（本经中品）
【气味】甘温，有小毒。
【主治】主风头寒痛，风湿周痹，四肢拘挛痛，恶肉死肌，膝痛。久服益气，耳目聪明，
强
【核】曰∶所在有之，与麦互相为候，麦黄种 ， 黄种麦也。茎高四五尺，有黑色斑
点，叶如葵，四畔宽纽。七八月开细白花，结实如妇女珥 ，外壳坚韧，刺毛密布，中列两
仁
【 】曰∶ 耳，麻类也。尔雅名卷耳，取实如鼠耳，其色苍苍，复名苍耳，雒下谓之
胡荽，江东呼为尝 ，以叶青白似胡荽，白花细茎可作茹，伧人皆食之，滑而少味，故幽冀
谓之 茹菜，又谓之尝思菜也。离骚单名曰 ，以譬小人，服谓 绿 以盈室是矣。博物名
羊负来，谓雒人入蜀，有 耳着羊毛，蜀人种之，曰羊负来，故 多丛刺，亦好着人衣也。
图经名道人头。纲目名猪耳，又名喝起草。记事珠名地葵，又名进贤菜。名号虽多，总属象
形取义，今遵本经 耳为正。盖耳者听之官，肾之窍，肺之司，故 形似耳，实中两仁似肾，
壳皮坚韧，丛毛刚劲，从革作金之肺象也。固入肺肾，以肾为主，肾藏志，志者肾之神也。
志强窍斯开，窍开耳斯听，耳听声斯入。若以肺为主，设肾不司窍，虽有其声，不与耳接，
非耳外声，声无所尔。益气者，窍开气斯益，设有气无窍，亦填塞不输，何繇宣布，亦可入
肝，色苍故也。入肝则肝得其用，肝以金为用耳。肝固开窍于目，而目之能视，肾所司也。
即转拨瞳仁，需以利金；又可入脾，味甘故也。设土实不灵，遂致肌死，以及肢挛，敦土德
用，自然反活回鲜。又可入心，气温故也。心用为水，水司液，心司血，血液充满，乃得筋
转脉摇，故不独五脏咸入，即筋骨肌肉，头目脑髓，靡不周到。但致疾之因，风湿使然，风
淫偏胜，刚以济之，如痹于头，则风头寒痛；痹于百骸，则周痹；痹于四肢，则四肢拘挛痛；
痹于肌肉，则肌肉死恶；痹于膝，则膝痛；痹于气，则气损；痹于耳，则耳聋；痹于目，则
目盲；痹于志，则志颓；痹于身，则身重身木，罔觉有触，种种变证，皆借以濡润宣达，交
互承制者也。世但知治疗疮疡，殊失灵异。备录名相，用广见闻。
（记载于《神农本草经》中品）
【气味】味甘，性温，具有小毒。
【主治】主要治疗头部受风寒引起的疼痛、风湿引起的周身关节痹痛、四肢拘挛疼痛、恶肉及死肌（坏死的肌肉组织）、膝部疼痛。长期服用可以补益元气，使耳目灵敏聪明，身体强健。
【核】曰：苍耳各地都有生长，它与麦子互为农时征兆，麦子变黄时播种，苍耳变黄时播种麦子。植株高四五尺，茎上有黑色斑点，叶子像葵菜，四周边缘宽大且向内卷曲。七八月份开出细小的白花，结出的果实像妇女佩戴的耳饰，外壳坚韧，密布刺毛，中间包含两粒种子。
【 】曰：“耳”是麻类植物。《尔雅》称之为“卷耳”，是因为它的果实形状像老鼠耳朵，颜色青苍，所以又名“苍耳”。洛阳一带称之为“胡荽”，江东地区称之为“尝 ”（注：原文此处缺字，据上下文推测为“菵”或类似音译字，指一种野菜），因为它的叶子青白相间，类似胡荽，白色的花和细嫩的茎可以作为蔬菜食用，粗鄙之人也都吃它，口感滑腻但味道淡，所以在幽州、冀州称之为“ 茹菜”（注：原文此处缺字，结合下文应为“葈”或“苽”等），又叫做“尝思菜”。《离骚》中单称为“ ”（注：原文此处缺字，通常指“葈耳”），用来比喻小人，所谓“服谓 绿 以盈室”就是指这种植物。《博物志》称之为“羊负来”，说洛阳人进入蜀地，有苍耳附着在羊毛上，蜀人种植它，称之为“羊负来”，所以苍耳多丛生的刺，也喜欢附着在人的衣服上。《图经》称之为“道人头”。《本草纲目》称之为“猪耳”，又名“喝起草”。《记事珠》称之为“地葵”，又名“进贤菜”。名称虽然很多，总归都是取象比义，现在遵循《本经》，以“耳实”为正名。大概“耳”是听觉的器官，是肾的窍穴，由肺所主管，所以苍耳的形状像耳朵，果实中的两粒仁像肾脏，外壳和皮坚韧，丛生的毛发刚劲有力，这是符合“从革作金”特征的肺之象。因此它入肺、肾二经，以肾为主。肾藏志，志是肾的神气。意志强盛则窍穴开通，窍穴开通则耳朵能听，耳朵听到声音则信息传入。