Library

Dandelion, also known as Jiangnou Grass. It is the Yellow Flower Diding (Taraxacum). It is abundant in the regions north and south of the Yangtze River, present in other places, but absolutely absent in Lingnan. The plant grows low to the ground, with stems and leaves spreading in all directions.

The stems and leaves resemble *Sonchus oleraceus* (Kuju), possessing fine thorns; when broken, they exude a white juice. It blooms yellow flowers throughout the four seasons, which are larger than single-petal chrysanthemums. After flowering, seeds are dispersed via pappus; upon landing, they sprout into seedlings.

The taste is sweet with a slight bitterness, and the nature is neutral and cold. It enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, and also the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian and Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. It resolves all kinds of heat-toxins, eliminates malignant swellings, tubercles, and carbuncles. It treats breast abscesses (Ru Yong) in women, can be used to rub teeth to darken hair, strengthens sinews and bones, resolves food poisoning, and disperses stagnant Qi. This herb belongs to Earth and absorbs the harmonious Qi of Water; it should be considered an essential herb for entering the Liver and Stomach to clear heat and cool blood. After menstruation in women, the Liver Meridian takes charge; therefore, it primarily treats breast abscesses and toxic swellings. It is suitable for raw consumption. (Zhong Chun)

Combined with Fritillaria (Beimu), there is the Huan Shao Dan (Return to Youth Pill), which highly praises the efficacy of this herb, attributing its action to the ability to unblock the Kidney. Therefore, Li Dongyuan regarded it as the Sovereign Herb of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. (Legend has it that King Yue obtained this prescription from an immortal.) It strongly consolidates teeth, strengthens sinews and bones, generates Kidney Water. For anyone under eighty years old, taking it will cause hair and beard to turn black again, and fallen teeth to regrow. Take five qian of Cyperi Rhizoma powder, marinate overnight, divide into twenty balls, wrap tightly in three or four layers of skin paper, seal firmly with Liu Yi Ni (Six-One Mud), bake in a kiln until dry, then roast over strong fire until red-hot. Allow to cool, remove the mud, grind into powder, and use morning and evening to rub teeth and rinse mouth; spitting or swallowing is optional. Efficacy appears after long-term use.

[Discussion] Dandelion tastes sweet with a slight residual bitterness, belonging to the category of neutral and slightly cold agents. Miao believed that neutral agents can tonify the Liver and Kidney.

Da Qing (Isatidis Folium) is found everywhere. In spring, it produces greenish-purple stems, two or three chi high, with opposite leaves measuring three to four cun in length. The leaf surface is green, and the back is pale. The flowers resemble those of *Polygonum* (Tiaocao) or *Corydalis bungeana* (Yancao).

The taste is sweet with slight bitterness and saltiness, and the nature is greatly cold. It can resolve Heart and Stomach heat-toxins, primarily treating epidemic heat-toxin headaches, alternating chills and fever, heat-toxin dysentery, and treating heat-toxin-induced macules/rashes.

[Discussion] Da Qing has a cold nature and a sweet taste with slight bitterness and saltiness. Li Shizhen personally tasted it and confirmed its accuracy. Generally, extreme heat pathogens cannot be removed without cold herbs. It can resolve... [text fragment].

[Preparation] For conditions requiring Da Qing, if unavailable, replace it with Isatis Leaf (Da Lan Ye) or genuine Indigo Naturalis (Qing Dai).