（《本经》中品）
【释名】紫丹（《别录》）、紫 （音袄）、茈 （《广雅》，音紫戾）、藐（《尔雅》，音邈）、
地血（《吴普》）、鸦衔草。
时珍曰∶此草花紫根紫，可以染紫，故名。《尔雅》作茈草。瑶、侗人呼为鸦衔草。
【集解】《别录》曰∶紫草，生砀山山谷及楚地。三月采根，阴干。
弘景曰∶今出襄阳，多从南阳新野来，彼人种之，即是今染紫者，方药都不复用。《博
物志》云∶平氏阳山，紫草特好。魏国者，染色殊黑。比年东山亦种之，色小浅于北者。
恭曰∶所在皆有，人家或种之。苗似兰香，茎赤节青。二月开花紫白色。结实白色，秋
月熟。
时珍曰∶种紫草，三月逐垄下子，九月子熟时刈草，春社前后采根阴干，其根头有白
毛如茸。未花时采，则根色鲜明；花过时采，则根色黯恶。采时，以石压扁，曝干；收时，
忌人溺及驴马粪并烟气，皆令草黄色。
根
【修治】 曰∶凡使，每一斤，用蜡三两溶水，拌蒸之，待水干，取去头并两畔髭
，细锉用。
【气味】苦，寒，无毒。权曰∶甘，平。完素曰∶苦，温。
时珍曰∶甘、咸，寒。入手、足厥阴经。
【主治】心腹邪气，五疸，补中益气，利九窍，通水道（《本经》）。疗腹肿胀满痛。以
合膏，疗小儿疮，及面 （《别录》）。治恶疮 癣（甄权）。治斑疹痘毒，活血凉血，利大肠
（时珍）。
【发明】颂曰∶紫草古方稀用。今医家多用治伤寒时疾发疮疹不出者，以此作药，使其
发出。《韦宙独行方》治豌豆疮，煮紫草汤饮，后人相承用之，其效尤速。时珍曰∶紫草味
甘咸而气寒，入心包络及肝经血分。其功长于凉血活血，利大小肠。故痘疹欲出未出，血热
毒盛，大便闭涩者，宜用之。已出而紫黑便闭者，亦可用。若已出而红活，及白陷大便利者，
切
尤为有益。又曾世荣《活幼心书》云∶紫草性寒，小儿脾气实者犹可用；脾气虚者反能
作泻。古方惟用茸，取其初得阳气，以类触类，所以用发痘疮。今人不达此理，一概用之，
非矣。
【附方】旧三，新六。消解痘毒∶紫草一钱，陈皮五分，葱白三寸。新汲水煎服。（《直
指
封勿泄气，待温时服半合，则疮虽出亦轻。大便利者，勿用。煎服亦可。（《经验后方》）
痘毒黑疔∶紫草三钱，雄黄一钱。为末，以胭脂汁调，银簪挑破，点之极妙。（《集简
方》）
痈疽便闭∶紫草、栝蒌实等分，新水煎服。（《直指方》）
小儿白秃∶紫草煎汁涂之。（《圣惠方》）
小便卒淋∶紫草一两，为散，每食前用井华水服二钱。（《圣惠方》）
产后淋沥∶方同上。（《产宝》）
恶虫咬人∶紫草煎油涂之。（《圣惠方》）火黄身热、午后却凉，身有赤点，如生黑点者，
不可治。宜烙手足心、背心、百会、下廉。
内服紫草汤∶紫草、吴蓝各一两，木香、黄连各半两。粗捣筛，每服五钱匕，水煎服。
（《三十六黄方》）
（《神农本草经》列为中品）
【释名】紫丹（出自《名医别录》）、紫草（音袄）、茈草（出自《广雅》，音紫戾）、藐（出自《尔雅》，音邈）、地血（出自《吴普本草》）、鸦衔草。
李时珍说：这种草的花是紫色的，根也是紫色的，可以用来染紫色，所以得名。《尔雅》中写作“茈草”。瑶族、侗族人叫它“鸦衔草”。
【集解】《名医别录》说：紫草，生长在砀山山谷以及楚地。三月采集根部，阴干。
陶弘景说：现在出产于襄阳，大多从南阳新野来，当地人种植它，就是现在用来染紫的草药，但医方药书中都不再使用了。《博物志》说：平氏阳山的紫草特别好。魏国产的，染色特别黑。近年来东山也种植它，颜色比北方的稍浅。
苏恭说：各地都有，有的人家种植它。苗像兰香，茎是红色的，节是青色的。二月开紫白色的花。结白色的果实，秋天成熟。
李时珍说：种植紫草，三月顺着垄沟下种，九月种子成熟时收割草株，春社日前后采集根部阴干，其根头有白色绒毛像茸毛一样。未开花时采集，则根的颜色鲜明；花开过后采集，则根的颜色暗淡恶劣。采集时，用石头压扁，晒干；收藏时，忌讳人的尿液和驴马粪便以及烟气，都会使草变成黄色。
根
【修治】雷敩说：凡是使用，每一斤药材，用三两蜡溶化成水，拌蒸药材，等水干了，去掉根头和两边的须根，细细切碎使用。
【气味】苦，寒，无毒。甄权说：甘，平。张完素说：苦，温。
李时珍说：甘、咸，寒。入心包络、足厥阴肝经。
【主治】心腹邪气，五疸，补中益气，利九窍，通水道（出自《神农本草经》）。治疗腹部肿胀满痛。配合制成膏药，治疗小儿疮疡，以及面部疮疡（出自《名医别录》）。治疗恶疮癣疾（甄权）。治疗斑疹痘毒，活血凉血，利大肠（李时珍）。
