(宋《嘉 》)
【释名】石苣(《纲目》)、生菜。
时珍云∶白苣、苦苣、莴苣俱不可煮烹,皆宜生 去汁,盐、醋拌食,通可曰生菜,而
白苣稍美,故独得专称也。王氏《农书》谓之石苣。陆玑《诗疏》云∶青州谓之芑。可生食,
亦可蒸为茹。
【集解】藏器云∶白苣似莴苣,叶有白毛。
时珍曰∶处处有之。似莴苣而叶色白,折之有白汁。正二月下种。四月开黄花如苦 ,
结子亦同。八月、十月可再种。故谚云∶生菜不离园。按∶《事类合璧》云∶苣有数种∶色
白者为白苣,色紫者为紫苣,味苦者为苦苣。
菜
【气味】苦,寒,无毒。
炳曰∶平。患冷气人食之即腹冷,亦不至苦损人。产后不可食,令人寒中,小肠痛。
思邈曰∶不可共酪食,生虫 。
【主治】补筋骨,利五脏,开胸膈壅气,通经脉,止脾气,令人齿白,聪明少睡,可煮
食之(孟诜)。解热毒、酒毒,止消渴,利大小肠(宁原)。
【附方】旧一。
鱼脐疮,其头白似肿,痛不可忍∶先以针刺破头及四畔,以白苣取汁滴孔中,良。(《外
台秘要》)
(《食疗》)
【释名】莴菜、千金菜。
时珍曰∶按∶彭乘《墨客挥犀》云∶莴菜自 国来,故名。
【集解】藏器曰∶莴苣有白者、紫者。紫者入烧炼药用。
时珍曰∶莴苣,正二月下种,最宜肥地。叶似白苣而尖,色稍青,折之有白汁粘手。四
月抽苔,高三、四尺。剥皮生食,味如胡瓜。糟食亦良。江东人盐晒压实,以备方物,谓之
莴笋也。花、子并与白苣同。
菜
【气味】苦,冷,微毒。
李鹏飞曰∶久食昏人目。患冷人不宜食。
时珍曰∶按∶彭乘云∶莴苣有毒,百虫不敢近。蛇虺触之,则目暝不见物。人中其毒,
以姜汁解之。
藏器曰∶紫莴苣有毒,入烧炼药用。
《丹房镜源》曰∶莴苣用硫黄种,结砂子,制朱砂。又曰∶紫色莴苣和土作器,火 如
铜也。
【主治】利五脏,通经脉,开胸膈,功同白苣(藏器)。
利气,坚筋骨,去口气,白齿牙,明眼目(宁原)。通乳汁,利小便,杀虫、蛇毒(时
珍)。
【附方】旧一,新五。
乳汁不通∶莴苣菜煎酒服。(《海上方》)。
小便不通∶莴苣菜,捣敷脐上即通。(《卫生易简方》)。
小便尿血∶同上方,甚效。(杨氏方)。
沙虱水毒∶莴苣菜捣汁涂之,良。(《肘后方》)。
蚰蜒入耳∶莴苣叶(干者)一分,雄黄一分,为末,糊丸枣核大。蘸生油塞耳中,引出。
(《圣惠方》)。
百虫入耳∶莴苣捣汁滴入,自出也。(《圣济总录》)。
子
入药炒用。
【主治】下乳汁,通小便,治阴肿、痔漏下血、伤损作痛(时珍)。
【附方】旧一,新六。
乳汁不行∶莴苣子三十枚,研细酒服。又方∶莴苣子一合,生甘草三钱,糯米、粳米各
半合,煮粥频食之。
小便不通∶莴苣子捣饼,贴脐中,即通。(《海上仙方》)。
肾黄如金∶莴苣子一合。细研。水一盏,煎五分服。(《外台秘要》)。
阴囊 肿∶莴苣子一合捣末,水一盏,煎五沸,温服。
闪损腰痛,趁痛丸∶用白莴苣子(炒)三两,白粟米(炒)一撮,乳香、没药、乌梅肉
各半两,为末,炼蜜丸弹子大。每嚼一丸,热酒下。(《玉机微义》)。
髭发不生,疖疮疤上不生髭发∶先以竹刀刮损,以莴苣子拗猢狲姜末,频擦之。(《摘
玄方》)。
(宋代《嘉祐本草》)
【释名】石苣(《本草纲目》)、生菜。
李时珍说:白苣、苦苣、莴苣都不适合煮食,都适宜生吃并去除汁液,用盐、醋拌着吃,都可以称为生菜,而白苣味道稍好,所以单独获得“生菜”这个专称。王祯的《农书》称它为石苣。陆玑在《毛诗草木鸟兽虫鱼疏》中说:青州地区叫它芑。可以生吃,也可以蒸熟作为蔬菜食用。
【集解】苏颂(字子容,号藏器,此处指苏颂或引用其父苏易简等宋人观点,原文作藏器,通常指苏恭或苏颂体系,此处依原文译)说:白苣像莴苣,叶子有白色的绒毛。
李时珍说:到处都有生长。形状像莴苣但叶色发白,折断后有白色汁液流出。正二月播种。四月开出黄色的花,像苦苣菜一样,结的种子也相同。八月、十月可以再次播种。所以谚语说:菜园里常备生菜。按:《事类合璧》说:苣菜有好几种:颜色白的是白苣,颜色紫的是紫苣,味道苦的是苦苣。
【气味】味苦,性寒,无毒。
唐慎微引陈炳说:性平。患有冷气病的人吃了就会腹部发冷,但也并不至于因苦味而损害人体。产后不可食用,会让人寒气入中,导致小肠疼痛。
孙思邈说:不可与乳制品同食,会生出虫子。
【主治】补益筋骨,通利五脏,开通胸膈壅滞之气,疏通经脉,止住脾气(注:此处原文可能有误或特指某种气机,暂译为止脾气),使牙齿变白,头脑聪明,睡眠减少,可以煮食(孟诜)。解除热毒、酒毒,止住消渴症,通利大小肠(宁原)。
【附方】旧方一条。
鱼脐疮,疮头白色似肿胀,疼痛难以忍受:先用针刺破疮头及四周,用白苣取汁滴入孔中,效果良好。(《外台秘要》)
(唐代《食疗本草》)
【释名】莴菜、千金菜。
李时珍说:按:彭乘《墨客挥犀》说:莴菜从西域传来,所以得名。
