（本经下品）
【气味】苦微寒，有毒。
【主治】主惊痫，摇头弄舌，热气在腹中。
【核】曰∶出山阳川谷，及冤句。今河中、河阳、华、凤、文州，及江淮间亦有之。生
深山阴湿地，即紫河车、重楼金线、七叶一枝花也。一茎独上，茎当叶心。似王孙、鬼臼、
芍药、蓖麻辈叶。凡一茎三层，独王屋山产者，至五七层，每层七叶，叶色碧绿。夏月茎头
作花，一花七瓣，上有金丝下垂，蕊长三四寸，秋结红子，根如鬼臼，及紫参、苍术、菖蒲
等状，外紫中白，理细质脆，有粳糯两种。修治，洗切焙用。丹家采制三黄、砂、汞。
【 】曰∶蚤休，阳草也。以生成功用诠名。礼记云∶发扬蹈厉之已蚤，使之休止休息
尔。一茎独上，茎当叶心，叶必七，花瓣亦七，重台或一或三，或五或七，正阳数之生，火
数之成也。味苦气寒，生深山阴湿处，是阳以阴为用矣。对待阴以阳用，致热在中，若风自
火出，而弄舌摇头，及阳蹈阴中而痫，阴越阳中而惊，此皆阴阳舛错，越动静之尝故尔。所
谓发扬蹈厉之已蚤，使之休止休息也。
（头为诸阳之首，舌乃心火之苗，盖动摇名风，若风之自火出也。）
（本经下品）
【气味】辛温，有毒。
【主治】主杀蛊毒，鬼疰精物，辟恶气不祥，逐邪，解百毒。
【核】曰∶出九真山谷，及冤句、荆州、峡州、襄州，近以钱唐、余杭径山者为上。生
深山岩石之阴，即独脚莲、唐婆镜、马目毒公、羞天花、八角盘也。二三月挺生一茎，中空
独上，茎当叶心，叶居茎上，如初生荷叶，边出八角，面青背紫，丛生细毛，揉之作瓜李香。
旦则东向，暮则西倾，犹葵之卫足也。花开叶下，连缀茎间，未尝见日，故曰羞天。风来不
动，风去自摇，能不为风力所转矣。其叶，或二三层叠，总一茎当心直上，或旁生岐出，必
另贯叶心，不与本茎相联系也。年生一茎，茎枯根作一臼，新臼次年另生，则旧臼中腐，此
陈新相易，九年乃作九臼，九臼者有神，根形如苍术，及黄精之岐曲，以连生臼窍为别也。
辟谷，伏汞，畏垣衣。
【 】曰∶独茎八角，独根九臼，阳以阴为体，阴以阳为用也。茎生叶心，花蔽叶下，
阴阳互为根蒂也。花如铃铎，风来不动，风去自摇，见阴阳之体能立用能行也。旦则东向，
暮则西倾，与阴阳浮沉于升降也。伏汞成丹，辟谷不饥，操阴阳造化之权衡也。此尽阴阳造
化之变，鬼物唯阴，宁不敛掬。许氏云∶望之敛掬曰臼，臼音 ，与掬同。两手曰掬，与下
画相连之去声者不同。
【《神农本草经》列为下品】
【气味】味苦，性微寒，有毒。
【主治】主要治疗惊痫（因惊恐或热邪引起的抽搐痉挛病症），摇头弄舌（头部摇动、舌头吐弄），热气积聚在腹部。
【考证】曰：产于山阳的川谷地带，以及冤句。现在的河中、河阳、华州、凤州、文州，以及江淮之间也有出产。生长在深山的阴湿之地，也就是紫河车、重楼金线、七叶一枝花。一根茎独自向上生长，茎位于叶丛的中心。叶片形状类似王孙、鬼臼、芍药、蓖麻等植物的叶子。通常一层茎上有三层叶，唯独王屋山产出的，多达五到七层，每层七片叶子，叶色碧绿。夏季茎头开花，一朵花有七片花瓣，上面有金丝状的花蕊下垂，花蕊长三四寸，秋季结红色的果实，根部形状像鬼臼，也类似紫参、苍术、菖蒲等，外皮紫色内部白色，纹理细致质地脆，分为粳糯两种质地。炮制方法：清洗、切片、焙干后使用。炼丹家采集它来制作三黄（黄连、黄芩、黄柏）、朱砂、水银等丹药。
【按语】曰：蚤休，属于阳草。根据它生成功效的作用来命名。《礼记》说：“发扬蹈厉之已蚤”，意思是让它停止休息。一根茎独自向上，茎位于叶心，叶子一定是七片，花瓣也是七片，重台（指花或叶的重叠层数）或者一层、三层、五层、七层，这正是阳数生成、火数成就的象征。味道苦气寒，生长在深山阴湿处，这是以阴为用的阳。相对于阴而用阳，导致热邪在中焦，如果风从火出，就会引起弄舌摇头；如果阳陷入阴中则发痫，阴越出阳中则发惊，这些都是阴阳错乱，违背了动静常规的缘故。所谓“发扬蹈厉之已蚤”，就是让它休止休息。
（头部是诸阳经汇聚的首部，舌头是心火的苗窍，大概动摇称为风，就像风从火中产生一样。）
【《神农本草经》列为下品】
【气味】味辛，性温，有毒。
【主治】主要杀灭蛊毒（一种由虫蛇毒气引起的疾病），驱除鬼疰精物（中医认为的致病邪祟），辟除恶气和不祥之气，驱逐邪气，解除各种毒素。
【考证】曰：产于九真山谷，以及冤句、荆州、峡州、襄州，现在以钱塘、余杭径山出产的为上品。生长在深山的岩石背阴处，也就是独脚莲、唐婆镜、马目毒公、羞天花、八角盘。二三月间挺立生出一根茎，中空独自向上，茎位于叶心，叶子生在茎上，像初生的荷叶，边缘长出八个角，正面青色背面紫色，丛生细毛，揉搓时有瓜果般的香气。早晨朝向东方，傍晚倾斜向西方，如同葵花护卫足部一样。花朵开在叶子下面，连接缀于茎间，从未见过阳光，所以叫“羞天”。风吹时不动，风停后自行摇动，能够不被风力所转动。它的叶子，有的两三层重叠，总归是一根茎直穿叶心向上，有的旁生分枝伸出，必定另外贯穿叶心，不与主茎相联系。每年生一根茎，茎枯萎后根部形成一个臼状结构，新的臼次年另生，旧的臼中腐烂，这是陈新交替，九年形成九个臼，九个臼是有神性的，根部形状像苍术及黄精那样弯曲歧出，以相连生的臼窍作为区别特征。用于辟谷（不食五谷），伏汞（使水银安定），畏惧垣衣（墙上的苔藓或爬墙虎类植物）。
