即益母草。一名野天麻。亦名夏枯草。古用实。今用草。是物专精在实。取茺盛密蔚
之义。用草则舍密从疏矣。（核）生田野近水湿处。二月苗如嫩蒿。入夏渐高三四尺。茎四
棱有节。节节生穗。叶尖歧如艾。四五月穗开红紫小花。亦有白者。每萼内细子四粒。色黑
褐。有三棱。生时微臭。夏至后茎叶皆枯。其根色白。（又）
子
味微辛甘。气微温微寒。阴中之阳。手足厥阴经药也。主治益气通血脉。养肝明目。
调女子经脉。（由于肝气虚而滞者）并崩中带下。（由于肝气有损者）白花者入气分。紫花者
入血分。治妇女经脉不调。胎产一切血气诸病。（濒湖）活血行气。有补阴之功。凡胎前产
后所恃者血气也。胎前无滞。产后无虚。以其行中有补也。（丹溪）本经首主明目。方书亦
止目病之治为多。但血滞目病则宜之。瞳子散大者禁用。目得血而能视。茺蔚子行血甚捷。
瞳子散大。血不足也。故禁之。非如东垣助火之说。
茎根花叶
茎叶味辛微苦。花味微苦甘。根味甘。主胎前胎动下血。及产难产后胎衣不下。血胀血
晕血风等证。并打扑内损瘀血。二便不通。捣汁服。并敷之。消疔肿乳痈丹游等毒。其子补
而能行。辛散而兼润。凡治手足厥阴血分风热。明目益精。调女人经脉。则单用子。其根茎
花叶专于行。若治肿毒疮疡。消水行血。妇人胎产诸病。则宜并用。茺蔚实作三棱。合于天
三生木。得木体之全。大益肝胆者也。十一脏取决于胆。茺蔚之用。自上按下。从内彻外。
丰美备足。故主上明眼目。下输水气。内益精髓。外固形骸。益母者胎从厥阴始结。产自少
阳发伸。娠前娠后。靡不恃肝胆为主持。种种功力。悉以充肝之用。蔚木之体尔。（子由）
禀地中之阳气。而兼感乎上天春夏之气。亦阳草也。（仲淳）午月五日。采紫花益母草捣汁。
分贮瓷器内。各少许。晒干剔取。和蜂蜜封固。加人参琥珀乳香没药血竭沉香丹砂五灵脂。
主催生及胞衣不下神效。兼治产后血晕。瘀血薄心。恶露不行腹痛。少腹儿枕痛。又能调经。
治血闭经阻。经行作痛。单用和童便服。能下死胎。及治热入血室。发热烦躁。类伤寒。同
四物阿胶续断杜仲为丸。安胎止痛。得生地白芍麦冬枇杷叶青蒿子五味子阿胶。治血热经行
先期。及胎漏下血。同生甘菊苍耳草金银花紫地丁各一握。贝母大力子白芷白芨白蔹僵蚕生
地连翘生甘草各三钱。熬夏枯草汁和药。浓煎顿饮。消一切疔肿发背。及无名肿毒。济阴丹。
治女子胎前产后诸证。取茺蔚开红紫花者。连根收采阴干。用叶及花子。忌铁器。石臼研为
细末。炼蜜丸弹子大。随证用汤使嚼服。其根烧存性为末。酒服。功与黑神散同。其药不限
丸数。以愈为度。又可捣汁滤净。熬膏服之。胎前脐腹痛。或作声者。米饮下。胎前产后脐
腹刺痛。胎动不安。下血不止。当归汤下。产后用童便化下一丸。能安魂定魄。调顺血气。
诸病不生。又能破血痛。养脉息。调经络。并温酒下。胎衣不下。及横生死胎。经日胀满。
心闷心痛。并用炒盐汤下。产后血晕。眼黑血热。口渴烦闷。如见鬼神。狂言不省人事。童
便和酒化下。产后血结成块。脐腹奔痛。寒热冷汗。面垢颜赤。五心烦热。并用童便酒下。
或薄荷自然汁下。产后恶露不尽。结滞刺痛。上冲心胸满闷。童便酒下。产后血崩漏下。糯
米汤下。产后泻血水。枣汤下。产后痢疾。米汤下。产后赤白带下。胶艾汤下。产后中风。
牙关紧急。半身不遂。失音不语。童便酒下。产后气喘咳嗽。胸膈不利。恶心吐酸。面目浮
肿。两胁疼痛。举动失力。温酒下。产后月内。咳嗽自汗发热。久则变为骨蒸。童便酒下。
产后鼻衄舌黑口干。童便酒下。产后两太阳穴痛。呵欠心忪。气短羸瘦。不思饮食。血风身
热。手足顽麻。百节疼痛。并米饮化下。产后大小便不通。烦躁口苦者。薄荷汤下。月水不
调。温酒下。久无子息。温酒下。
〔论〕茺蔚春生夏荣。其茎节节生穗。夏至后茎叶皆枯。是则生成在春。蕃秀在夏。迨
阳盛阴生。便已归根复命矣。所谓备肝木之体用。而茺盛密蔚。初不受降收之气者。古人命
名可思也。第子则甘中兼辛。以补而行。（辛甘固无降也）茎叶甘辛而兼苦。苦以泄之。则
行之功胜于苦。本经于子。首主明目。（专精于肝）益精。（气盛则精盈）除水气。（气盛则
液化血）于茎叶根仅主瘾疹作浴汤。则子之补胜于行。茎叶根之行胜于补。确然明矣。茺蔚
与夏枯草同枯于夏。而夏枯草之枯也早。一则以阳气之极而枯。一则不受阴气而枯。况气味
之辛甘温与苦寒有异乎。盖茺蔚裕出地之阳。故能生血而致其阳于阴。夏枯草达阴中之阳。
故能化气而致其阴于阳也。
辛甘为阳。性善行走。血崩禁用。瞳子散大。禁用。惟热血欲贯瞳仁者。同凉血药用则
不忌。（仲淳）
〔修治〕 子微炒香。或蒸熟晒燥。舂簸去壳。取仁用。花实茎叶。皆忌铁器。以其入
肝而畏金也。
