典藏书目

Non-toxic.
Cucumber Vegetable (Huangguacai): Mainly treats the unblocking of stagnant Qi and the promoting of gastrointestinal function (Wang Ying). [Name] Daylily (Li Shizhen states): Its flowers are yellow, and its odor resembles that of a melon, hence the name. [Origin] (Wang Ying states): Cucumber Vegetable grows wild in fields and marshes; it resembles rape (Brassica chinensis) but has a slightly bitter taste. It is very fragrant and delicious when made into soup or cooked as a vegetable. [Seedling/Leaf] (Li Shizhen states): This vegetable is ubiquitous in fields. The plant is small, resembling Shepherd's Purse (Shepherdiae Herba); its flowers, stems, and leaves are similar to those of Sonchus arvensis (Diding), but smaller. One plant bears multiple flowers and produces fine seeds, unlike Sonchus arvensis whose flowers form fluff. Wild people eat it and also collect it to feed goslings. [Season] Seedlings emerge in February; flowers appear in March and April; yellow flowers bloom in May. [Taste] Sweet, slightly bitter. [Nature] Slightly cold.

Water Fern (Shuijue): Mainly treats abdominal masses and accumulations. Boiled plainly and consumed for one or two days, it expels noxious substances from the body. Mixed foods should be avoided; it is best to resume normal diet after more than a month (Compendium of Materia Medica). [Origin] (Li Shizhen states): Water Fern resembles ferns and grows in water. (The Lüshi Chunqiu states): Among the delicacies of vegetables, there is the "Fan" of Yunmeng Marsh, which is this vegetable. "Fan" is pronounced "Qi". [Taste] Sweet, bitter. [Nature] Cold.

Slightly toxic.
Chenopodium Leaf (Liyè): Mainly treats parasitic infections (Chen Zangqi). Decoction for washing treats insect sores; gargling treats dental ailments; mashed application treats various insect bites and removes vitiligo (Compendium of Materia Medica). Root: Mainly treated by burning to ash, mixed equally with Phragmitis Rhizoma Ash (Digui) and Artemisia argyi Ash (Aohui), mixed with water, steamed to extract juice, and boiled down into a paste. Applied to warts and black moles to corrode malignant flesh (Compendium of Materia Medica). [Name] Hongxinhui, Hedingcao, Yanzhicai. [Origin] Chenopodium is found everywhere. [Seedling/Leaf] Chenopodium, specifically the red-hearted variety, has slightly larger stems and leaves. People in Hebei call it Luoli; people in the South call it Yanzhicai or Hedingcao. These names are derived from color and shape. When tender, it is edible, which is why ancients distinguished between eating coarse vegetables (like Chenopodium) and fine foods. When old, the stem can serve as a walking stick. (The Book of Songs states): "On the south mountain is Cai, on the north mountain is Tai." (Lu Ji's annotation states): Cai refers to Chenopodium, which is edible when young. People in Qiao and Pei regions call Perilla (Jisu) "Cai"; this is an example of different names for different things. (Yunfu) incorrectly refers to Chenopodium as Luozhou. (Baojian Lun states): Heding Longya, with a tip resembling a crane's head, is used in external alchemy. [Harvest] Collected along with seeds in August and September. [Usage] (Li Shizhen states): According to Gengxin Yuce: Heding is a Yin herb. Its juice boiled with powder frost, or its ash leached and boiled, can stabilize Alum (Mingfan), form grass cinnabar, process sulfur, stabilize Mercury (Qingshuiyin), and handle Realgar (Xionghuang) and Arsenic Trioxide (Pishi). [Taste] Sweet. [Nature] Neutral. [Combined Treatment Formula]: Five jin of Hongxinhui Ash, three jin of Solani Tuber (Qiezi Genjing), and five jin of Xanthii Fructus Root/Stem (Canger Genjing), all dried and burned to ash. Decoct in ten dou of water, strain the liquid, and boil down into a paste. Separately, take half liang of Frankincense (Ruxiang), one fen of Lead Frost (Qianshuang), one fen of Calomelas (Nifen), and two liang of refined Beef Tallow (Niuzhi). Mix evenly. Apply three times daily to treat vitiligo.