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Song (pronounced "Song")

Taste is sweet, nature is warm, non-toxic. It primarily promotes the free flow of the intestines and stomach, eliminates vexation in the chest, and relieves thirst after drinking alcohol.

Tao Hongjing said: Among vegetables, Song is the most commonly eaten. Its nature is mild and beneficial to people, with no other contraindications or conflicts. Many people eat it now. It seems slightly cold and can withstand frost and snow. Its seeds can be pressed into oil; applied to hair, it promotes growth; applied to swords and knives, it prevents rusting. There are several varieties, but they all belong to the same category, differing only in their quality of taste. If one takes medicine containing Gancao (Licorice Root) and eats Song at the same time, the disease will not be cured. The annotation in *Tang Bencao* states: Song does not grow in northern lands. When someone brings the seeds to the north for planting, after one year or a year and a half, it becomes Turnip (*Brassica rapa*); by the second year, the Song seeds disappear completely. Conversely, if Turnip seeds are brought south for planting, they also change completely after two years. Changes due to soil suitability are common examples. The color of the seeds changes accordingly, but the thickness remains the same. Song seeds are black, Manjing seeds are purple-red, and they are similar in size. Only Radish seeds (*Lufu Zi*) are yellow-red, several times larger, and not round. There are three types of Song: Niudu Song has the largest and densest leaves and tastes sweet; Zi Song has thin and fine leaves with a slightly bitter taste; Bai Song resembles Manjing. Chen Yuxi and others, following Chen Cangqi, stated: Song removes fishy odors but can move Qi and trigger diseases; Shengjiang (Ginger Rhizome) can neutralize its toxicity. The variety with many hairs on the leaves is Song. Xiao Bing said: Northerners living in the south may suffer from diseases due to unsuitability to the local environment; they should particularly avoid eating Song. It also says: Song aids digestion and directs Qi downward, treats miasma, and stops coughs caused by heat; winter juice is especially good. Ri Huazi said: Song is cool and slightly toxic. Excessive consumption induces skin wind and itching. Stems that are long, leaves that are thin and sparse, and tall plants are Song; leaves that are broad, dense, short, thick, and fleshy, with thin stems, are Turnip vegetables. Chen Shiliang said: Purple-flowered Song is neutral in nature and non-toxic. It circulates wind Qi and eliminates pathogenic heat. Flowers can be preserved in wine lees for brewing, which is very delicious. *Erya* states: Bao Cai is called Chu Song by people in Wu and Qin Song by people in Guangnan. This type of Song moss is non-toxic and suitable for consumption.

*Tujing* states: Song was not recorded in older texts regarding its place of origin; now it is found both north and south. It is similar to Turnip. Plants with long stems and smooth leaves are Turnip; those with short stems and broad, dense, short, thick, and fleshy leaves are Song. Old theories claimed Song did not grow in the north. When people planted seeds in the north, after one year or a year and a half, it became Turnip, and by the second year, Song seeds vanished. Planting Song resulted in crops similar to southern varieties, though less robust. Yangzhou has a variety of Song with round and large leaves, or resembling..., which has no residue when eaten and surpasses those from other regions; this is known as Bai Song. There is also Niudu Song, with the largest and densest leaves and a sweet taste, suspected to be the current Yangzhou Song. Recent Zi Song has thin and fine leaves with a slightly bitter taste. The north lacks Song, which has slight toxicity compared to Turnip and should not be eaten in excess, although it effectively counteracts fishy odors. Overconsumption can be countered by Shengjiang (Ginger Rhizome).

Dietary therapy: Nature is warm. Treats Xiao Ke (Wasting and Thirsting Syndrome). However, it can induce various wind-cold conditions. People with heat constitutions do not get sick after eating it, indicating its nature is actually cold. The *Bencao* states it is warm, which I do not understand. It also aids digestion and slightly directs Qi downward. Jiuying Song originates from Hexi, with extremely large leaves and thick, long roots. Cooked with lamb meat, it is very delicious. Regular consumption does not cause illness; it digests retained food, directs Qi downward, and treats coughs. Various scholars discuss that its nature is cold, not warm, suggesting the warm classification might be an error. Additionally, there is no Song in the north and no Turnip in the south. Manjing seeds are fine, while vegetable seeds are coarse. *Shenghui Fang*: Treats persistent drunkenness. Use Erhe of Song seeds, finely ground, mixed with one cup of well water drawn at dawn, divided into two doses. *Shiyi Xinjing*: Primarily promotes the free flow of the intestines and stomach, eliminates vexation-heat in the chest, and relieves post-alcohol thirst. Two jin of Song can be boiled into a soup. *Shanghan Leyao*: Prevents Wen Bing (Warm Diseases). Consume Song pieces the size of millet grains, taken with wine, one Fangcunbi per dose, three times a day, to prevent Warm Diseases for five years. Crush fresh Song juice, one sheng, taken twice daily, until recovery. *Zimu Milu*: Treats Chi You Dan (Red Roaming Carbuncle) in children, which moves up and down the body...

*Yanyi* states: Song, in Zhang Zhongjing's *Shanghan Lun*, whenever Gancao (Licorice Root) is used, Song is prohibited. This refers to this specific Song. Leaves resemble Turnip, green in color, lighter shade, slightly bitter taste, tender and slightly broad leaves. Not suitable for middle-aged and elderly people; those with deficiency constitutions feel cold after eating it.