（《纲目》）
【释名】莠（音酉）、光明草（《纲目》）、
时珍曰∶莠草秀而不实，故字从秀。穗形象狗尾，故俗名狗尾。其茎治目痛，故方
士称为光明草、阿罗汉草。
【集解】时珍曰∶原野垣墙多生之。苗叶似粟而小，其穗亦似粟，黄白色而无实。采茎
筒盛，以治目病。恶莠之乱
苗，即此也。
茎
【主治】疣目，贯发穿之，即干灭也。凡赤眼拳毛倒睫者，翻转目睑，以一二茎蘸水戛
去恶血，甚良（时珍）。
（《唐本草》）
【释名】莲子草（《唐本》）、旱莲草（《图经
）、墨头草（《纲目》）、墨菜（《纲目》）、猢孙头（《必用》）、猪牙草。
时珍曰∶鳢，乌鱼也，其肠亦乌。此草柔茎，断之有墨汁出，故名，俗呼墨菜是也。细
实颇如莲房状，故得莲名。
【集解】恭曰∶鳢肠生下湿地，所在坑渠间多有。苗似旋复。二月、八月采，阴干。
颂曰∶处处有之，南方尤多。此有二种，一种叶似柳而光泽，茎似马齿苋，高一、二尺，开
花细而白，其实若小莲房，苏恭谓似旋复者是也，一种苗梗枯瘦，颇似莲花而黄色，实亦作
房而圆，南人谓之连翘者。二种折其苗皆有汁出，须臾而黑，俗谓之旱莲子，亦谓之金陵草。
时珍曰∶旱莲有二种∶一种苗似旋复而花白细者，是鳢肠；一种花黄紫而结房如莲房者，乃
是小莲翘也，炉火家亦用之，见连翘条。
草
【气味】甘、酸，平，无毒。
【主治】血痢。针灸疮发，洪血不可止者，敷之立已。汁涂眉发，生速而繁（《唐本》）。
乌髭发，益肾阴（时珍）。止血排脓，通小肠，敷一切疮并蚕 （大明）。膏点鼻中，添脑
（萧炳）。
【附方】旧一，新十一。
金陵煎，益髭发，变白为黑∶金陵草一秤，六月以后收采，拣青嫩无泥土者。不用洗，
摘去
黄叶，烂捣，新布绞取汁，以纱绢滤过，入通油器钵盛之，日中煎五日。又取生姜一斤绞汁，
白蜜一斤合和，日中煎，以柳本篦搅勿停手，待如稀饧，药乃成矣。每旦日及午后各服一匙，
以温酒一盏化下。如欲作丸，日中再煎，令可丸，大如梧子，每服三十丸。及时多合为佳，
其效甚速。（孙真人《千金月令方》）
乌须固齿∶《摄生妙用方》∶七月取旱莲草（连根）一斤（用无灰酒洗净），青盐四两（腌
三
宿）。同汁入油锅中，炒存性，研末。日用擦牙，连津咽之。又法∶旱莲取汁，同盐炼干，
研末擦牙。《寿亲养老新书》旱莲散∶乌髭固牙。温尉云∶纳合相公用此方，年七十须发不
白，恳求始得。后遇张经历朝请，始传分两也。旱莲草一两半，麻枯饼三两，升麻、青盐各
三两半，诃子（连核）二十个，皂角三梃，月蚕砂二两。为末，薄醋面糊丸弹子大，晒干入
泥瓶中，火煨令烟出存性，取出研末。日用揩牙。
偏正头痛∶鳢肠草汁滴鼻中。（《圣济总录》）
一切眼疾，翳膜遮障，凉脑，治头痛，能生发。五月五日平旦合之∶莲子草一握，蓝叶
一握
，油一斤。同浸，密封四十九日。每卧时，以铁匙点药摩顶上，四十九遍，久久甚佳。（《圣
济总录》）
系臂截疟∶旱莲草捶烂，男左女右，置寸口上，以古文钱压定，帛系住，良久起小泡，
谓之天灸。其疟即止，甚效。（王执中《资生经》）
小便溺血∶金陵草（一名墨头草）、车前草各等分，杵取自然汁，每空心服三杯，愈乃
止。（《医学正传》）
肠风脏毒，下血不止∶旱莲子草，瓦上焙，研末。每服二钱，米饮下。（《家藏经验方》）
痔漏疮发∶旱莲草一把，连根须洗净，用石臼擂如泥，以极热酒一盏冲入，取汁饮之，
滓敷
患处，重者不过三服即安。太仆少卿王鸣凤患此，策杖方能移步，服之得瘥。累治有验。（刘
松石《保寿堂方》）
疔疮恶肿∶五月五日收旱莲草阴干，仍露一夜收。遇疾时嚼一叶粘贴，外以消毒膏护之，
二三日疔脱。（《圣济总录》）
风牙疼痛∶猢孙头草，入盐少许，于掌心揉擦即止。（《集玄方》）
【《本草纲目》】
【释名】莠（读音同“酉”）、光明草（出自《本草纲目》）。
李时珍说：莠草只开花不结果，所以字形从“秀”。穗子的形状像狗尾巴，所以俗称狗尾草。它的茎能治疗眼痛，所以方士称它为光明草、阿罗汉草。
【集解】李时珍说：原野和城墙边多生长这种植物。苗叶比粟米小，穗子也像粟米，呈黄白色但不结实。采摘茎部用筒状容器盛装，用来治疗眼病。所谓“恶莠之乱苗”，指的就是这种草。
茎
【主治】治疗疣目（寻常疣），将头发穿过疣体，即可干枯脱落。凡是患有赤眼（结膜炎）、拳毛倒睫（睫毛内翻）的人，翻转眼睑，用一两根茎蘸水擦拭去除瘀血，效果很好（李时珍）。
（《新修本草》）
【释名】莲子草（出自《新修本草》）、旱莲草（出自《本草图经》）、墨头草（出自《本草纲目》）、墨菜（出自《本草纲目》）、猢孙头（出自《必用方》）、猪牙草。
李时珍说：鳢就是乌鱼，它的肠也是黑色的。这种草茎柔嫩，折断后有墨汁流出，因此得名，俗称墨菜。它的果实很细，很像莲蓬的形状，所以得了“莲”的名字。
【集解】苏恭说：旱莲草生长在低湿之地，各地的坑渠间很多。苗叶像旋覆花。二月、八月采收，阴干。
苏颂说：到处都有，南方尤其多。这有两种，一种叶子像柳叶且有光泽，茎像马齿苋，高一二尺，开细小的白花，果实像小莲蓬，苏恭说的像旋覆花的就是这一种；另一种苗梗枯瘦，很像莲花但花色黄，果实也呈房状且圆，南方人叫它连翘。这两种折断苗茎都有汁液流出，一会儿变黑，俗称旱莲子，也叫金陵草。
