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Ludou Lu (Rhapontici Radix)

Taste: bitter, salty. Nature: cold to great cold. Toxicity: non-toxic. Indications: skin heat, malignant sores, abscesses and hemorrhoids, damp bi-syndrome, promotes lactation, stops enuresis, treats heat-induced sores with itching like hemp seeds; can be used as a bath decoction. Long-term use lightens the body, benefits qi, clarifies ears and eyes, prevents aging, and prolongs life. Alternative name: Ye Lan (Wild Orchid). Habitat: valleys of Qiao Mountain. Harvest time: roots collected in August, dried in shade.

Tao Hongjing stated: Qiao Mountain should be the burial place of the Yellow Emperor, located in Shang Commandery. It is also produced near the main roads now, treating various scabies. Long-term use is very beneficial to humans, but it is rarely used in food therapy prescriptions. Currently, market vendors use its aerial parts. In folk practice, the root is taken, named Luli (pronounced 'li zhi'), ground with vinegar, and applied to treat sores and scabies.

The Tang Bencao annotation states: This herb is commonly known as Jia Hao. Its stems and leaves resemble Bai Hao (Artemisia argyi), flowers are yellow, produce pods, slender like fine hemp, about the thickness of a chopstick, with four or five petals. After July and August, they turn black, distinct from common grasses and artemisias. The stems, leaves, and seeds are commonly used; roots are rarely seen in use. The Luli mentioned is called Mu Li Lu in southern mountains, which is toxic and is not Ludou Lu. According to other editions' annotations: Ludou Lu has stems as thick as chopsticks, growing four to five chi high. The seed capsules resemble those of sesame but are smaller. People in Jiangdong use the aerial parts, which are superior to roots. Those from Jiangning and Shangdang are considered best. Tao's note stating the root is named Luli, and the Tang note stating people in southern mountains call it Mu Li Lu, are both incorrect. Ludou Lu is a distinct plant. Ministers Yuxi et al. carefully followed the Shu Ben Tu Jing: Leaves resemble Jiao Hao. It is most abundant in low-lying wetlands of Caozhou and Yanzhou. Stems are harvested in June and July, sun-dried, appearing darker than other grasses. The Yao Xing Lun states: Ludou Lu acts as the sovereign herb. It treats upper body heat-toxin wind, generates malignant sores, skin and muscle itching, and urticaria. Chen Cangqi stated: Regarding Ludou Lu, southerners use the aerial parts, while northerners mostly use the roots. It grows like a tree resembling Cornus officinalis. The tree is two to three chi high, is toxic, kills parasites, and mountain dwellers use it to wash sores and scabies. Ri Huazi stated: Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus) serves as an assistant. It treats childhood severe fever, unblocks the Small Intestine, resolves seminal emission, hematuria, wind-red eyes, mastitis, carbuncles, scrofula, intestinal wind, expels pus, and nourishes blood. It treats traumatic injuries, knits bones and tendons, applies to open wounds, stops bleeding, promotes flesh growth, and unblocks meridians. Flowers and aerial parts are used together. Commonly called Gui You Ma (Ghost Sesame). Its shape and taste resemble dried Arctii Fructus, with white flower heads.

Tu Jing stated: Ludou Lu grows in the valleys of Qiao Mountain. It is now found in Jiangdong commanderies as well as Qinzhou and Haizhou. Old texts state stems and leaves resemble Bai Hao, have pods, yellow flowers at pod tips, stems chopstick-thick, seed capsules resembling small sesame pods. After July/August, they turn black, distinct from common grasses. Among current illustrations, only Danzhou's resembles this description closely. Yizhou's flowers and leaves somewhat resemble Peony. Qinzhou's flowers resemble single-petal cold chrysanthemum, purple, with five to seven branches on one stalk. Haizhou's flowers are purple-green, like single-petal lotus, with white down wrapping below the calyx and around the root. Roots are black like turnips but thinner, resembling green onion bases; people in Huaidian call it Laoweng Hua (Old Man Flower). Although flowers differ among these three regions, leaves are quite similar, except Qinzhou and Haizhou leaves have serrated edges. Such diversity in one species confuses physicians. Following old traditions, Danzhou origin is preferred. Harvest stems and leaves in June/July, sun-dry; harvest roots in August, shade-dry. Southerners use aerial parts; northerners use roots. Additionally, under the entry for Feilian (Cardui Heterophylli Caulis et Folium): Grows in Henei marshes, also named Ludou Lu. Resembles Ku (pronounced 'wu lao'). Leaves have raised skin along the stem resembling arrow feathers, often notched. Flowers are purple, grow in plains. Another variety grows on hills, leaves similar but without notches, hairy, stems lack feathers. Roots grow straight down with lateral branches, flesh white, skin black, with black veins inside. Sun-dried, it turns black like Scrophulariae Radix. The Classic states: Harvest flowers in July/August, dry in shade. Su Gong stated: Using stems and leaves to treat malnutrition ulcers and kill parasites is effective. Based on this, the flowers, leaves, and roots described here are quite similar to those called Ludou Lu in Qinzhou and Haizhou. However, locals there simply call them Ludou Lu, while modern physicians rarely use Feilian. Since identification is uncertain, no further distinction is made; this explanation is attached below.

Lei Gong stated: When using, do not use Du Lou, as it resembles Ludou Lu but tastes bitter and sour. Accidental ingestion causes incessant vomiting; careful verification is required. To prepare Ludou Lu: finely slice, steam with raw Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) from Si hour to Shen hour, remove Gancao, and use the purified herb. Shenghui Fang: Treats pediatric wu-gu malnutrition (gu syndrome), abdominal distension, intermittent dysentery, and imbalance of cold and heat. Take one liang of Ludou Lu, pound into powder. For each dose, mix one qianbi of powder with one liang of pig liver, add a little salt, cook thoroughly in water, and take on an empty stomach. Waitai Miyao: Treats roundworms. Pound Ludou Lu, mix with dough to form a square-inch pill, and administer.