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Shichangpu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma)

Pungent, warm. Chen Yuxi and others carefully examined, citing the general use for chronic wind-cold-damp bi syndrome: Shichangpu is neutral. Non-toxic. It primarily treats wind-cold-damp bi syndrome, cough with rebellious qi, opens the heart orifices, tonifies the five zang organs, unblocks the nine orifices, clarifies the ears and eyes, improves voice production, treats deafness, carbuncles and sores, warms the stomach and intestines, stops frequent urination, treats damp-bi of the four limbs with inability to flex and extend, pediatric warm malaria, unresolved accumulated heat in the body, and can be used as a bath decoction. Long-term consumption makes the body light and agile, clarifies the ears and eyes, enhances memory, prevents confusion, prolongs life, benefits intelligence and will, keeping one youthful and vigorous. Also known as Changyang (Rhizoma Acori). Grows in the ponds and marshes of Shangluo Commandery and Yandao County of Shu Commandery. Those with nine nodes per inch are superior; those with exposed roots should not be used. Harvest roots in May and December, dry in shade. (Qinpi [Cortex Fraxini] and Qinjiao [Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae] act as guiding herbs; avoid using with Didan [Gleditsiae Sinensis Fructus] and Mahuang [Ephedrae Herba].)

Tao Hongjing stated: Shangluo Commandery belongs to Liangzhou, and Yandao County is in Shu Commandery. Now it grows everywhere, thriving on rocky gravel, with more nodes being better. Those growing in low, wet areas with thick roots are named Changyang, which only treats wind-damp and is unsuitable for internal consumption. This herb is very effective against parasites, fleas, and lice, but this is no longer mentioned today. True Shichangpu leaves have a central ridge, resembling a sword blade, and produce small flowers in April and May. By streams in the east, there is another plant called Xisun (Iris pseudacorus), whose root shape, odor, and color closely resemble Shichangpu growing on rocks, but its leaves are exactly like cattail without a ridge. Laypeople often mistakenly call this "rock Shichangpu." This variety only treats cough and rebellious qi and can also repel fleas and lice, but it is not used in internal prescriptions. The *Classic of Poetry* mentions "Lansun" frequently, referring precisely to this plant. Chen Yuxi and others carefully examined, quoting Wu Shi: Shichangpu is also known as Yaojiu (Leek of Emperor Yao). *Records of Luofu Mountain* states: Shichangpu in the mountains has twenty nodes per inch. *Penetration of Drug Properties* records: Shichangpu is a sovereign herb, bitter and pungent, non-toxic. Treats rheumatic bi pain, tinnitus, headache due to wind, tearing, "ghost qi" (spiritual disturbances), kills various parasites, and treats malignant sores and scabies. Those growing in stone crevices that are hard and small, with nine nodes per inch, are of the highest grade; this Shichangpu is also called Changyang. Ri Huazi stated: Dispels wind, directs rebellious qi downward, treats male water-organ disorders and female cold-blood-sea degeneration, enhances memory and wisdom, relieves vexation, stops epigastric and abdominal pain, cholera with tendon twitching, treats external wind sores and scabies, astringes urination, kills abdominal parasites, fleas, and lice. For earache, grind into powder, stir-fry until hot, wrap and apply externally; highly effective. Avoid maltose and mutton. Stone Shichangpu originates from Xuanzhou, harvested in February and August.

*Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica* states: Shichangpu grows in the ponds and marshes of Shangluo Commandery and Yandao County of Shu Commandery, now found everywhere, but those from Chizhou and Rongzhou are superior. Green leaves emerge in spring, about one to two chi long, with a central ridge resembling a sword, producing no flowers or fruits. Roots are harvested in May and December and dried in shade. Currently, harvesting is often done on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The roots are knotted and nodular, resembling horse whips in thickness; one main root branches into three or four lateral roots, with even denser nodes on the lateral roots. Nine nodes per inch are excellent, though twelve nodes per inch also occur. Freshly dug roots are soft; they become firm after sun-drying. When broken, the center is slightly reddish; chewing yields a pungent aroma with little residue. People often plant them in dry sandy soil. Transplanting in the twelfth lunar month is particularly successful. Ancient formulas include single-herb usage: take tightly packed, scale-like roots, process about one jin, soak in water and rice wash overnight, scrape off the skin, slice, sun-dry, crush, and sieve. Mix with glutinous rice porridge, add cooked honey, roll into pills the size of wutong seeds, store in a ge cloth bag, and dry in a ventilated place. Take thirty pills with wine every morning, and twenty pills before bed; efficacy appears over time, as described in the *Classic of Materia Medica*. Additionally, people in Shu use it for cold qi pain in the heart and abdomen: crush one or two cun, decoct with Evodiae Fructus (Wuzhuyu), and drink the soup; effective. Barbarians in Qian and Shu often carry it with them; for sudden heart pain, chew one or two cun and swallow with hot water or wine; effective. Those growing in barbarian valleys are best; cultivated ones are usable but less pungent and firm than wild ones after drying. This is the Stone Shichangpu used in medical formulas. There is also Water Shichangpu, abundant in streams and wetlands. Leaves are similar but lack a central ridge; dried roots are light, hollow, and full of residue, far inferior to Stone Shichangpu, and unsuitable for medicine. They can only be ground into powder and mixed with oil to treat scabies. Modern pharmacies often mix the two, making identification difficult.