李时珍说：旱莲有两种：一种苗像旋覆花而花白细的，是真正的旱莲草（鳢肠）；一种花黄紫色且结房如莲蓬的，是小连翘，炼丹家也用，见连翘条目。
草
【气味】甘、酸，平性，无毒。
【主治】血痢。针灸后疮口出血不止者，敷上此药立即停止。汁液涂抹眉毛头发，生长迅速且茂盛（出自《新修本草》）。
使胡须头发变黑，补益肾阴（李时珍）。止血排脓，通利小肠，敷治各种疮疡及蚕啮伤（大明）。膏剂点入鼻中，添补脑髓（萧炳）。
【附方】旧方一个，新方十一个。
金陵煎，有益髭发、使白发变黑的功效：取金陵草一秤，六月以后采收，挑选青嫩无泥土的。不用清洗，摘去黄叶，捣烂，用新布绞取汁液，用纱绢过滤，放入通油器皿钵中，在阳光下煎煮五天。再取生姜一斤绞汁，白蜜一斤混合，在阳光下煎煮，用柳木梳不断搅拌，等到像稀糖稀一样，药就制成了。每天早晨和午后各服一匙，用一杯温酒化开送下。如果想做成丸药，再在阳光下煎煮至可制成丸药的程度，大小如梧桐子，每次服三十丸。最好在时令充足时多制作，效果很快。（孙思邈《千金月令方》）
乌须固齿：《摄生妙用方》：七月取旱莲草（带根）一斤（用无灰酒洗净），青盐四两（腌制三晚）。连同汁液放入油锅中，炒至存性，研成粉末。每天刷牙使用，连同唾液咽下。又一种方法：取旱莲草汁，同盐炼干，研末擦牙。《寿亲养老新书》旱莲散：乌髭固牙。温尉说：宰相吕端曾用此方，七十岁时须发不白，恳求才得到。后来遇到张经历朝请，才传下了分量比例。旱莲草一两半，麻枯饼三两，升麻、青盐各三两半，诃子（带核）二十个，皂角三梃，月蚕砂二两。研成粉末，用薄醋面糊制成弹子大的丸药，晒干后装入泥瓶，用火煨至冒烟存性，取出研末。每天刷牙使用。
偏正头痛：滴鳢肠草汁于鼻中。（《圣济总录》）
一切眼疾，翳膜遮障，凉脑，治头痛，能促进头发生长。五月五日清晨配制：莲子草一把，蓝叶一把，油一斤。一同浸泡，密封四十九天。每次睡觉前，用铁勺蘸药摩头顶四十九遍，长期坚持效果很好。（《圣济总录》）
系臂截疟：将旱莲草捶烂，男性放在左手，女性放在右手，置于寸口脉处，用古铜钱压住，用布条系紧，过一会儿起小水泡，称为天灸。疟疾即止，效果显著。（王执中《资生经》）
小便溺血：金陵草（一名墨头草）、车前草各等分，捣取自然汁，每空腹服三杯，痊愈为止。（《医学正传》）
肠风脏毒，便血不止：旱莲子草，在瓦上焙干，研成粉末。每次服二钱，米饮送下。（《家藏经验方》）
痔漏疮发：旱莲草一把，连根须洗净，用石臼擂成泥状，冲入极热的一盏酒，取汁饮用，药渣敷在患处，重症不过三次服药即可安宁。太仆少卿王鸣凤患此病，拄拐杖才能移动，服用后痊愈。多次治疗有效。（刘松石《保寿堂方》）
疔疮恶肿：五月五日收采旱莲草阴干，再露天放置一夜收藏。发病时嚼碎一片粘贴，外用消毒膏保护，二三天后疔疮脱落。（《圣济总录》）
风牙疼痛：猢孙头草，加少许盐，在掌心揉擦即止。（《集玄方》）
[Compendium of Materia Medica]
[Nomenclature] You (pronounced 'You'), Guangming Cao (Light Grass, *Ecliptae Herba*) [from *Bencao Gangmu*].
Li Shizhen stated: The weed *You* flowers but does not bear fruit, hence the character contains 'Xiu' (showy). Its spike resembles a dog's tail, hence the common name Dogtail Grass. Its stem treats eye pain, hence alchemists call it Guangming Cao or Arahana Cao.
[Collection and Explanation] Li Shizhen stated: It grows abundantly in fields, plains, and along walls. The seedlings and leaves are smaller than millet, and the spikes resemble millet, being yellowish-white but sterile. Harvest the stems, store them in tube-shaped containers, and use them to treat eye diseases. The phrase "hating *You* for confusing the seedlings" refers to this plant.