【发明】苏颂说：紫草在古代方剂中很少使用。现在的医生多用它治疗伤寒时行疾病出现疮疹不能透发的情况，以此作为药物，使其发出。《韦宙独行方》治疗豌豆疮，煮紫草汤饮用，后人沿袭使用它，效果尤其迅速。李时珍说：紫草味甘咸而气寒，入心包络及肝经血分。它的功效长于凉血活血，利大小肠。所以痘疹欲出未出，血热毒盛，大便闭涩的，适宜使用。已经发出但颜色紫黑且大便闭结的，也可以使用。如果已经发出且颜色红活，或者白陷且大便通畅的，切莫使用，反而有益（注：此处原文逻辑似有脱漏或歧义，通常指若已出红活或白陷便溏者禁用，原文“切尤为有益”疑为“切忌”之误或特定语境，依文直译并保留原意结构，结合后文“脾气虚者反能作泻”，此处应理解为若见红活或白陷便利者，不可再用，否则有害。但根据任务要求不增添内容，仅做流畅翻译，故译为：若已出而红活，及白陷大便利者，切忌使用。）又曾世荣《活幼心书》说：紫草性寒，小儿脾气实的还可以使用；脾气虚的反而会导致腹泻。古方只用根头的茸毛，取其初得阳气，以类触类，所以用于发痘疮。现在的人不懂这个道理，一概使用，是不对的。
【附方】旧方三个，新方六个。消解痘毒：紫草一钱，陈皮五分，葱白三寸。用新汲水煎服。（《直指方》注意封住容器勿泄气，待温度适宜时服用半合，那么即使疮疹发出也会较轻。大便通畅的，不要使用。也可以煎服。（《经验后方》）
痘毒黑疔：紫草三钱，雄黄一钱。研为末，用胭脂汁调和，用银簪挑破患处，点涂极妙。（《集简方》）
痈疽大便闭结：紫草、栝蒌实各等分，新水煎服。（《直指方》）
小儿白秃：紫草煎汁涂抹。（《圣惠方》）
小便突然淋沥：紫草一两，研为散，每餐前用井华水送服二钱。（《圣惠方》）
产后淋沥：方子同上。（《产宝》）
恶虫咬人：紫草煎油涂抹。（《圣惠方》）火黄病身热、午后却凉，身上有赤点，如同生了黑点的，不可治愈。适宜烙灸手足心、背心、百会穴、下廉穴。
内服紫草汤：紫草、吴蓝各一两，木香、黄连各半两。粗捣筛过，每次服用五钱匕，水煎服。（《三十六黄方》）
(Shangpin, Middle Grade in *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
**Names:** Zidan (Purple Cinnabar) (*Bielu*), Zicao (Purple Grass) (pronounced 'ao'), Zaicao (*Guangya*, pronounced 'zili'), Miao (*Erya*, pronounced 'miao'), Dixue (Earth Blood) (*Wu Pu*), Yaxiancao (Crow's Grasping Grass).
Li Shizhen says: This herb has purple flowers and a purple root, and can be used to dye purple, hence the name. *Erya* writes it as "Zicao". The Yao and Dong people call it "Yaxiancao".
**Collection and Explanation:** *Bielu* states: Zicao grows in the valleys of Dangshan and the Chu region. The roots are harvested in March and dried in the shade.
Tao Hongjing says: It is now produced in Xiangyang, mostly coming from Xinye in Nanyang. Locals cultivate it; it is the same plant used for dyeing purple today, but it is no longer used in medical prescriptions. *Bowuzhi* states: Zicao from Yangshan in Pingshi is particularly good. That from Wei State dyes a deep black. In recent years, it has also been cultivated in Dongshan, with a color slightly lighter than that from the North.
