Library

Zhu (Atractylodes)
Bitter, sweet, warm, non-toxic. Mainly treats wind-cold-damp bi (pain, numbness, and stiffness in limbs due to invasion of wind, cold, and damp pathogens), dead muscle (stiff or necrotic muscle), spasm (tension and convulsion of tendons), jaundice, stops sweating and removes heat, aids digestion. Mainly treats severe wind disease (illness caused by severe wind pathogen) on the head and face, wind-induced vertigo and headache, tearing eyes, resolves phlegm-fluids, expels wind-water swelling under the skin, relieves urgency and fullness below the heart, and persistent vomiting and diarrhea from cholera-like disorder. Promotes blood circulation in the waist and umbilical region, benefits body fluids, warms the stomach, aids grain digestion, and increases appetite. Made into decoctions or pills, long-term use lightens the body, prolongs life, and prevents hunger. Also known as Shanji (Mountain Thistle), Shanjing (Mountain Ginger), and Shanlian. Grows in the valleys of Mount Zheng, Hanzhong, and Nanzheng. Roots are harvested in February, March, August, and September, then dried. (Fangfeng/Saposhnikovia Root and Diyü/Sanguisorba Root act as guiding herbs.)

Tao Hongjing states: Mount Zheng is Nanzheng; it is now found everywhere, but those from Jiangshan, Baishan, and Maoshan are superior. Harvested in November, December, January, and February is best, as they are rich in oil and sweet. The *Xianjing* (Classic of Immortals) states: It can also eliminate evil qi and dispel disasters and rashes. Methods for making pills, powders, decoctions, and pastes exist. Its young shoots can be made into a beverage, very fragrant and delicious, and can remove water retention. There are two types of Zhu: Baizhu (White Atractylodes), with large leaves having hairs and branching, sweet roots with little oil, suitable for pills and powders. Chizhu (Red Atractylodes/Cangzhu), with fine leaves without branching, small bitter roots with much oil, suitable for decoctions. Previously, Liu Juanzi extracted its essence to make pills named Shouzhongjin Wan (Golden Pill Guarding the Center), which can promote longevity. Atractylodes from the eastern regions is large but lacks strong aroma and is not useful. Those sold in markets today are coated with rice flour to appear white, which is unnatural; the coating should be scraped off before use. Ministers Yuxi et al. carefully note according to Wu's Bencao: Zhu, also known as Shanjie (Mountain Mustard) and Tiansu. *Erya* states: Zhu is Shanji. Annotation: Current Zhu resembles thistle but grows in mountains. Commentary: Those growing in flatlands are called Ji (Thistle); those growing in mountains are called Zhu. *Baopuzi* states: Zhu is also known as Shanjing (Mountain Essence), hence the *Shennong Yaole Jing* says: If one desires longevity, one should frequently consume Shanjing. *Yaoxing Lun* states: Baizhu is a sovereign herb; avoid peaches, plums, sparrow meat, pak choi, and green fish. Sweet, pungent, non-toxic. Can mainly treat severe wind-bi, chronic qi dysentery, abdominal distension and pain, breaks down and eliminates retained food, opens the stomach, removes phlegm-secretions, dispels cold-heat, stops diarrhea, improves facial luster, preserves youth, treats edema and fullness, stops vomiting and regurgitation, abdominal cold pain, persistent vomiting/diarrhea, stomach qi deficiency, and cold dysentery. Rihua Zi states: Zhu treats all wind diseases, five exhaustions and seven injuries, cold qi abdominal distension, tonifies waist and knees, resolves phlegm, treats water qi, promotes urination, stops regurgitation/vomiting, weak bones/tendons, mass formations, women's cold syndromes, fixed masses, warm febrile diseases, mountain miasma, relieves irritability, and builds muscle. Soak in rice wash water overnight; use as usual in prescriptions; also known as Qilijia. Cangzhu requires skin removal.

*Tujing* states: Zhu grows in valleys of Mount Zheng, Hanzhong, Nanzheng; now found everywhere, but those from Songshan and Maoshan are best. Sprouts emerge in spring, green and unbranched. Also known as Shanji because leaves resemble thistle. Stems resemble mugwort stalks, green-red, over two to three chi tall. Flowers in summer, purple-blue, resembling thistle flowers, sometimes yellow-white. Seeds form after Dog Days, stems wither in autumn. Roots resemble ginger with fine lateral roots, black skin, yellow-white center, containing purple oily substance. Harvested in Feb, Mar, Aug, Sep, dried. Both dry and fresh forms are usable; currently harvested in August. Food practitioners often take it alone, or combined with Baifuling (Poria with Hostwood) or Shichangpu (Acorus Rhizome), pounded into powder, taken with water in the morning and evening. Long-term use yields better results. Another method: Take raw Zhu, remove soil, soak in water repeatedly, boil until like maltose syrup, mix with wine for drinking, which is even better. The current Zhu Jian (Atractylodes Paste) made at Maoshan follows this method. Tao Hongjing states: Previously Liu Juanzi extracted its essence to make pills named Shouzhongjin Wan. The currently circulated method involves boiling into paste, which may not be authentic. Carefully noted: There are two types of Zhu. *Erya* states: Zhu is Shanji and Yangbaoji (sound fu). Explanation: This distinguishes names based on habitat; flatland growth is Ji, mountain growth is Zhu. Tao's annotation on Bencao states: Baizhu has large hairy leaves, sweet taste, little oil; Chizhu has fine bitter leaves, much oil. Those growing in flatlands that are larger than others are named Yangbaoji, currently called Maji (Horse Thistle); thus Yangbao is Baizhu. Currently, Baizhu grows on high ridges in Hang, Yue, Shu, Xuan prefectures. Leaves oppose each other, hairy, square stems, flowers at stem tips in pale purple/blue/red colors, roots branch. Harvested in Feb, Mar, Aug, Sep, dried. Large pieces with purple flowers are superior; also known as Qilijia. Whenever ancient formulas mention "Zhu," it refers to Baizhu, not the current general term.