【按语】曰：独茎八角，独根九臼，是以阴为体，以阳为用。茎生于叶心，花遮蔽于叶下，阴阳互为根本。花朵像铃铎，风吹不动，风去自摇，体现了阴阳本体能够确立功用并运行的特性。早晨向东，傍晚向西，与阴阳在升降过程中的浮沉相应。伏汞成丹，辟谷不饥，掌握了阴阳造化的权衡。这穷尽了阴阳造化的变化，鬼物只属阴类，怎能不被收敛呢？许慎《说文解字》说：望过去像手捧的样子叫做臼，臼音同“掬”，与“掬”相同。两手合捧叫做掬，这与下面笔画相连的去声字不同。
(Recorded in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* as a Lower Grade herb)
[Flavor and Property] Bitter, slightly cold, toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats jingxian (convulsions and epilepsy), shaking of the head and protrusion/manipulation of the tongue, and heat qi accumulating in the abdomen.
[Verification] It is said: Produced in the river valleys of Shanyang, and Yuanju. Currently found in Hezhong, Heyang, Huazhou, Fengzhou, Wenzhou, and between the Jianghuai regions. Grows in deep mountains in shady and moist places; it is also known as Zihache (Purple River Cart), Chonglou Jinxiian (Polygonatum King's Line), and Qiye Yizhihua (Seven Leaves One Flower). A single stem grows upward alone, with the stem positioned at the center of the leaves. The leaf shape resembles that of Wangsun, Jiujiao, Shaoyao, and Bima. Typically, there are three layers of leaves per stem section; however, those produced in Wangwu Mountain have up to five or seven layers, with seven leaves per layer, and the leaves are dark green. In summer, flowers bloom at the stem tip; each flower has seven petals, with golden silk-like stamens hanging down, and the stamens are three to four cun long. Red berries form in autumn. The root resembles Jiujiao, Zican, Cangzhu, and Changpu, being purple on the outside and white inside, with fine texture and brittle quality, divided into two types: jing (non-glutinous) and nuo (glutinous). Processing: Wash, slice, and bake before use. Alchemists harvest it to prepare Sanhuang (Three Yellows: Coptidis Rhizoma, Scutellariae Radix, Phellodendri Cortex), Zhusha (Cinnabar), and Shuigeng (Mercurius).
