（宋嘉 ）
【气味】甘凉，无毒。
【主治】煮食治小便赤涩，身体烦热，阴热，酒疽。
【核】曰∶萱宜下湿地，处处田野有之。初春丛生，可作荐俎。叶如蒲、蒜而柔弱，新
旧相代，四时长青。五月抽茎开花，六出四垂，朝放暮蔫，秋深乃尽，花有红黄紫三色。结
实三角，子如梧子，黑而光泽。
【 】曰∶尔雅翼云∶诗曰焉得谖草，言植之背。谖，忘也。卫之君子，行役为王前驱，
过时不及，其妇人思之，则心 首疾，思欲暂忘之而不可得，故愿得忘忧之草而植之，庶几
漠然而无所思，然世岂有此物也哉。盖亦极言其情耳，说者因萱音之与谖同也，遂命萱为忘
忧之草。盖以萱合其音，以忘合其义耳。然忘草可也，而所谓忘忧，忧之一字，何从出哉？
此亦诸儒傅会之语也。颐谓忧出于肺，情之所钟，志之所悲，神之所伤也。是以忧悲，则魄
藏之金郁。经云∶金郁则泄之，所以忘其忧也。而萱谐宣。宣，布也，散也，通也，遍也。
风回宣而所以宣阴阳也。宣之即所以泄之，泄之即所以畅之，畅之即所以忘之。忘之则既
顺乃宣，而忧可释矣。顾煮食主小便赤涩，身体烦热。即疏云∶金郁则泄之，解表利小水也
。然则草木之情，布在方策人未之思尔。
（宋嘉 ）
【气味】甘微苦，无毒。
【主治】主目疾，退翳膜，消积块症瘕，益肝胆，疗肠风，止痢，及妇人月水不断，崩
中赤白。
【核】曰∶出秦、陇、华、成诸郡，所在近水地亦有之。苗长尺许，丛生直上，一根只
一干，无花叶，状似凫茈苗，及粽心草，寸节中空，又似麻黄茎而稍粗，凌冬不凋。四月采
之，茎干糙涩，治木骨者，以之磋擦。
【 】曰∶木以金为贼，金淫则木郁矣。木贼草独干寸节，具积龠以成升，中虚凌冬，
合两明而作离，升木南征之象也。盖火为木子，刑所胜之金，复母所不胜之仇。斯木用行，
肝胆益，根窍开，目眚除，前阴疏，月水调，崩带止，后阴泄，滞利行，肠风已矣。至若积
块症瘕，此以坚固归金，正所以驱木贼也。然则翳膜之属，亦即坚固之金欤。
【萱草】
【气味】味甘，性凉，无毒。
【主治】煮食可治疗小便颜色红赤且排尿涩痛、身体烦闷发热、阴部热症、酒疸。
【考证】曰：萱草适宜生长在低湿之地，田野各处都有生长。初春时节丛生，可以作为祭祀或宴饮时的供品（荐俎）。叶片像蒲草、大蒜一样但质地柔弱，新旧叶子更替，四季常青。五月抽出花茎开花，花瓣六片向下垂展，早晨开放傍晚凋萎，深秋才结束，花朵有红、黄、紫三种颜色。结出三角形的果实，种子像梧桐子一样，黑色且有光泽。
【论述】曰：《尔雅翼》记载：《诗经》说“焉得谖草”，意思是把它种在北堂（背）。谖，就是忘的意思。卫国的君子，为王的前驱出行服役，过了期限还没回来，他的妻子思念他，于是心中头痛欲裂，想要暂时忘记这种思念却做不到，所以希望得到能让人忘记忧愁的草种在北堂，或许就能淡漠下来不再思念了，然而世上难道真有这种东西吗？这大概也是极力形容那种情感罢了。解说的人因为萱字的读音与谖字相同，于是称萱草为忘忧草。这不过是利用萱字谐音，用忘字来契合其含义罢了。如果说它是忘忧草，那么“忧”这个字，是从哪里来的呢？这也是各位儒生牵强附会的说法。我认为忧源于肺，是情感所专注、意志所悲痛、精神所受伤的结果。因此当人忧悲时，藏魄的金气就会郁结。《内经》说：金郁则泄之，所以通过宣泄金气来使人忘记忧愁。而萱字通“宣”。宣，就是布散、发散、通达、遍布的意思。风回环宣散从而调和阴阳。宣散也就是泄除，泄除也就是通畅，通畅也就是遗忘。忘记了也就顺应了宣散之道，忧愁就可以排解了。不过它煮食主要治疗小便红赤涩痛、身体烦热。正如疏注所说：金郁则泄之，即解除表邪、利小便。那么草木的情理，都记载在书籍中，只是人们没有去思考罢了。
【木贼】
【气味】味甘，微苦，无毒。
【主治】主治眼疾，退去翳膜，消除积块和症瘕，补益肝胆，治疗肠风，止住痢疾，以及妇女月经淋漓不断、崩漏下血及白带异常。
【考证】曰：产于秦州、陇州、华州、成州等各郡，靠近水的地方也有生长。苗长约一尺左右，丛生直立向上，一根只有一根主干，没有花叶，形状像慈姑的苗，又像粽心草，一寸一节中间空心，又有点像麻黄的茎但稍粗，经历冬天也不凋谢。四月采收，茎干粗糙涩手，治疗木质骨骼疾病的人，用它来磋擦打磨。
【论述】曰：木被金克制，金气过盛则木气郁结。木贼草独干寸节，具备积累之气以成升发之势，中空耐寒，符合两明结合而成离卦（火）的象意，象征木向南征伐（火克金）。大概火是木之子，刑罚其所胜的金，报复母亲（木）所不胜的仇敌（金）。这样木的作用得以施行，肝胆得到补益，根部孔窍开通，眼病去除，前阴疏通，月经调顺，崩漏带下停止，后阴排泄，滞涩痢疾通行，肠风已愈。至于积块症瘕，这是因为坚固归并于金，正是用来驱逐木贼（此处指代坚硬的病理产物或金邪）的方法。那么翳膜之类的东西，不也就是坚固的金气吗？
[Cao Ben Cheng Ya Ban Ji - Chapter: Xuan Cao / Mu Zei]
[Xuan Cao (Hemerocallis citrina)]
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, cool, non-toxic.
