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Zicao (Arnebiae Radix et Rhizoma)

Bitter, cold, non-toxic. Primarily treats evil qi in the heart and abdomen, five types of jaundice (Wu Dan), tonifies the middle jiao and benefits qi, unblocks the nine orifices, promotes water passages, and treats abdominal swelling, distension, and pain.
Applied as a plaster, it treats pediatric sores and facial melasma (Ce Jia Qie). Also known as Zidan, also known as Ziying (Shuai Lao Fan). Grows in the valleys of Dangshan and the Chu region.
Roots are harvested in the third month and dried in the shade. Tao Hongjing states: Currently produced in Xiangyang, mostly coming from Nanyang and Xinye. The local people cultivate it; it is the plant used for dyeing purple today, but medical practitioners no longer use it. *Bowuzhi* states: The Zicao from Yangshan in Pingshi is particularly good. The State of Wei uses it for dyeing, resulting in a very black color. In recent years, cultivation has also occurred in Dongshan, with a color slightly lighter than that from the north. *Tang Ben Zhu* states: Zicao is available everywhere. *Erya* states: Also known as Miao. The seedling resembles Lanxiang, the stem is red with green nodes, the flowers are purple-white, and the fruit is white. Chen Yuxi and others respectfully note according to *Guangya*: Zicao, also known as Zicai. *Yaoxing Lun* states: Zicao can also be used alone. Sweet, neutral. Capable of treating malignant sores and tinea.
*Tujing* states: Zicao grows in the valleys of Dangshan and the Chu region; it is now found everywhere, sometimes cultivated in household gardens. Its root is used for dyeing purple. *Erya* calls it Miao, *Guangya* calls it Zicai. The seedling resembles Lanxiang, the stem is red with green nodes. Flowers appear in the second month, purple-white; fruits are white in autumn. Roots are harvested in the third month and dried in the shade. It is rarely seen in ancient prescriptions. Current medical practitioners often use it to treat typhoid fever and epidemic diseases, specifically for cases where sores and rashes fail to erupt; this herb is used to promote eruption. Weizhou's *Duxing Fang*: To treat variola (smallpox), boil Zicao decoction for drinking. Later generations inherited this usage, with particularly rapid efficacy.
Lei Gong states: Whenever using it, one must steam it with wax water. After the water dries, remove the head and the whiskers on both sides, then finely chop for use. For every jin (approx. 500g) of Zicao processed, use three liang of wax. Melt the wax in a pan until fully liquefied, then use the wax water as a decoction medium. *Shenghui Fang*: To treat bites from malicious insects, apply Zicao oil externally. Another prescription: To treat sudden dysuria with pain. Use one liang of Zicao, crush and sieve into a powder. Before meals, mix two qianbi (approx. 6-10g) with well-water and ingest. *Chanbao* treats strangury with涩感 (涩痛). The method in *Chanhou* is the same. *Jingyan Houfang*: To treat infants and children suffering from exanthematous diseases (such as chickenpox or measles). Use two liang of Zicao, finely chopped. Steep in one large cup of boiling water, immediately cover tightly to prevent gas leakage, let cool to body temperature. Based on the child's age and size, administer half he to one he (approx. 30-60ml). After administering this, even if the rash erupts, its severity will be reduced.