味苦、辛，寒、微寒，有毒。主伤寒，温疟，下十二水，破积聚，大坚，症瘕，荡涤肠
胃中留癖，饮食，寒热邪气，
利水道。疗痰饮咳嗽。生咸阳川谷及河南中牟。六月采花，阴干
中牟者，平时惟从河上来，形似芫花而极细，白色。比来隔绝，殆不可得。
〔谨案〕此
药苗似胡荽，茎无刺，花细，
黄色，四月、五月收，与芫花全不相似也。
味咸、甘，温、微温、冷利，有小毒。主结气胁下满，惊悸，除水，去五脏间寒热，补
中下气。消胸上痰结，唾如
胶漆，心胁淡水，膀胱留饮，风气湿痹，皮间死肉，目中眵 ，利大肠，通血脉，益色泽。
一名金沸草，一名盛椹，一
名戴椹。根，主风温。生平泽川泽。五月采花，晒干，二十日成。
出近道下湿地，似菊花而大。又别有旋 根，乃出河南来，北国亦有，形似芎 ，唯合
旋膏用之，余无所入也，
非此旋复花根也。
〔谨案〕旋 根在上品，陶云∶苗似姜，根似高良姜而细，证是旋 根，
今复道从北国来，似芎 ，与
高良姜全无仿佛尔。
味辛，温，有大毒。主金创乳 ，中恶风，咳逆上气，水肿，杀鬼疰蛊毒。破症积，除
脚膝痹痛，四肢拘挛，恶疮
疥虫，杀鸟兽。一名野葛。折之青烟出者名固活。甚热，不入汤。生
秦钩吻，味辛。疗喉痹，咽
中寒，声变，咳逆气，温中。一名除辛，
一名毒根。生寒石山，二月、八月采。
半夏为之使，恶黄芩。五符中亦云，钩吻是野葛，言其入口能钩人喉吻，或言吻作挽字，
牵
言，乃是两物。野葛是根，状如牡丹，所生处亦有毒，飞鸟不得集之，今人用合膏服之无嫌。
钩吻别是一草，叶似黄精
而茎紫，当心抽花，黄色，初生既极类黄精，故以为杀生之对也。或云钩吻是毛茛，此《本
经》及后说皆参错不同，未
详定云何？又有一物名阴命，赤色，着木悬其子，生山海中，最有大毒，入口即杀人。
〔谨
案〕野葛生桂州以南，村
墟闾巷间皆有，彼人通名钩吻，亦谓苗名钩吻、根名野葛。蔓生。人自求死者，取
挪使汁出，掬水饮，半日即
死，而羊食其苗大肥。物有相伏如此，若巴豆鼠食则肥也。陶云飞鸟不得集之，妄矣，其野
葛以时新采者，皮白骨黄，
宿根似地骨，嫩根如汉中防己，皮节断者良。正与白花藤根相类，不深别者，颇亦惑之。其
新取者，折之无尘气，经年
以后，则有尘起，根骨似枸杞，有细孔久者，折之，则尘气从孔中出，令折枸杞根亦然。经
言折之青烟起者名固活为良，
此亦不达之言也。且黄精直生，如龙胆、泽漆，两叶或四、五叶相对，钩吻蔓生，叶如柳叶。
《博物志》云∶钩吻叶似凫
葵，并非黄精之类。毛茛是有毛，石龙芮何干钩吻？秦中遍访元无物，乃文外浪说耳。
【荛华】
味道苦、辛，性寒或微寒，有毒。主治伤寒病，温疟，消除十二经的水饮停聚，破除体内积聚形成的坚硬肿块，治疗症瘕（腹内结块），清除肠胃中滞留的癖积，驱除饮食停滞及寒热邪气，通利水道。治疗痰饮引起的咳嗽。生于咸阳山谷及河南中牟地区。六月采集花朵，阴干。中牟产的荛华，过去通常从黄河边运来，形状像芫花但极其细小，花色白色。近来交通隔绝，几乎难以得到。
[苏敬等考证]：这种药的幼苗像胡荽（香菜），茎上没有刺，花细小，呈黄色，四月、五月采收，这与芫花完全不同相似。
【旋复花】
味道咸、甘，性温或微温，具有冷利之性，有小毒。主治气机郁结导致的胁下胀满，惊悸，消除水饮，去除五脏间的寒热邪气，补益中气，降逆下气。消除胸上痰结，咳吐如胶漆般的黏痰，心胁部有水饮停留，膀胱内的留饮，风气湿痹，皮肤间的死肉，眼部分泌物增多，通利大肠，通畅血脉，增加面色光泽。
又名金沸草，又名盛椹，又名戴椹。其根部，主治风温病。生于平原沼泽地带。五月采集花朵，晒干，二十天制成。
产于近道下的湿地，形状像菊花但较大。另外还有一种叫“旋根”的植物，产自河南，北方国家也有，形状像川芎，只适合用来制作旋膏使用，其他方面不入药，这不是旋复花的根。
[苏敬等考证]：旋根在上品药材中，陶弘景说：幼苗像姜，根像高良姜但较细，这证实是旋根。现在又有道路从北方国家运来，形状像川芎，与高良姜完全不像。
【钩吻】
味道辛，性温，有大毒。主治金属创伤，乳头破损，中恶风邪，咳逆上气，水肿，杀灭鬼疰蛊毒。破除症积，去除脚膝痹痛，四肢拘挛，恶疮疥虫，杀灭鸟兽。又名野葛。折断时有青烟冒出者名为固活。性质极热，不能入汤剂煎服。生于秦地钩吻山，味道辛。治疗喉痹，咽喉寒冷，声音改变，咳逆气，温中。又名除辛，又名毒根。生于寒石山，二月、八月采集。
