（《本经》上品）
【释名】时珍曰∶按∶陆佃《埤雅》云∶苋之茎叶，皆高硕而易见，故其字从见，指事
也。
【集解】《别录》曰∶苋实，一名莫实，细苋亦同。生淮阳川泽及田中。叶如蓝。十一
月采。
李当之曰∶苋实即苋菜也。
弘景曰∶苋实当是白苋。所以云细苋亦同，叶如蓝也。细苋即是糠苋，食之乃胜，而并
冷利。被霜乃熟，故云十一月采。又有赤苋，茎纯紫，不堪食。马苋别一种，布地生，实至
微细，俗呼马齿苋，恐非苋实也。
恭曰∶赤苋，一名蒉（音匮）。《经》言苋实一名莫实，疑莫字误矣。
保升曰∶苋凡六种∶赤苋、白苋、人苋、紫苋、五色苋、马苋也。惟人、白二苋，实可
入药用。赤苋味辛，别有功用。
颂曰∶人苋、白苋俱大寒，亦谓之糠苋，又谓之胡苋，或谓之细苋，其实一也。但大者
为白苋，小者为人苋耳。其子霜后方熟，细而色黑。紫苋茎叶通紫，吴人用染爪者，诸苋中
惟此无毒，不寒。赤苋亦谓之花苋，茎叶深赤，根茎亦可糟藏，食之甚美，味辛。五色苋今
亦稀有。细苋俗谓之野苋，猪好食之，又名猪苋。
时珍曰∶苋并三月撒种。六月以后不堪食。老则抽茎如人长，开细花成穗。穗中细子，
扁而光黑，与青葙子、鸡冠子无别，九月收之。细苋即野苋也，北人呼为糠苋，柔茎细叶，
生即结子，味比家苋更胜。俗呼青葙苗为鸡冠苋，亦可食。见草部。
菜
【气味】甘，冷利，无毒。恭曰∶赤苋∶辛，寒。
鼎曰∶苋动气，令人烦闷，冷中损腹。不可与鳖同食，生鳖症。又取鳖肉如豆大，以苋
菜封裹置土坑内，以土盖之，一宿尽变成小鳖也。
机曰∶此说屡试不验。
【主治】白苋∶补气除热，通九窍（孟诜）。赤苋∶主赤痢，射工、沙虱（苏恭）。紫苋∶
杀虫毒，治气痢（藏器）。六苋∶并利大小肠，治初痢，滑胎（时珍）。
【发明】弘景曰∶人苋、细苋并冷利。赤苋疗赤下而不堪食。方用苋菜甚稀，断谷方中
时用之。
颂曰∶赤苋微寒，故主血痢；紫苋不寒，比诸苋无毒，故主气痢。
诜曰∶五月五日收苋菜，和马齿苋为细末，等分，与妊娠人常服，令易产也。
震亨曰∶红苋入血分善走，故与马苋同服，能下胎。或煮食之，令人易产。
【附方】旧二，新五。
产后下痢，赤白者∶用紫苋菜一握切煮汁，入粳米三合，煮粥，食之立瘥也。（《寿亲
养老书》）。
小儿紧唇∶赤苋，捣汁洗之，良。（《圣惠》）。
漆疮搔痒∶苋菜，煎汤洗之。
蜈蚣螫伤∶取灰苋叶擦之，即止。（谈野翁方）。
蜂虿螫伤∶野苋 擦之。
诸蛇螫人∶紫苋，捣汁饮一升，以滓涂之。（《集验方》）。
射工中人，状如伤寒，寒热，发疮偏在一处，有异于常者。取赤苋合茎、叶捣汁饮一升，
日再服之。（《集验方》）。
苋实
【气味】甘，寒，无毒。
【主治】青盲，明目除邪，利大小便，去寒热。久服益气力，不饥轻身（《本经》）。治
白翳，杀蛔虫（《别录》）。益精
（大明）。肝风客热，翳目黑花（时珍）。
【发明】时珍曰∶苋实与青葙子同类异种，故其治目之功亦仿佛也。【附方】新一。利
大小便∶苋实为末半两，分二服，新汲水下。（《圣惠》）。
根
【主治】阴下冷痛，入腹则肿满杀人，捣烂敷之（时珍）。【附方】新一。
牙痛∶苋根晒干，烧存性为末，揩之。再以红灯笼草根煎汤漱之。（孙氏《集效方》）。
（收录于《神农本草经》上品）
【释名】李时珍说：据陆佃《埤雅》记载：苋菜的茎和叶，都高大显著且容易看见，所以它的字形从“见”部，属于指事字。
【集解】《名医别录》说：苋实，又名莫实，细苋也相同。生长在淮阳地区的沼泽及田地中。叶子像蓝草。十一月采集。
陶弘景说：苋实应当是白苋。所以说细苋也相同，因为叶子像蓝草。细苋就是糠苋，食用起来更好，但性质寒凉滑利。经过霜打后才成熟，所以说十一月采集。还有赤苋，茎完全是紫色的，不能食用。马苋是另一种植物，贴地生长，果实非常微小，俗称马齿苋，恐怕不是苋实。
