味苦平。主心腹去肠胃中结气。饮食积聚寒热邪气。推陈致新。久服轻身。明目益精
。一名地熏。（苏恭曰。茈古柴字。）
求辞沮泽。美着华阳。怀新 白。耐老花黄。尾蟠鼠伏。香引鹤翔。陶蒸灵气。上达中
强。
战国策。今求柴胡桔梗于沮泽。则累世不得一焉。吕氏春秋。菜之美者。华阳之芸。陶
潜诗
。良苗亦怀新。苏颂曰。七月开黄花。根有赤毛如鼠尾。雷 论。茈胡生处。多有白鹤绿鹤
来翔。是香直上云间。柳宗元文。灵气陶蒸。周礼。矢人中强则扬。
味甘平。主心腹结气。伤中伤饱。胃络脉绝。羸瘦短气。久服轻身。不老不饥。生
川谷。及堤阪。
佳隶阶除。凌冬丛碧。贯磊 珠。麸苞 麦。乌韭西秦。羊蓍东越。一枕清风。手煎灵
液。
范成大诗。门冬如佳隶。长年护阶除吴普曰。一名忍冬。一名忍凌。范成大诗。杳杳入
丛碧
。苏颂曰。有须在根。如连珠形。左思赋注。珠十贯为一 。陶弘景曰。根似 麦。玉篇。
麸麦壳。 大麦也。名医曰。秦名乌韭。越名羊蓍。苏轼诗。一枕清风直万钱。知是东坡手
自煎。郭璞诗。钟山出灵液。独活。味苦平。主风寒所击。金创止痛。贲豚痫 。女子疝瘕
。久服轻身耐老。一名羌活。一名羌青。一名护羌使者。生川谷。
面风独立。顾盼中摇。蚕头奋簇。鞭节垂梢。护关紫艳。缘栈黄娇。石擘壤沃。易叶同
条。
吴普曰。此药。有风花不动。无风自摇。刘禹锡诗。面风摇羽扇。易。君子以独立不惧。
五
灯会元。外寂中摇。易简方曰。用紫色有蚕头鞭节者。颜延之赋。垂梢植发。苏颂曰。陇西
者紫色。西蜀者黄色。叶黄者是夹石上所生。叶青者是土脉中所生。礼。贯四时而不改柯易
叶。汉书传。同条共贯。
车前子。味甘寒无毒。主气癃止痛。利水道小便。除湿痹。久服轻
身耐老。一名当道。生平泽。
当道轮旋。如匙薄有。穗结鼠拖。迹遗牛后。精化仙衣。春盈女手。作药天中。宜男相
反。
救荒本草。一名车轮菜。苏颂曰。春初生苗。叶布地如匙面。中抽数茎。长穗如鼠尾。
诗。
薄言有之。诗疏。喜在牛迹中生。名医曰。一名牛遗。神仙服食经。一名地衣。雷之精也。
一名羽化。白居易诗。 春来盈女手。张籍诗。开州午日车前子。作药人皆道有神。提要
录。五月五日午时为天中节。名医曰。强阴益精。令人有子。章 词。今朝斗草得宜男。
[Background Information]
Book: *Shennong Bencao Jing Zan* (Eulogy on the Divine Farmer's Materia Medica)
Chapter: Chai Hu / Mai Men Dong / Du Huo / Che Qian Zi
Category: Materia Medica
**Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix)**
Taste: Bitter. Nature: Neutral.
Indications: Primarily treats Qi stagnation in the heart, abdomen, and intestines/stomach. Eliminates food accumulation and pathogenic cold-heat. Pushes out the old to bring forth the new. Long-term use makes the body light and agile. Brightens the eyes and benefits essence.
Alternative Name: Di Xun (Earth Fumigation).
Note: Su Gong stated that "Zi" is an ancient character for "Chai".
Description: Grows in marshy lowlands; its beauty is renowned in the Huayang region. New leaves are white, while old flowers turn yellow. The root coils like a crouching mouse, and its fragrance attracts cranes to fly. Through steaming processes, its spiritual energy is extracted, reaching upwards to strengthen the middle Jiao.
Citations:
* *Zhan Guo Ce*: "Seeking Chai Hu and Jie Geng in marshes now means not obtaining a single one for generations."
* *Lüshi Chunqiu*: "The finest vegetables are the Yun Cai of Huayang."
* Tao Yuanming's poetry: "Good seedlings also harbor newness."
* Su Song: "Blooms yellow flowers in July; roots have red hairs resembling a rat's tail."
* Lei Xiao: "Where Chai Hu grows, many white and green cranes come to soar. This indicates the fragrance rises directly to the clouds."
* Liu Zongyuan's prose: "Spiritual energy is steamed and refined."
* *Rites of Zhou*: "If an arrow strikes the Zhong Qiang area, it will bounce up."
**Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix)**
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Neutral.
