味苦微寒。主身皮创热气。可作浴汤。杀牛虱小虫。又疗牛病。生川谷。芮堇形同。
平芜扁毒。扪虱爬搔。牵牛觳觫。细捣油涂。含温汤沐。建草赤茎。水中短竹。
苏恭曰。此药似堇草石龙芮辈。生平泽。或名扁毒。欧阳修文。不足爬搔于虮虱。孟子。
有
牵牛而过堂下者。又。吾不忍其觳觫。苏颂曰。其根苗捣末。油调杀虮虱。陈藏器曰。虱建
草。茎赤。治虮虱虫疮。又水竹。叶生水中。叶如竹而短。亦去虮虱。
味苦辛寒。主瘰 。鼠 。头疮。破症散瘿。结气脚肿。湿痹轻身。一名夕句。一
名乃东。生川谷。
方茎对节。铁色非污。三冬孳茂。九夏摧枯。理通阳复。气感阴徂。臭郁茺蔚。荣悴潜
符。
李时珍曰。其茎微方。叶对节生。一名铁色草。苏恭曰。冬至后生叶。三四月开花作穗。
五
月便枯。梁元帝纂要。冬曰三冬。夏曰九夏。晋书志。阳气生而孳茂。柳宗元牒。力易摧
枯。胡震亨曰。此草禀纯阳之气。得阴气则枯。臭郁草即茺蔚也。两物俱入夏即枯。夏枯先
枯而无子。臭郁后枯而结子。五灯会元。潜符蜜证。
味辛温。主咳逆上气。喉鸣喘。咽肿短气。蛊毒鬼疟。疝瘕痈肿。杀虫鱼。一名去水
。生川谷。
去水功收。毒亦滋浓。白沃星榆。青 风柳。撷趁春先。蓄宜岁久。薄醉游鱼。花开秋
后。
左传。以浓其毒。名医曰。一名毒鱼。苏颂曰。根入土深三五寸。白色似榆根。春生苗。
叶
小而尖。似杨柳枝叶。二月开紫花。刘宪诗。官树似星榆。袁凯诗。雨蒲风柳自纷然。韩保
升曰。叶未生时。采花晒干。叶生花落。即不堪用。李时珍曰。留数年陈久者良。又有醉鱼
草。七八月开花成穗。红紫色。俨如芫花。渔人采以毒鱼。色状气味。与芫花同。但花开
时不同为异耳。
[Niubian (Veratrum nigrum)]
Taste: Bitter. Nature: Slightly Cold. Indications: Mainly treats heat-toxin in skin wounds; can be used to prepare medicinal bath decoctions. Kills lice and small insects on cattle; also treats bovine diseases. Habitat: Rivers and valleys. Morphology: Resembles Ruijin (Ranunculus ternatus).
Grows in flat wastelands, Niubian is toxic. Scratching to remove lice. Trembling like the牽牛 (Morning Glory/Cowherb). Finely pounded and applied with oil. Used for mouth rinsing or warm baths. This herb has red stems. Grows in water, resembling short bamboo.
Su Gong states: This medicine resembles Jincao (Viola) and Shilongrui (Ranunculus ternatus), growing in plains and marshes; some call it Biandu. Ouyang Xiu’s writings mention "insufficient for scratching lice." The *Mencius* contains the phrase "leading a cow past the hall." Also, "I cannot bear its trembling fear."
Su Song states: Its roots and shoots, when pounded into powder and mixed with oil, kill lice. Chen Zangqi states: This is Lijiancao (Lice-building grass), with red stems, treating insect sores caused by lice. There is also Shuizhu (Water Bamboo), whose leaves grow underwater, shaped like bamboo but shorter, which also removes lice.
[Xiukucao (Prunella vulgaris)]
Taste: Bitter, Pungent. Nature: Cold. Indications: Mainly treats scrofula (Luoli), rat fistula (Shulou), head sores. Breaks up masses, dissipates goiters, regulates stagnant Qi, treats leg edema, damp-bi syndrome, and lightens the body. Alternative names: Xiju, Naidong. Habitat: Rivers and valleys.
Stems are square, nodes opposite, iron-colored not due to dirt. Flourishes in the three winters; withers in the nine summers. Its mechanism connects with the recovery of Yang Qi; its aura responds to the departure of Yin Qi. Fragrant and dense, its flourishing and withering secretly accord with natural laws.
Li Shizhen states: Its stems are slightly square, leaves grow opposite at nodes; also called Tiesecao (Iron-color grass). Su Gong states: Leaves emerge after Winter Solstice, flowers form spikes in the 3rd and 4th lunar months, and it withers in the 5th month. Liang Yuandi's *Zuanyao* states winter is called "Three Winters" and summer "Nine Summers." The *Book of Jin* states that when Yang Qi generates, things flourish. Liu Zongyuan’s writings mention power easily destroying withered wood. Hu Zhenheng states: This herb inherits pure Yang Qi and withers upon receiving Yin Qi. Chouyucao is synonymous with Chongwei (Leonurus japonicus). Both herbs wither in summer. Xiukucao withers first and bears no seeds; Chouyucao withers later and bears seeds. *Wudeng Huiyuan* mentions "secretly accords with honey symptoms."
[Yuanhua (Daphne genkwa)]
Taste: Pungent. Nature: Warm. Indications: Mainly treats cough with rebellious Qi, wheezing sounds in the throat, sore throat, shortness of breath. Treats gu poison, ghost malaria, hernia, zheng/jia masses, carbuncles and swellings. Kills fish. Alternative name: Qushui. Habitat: Rivers and valleys.
Qushui (Yuanhua) has potent effects, and its toxicity is also concentrated. White Wo Xingyu trees, green Fengliu willows. Harvest before spring; store for a long time. Fish intoxicated [by the herb], flowers bloom after autumn.
The *Zuo Zhuan* mentions "using this to increase toxicity." Famous physicians state: Also called Duyu (Poisonous Fish). Su Song states: Roots penetrate 3-5 cun deep, white resembling elm roots. Sprouts in spring; leaves are small and pointed, resembling willow branches. Purple flowers open in the 2nd lunar month. Liu Xian’s poem reads: "Official trees resemble star elms." Yuan Kai’s poem reads: "Rain reeds and wind willows naturally scatter." Han Baosheng states: When leaves have not emerged, harvest flowers and dry them; if leaves emerge and flowers fall, they are unusable. Li Shizhen states: Aged material stored for several years is superior. There is also Zuoyucacao (Bottlebrush/Buddleja), which blooms in spikes from the 7th to 8th lunar months, reddish-purple, resembling Yuanhua. Fishermen use it to poison fish. Color, shape, and aroma are identical to Yuanhua, differing only in flowering time.