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Radix Clematidis (Weilingxian)

Bitter in taste, warm in nature, non-toxic. Primarily treats various wind-pathogen disorders, promotes the free flow of Qi in the five Zang organs, eliminates cold stagnation in the abdomen, phlegm-fluid retention in the heart and diaphragm, long-standing accumulations and masses (abdominal lumps), fixed masses under the flanks, old pus and foul fluids in the bladder, cold pain in the lower back and knees, and fractures/traumatic injuries. Also known as Nengxiao. Long-term consumption prevents epidemics and malaria. It grows in Shangzhou (Shangluo Mountain), Huashan, and flat marshes; those growing where no water sound is heard are of superior quality. It sprouts earlier than other grasses, has a square stem, with leaves arranged oppositely in clusters. The flowers are light purple. The roots grow densely and become more vigorous with age. Harvest in winter on Bing, Ding, Wu, or Ji days. Avoid consuming tea during harvest. (Added later)

Minister Yuxi et al. note according to the *Shu Bencao*: Harvest from late September to December, dry in the shade. It is unsuitable for harvesting in other months.

*Tu Jing Bencao* states: Radix Clematidis grows in Shangzhou (Shangluo Mountain), Huashan, and flat marshes. Currently, it is also found in various prefectures and military commands in Shaanxi, Hedong, Hebei, Jingdong, Jianghu, etc. When first emerging, it grows earliest among grasses. The stem is like a hairpin shaft, with four edges. The leaves resemble willow leaves, layered, with six or seven leaves per layer arranged like a wheel, having up to seven layers. Flowers appear in July, light purple or greenish-white. The flower spikes resemble those of cattail, or some resemble chrysanthemum heads. The fruits are green. The roots are dense and fibrous like grain roots, decaying annually. Harvest roots in September, dry in the shade. Best harvested on Bing, Ding, Wu, or Ji days, preferably from areas without flowing water sounds. In the Zhengyuan era of Tang, Zhou Junchao of Songyang wrote "Biography of Weilingxian": Previously, a person in Shangzhou suffered from severe illness, unable to walk for decades, despite the best medical efforts. His relatives placed him by the roadside seeking help. A Silla monk saw him and said: "This disease can be cured with one herb, but I do not know if it exists here." He went into the mountains and found it, which was Radix Clematidis. After taking it, the patient could walk within days. Later, Deng Siqi, a mountain dweller, learned of this and spread the story. Cui Yuanliang's *Haishang Fang* records the method: Harvest, dry in the shade for over a month, grind and sieve. Mix two qianbi with warm clear wine, take on an empty stomach. If the patient tolerates strong medicines, increase to six qianbi. Reduce dosage if diarrhea exceeds two times; stop when cured. Its nature is gentle and does not conflict with other herbs, but it conflicts with tea and wheat soup. Licorice and Gardenia can be used as substitutes for tea.

*Tang Bencao* states: Treats accumulations in the waist, kidneys, feet, and knees; various cold diseases in the intestines that have persisted for years. Taking it yields immediate effect. Grows in Luoyang County, Shangzhou. Harvest from late September to December, dry in the shade. Unsuitable for other months. It spreads sideways yearly, becoming lush with age, with increasing root and shoot mass, eventually decaying after several years. *Qianjin Fang*: For waist and leg pain. Grind Radix Clematidis into powder, mix with warm wine, take one qianbi on an empty stomach. Continue daily until mild laxative effect is achieved. *Jingyan Fang*: For chronic cold in the large intestine. Make honey pills the size of sophora seeds. Take 10-20 pills with ginger soup during the first watch (7-9 PM). Another prescription for waist and legs: Soak one jin of washed and dried Radix Clematidis in good wine for seven days, grind into powder, make pills with flour paste the size of sophora seeds. Take 20 pills with the soaking wine. *Jiyan Fang*: For kidney wind obstruction causing heavy waist and knees. Mix Radix Clematidis powder with honey into sophora-sized pills. Initial dose: 80 pills with warm wine. At dawn, mild discharge of foul matter resembling green glue indicates expulsion of wind-toxin stagnation. If no discharge, take 100 pills again at night. After discharge, nourish with porridge medicine. Continue warm-tonifying medicine for a month. Sun Zhao's *Fangzhang Wan* is similar. *Cui Shi Haishang Ji*: Radix Clematidis dispels various winds, unblocks the twelve meridians. Morning intake brings evening effect. It disperses cold pus and old fluids transforming pathological changes, causing mild laxation without damaging the body. Limbs become light and healthy, hands and feet warm, feeling cool. A Shangzhou resident suffering from inability to walk for ten years was cured by a Silla monk's recommendation after finding the herb. This herb treats wind-stroke muteness in men and women, limb paralysis, facial deviation, bone/joint wind, fetal/head wind, hidden wind affecting the heart, manic wind, headache from cold damage, runny nose. After two courses, cold damage stops, dizziness ceases, white accumulation wind is treated, severe wind is managed, skin itching is relieved, toxic heat wind sores are deeply treated, chronic fatigue is addressed, including waist/bone/joint wind, wrist-circling wind, slurred speech, phlegm accumulation, promoting five Zang organ flow, abdominal stagnation, heart/phlegm fluid, bladder pus, oral saliva, preference for tea dregs, limb numbness, cold/heat qi obstruction, waist/knee pain, inability to stand long, floating qi/miasma, aversion to cold with high fever, severe headache, ear pus leading to deafness, red eyes, constipation of large/small intestines (relieved immediately). Stops vomiting, jaundice, black jaundice, pallor, scrofula around neck, postpartum constipation/back pain, trauma-induced pain, heart pain, qi blockage, cold qi attacking, kidney wind obstruction, abdominal distension, head/face edema, spleen/lung qi toxicity, phlegm-heat cough/shortness of breath, restlessness, eczema/tinea, amenorrhea, prolonged menstruation, blood/qi rushing to heart, yin sweating/nocturnal sweating, severe axillary odor, unbearable breath. Frequent use of Radix Clematidis with hot baths, applying bitter saliva-mixed medicine externally/internal daily leads to recovery. For children's innocent disease, mother takes medicine to feed child. Treats hemorrhoids, constipation, qi-dysentery cramping. One-herb method: Wash, bake, grind Radix Clematidis. Moisten with good wine, place in bamboo tube, seal tightly. Steam nine times, sun-dry nine times. If dry, add wine again. Mix with white honey into sophora-sized pills. Take 20-30 pills with water or wine.

*Yanyi* states: Radix Clematidis treats intestinal wind. The root's nature is rapid/potent; excessive consumption disperses the true Qi of the five Zang organs.