味苦寒。主头风。黄胆咳逆。淋沥。女子阴中肿痛。湿痹死肌。不可屈伸。起止行步
。生川谷。
茎类槐茱。远搜栈阁。春孕坚凝。炎蒸虚恶。膻近白羊。累垂金雀。表里融通。黄消风
却。
苏颂曰。根青叶稍白。如槐。亦似茱萸。李洞诗。栈阁交冰柱。陶弘景曰。以蜀中者为
良。
俗呼白羊藓。苏恭曰。皮白而心实。根宜三月采。若四五月采。便虚恶矣。李时珍曰。此草
根白色作羊膻气。其子累累如椒。日华子曰。名金雀儿椒。为诸黄风痹要药。任 行状。表
里融通。
味酸平。主热烦满。定志益气。利水道。产难吞其实立产。一名醋酱。生川泽。
苦 苦 。中贮山樱。风摇铃动。珠耀灯明。洛神鸣 。王母垂缨。胚胎热解。如达全
生。
陈藏器曰。一名苦 。小者名苦 。寇宗 曰。壳中子大如樱红色。李时珍曰。其花如
杯。
结一铃。壳。凡五棱。一枝一颗。下悬如灯笼之状。掌禹锡曰。关中人谓之洛神珠。一名王
母珠。李白词。素女明珠 。王起赋。解彼珠缨。圣济总录。治妇人胎热。诗。先生如达。
礼。父母全而生之。
味苦辛寒。主心腹积聚。寒热邪气。通九窍。利大小便。一名牡蒙。生山谷。
三辅幽芳。青赤弥谷。飞羽翩翻。歧蹄排蹴。浓积阴沉。坚消心腹。火炙根温。紫光熠
煜。
范计然曰。紫参出三辅。以青赤色为善。钱起序。紫参幽芳也。五葩连萼。状飞禽羽举。
张
衡赋。众鸟翩翻。苏恭曰。叶似羊蹄。何逊七召。亦左排而右蹴。李时珍曰。气味俱浓。阴
也沉也。甄权曰。治心腹坚胀。苏颂曰。三月采根。火炙紫色。柳宗元。晋问日晶熠煜。
[White Xanthium / Dictamnus]
Bitter, cold. Indicated for headache due to wind (Toufeng), jaundice, cough with rebellious qi, stranguria (Lin syndrome characterized by painful and difficult urination), swelling and pain in the female external genitalia, damp-bi causing muscle atrophy and stiffness, inability to flex or extend joints, and difficulty walking. Grows in mountains and valleys.
The stem resembles that of the locust tree and dogwood, found near distant plank roads and pavilions. In spring, it is firm and condensed; in summer heat, it becomes void and poor in quality. It has a musky odor resembling white sheep, hanging down like golden sparrows. It unifies the interior and exterior, eliminates jaundice, and dispels wind.
Su Song stated: The root is greenish, leaves slightly white, resembling the locust tree, also similar to dogwood. Li Dong wrote in poetry: "Plank roads intersect with ice pillars." Tao Hongjing stated: Those from Shu (Sichuan) are superior. Commonly called White Sheep Moss. Su Gong stated: The bark is white and the heart is solid. The root should be harvested in March; if harvested in April or May, it becomes void and poor. Li Shizhen stated: This herb's root is white and has a sheep-like musky odor; its seeds hang in clusters like Sichuan pepper. Ri Mingzi stated: Named Jinque'er Jiao (Golden Sparrow Pepper), it is an essential herb for treating various types of jaundice and wind-bi. Ren Xingzhang described its ability to unify the interior and exterior.
[Sour Sauce / Actinidia]
Sour, neutral. Indicated for heat-induced vexation and fullness, calming the mind, benefiting Qi, and promoting water passage. For difficult labor, swallowing the fruit leads to immediate delivery. Also known as Cujiang (Vinegar Sauce). Grows in rivers and marshes.
Within the bitterness lies the mountain cherry; wind shaking it moves like bells, pearls shining bright as lamps, Luo Shen crying, Queen Mother lowering her tassels. Embryonic heat is resolved, akin to a lamb being born whole and alive.
Chen Zangqi stated: Also known as Kujiang (Bitter Sauce); the smaller ones are named Kujiang. Kou Zongshi stated: The seeds inside the shell are as large as cherries and red. Li Shizhen stated: Its flowers resemble cups, forming a single bell-shaped fruit. The shell has five ridges, one per branch, hanging down like a lantern. Zhang Yuxi stated: People in Guanzhong call it Luoshen Zhu (Luo Shen Pearl), also known as Wangmu Zhu (Queen Mother Pearl). Li Bai's lyrics mention "Su Nu Mingzhu" (Pure Woman Bright Pearl), Wang Qi's fu mentions "Untying those pearl tassels." *Shengji Zonglu* records its use for treating uterine heat in women. Poetry cites "Xiansheng Rudie" (resembling a lamb's birth), and the *Book of Rites* mentions "Parents gave life whole."
[Purple Shen / Codonopsis]
Bitter, acrid, cold. Indicated for accumulations and masses in the heart and abdomen, pathogenic cold-heat, opening the nine orifices, and promoting urination and defecation. Also known as Mumeng. Grows in mountains and valleys.
In the Sanfu region, fragrance is secluded; green and red colors fill the valleys. Flying feathers flutter, cloven-hoofed animals trample. Accumulating densely in yin shadows, hard masses in the heart and abdomen are dissolved. Roasting the root with fire warms it; purple light shines brightly.
Fan Jiran stated: Purple Shen comes from Sanfu; green and red colors are best. Qian Qi's preface states: "Purple Shen has secluded fragrance." Five petals connected at the calyx, resembling flying bird wings. Zhang Heng's fu writes: "Many birds flutter." Su Gong stated: Leaves resemble shepherd's purse (or dock). He Xun's Seven Invocations write: "Pushing left and kicking right." Li Shizhen stated: Both flavor and aroma are strong, belonging to Yin and sinking. Zhen Quan stated: Treats hardness and distension in the heart and abdomen. Su Song stated: Harvest roots in March, roast with fire until purple. Liu Zongyuan in *Jin Wen* writes: "Sunlight shines brightly."