Lei Gong stated: When processing, do not use Ni Chang or Xia Chang. These two resemble each other, looking like bamboo rhizomes, black in color, foul-smelling, and fishy-tasting, and are unusable. Use only those growing on rocks; tender yellow, hard roots with dense nodes, having nine nodes per inch, are authentic. After harvesting, scrape off the outer yellow-black hard node skin with a copper knife, steam with tender mulberry branches, sun-dry, remove branches, and chop. *Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold* records: For premature labor desire before term. Crush Shichangpu root and extract juice, one to two sheng, pour into the throat. Another formula: Long-term use enhances intelligence. On a Jiazi day, take nine-node Shichangpu, dry in shade for one hundred days, grind to powder. Take one fangcun bi daily, three times a day; clarifies ears and eyes, enhances memory. Another formula: Treats postpartum metrorrhagia with continuous bleeding. Process 1.5 liang of Shichangpu, decoct in two cups of wine to obtain one cup, strain, divide into three doses, take warm before meals. Another formula: Treats forgetfulness; long-term use enhances intelligence. On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, take three fangcun bi with Shichangpu wine; prevents drunkenness, verified by enthusiasts. Avoid iron contact; if touched, causes vomiting. *Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies* records: Bian Que said: Zhong'e (sudden evil invasion) and sudden death are similar to Guiji (ghost strike); for those already dead, use this formula. Crush fresh Shichangpu root, extract juice, and instill; immediate recovery. Shijue (corpse stiffness) presents with sudden death but palpable pulse, faint whispering sounds in the ears, and warmth in the thighs; this formula also treats it. If someone falls asleep and does not wake, do not shine a light on them, as it harms. Bite firmly at the heel and the edge of the big toenail, and spit on their face; they will revive. Alternatively, blow Shichangpu powder into the nose and place Cinnamomi Cortex (Rougui) powder under the tongue. Another formula: Deafness. One cun of Shichangpu root and one Cardamomi Semen (Badou) kernel (decentered), crush together, divide into seven pills. Wrap in silk, insert into ear, one pill daily; effective. Another formula: Sudden fetal restlessness, or back pain with fetus pressing on the heart, continuous bleeding. Drink three sheng of Shichangpu root juice. Another formula: If bleeding continues. Three liang of Shichangpu, five sheng of wine, decoct to two sheng, divide into three doses. Empirical Formula: Treats carbuncles and back abscesses; apply crushed fresh Shichangpu. If the sore is dry, mix powder with water and apply. Same as *Sun Yonghe's Formulas*. *Secret Records of Mother and Child*: Treats fetal restlessness with labor fever and anxiety, blood loss, and irritability of hands and feet. Extract juice from Shichangpu and drink, two sheng divided into three doses. *Book of Obstetrics*: Treats postpartum continuous bleeding. Two liang of Shichangpu, decoct in two sheng of wine, divide into two doses; stops bleeding. *Xia Yu's Immortal Classic*: Thinly slice three jin of Sun-dried Shichangpu, place in a silk bag, immerse in one hu of clear Xuan Shui (wine), seal tightly for one hundred days. Remove when it turns green like vegetables. Add one dou of cooked millet, seal for fourteen days, then drink the wine. Effective for all thirty-six types of wind diseases. *Inner Biography of Emperor Wu of Han*: Emperor Wu ascended Songshan Mountain and suddenly saw an immortal, about two zhang tall. He asked him. The immortal said: I am from Jiuyi Mountain. I heard there is Stone Shichangpu in the Central Peak with nine nodes per inch; eating it grants longevity, so I came to harvest it. Suddenly he vanished. *Baopuzi*: In the south, there are many deer. Each stag roams among hundreds of does. By spring, they are emaciated due to excessive mating. In summer, they eat only Shichangpu to reduce fat. When antlers shed, the velvet is painful. Hunters encounter them; the deer dare not flee, lying still. Hunters tie the velvet, cut it off, and since the blood hasn't dispersed, the deer dies. Han Cong consumed Shichangpu for thirteen years, grew hair on his body, could read and recite ten thousand characters daily, and did not feel cold in winter without clothes. Furthermore, Shichangpu must be from rocks, nine nodes per inch, with purple flowers being best. *Bieshuo* records: Carefully examining Shichangpu growing between water and stones in Yangxian Mountains, its leaves grow against the current, roots have few hairs, little soil, roots and leaves are extremely tight and fine, exceeding nine nodes per inch, excellent for medicine. Families in Zhejiang plant it in pottery or stone vessels; changing water morning and evening promotes growth, while turbid water and mud cause wilting. Recent formulas mostly use Stone Shichangpu, which must be this type. Those from ponds and marshes are large, sparse-noded, coarse, and slow-growing, likely unsuitable for medicine, perhaps only suitable as ornamental plants, as their flavor is mild and bland.

*Yanyi* states: Shichangpu is also called Lansun, growing by water; it withers if deprived of water. Dense nodes indicate sufficient medicinal properties. Someone suffered from widespread hot toxic sores, painful but not itchy, worse on hands and feet, stopping at the neck, sticking to clothes and bedding, unable to sleep day or night, unbearable pain. A rustic person advised using three dou of Shichangpu, chopped and sun-dried, ground into powder, spread on a mat, let the patient lie freely on it, covered with blankets. It no longer stuck to clothes/bedding, allowed sleep, and within five to seven days, the sores disappeared. Later, suffering from the same condition, used the same method with miraculous effect. Stone Shichangpu roots that grow clinging to rocks have dense nodes and are required for medicinal use.