（《本经》上品）
【释名】恭曰∶蔓荆苗蔓生，故名。
【集解】恭曰∶蔓荆生水滨。苗茎蔓延长丈余。春因旧枝而生小叶，五月叶成，似杏
叶。六月有花，红白色，黄蕊。九月有实，黑斑，大如梧子而虚轻。冬则叶凋。今人误以
小荆为蔓荆，遂将蔓荆为牡荆也。
大明曰∶海盐亦有之。大如豌豆，蒂有轻软小盖子，六、七、八月采之。
颂曰∶近汴京及秦、陇、明、越州多有之。苗茎高四、五尺，对节生枝。叶类小楝，至
夏盛茂。有花作穗淡红色，蕊黄白色，花下有青萼，至秋结子。旧说蔓生，而今所有并非蔓
也。
宗 曰∶诸家所解，蔓荆、牡荆，纷 不一。《经》既言蔓荆明是蔓生，即非高木也；
既言牡荆，则自木上生，又何疑焉？
时珍曰∶其枝小弱如蔓，故曰蔓生。
实
【修治】 曰∶凡使，去蒂子下白膜一重，用酒浸一伏时，蒸
时珍曰∶寻常只去膜打碎用之。
【气味】苦，微寒，无毒。《别录》曰∶辛，平、温。
元素曰∶味辛，温，气清，阳中之阴，入太阳经。胃虚人不可服，恐生痰疾。
之才曰∶恶乌头、石膏。
【主治】筋骨间寒热，湿痹拘挛，明目坚齿，利九窍，去白虫。久服，轻身耐老。小荆
实亦等（《本经》）。风头痛，脑鸣，目泪出，益气。令人光
髭发（甄权）。利关节，治痫疾、赤眼（大明）。
太阳头痛，头沉昏闷，除目暗，散风邪，凉诸经血，止目睛内痛（元素）。搜肝风
古）。
【发明】恭曰∶小荆实即牡荆子，其功与蔓荆同，故曰亦等也。
时珍曰∶蔓荆气清味辛，体轻而浮，上行而散。故所主者，皆头面风虚之症。
【附方】新三。
令发长黑∶蔓荆子、熊脂等分，醋调涂之。（《圣惠方》）。
头风作痛∶蔓荆子一升。为末。绢袋盛，浸一斗酒中七日。温饮三合，日三次。（《千
金方
乳痈初起∶蔓荆子，炒，为末。酒服方寸匕，渣敷之。（危氏《得效方》）
（《神农本草经》列为上品）
【释名】唐代医家苏恭说：蔓荆的幼苗和茎蔓呈攀援生长状，因此得名。
【集解】苏恭说：蔓荆生长在水边。苗茎蔓延长达一丈多。春天顺着老枝生出小叶，五月叶片长成，形状像杏叶。六月开花，花色红白相间，花蕊黄色。九月结果，果实有黑斑，大小如梧桐子但质地空虚轻盈。冬天叶子凋落。如今人们错误地将小荆当作蔓荆，进而将蔓荆误认为牡荆。
宋代医家马志（大明）说：海盐地区也有出产。果实大小如豌豆，蒂部有轻软的小盖子，在六、七、八月采集。
宋代医家苏颂说：靠近汴京以及秦州、陇州、明州、越州等地多有生长。苗茎高四、五尺，节间对生枝条。叶子类似小楝树，到了夏天茂盛。花朵成穗状，呈淡红色，花蕊黄白色，花下有青色萼片，到了秋天结籽。旧时说它是蔓生植物，但现在所见的并非蔓生。
宋代医家寇宗奭说：各家解释中，关于蔓荆和牡荆的说法纷乱不一。《神农本草经》既然说蔓荆是蔓生的，那就不是高大的树木；既然提到牡荆，则是从树上长出来的，这有什么可怀疑的呢？
李时珍说：它的枝条细小柔弱如同藤蔓，所以称为蔓生。
【修治】唐代医家陈藏器说：凡使用蔓荆子，需去掉蒂部下方的一层白色薄膜，用酒浸泡一个昼夜（伏时），然后蒸制。
李时珍说：平常只需去掉薄膜打碎后使用即可。
【气味】味苦，性微寒，无毒。《名医别录》说：味辛，性平、温。
金代医家张元素说：味辛，性温，气清，属于阳中之阴，归太阳经。胃虚的人不可服用，恐怕会生痰疾。
宋代医家徐之才说：畏忌乌头、石膏。
【主治】治疗筋骨间的寒热症状，湿痹引起的拘挛，明目坚固牙齿，通利九窍，去除肠道内的白虫。长期服用，能身体轻便，延缓衰老。小荆实功效相同（《神农本草经》）。治疗风邪头痛，脑鸣，眼泪流出，益气。使胡须头发光亮（甄权）。通利关节，治疗癫痫、赤眼（马志）。
治疗太阳经头痛，头部沉重昏闷，消除视力昏暗，疏散风邪，凉血清热于各经脉，止住眼球内部疼痛（张元素）。搜剔肝风（甄权）。
【发明】苏恭说：小荆实就是牡荆子，其功效与蔓荆相同，所以说功效相等。
李时珍说：蔓荆气清味辛，体质轻而浮，药性上行且发散。所以它主治的都是头面部风虚类的病症。
【附方】新增三方。
令头发长黑：蔓荆子、熊脂等分，用醋调匀涂抹。（《圣惠方》）。
头风发作疼痛：蔓荆子一升。研为粉末。装入绢袋中，浸泡在一斗酒中七日。每次温服三合，每日三次。（《千金方》）。
(Recorded as a Superior Grade herb in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
**[Names]** Su Gong stated: The seedlings and stems of Vitex trifolia (Man Jing) grow in a creeping manner, hence the name.
