（《本经》下品）
【释名】野丈人（《本经》）、胡王使者（《本经）》）、奈何草（《别录》）。
弘景曰∶处处有之。近根处有白茸，状似白头老翁，故以为名。
时珍曰∶丈人、胡使、奈何，皆状老翁之意。
【集解】《别录》曰∶白头翁，生高山山谷及田野。四月采。
恭曰∶其叶似芍药而大，抽一茎。茎头一花，紫色，似木槿花。实大者如鸡子，白毛寸
余，皆披下，似纛头，正似白头老翁，故名焉。陶言近根有白茸，似不识也。太常所贮蔓生
者，乃是女葳。其白头翁根，似续断而扁。
保升曰∶所在有之。有细毛，不滑泽，花蕊黄。二月采花，四月采实，八月采根，皆晒
干。
颂曰∶处处有之。正月生苗，作丛生，状似白薇而柔细稍长。叶生茎头，如杏叶，上有
细白毛而不滑泽。近根有白茸。根紫色，深如蔓菁。其苗有风则静，无风而摇，与赤箭、独
活同也。陶注未述茎叶，苏注言叶似芍药，实如鸡子，白毛寸余者，皆误矣。
宗 曰∶白头翁生河南洛阳界，其新安山野中屡尝见之，正如苏恭所说。至今本处山中
人卖白头翁丸，言服之寿考，又失古人命名之义。陶氏所说，失于不审，宜其排叱也。
机曰∶寇宗 以苏恭为是，苏颂以陶说为是。大抵此物用根，命名取象，当准苏颂《图
经》，而恭说恐别是一物也。
根
【气味】苦，温，无毒。《别录》曰∶有毒。吴绶曰∶苦、辛，寒。权曰∶甘、苦，
有小毒。豚实为之使。大明曰∶得酒良。花、子、茎、叶同。
【主治】温疟狂 ，寒热，症瘕积聚瘿气，逐血，止痛，疗金疮（《本经》）。鼻衄（《
别录》）。止毒痢（弘景）。赤痢腹痛，齿痛，百骨节痛，项下瘤 。（甄权）。一切风气，暖
腰膝，明目消赘（大明）。
【发明】颂曰∶俗医合补下药，甚验，亦冲人。
杲曰∶气浓味薄，可升可降，阴中阳也。张仲景治热痢下重，用白头翁汤主之。盖肾欲
坚，急食苦以坚之。痢则下焦虚，故以纯苦之剂坚之。男子阴疝偏坠，小儿头秃膻腥，鼻
衄无此不效，毒痢有此获功。
吴绶曰∶热毒下痢紫血鲜血者，宜之。
【附方】旧二，新三。白头翁汤∶治热痢下重。用白头翁二两，黄连、黄柏、秦皮各三
两。水七升，煮二升，每服一升，不愈更服。妇人产后痢虚极者，加甘草、阿胶各二两。（仲
景《金匮玉函方》）下痢咽痛∶春夏病此，宜用白头翁、黄连各一两，木香二两。水五升，
煎一升半，分三服。（《圣惠方》）阴 偏肿∶白头翁根生者，不限多少，捣敷肿处。一宿当
作疮，二十日愈。（《外台秘要》）外痔肿痛∶白头翁草，一名野丈人，以根捣涂之，逐血止
痛。（《卫生易简方》）小儿秃疮∶白头翁根捣敷，一宿作疮，半月愈。（《肘后方》）
花
【主治】疟疾寒热，白秃头疮（时珍）。
（收录于《神农本草经》下品）
【释名】野丈人（出自《神农本草经》）、胡王使者（出自《神农本草经》）、奈何草（出自《名医别录》）。
陶弘景说：到处都有生长。靠近根部有白色的茸毛，形状像白头老翁，所以以此命名。
李时珍说：丈人、胡使、奈何，都是形容老翁模样的意思。
【集解】《名医别录》说：白头翁，生长在高山山谷及田野间。四月采收。
苏恭说：它的叶子像芍药但更大，抽出一根茎。茎头开一朵花，紫色，像木槿花。果实大的像鸡蛋，白色绒毛一寸多长，都披垂向下，像旗杆顶端的装饰，正像白头老翁，所以这样命名。陶弘景说靠近根部有白茸，似乎是不了解实情。太常寺所收藏的蔓生植物，其实是女葳。白头翁的根，像续断那样扁平。
寇宗奭说：各地都有。有细毛，不光滑润泽，花蕊黄色。二月采花，四月采果实，八月采根，都晒干。
苏颂说：到处都有生长。正月生出苗，呈丛生状，形状像白薇但柔细稍长。叶子生在茎头，像杏叶，上面有细白毛而不光滑润泽。靠近根部有白茸。根是紫色的，深度像芜菁一样深。它的苗在有风时静止，无风时摇动，与赤箭、独活相同。陶弘景的注释没有描述茎叶，苏恭注说叶像芍药，果实像鸡蛋，白毛一寸多的说法，都是错误的。
寇宗奭说：白头翁生长在河南洛阳边界，我在新安的山野中多次见过它，正如苏恭所说。至今当地山中有人卖白头翁丸，说服用后长寿，这又失去了古人命名的本意。陶氏所说的，失于不审慎，理应受到排斥和斥责。
寇宗奭说：寇宗奭认为苏恭是对的，苏颂认为陶弘景的说法是对的。大体上此药用根，命名取象，应当依据苏颂《图经》，而苏恭说的恐怕是另一种东西。
根
【气味】苦，温，无毒。《名医别录》说：有毒。吴绶说：苦、辛，寒。权说：甘、苦，有小毒。豚实作为它的使药。孟诜说：得酒好。花、子、茎、叶同此。
【主治】温疟狂易，寒热，症瘕积聚瘿气，逐血，止痛，疗金疮（出自《神农本草经》）。鼻衄（出自《名医别录》）。止毒痢（陶弘景）。赤痢腹痛，齿痛，百骨节痛，项下瘤（甄权）。一切风气，暖腰膝，明目消赘（孟诜）。
