（音饶。《本经》下品）
【释名】时珍曰∶荛者，饶也。其花繁饶也。
【集解】《别录》曰∶荛花生咸阳川谷及河南中牟。六月采花，阴干。
弘景曰∶中牟者，时从河上来，形似芫花而极细，白色。
恭曰∶苗似胡荽，茎无刺。花细，黄色，四月、五月收，与芫花全不相似也。
保升曰∶所在有之，以雍州者为好。生冈原上，苗高二尺许。
宗 曰∶今京洛间甚多。
时珍曰∶按苏颂《图经》言∶绛州所出芫花黄色，谓之黄芫花。其图小株，花成簇生，
恐即此荛花也。生时色黄，干则如白，故陶氏言细白也。或言无荛花，以桃花代之，取其利
耳。
【气味】苦，寒，有毒。《别录》》曰∶辛，微寒，有毒。
【主治】伤寒温疟，下十二水，破积聚大坚症瘕，荡涤肠胃中留癖，饮食、寒热邪气，
利水道（《本经》）。疗痰饮咳嗽（《别录》）。治咳逆上气，喉中肿满，疰气蛊毒， 癖气块
（
【发明】宗 曰∶张仲景《伤寒论》以荛花治利者，取其行水也。水去则利止，其意如
此。今用之当斟酌，不可过使与不及也。须有是证乃用之。
好古曰∶仲景小青龙汤云∶若微利，去麻黄，加荛花如鸡子大，熬令赤色。用之盖利水
也。
时珍曰∶荛花，盖亦芫花之类，气味主治大略相近。
（读音为“饶”。《神农本草经》将其列为下品。）
【释名】李时珍说：荛，意为丰富、众多。因为这种植物的花朵繁茂丰盛而得名。
【集解】《名医别录》记载：荛花生长在咸阳的山谷以及河南中牟地区。六月采集花朵，阴干备用。
陶弘景说：中牟产的荛花，当时从黄河边传来，形状类似芫花但极其细小，颜色为白色。
苏恭说：其幼苗形状像胡荽（香菜），茎上没有刺。花朵细小，呈黄色，四月、五月采收，与芫花完全不同相似。
郑保升说：各地都有出产，以雍州产的质量最好。生长在冈陵原野上，苗高约二尺左右。
陈承说：如今京城洛阳一带非常多见。
李时珍说：查阅苏颂的《图经》，其中提到绛州所出的芫花呈黄色，称为黄芫花。其图谱显示植株较小，花朵成簇生长，恐怕就是这种荛花。生长期时颜色发黄，干燥后则像白色，所以陶弘景说它细小且白。有人说没有荛花，就用桃花来代替，只是为了取其通利之效罢了。
【气味】味苦，性寒，有毒。《名医别录》记载：味辛，性微寒，有毒。
【主治】治疗伤寒温疟，消除体内十二种水饮邪气，破除积聚形成的坚硬症瘕肿块，清除肠胃中停留的癖积，驱除饮食停滞及寒热邪气，通利水道（出自《神农本草经》）。治疗痰饮引起的咳嗽（出自《名医别录》）。治疗咳逆上气，喉咙肿胀满闷，注病蛊毒，癖气块结（原文此处截断，未完整列出后续功效或出处）。
【发明】陈承说：张仲景在《伤寒论》中使用荛花治疗腹泻，是取其行水利尿的作用。水湿去除了，腹泻自然停止，其中的道理就是这样。现在使用它应当仔细斟酌，不可过量使用，也不可剂量不足。必须确有相应证候才可使用。
李好古说：张仲景的小青龙汤方中说：如果患者有轻微腹泻，去掉麻黄，加入如鸡蛋大小的荛花，炒至赤红色。使用它是为了利用其利水作用。
(Pronounced "Rao". Listed as a Lower Grade herb in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* [Classic of Materia Medica].)
[Names] Li Shizhen stated: "Rao" means abundant or plentiful. It is named so because its flowers are numerous and lush.
[Collection and Explanation] The *Bie Lu* [Supplement to the Classic of Materia Medica] states: "Rao Hua grows in the valleys of Xianyang and in Zhongmu, Henan. The flowers are harvested in the sixth lunar month and dried in the shade."
Tao Hongjing stated: "The Rao Hua from Zhongmu, which was brought down from the Yellow River area at that time, resembles Yuan Hua (Daphne genkwa flower) but is extremely fine and white in color."
Su Gong stated: "Its seedling resembles Coriandrum sativum (Hu Su), and the stem has no thorns. The flowers are small and yellow; they are collected in the fourth and fifth lunar months, and are completely unlike Yuan Hua."
Zheng Baosheng stated: "It is found everywhere, but the variety from Yongzhou is considered the best. It grows on hills and plains, with seedlings growing to a height of about two chi."
Cheng stated: "It is now very common in the regions of the capital and Luoyang."
Li Shizhen stated: "According to Su Song's *Tu Jing* [Illustrated Pharmacopoeia], the Yuan Hua produced in Jiangzhou is yellow and is called Huang Yuan Hua (Yellow Daphne genkwa). Its illustration shows a small plant with flowers growing in clusters. I suspect this is actually Rao Hua. When fresh, it is yellow; when dried, it appears white, which explains why Tao [Hongjing] described it as fine and white. Some say there is no Rao Hua and substitute it with Taohua (Peach Blossom), merely to take advantage of its purgative effect."
[Flavor and Properties] Bitter, Cold, Toxic. The *Bie Lu* states: Pungent, Slightly Cold, Toxic.
[Indications] Treats Shanghan Wen Nue [Cold Damage Warm Malaria]; eliminates the twelve types of water retention in the body; breaks up accumulations and hard masses (Ji Ju, Da Jian Zheng Jia); clears out lingering pathogenic factors in the intestines and stomach; expels dietary stagnation and pathogenic factors of Cold and Heat; promotes urination (from *Shennong Bencao Jing*). Treats cough caused by Phlegm-Fluid retention (from *Bie Lu*). Treats rebellious Qi causing coughing and wheezing, swelling and fullness in the throat, Zhu Qi [infectious disease/ghost qi], Gu Du [poisonous accumulation], and Pi Qi Kuai [lump due to stagnant Qi] (Text cuts off here).
[Elucidation] Cheng stated: "Zhang Zhongjing used Rao Hua in the *Shanghan Lun* [Treatise on Cold Damage] to treat diarrhea, taking advantage of its ability to promote water metabolism. Once the water is eliminated, the diarrhea stops; this is the rationale. When using it today, one must exercise caution, avoiding both overdose and underdose. It should only be used when the specific indications are present."
Li Haogu stated: "In Zhang Zhongjing's Xiao Qing Long Tang [Minor Green Dragon Decoction], it is stated: 'If there is slight diarrhea, remove Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) and add Rao Hua equivalent to the size of an egg, stir-fried until reddish-brown.' It is used for its diuretic properties."
Li Shizhen stated: "Rao Hua is likely a type similar to Yuan Hua, and its flavor, properties, and indications are roughly similar."