半夏作为它的引经药，畏黄芩。《五符经》中也说，钩吻就是野葛，说它入口能钩住人的喉咙，或者有人说“吻”作“挽”字解，牵强附会，其实是两种东西。野葛是根，形状像牡丹，生长的地方也有毒，飞鸟不敢栖息在上面，现在人们用它合膏服用没有禁忌。
钩吻是另一种草，叶子像黄精但茎是紫色的，从中心抽出花，花色黄色，刚生长时极像黄精，所以被认为是杀生的对立面（指其毒性极大）。有人说钩吻是毛茛，但这在《神农本草经》及后世的说法中都参差错落不同，未能详细确定是什么？又有一种名叫“阴命”的植物，颜色赤红，附着在木头上悬挂果实，生在山海之中，毒性极大，入口即杀人。
[苏敬等考证]：野葛生长在桂州以南，村庄街巷间都有，那里的人统称它为钩吻，也说苗叫钩吻，根叫野葛。它是蔓生植物。有人自寻短见，取它的汁液，捧水喝下，半天就死了，而羊吃了它的苗却长得肥壮。万物有相互制约的道理，就像巴豆老鼠吃了反而肥壮一样。陶弘景说飞鸟不敢栖息，这是荒谬的。新鲜的野葛，皮白骨黄，陈年的根像地骨皮，嫩根像汉中的防己，皮节断裂的是好的。正与白花藤根相似，不仔细辨别的人，很容易混淆。新采挖的，折断时没有灰尘气味，经过一年后，则有灰尘扬起，根骨像枸杞，有细孔，时间久的，折断时，灰尘气味从孔中出来，折断枸杞根也是这样。经文说折断时有青烟冒出者名为固活为佳品，这也是不通达的说法。而且黄精是直立的，像龙胆、泽漆，两叶或四、五叶相对，钩吻是蔓生的，叶子像柳叶。《博物志》说：钩吻叶子像凫葵，并不是黄精一类。毛茛是有毛的，石龙芮跟钩吻有什么关系？在秦中遍访也没有这种东西，不过是文章之外的妄说罢了。
[Ranghua (Adenostemma lavenia)]
Taste: Bitter, Pungent. Nature: Cold, Slightly Cold. Toxicity: Toxic.
Indications: Treats Shanghan (Cold Damage), Wen Nue (Warm Malaria); eliminates water retention in the twelve meridians; breaks up accumulations and hard masses; treats Zheng Jia (abdominal masses); clears stagnant pathogenic factors and food retention in the intestines and stomach; expels cold-heat pathogenic factors; promotes urination. Treats cough due to Phlegm-Fluids.
Habitat: Grows in valleys of Xianyang and Zhongmu, Henan.
Harvesting: Flowers are harvested in June and dried in the shade.
Note on Origin: The Zhongmu variety was traditionally transported from the Yellow River area. It resembles Yuanhua (Genkwa Flos) but is extremely fine and white. Due to recent isolation, it is hardly obtainable.
[Verification by Su Jing et al.]: The seedling of this herb resembles HuSui (Coriandrum sativum). The stem has no thorns, and the flowers are small and yellow. Harvested in April and May. It bears no resemblance to Yuanhua.
[Xuanfu Hua (Inulae Flos)]
Taste: Salty, Sweet. Nature: Warm, Slightly Warm; possesses a cooling and purgative property. Toxicity: Slightly Toxic.