如果以肺为主，假设肾不能主管窍穴，虽然有声音，也无法与耳朵相接，并非声音不在外面，而是声音无处可去。补益元气，是因为窍穴开通后气机才能增益，假设有气但没有窍穴，也会填塞不通，如何能宣发布散？也可以入肝，因为颜色青苍的缘故。入肝则肝得其功用，肝以金（肺气）为用。肝确实开窍于目，但眼睛能视物，是由肾所主管的。即使转动瞳孔，也需要借助金的清利作用；又可以入脾，因为味甘的缘故。假设土气壅实而不灵通，就会导致肌肉坏死，以及肢体拘挛，敦厚土的德性功用，自然能使生机恢复。又可以入心，因为气温的缘故。心的功用在于水，水主管津液，心主管血液，血液充满，才能使筋脉转动、脉搏摇动，所以不仅五脏都能进入，就连筋骨肌肉、头目脑髓，无不周到照顾。但是致病的因素，是由于风湿所致。风邪淫溢偏胜，用刚性的药物来济助它。如痹阻在头部，就是头部受寒疼痛；痹阻在全身骨骼，就是周身痹痛；痹阻在四肢，就是四肢拘挛疼痛；痹阻在肌肉，就是肌肉坏死恶变；痹阻在膝盖，就是膝痛；痹阻在气分，就是气损；痹阻在耳朵，就是耳聋；痹阻在眼睛，就是目盲；痹阻在志，就是意志颓废；痹阻在身体，就是身体沉重麻木，感觉不到触碰。种种病变证候，都借苍耳来濡润宣达，相互制约平衡。世人只知道它治疗疮疡，却忽略了它的灵异功效。详细记录其名称和相状，用以广博见闻。
(Recorded in the Middle Category of the *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, warm, slightly toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats headache caused by wind-cold in the head, bi-syndrome (painful obstruction syndrome) affecting the whole body due to wind-dampness, spasmodic pain and contracture of the four limbs, foul flesh and necrotic muscle tissue, and knee pain. Long-term consumption benefits Qi, clarifies the ears and eyes, and strengthens the body.
[Analysis] It states: Cang'er (Xanthium fruit) is found everywhere. It serves as a phenological indicator for wheat; when wheat turns yellow, it is time to sow [Cang'er], and when Cang'er turns yellow, it is time to sow wheat. The stem is four or five chi high, with black spots. The leaves resemble those of mallow (*Malva verticillata*), broad at the edges and curling inward. In the seventh and eighth months, it produces small white flowers. The fruit resembles an earring worn by women; the outer shell is tough and densely covered with prickles, containing two seeds inside.
