（本经中品）
【气味】甘寒，无毒。
【主治】主劳伤虚羸，补中，益气，除瘀血血闭，寒热，利小便。
【核】曰∶出楚地山谷，及田野，所在亦有。春生苗。布地如针，俗呼茅针。三四月开
花作穗，茸白如絮，随结细子。至秋乃枯，根名茹。易曰拔茅连茹，以其汇，故其根牵连长
冗，经寸成节，柔白如筋，甘甜如蔗，用以造饴，清滑可口也。根 至秋，夜分时有青光，
腐则化萤火，茅可苫盖，及供祭祀苞苴之用，名曰茅丝。诗云∶昼尔于茅，霄尔索 ，言谷
人日，力不足取茅于昼，而夜以继之，故以为丝事方息，而麻事寻兴，野功既讫，而宫功随
至，藏蔬于其秋，以助不给之冬，索 于其夜，以补不足之昼。列子云∶因以为波流，因以
为茅靡。茅靡， 也。 ，茅之始生也。诗云∶手如柔荑，荑 一也。相经云∶筋不束体，
血不华色，手无春荑之柔，发有寒蓬之悴，此盖形之下矣。故劲强短促者，另成他类。别有
只生山谷。入秋放花如荻，实尖黑，长分许，粘衣刺人者，菅也。又有茎端开叶，茎上有粉，
根头有毛者，黄菅也。又有生湖南，及江淮间，叶脊三棱，臭如蒲草，可以包藉缩酒者，菁
也。又有丛生如芦，叶大如蒲，高六七尺者，芒也。根都劲促，不堪药用。
【 】曰∶茅之为物薄，而用可重也。体柔而性直，故先王用之以藉。易曰∶藉用白毛，
无咎，象曰柔在下也。盖兑金在上，巽柔在下，而柔丽乎中，慎斯术也以往，其无所失矣。
诚阳中之阴，入手太阴肺，中见阳明中治法，以行营卫阴阳者也。盖太阴肺，其始从中焦，
明丽于内，慎斯于中，布气以往，斯无所失，是以补中，气乃益，劳乃复，伤乃续，虚乃实，
羸乃充。以及除瘀血闭，寒热便利，咸成布往之功力休征尔。别录广利便，及五淋，瘀血，
及崩中，劳伤虚羸，及强筋坚骨，肥肌致腠。大明广血闭，及月水不匀，血脉淋沥。肘后咀
嚼茅根，辟谷不死，亦广补中益气尔。庞安常主温病伏热在内，令胸满呕哕，属大下协热所
致。茅根建立中央，葛根起亟阴气，更广仲景先生葛根汤法，从中布气，从肌解散尔。肘后
疗虚后水肿，为命门火衰，肾虚水泛，赤小豆主肾水之心谷，藉茅根之明丽，釜底燃薪，吸
呼肺气，营卫乃将，水道乃行也。若黄胆、谷胆、劳疸、黄汗、石水、色变于色，标见于皮
者，猪为水畜，君以茅根，亦广肘后治水方法，但前方偏于向右，此更兼于从左。若千金解
中酒毒，恐烂脏腑者，饮茅根汁，以涤中焦，还须佐以葛花，想更神异。若卒中五尸，致损
生阳之属，为腹痛胀急不得息，上冲心胸，旁攻两胁，若 然，牵引涌动尸鬼为害者，利
以坚金，烧以茅火，追穷寻逐，令生阳以死死阴，壮百骸以转中气，助中气以起百骸，饵食
肤受，罔不有功，藉用白茅，何咎之有，慎之至也。
【本草经·中品】
【气味】味甘，性寒，无毒。
【主治】主要治疗因劳损导致的身体虚弱消瘦，能补益中气，益气力，去除瘀血和血闭，消除寒热症状，通利小便。
【考证】曰：白茅产于楚地的山谷及田野间，各地也都有生长。春季生出苗叶，匍匐地面如针状，俗称“茅针”。三四月开花结穗，花序洁白如棉絮，随即结出细小的种子。到了秋天枯萎，其根名为“茹”。《易经》说“拔茅连茹”，是因为它们同类相连，所以根部牵连冗长，经过一寸便有一个节，质地柔白如筋，味道甘甜如甘蔗，可以用来制作饴糖，清澈滑润可口。根部到秋天时，深夜时分有时发出青光，腐烂后会化作萤火虫。白茅可以用作屋顶的苫盖材料，以及祭祀时包裹祭品的蓆子，称为“茅丝”。《诗经》说：“白天去割茅草，夜晚搓捻茅茎。”说的是谷类作物收获的日子，人力不足，白天取茅草不够，就晚上接着做，所以丝织的事刚结束，麻织的事紧接着兴起，野外的工作既已完成，宫廷的工作随即到来；在秋天储藏蔬菜，以补助不足的冬天；在夜晚搓捻茅茎，以弥补白天时间的不足。