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Sargassum (Hǎizǎo)
Taste: Bitter, Saline. Nature: Cold. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Mainly treats Ying Liu Qi (Qi of goiter/neck masses), nodules under the neck; breaks and disperses stagnant Qi; treats carbuncles and swellings, Zheng Jia Jian Qi (hard abdominal masses with Qi stagnation), borborygmus above and below in the abdomen; eliminates twelve types of edema; treats accumulations in the skin; sudden ulcerations; stagnant Qi-heat nodules; promotes urination. Also known as Luoshou (Falling Hair), also known as [Character Missing]. Grows in pools and marshes of the East Sea. Harvested on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, dried in the sun. (Incompatible with Licorice Root/Gancao).

Tao Hongjing stated: It grows on islands, is black like disheveled hair but slightly larger, and its leaves are mostly similar to algae leaves. There is also Shifan (Stone Sail), shaped like cypress, which treats Shi Lin (urinary calculi).
There is also Shuisong (Water Pine), shaped like pine, which treats Xidu (stream toxicity). Currently examining Chen Cangqi's Materia Medica: This substance has varieties resembling horse tails, and those with large leaves. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* and its annotations do not distinguish the efficacy and morphology of Sargassum. Maoweizao (Horse Tail Algae) grows in shallow water, resembling short horse tails, thin and black; when used, it should be soaked to remove salinity. Dayezao (Large Leaf Algae) grows in deep seas and in Silla (Korea); its leaves resemble aquatic algae but are larger. The *Bencao Jing* states that treating stagnant Qi and goiters refers to this. *Erya* states: Luan resembles Luan, Zu resembles Zu; these refer precisely to two types of algae. Seafarers harvest Dayezao from the deep sea bottom by tying a rope around their waist, diving underwater to cut it, and immediately tying it onto the rope. After the fifth month, dangerous fish may cause injury, so harvesting should cease. Minister Yuxi et al. carefully note according to *Erya*: [Character Missing] is Haizao. Annotation: Medicinal herb. Also known as Hailuo. Resembles disheveled hair, grows in the sea. *Yaoxing Lun* states: Haizao is a minister drug, taste saline, slightly toxic. Mainly expels evil spirits and demons; treats acute Qi disorders with fullness; treats hernia with descending pain and swelling; removes borborygmus in the abdomen, making low sounds. Meng Shen states: Haizao stimulates male genital Qi; regular consumption eliminates male ulcerative diseases. People in the south eat it frequently; if transmitted to northerners, northerners eating it will generate various illnesses doubly, thus it is even less suitable. Chen Cangqi states: Mazao (Horse Algae) is very cold. Applied externally to treat infant erysipelas, white wandering rashes, and fiery heat sores. Crushed and juiced for oral administration to eliminate sudden heat, heat dysentery, and stop thirst. Grows on water surfaces, connected like horse teeth. He also states Shifan is over a chi high, roots like lacquer, upper parts gradually soft with crisscross patterns, growing at the sea bottom. Decoction treats women's blood stasis, amenorrhea, and Shi Lin. He also states Fengrong edible, treats edema, also grows at the sea bottom. *Wu Du Fu* states: Shifan is Shuisong. Rihua Zi states: Shifan is neutral, non-toxic. Purple color, stems as thick as chopsticks, harden upon exposure to wind, color like lacquer. Many people decorate it to resemble coral.