This is *Leonurus japonicus* (Yimucao, Motherwort). Also known as Ye Tianma. Also called Xiakucao. In ancient times, its fruit was used; now the whole herb is used. The essence of this plant lies in its fruit, taking the meaning of "Chongsheng Miwei" (lush and dense vegetation). Using the herb means abandoning density for sparseness. (Li Shizhen) It grows in fields near wet areas. In February, seedlings emerge resembling tender mugwort. By summer, it grows three to four chi tall. The stem is square with four edges and nodes. Spikes grow from each node. Leaves are pointed and lobed like *Artemisia argyi*. In April and May, small red-purple flowers bloom on the spikes; some are white. Inside each calyx are four fine seeds, black-brown in color, with three edges. Freshly gathered, they have a slight odor. After the Summer Solstice, stems and leaves wither completely. Roots are white. (Another account)
Fruit
Taste: slightly pungent and sweet. Qi nature: slightly warm and slightly cold. Belongs to Yang within Yin. It is a drug for the Foot and Hand Jueyin meridians. It mainly treats boosting Qi and unblocking blood vessels, nourishing the liver and brightening the eyes, and regulating women's menstruation. (For conditions due to Liver Qi deficiency and stagnation) as well as metrorrhagia and leukorrhea. (For conditions due to damage to Liver Qi) White-flowered varieties enter the Qi level. Purple-flowered varieties enter the Blood level. They treat women's irregular menstruation and all blood-Qi diseases related to pregnancy and childbirth. (Li Shizhen) Invigorating blood and moving Qi, it has the effect of nourishing Yin. What pregnancy and postpartum periods rely on is Blood and Qi. Before pregnancy, there should be no stagnation; after childbirth, there should be no deficiency. This is because it contains tonification within its moving action. (Zhu Danxi) The *Shennong Bencao Jing* first mentions brightening the eyes. Medical texts also mostly focus on treating eye diseases. However, it is suitable for eye diseases caused by blood stagnation. It is contraindicated for those with dilated pupils. The eyes see when nourished by blood. *Leonurus* fruit moves blood very swiftly. Dilated pupils indicate insufficient blood. Hence, it is prohibited. This is not like Li Dongyuan's theory of assisting fire.
