味苦寒。主关格诸癃结。小便不通。出刺决痈肿。明目去翳。破胎堕子。下闭血。一
名巨句麦。生山谷。（今名石竹）
轻逾秀麦。兰菊通邻。乱抽玉瘦。碎剪霞新。蜂怜色好。麝过香匀。春风买断。还较霜
筠。
陶弘景曰。子颇似麦故名。名医曰。一名大兰。尔雅。瞿麦大菊也。张咏诗。昔年吟社
偶通
邻。王安石诗。种玉乱抽青节瘦。林逋诗。碎片英英剪海霞。独孤及诗。游蜂怜色好。杜甫
诗。麝香眠石竹。陆龟蒙诗。买断春风是此花。张耒诗。谓尔胜霜筠。
味苦微寒。主腹中寒热积聚。女子产乳余疾。补肾气。令人目明。一名重台。生川谷
。
上下枢机。控清引浊。高节竹萌。垂阴柳弱。肠系鹿蟠。根潜蚕 。涣散氤氲。香馥百
濯。
张元素曰。元参乃枢机之剂。管领诸气。上下清肃而不浊。左思赋。控清引浊。苏颂曰。
茎
方大有节若竹。高五六尺。叶对生如槐柳而尖长。吴普曰。一名鹿肠。李时珍曰。宿根多地
蚕喜食之。故其中空。张元素曰。治胸中氤氲之气。无根之火。马志曰。合香家用之。故俗
名馥草。
味苦平。生寒热邪气。寒湿风痹。肢节痛。下水。利小便。生山谷。
飞乌山畔。纠植交纷。苣青叶布。葛紫花芬。中剔冲土。左隐罗文。实成月计。化速
。
名医曰。生飞乌山谷。苏颂曰。根土黄色而相交纠。叶青色如莴苣。叶花紫色似葛花。
当月
结子。陶弘景曰。中多冲土。用宜破去。根作罗纹。李时珍曰。以左纹者良。汉书纪。月计
有余。易。天地 。万物化醇。
[Qumai]
Bitter, cold. Governs Guan Ge (a syndrome characterized by urinary retention and vomiting) and various Long Bi (difficulty in urination), as well as stagnation and knotting. Treats incomplete urination. Used to expel thorns/pus and resolve abscesses/swellings. Brightens the eyes and removes nebulae (cataracts/opacities). Breaks down fetal qi and induces abortion. Promotes the discharge of obstructed blood. Also known as Juju Mai. Grows in mountain valleys. (Currently known as Dianthus superbus)
Lighter than elegant wheat, neighboring orchids and chrysanthemums. Irregularly drawing out jade-like slender stems, finely cutting new colors like rosy clouds. Bees cherish its fine color; musk passes with even fragrance. Spring wind buys it all up; still it compares favorably to frost-resistant bamboo.
Tao Hongjing said: Its seeds resemble wheat, hence the name. Famous physicians said: Also known as Da Lan. *Erya* stated: Qumai is a large chrysanthemum. Zhang Yong's poem: "In past years, I occasionally shared neighbors in the poetry society." Wang Anshi's poem: "Planting jade, irregularly drawing out slender green joints." Lin Bu's poem: "Fragmented flowers, like cut sea rosy clouds." Dugu Ji's poem: "Wandering bees cherish its good color." Du Fu's poem: "Musk sleeps on Dianthus." Lu Guimeng's poem: "Buying up the spring wind is this flower." Zhang Lei's poem: "Saying you surpass frost-resistant bamboo."
[Yuan Shen]
Bitter, slightly cold. Governs abdominal accumulations of cold and heat. Treats residual diseases after childbirth in women. Tonifies Kidney Qi. Makes one see clearly. Also known as Chongtai. Grows in river valleys.
The pivot mechanism above and below, controlling clear Qi ascending and turbid Qi descending. Like high-jointed bamboo shoots sprouting, drooping willow branches weak. Intestinal mesentery coiled like a deer, roots hidden like silkworm cocoons. Dispersing misty vapors, fragrance remains rich after hundred washings.
Zhang Yuansu said: Yuan Shen is a pivot agent, managing all Qi, making upper and lower parts clear and肃 (solemn/clean) without turbidity. Zuo Si's fu: "Controlling clear Qi, guiding turbid Qi." Su Song said: Stems are square, have distinct nodes like bamboo, five or six chi high. Leaves opposite, like locust or willow but pointed and long. Wu Pu said: Also known as Luchang. Li Shizhen said: Perennial roots often in the ground, earthworms (di can) like to eat them, hence hollow inside. Zhang Yuansu said: Treats misty Qi in the chest, fire without root. Ma Zhi said: Perfume makers use it, hence common name Fuc Cao.
[ Qin Jiao ]
Bitter, neutral. Governs pathogenic factors of cold and heat. Treats cold-damp Bi syndrome, pain in limbs and joints. Promotes water passage, benefits urination. Grows in mountain valleys.
By Feiwu Mountain, interlaced planting, chaotic and dense. Green leaves spread like lettuce, purple flowers fragrant like kudzu. Internally removing churned soil, left side hiding lozenge patterns. Fruit matures monthly, transformation is rapid.
Famous physicians said: Grows in Feiwu mountain valleys. Su Song said: Roots are yellowish-brown and interlaced. Leaves green like lettuce. Leaves and flowers purple like kudzu flowers. Seeds form in the current month. Tao Hongjing said: Internally has much churned soil, should be broken away when used. Roots have lozenge patterns. Li Shizhen said: Those with left-side patterns are superior. *Book of Han* records: Monthly calculation has surplus. *I Ching*: Heaven and Earth interact, myriad things transform into richness.