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Gan Jiao Gen (Banana Root)

Nature is greatly cold. It primarily treats carbuncles and swellings with accumulated heat.

Tao Hongjing said: It originally came from Guangzhou, and now it is grown in the capital and eastern regions. The root and leaves are no different, only the fruit is inedible; crushing the root to apply externally for treating hot swellings is very effective.

The leaf is Wu Lian Cao (Ampelopsis japonica). The root of this Gan Jiao has a sweet taste, is cold in nature, and non-toxic. Crushing it to take the juice treats postpartum blood stasis and distension/stuffiness; applying externally reduces swelling, and removing heat toxins is also effective. In Lingnan, the fruits are large, sweet in taste, cold in nature, and not beneficial to people. In the north, there is only floral nectar but no fruit. Current annotations state that this medicine originally comes from Guangzhou. However, there are several varieties; those with fruits have a cold nature and are not beneficial, so they are not fully recorded. According to this, the flowers and leaves are similar to Ba Jiao (Musa basjoo) but much larger; the fruits are round and long, green when raw and yellow when ripe. Southerners all eat them, but they often trigger Qi disorders. Crushing its root to apply externally for treating hot swellings is especially good. Chen Yuxi et al. respectfully followed the *Shu Ben Tu Jing* saying: commonly called Ba Jiao, mostly growing in Jiangnan. Leaves are about one zhang long and more than two chi wide; the stem is hollow and soft; the root can be used raw but does not enter prescriptions. *Yao Xing Lun* says: Gan Jiao is the Sovereign herb. Crushed and applied to all carbuncles and swellings; when dry, reapply, and there will be no case that does not heal. Ri Huazi said: Raw Ba Jiao Gen treats epidemic heat mania, vexation, stuffiness, and wasting-thirst; for patients with carbuncle toxins and fever/stuffiness/dry mouth caused by mineral/metal drugs, administer with silk juice. For combing hair to promote growth, treating swellings/toxins, wandering wind, wind-rash, and headache, grind and apply externally. Also said: Ba Jiao You (Banana Oil) is cold and non-toxic. Treats head-wind-heat and women's hair loss, stops vexation-thirst and scald/burn wounds.

*TU JING* says: Gan Jiao Gen was not previously noted for its place of origin. Tao Hongjing said: originally from Guangzhou, also in Jiangdong. Roots and leaves are indistinguishable, only the fruit is inedible. Now produced in Liangguang, Minzhong, and Chushu have flowers; those in Min and Guang have excellent fruits that can be eaten. Other places have many, but few flower. In recent years, in the capital, they are often planted luxuriantly, all being Ba Jiao. There are many types of banana; what is called Gan Jiao here refers to the seeded variety. Leaves are generally similar to Ba Jiao, but a stalk draws up from the rolled heart to flower. Initially, a large calyx appears, like an inverted lotus bud, with over ten layers, each resembling petals; as it grows larger, flowers emerge from among the petals, extremely lush. Red ones are like torches, called Hong Jiao (Red Banana). White ones are like wax color, called Shui Jiao (Water Banana). Its flowers are largely like ivory, hence called Ya Jiao (Ivory Banana). The fruits also differ in green and yellow, with many categories. Eating them is very sweet and delicious. They can also be dried and sent far away; northerns regard them as precious fruits. People in Min treat their skins with ash to make them smooth and fine, weaving them into cloth like ancient Xi Shuai (silk mourning garments). The root is extremely cold; crush to take juice to apply to swellings/toxins, or for postpartum blood obstruction, it can also be drunk. Another Ba Jiao Gen has similar properties; folk doctors use it to treat seasonal diseases, extreme heat, wasting-thirst, and restlessness/heat triggered by mineral drugs, all by drinking its juice. Another Ba Jiao You treats hidden wind epilepsy, where phlegm-fluid causes dizziness/stuffiness and fainting; drinking it induces vomiting and leads to recovery, having extraordinary efficacy. To obtain it, insert a bamboo tube into the bark, similar to tapping lacquer.

*SHI LIAO* treats jaundice. The fruit, eaten raw, is greatly cold. Stops thirst, moistens lungs, triggers cold diseases. Steam until cooked, dry until the skin opens, take the kernels in spring to eat. Nature is cold, unblocks blood vessels, fills marrow. *Bai Yi Fang*: For fatal back carbuncles, crush Ba Jiao and apply the root paste. *Zi Mu Mi Lu* treats pediatric Chi You Dan (red wandering erysipelas), moving up and down, fatal if reaching the heart. Crush Ba Jiao Gen to extract juice, decoct, and apply.

*YAN YI* says: Ba Jiao, after three years or more, flowers spontaneously emerge from the heart. One stem bears only one flower, entirely like a lotus. Leaves are also similar, but slightly yellow-green, shedding from below. The flower heart grows only upward, always looking like a lotus, yet one never sees the flower heart; cutting it open reveals no stamens, all are leaves, but the flower head always hangs downward. Each bloom opens from midsummer until after Mid-Autumn Festival ends. Whenever three leaves open, three leaves shed. Northerns cherish the seeds, so people rarely use them. Thread the seedlings to make cloth. Extract juice; women apply it to hair to darken it. Remaining statements are as described in the *Jing*.