bencao Gangmu/Linhu's commentary) A single ingredient ground into fine powder, taken with rice water (3 qian), treats damaged lung hematemesis with miraculous efficacy. Combined with Bailian (Ampelopsis Radix) and Hongyaizi (Paeoniae Rubra Radix), plus Bingpian (Borneolum Syntheticum), Shexiang (Moschus), Ruxiang (Olibanum), and Moyao (Myrrha), it treats all kinds of carbuncles, sores, swelling, and toxins, relieving pain, dissipating nodules, and draining pus with divine results.
Attached Case: A woman around fifty years old, constitutionally prone to heat generating wind due to blood deficiency, had bumps all over her body that did not heal for years. Over time, Shaoyang Ministerial Fire merged with the Yangming channel, causing throat bi obstruction. The disease erupted violently. Her throat suddenly became itchy, triggering coughing and airway choking. The entire throat was covered with numerous blood blisters, one of which was as large as a chicken egg, blocking her mouth so she could not close it, with urgent gasping breath. Shortly after, the blister ruptured, spraying blood like a gush. The skin peeled off completely, becoming ulcerated, red, swollen, and unbearably painful. Her mouth was full of phlegm and saliva, thick like gruel. These blood blisters and throat skin ulcerations were caused by heat congestion in the upper jiao and severe injury to Yin Qi. Because decoctions were difficult to swallow, herbs for nourishing Yin, retreating Yang, invigorating blood, and relieving pain were ground into powder, either insufflated or applied locally. Symptoms gradually subsided. However, the throat skin remained ulcerated without flesh regeneration, and pain persisted. Due to the broken skin, she experienced frequent coughing accompanied by bleeding. Later, Baiji paste was added to the insufflation powder to form pills, which were held in the mouth day and night. The ailment completely healed. This shows that this herb harmonizes Yin and protects Yang, thereby generating flesh and relieving pain; the reasoning may be plausible.
[Discussion] Baiji follows the command of Autumn Metal. Its nature is astringent and consolidating. Its root is white, gathering the Qi of Metal. When the fruit becomes hard and yellow-black, it represents Metal Qi moving from Mother (Metal) to Child (Water). Observing its resemblance to a water caltrop with three angles, buds at the angle tips, and extremely viscous texture, indicates its Qi urgently returns to its Child (Water). Only when the Mother-Child Qi of Metal and Water is complete is it specifically indicated for treating hemoptysis. Roots should be harvested in August or September to specifically capture the abundant Qi returning to Yin. Its taste is bitter first, then acrid, and its nature is slightly cold, moving from below to above, delivering Yin Qi to the Lung. Thus, within its astringent function lies the ability to clear heat and dissipate nodules, not merely excelling in astringency. In summary, this herb has specialized merit in treating lung injury. The Lung governs skin and hair, representing the Yang of the Heavenly Surface. Yang resides in the Upper Jiao; without Yin, transformation cannot occur.
Mr. Miao stated: For carbuncles and sores that have already ulcerated, they should not be taken together with bitter-cold herbs.
[Processing] Wash with water. Used in pills, it can be ground into juice to make paste.