味甘，温，无毒。主通利肠胃，除胸中烦，解酒渴。
菜中有菘，最为恒食，性和利人，无余逆忤，今人多食。如似小冷，而又耐霜雪。其子
可作油，敷头长发；涂刀剑，
令不锈。其有数种，犹是一类，正论其美与不美耳。服药有甘草而食菘，即令病不除。
〔谨
案〕菘菜不生北土，有人将子
北种，初一年半为芜菁，二年菘种都绝；将芜菁子南种，亦二年都变成土地所宜，颇有此例。
其子亦随色变，但粗细无
异尔。
菘子黑，蔓菁子紫赤，大小相似。惟芦菔子黄赤色，大数倍，复不圆也。其菘有三种∶
有牛
肚菘，叶最大浓，味甘；紫菘叶薄细，味少苦；白菘似蔓菁也。
味辛，温，无毒。归鼻。主除肾邪气，利九窍，明耳目，安中，久服温中。
似菘而有毛，味辣，好作菹，亦生食。其子可藏冬瓜。又有茛，以作菹，甚辣快。
〔谨
案〕此芥有三种∶叶大粗者，
叶堪食，子入药用，熨恶注至良；叶小子细者，叶不堪食，其子但堪为齑耳；又有白芥子，
粗大白色，如白粱米，甚辛
美，从戎中来。《别录》云∶子主射工及注气发无恒处，丸服之，或捣为末，醋和涂之，随
手验也。
味苦，平，无毒。主安中，利人，可久食。
长安中乃有苜蓿园，北人甚重此，江南人不甚食之，以无气味故也。外国复别有苜蓿草，
以
〔谨案〕
苜蓿茎叶平，根寒。主热病，烦满，目黄赤，小便黄，酒疸。捣取汁，服一升，令人吐利，
即
愈。
（菘）味甘，性温，无毒。主要功效是通利肠胃，消除胸中的烦闷，解除酒后口渴。
蔬菜中有菘菜，是最为常见的常备食物，其性质平和，利于人体，没有任何副作用或禁忌，现在很多人食用。它似乎略微偏凉，但又耐寒霜冰雪。它的种子可以榨油，涂抹头发可使头发生长；涂抹刀剑上，可防止生锈。菘菜有几个品种，但都属于同一类，只是论及其美味与否罢了。服用含有甘草的药物时若食用菘菜，就会导致疾病无法痊愈。
【唐慎微按】菘菜原本不在北方土地生长，有人将种子带到北方种植，第一年、第二年变成了芜菁，到了第二年菘菜的种子就完全绝迹了；将芜菁的种子带到南方种植，两年后也完全变成了适应当地土壤的作物，颇有此类先例。菘菜的种子颜色也会随环境变化，只是粗细没有差异而已。
菘子黑色，芜菁子紫红色，大小相似。只有萝卜子呈黄赤色，体积大数倍，而且不圆。菘菜有三种：有牛肚菘，叶子最大最厚，味道甘甜；紫菘叶子薄而细，味道略带苦味；白菘类似芜菁。
（芥）味辛，性温，无毒。归鼻经。主要功效是祛除肾中邪气，通利九窍，使耳目清明，安定中焦，长期服用可温补中焦。
芥菜像菘菜但有毛，味道辛辣，适合制作腌菜，也可以生吃。它的种子可以用来保存冬瓜。还有茛菜，用来制作腌菜，味道非常辛辣爽口。
【唐慎微按】芥菜有三种：叶子大而粗糙的，叶子可以吃，种子入药使用，热敷治疗恶注病效果极佳；叶子小而细嫩的，叶子不适合吃，其种子只适合做碎末调料；还有白芥子，颗粒粗大白色，像白高粱米一样，味道非常辛辣鲜美，是从戎地传来的。《名医别录》记载：芥子主治射工毒及游走不定的注气，丸服，或捣成粉末，用醋调和外涂，随手见效。
（苜蓿）味苦，性平，无毒。主要功效是安定中焦，利于人体，可以长期食用。
长安城中甚至有苜蓿园，北方人非常重视这种植物，江南人不怎么食用它，因为它没有什么气味。外国另外有一种苜蓿草，
【唐慎微按】
苜蓿的茎叶性平，根部性寒。主要治疗热病、烦闷胀满、眼睛发黄发红、小便黄、酒疸。捣取汁液，服用一升，使人呕吐腹泻，病即痊愈。
(Song Cai / Chinese Cabbage) Sweet in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic. Primarily promotes the free flow of the intestines and stomach, eliminates vexation in the chest, and relieves thirst after drinking alcohol.
Among vegetables, Song Cai is the most common staple food; its nature is mild and beneficial to the human body, with no adverse reactions or contraindications, and it is widely consumed today. It appears slightly cool but is also resistant to frost and snow. Its seeds can be pressed into oil, applied to hair to promote growth; when applied to swords and knives, it prevents rusting. There are several varieties, all belonging to the same category, differing only in their culinary quality. If one consumes Song Cai while taking medicine containing Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao, 甘草), the illness will not be cured.
[Note by Tang Shenwei] Song Cai does not naturally grow in northern regions. When seeds are brought north for cultivation, they become Turnip (Wujing, 芜菁) in the first and second years, and the Song Cai variety becomes extinct; conversely, when Turnip seeds are brought south, they adapt to the local soil within two years. This serves as an example. The color of the seeds also changes with the environment, though their coarseness remains similar.
Song Cai seeds are black, Turnip seeds are purple-red, and they are similar in size. Only Radish seeds (Lufu, 萝卜) are yellowish-red, several times larger, and not round. There are three types of Song Cai: Niu Du Song has the largest and thickest leaves with a sweet taste; Zi Song has thin and fine leaves with a slightly bitter taste; Bai Song resembles Turnip.
(Jie / Mustard) Pungent in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Nose Meridian. Primarily expels pathogenic factors from the Kidney, benefits the nine orifices, clarifies the eyes and ears, stabilizes the Middle Jiao, and warms the Middle Jiao with long-term use.
It resembles Song Cai but has hairs, tastes pungent, and is suitable for making pickles; it can also be eaten raw. Its seeds can be used to preserve Winter Melon (Donggua, 冬瓜). There is also Gen Cao, which is very pungent and refreshing when made into pickles.
[Note by Tang Shenwei] There are three types of Jie: Those with large, coarse leaves have edible leaves and medicinal seeds, which are excellent for hot compresses treating malignant sores or spreading infections; those with small, fine leaves have inedible leaves, and their seeds are only suitable for making minced condiments; there is also White Mustard Seed (Baijiezi, 白芥子), which is coarse, white, resembling white sorghum grains, very pungent and delicious, originating from the Rong region. *Bielu* records: Mustard seed treats "Shegong" toxicity and wandering "Zhuqi" (infectious diseases with migrating symptoms); taken as pills or applied externally as a powder mixed with vinegar, it yields immediate results.
(Muxu / Alfalfa) Bitter in flavor, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Primarily stabilizes the Middle Jiao, benefits the body, and can be consumed for a long time.
In Chang'an, there are even Alfalfa gardens; northerners value this plant highly, while southerners do not eat it much due to its lack of distinct flavor. Foreign countries have another type of Alfalfa grass.
[Note by Tang Shenwei]
The stems and leaves of Muxu are neutral in nature, while the roots are cold. They primarily treat febrile diseases, vexation and fullness, yellowing and reddening of the eyes, yellow urine, and Jaundice caused by alcohol consumption (Jiudan, 酒疸). Crushed juice is administered orally; one sheng causes vomiting and diarrhea, leading to recovery.