味苦，寒。主心腹邪气，五疸，补中益气，利九窍，通水道。一名紫丹，一名紫芙（《御
览》引云∶一名地血。《大观本》无文）。生川谷。
《吴普》曰∶紫草节赤。二月花。（《御览》）。
《名医》曰∶生砀山及楚地。三月采根，阴干。
案∶《说文》云∶茈，草也；藐，茈草也， 草也，可以染留黄。《广雅》云∶茈 ，茈
草也。《山海经》云∶劳山多
茈草。郭璞云∶一名紫 ，中染紫也。《尔雅》云∶藐，茈草。郭璞云∶可以染紫。
味苦，平。主暴热火创、赤气，疥瘙，疸痔，马鞍热气。一名鹿肠。生川谷。
《名医》曰∶一名鹿首，一名马草，一名泽败，生江夏，八月采根，曝干。
案∶《范子计然》云∶败酱，出三辅。陶弘景云∶气如败酱，故以为名。
味苦，寒。主头风，黄胆，咳逆，淋沥，女子阴中肿痛，湿痹死肌，不可屈伸、起止、
行步。生川谷。
《名医》曰∶生上谷及冤句。四月、五月采根，阴干。
案∶陶弘景云∶俗呼为白羊藓，气息正似羊膻，或名白膻。
味酸，平。主热烦满，定志益气，利水道。产难，吞其实立产。一名醋酱。生川泽。
《吴普》曰∶酸酱，一名酢酱（《御览》）。
《名医》曰∶生荆楚及人家田园中。五月采，阴干。
案∶《尔雅》云∶ ，寒酱。郭璞云∶今酸酱草，江东呼曰苦 。
紫草：味道苦，性寒。主治心腹部的邪气，五种黄疸，补益中气、益气力，通利九窍，疏通水道。又名紫丹，又名紫芙（《太平御览》引用说：又名地血。《大观本草》无此文字）。生长在河川山谷中。
《吴普》说：紫草的节是红色的。二月开花。（《太平御览》）。
《名医别录》说：生长在砀山及楚地。三月采集根部，阴干。
按语：《说文解字》说：茈，是草；藐，是茈草，这种草可以用来染留黄色。《广雅》说：茈，是茈草。《山海经》说：劳山多生茈草。郭璞说：又名紫草，可用于染紫色。《尔雅》说：藐，是茈草。郭璞说：可以用来染紫色。
败酱：味道苦，性平。主治暴热引起的火创、赤气（皮肤红肿发热），疥疮瘙痒，黄疸痔疮，马鞍热气（因骑马摩擦产生的湿热之气）。又名鹿肠。生长在河川山谷中。
《名医别录》说：又名鹿首，又名马草，又名泽败，生长在江夏，八月采集根部，晒干。
按语：《范子计然》说：败酱，出产于三辅地区。陶弘景说：气味像腐烂的酱，所以以此命名。
白鲜：味道苦，性寒。主治头风病，黄疸，咳嗽气逆，淋证尿沥不尽，女子外阴肿痛，湿痹导致的肌肤枯死僵硬，关节不能屈伸、行走困难。生长在河川山谷中。
《名医别录》说：生长在上谷及冤句。四月、五月采集根部，阴干。
按语：陶弘景说：俗称为白羊藓，气息正像羊膻味，或者叫白膻。
酸酱：味道酸，性平。主治热烦闷胀满，安定神志、益气力，通利水道。难产时，吞服其果实可立即分娩。又名醋酱。生长在河川沼泽中。
《吴普》说：酸酱，又名酢酱（《太平御览》）。
《名医别录》说：生长在荆楚及人家田园中。五月采集，阴干。
按语：《尔雅》说：酸酱，是寒酱。郭璞说：现在的酸酱草，江东地区称之为苦酱。
Lithospermi Radix (Zicao, 紫草): Bitter in taste, cold in nature. It governs pathogenic factors in the heart and abdomen, five types of jaundice (Wu Dan, 五疸), tonifies the middle jiao and supplements qi, benefits the nine orifices, and unblocks water passages. Also known as Zidan (Purple Cinnabar) and Zifu (Purple Hibiscus). [Taiping Yulan] cites it as also known as Dixue (Earth Blood). The Daguan edition lacks this text. Grows in rivers and valleys.
Wu Pu states: The nodes of Zicao are red. Flowers in the second lunar month. [Taiping Yulan].
Mingyi Bielu states: Grows in Dangshan and Chu regions. Roots are harvested in the third lunar month and dried in the shade.
Commentary: Shuowen Jiezi states: Zi is a grass; Miao is Zi grass, which can be used to dye yellow. Guangya states: Zi is Zi grass. Shanhaijing states: Mount Lao has much Zi grass. Guo Pu states: Also named Zicao, used for dyeing purple. Erya states: Miao is Zi grass. Guo Pu states: Can be used to dye purple.
Patriniae Herba (Baijiang, 败酱): Bitter in taste, neutral in nature. It governs sudden heat-induced burns/wounds, redness and heat sensation, scabies with itching, jaundice, hemorrhoids, and heat-dampness from saddle friction. Also known as Luchang. Grows in rivers and valleys.
Mingyi Bielu states: Also known as Lushou, Macao, and Zebei. Grows in Jiangxia. Roots are harvested in the eighth lunar month and sun-dried.
Commentary: Fanzi Jiran states: Baijiang originates from the Sanchu region. Tao Hongjing states: Its odor resembles spoiled sauce, hence the name.
Dictamni Cortex (Baixianpi, 白鲜): Bitter in taste, cold in nature. It governs head wind disorders, jaundice, cough with rebellious qi, stranguria with dribbling, swelling and pain in the female genitalia, damp-bi causing necrotic skin unable to flex/extend or walk normally. Grows in rivers and valleys.
Mingyi Bielu states: Grows in Shanggu and Yuanju. Roots are harvested in the fourth and fifth lunar months and dried in the shade.
Commentary: Tao Hongjing states: Commonly called Baiyangxian, its odor strongly resembles mutton fat/grease, or is called Baishan.
Vinegar Fermented Soybean Paste (Suanjiang, 酸酱): Sour in taste, neutral in nature. It governs heat-induced vexation and fullness, calms the mind and supplements qi, benefits water passages. For difficult labor, swallowing the fruit leads to immediate delivery. Also known as Cujiang. Grows in rivers and marshes.
Wu Pu states: Suanjiang is also known as Zuojiang. [Taiping Yulan].
Mingyi Bielu states: Grows in Jingchu and household gardens. Harvested in the fifth lunar month and dried in the shade.
Commentary: Erya states: Suanjiang is Hanjiang. Guo Pu states: The current Suanjiang grass is called Kujiang in the Jiangdong region.