It states: "Er" refers to plants in the hemp family. The *Erya* calls it "Juan'er" (Curled Ear) because its fruit resembles a mouse's ear and has a grayish-green color, hence also named "Cang'er". In the Luoyang area, it is called "Husu"; in the Jiangdong region, it is called "Chang [missing character]" (likely referring to a wild vegetable name). This is because its leaves are green and white, resembling coriander (*Coriandrum sativum*), and its white flowers and thin stems can be eaten as vegetables. Coarse people eat them; they are slippery and tasteless. Therefore, in Youzhou and Jizhou, it is called "[missing character] Ru Cai" (a type of vegetable), and also "Chang Si Cai". The *Li Sao* refers to it simply as "[missing character]", using it to metaphorically represent petty people, as in the phrase "wearing [missing character] green fills the room." The *Bowu Zhi* calls it "Yang Fu Lai" (Carried by Sheep), stating that when people from Luoyang entered Shu, Xanthium burrs attached to sheep wool, and the Shu people cultivated it, naming it "Carried by Sheep." Hence, Xanthium has many clustered prickles and easily attaches to people's clothes. The *Tujing* calls it "Daoren Tou" (Daoist's Head). The *Bencao Gangmu* calls it "Zhu Er" (Pig's Ear), also known as "Heqicao". The *Jishi Zhu* calls it "Dikui", also known as "Jinxian Cai". Although there are many names, they all derive from shape and meaning. Following the *Bencao Jing*, "Er Shi" (Fruit of Xanthium) is the correct name. Generally, the ear is the organ of hearing, the opening of the Kidney, and governed by the Lung. Thus, the shape of Xanthium resembles an ear; the two seeds inside resemble the Kidneys; the tough shell and stiff prickles reflect the metallic quality of the Lung ("transformation and movement producing Metal"). Therefore, it enters the Lung and Kidney meridians, primarily acting on the Kidney. The Kidney stores Zhi (Will), which is the spirit of the Kidney. When Zhi is strong, the orifices open; when orifices open, hearing occurs; when hearing occurs, sounds enter. If acting primarily through the Lung, assuming the Kidney does not govern the orifices, even if sound exists, it cannot connect with the ear. It is not that the sound is not outside, but that it has nowhere to go. Benefiting Qi occurs because when orifices open, Qi increases. If there is Qi but no open orifice, it will be blocked and unable to circulate, how then can it be distributed? It can also enter the Liver meridian because of its grayish-green color. Entering the Liver allows the Liver to fulfill its function, utilizing Metal (Lung Qi). The Liver opens into the Eyes, but vision is governed by the Kidney. Even turning the pupil requires the clearing action of Metal. It can also enter the Spleen because of its sweet flavor. If Earth Qi is excessive and unresponsive, leading to necrotic muscle and limb contracture, strengthening the virtue of Earth naturally restores vitality. It can also enter the Heart because of its warm nature. The Heart's function relates to Water; Water governs fluids, and the Heart governs blood. When blood is abundant, tendons turn and pulses sway. Thus, it not only enters the Five Zang organs but also reaches bones, sinews, muscles, head, eyes, brain, and marrow comprehensively. However, the cause of disease is wind-dampness. Wind pathogen dominates excessively, and this acrid/warm nature counteracts it. If bi-syndrome affects the head, it causes cold headache; if it affects the whole body, it causes generalized bi-syndrome; if it affects the four limbs, it causes spasmodic pain; if it affects muscles, it causes necrotic muscle; if it affects the knees, it causes knee pain; if it affects Qi, it damages Qi; if it affects the ears, it causes deafness; if it affects the eyes, it causes blindness; if it affects Zhi, it leads to mental collapse; if it affects the body, it causes heaviness and numbness, insensitivity to touch. All these varied pathological changes are treated by Xanthium to moisten, diffuse, and achieve mutual restraint. The world only knows it for treating sores and ulcers, missing its spiritual efficacy. Detailed records of its names and characteristics are provided to broaden knowledge.