《列子》说：“像水波一样流动，像茅草一样随风倒伏。”茅靡，就是随风倒伏的样子。荑，是茅草刚长出来的嫩芽。《诗经》说：“手像柔嫩的茅芽一样白皙。”荑就是指这个。《相经》说：“筋不能约束身体，血不能荣华面色，手没有春天茅芽那样的柔嫩，头发有深秋蓬草那样的憔悴，这是形体衰败的下等表现。”所以强劲短促的，另属其他种类。另外有一种只生长在深山的，入秋开花像芦苇的花穗，果实尖黑，长约一分，粘衣服刺人，这叫“菅”。又有茎端生叶，茎上有粉，根头有毛的，叫“黄菅”。又有生长在湖南及江淮之间，叶背有三棱，气味像蒲草，可以用来包裹物品、滤酒（缩酒）的，叫“菁”。又有丛生像芦苇，叶子大如蒲草，高六七尺的，叫“芒”。它们的根都坚硬短促，不堪药用。
【发明】曰：茅这种物虽然微薄，但用处却很重要。它的体性柔和而本性正直，所以先王用它来作为垫衬之物。《易经》说：“用白茅草垫衬，没有灾祸。”象辞说：“因为柔顺在下。”大概是因为兑金在上，巽木之柔在下，而柔顺依附于中间，谨慎地运用这种方法前行，就不会有失误了。（白茅）确实是阳中之阴，归入手太阴肺经，中见阳明经的气化治法，用来运行营卫阴阳之气。大概太阴肺经，其始气从中焦产生，明丽于内，谨慎地守持于中，布散气机以往行，这样就没有过失，因此能补益中气，使气更加充沛，劳损得以恢复，创伤得以接续，虚损变得充实，消瘦变得丰满。以至于去除瘀血闭塞，消除寒热，通利二便，都是成就布散气机往行的功效验证罢了。《名医别录》扩大了它的作用，提到通利小便，治疗五淋、瘀血，以及崩漏、劳伤虚羸，以及强筋坚骨、肥厚肌肉致密腠理。《药性论》扩大了它治疗血闭，以及月经不调、血脉淋沥的作用。《肘后备急方》说咀嚼茅根，可以辟谷不死，这也是扩大补中益气的功效。庞安常主张治疗温病伏热在内，导致胸满呕哕，属于大下协热所致。用茅根建立中焦之气，葛根提振阴气，更广博了张仲景先生葛根汤的法度，从中焦布散气机，从肌表解散邪气罢了。《肘后备急方》治疗虚证后的水肿，认为是命门火衰，肾虚水泛，赤小豆主司肾水之心谷，借助茅根的明丽之性，如同釜底燃薪，通过呼吸肺气，营卫之气才能将行，水道才能通畅。如果是黄疸、谷疸、劳疸、黄汗、石水，颜色变化表现在肤色，征象见于皮肤者，猪为水畜，君药以茅根，也是广博《肘后方》治疗水病的方法，只是前方偏重于向右（降），此方更兼顾从左（升）。如果《千金方》解酒毒，担心烂坏脏腑的，饮用茅根汁，以涤荡中焦，还需要佐以葛花，想来更加神奇。如果突然遭受五尸虫侵害，损伤生阳之气，导致腹痛胀急不得呼吸，上冲心胸，旁攻两胁，像被牵引涌动尸鬼作害一样，用坚金之药利导，用茅火焚烧，追穷寻逐，使生阳战胜死阴，壮百骸以转动中气，助中气以兴起百骸，服用或外敷，无不有功，借助白茅草垫衬，有什么灾祸呢？这是极其谨慎的态度。
[Shennong Bencao Jing · Middle Grade]
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats emaciation and weakness due to overexertion; tonifies the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner), benefits Qi, removes blood stasis and blood obstruction, eliminates alternating chills and fever, and promotes urination.
