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Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix)
Taste: Acrid, Bitter. Nature: Slightly Warm. Toxicity: Slightly toxic. Indications: Primarily treats stabbing pain in the chest and hypochondrium, abdominal fullness with low-frequency borborygmi, fright palpitations. It can unblock the Five Zang organs and intestines/stomach, tonify Blood and Qi, dispel Cold-Heat and Wind-Bi (Wind-Dampness Bi syndrome), warm the Middle Jiao and promote digestion, treat sore throat, and expel Gu poison (parasitic toxin). Also known as Liru, Fangtu, Baiyao, Gengcao, and Qicai. Habitat: Grows in valleys of Songshan Mountain and Yuanju region. Harvest time: Roots collected in the 2nd and 8th lunar months, dried in the sun. (Note on processing/compatibility: Use the root cortex as a guiding herb. Combined with Muli (Ostreae Concha) and Yuanzhi (Polygalae Radix), it treats anger and depression. Combined with Xiaoshi (Natrii Nitras) and Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), it treats Shanghan (Cold Damage). Averse to Baiji (Bletillae Rhizoma), Longyan (Longan Arillus), and Longdan (Gentianae Radix).)

Tao Hongjing stated: It is found everywhere near the path; the leaf is named Yinren. It grows in the 2nd and 3rd lunar months and can be boiled for food. Jiegeng is very effective in treating Gu poison, and folk prescriptions use this herb but name it Qicai. Currently, there is another Qicai that can detoxify medicines. This is what is referred to as the herb confusing Ginseng. It is not this Jiegeng, although the leaves are very similar. The difference lies in that the underside of the Qicai leaf is smooth, glossy, and hairless, and the leaves do not grow opposite each other like Ginseng. The *Tang Bencao* annotation states: Ginseng seedlings resemble Hujia (a plant), with broad and short leaves, round stems, having three or four branches, each branch tip having five leaves. Tao's citation of Qicai confusing Ginseng is erroneous. Moreover, both Qicai and Jiegeng have alternate leaves, and some have three or four pairs of leaves; all have a single stem growing straight up. Since the leaves are easily confused, they are distinguished only by whether the root has a pith or not. Minister Yuxi et al., according to *Yaoxing Lun*, state: Jiegeng is a Deputy minister herb, taste Bitter, nature Neutral, non-toxic. It can treat dysentery, break Blood stasis, remove accumulated Qi, dissipate phlegm-saliva accumulations, primarily treat lung Qi rebellion causing cough and asthma, remove cold pain in the abdomen, treat Zhong'e (sudden evil invasion) and pediatric convulsions. Rihua Zi stated: It descends all Qi mechanisms, stops Huoluan (cholera-like vomiting/diarrhea) and muscle cramps, heart and abdominal distension/pain, tonifies the Five Exhaustions, nourishes Qi, dispels evil and wards off warmth, tonifies deficiency, dissipates phlegm and breaks masses, nourishes Blood and drains pus, tonifies internal leakage and throat obstruction, and detoxifies. Resolved with white porridge.

*Tujing* states: Jiegeng grows in valleys of Songshan Mountain and Yuanju, and is now available everywhere. The root is as thick as a little finger, yellowish-white. Seedlings emerge in spring, stems over one chi high. Leaves resemble apricot leaves but are long and oval, four leaves growing opposite each other; tender leaves can also be boiled for food. Flowers are purple-green in summer, resembling Ipomoea nil flowers, bearing seeds in autumn. Roots are collected in August, finely sliced and dried for use. Leaves are named Yinren. Its root has a pith; roots without a pith are Qicai. And Qicai can also detoxify; these two substances are often confused. The distinction is that the underside of the Qicai leaf is glossy and hairless. In Guanzhong, Jiegeng roots and seedlings resemble Malva verticillata roots. Stems are thin and green. Leaves are small, green, resembling Chrysanthemum leaves. Ancient prescriptions also used it singly. *Gujin Luyan*: Treats sudden Gu poison with bleeding resembling chicken liver, bleeding day and night exceeding one shi, damage to four Zang organs, only the Heart remaining intact, or nasal rupture nearing death. Take Jiegeng, crush into powder, take one fangcun bi (measure) with wine, three times daily. If unable to swallow medicine, pry open the mouth with an instrument and pour it in; the patient will feel irritability in the heart, which will settle after a moment. Continue for seven days. Eat pig liver to tonify; this is divine and excellent. *Jiyan Fang*: Treats chest fullness with chills, rapid pulse, dry throat without thirst, frequent expectoration of turbid sputum with foul odor, and long-term expectoration of pus resembling rice gruel; this is Fei Abscess (Lung Abscess). Treat with Wugeng (Jiegeng) and Gancao (Licorice Root), each two liang, roasted, boiled in three sheng of water to obtain one sheng. Divide into two doses, taken morning and evening; recovery occurs when pus and blood are vomited/spit out.

