\r龙胆\ph110.bmp\r，生齐朐山谷及冤句，今近道亦有之。宿根黄白色，下抽根十余
本，类牛膝；直上生苗
，高尺余。四月生叶似柳叶而细，茎如小竹枝；七月开花如牵牛花，作铃铎形，青碧色；冬
后结子，苗便枯。二月、八月、十一月、十二月采根，阴干，俗呼为草龙胆。浙中又有山龙
胆草，味苦涩，取根细锉，用生姜自然汁浸一宿，去其性，焙干，捣，水煎一钱匕，温服之
。治四肢疼痛。采无时候，叶经霜雪不凋，此同类而别种也。古方治疸多用之。《集验方》
谷疸丸，苦参三两，龙胆一两，二物下筛，牛胆和丸，先食以麦饮服之，如梧子五丸，日三
，不知稍增。《删繁方》∶治劳疸，同用此龙胆，加至二两，更增栀子仁三七枚，三物同筛
，捣、丸以猪胆，服如前法，以饮下之。其说云∶劳疸者，因劳为名；谷疸者，因食而劳也
。
\r菟丝子\ph111.bmp\r，生朝鲜川泽田野，今近京亦有之，以冤句者为胜。夏生苗，
如丝综蔓延草木之上，
或云无根，假气而生；六、七月结实，极细如蚕子，土黄色。九月收采，曝干。得酒良。其
实有二种∶色黄而细者，名赤网。色浅而大者，名菟累。其功用并同。谨按《尔雅》云∶唐
、蒙，女萝。女萝，菟丝。释曰∶唐也，蒙也，女萝也，菟丝也，一物四名。而《本经》并
以唐蒙为一名。又《诗》云∶茑与女萝。《毛传》云∶女萝，菟丝也。陆机云∶今合药菟丝
也。而《本经》菟丝，无女萝之名。别有松萝条，一名女萝，自是木类寄生松上者，亦如菟
丝寄生草上，岂二物同名，《本经》脱漏乎？又书传多云∶菟丝无根，其根不属地。今观其
苗，初生才若丝，遍地不能自起，得他草梗，则缠绕随而上生。其根渐绝于地而寄空中，信
书传之说不谬矣。然云∶上有菟丝，下有茯苓。茯苓抽，则菟丝死。又云∶菟丝初生之根，
其形似菟，掘取剖其血，以和丹服之。今人未见其如此者，岂自一类乎？仙方多单服者，取
实酒浸，曝干，再浸又曝，令酒尽，筛末，酒服。久而弥佳，兼明目。其苗生研汁，涂面斑
，神效。
龙胆，生长在齐朐山谷以及冤句等地，现在邻近地区也有生长。其宿根呈黄白色，向下抽出十余条主根，形状类似牛膝；茎干笔直向上生长，高度约一尺多。四月生出叶片，形状像柳叶但更细，茎秆如同小竹枝；七月开花，花朵形状像牵牛花，呈铃铛或铎的形状，颜色为青碧色；冬季过后结出种子，植株随即枯萎。在二月、八月、十一月、十二月采集根部，阴干后使用，俗称草龙胆。浙江中部还有一种山龙胆草，味道苦涩，取根部细细切碎，用生姜的自然汁液浸泡一夜，以去除其烈性，然后焙干、捣碎，每次取水煎煮一钱匕（古代量词，约相当于现代的一小勺），温服。用于治疗四肢疼痛。采摘没有固定时间，其叶子经过霜雪也不凋谢，这是同属但不同种。古方治疗黄疸病多用此药。《集验方》中的谷疸丸，由苦参三两、龙胆一两组成，将这两味药研成细粉，用牛胆汁和丸，饭前用麦饮送服，每次如梧桐子大小的五丸，每日三次，若无效可稍增加剂量。《删繁方》：治疗劳疸，同样使用这种龙胆，用量增至二两，另外增加栀子仁三十七枚，将这三味药一同研筛，捣碎后用猪胆汁和丸，服用方法同上，用水送下。书中解释说：劳疸，是因为劳累而得名；谷疸，是因为饮食不节导致脾胃受损而发病。
菟丝子，生长在朝鲜的川泽田野，现在京城附近也有生长，其中以冤句出产的质量最佳。夏季生苗，像丝线一样蔓延覆盖在草木之上，有人说它没有根，依靠气息生存；六、七月结果实，颗粒极细像蚕豆，土黄色。九月采收，晒干。用酒处理效果良好。其实体有两种：颜色黄且细小的，名叫赤网；颜色浅且较大的，名叫菟累。它们的功效相同。谨按《尔雅》记载：唐、蒙，是女萝。女萝，就是菟丝。解释说：唐、蒙、女萝、菟丝，是同一事物的四个名称。而《神农本草经》将唐蒙列为一个药名。又《诗经》中说：茑与女萝。《毛传》解释说：女萝，就是菟丝。陆机说：现在入药的菟丝就是这种。而《神农本草经》中提到的菟丝，并没有女萝这个名字。另有松萝条，又名女萝，这属于木类，寄生在松树上的植物，也像菟丝寄生在草上一样，难道是两个不同的事物却同名，《神农本草经》有脱漏吗？又许多书籍传说都说：菟丝没有根，它的根不接触地面。现在观察它的幼苗，初生时刚如丝线，平铺在地面上不能自己立起，遇到其他草梗，就缠绕着随之向上生长。它的根逐渐脱离地面而寄生于空中，确实相信书传的說法没有错误。然而又说：上面有菟丝，下面就有茯苓。茯苓抽长，则菟丝死亡。又说：菟丝初生的根，形状像兔子，挖掘取出并剖开其血液，用来调和丹药服用。现在的人没见过这样做的，难道它们是一类的吗？仙方中有很多单独服用的方法，取果实用酒浸泡，晒干，再浸泡再晒干，直到酒被吸尽，筛成粉末，用酒送服。时间久了效果更好，兼能明目。其幼苗生研取汁，涂抹面部斑点，效果神奇。
Longdan (Radix Gentianae), grows in the valleys of Qiqu and Yuanju, and is now also found in nearby regions. The perennial root is yellowish-white, sending down more than ten main roots that resemble those of Achyranthes bidentata (Niuxi); the stem grows straight upward, reaching a height of over one chi (approx. 33 cm). Leaves emerge in April, resembling willow leaves but finer; the stem resembles small bamboo twigs. Flowers bloom in July, resembling Ipomoea nil (Convolvulus) flowers, bell-shaped or like a duo (ancient bell), with a cyan-green color. Seeds form after winter, and the herbaceous part withers. Roots are harvested in February, August, November, and December, dried in the shade, and commonly known as Cao Longdan. In central Zhejiang, there is another variety called Shan Longdancao, which has a bitter and astringent taste. Its roots are finely chopped, soaked overnight in fresh ginger juice to mitigate its harsh nature, then baked dry, pounded, and decocted with water using a dose of one qianbi (an