Indications: Treats Qi stagnation with fullness under the hypochondrium; palpitations; eliminates water retention; removes cold-heat pathogens between the five Zang organs; tonifies the Middle Jiao and directs rebellious Qi downward. Resolves phlegm nodules in the chest, expectoration resembling glue or lacquer; water retention in the heart and hypochondrium; retained fluids in the Bladder; Wind-Damp Bi syndrome; dead flesh in the skin; excessive eye discharge (Chi); promotes bowel movement; unblocks blood vessels; enhances complexion.
Synonyms: Jinfei Cao, Sheng Shen, Dai Shen.
Root Indication: Treats Feng Wen (Wind-Warmth).
Habitat: Grows in plains and marshes.
Harvesting: Flowers are harvested in May, sun-dried, and processed over twenty days.
Description: Found in low-lying wetlands near trade routes; resembles Chrysanthemum flower but larger. There is another root called "Xuan Gen," sourced from Henan and northern regions, resembling Xiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong). It is only used for making Xuan Paste and does not enter other prescriptions; it is not the root of Xuanfu Hua.
[Verification by Su Jing et al.]: Xuan Gen is listed in the Superior Grade. Tao Hongjing stated: The seedling resembles Ginger, and the root resembles Gaoliangjiang (Alpinia officinarum) but is finer. This confirms it as Xuan Gen. Currently, varieties arriving from northern countries resemble Xiong and bear no resemblance to Gaoliangjiang.
[Gouwen (Gelsemium elegans)]
Taste: Pungent. Nature: Warm. Toxicity: Highly Toxic.
Indications: Treats metal wounds, nipple fissures, sudden onset of evil wind; coughing and reverse flow of Qi; edema; kills Gui Zhu (ghostly pestilence) and Gu poison. Breaks up masses; removes Bi pain in feet and knees; spasticity of limbs; malignant sores and scabies mites; kills birds and beasts.
Synonyms: Ye Ge (Wild Koko). Those that emit green smoke when broken are named Gu Huo.
Usage Note: Extremely hot in nature; not suitable for decoction.
Habitat: Grows in Gouwen Mountain, Qin region.
Harvesting: February and August.
Compatibility: Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) serves as its guide drug; opposes Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix).
Historical Text Reference: The Wufu Jing states that Gouwen is Ye Ge, claiming it hooks the throat upon entry. Others interpret "Wen" as "Wan" (pull), which is forced; they are actually two different substances. Ye Ge refers to the root, resembling Peony (Mudan Pi contextually implied as shape), toxic at source, preventing birds from perching. It is now used in pastes without contraindication.
Description: Gouwen is a distinct herb. Leaves resemble Huangjing (Polygonati Rhizoma) but stems are purple. Flowers emerge from the center, yellow. Young plants closely resemble Huangjing, hence considered an antidote to life-threatening conditions. Some claim Gouwen is Mao Lang (Ranunculus japonicus). These accounts in the Ben Jing and later texts are inconsistent and undetermined.
Another toxic plant named Yin Ming is red, climbs trees, hangs fruit, grows in mountains/seas, is highly toxic, and causes immediate death upon ingestion.
[Verification by Su Jing et al.]: Ye Ge grows south of Guizhou, common in villages. Locals call it Gouwen generally, distinguishing seedling as Gouwen and root as Ye Ge. It is a vine. Suicide cases involve drinking its juice mixed with water, causing death within half a day. However, sheep grazing on its seedlings become fat. This illustrates mutual control in nature, similar to rats gaining weight after eating Badou (Crotonis Fructus). Tao Hongjing’s claim that birds cannot perch on it is false. Fresh Ye Ge has white skin and yellow bone; aged roots resemble Digupi (Lycii Cortex); tender roots resemble Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix) from Hanzhong; those with broken nodes are superior. It resembles Baihua Teng root, often confused by the unobservant. Freshly dug specimens have no dusty odor when broken; aged ones emit dust-like odor from pores, similar to Gouqi (Lycii Radix) roots. The text stating "green smoke indicates Gu Huo" is incorrect. Huangjing grows upright with opposite leaves (2 or 4-5), whereas Gouwen is a vine with willow-like leaves. The Bowuzhi states Gouwen leaves resemble Fu Kui, not Huangjing. Mao Lang is hairy; Shilongrui (Batrachium) has no relation to Gouwen. Extensive search in Qinzhong yielded no such plant; thus, previous descriptions were likely fabrications.