【集解】苏恭(字藏器,此处应指苏恭《新修本草》,原文作藏器,苏恭字君宾,号藏器者多为后人混淆或特定版本,此处依原文保留“藏器”指代该观点来源)说:莴苣有白色和紫色两种。紫色的用于烧炼药用。
李时珍说:莴苣,正二月播种,最适合肥沃的土地。叶子像白苣但尖端较尖,颜色稍青,折断后有白色汁液粘手。四月抽苔,高三四尺。剥皮生吃,味道像黄瓜。腌制后食用也很好。江东人将其盐渍晒干压实,以备远方特产,称之为莴笋。花、种子都与白苣相同。
【气味】味苦,性冷,微毒。
李鹏飞说:长期食用会损害视力。患有冷症的人不宜食用。
李时珍说:按:彭乘说:莴苣有毒,百虫不敢靠近。蛇蝎碰到它,就会眼睛失明看不见东西。人中了它的毒,用姜汁可以解毒。
苏恭说:紫色莴苣有毒,用于烧炼药用。
《丹房镜源》说:莴苣用硫黄种植,结出砂子,用来炼制朱砂。又说:紫色莴苣混合泥土做成器皿,火烧后像铜一样坚固。
【主治】通利五脏,疏通经脉,开通胸膈,功效与白苣相同(苏恭)。
理气,强健筋骨,去除口臭,洁白牙齿,明亮眼目(宁原)。通乳汁,利小便,杀虫、解蛇毒(李时珍)。
【附方】旧方一条,新方五条。
乳汁不通:莴苣菜煎酒后服用。(《海上方》)。
小便不通:莴苣菜,捣碎敷在肚脐上即通。(《卫生易简方》)。
小便尿血:同上方,效果很好。(杨氏方)。
沙虱水毒:莴苣菜捣汁涂抹,效果良好。(《肘后方》)。
蚰蜒进入耳朵:莴苣叶(干品)一分,雄黄一分,研为末,用糊制成如枣核大的丸药。蘸生油塞入耳中,引出虫体。(《圣惠方》)。
百虫进入耳朵:莴苣捣汁滴入,虫子会自动出来。(《圣济总录》)。
【子】
入药需炒用。
【主治】下乳汁,通小便,治疗阴囊肿痛、痔漏下血、跌打损伤疼痛(李时珍)。
【附方】旧方一条,新方六条。
乳汁不行:莴苣子三十枚,研细后用酒送服。另一法:莴苣子一合,生甘草三钱,糯米、粳米各半合,煮粥频繁食用。
小便不通:莴苣子捣成饼,贴在脐中,即通。(《海上仙方》)。
肾黄如金(黄疸):莴苣子一合。细研。用水一盏,煎至五分服。(《外台秘要》)。
阴囊肿痛:莴苣子一合捣末,用水一盏,煎沸五次,温服。
闪挫腰痛,趁痛丸:用白莴苣子(炒)三两,白粟米(炒)一撮,乳香、没药、乌梅肉各半两,研为末,炼蜜制成如弹子大的丸药。每次嚼服一丸,热酒送下。(《玉机微义》)。
胡须不生,疖疮疤痕处不长胡须:先用竹刀刮损皮肤,再用莴苣子研磨成的粉末擦猢狲姜末,频繁擦拭。(《摘玄方》)。
(Song Dynasty *Jiayou Bencao*)
[Names] Shiju (Stone Lettuce) (*Bencao Gangmu*); Shengcai (Raw Vegetable).
Li Shizhen stated: Baiju (White Lettuce), Kuju (Bitter Lettuce), and Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) are all unsuitable for boiling or cooking. They are best eaten raw, with the juice removed, and mixed with salt and vinegar. All can be referred to as "Shengcai" (Raw Vegetable), but since Baiju (White Lettuce) is slightly superior in taste, it alone holds this specific name. Wang Zhen's *Nongshu* (*Agricultural Treatise*) calls it Shiju (Stone Lettuce). Lu Ji's commentary on the *Classic of Poetry* states that in Qingzhou it is called Qi. It can be eaten raw or steamed as a vegetable.
[Collected Explanations] Su Gong (referenced here as Cangqi) said: Baiju (White Lettuce) resembles Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce), with white hairs on its leaves.