【发明】苏颂说：俗医配合补下药，非常有效，但也冲撞人体元气。
张杲说：气浓味薄，可升可降，属于阴中之阳。张仲景治疗热痢下重，用白头翁汤为主方。大概肾欲坚固，急食苦味以坚固之。痢疾则下焦虚，所以用纯苦的药剂来坚固它。男子阴疝偏坠，小儿头秃膻腥，鼻衄不用此药无效，毒痢用此药获功。
吴绶说：热毒下痢排出紫血鲜血者，适宜使用。
【附方】旧方二首，新方三首。白头翁汤：治疗热痢下重。用白头翁二两，黄连、黄柏、秦皮各三两。水七升，煮取二升，每次服一升，不好再服。妇人产后痢疾虚极者，加甘草、阿胶各二两。（张仲景《金匮玉函方》）下痢咽痛：春夏季节患此病，宜用白头翁、黄连各一两，木香二两。水五升，煎取一升半，分三次服。（《太平圣惠方》）阴囊肿偏肿：白头翁根新鲜的，不限多少，捣烂敷在肿处。一夜当起疮，二十天痊愈。（《外台秘要》）外痔肿痛：白头翁草，一名野丈人，用根捣涂患处，逐血止痛。（《卫生易简方》）小儿秃疮：白头翁根捣烂敷贴，一夜起疮，半月痊愈。（《肘后备急方》）
(Recorded in the Lower Grade of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
[Names] Ye Zhangren (Wild Old Man, from *Shennong Bencao Jing*), Huwang Shizhe (Hu King's Envoy, from *Shennong Bencao Jing*), Naihe Cao (Naihe Grass, from *Mingyi Bielu*).
Tao Hongjing stated: It grows everywhere. Near the root, there is white down, resembling a white-haired old man, hence the name.
Li Shizhen stated: Zhangren, Hushi, and Naihe all refer to the appearance of an old man.
[Collection and Explanation] *Mingyi Bielu* states: Baitouweng (*Pulsatilla chinensis*) grows in high mountains, valleys, and fields. Harvested in April.
Su Gong stated: Its leaves resemble those of Paeonia lactiflora but are larger, with a single stem emerging. At the tip of the stem is one flower, purple in color, resembling Hibiscus mutabilis. The fruit, if large, is like a chicken egg, covered with over an inch of white hair hanging downwards, resembling the tassel on a banner, exactly like a white-haired old man, thus named. Tao Hongjing’s mention of white down near the root suggests he was unfamiliar with it. The vine-like plant stored by the Taichang Temple is actually Nüwei (*Polygonatum odoratum*). The root of Baitouweng is flat, resembling Achyranthes bidentata.
Kou Zongshi stated: It is found everywhere. It has fine hairs and is not smooth or glossy; the stamens are yellow. Flowers are harvested in February, fruits in April, and roots in August, all dried in the sun.