[Verification] It is stated: Bai Mao (Imperata Rhizome) grows in the valleys and fields of Chu region, and is also found elsewhere. Seedlings emerge in spring, spreading on the ground like needles, commonly called "Mao Zhen" (Cattail Needle). In the third and fourth lunar months, it flowers and forms spikes, white and fluffy like cotton wool, subsequently bearing fine seeds. With autumn, it withers; its root is named "Ru". The I Ching says "Pulling up the thatch grass brings up the roots together," because they belong to the same category and are connected; thus, the roots are long and intertwined, forming nodes every inch, soft and white like sinews, sweet as sugarcane, used to make maltose syrup, clear, smooth, and palatable. By autumn, the roots sometimes emit a blue-green light at midnight; if rotted, they transform into fireflies. Thatch grass can be used for roofing and for wrapping sacrificial offerings, known as "Mao Si" (Thatch Silk). The Book of Songs states: "Gather thatch by day, twist it by night." This refers to the days of grain harvest; when labor is insufficient, gathering thatch by day is not enough, so one continues at night. Thus, after the silk work ends, the hemp work begins; once fieldwork is completed, palace work follows. Vegetables are stored in autumn to aid the insufficient winter; twisting thatch at night compensates for the lack of daytime. Liezi says: "Flowing like waves, swaying like thatch grass." "Mao Mi" means swaying with the wind. "Ti" refers to the newly sprouted shoots of thatch grass. The Book of Songs says: "Hands soft as tender shoots." "Ti" refers to this. The Xiangjing (Classic of Physiognomy) states: "If sinews cannot bind the body, and blood does not luster the complexion, hands lack the softness of spring shoots, and hair has the desolation of winter wormwood, this is the lowest state of form." Therefore, those that are tough and short belong to other categories. There is another type growing only in deep mountains; in autumn, it flowers like reeds, with sharp black fruits about one fen long, sticking to clothes and pricking people, called "Jian" (Saccharum spontaneum). Another type has leaves at the stem tip, powder on the stem, and hairs at the root head, called "Huang Jian" (Yellow Saccharum). Another type grows in Hunan and between the Jianghuai regions, with three ridges on the leaf back, smelling like cattail, usable for wrapping items and filtering wine (Suo Jiu), called "Jing" (Acorus calamus or similar). Another type grows in clumps like reeds, with large leaves like cattails, six or seven chi high, called "Mang" (Miscanthus). Their roots are all tough and short, unsuitable for medicinal use.
[Elucidation] It is said: Although Thatch Grass is humble, its utility is significant. Its nature is soft but its character is straight, hence the ancient kings used it as a lining mat. The I Ching says: "Using white thatch as a lining, no blame." The Image Commentary says: "Because softness is below." Generally, Dui Metal is above, Xun Wood's softness is below, and softness adheres to the center. Practicing this method cautiously leads to no loss. (Bai Mao) is indeed Yin within Yang, entering the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, manifesting the treatment method of the Yangming Meridian in the middle, to circulate Ying-Wei (Nutritive and Defensive) Qi and Yin-Yang. The Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian originates from the Middle Jiao, shining brightly within, maintaining caution in the center, distributing Qi to move forward, thus avoiding error. Hence, it tonifies the Middle, increasing Qi, restoring fatigue, healing injuries, filling deficiency, and plumping emaciation. Consequently, it removes blood stasis and obstruction, eliminates chills and fever, and facilitates urination and defecation, all being proofs of the efficacy of distributing Qi forward. The Mingyi Bie Lu expands its benefits to promoting urination, treating the Five Stranguries, blood stasis, metrorrhagia, overexertion-induced weakness, strengthening sinews and bones, and thickening muscles and tightening pores. Yaoxing Lun expands its treatment of blood obstruction, irregular menstruation, and dribbling blood. The Zhouhou Beiji Fang states that chewing Bai Mao Gen (Rhizoma Imperatae) allows one to survive without grain, further expanding its ability to tonify the Middle and benefit Qi. Pang Anchang advocated using it for warm diseases with latent heat inside, causing chest fullness, vomiting, and hiccups, resulting from severe purgation with accompanying heat. Bai Mao establishes the Central Qi, while Gegen (Puerariae Radix) raises Yin Qi, further broadening Master Zhang Zhongjing's Gegen Tang (Kudzu Decoction) method, distributing Qi from the center and dispersing pathogens from the muscle layer. The Zhouhou Beiji Fang treats edema after deficiency, attributing it to decline of Mingmen Fire and kidney deficiency leading to water flooding. Xiaodou (Adzuki Bean) governs the heart valley of kidney water, relying on the bright clarity of Bai Mao Gen, akin to burning fuel under the pot, utilizing lung Qi respiration, so that Ying-Wei Qi can proceed and water pathways can flow. For jaundice, grain jaundice, labor jaundice, yellow sweat, and stone water, where color changes manifest in skin tone and signs appear on the skin, since pigs are water animals, using Bai Mao Gen as the sovereign herb also broadens the water-treatment methods of the Zhouhou Fang. However, the former formula leans towards descending (right), while this one also considers ascending (left). If Qianjin Fang resolves alcohol toxicity fearing organ damage, drinking Bai Mao Gen juice cleanses the Middle Jiao, supplemented by Gegua (Puerariae Flos), which would surely be miraculous. If suddenly afflicted by the Five Corpse parasites, damaging Yang-Sheng Qi, causing abdominal pain, distension, urgency, inability to breathe, rushing up to the chest and heart, attacking both flanks, feeling as if dragged by moving corpse ghosts causing harm, using hard metal herbs to drain, burning with thatch fire, pursuing relentlessly, allowing Yang-Sheng to overcome Si-Yin (Dead Yin), strengthening the hundred bones to rotate Central Qi, assisting Central Qi to revive the hundred bones, whether ingested or applied topically, all achieve merit. Using white thatch as a lining, what blame could there be? This represents utmost caution.