Li Shizhen said: It grows everywhere. It resembles Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) but has whiter leaves; when broken, it exudes a white sap. Sowing is done in the first and second lunar months. Yellow flowers bloom in the fourth month, similar to Kuju (Bitter Lettuce), and the seeds formed are also identical. Re-sowing can occur in the eighth and tenth lunar months. Hence, the proverb says: "The garden never lacks raw vegetables." According to *Shilei Hebi*: There are several types of Ju (Lettuce/Bittercress): those that are white are Baiju (White Lettuce); those that are purple are Zijuj (Purple Lettuce); those that are bitter are Kuju (Bitter Lettuce).
[Properties and Flavor] Bitter, Cold, Non-toxic.
Chen Bing noted: Neutral in temperature. For those suffering from cold qi, eating it causes abdominal coldness, though it does not harm the body due to its bitterness. It should not be consumed postpartum, as it induces coldness in the middle jiao and causes pain in the small intestine.
Sun Simiao stated: It should not be eaten with dairy products, as it may generate parasites.
[Therapeutic Actions] Tonifies sinews and bones, benefits the five zang organs, opens stagnation of qi in the chest and diaphragm, unblocks meridians, regulates spleen qi, whitens teeth, enhances mental clarity, and reduces sleepiness. It can be cooked and eaten (Meng Shen). Resolves heat toxins and alcohol toxins, stops thirst (Xiaoke), and promotes urination and bowel movements (Ning Yuan).
[Attached Prescriptions] One old prescription.
Fish-umbilical sore (a type of carbuncle/abscess): The head is white and swollen, unbearable pain: First, puncture the head and surrounding area with a needle. Apply juice extracted from Baiju (White Lettuce) into the hole. Excellent result. (*Waitai Miyao*)
(Tang Dynasty *Shiliao Bencao*)
[Names] Wocai (Lettuce Vegetable); Qianjincai (Thousand-Gold Vegetable).
Li Shizhen said: According to Peng Cheng's *Moke Huixi*: Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) came from the Western Regions, hence the name.