Stem
[Indications] Treats verrucae vulgaris (common warts). Thread hair through the wart, and it will dry up and fall off. For patients with red eyes (conjunctivitis) or trichiasis (inverted eyelashes), evert the eyelid, dip one or two stems in water, and wipe away the stagnant blood; this is very effective (Li Shizhen).
[Newly Revised Materia Medica]
[Nomenclature] Lianzi Cao (Lotus Seed Grass) [from *Xinxiu Bencao*], Hanlian Cao (Dry Lotus Grass) [from *Bencao Tujing*], Motou Cao (Ink Head Grass) [from *Bencao Gangmu*], Mo Cai (Vegetable Ink) [from *Bencao Gangmu*], Husun Tou (Monkey Head) [from *Biyong Fang*], Zhuya Cao (Pig Tooth Grass).
Li Shizhen stated: *Li* refers to the black carp, whose intestines are also black. This herb has soft stems that exude black juice when broken, hence the name, commonly called Mo Cai. Its seeds are fine and resemble the shape of a lotus pod, hence the name 'Lian'.
[Collection and Explanation] Su Gong stated: *Li Chang* grows in low, wet areas and is abundant in ditches everywhere. The seedlings resemble *Inula japonica*. Harvest in February and August, and dry in the shade.
Su Song stated: It is found everywhere, especially in the south. There are two varieties: one has leaves resembling willow leaves with a glossy surface, stems like *Portulaca oleracea*, growing one to two feet tall, opening small white flowers, with fruits resembling small lotus pods; this is the variety Su Gong said resembled *Inula*. The other variety has withered and thin stems, resembling yellow lotus flowers, with round, pod-like fruits; southerners call it Lianqiao. Both varieties exude juice when stems are broken, which turns black shortly after, commonly known as Hanlian Zi or Jinling Cao.
Li Shizhen stated: There are two types of Hanlian: one with seedlings resembling *Inula* and small white flowers is true *Li Chang*; the other with yellow-purple flowers and lotus-pod-like fruits is Small Lianqiao, used by alchemists, see the entry for Lianqiao.
Herb
[Properties and Flavor] Sweet, sour, neutral, non-toxic.