ancient measure, approx. one small spoon), taken warm. It treats pain in the four limbs. There is no fixed time for harvesting; its leaves do not wither after frost and snow. This is a different species within the same genus. Ancient prescriptions often use this herb to treat jaundice. In Jiyuan Fang's Gu Dan Wan (Grain Jaundice Pill), Sanse (Radix Sophorae Flavescentis) three liang and Longdan one liang are sifted into fine powder, mixed with ox bile to form pills, taken before meals with wheat drink, five pills the size of wutong seeds per dose, three times daily; if ineffective, the dosage may be slightly increased. In Shanfan Fang: To treat Lao Dan (Consumptive Jaundice), the same Longdan is used, increased to two liang, plus thirty-seven Gaozi Ren (Semen Gardeniae), all three ingredients are sifted together, pounded, and formed into pills with pig bile, taken as previously described, washed down with water. The text explains: Lao Dan is named due to labor/overwork; Gu Dan is caused by dietary indiscretion leading to spleen and stomach dysfunction.
Tusizi (Semen Cuscutae), grows in the rivers, marshes, and fields of Korea, and is now also found near the capital, with those from Yuanju being of superior quality. Vines emerge in summer, spreading like silk threads over grasses and trees; some say it has no roots and survives on qi alone. Fruits appear in June and July, extremely fine like silkworm eggs, earth-yellow in color. Harvested in September and sun-dried. It is effective when processed with wine. There are two types of fruits: those that are yellow and fine are named Chi Wang; those that are pale and larger are named Tu Lei. Their functions are identical. According to Er Ya: Tang, Meng, Nuluo, and Tusisi are four names for the same substance. However, Ben Jing lists Tangmeng as a single name. Furthermore, Shi Jing states: "Niao and Nuluo." Mao Zhuan explains: "Nuluo is Tusisi." Lu Ji states: "The Tusisi used in medicine today is this plant." Yet Ben Jing mentions Tusisi without the name Nuluo. There is another plant, Songluo Tiao, also named Nuluo, which belongs to the woody category, parasitic on pine trees, similar to how Tusisi parasitizes grasses. Could these be two different substances sharing the same name, implying an omission in Ben Jing? Many texts claim: "Where there is Tusisi above, there is Poria (Fuling) below." When Poria develops, Tusisi dies. It is also said: "The initial root of Tusisi resembles a rabbit; excavate it, cut open to extract its 'blood,' and mix with elixirs for consumption." No one today has seen this practice; could they be related? Many immortal prescriptions involve taking it alone: fruits are soaked in wine, dried, soaked again, and dried until the wine is absorbed, then ground into powder and taken with wine. The longer stored, the better, and it benefits vision. Fresh young vines are ground to extract juice, applied to facial spots, yielding miraculous effects.