Leigong stated: When using, do not use Mugeng (Wood Stem), which looks like Jiegeng but tastes merely fishy and astringent. When using, remove the top sharp hard part of two to three fen, and side branches. Finely slice on a locust wood cutting board, soak in Lily bulb water for one fu shi (one full cycle of time), drain, and slowly roast until dry. For every four liang processed, use five fen of fresh Lily bulb pounded into paste, added to water for soaking. *Shenghui Fang*: Treats horse throat obstruction and toxic qi stagnation. Use two liang of Jiegeng, remove rhizome head, slice, boil in three large bowls of water until reduced to one bowl, strain, and take warm in three doses at any time. Another prescription: For pregnancy Zhong'e with heart/abdominal pain. Use one liang of finely sliced Jiegeng, one medium bowl of water, add three slices of fresh ginger, boil to six-tenths, strain, and take warm at irregular intervals. *Waitai Miyao* treats sudden Ke Wu (fright) or corpse possession causing inability to speak. Burn two liang of Jiegeng, powder, take with rice drink, still swallow Musk (She Xiang) the size of a soybean; this is good. *Qianjin Fang*: Treats throat closure and toxic qi. Two liang of Jiegeng, three sheng of water, boil to one sheng, take in one dose. Another prescription: Epistaxis formula: Powder Jiegeng, take one fangcun bi with water, four to five times daily; also stops hematemesis and hematochezia. *Baifang*: If beaten, with blood stasis in the intestines, not resolving for a long time, occasionally flaring up. Take Jiegeng powder, swallow with cooked water using a Dao Gui measure. *Jingyan Houfang*: Treats bone wind, toothache swelling. Powder Jiegeng, mix with date pulp into pills the size of soap beans, wrap in cotton and bite. Rinse with Schizonepeta decoction if swollen. *Jianyao Zhizhong*: Treats phlegm-cough with unstable wheezing. One and a half liang of Jiegeng, pound and sieve into powder, decoct in half sheng of urine from an uncircumcised boy to obtain four he, strain and take warm. *Zimu Milu* treats pediatric sudden Ke Wu death. Burn Jiegeng powder, take three qian bi with drink. Du Ren treats upper Jiao heat, sores in mouth/tongue/throat, cough with pus/blood. One liang Jiegeng, two liang Gancao, pound together into powder, take two qian per dose, decoct in one bowl of water to six-tenths, strain, take warm, sip slowly after meals; also treats Lung congestion. Mei Shi Fang: Treats sudden Gu poison, bleeding resembling goose liver, continuous day and night, organ decay. Juice Jiegeng, take seven he; this is good.

*Yanyi* states: Jiegeng treats Lung heat with rushing Qi, cough/rebellion, and Lung Abscess draining pus. Tao Hongjing said: Folk prescriptions use this, naming it Qicai. Now there is another Qicai, which is what confuses Ginseng, not this Jiegeng. *Tang Bencao* note said: Tao's citation of Qicai confusing Ginseng was wrong. Now detailed examination shows: Incorrect. Tao's intention was speaking only of the root, hence saying it confuses Ginseng. *Tang Bencao* note refuted it based on the seedling, which was an error in the annotation itself.