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Lilü (Veratrum nigrum)

Pungent, bitter, cold, slightly cold, toxic. Mainly treats gu poison (parasitic disease), cough with qi rebellion, dysentery with intestinal pus and blood, head sores, scabies, and malignant ulcers; kills various insect poisons; removes dead flesh; treats hiccups; resolves throat bi (obstruction) causing airway blockage; treats nasal polyps; and treats madao lan chuang (ulcerated scrofula). Not suitable for decoction. Also known as Congran, one name is Cong (pronounced tan), another name is Shancong. Grows in the valleys of Mount Tai. Roots are harvested in March and dried in the shade. (Huanglian acts as its guiding herb; it is incompatible with Xixin, Shaoyao, and Wushen; and is antagonistic to Dahuang.)

Tao Hongjing stated: It is found everywhere near the roads. The root resembles green onion but is very hairy. When used, only the root should be extracted and lightly roasted. Ministers Yuxi et al. carefully noted according to the *Shu Ben Tu Jing*: The leaves resemble Yujin, Qinjiao, and He; the root resembles Longdan; the stem base is hairy. It grows in summer and withers in winter. It is now present in all valleys. Roots are harvested in August and dried in the shade. Wu Shi said: Lilü, also known as Kongkui, Milu, and Huikui. Shennong and Leigong considered it pungent and toxic. Qibo considered it salty and toxic. Ji Shi considered it highly toxic and greatly cold. Bian Que considered it bitter and toxic. The leaves are large, and the roots are small and connected. Fan Zi said: Lilü originates from Hedong; those that are yellowish-white are superior. *Yao Xing Lun* states: Lilü, when used as a guiding herb, has great toxicity. It can mainly treat upper jiao qi rebellion, remove chronic pus and blood, treat dysentery, cure wind-toxic sores, scabies, tinea capitis, and hair loss, and kill insects.

*TU JING* states: Lilü grows in the valleys of Mount Tai; it is now found in Shaanxi and the eastern and western prefectures of Shannan. Seedlings emerge in March. The leaves are green, resembling the emerging heart of a palm or plantain. The stem resembles white scallion, is bluish-purple, 5-6 cun high, wrapped in black skin resembling palm bark. The flower flesh is reddish. The root resembles a horse's intestine root, about 4-5 cun long, yellowish-white. Roots are harvested in February and March and dried in the shade. There are two types: one is Shuililu (Water Lilü), whose stems and leaves are largely similar, but it grows on rocks near streams, with over a hundred root hairs, and is not suitable for medicinal use. The currently used type is named Congbai Lilü, which has few root hairs, only 30-20 stalks, and those growing in high mountains are best. The local custom in Junzhou also calls it Luchong (Deer Onion). This medicine strongly induces vomiting of wind-phlegm from the upper jiao, treats hidden wind epilepsy, and pediatric convulsions. Using a coin spoon measure of one character will cause severe vomiting and distress. It can also be used to induce sneezing via the "tong ding" method. However, ancient materia medica texts state it treats vomiting and hiccup, but its efficacy is unclear. Today, Xuancacao (Daylily) is also called Luchong, but its category is completely different, and its main treatments differ.

Leigong said: Upon harvesting, remove the rhizome head, boil in rice washing water from Si hour to Wei hour, take out, and dry in the sun. *Shenghui Fang*: Treats black nevi on the body and face. Use five liang of Lilü ash, one large bowl of water, leach the ash juice into a copper vessel, and simmer over double boiler until it becomes a black paste. Gently prick the nevus with a needle and apply the paste; it is effective. Within three applications, it is miraculous. *Qianjin Yi* treats toothache. Insert Lilü powder into the tooth cavity; do not swallow the juice; it is miraculous. *Jingyan Houfang*: Treats stroke with aphasia, sawing sound in the throat, and salivary foam in the mouth. Take one fen of Lilü and one Tian Nan Xing, remove the floating skin, make a pit in the umbilicus, add two xiang douzi of aged vinegar, force heat from all sides until yellow, pound together in one place, grind extremely fine, and form pills like red beans using raw flour. Take three pills each time, swallowed with warm wine. *Baiyi Fang*: Treats jaundice. Place Lilü in ashes and roast until slightly discolored, then grind into powder. Take half a qianbi with water; slight vomiting occurs. Within a few doses, it works. *Doumen Fang* treats scabies and tinea. Grind Lilü into fine powder and apply with raw oil. *Jianyao Zhizhong*: Treats stroke with unconsciousness and locked jaw. Take one liang of Lilü, remove the rhizome head, bathe in strong Fengfang decoction, bake dry, chop finely, stir-fry until slightly brown, and grind into powder. Take half a qian each time, mixed with warm water; the effect is achieved when wind-phlegm is vomited. If after walking three li no vomiting occurs, administer again.

*Yanyi* states: Lilü, ground into powder and finely mixed, treats equine scabies and itching.