[Indications] Boiled and eaten to treat red and scanty/difficult urination, restlessness and fever in the body, heat in the yin region, and wine jaundice (Jiu Ju).
[Evidence] It is said: Xuan grass thrives in low and wet areas and grows everywhere in fields. In early spring, it grows in clumps and can be used as offerings for sacrifices or banquets. Its leaves resemble those of cattail or garlic but are softer; old and new leaves replace each other, remaining green throughout the year. In May, flower stalks emerge and bloom; the flowers have six petals drooping downwards, opening in the morning and withering by evening, lasting until late autumn. The flowers come in red, yellow, and purple colors. It bears triangular fruits, and the seeds resemble those of the parasol tree, being black and glossy.
[Discussion] It is said: *Erya Yi* records: The *Book of Songs* says, "How can I obtain the Xuan grass," meaning planting it at the back (north hall). "Xuan" means forget. A gentleman of Wei served as a vanguard for the king on a campaign. When he failed to return on time, his wife missed him so much that she suffered from headaches due to longing. She wished to temporarily forget this feeling but could not, so she hoped to plant the "worry-forgetting grass" at the north hall, perhaps allowing her mind to become indifferent and cease worrying. However, does such a thing really exist in the world? This is likely just an extreme expression of emotion. Explainers, because the pronunciation of "Xuan" (萱) is the same as "Xuan" (谖, to forget), named it the worry-forgetting grass. This merely uses the homophone of Xuan and matches the meaning of forgetting. If it is called the forget-grass, where does the character "Worry" (You) come from? This is also a forced interpretation by various Confucian scholars. I believe worry originates from the Lung. It is what emotions focus on, what will mourns, and what spirit is injured by. Therefore, when one is worried and sorrowful, the Metal Qi storing the Po becomes stagnant. The Classics state: "When Metal is stagnant, it should be drained." Thus, one forgets worry by draining the Metal Qi. Furthermore, "Xuan" harmonizes with "Xuan" (宣, to disseminate/disperse). "Xuan" means to spread, disperse, penetrate, and pervade. Wind circulates and disseminates, thereby balancing Yin and Yang. Disseminating is equivalent to draining; draining is equivalent to unblocking; unblocking is equivalent to forgetting. Once forgotten, one follows the path of dissemination, and worry can be released. However, its boiled consumption primarily treats red and difficult urination and bodily restlessness/fever. As noted in commentaries: "When Metal is stagnant, it should be drained," which means releasing the exterior and promoting urination. Thus, the nature of herbs and plants is recorded in texts, only people have not pondered it.
[Mu Zei (Equisetum hiemale)]
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, slightly bitter, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats eye diseases, reduces nebulae (corneal opacities), dissipates accumulations and masses (Zheng Jia), benefits the Liver and Gallbladder, treats intestinal wind (Chang Feng), stops dysentery, and addresses continuous menstruation in women, metrorrhagia (Beng Zhong) with red and white discharge.
[Evidence] It is said: It originates from Qin, Long, Hua, and Cheng commanderies, and is also found near water sources elsewhere. The seedlings grow about one chi long, emerging in dense clusters straight upward. Each root has only one stem, without flowers or leaves. Its shape resembles the seedling of Cyperus esculentus (Cigua) or the heart-leaf of Zongzi grass. It has nodes every inch and is hollow inside. It resembles the stem of Ephedra (Mahuang) but is slightly thicker, and does not wither even in winter. It is harvested in April. The stems and trunks are rough and astringent to the touch; those treating wooden bones use it for rubbing and polishing.
[Discussion] It is said: Wood is controlled by Metal; if Metal is excessive, Wood becomes stagnant. Mu Zei grass has a single stem with nodes every inch, possessing accumulated Qi to rise and ascend. It is hollow inside and withstands winter, combining two brightnesses to form the Li trigram (Fire), symbolizing Wood marching south (Fire conquers Metal). Fire is the child of Wood; it punishes the Metal it overcomes and avenges the enemy (Metal) that overcame its mother (Wood). Thus, the function of Wood is executed: the Liver and Gallbladder are benefited, root orifices open, eye diseases are removed, the anterior orifice is unblocked, menstruation is regulated, metrorrhagia and leukorrhea stop, the posterior orifice excretes, stagnation and dysentery pass, and intestinal wind ceases. As for accumulations and masses, these are solidified entities belonging to Metal; precisely, they are driven away by Mu Zei (Wood). Then, are things like nebulae also solidified Metal?