味甘，寒、大寒，无毒。主青盲，白翳，明目，除邪，利大小便，去寒热，杀蛔虫。久
服益气力，不饥轻身。一名
马苋，一名莫实，细苋亦同。生淮阳川泽及田中，叶如蓝，十一月
李云即苋菜也。今马苋别一种，布地生，实至微细，俗呼为马齿苋，亦可食，小酸，恐
非今苋实。其苋实当是白苋，所以云细苋亦同，叶如蓝也。细苋即是糠苋，食之乃胜，
而并冷利，被霜乃熟，故云十一月采。又有赤苋，茎纯紫，能疗赤下，而不堪食。药方用苋
实甚稀，断谷方中时用之。
〔谨案〕赤苋，一名KT 。今苋实，亦名莫实，疑莫字误矣。赤
苋，味辛，寒，无毒。主赤痢，又主射工、沙虱，此是赤叶苋也。马苋，亦名马齿草，味辛
，寒，无毒。主诸肿 、疣目，捣揩之饮汁，主反胃，诸淋，金疮，血流，破血，症癖，小
儿尤良；用汁洗紧唇，面 、马汁射工毒，涂之瘥。
味苦，寒，无毒。主五脏邪气，厌谷胃痹，肠 ，渴热中疾，恶疮。久服安心益气，聪
察，少卧，轻身耐老，耐饥
寒，高气不老。一名荼草，一名选，一名游冬。生益州川谷，生山陵道旁，凌冬不死。三月
三日采，阴干。
疑此则是今茗。茗一名荼，又令人不眠，亦凌冬不凋，而嫌其止生益州。益州乃有苦菜，
正
英下，以注之。《桐君药录》云∶苦菜叶三月生扶疏，六月华从叶出，茎直花黄，八月实黑；
实落
根复生，冬不枯。今茗极似此，西阳武昌及庐江晋熙茗皆好，
东人止作青茗。茗皆有 ，饮之宜人。凡所饮物，有茗及木叶天门冬苗，并菝 ，皆益人，
余物并冷利。又巴东间别有真荼，火 作卷结，为饮亦令人不眠，恐或者此。俗中多煮檀叶
及大皂李作荼饮，并冷。又南方有瓜芦木，亦似茗，至苦涩。取其叶作屑，煮饮汁，即通夜
不眠；煮盐人唯资此饮尔，交广最所重，客来先设，乃加以香 辈耳。
〔谨案〕苦菜，《诗
》云∶谁谓荼苦；又云∶堇荼如饴，皆苦菜异名也。陶谓之茗，茗乃木类，殊非菜流。茗，
春采为苦 。 音迟遐反，非途音也。案《尔雅·释草》云∶荼，苦菜。释木云∶ ，苦
。二物全别，不得为例。又《颜氏家训》案《易统通卦验玄图》曰∶苦菜生于寒秋，经冬历
春，得夏乃成。一名游冬。叶似苦苣而细，断之而有白汁，花黄似菊。此则与桐君略同，今
所在有之也。苦 乃龙葵耳，俗亦名苦菜，非荼也。
味甘，性寒、大寒，无毒。主治青盲（视力模糊或失明），白翳（角膜云翳），明目，祛除邪气，通利大小便，去除寒热症状，杀灭蛔虫。长期服用可益气力，使人不感到饥饿且身体轻盈。又名马苋，又名莫实，细苋的功效也相同。生长在淮阳地区的沼泽及田地中，叶子像蓝草。十一月采收。（注：李云即指苋菜）。现在的马苋是另一种植物，贴地生长，果实非常细小，俗称马齿苋，也可以食用，味道微酸，恐怕不是现在的苋实。真正的苋实应当是白苋，所以说细苋也相同，叶子像蓝草。细苋就是糠苋，食用效果更佳，但性质都偏冷滑利，经霜后才成熟，所以说十一月采收。还有赤苋，茎纯紫色，能治疗赤痢（血痢），但不能食用。药方中使用苋实很少，仅在断谷方中偶尔使用。
〔谨案〕赤苋，又名KT（此处原文可能有误或为特定古称，暂保留）。现在的苋实，又名莫实，怀疑“莫”字有误。赤苋，味辛，性寒，无毒。主治赤痢，又主治射工毒、沙虱毒，这是赤叶苋。马苋，又名马齿草，味辛，性寒，无毒。主治各种肿毒、疣目，捣碎后擦拭并饮用汁液，主治反胃，各种淋证，金疮出血，破血，症瘕积聚，对小儿尤为适宜；用汁液清洗紧绷的嘴唇，以及面部、马汗、射工毒，涂抹后可痊愈。
味苦，性寒，无毒。主治五脏邪气，厌食，胃痹，肠澼（痢疾或腹泻），渴热中疾（体内燥热口渴），恶疮。长期服用可安心益气，使听觉视觉灵敏，睡眠减少，身体轻盈耐老，耐饥寒，气息高扬而不衰老。又名荼草，又名选，又名游冬。生长在益州的川谷，山陵道旁，过冬不枯死。三月三日采收，阴干。
怀疑这其实就是现在的茶（茗）。茶又名荼，又令人不眠，也符合凌冬不凋的特征，但嫌弃它只生长在益州。益州确实有苦菜，正符合描述。《桐君药录》说：苦菜叶子三月生发舒展，六月花从叶间长出，茎直花黄，八月果实变黑；果实落下后根复生，冬天不枯萎。现在的茶极像此描述，西阳武昌及庐江晋熙的茶都很好，江东人只制作青茶。茶都有香气，饮用宜人。凡是饮用的物品，有茶及木叶天门冬苗，并菝葜，都对人有好处，其余物品都偏冷滑利。另外巴东地区另有真荼，用火烤制成卷结状，作为饮料也令人不眠，恐怕或许就是这个。俗人中多煮檀叶及大皂李制作荼饮，性质都偏冷。另外南方有瓜芦木，也像茶，味道极苦涩。取其叶子制成屑，煮水饮用，就会通宵不眠；煮盐的人只依赖这种饮料，交广地区最重视它，客人来了先设置，再加上香料等罢了。
