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Cong Shi (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus)
Pungent in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic. Primarily benefits the eyes and tonifies deficiency of the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner). Its stem, Cong Bai (White Part of Scallion), is neutral in nature and can be decocted into soup. It treats Taiyang disease (Exterior syndrome affecting the Bladder channel), alternating chills and fever, sweating, Wind-stroke (Zhong Feng), swelling of the face and eyes, bone and muscle pain due to Taiyang disease, obstruction of the throat (Hou Bi), calms the fetus, directs medicinal action to the eyes, eliminates pathogenic factors from the Liver, stabilizes the Middle Jiao, promotes the free flow of the Five Zang organs, nourishes the eyes, and detoxifies various medicines.

Cong Gen (Scallion Root): Treats headache due to Taiyang disease.

Cong Zhi (Scallion Juice): Neutral and warm in nature. Treats hematuria (blood in urine) and resolves Luli (Veratrum nigrum) toxicity.

The Note of Tang Bencao states: There are several types of scallions. The wild scallion growing in mountains is called Xie (Rhizoma Allii Macrostemonis), and Hu Cong (Allium chinense) is mainly used for treating diseases, specifically various malignant sores (pronounced qi li), fox urine thorn poison, sand lice, and she gong (midge-like insects) poisoning found in mountain streams. Boiling the juice for soaking or crushing it for external application yields great effects; it can also be combined with Xiao Suan (Small Garlic) and Zhu Yu (Zanthoxylum bungeanum), rather than used alone. Edible scallions for human consumption come in two types: one is Dong Cong (Winter Scallion), which survives winter, is propagated by dividing stems, and does not produce seeds; the other is Han Cong, whose leaves wither in winter. For both dietary and medicinal use, Dong Cong is superior and has a better aroma. Chen Yuxi and others verified according to Shu Ben Tu Jing that there are four types of scallions: Dong Cong, Han Cong, Hu Cong, Xie, and Cong. Dong Cong declines in summer and thrives in winter, with soft and delicious stems and leaves. It grows in Shan Nan and Jiang Zuo regions. Han Cong withers in winter, has hard stems, and a bland taste. Hu Cong has thick and short stems and leaves, with roots resembling gold, capable of treating swellings and toxic sores. Xie Cong grows in mountain valleys and is not used medicinally. Er Ya states: "Xie is mountain scallion." The explanation says: Shuo Wen Jie Zi states: Scallions growing in mountains are named Xie; those with thin stems and large leaves are indeed this type. Meng Shen states: Scallion is warm. The root treats water accumulation in sores and wind-induced swelling and pain. Dong Cong is best; it is suitable for winter consumption, but excessive intake generates Qi that rushes upward, causing closure and severance of the Five Zang organs and damaging the stomach of deficient individuals. It opens bone joints and induces sweating, hence its warm nature. Ri Hua Zi states: Scallion treats epidemic febrile diseases (Tian Xing Shi Ji), headache, mania due to heat, unblocks the Large and Small Intestines, treats cholera with muscle cramps and Ben Tun Qi (Rushing Qi sensation), beriberi, heart and abdominal pain, dizziness, and stops mental confusion. Taking its stems and leaves, grinding them with salt, treats snake and insect bites as well as metal wounds. For skin cracking and swelling caused by water exposure, roast until soft, grind, and apply externally. For she gong stream poison, grind with salt and apply externally. The seed is warm, warms the Middle Jiao, tonifies deficiency, benefits essence, and brightens the eyes. The root kills all fish and meat toxins and must not be consumed with honey.

Tu Jing states: Cong Shi (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus) is not recorded in Ben Jing regarding its origin province. It is now found everywhere. There are several types of scallions: Shan Cong (Mountain Scallion) and Hu Cong are used medicinally; Dong Cong and Han Cong are used as food. Shan Cong grows in mountains, has thin stems and large leaves, and tastes more fragrant than common scallions. Also known as Xie (pron gu bai) Cong. As mentioned in Er Ya, the root and stem are both thin and white. It is also stated that those with slightly shorter stems and leaves resembling golden lantern grass are this type. An old separate entry states: Grows in mountain valleys of Shu Commandery, similar to garlic but smaller, round shape with red skin, slightly longer and pointed. Dong Cong is present in both winter and summer, propagated by dividing stems without seeds, has the best aroma, and is also used medicinally, also known as Winter Scallion. Another variety is Lou Cong, also a type of Dong Cong. People in Jiangnan call it Long Jiao Cong (Dragon Horn Scallion) because its sprouts have eight angles. It is widely planted in Huai and Chu regions. Han Cong has hard stems and bland taste, with leaves withering in winter. All scallions can kill fish and meat toxins and are indispensable in food. Tang Dynasty Wei Zhou's Du Xing Fang treats edema with swollen feet by chopping scallion leaves and stems, boiling until soft, and soaking the affected area three to five times daily for best results. Roasted scallion treats traumatic injuries, as seen in Liu Yuxi's Chuan Xin Fang, obtained from Cui Ge Shi. Take freshly broken scallions, place directly in ash fire to roast, and apply while hot to the injury site. Prepare many roasted scallions to replace with hot ones continuously. Cui said: Previously in Ze Lu, playing ball with Li Baozhen, a military officer struck with a staff, unable to stop the momentum, injuring Minister Li's finger and splitting the nail. He urgently requested wound medicine to bandage it, sat forcibly, drank wine repeatedly exceeding the limit, yet his face turned bluer, enduring pain. A military clerk suggested this formula, which was used. After three changes, his face turned red, and soon he reported no pain. Used hot scallions mixed with sputum to wrap the finger over ten times, resulting in laughter throughout the banquet. Another upper formula treats Pi Xin Tong (Spleen Heart Pain), where pain causes abdominal distension like needle or knife stabbing. Wu Zhu Yu (Evodiae Fructus) one sheng, Cong Hua (Scallion Flower) one handful, decoct and take.

