\r瞿麦\pj151.bmp\r
味苦、辛，气寒。降也，阳中微阴，无毒。生泰山川谷，今处处有之。结实与麦同形
，故因名曰瞿麦。立秋收采，风际阴干。恶螵蛸，使 牡。（ 草、牡丹。）利小便君主可用
，决痈肿佐使堪为。去目翳逐胎，下闭血出刺。
\r通草\pj152.bmp\r
味甘、淡，气平。味薄，降也，阳也，阳中阴也。无毒。产江淮山谷，如指大藤茎。
正月采收，荫干入药。因孔节相贯，吹口气即通，故此得名。去皮咀片，泻小肠火郁不散，
非他药可伦；利膀胱水闭不行，与琥珀相等。消痈疽作肿，疗脾疸嗜眠。解烦哕，开耳聋，
出音声，通鼻塞。行经下乳，催产堕胎。实结如小木瓜，名曰燕腹；（白瓤黑核。）亦
能治翻胃证，除热三焦。
根治项下瘿瘤，多取绞汁顿服。又种心空有瓠，与灯草同；乃
通脱木立名，凭揉碎用。洁白轻虚可爱，女工每剪
饰花。利水使阴窍通和，退肿令癃闭舒泰。更
（谟）按∶通草、通脱木，经云∶行水专利小肠，且多他证之治。既为良药，当勿传讹。
奈何
时医每以通草认作别条木通，以通脱木反呼名曰通草。致使市家真伪混卖，误人
甚多。殊不知本草立名，各有意寓。通脱木因瓠中藏脱木得之，名竟直述。通草藤茎不甚长
大，故以草称。木通系俗指葡萄藤茎，且大且长，特加木字。总曰通者孔窍悉同，行水利肠
固并建效，其治他证，虽百木通不能及一通草矣。齐驱并驾，安得谓乎？况木通栽多家园，
皮薄坚确，实名葡萄。通草产自山谷，皮浓软柔，实名燕腹。通脱本轻虚洁白，皮木脱除。
三者内似外殊，极易分别，名正言顺，何得悖违？只缘坚信耳闻，不复详考经意。错乱颠倒
，莫觉其非。医误犹闲，病误深可悯也。
瞿麦
味苦、辛，气寒。性质沉降，属阳中微带阴，无毒。生长于泰山的川谷之中，如今各地都有。其果实形状与麦子相同，因此得名“瞿麦”。立秋时节采收，在通风处阴干。忌与螵蛸同用，宜配伍牡（草、牡丹）。是治疗小便不利的君主药，也是消散痈肿的佐使药。能去除目翳、驱逐胎气，通利闭阻之血并排出刺物。
通草
味甘、淡，气平。气味淡薄，性质沉降，属阳中带阴。无毒。产于江淮的山谷中，像手指粗细的藤茎。正月采收，阴凉处干燥后入药。因为其中孔节贯通，吹一口气就能通过，所以得名。去皮切片，能泻除小肠火郁不散，其他药物无法比拟；能通利膀胱水液闭阻不行，功效与琥珀相当。能消除痈疽肿胀，治疗脾疸引起的嗜睡。解除烦闷呃逆，开通耳聋，恢复声音，通利鼻塞。能通行经血、下乳，催产堕胎。其实结如小木瓜，名叫燕腹（白瓤黑核）。也能治疗翻胃证，清除三焦热邪。
根部治疗颈下的瘿瘤，多取汁液顿服。又有一种心空有瓠状结构，与灯草相似；这是通脱木，专门以此命名，使用时需揉碎。洁白轻虚可爱，女工常剪饰花朵。利水使阴窍通和，退肿令癃闭舒泰。更（谟）按：通草、通脱木，经云：行水专利小肠，且多他证之治。既为良药，当勿传讹。奈何时医每以通草认作别条木通，以通脱木反呼名曰通草。致使市家真伪混卖，误人甚多。殊不知本草立名，各有意寓。通脱木因瓠中藏脱木得之，名竟直述。通草藤茎不甚长大，故以草称。木通系俗指葡萄藤茎，且大且长，特加木字。总曰通者孔窍悉同，行水利肠固并建效，其治他证，虽百木通不能及一通草矣。齐驱并驾，安得谓乎？况木通栽多家园，皮薄坚确，实名葡萄。通草产自山谷，皮浓软柔，实名燕腹。通脱本轻虚洁白，皮木脱除。三者内似外殊，极易分别，名正言顺，何得悖违？只缘坚信耳闻，不复详考经意。错乱颠倒，莫觉其非。医误犹闲，病误深可悯也。
Qumai (Dianthus superbus)
Taste: bitter, pungent. Nature: cold. Action: descending, slightly yin within yang. Non-toxic. Grows in the valleys of Mount Tai; now found everywhere. Its fruit resembles wheat, hence the name Qumai. Harvested at Start of Autumn, dried in shade with airflow. Incompatible with Piao Xiao (Mantis Egg Case); compatible with Mu (Grass, Peony). It is the sovereign herb for promoting urination and an assistant herb for resolving carbuncles and swelling. It removes nebulae, expels fetuses, unblocks blood stasis, and discharges foreign bodies.
Tongcao (Tetrapanacis Medulla)
Taste: sweet, bland. Nature: neutral. Taste is thin, action: descending, yang containing yin. Non-toxic. Produced in the valleys of Jianghuai, resembling a finger-sized vine stem. Harvested in the first lunar month, dried in shade for medicinal use. Named because its hollow nodes are connected, allowing air to pass through when blown. After peeling and slicing, it clears heat stagnation in the small intestine, unmatched by other herbs; promotes urination in cases of