Su Song stated: It grows everywhere. Seedlings emerge in January, growing in clumps, resembling Cimicifuga foetida but softer, finer, and slightly longer. Leaves grow at the stem tip, resembling apricot leaves, with fine white hairs that are not smooth or glossy. There is white down near the root. The root is purple and deep, similar in depth to Brassica rapa var. rapa. Its seedlings remain still when windy but sway when windless, similar to Atractylodes lancea and Angelica pubescens. Tao Hongjing’s commentary omitted stems and leaves; Su Gong’s description of leaves resembling Paeonia and fruits like eggs with an inch of white hair is erroneous.
Kou Zongshi stated: Baitouweng grows in the Luoyang area of Henan. I have frequently seen it in the wilds of Xin'an, just as Su Gong described. To this day, people in these mountainous areas sell Baitouweng Wan, claiming it prolongs life, which deviates from the original intent of the ancient naming. Tao’s account was imprudent and rightly criticized.
Kou Zongshi stated: Kou Zongshi agreed with Su Gong, while Su Song agreed with Tao. Generally, since the root is used and the name is derived from its shape, one should follow Su Song’s *Tujing*. Su Gong’s description likely refers to a different species.
Root
[Flavor and Properties] Bitter, warm, non-toxic. *Mingyi Bielu* states: Toxic. Wu Shou stated: Bitter, acrid, cold. Quan stated: Sweet, bitter, slightly toxic. Tunshi serves as its guiding herb. Meng Shen stated: Best taken with wine. This applies to flowers, seeds, stems, and leaves.
[Indications] Warm malaria with manic behavior, alternating chills and fever, masses and accumulations, goiter, expelling blood, relieving pain, treating metal wounds (from *Shennong Bencao Jing*). Epistaxis (from *Mingyi Bielu*). Stopping dysentery caused by toxins (Tao Hongjing). Bloody dysentery with abdominal pain, toothache, pain in all joints, neck tumors (Zhen Quan). All wind-pathogens, warming waist and knees, brightening eyes, reducing warts (Meng Shen).
[Elucidation] Su Song stated: Common physicians combine it with tonifying and purgative herbs; it is very effective but also depletes healthy Qi.
Zhang Gao stated: Its Qi is strong while its Flavor is light; it can ascend and descend, belonging to Yang within Yin. Zhang Zhongjing treated heat-dysentery with tenesmus using Baitouweng Tang as the main formula. The Kidney desires firmness; urgently consuming bitter substances firms it. Dysentery implies deficiency in the Lower Jiao, so pure bitter agents are used to firm it. For men with yin hernia and scrotal swelling, for children with bald scalp and fetid odor, for epistaxis where this herb is ineffective otherwise, and for toxic dysentery where this herb achieves success.
Wu Shou stated: Suitable for heat-toxin dysentery discharging purple or fresh blood.
[Attached Prescriptions] Two old prescriptions, three new ones. Baitouweng Tang: Treats heat-dysentery with tenesmus. Use 2 liang of Baitouweng (*Pulsatilla chinensis*), 3 liang each of Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian), Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai), and Bark of Privet Tree (Qinpi). Add 7 sheng of water, boil down to 2 sheng. Take 1 sheng per dose; if not cured, take another. For women with postpartum dysentery and extreme deficiency, add 2 liang each of Licorice Root (Gancao) and Donkey-hide Gelatin (Ejiao). (Zhang Zhongjing, *Jingui Yufang Fang*) Dysentery with sore throat: In spring and summer, use 1 liang each of Baitouweng (*Pulsatilla chinensis*) and Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian), 2 liang of Aucklandiae Radix (Muxiang). Add 5 sheng of water, decoct to 1.5 sheng. Divide into three doses. (*Taiping Shenghui Fang*) Scrotal swelling on one side: Fresh root of Baitouweng (*Pulsatilla chinensis*), amount unlimited, pounded and applied to the swollen area. It will form a sore overnight and heal in twenty days. (*Waitai Miyao*) External hemorrhoids with swelling and pain: Baitouweng grass, also known as Ye Zhangren. Pound the root and apply externally to expel blood and relieve pain. (*Weisheng Yijian Fang*) Pediatric alopecia barbae/crusts: Pound the root of Baitouweng (*Pulsatilla chinensis*) and apply. It forms a sore overnight and heals in half a month. (*Zhouhou Beiji Fang*)
Flower
[Indications] Malaria with chills and fever, white tinea capitis (Li Shizhen).