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Achyranthes Bidentata (as the Sovereign herb)

Taste: bitter, sour. Nature: neutral. Toxicity: non-toxic. Indications: Mainly treats wind-cold-dampness Bi syndrome (painful obstruction due to cold and dampness), flaccidity and paralysis, limb contracture, knee pain with inability to flex or extend; expels blood stasis and pathogenic qi, treats skin ulceration caused by heat-fire toxicity, induces abortion, treats shortness of breath due to deficiency of middle-jian qi, atrophy of the male genitals, urinary incontinence in the elderly; tonifies the middle, reconnects severed tendons and bones, fills the marrow, eliminates headache and lower back/spine pain; treats amenorrhea and blood stagnation in women, benefits essence, promotes yin qi, stops premature graying of hair. Long-term use makes the body light and delays aging. Also known as "Bai Bei" (Hundred Times). Grows in river valleys of Henei and Linqu. Roots are harvested in the second, eighth, and tenth lunar months and dried in the shade. (Avoid using together with Firefly [Luminiscens], Luying [Euphorbia lathyris], and Tortoise Shell [Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum]; fears Baqian [Adenophorae Radix].)

Tao Hongjing stated: Currently, Achyranthes produced in Caizhou nearby is the largest and longest, soft and moist. Its stem has nodes resembling a cow's knee, hence the name. It is said to have male and female varieties; the male variety is black and dull. It can be dried in the shade from October to January. Chen Yuxi and others, according to *Yaoxing Lun* (Treatise on Drug Properties), noted: Achyranthes is a Minister herb; beef should be avoided. It can treat impotence, tonify the kidneys and fill essence, expel bad blood and blood clots, and assist the twelve meridians. For patients who are weak and emaciated, it should be added to prescriptions. Ri Huazi stated: Achyranthes treats soreness, weakness, and coldness of the waist and knees, masses and accumulations, discharges pus and relieves pain, postpartum abdominal pain and blood vertigo, expulsion of dead fetus, and strengthens yang. Achyranthes from Huaizhou is white; that from Suzhou nearby is purple.

*Tujing* (Illustrated Classic) stated: Achyranthes grows in river valleys of Henei and Linqu. It is now also found in Jianghuai, Minyue, and Guanzhong, but none compare to those from Huaizhou as authentic. After sprouting, the stem is two to three chi high, greenish-purple, with nodes like a crane's knee or a cow's knee, thus named. Leaves are pointed and round like spoons, opposite each other. Flowers form spikes at the nodes, bearing very fine seeds in autumn. There are two types: those with purple stems and large nodes are male; those with green and thin stems are female. Roots are harvested in the second, eighth, and tenth lunar months and dried in the shade. Roots that are extremely long, large, and moist are best. Stems and leaves can also be used alone. Ge Hong treated chronic malaria that persisted for a long time by taking a handful of stems and leaves, chopping them, soaking them in three sheng of wine, and drinking until a slight alcoholic warmth was felt. If the malaria did not stop immediately, repeat the preparation; no more than three doses would suffice. Tang Dynasty Cui Yuanliang's *Haishang Fang* (Sea Upper Formulas) treated malaria by boiling Achyranthes roots in water and taking them before an attack. Currently, people in Fuzhou use only wild Achyranthes roots, washed clean, chopped, baked dry, pounded, and sifted, then decocted in wine and taken warm, claiming it is extremely effective for treating blood masses in women.

Lei Gong stated: When using Achyranthes, remove the head and dirt, soak overnight in the natural juice of Polygonatum multiflorum (Huangjing), drain, finely chop, bake dry, and use. *Shenghui Fang*: Treats sudden formation of pearl-like growths in the eyes. Pound and squeeze juice from Achyranthes and its leaves, apply to the eyes three to four times daily. Another formula: Treats lumbar and knee pain due to wind-damp-bi. Use one jin of chopped Achyranthes leaves, mix with three he of rice in fermented soybean juice, cook into porridge, season with salt and sauce, and eat on an empty stomach. *Waitai Miyao*: Treats chronic malaria that persists. Take a handful of Changsheng Achyranthes, chop, boil in six sheng of water to obtain two sheng, divide into two doses, take before the attack, and one dose right before the attack. *Qianjin Fang*: Treats minor marital pain in women (gynecological hidden pain). Five liang of Achyranthes, three sheng of wine, boil to obtain one and a half sheng, strain, divide into three doses. Another formula: Treats wind-induced urticaria. Powdered Achyranthes, taken with wine, one fang cun bi per dose, three times daily. Both primarily treat bone abscesses, leprosy, and... *Zhouhou Fang*: Treats sores and ulcerations in the mouth and on the tongue. Soak Achyranthes in wine, hold in the mouth and swallow gradually. Without wine, holding it plain is also good. Another formula: Treats sudden mass accumulation, abdominal pain like stone piercing, crying and calling day and night. Two jin of Achyranthes, soak in one dou of wine, seal tightly, warm in hot ash fire to extract the flavor. Take five he to one sheng, according to tolerance. Another formula: Treats toothache, place Achyranthes powder between teeth to hold. Another formula: Regarding dysentery, if white discharge precedes red, it is normal; if red precedes white, it is intestinal gu. Three liang of crushed Achyranthes, soak in one sheng of wine overnight. Drink one or two cups per dose, three times daily. Another formula: Treats difficult urination and severe urethral pain, also treats abdominal hardness and pain due to blood stagnation in women. A large handful of Achyranthes with leaves, regardless of quantity, decoct in wine and drink, immediate relief. *Jingyan Houfang*: Treats unceasing thirst and deficiency of the lower yuan. Five liang of Achyranthes, finely chopped into powder, soaked in five sheng of fresh Rehmannia juice, exposed to sun during day and soaked at night, until the juice is absorbed, made into pills the size of paulownia seeds, take thirty pills with warm wine on an empty stomach. Long-term use strengthens sinews and bones, preserves complexion, darkens hair, and completes fluids naturally. *Meishi Fang*: Treats bamboo or wood splinters stuck in flesh. Take raw Achyranthes stem, pound into powder, apply to the area, and the splinter will come out. Another formula: Treats retained placenta. Eight liang of Achyranthes, one liang of Abelmoschus seeds. Boil in nine sheng of water to obtain three sheng, divide into three doses. Another formula: Treats pain from metal wounds. Apply pounded raw Achyranthes to the wound, immediate healing. Sun Simiao's *Shiji* treats toothache by burning Achyranthes root to ash and placing it between teeth. Another formula: Treats sudden malignant sores unrecognized by people. Pounded Achyranthes root applied externally.

*Yanyi* stated: Achyranthes is now cultivated in beds in Xijing; those three chi long are the best. Soaked in wine with Cistanche and taken, it benefits the kidneys. Bamboo or wood splinters entering the flesh, chewed thoroughly...