bladder water retention, equal in efficacy to Hupo (Amber). It reduces carbuncle swelling, treats spleen jaundice with somnolence. Relieves irritability and hiccups, opens deafness, restores voice, and unblocks nasal congestion. Promotes menstruation and lactation, induces labor and aborts fetuses. Its fruit resembles a small papaya, named Yanfu (White pulp, black seeds). It also treats regurgitation syndrome and clears heat from the Triple Burner.
The root treats goiter under the neck; juice is often taken in one dose. Another variety has a hollow gourd-like structure, similar to Jengcao (Cyperus rotundus); this is Tongduomu (Acanthopanax gracilistylus), specifically named as such, used after crushing. White, light, and void, it is lovely; female workers often cut it to decorate flowers. Promotes urination to harmonize the yin orifices, reduces swelling to relieve strangury.
Further note by Mo: Tongcao and Tongduomu, according to classics, promote water metabolism primarily benefiting the small intestine, and treat many other conditions. Since they are good medicines, errors should not be propagated. However, contemporary physicians often mistake Tongcao for another type of Mutong, and call Tongduomu "Tongcao." This causes merchants to sell genuine and fake products mixed, misleading many people. They do not know that the names in Bencao have specific meanings. Tongduomu gets its name directly from the gourd-like structure containing the woody core. Tongcao stems are not very long or large, so it is called "grass" (herb). Mutong refers colloquially to grapevine stems, which are large and long, hence the character "wood." Generally, both are "unblocking" due to their hollow nature, and both build efficacy in promoting water and benefiting intestines. However, for treating other conditions, even a hundred Mutong cannot match one Tongcao. How can they be considered equal? Moreover, Mutong is mostly cultivated in gardens, with thin but firm skin, truly being grapevine. Tongcao grows in valleys, with thick and soft skin, truly being Yanfu. Tongduomu is naturally light, void, and white, with bark and wood removed. The three are internally similar but externally different, easily distinguished. Names are correct and logical; how can they be violated? Only due to blind faith in hearsay, without carefully examining the classics' intent. Confusion and inversion occur, unaware of the error. Physician mistakes are tolerable, but patient harm is deeply pitiable.