苏恭说：赤苋，又名蒉（音同“匮”）。《神农本草经》说苋实又名莫实，怀疑“莫”字是误写。
郑保升说：苋共有六种：赤苋、白苋、人苋、紫苋、五色苋、马苋。只有人苋和白苋的种子可以入药使用。赤苋味辛，有其他的功效。
苏颂说：人苋、白苋都大寒，也称为糠苋，又称为胡苋，或称为细苋，其实是一种东西。只是大的叫白苋，小的叫人苋罢了。它们的种子要经过霜冻后才成熟，细小且颜色黑。紫苋的茎叶全紫，吴地人用来染指甲，在各类苋中只有这种无毒，且不寒。赤苋也称为花苋，茎叶深红，根茎也可以腌制，味道很美，味辛。五色苋现在也很稀有。细苋俗称为野苋，猪喜欢食用它，又名猪苋。
李时珍说：苋都在三月播种。六月以后就不宜食用了。老了就会抽出茎秆像人一样高，开出细小的花结成穗。穗中的种子，扁平而光亮黑色，与青葙子、鸡冠子没有区别，九月采收。细苋就是野苋，北方人称为糠苋，茎柔叶细，生长即结籽，味道比家种苋更好。俗称为青葙苗为鸡冠苋，也可以食用。见草部。
菜
鼎说：苋动气，使人烦闷，寒凉伤腹。不可与鳖同食，会生鳖症。又取鳖肉切成豆大小，用苋菜包裹放在土坑内，用土盖上，一夜之间全部变成小鳖。
机说：这种说法多次尝试都不灵验。
【主治】白苋：补气除热，通九窍（孟诜）。赤苋：主治赤痢，射工、沙虱（苏恭）。紫苋：杀虫毒，治气痢（藏器）。六苋：都通利大小肠，治初痢，滑胎（李时珍）。
【发明】陶弘景说：人苋、细苋都寒凉滑利。赤苋治疗赤下但不能食用。方剂中使用苋菜很少，仅在断谷方中偶尔使用。
苏颂说：赤苋微寒，所以主治血痢；紫苋不寒，比诸苋无毒，所以主治气痢。
孟诜说：五月五日采集苋菜，和马齿苋一起研成细末，等分，让孕妇常服，使生产容易。
朱震亨说：红苋入血分善于走窜，所以与马苋同服，能堕胎。或者煮食，使人容易生产。
【附方】旧方二首，新方五首。
产后下痢，赤白相兼者：用紫苋菜一把切好煮汁，加入粳米三合，煮粥，吃了立刻痊愈。（《寿亲养老书》）。
各种蛇咬伤人：紫苋，捣汁饮一升，以药渣涂抹伤口。（《集验方》）。
射工中人，症状像伤寒，恶寒发热，疮疡发在一处，与平常不同。取赤苋连茎、叶捣汁饮一升，每天服用两次。（《集验方》）。
【主治】青盲，明目除邪，利大小便，去寒热。久服益气力，不饥轻身（《神农本草经》）。治白翳，杀蛔虫（《名医别录》）。益精（大明）。肝风客热，翳目黑花（李时珍）。
【发明】李时珍说：苋实与青葙子同类异种，所以它们治疗眼疾的功效也相似。【附方】新方一首。利大小便：苋实研末半两，分两次服用，用新汲水下服。（《圣惠方》）。
根
【主治】阴部冷痛，入腹则肿胀满闷致死，捣烂敷之（李时珍）。【附方】新方一首。
(Recorded in the Superior Category of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
**[Names]** Li Shizhen states: According to Lu Dian's *Piya*, the stems and leaves of Amaranthus are tall, prominent, and easily visible; hence its character contains the radical "Jian" (see), which is a phono-semantic compound indicating meaning.