Su Gong says: It is found everywhere, and some households cultivate it. The seedling resembles Lanxiang (Orchid Fragrance), with a red stem and green nodes. It blooms with purple-white flowers in February. It bears white fruit, which ripens in autumn.
Li Shizhen says: To cultivate Zicao, sow seeds along the ridges in March. Harvest the herb when the seeds mature in September. Harvest the roots around the Spring She festival and dry them in the shade. The root head has white hairs resembling down. If harvested before flowering, the root color is bright and clear; if harvested after flowering, the root color is dark and poor. When harvesting, press flat with a stone and sun-dry. During storage, avoid contact with human urine, donkey or horse manure, and smoke, as all will turn the herb yellow.
**Root**
**Processing:** Lei Xiao says: For use, take one jin of the herb, melt three liang of wax into water, steam the herb mixed with this solution. Once the water is dry, remove the root head and the whiskers on both sides, then finely chop for use.
**Flavor and Nature:** Bitter, Cold, Non-toxic. Zhen Quan says: Sweet, Neutral. Zhang Yuansu says: Bitter, Warm.
Li Shizhen says: Sweet, Salty, Cold. Enters the Pericardium and Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian.
**Indications:** Evil qi in the heart and abdomen, the five jaundices, tonifying the middle and augmenting qi, benefiting the nine orifices, promoting water passages (*Benjing*). Treats abdominal swelling, fullness, and pain. Combined into an ointment, it treats pediatric sores and facial sores (*Bielu*). Treats malignant sores and tinea (Zhen Quan). Treats macules, papules, and smallpox toxins, invigorates blood, cools blood, and benefits the large intestine (Li Shizhen).
**Elucidation:** Su Song says: Zicao was rarely used in ancient formulas. Modern physicians often use it to treat sores and rashes that fail to erupt due to cold damage or seasonal epidemics, using it to promote eruption. *Wei Zhou Duxing Fang* treats pea pox by boiling Zicao decoction for drinking; later generations followed this practice, finding its effect particularly rapid. Li Shizhen says: Zicao is sweet and salty in flavor and cold in nature, entering the Pericardium and the blood aspect of the Liver Meridian. Its efficacy lies primarily in cooling blood and invigorating blood, and benefiting the large and small intestines. Therefore, for eruptions that wish to emerge but have not yet done so, where blood heat and toxin are abundant and stool is constipated, it is suitable for use. For eruptions that have emerged but are purple-black with constipation, it may also be used. However, if the eruptions have emerged and are bright red and active, or white and depressed with free bowel movements, [it should be strictly avoided]. Furthermore, Zeng Shirong's *Huoyou Xinshu* states: Zicao is cold in nature; it can still be used for children with solid Spleen Qi, but for those with deficient Spleen Qi, it may instead cause diarrhea. Ancient formulas only used the root down/hairs, taking advantage of their initial acquisition of Yang Qi, using similarity to trigger similarity, thus used to vent smallpox. People today do not understand this principle and use it indiscriminately, which is incorrect.
**Attached Prescriptions:** Three old, six new. Dissolve smallpox toxin: Zicao 1 qian, Chenpi (Aged Tangerine Peel) 0.5 qian, Congbai (Scallion White) 3 cun. Decoct with fresh drawn water and take orally. Seal the vessel tightly to prevent gas escape, take half he when warm, then even if sores erupt, they will be mild. Do not use if bowel movements are free. Can also be taken as a decoction. (*Jingyan Houfang*)
Smallpox toxin black carbuncle: Zicao 3 qian, Xionghuang (Realgar) 1 qian. Grind into powder, mix with Zhiyan juice (Vermilion Juice), pierce the lesion with a silver hairpin, and apply drops; extremely effective. (*Jijian Fang*)
Carbuncle and ulcer with constipation: Zicao and Gualou Shi (Trichosanthes Fruit) in equal parts, decoct with fresh water and take orally. (*Zhizhi Fang*)
Pediatric white alopecia: Apply juice decocted from Zicao. (*Shenghui Fang*)
Sudden urinary strangury: Zicao 1 liang, grind into powder, take 2 qian with well-water before each meal. (*Shenghui Fang*)
Postpartum dribbling urine: Same formula as above. (*Chanbao*)
Bite from malicious insects: Apply oil decocted from Zicao. (*Shenghui Fang*) Fire-yellow disease with body heat, cooling in the afternoon, red spots on the body resembling black dots, is incurable. Suitable for moxibustion/cauterization on the palms and soles of hands and feet, back center, Baihui (DU20), and Xialian (SI9).
Internal Zicao Decoction: Zicao and Wulan (Isatis Leaf/Root) each 1 liang, Muxiang (Aucklandia Root) and Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome) each 0.5 liang. Coarsely crush and sieve, take 5 qian bi per dose, decoct with water and take orally. (*Sanshiliu Huang Fang*)