味甘、辛，寒，有小毒。主水肿香港脚，利大小便，消痰破癖，除积聚，消疔肿。生
池泽畔。
唐本注云∶叶如水荭，亦似蕺，又似菝 。叶上有三黑点，高尺许。根如芹根，黄白色
而粗
大。今按陈藏器本草云∶三白草，捣绞汁服，令人吐逆，除胸膈热疾，亦主疟及小儿痞满。
按此草初生无白，入夏叶端半白如粉。农人候之莳田，三叶白草便秀，故谓之三白。若云三
黑点，古人秘之，据此即为未识，妄为之注尔。其叶如薯蓣，亦不似水荭。（唐本先附）臣
禹
锡等谨按蜀本图经云∶出襄州，二月、八月采根用之。
\r （音闾）茹（音如）\pd272.bmp\r
味辛、酸，寒、微寒，有小毒。主蚀恶肉败疮死肌，杀疥虫，排脓恶血
，除大风热气，善忘不乐，去热痹，破症瘕，除息肉。一名屈据，一名离娄。生代郡川谷。
五月采根，阴干。黑头者良。（甘草为之使，恶麦门冬。）
陶隐居云∶今第一出高丽，色黄，初断时汁出凝黑如漆。故云漆头。次出近道，名草
茹，
色白，皆烧铁烁头令黑以当漆头，非真也。叶似大戟，花黄，二月便生，根亦疗疮。臣禹锡
等谨按蜀本图经云∶叶有汁，根如萝卜，皮黄肉白，所在有之。
图经曰∶ 茹，生代郡川谷，今河阳、淄、齐州亦有之。二月生苗，叶似大戟，而花黄
色。
根
如萝卜，皮赤黄，肉白。初断时汁出凝黑如漆，三月开浅红花，亦淡黄色，不着子，陶隐居
谓出高丽者，此近之也。四月、五月采根，阴干。漆头者良。又有一种草 茹，色白，采者
烧铁烁头令黑，以当漆头，非真也。然古方有用两种者。姚僧垣治痈疽生臭恶肉，以白 茹
散敷之，看肉尽便停，但敷诸膏药。若不生肉，又敷黄 散。恶肉仍不尽者，可以漆头赤皮
茹为散，用半钱匕和白 茹三钱匕合敷之，瘥。是赤、白皆可用也。
圣惠方∶治缓疽。用 茹一两，捣为散，不计时候，温水调下二钱匕。伤寒类要治伤寒
毒攻
咽喉肿，真 茹爪甲大，纳口中嚼汁咽，当微觉为佳。素问注云∶ 茹主散恶血。
衍义曰∶ 茹，治疥，马疥尤善。服食方用者至少。
【三白草】
味甘、辛，性寒，有小毒。主治水肿和香港脚（足部肿胀疼痛），通利大小便，消除痰饮，破除瘀积，消散痈疽疔疮肿毒。生长在水池或沼泽岸边。
《唐本草》注解说：叶子像水荭（红蓼），也像蕺菜（鱼腥草），还像菝葜。叶子上有三个黑点，植株高约一尺。根像芹菜根，呈黄白色且粗大。现在考察陈藏器《本草拾遗》说：三白草，捣碎绞汁服用，会引起呕吐逆气，能清除胸膈间的热疾，也主治疟疾及小儿痞满症。按此草初生时没有白色，到了夏天叶尖一半变白如粉。农民观察它来安排插秧时间，三片叶子的草就会抽穗开花，所以叫它三白草。如果说叶上有三个黑点，那是古人保密的说法，据此看来之前的注解是未能识别而妄加注释罢了。它的叶子像山药，也不像水荭。（此条附于《唐本草》之后）臣禹锡等人谨按《蜀本图经》说：产于襄州，二月、八月采挖根部使用。
【（音闾）茹（音如）】
味辛、酸，性寒、微寒，有小毒。主治腐蚀恶肉、败疮死肌，杀灭疥虫，排出脓液和恶血，清除大风热气引起的健忘和不快乐，去除热痹，破除癥瘕积聚，消除息肉。又名屈据，又名离娄。生长在代郡的山川河谷中。五月采挖根部，阴干。头部黑色的品质好。（甘草作为其引药，忌与麦门冬同用。）
陶隐居说：现在第一种产自高丽，颜色发黄，刚折断时流出的汁液凝固后像漆一样黑。所以叫它漆头。第二种产自附近道路，名叫草茹，颜色发白，都是烧铁灼烧根部使其变黑来冒充漆头，并非真品。叶子像大戟，花黄色，二月就生长，根部也能治疗疮疡。臣禹锡等人谨按《蜀本图经》说：叶子有汁液，根像萝卜，皮黄肉白，各地都有。
《图经》说：茹，生长在代郡山川河谷中，现在河阳、淄州、齐州也有。二月生苗，叶子像大戟，花黄色。根像萝卜，皮赤黄色，肉白色。刚折断时流出的汁液凝固后像漆一样黑，三月开浅红花，也是淡黄色，不结种子，陶隐居所说的高丽产的那种，与此相近。四月、五月采挖根部，阴干。漆头的品质好。又有一种草茹，颜色发白，采药人烧铁灼烧根部使其变黑，用来冒充漆头，并非真品。然而古方中有同时使用两种的情况。姚僧垣治疗痈疽生出臭秽恶肉，用白茹散外敷，看恶肉去尽就停止，只敷各种膏药。如果不长新肉，又敷黄茹散。如果恶肉仍不尽，可以用漆头赤皮茹研成散剂，取半钱匕配合白茹三钱匕混合外敷，病愈。这说明赤、白两种都可以使用。
《圣惠方》：治疗缓疽。用茹一两，捣成散剂，不限时候，温水调服二钱匕。《伤寒类要》治疗伤寒毒邪攻冲咽喉肿痛，用真茹如指甲大小，放入口中嚼汁咽下，应当微微感觉有效为佳。《素问》注解说：茹主要作用是消散恶血。
《衍义》说：茹，治疗疥疮，马疥尤其擅长。在服食方中使用它的很少。
[Sanbai Cao (Three-White Grass)]
Taste: Sweet, Pungent. Nature: Cold. Toxicity: Slightly toxic. Indications: Edema (fluid retention), Hongjiao (swelling and pain in the feet/legs), promotes urination and defecation, resolves phlegm, breaks up blood stasis and masses, dissipates carbuncles and sores. Habitat: Grows by pools and marshes.