**[Collection and Explanation]** *Mingyi Bielu* states: Amaranthus seed, also known as Mo Shi, is the same for Fine Amaranthus. It grows in the marshes and fields of Huaiyang. The leaves resemble Isatis leaves. Harvested in the eleventh month.
Li Dangzhi states: Amaranthus seed is simply Amaranth vegetable.
Tao Hongjing states: Amaranthus seed should be White Amaranthus. This is why it is said that Fine Amaranthus is the same, as its leaves resemble Isatis leaves. Fine Amaranthus is also called Bran Amaranthus; it is superior for consumption but has a cold and purgative nature. It matures only after frost, hence the instruction to harvest in the eleventh month. There is also Red Amaranthus, with entirely purple stems, which is inedible. Ma Xian (Purslane) is a different species, growing prostrate on the ground, with extremely minute seeds; commonly called Purslane, it is likely not Amaranthus seed.
Su Gong states: Red Amaranthus, also known as Kui (pronounced like "Kui"). The *Classic* states Amaranthus seed is also named Mo Shi; I suspect the character "Mo" is an error.
Zheng Baosheng states: There are six types of Amaranthus: Red, White, Human, Purple, Five-Colored, and Horse Amaranthus. Only the seeds of Human and White Amaranthus can be used medicinally. Red Amaranthus tastes pungent and has other functions.
Su Song states: Human Amaranthus and White Amaranthus are both very cold; they are also called Bran Amaranthus, Hu Amaranthus, or Fine Amaranthus, essentially being the same thing. The larger ones are called White Amaranthus, and the smaller ones Human Amaranthus. Their seeds mature only after frost, becoming small and black. Purple Amaranthus has purple stems and leaves throughout; people in Wu use it to dye fingernails. Among all Amaranthus varieties, only this one is non-toxic and not cold. Red Amaranthus is also called Flower Amaranthus, with deep red stems and leaves; the roots and stems can be pickled and taste delicious, with a pungent flavor. Five-Colored Amaranthus is now rare. Fine Amaranthus is commonly called Wild Amaranthus; pigs like to eat it, so it is also called Pig Amaranthus.
Li Shizhen states: Amaranthus is sown in March. After June, it is unfit for eating. When old, it shoots up stems as tall as a person, producing fine flowers that form spikes. The seeds within the spikes are flat, smooth, and black, indistinguishable from Celosia seeds or Celosia cristata seeds; harvested in September. Fine Amaranthus is Wild Amaranthus; northerners call it Bran Amaranthus. It has soft stems and fine leaves, sets seed immediately upon growth, and tastes better than cultivated Amaranthus. Commonly, Celosia seedlings are called Cock's Comb Amaranthus and are also edible. See the Herb section.
Vegetable
**[Flavor and Nature]** Sweet, cold and purgative, non-toxic. Su Gong states: Red Amaranthus: Pungent, cold.
Ding states: Amaranthus moves Qi, causing irritability and fullness; it damages the abdomen with cold. It must not be eaten with turtle meat, as it generates Turtle Syndrome. Furthermore, if turtle meat cut into bean-sized pieces is wrapped in Amaranth vegetable and placed in a pit covered with soil, overnight it will all transform into small turtles.