[Indications] Treats bloody dysentery. For bleeding from acupuncture sores that cannot be stopped, apply externally to stop immediately. Juice applied to eyebrows and hair promotes rapid and dense growth [from *Xinxiu Bencao*].
Darkens beard and hair, tonifies Kidney Yin (Li Shizhen). Stops bleeding, discharges pus, unblocks the Small Intestine, applies to all sores and leech bites (Da Ming). Paste instilled into the nose replenishes the brain (Xiao Bing).
[Attached Prescriptions] One old prescription, eleven new prescriptions.
Jinling Jian, benefits beard and hair, turns white to black: Take one cheng of Jinling Cao, harvested after June, selecting green, tender parts without soil. Do not wash. Remove yellow leaves, pound thoroughly, squeeze juice using new cloth, filter through gauze, place in an oil-resistant vessel, and decoct in sunlight for five days. Then take one jin of ginger juice and one jin of white honey, mix, and decoct in sunlight, stirring constantly with a wooden comb until it resembles thin syrup; the medicine is ready. Take one spoon each morning and afternoon, dissolved in a cup of warm wine. If making pills, decoct further in sunlight until pillable, size of Sophora seeds, take thirty pills per dose. Best to prepare in large quantities during season; effect is very rapid (Sun Simiao, *Qianjin Yueling Fang*).
Blacken beard and strengthen teeth: *Shesheng Miaoyong Fang*: In July, take one jin of Hanlian Cao (with roots) (washed with pure wine), four liang of Qingyan (green salt) (marinated for three nights). Put together with juice into an oil pan, stir-fry until preserved nature remains, grind into powder. Use daily to brush teeth, swallowing saliva. Another method: Extract Hanlian juice, refine with salt until dry, grind into powder for brushing teeth. *Shouqin Yanglao Xinshu* Hanlian San: Blackens beard and strengthens teeth. Wen Wei said: Chancellor Lu Duan used this prescription at age seventy with no white hair, begged for it and finally obtained it. Later met Zhang Jingli Chaoqing, who transmitted the proportions. Hanlian Cao 1.5 liang, Mazhu Bing (hemp cake) 3 liang, Shengma and Qingyan 3.5 liang each, Hezi (with core) 20 pieces, Zaojiao 3 sticks, Yue Cansha (silkworm sand) 2 liang. Grind into powder, make pills the size of marbles using thin vinegar paste, dry, put in clay bottle, fire-roast until smoke appears preserving nature, take out and grind. Use daily to brush teeth.
Oblique and frontal headache: Instill *Li Chang* juice into the nose (*Shengji Zonglu*).
All eye diseases, nebula obstruction, cools the brain, treats headache, promotes hair growth. Prepare on the fifth day of the fifth month at dawn: One handful of Lianzi Cao, one handful of Lan Ye (Isatis leaf), one jin of oil. Soak together, seal tightly for forty-nine days. Before sleep, use an iron spoon to apply medicine and massage the vertex forty-nine times; long-term use is very good (*Shengji Zonglu*).
Tie arm to cure malaria: Pound Hanlian Cao until mashed, place on male left hand or female right hand, over the Cun Kou pulse point, press with ancient coins, tie with cloth. After a while, small blisters appear, called Tian Jiu (Heavenly Moxibustion). The malaria stops, very effective (Wang Zhizhong, *Zisheng Jing*).
Hematuria: Jinling Cao (also called Motou Cao) and Cheqian Cao in equal parts, pound to obtain natural juice, take three cups on an empty stomach, stop when cured (*Yixue Zhengchuan*).
Changfeng and Zangdu, continuous lower bleeding: Bake Hanlian Zi Cao on tiles, grind into powder. Take two qian per dose, washed down with rice drink (*Jiacang Jingyan Fang*).
Hemorrhoids and fistulas with sores: One bunch of Hanlian Cao, wash clean with roots and hairs, pound in stone mortar into paste, pour in one cup of very hot wine, take juice internally, apply residue externally. Severe cases resolve within three doses. Wang Mingfeng, Vice Minister of Imperial Carriages, suffered from this, could only move with a cane, recovered after taking it. Repeated treatments verified (Liu Songshi, *Baoshoutang Fang*).
Carbuncles and malignant swellings: Harvest Hanlian Cao on the fifth day of the fifth month, dry in shade, expose to dew overnight. When disease occurs, chew one leaf and paste it, protect externally with Xiaodu Gao. Carbuncle falls off in two to three days (*Shengji Zonglu*).
Wind toothache: Husun Tou Cao, add a little salt, rub in palm until pain stops (*Jixuan Fang*).