Note from *Bencao Tangxin* (Newly Revised Materia Medica of the Tang Dynasty): The leaves resemble *Polygonum orientale* (Japanese Knotweed) or *Houttuynia cordata* (Fish Mint), and also resemble *Smilax* species. There are three black spots on the leaves; the plant is about one chi tall. The root resembles that of celery, yellowish-white and thick. According to Chen Cangqi's *Supplement to Materia Medica*, Sanbai Cao, when crushed and its juice taken orally, induces vomiting and regurgitation, clears heat disorders in the chest and diaphragm, and treats malaria and pediatric pi-man syndrome (abdominal masses). Examination shows that when this herb first sprouts, it lacks whiteness; entering summer, half of the leaf tip turns white like powder. Farmers use it to time rice transplanting; when the third leaf appears, the grass tassels, hence the name "Sanbai" (Three Whites). The mention of "three black spots" was a secret kept by ancients; thus, previous annotations claiming this were based on ignorance and speculation. Its leaves resemble *Dioscorea opposita* (Chinese Yam) and do not resemble *Polygonum orientale*. (This note is appended to *Bencao Tangxin*). Ministers Yu Xi et al. carefully examined *Shu Ben Tu Jing* (Illustrated Classic of Shu Province), stating it originates from Xiangzhou, with roots harvested in February and August.
[Lu Ru (Root of Euphorbia lathyris / Spurge Root)]
Taste: Pungent, Sour. Nature: Cold, slightly cold. Toxicity: Slightly toxic. Indications: Erodes foul flesh and necrotic tissue in ulcers, kills scabies mites, expels pus and foul blood, clears heat from wind-pathogens causing forgetfulness and depression, removes heat-bi syndrome, breaks up zheng-jia masses (solid abdominal masses), eliminates polyps. Alternative names: Quju, Lulou. Habitat: Grows in valleys of Daijun. Harvested in May, dried in shade. Those with black heads are superior. (Gancao [Licorice Root] acts as its guide drug; incompatible with Maidong [Ophiopogon Tuber].)
Tao Hongjing stated: The best variety comes from Goryeo, with a yellow color. When freshly broken, the exuded juice coagulates into a black substance resembling lacquer, hence called "Lacquer Head." The second variety comes from nearby regions, named Caoru, which is white. Sellers often burn iron to char the root ends to mimic the "Lacquer Head," which is not authentic. Leaves resemble *Euphorbia lathyris*; flowers are yellow; it grows in February; roots also treat sores. Ministers Yu Xi et al. carefully examined *Shu Ben Tu Jing*, stating the leaves contain juice, the root resembles a radish, with yellow skin and white flesh, found everywhere.
*Tujing* (Illustrated Classics) states: Ru grows in valleys of Daijun; currently found in Heyang, Zizhou, and Qizhou. Sprouts appear in February; leaves resemble *Euphorbia lathyris*, with yellow flowers. Roots resemble radishes, with reddish-yellow skin and white flesh. Freshly broken juice coagulates black like lacquer. Flowers appear in March, pale red or light yellow, without seeds. Tao Hongjing’s description of the Goryeo variety aligns closely with this. Roots harvested in April and May, dried in shade. "Lacquer Head" varieties are superior. Another variety, Caoru, is white; gatherers char the ends with hot iron to pass them off as Lacquer Heads, which is inauthentic. However, ancient formulas used both types. Yao Sengyuan treated carbuncles and sores with foul flesh using Bai Ru San (White Ru Powder); once the foul flesh was gone, he stopped and applied various plasters. If new flesh did not grow, he applied Huang Ru San (Yellow Ru Powder). If foul flesh remained, he used Chi Pi Ru (Red-Skinned Ru) with a black head, powdered, mixed with three qianbi of Bai Ru, and applied externally for cure. Thus, both red and white types are usable.
*Shenghui Fang* (Holy Essential Formulas): Treats Huan Ju (slow-developing abscess). Use one liang of Ru, powdered, taken with warm water, two qianbi per dose, at any time. *Shanghan Leiyao* (Classified Essentials of Cold Damage) treats throat swelling caused by cold-damage toxin attacking the throat: take a piece of true Ru the size of a fingernail, chew in the mouth, swallow the juice; slight efficacy is ideal. Annotation on *Suwen* (Plain Questions) states: Ru primarily disperses foul blood.
*Yanyi* (Expanded Meaning) states: Ru treats scabies, particularly effective for equine scabies. It is rarely used in dietary therapy formulas.