**[Collection & Explanation]** Su Gong stated: Vitex trifolia grows near water bodies. Its seedlings and stems creep for more than one zhang (approx. 3.3 meters). In spring, small leaves sprout from old branches; by May, the leaves are fully formed, resembling apricot leaves. Flowers appear in June, with red and white petals and yellow stamens. Fruits mature in September, marked with black spots, roughly the size of wutong seeds but hollow and light. Leaves fall in winter. Nowadays, people mistakenly identify Xiao Jing (Vitex negundo var. heterophylla) as Man Jing, and consequently confuse Man Jing with Mu Jing (Vitex negundo).
Ma Zhi (Da Ming) stated: It is also found in Haiyan. The fruits are pea-sized, with a light, soft lid at the pedicel. They are harvested in the sixth, seventh, and eighth lunar months.
Su Song stated: It is abundant near Bianjing (Kaifeng), as well as in Qinzhou, Longzhou, Mingzhou, and Yuezhou. The stems are four to five chi (approx. 1.3–1.6 meters) high, with opposite branching at nodes. The leaves resemble those of small chinaberry trees and become lush in summer. The flowers form spikes, pale red in color, with yellowish-white stamens and green calyxes beneath the flowers. Seeds form in autumn. Old texts describe it as creeping, but current specimens are not creeping vines.
Kou Zongshi stated: Various explanations regarding Man Jing and Mu Jing are inconsistent. Since the *Jing* (Shennong Bencao Jing) states that Man Jing is creeping, it cannot be a tall tree; since Mu Jing is described as growing on trees, there is no doubt about this distinction.
Li Shizhen stated: Its branches are thin and weak like vines, thus called "creeping" (Man sheng).
**[Preparation]** Chen Cangqi stated: When used, remove the pedicel and the white membrane underneath. Soak in wine for one diurnal cycle (fu shi), then steam.
Li Shizhen stated: Ordinarily, one only needs to remove the membrane and crush the fruit before use.
**[Flavor & Properties]** Bitter, slightly cold, non-toxic. The *Bielu* (Mingyi Bielu) states: Pungent, neutral to warm.
Zhang Yuansu stated: Pungent, warm, with clear qi; belongs to Yin within Yang. Enters the Taiyang Meridian. Persons with deficient Stomach Qi should not take it, as it may induce phlegm disorders.
Xu Zhicai stated: Adverse reaction with Aconitum carmichaelii (Wutou) and Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao).
**[Indications]** Treats cold-heat sensations in the muscles and bones, spasms due to damp-bi obstruction, brightens the eyes, strengthens teeth, unblocks the nine orifices, and expels intestinal roundworms. Long-term consumption lightens the body and delays aging. Xiao Jing Shi (Fruit of Vitex negundo var. heterophylla) has equal efficacy (*Shennong Bencao Jing*). Treats wind-type headache, tinnitus in the head, lacrimation, tonifies Qi, and makes beard and hair lustrous (Zhen Quan). Unblocks joints, treats epilepsy, and red eye (Ma Zhi).
Treats Taiyang headache, heavy and dizzy sensation in the head, eliminates dim vision, disperses wind pathogens, cools blood in various meridians, and stops pain inside the eyeballs (Zhang Yuansu). Expels liver wind (Zhen Quan).
**[Elucidation]** Su Gong stated: Xiao Jing Shi is the fruit of Mu Jing; its efficacy is the same as Man Jing, hence stated as equal.
Li Shizhen stated: Man Jing has clear qi and pungent flavor, with a light and floating nature, acting upward and dispersing. Therefore, it primarily treats conditions of wind-deficiency in the head and face.
**[Prescriptions]** Three new prescriptions.
To promote hair growth and darken hair: Equal parts of Vitex trifolia fruit (Man Jing Zi) and bear fat. Mix with vinegar and apply topically. (*Shenghui Fang*).
Headache due to wind-pathogen: One sheng of Vitex trifolia fruit. Grind into powder. Place in a silk bag and soak in one dou of wine for seven days. Warm drink three he per dose, three times daily. (*Qianjin Fang*).
Early stage of mastitis: Vitex trifolia fruit, stir-fried and ground into powder. Take one fangcun bi (approx. 5-10 grams) with wine; apply the dregs externally. (Wei Shi's *Defang*).