〔谨案〕苦菜，《诗经》说：谁说荼味苦；又说：堇和荼像饴糖一样甜，都是苦菜的异名。陶弘景称之为茗，茗属于木类，完全不属于菜类。茗，春季采摘为苦荬。音迟遐反，非途音也。查考《尔雅·释草》说：荼，是苦菜。释木说：槚，是苦。这两种东西完全不同，不能混为一谈。又《颜氏家训》引用《易统通卦验玄图》说：苦菜生于寒秋，经过冬天经历春天，到夏天才成熟。又名游冬。叶子像苦苣但较细，折断后有白色汁液，花黄像菊花。这与桐君的描述大致相同，现在各地都有。苦荬其实是龙葵，俗人也叫苦菜，但不是荼。
Sweet in taste, cold and greatly cold in nature, non-toxic. It primarily treats blindness (Qingmang), corneal opacity (Baiyi), brightens the eyes, eliminates pathogenic factors, promotes urination and defecation, removes chills and fever, and kills roundworms. Long-term consumption benefits Qi and strength, reduces hunger, and lightens the body. Also known as Maxian (Purslane), also known as Moshí; Xixian (Fine Amaranth) has similar effects. It grows in marshes and fields of Huaiyang, with leaves resembling Isatis root (Lan). Harvested in the eleventh month. [Note: Li Yun refers to Amaranthus tricolor]. The current Maxian is a different species, growing flat on the ground, with extremely small seeds, commonly called Machixian (Portulaca oleracea), which is edible and slightly sour, but likely not the true Xianshi mentioned here. The true Xianshi should be Baixian (White Amaranth), hence it is said that Xixian is the same, with leaves like Lan. Xixian is Kangguan (Chaff Amaranth), which is superior for consumption but has a cold and purgative nature, ripening only after frost, hence harvested in November. There is also Chixian (Red Amaranth), with purely purple stems, capable of treating bloody dysentery but inedible. Xianshi is rarely used in medical prescriptions, occasionally appearing in grain-abstaining formulas.
