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Dioscorea Hypoglauca Rhizome (Bixie)

Taste: bitter, sweet. Nature: neutral. Toxicity: non-toxic. Indications: primarily treats stiffness and pain in the lower back, wind-cold-dampness bi-syndrome affecting bone joints throughout the body, chronic ulcers that do not heal, internal heat disturbance, damage to the middle jiao (spleen and stomach), impotence and urinary incontinence caused by anger, old blood stasis in joints, and five types of flaccidity in the elderly. Another name is Chi Jie (Red Joint). Grows in the valleys of Zhending. Roots are harvested in February and August and dried in the sun. (Coix Seed/Yiyi Ren serves as its guiding herb; it is incompatible with Sunflower Root/Kui Gen, Rhubarb/Dahuang, Bupleurum/Zihu, and Oyster Shell/Muli.)

Tao Hongjing stated: It grows everywhere now. Its appearance is similar to Smilax/Baye but slightly different; the root is larger, with less distinct nodes, and a lighter color. The Commentary on the New Materia Medica (Xinxiu Bencao) notes: This medicine has two varieties: those with thorny stems have white, solid roots; those without thorns have hollow, soft roots. The softer variety is superior. The leaves resemble Yam/Shuyu and grow as vines. Ministers Yu Xi et al. carefully noted according to the Treatise on the Properties of Medicinals (Yaoxing Lun): Dioscorea Hypoglauca Rhizome can treat bi-syndrome caused by cold wind, inability to move the waist and legs, convulsions of the hands and feet, and primarily treats lumbar pain in men. Chronic cold indicates retained water in the bladder within the kidney area. The Comprehensive Records of All Kinds of Things (Bowuzhi) states that Smilax/Baye and Dioscorea Hypoglauca Rhizome/Bixie are often confused. Ri Huazi stated: It treats soft abscesses, dizziness, epilepsy, tonifies the Kidney Zang, strengthens tendons and bones, benefits essence, improves vision, and treats loss of speech due to stroke. People at that time called it Bai Baye (White Smilax).

The Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica (Tujing) states: Dioscorea Hypoglauca Rhizome grows in the valleys of Zhending. It is now found in various commanderies including He, Shan, Jingdong, Jing, and Shu. The root is yellowish-white, multi-noded, about three fingers wide. Both the sprout and leaves are green, growing as vines. The leaves are trifid like wild yam or mung bean leaves. Flowers come in yellow, red, and white varieties; some produce white seeds without flowering. Roots are harvested in spring and autumn and dried in the sun. Old texts mention two varieties: thorny stems have white, solid roots; thornless ones have hollow, soft roots, with the soft being superior. Those produced in Chengde Jun today have roots resembling wild yams, hard in texture, with vining stems and leaves resembling buckwheat, and triangular fruits. They can be harvested at any time. The roots are sliced with a sharp knife and dried for use. The Zheng Yuan Guang Li Fang: Treats men's lumbar and leg bi-syndrome with flaccidity and urgency, causing unstable gait. Use 24 parts of Dioscorea Hypoglauca Rhizome combined with 8 parts of Eucommia Bark/Duzhong, pounded and sifted. Take 3 qianbi with warm wine every morning, increasing gradually to 5 qianbi. Beef consumption is prohibited. There is also a large formula for Dioscorea Hypoglauca Rhizome Pills, which has similar efficacy.

Sun Shangyao: Ru Sheng San (Like-Sage Powder) for treating intestinal wind hemorrhoids and fistulas: Finely chop Dioscorea Hypoglauca Rhizome. Split Crowberry/Guanzhong leaves one by one, remove soil, mix in equal parts, pound and sieve into powder. Take 2 qian per dose, mixed with warm wine, taken on an empty stomach before meals.