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Qian Niu Zi (Pharbitidis Semen)

Bitter in taste, cold in nature, toxic. Primarily descends Qi, treats fullness and edema of the legs, eliminates wind-toxicity, and promotes urination.

Tao Hongjing stated: It is a vine plant; the flowers resemble those of Vigna unguiculata (cowpea), yellow in color. The fruits are small capsules containing black seeds, shaped like spherical kernels. Recently, it has been used to treat leg fullness and shortness of breath; once urination becomes smooth, recovery is invariably achieved. This medicine originally came from the fields, where people exchanged it for cattle, hence its name Qian Niu Zi (Pharbitis Seed). There is another herb with three white spots on its leaves, commonly known as San Bai Cao (Three-White Herb). Its root is effective in treating lower body Qi stagnation. The commentary of Tang Bencao notes: The flower resembles that of Convolvulus (Morning Glory), appearing greenish-blue, not yellow, unlike Vigna unguiculata. The San Bai Cao has three black spots, not white; ancients kept it secret, hiding the black color by calling it white. Tao Hongjing had not seen it but transmitted what he heard, believing the fruit had white spots. (Current Annotation): This medicine grows as a vine; the flowers are slightly larger than those of Pharbitis nil (Black Morning Glory), greenish-blue in color. The fruits have a yellow shell forming small capsules, with black seeds resembling buckwheat. Recently, it has been used to treat leg swelling and fullness, shortness of breath, and promoting water passages, with no cases failing to recover. Ministers Yu Xi et al., according to Shu Ben Tu Jing, state: The stems grow as vines, flowers are greenish-blue, fruits resemble buckwheat with three black edges. Seeds are harvested after September. It is found everywhere. Yao Xing Lun states: As an envoy drug, Qian Niu Zi is sweet in taste with slight toxicity. It can treat fixed masses (Pi Ji), promote bowel and bladder movements, eliminate edema due to water retention, and induce abortion. Ri Hua Zi states: Bitter and acrid in taste; it works well when combined with Qing Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix) and Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma). It is used to treat lower back pain, discharge cold pus, expel gu-poison drugs, and resolve all types of Qi stagnation.

Tu Jing states: Qian Niu Zi was not recorded in old texts regarding its origin province, but is now available everywhere. Sown in February, seedlings emerge in March, growing as vines winding around fences and walls, reaching heights of two or three zhang. Leaves are green with three pointed angles. Flowers appear in July, pale red with a greenish tint, larger than those of Pharbitis nil. Fruits mature in August, covered with a white skin, internally spherical, each containing four or five seeds the size of buckwheat, with three edges, in black and white varieties, harvested after September. Also known as Jin Ling (Golden Bell). Duan Chengshi's Youyang Zazu states: Pen Zeng Cao (Basin Steamer Herb) is Qian Niu Zi. After autumn, breaking it reveals shapes resembling basins and steamers; the seeds inside resemble turtles, and the vines resemble yams.

Lei Gong stated: Cao Jin Ling refers to Qian Niu Zi. For use, harvest when fruits are present in late autumn, collected in winter. Dry them, then wash in water; discard floating ones, keep sinking ones, dry again, steam with wine from Si hour to Wei hour, dry, and pound off the black skin before use. Shi Liao states: Consuming too much causes slight coldness; taken with Shan Zhu Yu (Corni Fructus), it removes water diseases. Sheng Hui Fang: Treats generalized edema due to water qi, shortness of breath preventing lying down. Use 2 liang of Qian Niu Zi, lightly stir-fried and pounded into fine powder, soaked overnight in urine of a black ox. At dawn, add one handful of scallion whites, boil for ten boils, strain. Take divided into two doses on an empty stomach; water exits via urination. Zhou Hou Fang: Treats wind-toxicity Hong Kong Foot (gouty arthritis); if shins are swollen and pitting occurs upon pressure. Pound Qian Niu Zi, make honey pills the size of mung beans. Take 5 pills per dose with ginger decoction; stopping when urination becomes smooth is also acceptable. Dou Men Fang: Treats attacks by wind qi causing internal accumulation. Soak Qian Niu Zi in urine of a young boy overnight, wash in running water for half a day, place in a raw silk bag, hang in a windy place to dry. Take 30 pills daily with salt water. It effectively searches out wind and resolves deficiency swelling. Long-term use keeps the body refreshed. Wang Shi Bo Ji: Treats disharmony of San Jiao (Triple Burner) Qi, chest and diaphragm cold obstruction, dizziness, vertigo, excessive phlegm and saliva, and mental dullness. Li Ge Wan: 4 liang of Qian Niu Zi (half raw, half processed), 2 liang of Gleditsia Sinensis (Gleditsiae Spina) coated with butter and roasted, pounded into powder, mixed with fresh ginger juice to form a paste, made into pills the size of Sophora japonica seeds. Take 20 pills per dose with Schizonepeta (Schizonepetae Herba) decoction. Another prescription: Treats threatened miscarriage during pregnancy. 1 liang of Qian Niu Zi, a little Chi Tu (Red Earth), ground finely. When frequent labor pains are felt, take 1 qian bi mixed with Ulmus davidiana var. japonica (Ulmaceae Cortex) decoction. Another prescription: Treats five types of accumulated Qi forming masses in men and women. 1 jin of Black Qian Niu Zi, raw pounded into powder (8 liang); the residue is stir-fried on a new tile until fragrant, cooled, pounded again to obtain 4 liang of cooked powder. Mix 12 liang of cooked powder evenly, bind with refined honey into pills the size of Sophora japonica seeds. For severe accumulation cases, take 30-50 pills with dried tangerine peel and ginger decoction on an empty stomach before bed. If effects do not manifest between 9 PM and 11 PM, administer another 30 pills to expel accumulated matter. Daily maintenance dose of 10-15 pills moves Qi excellently. Children aged 7 to under 15 take 5-7 pills; those over 50 should not take it. Jian Yao Ji Zhong: Treats constipation with difficult stool passage. Qian Niu Zi (half raw, half processed) pounded into powder. Take 2 qian per dose with ginger decoction. If still blocked, take again with hot tea, adjusting dosage based on deficiency or excess, without specific timing.

Yan Yi states: Opinions on Qian Niu Zi vary among experts, especially Tao Hongjing. Claiming flowers resemble cowpeas is inaccurate. Flowers resemble those of Pharbitis nil, greenish-blue, opening at sunrise and closing at sunset. Current annotation: Claiming seeds resemble buckwheat is also incorrect. They resemble seeds of Actinidia arguta (Hardy Kiwi), but black. Can be lightly stir-fried, pounded to extract 1 liang of powder. Separately, stir-fry bran with peeled and crushed Peach Kernels (Persicae Semen) half a liang, mix with ripe honey into pills the size of Sophora japonica seeds. Take 20-30 pills with warm water to treat large intestine wind-constipation, heat accumulation, and blockage. Do not use long-term as it moves Spleen and Kidney Qi.