[Editor's Note] Chixian is also known as KT. The current Xianshi is also named Moshí, suspecting the character "Mo" is an error. Chixian is pungent, cold, and non-toxic. It primarily treats bloody dysentery, and also treats Shexiang (Sewer bug) and Shashi (Sand mite) toxins; this is the Red-leaf Amaranth. Maxian, also known as Machi Cao (Purslane Grass), is pungent, cold, and non-toxic. It treats various swellings and warts; when crushed, applied, and the juice drunk, it treats retrograde vomiting, various strangury conditions, traumatic injuries with bleeding, breaks blood stasis, and addresses masses and accumulations; it is especially good for children. Juice washed on tight lips, facial issues, horse sweat, and Shexiang toxins heals upon application.
Bitter in taste, cold in nature, non-toxic. It primarily treats pathogenic factors in the five Zang organs, anorexia, Wei Bi (Stomach obstruction), Changpi (Dysentery/Diarrhea), internal heat with thirst, and malignant sores. Long-term consumption calms the mind, benefits Qi and strength, sharpens hearing and vision, reduces sleep needs, lightens the body, enhances longevity, increases tolerance to hunger and cold, and maintains high vitality without aging. Also known as Tuchao, also known as Xuan, also known as Youdong. It grows in valleys of Yizhou, on hills and roadsides, remaining green through winter. Harvested on the third day of the third lunar month, dried in shade.
It is suspected that this actually refers to modern Tea (Ming). Ming is also called Tu, causes insomnia, and fits the description of remaining evergreen in winter, but it is questionable as it is said to grow only in Yizhou. Yizhou indeed has bitter vegetables matching this description. *Tongjun Yaolu* states: Bitter vegetable leaves emerge luxuriantly in March, flowers emerge from leaf axils in June, stems are straight with yellow flowers, and fruits turn black in August; roots regenerate after fruit drop, remaining un-withered in winter. Modern tea closely resembles this description. Teas from Xiyang, Wuchang, Lujiang, and Jinyi are excellent; Jiangdong people produce only green tea. All teas have fragrance and are pleasant to drink. Among all beverages, Tea, Mu Ye Tianmendong Miao (Asparagus cochinchinensis sprouts), and Ba Qian (Smilax glabra) are beneficial to humans; others tend to be cold and purgative. Additionally, in Badong, there is a true Tu, roasted into rolled knots, which as a beverage also causes insomnia, perhaps this is what is meant. Common people often boil Tan leaves and large soap plums to make Tu drinks, which are cold in nature. Furthermore, in the south, there is Gualu Wood, resembling tea but extremely bitter and astringent. Its leaves are processed into flakes, boiled for drinking, causing wakefulness throughout the night; salt workers rely on this drink. It is highly valued in Jiaozhou and Guangzhou, served first to guests, often accompanied by fragrant additives.
[Editor's Note] Bitter vegetable (Kucai): *The Book of Songs* says, "Who says Tu is bitter?" and "Jin and Tu are as sweet as maltose," both referring to alternative names for bitter vegetable. Tao Hongjing identified it as Ming (Tea), but Ming belongs to the woody category, completely distinct from vegetables. Ming, harvested in spring, is Ku Mai. Pronounced Chi Xia Fan, not Tu Yin. According to *Erya · Shi Cao*: "Tu is bitter vegetable." *Shi Mu*: "Jia is bitter." These two are entirely different and cannot be conflated. Furthermore, *Yanshi Jiaxun* citing *Yi Tong Tong Gua Yan Xuan Tu* states: Bitter vegetable arises in late autumn, endures winter and spring, and matures in summer. Also known as Youdong. Leaves resemble Sonchus but are finer, exuding white sap when broken, with yellow flowers resembling chrysanthemum. This aligns roughly with Tongjun's description and is found everywhere today. Ku Mai is actually Black Nightshade (Longkui), also commonly called bitter vegetable, but it is not Tu.