Ji states: This claim has been tested repeatedly without verification.
**[Therapeutic Actions]** White Amaranthus: Tonifies Qi and eliminates heat, opens the nine orifices (Meng Shen). Red Amaranthus: Treats bloody dysentery, She Gong (archer bug), and Sha Shi (sand louse) (Su Gong). Purple Amaranthus: Kills insect toxins, treats Qi-type dysentery (Zang Qi). All Six Amaranthus: Promote urination and defecation, treat early-stage dysentery, and induce abortion (Li Shizhen).
**[Innovation/Commentary]** Tao Hongjing states: Human Amaranthus and Fine Amaranthus are both cold and purgative. Red Amaranthus treats bloody discharge but is inedible. Amaranth vegetable is rarely used in prescriptions, appearing occasionally in fasting regimens.
Su Song states: Red Amaranthus is slightly cold, thus treating blood dysentery; Purple Amaranthus is not cold and, being non-toxic among Amaranthus varieties, treats Qi-type dysentery.
Meng Shen states: On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, collect Amaranth vegetable and Purslane, grind them into fine powder, take equal parts, and allow pregnant women to consume regularly to facilitate childbirth.
Zhu Zhenheng states: Red Amaranthus enters the Blood level and moves vigorously; thus, taken together with Purslane, it can abort the fetus. Alternatively, boiling and eating it facilitates childbirth.
**[Attached Prescriptions]** Two old, five new.
Dysentery after childbirth, with red and white discharge: Take a handful of Purple Amaranth vegetable, chop and boil to extract juice, add three he of glutinous rice, cook into porridge, and eat for immediate recovery. (*Shouqin Yanglao Shu*).
Tight lips in infants: Red Amaranthus, crush and extract juice to wash the area; effective. (*Shenghui Fang*).
Itching from lac poisoning: Boil Amaranth vegetable in water and wash.
Centipede bite: Rub with Ash Amaranthus leaves to stop pain immediately. (Tan Yeweng's Prescription).
Wasp/Hornet sting: Rub with Wild Amaranthus.
Bites from various snakes: Crush Purple Amaranthus, drink one sheng of juice, and apply the dregs to the wound. (*Jiyan Fang*).
Injury by She Gong (Archers Bug), presenting like Taiyang disease with chills and fever, with sores developing in one specific area, differing from usual cases: Crush Red Amaranthus with stems and leaves, drink one sheng of juice, taken twice daily. (*Jiyan Fang*).
Amaranthus Seed
**[Flavor and Nature]** Sweet, cold, non-toxic.
**[Therapeutic Actions]** Blindness (Qing Mang), brightens eyes and eliminates pathogenic factors, promotes urination and defecation, removes chills and fever. Long-term use strengthens Qi and vitality, prevents hunger, and lightens the body (*Shennong Bencao Jing*). Treats leukoma (white opacity), kills roundworms (*Mingyi Bielu*). Benefits essence (Daming). Liver wind with exogenous heat, visual floaters and dark spots (Li Shizhen).
**[Innovation/Commentary]** Li Shizhen states: Amaranthus seed and Celosia seed are of the same genus but different species; thus, their efficacy in treating eye diseases is similar. **[Attached Prescription]** One new. Promotes urination and defecation: Grind Amaranthus seed into powder, half liang per dose, divided into two servings, taken with fresh well water. (*Shenghui Fang*).
Root
**[Therapeutic Actions]** Cold pain in the genital region; if entering the abdomen, causes swelling and fatal distension. Crush and apply externally (Li Shizhen). **[Attached Prescription]** One new.
Toothache: Dry Amaranthus root, burn until carbonized (retain nature), grind into powder, and rub on teeth. Then rinse mouth with decoction of Lantern Root (Physalis alkekengi root). (Sun's *Jixiao Fang*).