（本经中品）
【气味】苦平，无毒。
【主治】暴热，火疮赤气，疥瘙疽痔，马鞍热气。
【核】曰∶败酱，一名苦菜。又名苦蕺，苦蕺同酸酱名，酸酱叶则高硕也。亦与苦贾、
龙葵同名，种类则迥别矣。生江夏川谷，所在溪涧近水处亦有之。春初嫩苗塌地，似松菜叶，
略狭长，面深背浅，有锯齿。采作菜蔬，漂去苦味，有陈酱气。三月茎渐高，数寸一节，节
间生叶，各起小枝，四散如伞，高三四尺。入夏白花成簇，根白紫，八月采取，曝干用。
【 】曰∶诠名败酱，烹之色臭相似，形脏腹肠之所需也。气平味苦，盖炎上作苦，苦
性走下苦肃肤腠，苦浓肠胃，平则无过不及矣。因名苦菜，月令小满，苦菜秀，白花整密敷
布如盖。夏三月，此谓蕃秀，若所爱在外，犹夏日在肤，泛泛乎，若万物之有余也。盖夏火
主时，金遇庚伏，而乃白花金布，抑秉制为用，制则化生欤。故从治暴热，火疮赤气，焦烁
肺金肤皮形脏，而为疥瘙疽痔，马鞍热气者。热解则清而愈，此即点火成金，不烦另觅种子
矣。仲景先生用治肠痈之为病，其身甲错，腹皮急，按之濡，如肿状，腹无积聚，身无大热，
脉数，此为腹内有痈脓。不独焦烁肺金之形脏，并毁败腑配之大肠。金至斯坚，将来者进，
成功者退，理势然也。
【《神农本草经》中品】
【气味】味苦，性平，无毒。
【主治】突发高热，火疮红肿发热，疥癣瘙痒及痈疽痔疮，马鞍热气（指因骑乘摩擦导致的局部热毒肿痛）。
【考证】曰：败酱，又名苦菜。又名为苦蕺，“苦蕺”与“酸酱”名称相近，但酸酱的叶子则高大厚实。它也常与苦贾、龙葵同名，但种类截然不同。生长于江夏地区的山谷中，各地溪涧近水处也有生长。初春时嫩苗贴地生长，叶片形状类似松菜叶，略呈狭长形，正面颜色深背面颜色浅，边缘有锯齿。采摘后作为蔬菜食用，需漂洗去除苦味，带有陈年酱醋的气味。三月时茎秆逐渐长高，每节数寸长，节间生出叶片，各生小枝，向四周散开如伞状，高度约三四尺。入夏后开出白色花朵，成簇分布，根部白色带紫色，八月采收，晒干后使用。
【按语】曰：解释其名为“败酱”，是因为烹煮后其颜色和气味相似，且其形态脏腑之所需也。气平味苦，盖因火性炎上而表现为苦味，苦味具有下行特性，能肃清皮肤腠理，浓烈之气作用于肠胃，性平则无过也无不及。因此得名苦菜，《礼记·月令》记载小满时节苦菜秀茂，白花整齐密集分布如车盖。夏季三个月，称为蕃秀，如同人所爱在外，犹如夏日阳光在肌肤上，泛泛然，仿佛万物生机勃勃有余。盖因夏季火气主令，金气遇庚伏之时，却开出白花，这是金气布散，抑且秉承制约之用，制则能化生万物。故能治疗突发高热，火疮红肿，焦灼肺金及皮肤形体脏腑，从而引发疥癣瘙痒、痈疽痔疮、马鞍热气等症。热邪解除则清静而痊愈，这即是“点火成金”（借火炼金之意），无需另外寻找种子了。张仲景先生用此药治疗肠痈病，症状为身体皮肤干燥如鳞甲交错，腹部皮肤紧张，按压柔软，似有肿状，但腹内无积聚包块，身体无大热，脉象数，此为腹内有痈脓。不仅焦灼肺金所主的形体脏腑，并毁败与之相配的大肠腑。金气至此变得坚硬，后来者进，成功者退，这是道理和趋势使然。
[Zhongpin of the *Shennong Bencao Jing*]
【Flavor and Nature】Bitter, neutral in nature, non-toxic.
【Indications】Sudden high fever (*baore*), redness and heat from fire sores (*huochuang chiqi*), scabies with itching (*jesao*), carbuncles and hemorrhoids (*juzhi*), and "saddle-heat" (*ma'an reqi*, referring to local heat-toxin swelling caused by friction from riding).
【Examination】It is stated: *Baijiang* (Patrinia Herba), also known as *Kucail* (Bitter Vegetable), is also called *Kuji*. The names *Kuji* and *Suanjiang* are similar; however, the leaves of *Suanjiang* are large and thick. It shares names with *Kujia* and *Longkui* (Black Nightshade), but their species are completely different. It grows in the valleys of Jiangxia, and is also found near streams and water sources everywhere. In early spring, tender seedlings lie flat on the ground; the leaves resemble those of Songcai, slightly narrow and long, dark green on the surface and pale on the back, with serrated edges. When harvested as a vegetable, it must be soaked to remove bitterness, possessing the odor of aged sauce. By March, the stems gradually grow taller, several inches per node, with leaves growing between nodes, each producing small branches spreading out like an umbrella, reaching a height of three to four chi. In summer, white flowers bloom in clusters; the roots are white with purple hues. It is harvested in August and used after sun-drying.
【Commentary】It is stated: The name *Baijiang* is explained because its color and odor resemble those of spoiled sauce when cooked, and its form relates to the needs of internal organs. Its nature is neutral and flavor bitter. Since fire flares upward manifesting as bitterness, the bitter nature tends downward,肃清 (clearing/purifying) the skin and interstices (*futou*), and its strong action affects the intestines and stomach. Being neutral implies neither excess nor deficiency. Hence it is named *Kucail*. According to the *Yueling* (Monthly Ordinances), at *Xiaoman* (Grain Buds), *Kucail* flourishes, with white flowers neatly and densely distributed like a canopy. The three months of summer are called *Fanxiu* (Luxuriant Growth); if what is loved is external, it is like summer sun on the skin, floating and abundant, as if all things have surplus vitality. Since summer fire governs the season, metal encounters Geng-Fu (hidden/stagnant metal), yet produces white flowers, indicating metal dispersing. This relies on restriction for function; restriction leads to transformation and generation. Therefore, it treats sudden high fever, fire sores with redness, and the scorching of lung-metal affecting skin and form-organs, leading to conditions such as scabies, carbuncles, hemorrhoids, and saddle-heat. Once heat is resolved, clarity returns and healing occurs; this is akin to "igniting fire to forge metal," eliminating the need to seek other seeds. Master Zhang Zhongjing used this herb to treat intestinal abscess (*changyong*). Symptoms include body skin dry and rough like fish scales (*shen jiacuo*), abdominal wall tension (*fupi ji*), soft upon pressure (*an zhi ru*), resembling swelling but without abdominal masses (*fu wu jiju*), no significant body heat (*shen wu da re*), and a rapid pulse (*mai shu*), indicating pus within the abdomen. It not only scorches the form-organs governed by lung-metal but also damages the paired fu-organ, the large intestine. Metal becomes hard at this stage; what follows advances, what has succeeded retreats; this is the natural principle and trend.