*Tangben* states: Promotes urination; can be soaked in vinegar. Wiping the face with it is extremely effective. *Shenghui Fang*: Treats night blindness, regardless of season. Mix with 2 liang of Cangzhu, pound into powder. Take 1 qian per dose, anytime. Take one good lamb liver, slice open with bamboo knife, insert powder inside, tie with hemp rope. Boil in one large cup of millet rice wash until cooked. Patient first fumigates eyes with the medicine vapor, then consumes it when breath ceases. *Jianyao Jizhong* also treats pediatric night blindness. *Waitai Miyao*: Treats sudden dizziness persisting for a long time, gradual emaciation of four limbs, loss of taste, craving for eating yellow earth. Use 3 jin of Zhu, 3 jin of Qu (yeast), pound and sieve, mix with wine, form pills like paulownia seeds, dry. Take 20 pills with water, avoid peaches, plums, sparrows, clams; take three times daily. *Qianjin Fang*: Treats stroke with locked jaw and unconsciousness. Use 4 liang of Zhu, 3 sheng of wine, boil to obtain 1 sheng, take at once. Another formula: Treats vexation. Baizhu powder, mixed with water, take one cunbi. *Jingyan Fang*: Blackens beard and temples, preserves complexion, strengthens bones/tendons, brightens ears/eyes, dispels wind, moistens skin. Long-term use makes one light and agile. Cangzhu amount unspecified, soak in rice wash water for 2-3 days, changing water daily. After full days, take out, scrape off black skin, slice, dry, stir-fry slowly until yellow, pound finely. For every 1 jin of powder, mix with 0.5 jin of steamed Poria, refine honey to form pills like paulownia seeds. Take 15 pills with warm cooked water on an empty stomach or before bed. Additionally, mix 6 liang of Zhu powder and 1 liang of Gancao (Licorice) powder evenly, make into soup to drink with the Zhu pills, which is excellent. Avoid peaches, plums, sparrows, clams, and the "Three Whites." Another formula: Treats internal and external eye obstructions. 4 liang of Cangzhu, soak in rice wash for 7 days, change water daily, scrape off black skin, cut finely, stir-fry with 1 liang of Qingyan (Green Salt) until yellow, discard salt. 2 liang of Muzei (Equisetum), soak overnight in urine of a healthy boy, wash with water, dry, pound together into powder. Take 1 cunbi mixed with food/vegetables anytime, very effective. *Meishi Fang*: Treats fluid retention below the heart. 3 liang of Baizhu, 5 liang of Zexie (Alisma) chopped, boil in 3 sheng of water to obtain 1.5 sheng, take half. *Jiyan Fang*: Treats toxic vapors attacking wandering sores, chronic leg ulcers not healing. Pound Baizhu into fine powder, wash ulcer with salt brine, apply dry powder, change every two days. Enables carrying heavy loads and traversing dangers. In famine years, used as substitute food for old and young; people cannot distinguish it, called Mifu (Rice Cured Meat). *Chanbao*: Postpartum wind-cold, whole body stiff and cold, locked jaw, unconsciousness. Formula: 4 liang of Baizhu, 3 sheng of wine, boil to obtain 1 sheng, take at once. Xunzi's commentary on *Liexian Zhuan*: Liu Juanzi was from Qi, secluded in Yanshan, consumed Zhu, could summon wind and rain. *Baopuzi · Neipian*: Wen family of Nanyang, fled to Hu Mountains during chaos, starving and exhausted, someone taught them to eat Zhu, thus not hungry, returned home decades later with fresher appearance and stronger strength, hence Zhu is also called Shanjing. *Shennong Yaole Jing* states: If one desires longevity, frequently consume Shanjing. Zhu grass differing from ordinary plants is the essence of the mountain, condensing the essence of yin and yang. Consuming it leads to longevity, abandoning grains, and achieving immortality. Geng Jianwu of Liang replied to Tao Hongjing regarding Zhu: Taste surpasses golden elixir, fragrance exceeds jade liquid, sufficient to achieve longevity while seated, deeply grateful.

*Yanyi* states: Cangzhu is as thick as fingers, plump, brown skin, pungent and strong aroma; must be soaked and washed in rice wash, changed twice, soaked for two days, remove coarse outer skin. Baizhu is coarser, slightly brown, aroma mildly pungent and bitter but not strong. Ancient formulas and *Benjing* only mentioned Zhu, without distinguishing between Cang and Bai types. Only because Tao Hongjing stated there are two types, people thereafter valued Bai more. Today people value rarity, using only Bai, often discarding Cang. For example, in ancient formulas like Pingwei San, Cangzhu is the most important herb, acting swiftly. One should not ignore that original Bencao had no name for Baizhu; modern frequent use warrants careful examination. Ji Kang said: Heard from a Daoist's last words, consuming Zhu and Huangjing (Polygonatum) extends lifespan; there was no character "Bai" (White).