*Tujing* states: Haizao grows in pools and marshes of the East Sea; currently produced in the seas of Deng and Lai prefectures. Algae exist in all waters. The *Ode to Zhou Nan* states: "Where to gather algae? In the marshes and islets." Lu Ji states: Algae are aquatic plants growing at the bottom of water. There are two types: one has leaves like Perilla frutescens var. acuta (Jisu), stems like chopsticks, four or five chi long; another has stems like hairpins, leaves like Artemisia argyi (Panghai), called Juzao (Gathered Algae), referred to as Zaoju in Fufeng due to its sound-making property. Both algae are edible; after cooking and kneading to remove fishy odor, steamed with rice flour as vegetables, they are very delicious. In Jing and Yang regions, people use them as grain during famines. What is now called Haizao is grown in the sea, roots attached to stones at the bottom, black like disheveled hair but slightly thicker, leaves like aquatic algae but larger, called Dayezao. The *Bencao Jing* states its main indication is goiter. Seafarers tie ropes around their waists, dive to cut it, and tie it up. Another type is Maoweizao, growing in shallow water, resembling short horse tails, thin and black. This treats water retention and is used for draining water. Tao Hongjing states: *Erya* mentions Luan resembles Luan, Zu resembles Zu, found in the East Sea. Current green moss and laver (Zicai) resemble Luan, Kelp (Kunbu) resembles Zu, likely these are what is meant. However, Chen Cangqi asserts Luan and Zu refer precisely to these two algae. Carefully examining the *Bencao Jing*, Haizao is also named [Character Missing]. *Erya* defines [Character Missing] as Shiyi (Stone Garment), and [Character Missing] (pronounced Tananqie) as Hai [Character Missing] (same as Zao); thus Haizao naturally has these two names, while annotations consider it a medicinal herb, regarding Luan and Zu as other grasses. If so, Hongjing's statement seems close to Chen Cangqi's view, but lacks definitive evidence. Further annotation: Explains Shiyi as aquatic moss, also named Shifa; Shifa is Zhili. Color similar to moss but rougher. Also states [Character Missing] leaves resemble [Character Missing] (Xie) but larger, growing at the sea bottom. Zhili has its own section, with completely different taste, nature, and efficacy from Haizao. It grows in Jiangnan pools/marshes, being green moss in water, used by ancients for papermaking, also greenish-yellow; current annotations identify Shifa as this. Therefore, [Character Missing] and [Character Missing] are both names for Haizao. Shifa is a distinct category, undoubtedly. Kunbu is also produced in Deng and Lai prefectures, with efficacy similar to Haizao. Tao Hongjing further states: All seaweeds treat goiters and Qi stagnation. Green moss and laver are no exception. There is also Shifan resembling cypress, treating Shi Lin; Shuisong resembling pine, treating Xidu. *Wu Du Fu* mentions herbs such as Shifan and Shuisong. Liu Yuanlin's annotation states: Shifan grows on rocks in sea islets, is herbaceous, leafless, about a chi high, flowers interlaced, floats dead in water; rarely seen growing alive. Shuisong is a medicinal herb growing in water, originating from Nanhui Jiaozhi. Laver attaches to stones on the sea surface, fresh green, turning purple when dried; found in the South Sea. The East Sea has another type, Kaidai (Kelp-like), resembling Haizao but coarser and longer; Dengzhou people dry it, it is flexible for binding. Medically used for draining water, faster than Haizao and Kunbu. Shifa is now dried as a vegetable, delicious with pickles. Qingtai (Green Moss) can be made into jerky, beneficial to humans. Among mosses, there is well moss, growing in abandoned wells, along with well indigo, both treating heat toxins. Above, the entry for Yuanyi (Wall Lichen) states: Grows in the shade of ancient walls. Su Gong states: It is the green moss lichen on the north side of old walls. Growing on stones is named Xiexie; growing on roofs is named Wuyou. General treatments are similar. Lu Guimeng's *Ode to Moss* states: High up is Wasong (Tile Pine), low down is Zekui; scattered in rock crevices is Shifa, covering empty fields is Yuanyi, on houses is Xiexie, in medicine is Zhili. Wasong grows on old tiled roofs, layered like pine cones. Zekui is Fukui (Muskgrass). Though different species, they all grow influenced by tiles/stones, hence Lu's analogy. Rarely used now, so appended here. Wasong is the same as the next entry, Zeyehe Cao. *Guangzhi* calls it Lanxiang. Duan Chengshi states: Some say pine soil on beams causes wood qi leakage leading to Wasong, but not necessarily. Medical practitioners sometimes use it for women's meridian circulation. Zhili is crucial in ancient formulas for deficiency-cold dysentery. Fan Wang's formula for fluid retention in the abdomen includes Haizao Pill. There is also Yingjiu (Goiter Wine) recipe: One jin of Haizao, placed in a silk bag, soaked in two sheng of clear wine for two days in spring/summer, three days in autumn/winter. Take two he per dose, three times daily. When wine is exhausted, repeat. Dregs dried and powdered, take one fangcun bi per dose, three times daily, not exceeding two courses, all cured. *Guangji* treats Qi bladder urgency and difficulty urinating using Kunbu method: One jin of Korean Kunbu, soaked overnight in white rice wash water, washed to remove saltiness, boiled in ten dou of water until warm, torn into three-inch lengths, four-fen wide. Add one握 of scallion whites, cut into two-inch pieces, tear, boil again until Kunbu is very soft. Add salt, vinegar, fermented soybeans, and rice powder to season, following this method, ensuring it is not too salty or sour. Season with ginger, tangerine peel, pepper powder, etc. Eat with sorghum or japonica rice. Haizao follows this method, strongly directs Qi downward, highly effective. No taboos.

Haiyao states: Treats retained food indigestion, phlegm obstruction in the five diaphragms, water qi edema, beriberi, and Bentun Qi (fleeing qi), all good. Lei Gong: When preparing, first steam Haizao together with raw adzuki beans and Zi Bei Tiankui for one shichen (two hours), then dry in the sun. *Zhouhou Fang*: Treats scrofula under the jaw like plums. Eliminate quickly. One jin of Haizao, two sheng of wine, soak for several days. Drink slowly. Another prescription: Treats sudden cyst formation under the neck threatening to become goiter. One jin of Haizao, wash away saltiness, soak in wine and drink.