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Shanglu (Phytolaccae Radix)

Taste: Acrid, Sour. Nature: Neutral. Toxicity: Toxic. Indications: Primarily treats water distension (fluid retention), hernia masses (abdominal lumps), and bi-syndrome (painful obstruction). External application can eliminate carbuncles and swellings; it dispels evil spirits and essences, treats pathogenic qi in the chest, edema, flaccidity syndrome, abdominal fullness with a surging and straight pulse, unblocks the five zang organs, and dissipates water qi. Those resembling the human form possess spiritual efficacy. Also known as "Gen", also known as "Yehu". Grows in valleys of Xianyang.

Tao Hongjing states: It is found everywhere near roads. Physicians rarely use it dried. For treating edema, fresh Shanglu is sliced and boiled with raw carp to make a soup. Daoists use it powdered or decocted/fermented, which can remove corpse-worms and allow one to see ghosts and deities. It is indeed considered a divine medicine. The flower is named "Shanglu Hua" and is particularly effective. *Tang Bencao* commentary notes: There are red and white varieties. The white variety is used medicinally; the red variety reveals ghosts and deities and is highly toxic, suitable only for external application on swellings. Internal ingestion damages the body and can lead to death from incessant bloody dysentery. Current annotations state Shanglu is also called "Baichang" and "Danglu". Minister Yuxi et al. carefully checked the *Shu Ben Tu Jing*: Leaves are large like ox tongues, thick and brittle. Plants with red flowers have red roots; those with white flowers have white roots. It grows in all places now. Roots are harvested in February and August and sun-dried. *Erya* says: "Lu, is Ma Wei." Commentary on *Guangya* says: "Ma Wei is Shanglu." *Bencao* says: Alias is Lu. Now in Guanzhong it is also called Lu, and in Jiangdong it is called Danglu. *Shiwen* says: Those resembling the human form possess spiritual efficacy. *Yaoxing Lun* says: Called Danglu, used as an assistant drug, contraindicated with dog meat, taste sweet, highly toxic. Can drain ten types of water diseases, throat obstruction (bi), by slicing thinly and boiling with vinegar, then applying to swollen throat areas for cure. Ri Huazi says: Bai Zhanglu, taste bitter, cold nature, good when combined with garlic. Unblocks large and small intestines, drains gu-toxin, induces abortion, treats swelling/toxins, applies to malignant sores. The red variety is toxic.

*Tujing* says: Shanglu is commonly known as Zhangliugen, grows in valleys of Xianyang, now found everywhere, often in household gardens. Sprouts in spring, 3-4 chi high, leaves green like ox tongues and long. Stems are green-red, very soft and brittle. Red-purple flowers bloom in clusters in summer and autumn. Roots resemble radishes and are long; harvested in August and September, sun-dried. Its action targets the exterior. Ancient alchemists often used it, and it can be taken alone. Harvest roots on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, store in bamboo tubes, hang in the northeast corner of the house to dry in shade for 100 days, grind and sift, mix well water for administration, said to be a secret method of immortals. For sudden pain in the throat attacked by toxic vapors: Slice root, heat it, apply via cloth compression (hot compress); change when cool, immediate cure. The flower treats mental confusion, forgetfulness, and errors. Take flowers, dry in shade for 100 days, grind to powder. Administer one cun-bi with water at dusk; lie down and contemplate desired matters, and they will appear visually. *Erya* calls it Lu, *Guangya* calls it Ma Wei, *I Ching* calls it Xianlu, all referring to this Shanglu. However, there are red and white varieties: red flowers yield red roots, white flowers yield white roots. Red is not used medicinally; white is used for consumption. Another variety named Chi Chang has seedlings and leaves extremely similar. Do not use; ingestion damages sinews and consumes kidneys; careful distinction is required.

Lei Gong says: When using, do not use Chi Chang. Because they are similar, Chi Chang's flowers and stems have toxicity that destroys sinews and kidneys, so do not ingest. Zhanglu flowers are white; after many years, immortals harvest them to make jerky, which aids digestion. In processing, first scrape off the outer skin with a copper knife, slice thinly, soak in flowing water from the east for two nights, then strain out, steam in a steamer basket lined with soybean leaves alternating with layers of Zhanglu, steaming from Wu hour to Hai hour, remove, discard soybean leaves, sun-dry, cut finely for use. If no soybean leaves, substitute with beans. *Waitai Miyao*: Treats water qi. White Shanglu root, peeled, cut into mung bean-sized pieces, one large cup, boil in three sheng of water until one sheng remains. When soft, add one large cup of millet to cook into porridge. Take on an empty stomach. Taking twice a day may cause excessive diarrhea; taking once daily causes mild diarrhea. Avoid mixed foods. Another prescription: Treats scrofula and sudden throat obstruction pain. Mash fresh Zhanglu root, shape into cakes, place on scrofula, moxa-burn three to four cones on top. *Qianjin Sui*: Treats water qi edema. Bai Chang six liang, extract half he of juice, mix with half sheng of wine, adjust dosage according to condition severity, should recover through urination. Another prescription: Treats acute sudden disease where swelling contains stone-like objects, piercing pain causing crying and calling; without treatment, death occurs in 100 days. Take much Shanglu root, mash for juice or steam, place cloth on abdomen, apply medicine without covering, change when cool, day and night without rest. *Jingyan Fang*: Treats water diseases. Remove coarse skin of Zhangliu, slice thinly, sun-dry and powder. Use three yellow catfish heads, three cloves of garlic, one he of mung beans, boil in one large bowl of water until beans are soft. Eat beans freely first, then take one cun-bi of powder mixed with the broth; water transforms into clear qi and dissipates. *Meishi Fang*: Treats edema where oral medication is impossible. One sheng of Shanglu, six liang of mutton, boil in one dou of water until six sheng remain, remove dregs, combine with meat, green onion, and fermented soybeans to make a stew, eat as usual; white Shanglu is superior. Sun Simiao's *Shiji* treats all heat-toxin swellings. Apply Zhanglu root with a little salt, change twice daily. Another prescription: Treats sore poisoning. Cut Zhanglu root for juice, wrap in hot cloth for compress, change when cool. *Doumen Fang* treats weak legs. Cut Zhangliugen finely to mung bean size, boil until cooked, add mung beans and cook thoroughly into rice. Process and take daily until cured. Efficacy is most significant. Zhang Wenzhong: Treats stone abscesses hard as stone, without suppuration. Rub with raw Zhanglu root, change when dry, stop when softened.