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Lishi (Fruits of *Iris lactea*)

Sweet in taste, neutral and warm in nature, non-toxic. Primarily treats alternating cold and heat of the skin, heat qi in the stomach, bi-syndrome caused by wind-cold-dampness, strengthens bones and tendons, increases appetite, relieves mental restlessness and chest fullness, promotes urination and defecation, and nourishes muscles to promote flesh growth. Long-term consumption lightens the body.

Flowers and leaves: Expel white parasites from the body, treat throat obstruction (sore throat with swelling and difficulty swallowing), but excessive use causes loose stools. Also known as Lishi, Jucuo, Sanjian, and Shishou.

Tao Hongjing stated: It is no longer used in prescriptions, and laypeople do not recognize it. Tianningjing is also called Shishou. The *Tang Bencao* annotation states: This is indeed Malinzi (the fruit of *Iris lactea*). The *Li Ji · Yueling* states: "Li tingshu" (Li emerges upright). Zheng Xuan's annotation states: Li refers to Maxie (Horse Scallion). The *Shuowen Jiezi* states: Li resembles the root of cattail and can be used as a brush. The *Tongsu Wen* calls it Malin. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* calls it Lishizi. It is effective for treating injuries from metal weapons with internal bleeding, carbuncles, and swellings. Chen Yuxi and others examined the Shujing stating: Lishi is cold in nature. Rihuazi stated: Malin treats women's blood qi stagnation and irritability, postpartum blood syncope, continuous menstruation, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, eliminates various sores, boils, and toxic swellings, stops epistaxis and hematemesis, unblocks the Small Intestine, resolves alcohol toxicity, treats jaundice, is applied externally for snake and insect bites, and kills mushroom toxins. It can also be eaten as a vegetable; stems and leaves are used together.

The *Tujing* states: Lishi is Malinzi. People in the North mispronounce it as Malianzi. It grows in the river valleys of Hedong. Currently, it is found in various commanderies of Shaanxi, as well as Dingzhou and Lizhou, and is particularly abundant near the capital. The leaves resemble scallions but are longer and thicker. It blooms purple-blue flowers in March and produces horn-shaped fruits in May. The fruits are large like hemp seeds, red with ridges. The roots are slender, yellow throughout, and people collect them to make brushes. Flowers are harvested in March, fruits in May, both dried in the shade. According to the *Yanshi Jiaxun*: The *Yueling* says "Li tingshu." Zheng Kangcheng said: Li ting is Maxie. The *Yitong Yanxuantu* states: If Li ting does not emerge, the state will suffer many disasters. The *Shuowen Jiezi* states: Li resembles cattail but is smaller, and its root can be used as a brush. The *Guangya* states: Maxie is Li. Cai Yong and Gao You both stated: Li is named for emerging upright. Thus, Zheng's interpretation of "Li Ting" as a name was erroneous. This plant grows abundantly in the plains and marshes of Hebei and is common in Jiangdong, where it is planted in courtyards and simply called Hanpu (Dry Cattail), so it is not exactly Maxie. Scholars of ritual mistook it for Maxian (Purslane). Maxian is also called Tuner, commonly known as Machixian (Portulaca oleracea). Its flowers and fruits are both used in medicine. The *Liexian Zhuan* records: Mr. Kou, a native of Song, liked planting Li and consumed its flowers and fruits. Mountain dwellers today also take its fruits alone to dispel severe heat and tonify the lower body, yielding remarkable effects. Cui Yuanliang treated throat obstruction with swelling and pain by taking Li flowers, bark, and roots, totaling 12 fen, boiled in one sheng of water until reduced to 6 ge, strained, and held in the mouth while swallowing the juice slowly until cured.

The *Waitai Miyao*: Treats sleep death (coma or apparent death). Pound a handful of Lishi roots, extract juice with water, and swallow gradually. If the jaw is clenched, force it open and administer. Another prescription: Treats throat obstruction where breathing is blocked and death seems imminent, which is highly effective. Use two liang of roots and leaves, boil in one and a half sheng of water until reduced to one zhan, strain, and consume slowly to restore immediate patency.

The *Qianjin Fang*: Treats gu-poison causing bloody diarrhea resembling chicken liver, with decay of the four viscera except the heart, or nasal rupture awaiting death. Take powder of Malin roots, administer with water using a fangcun bi measure. It induces vomiting to expel the poison, which is extremely efficacious. This vine resembles kudzu, green-purple in color, bearing fruits resembling oranges. The *Zhouhou Beiji Fang*: Treats facial and nasal conditions such as rhinophyma. Roast Malinzi with flour on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month until yellow, grind into equal parts powder, and take a fangcun bi dose on an empty stomach with rice drink. If flour from that specific date is unavailable, regular flour or cattle bone ash in equal proportions may be used. Another prescription: Treats dysentery with white mucus. Grind Malinzi, dried ginger, and Coptis chinensis into equal parts powder. Boil in cooked water, take about one ge, mix with two fangcun bi doses of powder. It stops immediately upon entering the stomach. It treats both cold and hot dysentery and is commonly used with miraculous effects. Do not underestimate it. Avoid pork and cold water.

The *Yanyi* states: Tao Hongjing said regarding Lishi: It is no longer used in prescriptions, and laypeople do not recognize it. The annotations of various schools on the *Bencao Jing* do not correspond. If it were indeed Malin, then Rihuazi should not have claimed it could be eaten as a vegetable. Generally, horses and cattle do not eat Malin because its leaves become hard shortly after sprouting and lack flavor, making it unsuitable for human consumption. Therefore, I dare not identify Lishi as Malinzi, and await verification by learned scholars.