Dietary Therapy: Leaves are warm. White part is neutral. Treats severe fever due to Taiyang disease, sweating, Wind-stroke, facial and eye swelling, bone joint headache, and damage to hair and eyebrows. Scallion white and roots are neutral. Promote Qi circulation, treat headache due to Taiyang disease. Additionally, treat wind-water accumulation in sores with swelling and pain. Mix green leaves, Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), and Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex), boil into soup. Do not consume too much; only use to harmonize the five flavors. It causes Qi to rush upward, leading to closure of the Five Zang organs. Deficient individuals suffering from Qi disorders should avoid excessive intake as it generates upward-rushing Qi. This is because it unites joints and induces sweating. Consuming small amounts is acceptable, can be made into soup or drink. Do not eat excessively, fearing it pulls Qi upward, causing suffocation of the Five Zang organs. Strictly avoid mixing with honey, as it accelerates Qi movement and can be fatal. Additionally, stops epistaxis (nosebleed) and promotes urination. Waitai Miyao: Treats intestinal hemorrhoids with frequent blood in stool. Take three to five jin of scallion white, boil into soup, sit in a basin containing the soup for immediate cure. Another formula: Treats obstruction of Large and Small Intestines. Crush scallion white, mix with vinegar, and apply to the lower abdomen/kidney swelling area. Roast half a jin of mud-covered scallion, crush thoroughly, and apply to the umbilicus. Qianjin Fang: Treats Zhong E (Sudden Evil invasion), yellow tip of scallion inserted into brain bone fracture or bone fracture. Crush scallion white finely, mix with honey, apply thickly to injury site for immediate cure. Jingyan Fang: Treats strangury (Lin Syndrome), moxibustion seven moxa cones. Mei Shi Fang: Treats restless fetus, boil scallion white in silver vessel, stops bleeding immediately. Another formula: Postpartum restlessness and unstable sleep. Twenty scallion whites, twenty jujubes, decoct three sheng of water to obtain two sheng, divide and take. Sun Simiao's Dietary Taboos: January wandering wind. Burning scallion and eating with honey is fatal. Shiyi Xinjing: Treats dysentery with red and white discharge. Cut one handful of scallion finely, cook with rice into porridge, eat on an empty stomach. Another formula: Improves dim vision, tonifies deficiency. Cong Shi (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus) half a sheng ground into powder, take one spoonful each time, decoct in two sheng of water to obtain one and a half sheng, filter dregs, cook with rice into porridge, eat after some time. Another method: Crush Cong Shi, mix with honey to form pills the size of wu zi (wuyue seeds), take one or two pills with juice after meals, also greatly benefits the eyes. Another formula: Treats alternating chills and fever due to Taiyang disease, fragmented bone joint pain, sweating. Treats Wind-stroke, facial and eye swelling, throat obstruction, calms fetus, directs to eyes, eliminates Liver pathogenic factors, stabilizes Middle Jiao, benefits Five Zang organs, nourishes eyes, detoxifies medicines. Make leaves into soup or porridge, fry as relish, good effect. Sheng Jin Fang: Treats epistaxis. Take one handful of scallion white, crush to extract juice, add a little wine, dip three or two drops into the nostril, cured. Bingbu Shouji: Treats spider bites causing sores all over the body. One stem of green scallion leaf, remove small strips, insert into scallion leaf, tightly pinch both ends to prevent air passage, shake gently, turns into water, apply to bite site, cured. Dry scallion roots into powder, combine with one qian of Dan Fan (Alumen) from Puzhou and two qian of scallion powder, grind uniformly to one zi amount, put into bamboo tube, blow into the diseased area. Shanghan Leiyao: Treats women in seventh month of pregnancy with severe fever due to Taiyang disease, red macules turning black, hematuria. Take one bunch of scallion, three sheng of water, drink completely. Yangshi Chanru: Treats restless fetus at five or six months, difficult to manage. One large handful of scallion white, decoct, remove dregs, take in one dose. Another formula: Treats restless fetus, lower back pain rushing to heart, or vaginal bleeding. Take unlimited amount of scallion white, decoct concentrated juice to drink. Bo, though smelly, is useful, dissolves gold, jade, tin, and stone. Also uses winter silver and Qing Shi (Azurite), each three fen. Dry until like maltose, can stop grain consumption, long-term use leads to immortality, also called Jin Jiang (Gold Paste).

Yanyi states: Cong Shi, young scallion is called Cong Zhen, flowers appear in summer. Planted in autumn, make high ridges, mound up soil, prepared for winter use, called Dong Cong, essentially the same thing. There is also Long Jiao Cong, with branches on each stem like horns. Red-skinned variety is called Lou Cong, can be decocted to wash the lower body. Seeds are all pungent. Generally, substances act primarily by dispersing; excessive consumption dulls the spirit.