味甘寒。主大腹疝瘕腹满。面目浮肿。留饮宿食。破症坚积聚。利水谷道。一名主田
。生川谷。
白体赤肤。名甘汁毒。节逐珠连。圆旋指掬。结散心胸。涂周脐腹。相反相成。道通水
谷。
苏颂曰。苗短小而叶有汁。根皮赤肉白。作连珠。大如指头。张元素曰。此泄水之圣药。
水
结胸中。非此不除。但有毒不可轻用。李时珍曰。张仲景治心下留饮。与甘草同用。保命集
。凡水肿未消者。以甘遂末涂腹绕脐。服甘草水即消。王 曰。一切肿毒。敷甘遂末。饮甘
草汁即愈。二物相反。而感应如此。
味苦平。主痈肿。疽疮。散结气。止痛除热。目中赤。小儿惊痫温疟。女子阴中肿痛
。一名兔核。一名白草。生山谷。
干同芷白。喜杂林芜。枝端五叶。藤蔓多株。狡藏兔核。信应鸡孚。遏痈敛溃。质赤何
殊。
陶弘景曰。根如白芷。说文注。初生根干为芷。李白诗。林壑久已芜。苏恭曰。蔓生。
枝
端有五叶。一株下有十许根。刘迎诗。人思狡兔藏三窟。说文注。卵孚也。如期不失信也。
苏颂曰。生苗多在林中。根如鸡卵而长。三五枚同窠。又一种赤敛。花实功用皆同。但表里
俱赤耳。
味苦微寒。主邪气。皮肤中热。风搔身痒。杀三虫。子名草决明。疗唇口青。一名
草蒿。一名萋蒿。生平谷。
邻接胡麻。葙 音诡。高耸鸡冠。尖垂兔尾。雁过秋红。桃霏夏紫。披决光明。昭昭觉
视。
李时珍曰。此草多生于胡麻地中。胡麻叶亦名青 。音相近。岂以其相似而然耶。花叶
似鸡
冠。苗似苋。故谓之鸡冠苋。梢间出花。穗尖长。如鼠尾。又一种名雁来红。其叶九月鲜红
。望之如花。故名。陈藏器曰。又一种名桃朱术。花紫。五月五日。妇人收子带之。为夫所
爱。急就篇。刃端可以披决。淮南子。觉视于昭昭之宇。
[Galensu]
The taste is sweet and the nature is cold. It primarily treats large abdominal hernia masses (dà fù shàn zhē), abdominal distension, swelling of the face and eyes, retained fluid (liú yǐn) and old food stagnation. It breaks up hard masses and accumulations, and promotes the unblocking of water and grain pathways. Another name is Zhu Tian. It grows in river valleys.
Its root body is white with red skin, named "Gan Zhi Du" (Sweet Juice Poison). The nodes are connected like pearls, round and spiraling, graspable by the fingers. It dissipates knots in the chest and heart, and when applied around the navel and abdomen, it demonstrates that opposites can complement each other, as the principle connects to the unblocking of water and grain.
Su Song stated: The seedling is short with juice-filled leaves; the root skin is red and the flesh is white, forming a string of beads, about the thickness of a finger. Zhang Yuansu stated: This is the supreme medicine for draining water. When water pathogen knots in the chest, only this drug can eliminate it. However, it is toxic and should not be used lightly. Li Shizhen stated: Zhang Zhongjing treated retained fluid under the heart by using it together with Gancao (Licorice Root). *Baoming Ji* records: For any edema that has not subsided, apply powder of Galensu around the navel on the abdomen, and drink Licorice water to eliminate it. Wang Yinzhi said: For all kinds of swollen toxins, apply Galensu powder and drink Licorice juice to heal. These two substances are contrary, yet their interaction is so responsive.
[Bailian]
The taste is bitter and the nature is neutral. It primarily treats carbuncles and sores, disperses stagnant Qi, relieves pain, clears heat, treats redness of the eyes, pediatric convulsions and epilepsy, warm malaria, and swelling and pain in the female vagina. Another name is Tu He (Rabbit Kernel), another name is Bai Cao (White Grass). It grows in mountain valleys.
When dried, it is white like Baizhi (Angelica Dahurica), preferring to grow mixed in overgrown forests and weeds. Five leaves at the branch tips, vines growing in clusters. Cunning rabbits hide in "rabbit kernels," truly fulfilling the promise of chicken hatching eggs. It suppresses carbuncles and heals ulcers; what difference does its reddish quality make?
Tao Hongjing stated: The root resembles Baizhi. *Shuowen Jiezi* commentary notes that newly sprouted roots are called Zhi. Li Bai's poem says: "The forest and valleys have long been overgrown." Su Gong stated: It is a climbing plant with five leaves at the branch tips, and about ten roots per plant. Liu Ying's poem says: "People think of cunning rabbits hiding in three burrows." *Shuowen Jiezi* commentary notes: "Egg hatching," meaning keeping faith without delay. Su Song stated: Seedlings often grow in forests; the roots resemble chicken eggs but are longer, with three to five growing in one cluster. There is another variety called Chi Lian, where flowers and seeds have the same functions, but both inside and outside are red.
[Qingxiangzi]
The taste is bitter and the nature is slightly cold. It primarily treats evil pathogens, heat in the skin, generalized itching caused by wind scratching, and kills three types of parasites. The seed is named Cao Jueming (Grass决明/Seed of Celosia), treating bluish lips and mouth. Another name is Cao Hao, another name is Qi Hao. It grows in plains and valleys.
It grows near Sesamum indicum (Hu Ma). Qingxiang (pronounced 'gui'), towering like a rooster's comb, drooping like a rabbit's tail. Wild geese pass by in autumn turning red; peach blossoms fly in summer turning purple. Unveiling the brightness of Jueming, clearly awakening vision.
Li Shizhen stated: This herb mostly grows in Sesame fields. Sesame leaves are also called Qingxiang (similar pronunciation); could it be named so because of similarity? The flowers and leaves resemble a rooster's comb, and the seedling resembles Amaranthus, hence called Jiguan Xian (Chicken Comb Amaranth). Flowers emerge from the tips, with long, mouse-tail-like spikes. There is another variety called Yan Lai Hong (Wild Goose Coming Red), whose leaves turn bright red in September, looking like flowers, hence the name. Chen Cangqi stated: There is another variety called Tao Zhu Shu, with purple flowers. On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, women collect the seeds to wear them, gaining their husband's love. *Jijiu Pian* states: "The blade edge can pierce through." *Huainanzi* states: "Awakening vision in the bright universe."