典藏书目

*Guangdong Tongzhi (General History of Guangdong)* records: The *Ruteng* vine hangs upside down like *Xuanhou* (*Rubus hirsutus*), with pointed and long leaves; when broken, it exudes a white juice resembling milk. For postpartum women, the vine is crushed to extract juice, mixed with rice to make porridge, which promotes natural lactation. The tender shoots are edible. The large fruits are called *Dongrongzi*, sized like pomelos, containing pulp arranged in overlapping segments, white as lard, sweet whether roasted or boiled. Carrying them for days retains their fragrance. Harvested in late autumn and early winter as gifts, they are prized as delicacies for consumption, possessing the therapeutic method of promoting blood circulation and unblocking lactation (from *Guangdong Tongzhi*).

Li’s *Caomi* records: *Ruzhiteng* grows in forests at the foot of mountains, two to three chi high. Leaves resemble grape leaves, bearing clusters of blue flowers. Breaking the root bark yields a milky juice; it is the supreme medicine for treating various toxins, carbuncles, and sores. It expels pus, disperses toxicity, generates flesh, relieves pain, reduces swelling, and benefits blood. Applied to unbearable pain, relief is immediate; whether abscesses are formed or unformed, ulcerated or intact, it is indispensable throughout (from *Li Shi Caomi*).

Wang Lianshi’s *Caoyao Fang* records: *Lumencao*, also known as *Ruzhicau* or *Tunainai*, has a cold and cool nature. It promotes the flow of milk and qi, enters the blood level, and its root stops dysentery. The fine vines refer to *Bidianjin*, also known as *Jimingcao*; steamed with chicken liver, it specifically treats all types of pediatric malnutrition-related eye diseases.

This vine epiphytically attaches to rock walls, trees, and human-made wall thorns. Leaves are similar to grapes but smaller, highly branched, tough, thick, green, and smooth, resembling bats in shape, hence the name. It treats lower back pain and scrofula.

For lower back pain, *Danliao Shixiao Fang* records: Use two liang of *Bafuteng* (three liang for the elderly), decocted in wine. Two doses stop the pain; do not take more. If overdosed, it spreads along walls, growing over a zhang long, with leaves resembling *Niteng*. For heatstroke, consume root and leaf powder. For deficiency consumptive diseases, boil with pig stomach.

*Caiyao Lu* records: This herb has no roots or leaves, growing on firewood by entangling and knotting. Named *Wugen Jinsicao*, it appears purple or yellow.

*Baicao Jing* records: *Wugen Jinsicao*, also called *Dayancao*, is the seedling of *Tusizi* (*Cuscuta chinensis*). Those growing on soybean stems are best. It resembles *Nuluo* (*Taxillus chinensis*); true specimens are yellow like gold and thin as thread. Reddish-purple, coarse specimens resembling rush pith are named *Nuluo*. Note that *Zibeifuping* (*Pistia stratiotes*) is also called *Wugencu*, but is distinct from this.

*Yaojian* records: *Wugen Jinsicao* has thin red stems, no leaves or roots, only fine green filaments attached to the stem nodes, spreading very long, often entangling plants. Its nature is cool, taste slightly sweet; it promotes urination and treats damp-heat. Harvested in the third and fourth lunar months.

Li’s *Caomi* records: *Chandouteng*, also called *Doumahuang*, has no leaves but bears flowers; its seeds are *Tusizi* seeds. It best treats blood disorders and resolves bean-pox toxin. For difficult labor, decoct in wine and take.

*Yaoxing Kao* records: *Jinsicao* lacks roots and leaves; the seedlings are used. Its efficacy lies in cooling blood and dispersing blood stasis, thus treating carbuncles, ulcers, swellings, and toxic sores. Bitter and cold in nature, it stops bleeding from vomiting, epistaxis, metrorrhagia, hematochezia, coughing up blood, and spitting blood. It resolves drug poison, miasma, carbuncles, and malignant sores.

*Taiwan Fu Zhi* records: Promotes urination and relieves strangury.

Ge Zu Fang records: Treats fox odor and sweat smell; repels sweat and cures malaria.

*Baicao Jing* records: Treats strangury, turbid dysentery, leukorrhea, and jaundice; resolves smallpox toxin; applies to erysipelas-like infections.

*Xiaodu Baoying Dan*, citing Wang Zhicai’s *Yibian*: For children who have not yet developed smallpox, administering one pill on the Spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox gradually digests the smallpox toxin. One or two doses result in sparse eruption. Six doses over three years prevent eruption entirely. This formula is frequently effective; do not underestimate it. Formula: *Chandouteng* 1.5 qian (harvested in August, the fine red silk entangled on soybean pods, dried in shade, serves as the chief ingredient, which is the essence of this medicine), black beans 30 grains, red beans 70 grains, hawthorn flesh 1 liang, fresh *Shengshengma* 0.75 liang, *Shengdihuang*, *Jingjie*, *Fangfeng*, *Chuan Duhuo*, *Gancao*, and *Danggui* each 0.5 liang, *Lianqiao* 0.75 liang, *Huanglian*, *Chishao Yao*, and *Jiegeng* each 0.5 liang, *Niubangzi* 1 liang, *Zhusha* separately ground (boiled with *Gancao*, then removed) 1.5 liang, bitter loofah 2 pieces (each five cun long, preferably aged through frost, charred to retain properties). Grind all medicines into an extremely fine powder, mix with brown sugar, pound over a thousand times, form pills the size of plum pits. Take one pill per dose, dissolved in strong decoction of *Gancao* water. I prepare refined materials for this. Combine on the Spring/Autumn Equinox, or the 15th day of the first or seventh lunar month. Must be done with piety. Avoid exposure to women, chickens, dogs, cats, or those in mourning. Perform in a clean room with incense. Face the sun and chant: "Divine true medicine, harmonizing with nature, infants swallow, longevity equal to heaven and earth. I invoke Taishang Laojun's urgent decree," seven breaths.

*Cihui Xiao Bian* records: Treats urinary retention where other medicines fail. A handful of *Jinsicao* boiled with leek roots, used to wash the lower abdomen, immediately restores urination. *Jinsicao* leaves have fine brown threads; found on trees near water beaches.