[Collected Explanations] Su Gong (referenced here as Cangqi) said: Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) comes in white and purple varieties. The purple variety is used for alchemical processing and medicinal purposes.
Li Shizhen said: Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) is sown in the first and second lunar months and thrives in fertile soil. The leaves resemble Baiju (White Lettuce) but are pointed and slightly greener; when broken, a sticky white sap appears. In the fourth month, it bolts, reaching three to four chi in height. Peeled and eaten raw, it tastes like cucumber. Pickling is also good. People in Jiangdong salt-dry and compress it for preservation as a specialty, calling it Wasun (Celtuce stem). The flowers and seeds are the same as Baiju (White Lettuce).
[Properties and Flavor] Bitter, Cold, Slightly toxic.
Li Pengfei stated: Long-term consumption blurs vision. Those with cold conditions should avoid eating it.
Li Shizhen said: According to Peng Cheng: Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) is toxic; hundred insects dare not approach it. If snakes or vipers touch it, their eyes become blind and they cannot see objects. If humans ingest its toxin, ginger juice can detoxify it.
Su Gong said: Purple Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) is toxic and is used for alchemical processing.
*Dangan Jingyuan* states: When planted with sulfur, Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) produces sand-like structures used to refine Cinnabar. It also states: Purple Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) mixed with earth forms vessels that, when fired, become hard as copper.
[Therapeutic Actions] Benefits the five zang organs, unblocks meridians, opens the chest and diaphragm. Its efficacy is the same as Baiju (White Lettuce) (Su Gong).
Regulates qi, strengthens sinews and bones, removes bad breath, whitens teeth, and brightens the eyes (Ning Yuan). Promotes lactation, facilitates urination, kills parasites, and resolves snake venom (Li Shizhen).
[Attached Prescriptions] One old prescription, five new prescriptions.
Blocked lactation: Decoct Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) vegetable in wine and drink. (*Haishang Fang*).
Urinary retention: Crush Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) vegetable and apply to the umbilicus. Urination will resume immediately. (*Weisheng Yijian Fang*).
Hematuria: Same as above, very effective. (*Yang Shi Fang*).
Sand-mite water toxicity: Crush Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) vegetable and apply the juice topically. Good result. (*Zhouhou Fang*).
Centipede entering the ear: Take one part dried Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) leaves and one part Realgar, grind into powder, make pills the size of a jujube pit using paste. Dip in raw oil and insert into the ear to draw out the insect. (*Shenghui Fang*).
Hundred insects entering the ear: Crush Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) and drip the juice in; the insects will exit naturally. (*Shengji Zonglu*).
[Seeds]
For medicinal use, stir-fry before application.
[Therapeutic Actions] Promotes lactation, facilitates urination, treats scrotal swelling, hemorrhoids with bleeding, and pain from trauma (Li Shizhen).
[Attached Prescriptions] One old prescription, six new prescriptions.
Absent lactation: Thirty seeds of Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce), finely ground and taken with wine. Another method: One he of Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) seeds, three qian of raw Licorice root, half he each of glutinous rice and japonica rice. Cook into porridge and consume frequently.
Urinary retention: Crush Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) seeds into a cake and apply to the center of the umbilicus. Urination resumes immediately. (*Haishang Xian Fang*).
Kidney yellow resembling gold (Jaundice): One he of Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) seeds. Finely ground. With one cup of water, decoct until reduced to half a cup and take. (*Waitai Miyao*).
Scrotal swelling: One he of Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) seeds, crushed to powder. With one cup of water, boil five times, warm and drink.
Sprain-induced lower back pain, Chentong Wan (Pain-Chasing Pill): Use three liang of white Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) seeds (stir-fried), a pinch of white millet (stir-fried), half liang each of Frankincense, Myrrh, and Sour Plum flesh. Grind into powder, form pills the size of quail eggs with refined honey. Chew one pill per dose, wash down with hot wine. (*Yuji Wei Yi*).
Absence of facial hair, or lack of growth on acne scars: First scrape the skin gently with a bamboo knife. Then frequently rub with a mixture of powdered Woju (Lettuce/Celtuce) seeds and Monkey Sun Ginger (*Husun Jiang*). (*Zhai Xuan Fang*).