Indications: Primarily treats Qi stagnation in the heart and abdomen. Treats injuries from internal damage or overeating. Addresses severance of stomach collaterals (meridians). Treats emaciation and shortness of breath. Long-term use makes the body light. Prevents aging and hunger.
Habitat: Rivers, valleys, dikes, and slopes.
Description: Leaves resemble elegant clerical script covering steps; evergreen through winter. Roots look like linked pearls wrapped in bran-like husks. Known as Wu Jiu (Black Leek) in Qin and Yang Shu (Sheep Mugwort) in Dongyue. A pillow of clear breeze, hand-brewed spiritual liquid.
Citations:
* Fan Chengda's poetry: "Aspidistra [referring to Ophiopogon] is like fine clerical script, guarding the steps for years."
* Wu Pu: Also known as Ren Dong (Enduring Winter) and Ren Ling (Enduring Frost).
* Fan Chengda's poetry: "Darkly entering the dense greenery."
* Su Song: "Roots have whiskers shaped like linked pearls."
* Zuo Si's Fu annotation: Ten pearls strung together form a 'Guan'.
* Tao Hongjing: "Roots resemble Da Mai (Large Wheat)."
* *Yu Pian*: Bran wheat shell refers to large wheat.
* Famous Physicians: Named Wu Jiu in Qin, Yang Shu in Yue.
* Su Shi's poetry: "A pillow of clear breeze is worth ten thousand coins; knowing it was brewed by Dongpo himself."
* Guo Pu's poetry: "Spiritual liquid emerges from Zhongshan Mountain."
**Du Huo (Aucklandiae Radix)**
Taste: Bitter. Nature: Neutral.
Indications: Primarily treats conditions struck by wind-cold. Relieves pain from metal wounds (Jin Chuang). Treats Ben Tun (fleeing pig) epilepsy. Treats women's Shan Jia (hernia/mass). Long-term use makes the body light and resilient to aging.
Alternative Names: Qiang Huo, Qiang Qing, Hu Qiang Shi Zhe (Guardian of the Qiang Pass Messenger).
Habitat: Rivers and valleys.
Description: Stands independent facing the wind, swaying gently when looking around. Head resembles a silkworm head clustered; segments hang like whip tips. Purple varieties guard passes; yellow varieties adorn plank roads. Stone-split fertile soil; leaves change but branches remain similar.
Citations:
* Wu Pu: "This herb does not move when there is wind, but sways spontaneously when there is no wind."
* Liu Yuxi's poetry: "Facing the wind, shaking feather fans."
* *I Ching*: "The gentleman stands alone without fear."
* *Wu Deng Hui Yuan*: "Externally silent, internally swaying."
* *Yi Jian Fang*: "Use those with purple color, silkworm-head shape, and whip-segment characteristics."
* Yan Yanzhi's Fu: "Dropping tips like hair growth."
* Su Song: "Longxi produces purple varieties; Western Shu produces yellow ones. Yellow leaves indicate growth among rocks; green leaves indicate growth in soil veins."
* *Rites*: "Passes through four seasons without changing branches or leaves."
* *History of Han*: "Same branch, same cord."
**Che Qian Zi (Plantaginis Semen)**
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Cold. Toxicity: None.
Indications: Primarily treats Qi Long (dysuria/strangury) and pain. Promotes water passages and urination. Expels damp-bi obstruction. Long-term use makes the body light and resilient to aging.
Alternative Name: Dang Dao (On the Path).
Habitat: Plains and marshes.
Description: Rotates like a wheel; thin like a spoon surface. Ears cluster like a mouse dragging; traces left like ox dung. Essence transforms into immortal clothes; fills women's hands in spring. Used as medicine during the Heavenly Middle Festival; opposes Yi Nan (Male-Appropriate plant).
Citations:
* *Jiu Huang Ben Cao*: Also called Che Lun Cai (Wheel Cart Vegetable).
* Su Song: "Sprouts in early spring; leaves spread on ground like spoon faces. Several stems draw up in the middle, long ears like rat tails."
* *Classic of Poetry*: "Bo Yan You Zhi."
* *Poetry Commentary*: "Likes to grow in ox tracks."
* Famous Physicians: Also called Niu Yi (Ox Remnant).
* *Shenxian Fushi Jing*: Also called Di Yi (Earth Clothing), Jing of Lei (Thunder). Also called Yu Hua (Feather Transformation).
* Bai Juyi's poetry: "Spring comes, filling women's hands."
* Zhang Ji's poetry: "Che Qian Zi in Kaizhou on the Noon Day; people say the medicine is divine."
* *Ti Yao Lu*: The noon hour of the fifth day of the fifth month is the Tian Zhong Festival.
* Famous Physicians: Strengthens Yin, benefits Essence, enables having children.
* Zhang Jie's Ci: "Today in grass-fighting, I obtained Yi Nan."