Stem, Root, Flower, Leaf
Stems and leaves taste pungent and slightly bitter. Flowers taste slightly bitter and sweet. Roots taste sweet. They mainly treat fetal movement with bleeding before pregnancy, difficult labor, and retained placenta after childbirth. They treat syndromes such as blood distension, syncope due to blood, wind-blood, etc., as well as internal injury and blood stasis from falls and blows, and obstruction of urination and defecation. Crushed juice is taken orally and applied externally. It eliminates toxins such as carbuncles, mastitis, erysipelas, etc. Its fruit is tonifying yet moving, pungent-dispersing yet moistening. For treating wind-heat in the Blood level of the Foot and Hand Jueyin meridians, brightening the eyes, benefiting essence, and regulating women's menstruation, only the fruit is used alone. The roots, stems, flowers, and leaves are specifically for moving. For treating swelling, toxic sores, reducing edema, moving blood, and various gynecological pregnancy and postpartum diseases, both fruit and herb parts are used together. *Leonurus* fruit is triangular, corresponding to "Heaven generates Three for Wood." It obtains the complete form of Wood, greatly benefiting the Liver and Gallbladder. The functions of the eleven zang-fu organs depend on the Gallbladder. The action of *Leonurus* goes from top to bottom, from inside out. Its functions are abundant and sufficient. Thus, it brightens the eyes above, transports water-Qi below, benefits essence inside, and secures the body outside. The fetus begins to form from the Jueyin meridian. Childbirth extends from the Shaoyang meridian. Before and after pregnancy, everything relies on the Liver and Gallbladder as the main controllers. All these powers serve to enrich the function of the Liver. This is the nature of Wood. (Su Song) It inherits the Yang Qi of the earth and simultaneously feels the Qi of Heaven during Spring and Summer. It is also a Yang herb. (Chen Cangqi) On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, collect purple-flowered *Leonurus*, crush it to extract juice, store separately in porcelain jars, take a small amount, dry it, remove impurities, mix with honey, seal tightly. Add *Ginseng Radix*, *Amber*, *Frankincense*, *Myrrh*, *Draconis Sanguis*, *Aquilaria Lignum*, *Cinnabar*, *Pulsatillae Radix*. It is miraculous for inducing labor and retaining placenta. It also treats postpartum syncope, blood stasis attacking the heart, lochia retention with abdominal pain, and mass in the lower abdomen. It can also regulate menstruation, treating amenorrhea, menstrual obstruction, and dysmenorrhea. Used alone with infant urine, it can expel dead fetuses. It treats heat entering the Blood Chamber, fever, irritability, resembling Taiyang disease. Combined with *Siwu Decoction*, *Ejiao*, *Dipsaci Radix*, *Eucommiae Cortex* made into pills, it calms the fetus and relieves pain. With *Rehmanniae Radix*, *Paeoniae Radix Alba*, *Ophiopogonis Tuber*, *Loquat Leaf*, *Artemisiae Annuae Herba*, *Schisandrae Fructus*, *Ejiao*, it treats early menstruation due to blood-heat and fetal leakage with bleeding. Combined with *Matricariae Flos*, *Xanthii Fructus*, *Lonicerae Japonicae Flos*, *Viola Yedoensis Herba* (one handful each), *Fritillariae Bulbus*, *Arctii Fructus*, *Angelicae Dahuricae Radix*, *Bletillae Rhizoma*, *Ampelopsis Radix*, *Bombyx Batryticatus*, *Rehmanniae Radix Recens*, *Scutellariae Barbatae Herba*, *Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma* (3 qian each), decoct *Prunellae Spica* juice to mix with medicine, decoct strongly and drink at once. It eliminates all carbuncles, back abscesses, and unknown swellings. Ji Yin Dan treats various pre- and postpartum syndromes in women. Collect *Leonurus* with red-purple flowers, harvest with roots, shade-dry. Use leaves, flowers, and fruits. Avoid iron tools. Grind in a stone mortar into fine powder. Refine honey to make pills the size of彈子. Take according to syndrome with decoction or chew. Burn roots to retain charred nature, grind to powder, take with wine. Efficacy is same as Heishen San. Number of pills is unlimited until cured. Can also be crushed, filtered, boiled into paste