一名老少年，无有用入药者，惟急救方有治脑漏法，用老少年煎汤热薰鼻内，然后将汤
服二
三口，大妙。冬间用根。濒湖纲目青葙下，附雁来红，亦无主治，土宿真君本草，雁来红制汞。
膏子眼药，去远年星障。眼科要览∶老少年，银杏剖壳为君，官渣根大叶者佳。千里光，
雄
杨梅树根皮为臣，煎成浓膏，量加制甘石冰片，又方加茶树根皮。
花镜∶老少年其苗初出似苋，茎叶穗子，与鸡冠无异，至深秋本高六七尺，则脚叶深紫，
而
顶叶大红，鲜丽可爱，愈久愈妍如花，秋色之最佳者。又有一种少年老，则顶黄红而脚叶绿
，为别一种。枝头乱叶丛生，有红紫黄绿相兼杂出者，名十样锦。一种根下叶绿，顶上叶纯
黄者，名雁来黄。
一名山瑚柳，形似辣茄而叶大。本高尺许，开花白色，结子如荔枝，外空，内有绿子，
经霜
按∶此草主治虽伙，惟咽喉是其专治，用之功最捷。纲目主治下失载，故补之。
性寒，治咽喉肿如神。
汪连仕采药书∶金灯笼，园人称为天灯笼，种盆为景，更称为珊瑚架。
性能清火，消郁结，治疝神效。敷一切疮肿，专治锁缠喉风，治金疮肿毒，止血崩。酒煎服。
又以反手取根七株，去梗叶洗净，连须切碎，酒二碗，煮鸭蛋二枚，同酒吃。治疟如神。
子∶入药，保毒不大。（王安采药方）
雁来红，又名老少年。没有直接入药使用的记载，只有在急救方中有治疗脑漏（鼻渊）的方法：用老少年煎煮汤剂，趁热熏蒸鼻腔，然后将汤药服用两三口，效果极佳。冬季使用其根部。李时珍《本草纲目》在青葙条目下附录了雁来红，但也未记载其主治功效。《土宿真君本草》记载，雁来红可用于炼制水银。制作膏状眼药，可去除多年的星翳障膜。《眼科要览》记载：老少年作为主药，需配合剖开的银杏；辅药选用官渣根中叶片较大的品种；千里光、雄杨梅树根皮作为臣药，煎煮成浓膏，适量加入经过炮制的炉甘石和冰片；另有方子加入茶树根皮。
《花镜》记载：老少年的幼苗初生时类似苋菜，茎、叶、穗与鸡冠花无异。到了深秋，植株高达六七尺，下部叶片呈深紫色，顶部叶片呈大红色，鲜艳美丽，令人喜爱，越久越艳丽如花，是秋色中最美的植物。又有一种“少年老”，即顶部叶片黄红而下部叶片翠绿，这是另一种类。枝头乱叶丛生，有红、紫、黄、绿混杂出现的，名为“十样锦”。还有一种根部叶片翠绿、顶部叶片纯黄的，名为“雁来黄”。
天灯笼草，又名山瑚柳，形状似辣椒但叶片更大。植株高约一尺，开白色花，结出的果实像荔枝，外部中空，内部有绿色种子。
按语：此草的主治功效虽然众多，但唯独咽喉疾病是其专长，用药后见效最快。《本草纲目》的主治部分遗漏了此项，故在此补充。其性寒，治疗咽喉肿痛如神助。
汪连仕《采药书》记载：金灯笼，园丁称为天灯笼，种植在盆中作为观赏景物，又被称为珊瑚架。其性能清热泻火，消散郁结，治疗疝气有神奇疗效。外敷可治各种疮肿，专治锁喉风（急性喉梗阻），治疗金创肿毒，止血崩（功能性子宫出血）。酒煎服。另有一方：取反手方向的七株根部，去掉梗叶洗净，连同须根切碎，用两碗酒，煮两个鸭蛋，连同酒一起食用。治疗疟疾如神。
*Alternanthera philoxeroides*, also known as "Old Youth" (Lao Shaonian). There are no records of its direct use in medicinal decoctions, except in emergency formulas for treating nasal discharge (Nao Lou, i.e., rhinorrhea or sinusitis): decoct the plant to make a soup, fumigate the nasal cavity with the hot steam, and then drink two or three mouthfuls of the soup; this is highly effective. Use the root during winter. In *Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica) by Li Shizhen, under the entry for *Celosia argentea* (Qingxiang), *Alternanthera philoxeroides* is appended, but its therapeutic indications are not recorded. *Tusux Zhenjun Bencao* records that *Alternanthera philoxeroides* can be used to refine mercury. It is used in ointment eye drops to remove long-standing corneal nebulae (Xingzhang). *Yanke Yaolan* (Essentials of Ophthalmology) records: "Old Youth" serves as the sovereign herb, paired with halved *Ginkgo biloba* seeds; the minister herbs include the roots of *Guanzha* with large leaves, *Senecio scandens* (Qianliguang), and the bark of male *Myrica rubra* roots; these are decocted into a thick paste, with appropriate amounts of calcined calamine (Zhi Ganshi) and borneol (Bingpian) added; another formula adds the bark of *Camellia* roots.
*Huajing* (Flower Mirror) records: The seedlings of "Old Youth" initially resemble amaranth; its stems, leaves, and spikes are indistinguishable from cockscomb (*Celosia cristata*). By late autumn, the plant grows six to seven chi tall, with deep purple lower leaves and bright red upper leaves, vibrant and lovely. The longer it lasts, the more beautiful it becomes like flowers, being the best among autumn colors. Another variety, called "Young Old," has yellow-red top leaves and green bottom leaves, representing a different species. Branches have densely growing mixed leaves in red, purple, yellow, and green, named "Ten-Color Brocade" (Shiyangjin). A variety with green leaves at the base and pure yellow leaves at the top is named "Yellow Goose Arrival" (Yanlai Huang).
*Tiantenglong Cao*, also known as "Mountain Coral Willow" (Shanhuliu), resembles chili peppers but with larger leaves. The plant is about one chi high, bears white flowers, and produces fruit resembling lychees, which are hollow outside and contain green seeds inside.
Note: Although this herb has many therapeutic indications, its specialty lies in treating throat diseases, where it acts most rapidly. This indication was omitted in *Bencao Gangmu*, so it is supplemented here. Its nature is cold, and it treats throat swelling with miraculous effect.
Wang Lianshi's *Caoyao Shu* (Book of Herb Collection) records: Golden Lantern, gardeners call it Heavenly Lantern, planted in pots for ornamental purposes, also referred to as Coral Frame. Its properties clear heat and fire, resolve stagnation, and treat hernias with miraculous efficacy. Applied externally to all types of carbuncles and swellings; specifically treats Lock-Throat Wind (Suo Chan Houfeng, i.e., acute laryngeal obstruction); treats traumatic swellings and toxins; stops metrorrhagia (Hong Beng). Decoct with wine for oral administration. Another prescription: take seven roots growing in an inverted direction, remove stems and leaves, wash clean, chop finely including the root hairs, boil with two bowls of wine and two duck eggs, and consume together with the wine. Treats malaria with miraculous effect.
Fruits: Used medicinally to prevent the spread of toxic pox (Baodu Bu Da) (from Wang An's *Caoyao Fang*).