岭南随笔∶海棠本无香，惟清远归猿洞秋海棠、肇庆 羊峡春海棠，其香特盛。 群方
谱∶
一名八月春，草本，花色粉红，甚娇艳，叶绿如翠羽。此花有二种，叶下红筋者为常品，绿
筋者开花更有雅趣。 大观录∶秋海棠亦名断肠草，其根、叶有毒，犬马食之即死，浸花水
饮之害人。 漳州府志∶秋海棠岁每生苗，其茎甚脆，叶背作红乱纹，云是相思血也。相传
昔人有以思而喷血阶下，遂生此，故亦名相思草。其花一朵谢，则旁生二朵，二生四，四生
八，具太极象，雅艳异常。 花镜∶秋海棠一名八月春，为秋色中第一，本矮而叶大，背多
红丝如胭脂，作界纹，花四出，以渐而开，至末朵结铃子，生桠枝，花娇冶柔媚，其异种有
黄、白二色，一名断肠花。 周开 云∶秋海棠俗传其花中黄心有大毒，人食多死，予一日
误食此，惊惶一夜，仓卒旅邸，无药可解，但委命听之而已，次日亦无恙。丁宪荣云∶秋海
棠叶初生山左，小儿争采食之，味微酸、生津，能益唇色，如涂朱然，则其无毒可知。 药
性考∶海棠喜背阴而生，故性寒，凡大热症可用。
味酸，性寒无毒，和蜜搽面，泽肌润肉；其干捣汁治咽喉痛（药性考）。 百草镜云∶
擦癣杀
虫，用叶花浸蜜，入妇人面药用。 物理小识∶白银以乌梅三叶酸秋海棠叶皆可。
海棠蜜 救生苦海∶红秋海棠采花去心，白蜜拌匀，蒸晒十次，令化为度，冬月早晨洗
面后
敷之，能令色艳，并治吹花癣痱 。 慈航活人书有制海棠蜜法∶上白蜜一大杯，红秋海棠
现取花片用，拌入蜜内，将花略捣烂，日日晒，或蒸数次，自烂如泥，其蜜色如海棠；或加
入好芙蓉粉少许，光绝可爱，且免面皮冻裂。
岭南随笔：海棠花本来没有香气，只有清远归猿洞的秋海棠、肇庆羊峡的春海棠，它们的香气特别浓郁。
群方谱记载：秋海棠又名“八月春”，属于草本植物，花色粉红，非常娇艳，叶子绿得像翠鸟的羽毛。这种花有两种，叶脉下方有红色筋络的是普通品种，叶脉为绿色的开花时更有雅致的情趣。
大观录记载：秋海棠也名叫“断肠草”，它的根和叶有毒，狗和马吃了就会死亡，用浸泡过花朵的水饮用会伤害人体。
漳州府志记载：秋海棠每年生苗，茎非常脆嫩，叶背呈现红色的杂乱纹路，说是相思之血。相传过去有人因思念过度在台阶下吐血，随后长出了这种植物，所以也叫“相思草”。它的花一朵凋谢后，旁边生出两朵，两朵生出四朵，四朵生出八朵，具备太极图的意象，雅致艳丽异常。
花镜记载：秋海棠又名“八月春”，是秋色花卉中的第一名，植株矮小但叶片大，背面有许多如胭脂般的红色丝状纹理，形成界限分明的纹路，花朵向四周开放，逐渐绽放，直到最后一朵花结成铃铛状的种子，生长在侧枝上，花朵娇柔妩媚。其异种有黄色和白色两种，也叫“断肠花”。
周开云说：民间俗传秋海棠花心中间黄色部分有大毒，人吃多了会致死。我曾有一天误食了它，惊恐惶惑了一整夜，在旅馆中仓促之间无药可解，只能听天由命罢了，第二天却安然无恙。丁宪荣说：秋海棠叶子刚在山左（山东）生长时，小孩争相采摘食用，味道微酸，能生津液，能增加唇色，像涂了朱砂一样，由此可知它无毒。
药性考记载：海棠喜欢生长在背阴处，所以性质寒凉，凡是高热病症都可以使用。味道酸，性质寒，无毒，与蜂蜜调和涂抹面部，能使肌肤润泽；将其干燥后捣碎取汁治疗咽喉痛（出自《药性考》）。
百草镜说：擦拭癣疾以杀虫，可用叶和花浸泡在蜂蜜中，加入妇女化妆品中使用。
物理小识记载：白银变黑可用乌梅、三叶酸或秋海棠叶来擦拭恢复光亮。
海棠蜜（出自救生苦海）：采集红秋海棠的花，去掉花心，与白蜂蜜拌匀，蒸晒十次，直到化为程度适宜的状态，冬天早晨洗脸后敷在脸上，能使面色鲜艳，并治疗吹花癣和痱子。
慈航活人书记载了制作海棠蜜的方法：取一大杯上等白蜂蜜，现取红秋海棠花瓣拌入蜜中，将花稍微捣烂，每天晾晒，或蒸数次，自然烂如泥状，其蜜颜色如同海棠花；或者加入少许优质的芙蓉粉，光泽绝美可爱，且能防止面皮冻裂。
Lingnan Suibi (Notes from Lingnan): Begonia flowers originally have no fragrance, except for the autumn begonia at Qingyuan Guiyuan Cave and the spring begonia at Zhaoqing Yangxia, whose fragrance is particularly strong.