and taken. For prepartum umbilical and abdominal pain, or making sounds, take with rice water. For pre- and postpartum sharp stabbing pain in umbilical and abdominal area, restless fetus, continuous bleeding, take with Danggui Tang. Postpartum, dissolve one pill in infant urine. It calms the soul, regulates blood and Qi, prevents various diseases. It breaks blood stasis pain, nourishes pulses, regulates meridians. Take with warm wine. For retained placenta, transverse dead fetus, bloating after days, chest oppression, heart pain, take with fried salt water. For postpartum syncope, black vision, blood-heat, thirst, irritability, seeing spirits, delirium, unconsciousness, take with infant urine mixed with wine. For postpartum blood clots, running pain in umbilical/abdominal area, chills, cold sweat, dirty face, red complexion, five-palm heat, take with infant urine and wine. Or take with mint natural juice. For postpartum lochia incomplete, stagnation with stabbing pain, rushing up to chest causing fullness, take with infant urine and wine. For postpartum metrorrhagia and spotting, take with glutinous rice soup. For postpartum bloody diarrhea, take with jujube soup. For postpartum dysentery, take with rice soup. For postpartum red and white leukorrhea, take with Jiao'ai Tang. For postpartum stroke, locked jaw, hemiplegia, aphasia, take with infant urine and wine. For postpartum asthma, cough, chest diaphragm discomfort, nausea, vomiting acid, facial edema, hypochondriac pain, weakness in movement, take with warm wine. Within one month postpartum, cough, spontaneous sweating, fever, which later becomes bone-steaming consumption, take with infant urine and wine. For postpartum epistaxis, black tongue, dry mouth, take with infant urine. For postpartum bilateral temporal headache, yawning, palpitations, shortness of breath, emaciation, loss of appetite, wind-blood body heat, numbness in hands and feet, pain in all joints, take with rice water. For postpartum urinary and fecal obstruction, irritability, bitter taste, take with mint soup. For irregular menstruation, take with warm wine. For infertility, take with warm wine.
[Discussion] *Leonurus* grows in spring and flourishes in summer. Its stems produce spikes node by node. After the Summer Solstice, stems and leaves wither. This shows formation occurs in Spring, flourishing in Summer. When Yang is extreme and Yin begins to generate, it returns to the root and restores life. It possesses the substance and function of Liver Wood. "Chongsheng Miwei" initially does not accept the Qi of contraction. The naming by ancients deserves deep thought. The fruit is sweet with added pungency, tonifying while moving. (Pungent and sweet generally do not descend). Stems and leaves are sweet, pungent, and bitter. Bitter drains, so the moving efficacy surpasses that of bitter alone. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states the fruit first brightens the eyes. (Specializing in the Liver). Benefits essence. (When Qi is abundant, essence is full). Removes water-Qi. (When Qi is abundant, fluids transform into blood). For stems, leaves, and roots, it only treats urticaria as a bath decoction. Thus, the fruit's tonification exceeds its moving action. The moving action of stems, leaves, and roots exceeds their tonification. This is clear. *Leonurus* and *Prunella* both wither in summer, but *Prunella* withers earlier. One withers due to extreme Yang; the other without accepting Yin. Moreover, their flavors differ: pungent-sweet-warm versus bitter-cold. *Leonurus* derives abundance from Earth's Yang, thus generating blood and directing Yang into Yin. *Prunella* reaches Yang within Yin, thus transforming Qi and directing Yin into Yang.
Pungent and sweet belong to Yang. Nature is good at moving. Contraindicated for metrorrhagia. Contraindicated for dilated pupils. Only when hot blood desires to penetrate the pupil, combined with blood-cooling drugs, is it not prohibited. (Chen Cangqi)
[Processing] Fruit: lightly stir-fry until fragrant, or steam then sun-dry. Pound and winnow to remove shells, use the kernel. Flowers, fruits, stems, and leaves: avoid iron tools, as they enter the Liver and fear Metal.