[Commentary] It is said: Zaoxiu is a Yang herb. Its name is derived from its generative function. The *Book of Rites* states: "Having already performed vigorous movements, let it rest." This implies stopping and resting. A single stem grows upward, positioned at the center of the leaves; there are invariably seven leaves and seven petals. The number of overlapping layers (Chongtai) may be one, three, five, or seven, which corresponds to the generation of Yang numbers and the completion of Fire numbers. With a bitter taste and cold nature, growing in deep mountain shade and moisture, this represents Yang utilizing Yin. Relative to Yin, Yang is utilized, causing heat in the middle jiao. If wind arises from fire, it leads to tongue manipulation and head shaking; if Yang sinks into Yin, epilepsy occurs; if Yin oversteps into Yang,惊 (fright/panic) occurs. These are all due to the disorder of Yin and Yang, violating the norms of movement and stillness. Thus, "having performed vigorous movements," it is made to rest.
(The head is the summit of all Yang meridians, and the tongue is the sprout of Heart Fire. Generally, trembling is termed Wind, similar to wind arising from fire.)
(Recorded in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* as a Lower Grade herb)
[Flavor and Property] Pungent, warm, toxic.
[Indications] Primarily kills gu poison (poison caused by insects/snakes), expels Gui Zhu Jing Wu (pathogenic spirits/entities), wards off evil qi and inauspicious influences, drives out pathogenic factors, and resolves various toxins.
[Verification] It is said: Produced in Jiuzhen Valley, as well as Yuanju, Jingzhou, Xiazhou, and Xiangzhou. Currently, those from Qiantang, Yuhang, and Jingshan are considered superior. Grows in the shade of rocks in deep mountains; it is also known as Dujiolian, Tangpojing, Maimu Dougong, Xiutianhua, and Bajiaopan. In the second and third lunar months, a single hollow stem emerges vertically, positioned at the center of the leaves. The leaves sit on the stem, resembling newly emerged lotus leaves, with eight edges emerging from the margin, green on the front and purple on the back, covered with fine hairs that emit a melon-like fragrance when rubbed. In the morning, it faces east; in the evening, it tilts west, akin to sunflowers protecting their roots. Flowers bloom beneath the leaves, connected along the stem, never exposed to sunlight, hence named "Xiutian" (Shaming Heaven). It does not move when the wind blows but sways naturally when the wind ceases, demonstrating resistance to wind force. Its leaves may overlap in two or three layers, all rising straight through the stem center, or branch out laterally, always piercing the leaf center separately without connecting to the main stem. Each year produces one stem; when the stem withers, the root forms one mortar-like structure (Jiu). The new mortar forms the next year, while the old one rots. This cycle of old and new exchange results in nine mortars after nine years. Nine mortars possess spiritual significance. The root shape resembles Cangzhu and Huangjing, characterized by curved branches and connected mortar cavities. Used for Bigu (grain avoidance), Fugui (calming mercury), and fears Yuanyi (wall moss/climbing plants).
[Commentary] It is said: Single stem with eight angles, single root with nine mortars; this is Yin serving as the substance and Yang serving as the function. The stem grows at the leaf center, and flowers are hidden beneath the leaves; Yin and Yang serve as mutual roots. The flowers resemble bells; unmoved by wind but swaying after it passes, they demonstrate the ability of Yin and Yang to establish function and action. Facing east in the morning and west in the evening, they correspond to the floating and sinking of Yin and Yang during ascent and descent. Calming mercury to form elixirs and avoiding grain without hunger demonstrates mastery over the balance of Yin and Yang creation. This exhausts the transformations of Yin and Yang creation. Ghostly entities belong solely to Yin; how could they not be gathered and contained? Xu Shen states in his glossary: "Looking like something held in hands is called Jiu (mortar)." The pronunciation of Jiu is the same as Ju (to hold in both hands). Two hands holding together is called Ju, which differs from the departing tone character connected by strokes below.