Qunfang Pu (Collection of Formulas) records: Also known as "August Spring," it is a herbaceous plant with pink flowers that are very delicate and charming, and leaves green like kingfisher feathers. There are two varieties of this flower; those with red veins on the underside of the leaves are common varieties, while those with green veins have more elegant charm when blooming.
Daguan Lu (Record of Grand Observations) records: Autumn begonia is also called "Heartbreak Grass" (Duan Chang Cao). Its roots and leaves are toxic; dogs and horses die after eating them, and drinking water in which the flowers have been soaked harms humans.
Zhangzhou Fu Zhi (Local Gazetteer of Zhangzhou Prefecture) records: The seedlings of autumn begonia grow every year, with very brittle stems. The back of the leaves displays chaotic red patterns, said to be blood from lovesickness. It is相传 (traditionally said) that an ancient person vomited blood onto the steps due to excessive longing, and this plant subsequently grew there, hence also named "Grass of Longing" (Xiang Si Cao). When one flower fades, two sprout beside it; from two, four emerge; from four, eight appear, embodying the imagery of the Taiji symbol, exceptionally elegant and gorgeous.
Hua Jing (Mirror of Flowers) records: Autumn begonia is also named "August Spring," ranking first among autumn-colored flowers. The plant is short with large leaves, the backs of which have many red silk-like lines resembling rouge, forming distinct boundary patterns. The flowers open outward, blooming gradually until the last flower forms bell-shaped seeds growing on lateral branches. The flowers are delicate, graceful, and charming. Its variant species come in yellow and white colors, also known as "Heartbreak Flower" (Duan Chang Hua).
Zhou Kaiyun stated: Folk tradition holds that the yellow center inside the autumn begonia flower contains severe poison, and consuming too much can cause death. I once accidentally ingested some, spending the night in panic and alarm. In haste at my lodging, with no antidote available, I could only resign myself to fate. However, the next day I was unharmed. Ding Xianrong stated: When autumn begonia leaves first grow in Shan-zuo (Shandong), children compete to pick and eat them. They taste slightly sour, generate saliva, and enhance lip color, making them look like they are coated with cinnabar, thus proving they are non-toxic.
Yaoxing Kao (Examining Drug Properties) records: Begonia prefers growing in shaded areas, so its nature is cold, making it suitable for cases of high fever. It tastes sour and has a cold nature without toxicity. Mixed with honey and applied to the face, it moistens the skin and flesh; its dried form, crushed to extract juice, treats sore throat (from Yaoxing Kao).
Baicao Jing (Mirror of Hundred Herbs) states: To treat tinea and kill parasites, soak the leaves and flowers in honey and add them to women's facial cosmetics.
Wuli Xiaoshi (Small Knowledge of Physical Things) records: Silver tarnish can be removed using dark plums, Sanysuan Ye (Oxalis corniculata leaves), or autumn begonia leaves.
Begonia Honey (from Jiusheng Kuhai): Pick red autumn begonia flowers, remove the stamens/centers, mix evenly with white honey, steam and sun-dry ten times until fully integrated. Apply in winter mornings after washing the face; it enhances complexion and treats wind-blown tinea and prickly heat.
Cihang Huoren Shu records the method for preparing Begonia Honey: Take one large cup of premium white honey, mix with freshly picked red autumn begonia petals. Slightly crush the flowers and blend into the honey. Sun-dry daily or steam several times until it becomes mud-like; the honey takes on the color of the begonia. Alternatively, add a small amount of fine Hibiscus powder for a beautiful luster and to prevent facial skin from cracking in the cold.