（音芹。宋《图经》）
【释名】赤芹（《纲目》）、蜀芹（《图经》）、楚葵（同上）、苔菜（同上）、水卜菜。
时珍曰∶堇、蕲、芹、 ，四字一义也。详下。
【集解】颂曰∶紫堇，生江南吴兴郡。淮南名楚葵，宜春郡名蜀芹，豫章郡名苔菜，晋
陵郡名水卜菜也。
时珍曰∶苏颂之说，出于唐玄宗《天宝单方》中，不具紫堇形状。今按∶轩辕述《宝藏
论》云∶赤芹即紫芹也，生水滨。叶形如赤芍药，青色，长三寸许，叶上黄斑，味苦涩。其
汁可以煮雌、制汞、伏朱砂、擒三黄，号为起贫草。又土宿真君本草云∶赤芹生阴崖陂泽近
水石间，状类赤芍药。其叶深绿而背甚赤，茎叶似荞麦，花红可爱，结实亦如 荞麦。其根
似蜘蛛，嚼之极酸苦涩。江淮人三、四月采苗，当蔬食之。南方颇少，太行、王屋诸山最多
也。
苗
【气味】酸，平，微毒。
花
【气味】酸，微温，无毒。
【主治】大人、小儿脱肛（苏颂）。
【附方】旧一。
脱肛，凡大人、小儿脱肛，每天冷及吃冷食，即暴痢不止，肛则下脱，久疗不瘥者∶春
间收紫堇花二斤，曝干为散，加磁毛末七两，相和研细。涂肛上纳入，即使人 冷水于面上，
即吸入肠中。每日一涂药 面，不过六、七度即瘥矣。又以热酒半升，和散一方寸匕，空腹
服之，日再服。渐加至二方寸匕，以瘥为度。若五岁以下小儿，即以半杏子许，和酒服之。
忌生冷、陈仓米等物。（《天宝单方》）
（音同“芹”。出自宋代《图经本草》）
【释名】赤芹（《本草纲目》）、蜀芹（《图经本草》）、楚葵（同上）、苔菜（同上）、水卜菜。
李时珍说：堇、蕲、芹、 ，这四个字意思相同。详见下文。
【集解】苏颂说：紫堇，生长在江南吴兴郡。淮南地区叫它楚葵，宜春郡叫它蜀芹，豫章郡叫它苔菜，晋陵郡叫它水卜菜。
李时珍说：苏颂的说法，来源于唐玄宗时期的《天宝单方》，并没有详细描述紫堇的形态。现在考证：轩辕在《宝藏论》中说：赤芹就是紫芹，生长在水边。叶子形状像赤芍药，颜色青绿，长约三寸左右，叶上有黄色斑点，味道苦涩。它的汁液可以用来煮雌黄、炼制汞、使朱砂沉降、控制三黄（雄黄、雌黄、石黄），被称为起贫草。另外，《土宿真君本草》说：赤芹生长在背阴的山崖、池塘沼泽靠近水边的石缝间，形状类似赤芍药。它的叶子深绿色而背面很红，茎叶像荞麦，花红色很可爱，结的果实也像荞麦。它的根像蜘蛛，嚼起来极酸苦涩。江淮地区的人在三月、四月采集嫩苗，当作蔬菜食用。南方比较少见，太行山、王屋山等山区最多。
【苗的气味】酸味，性平，有微毒。
【花的气味】酸味，性微温，无毒。
【附方】旧方一首。
脱肛，凡是成人或儿童脱肛，遇到天气寒冷或吃冷食，就会突发痢疾不止，肛门脱出，长期治疗不愈的：春季收集紫堇花二斤，晒干研成粉末，加入磁石毛末七两，混合研磨细。涂抹在肛门上并纳入体内，同时让人用冷水浇在脸上，即可使肠管吸入复位。每天涂药一次，不超过六七次就能痊愈。另外，用半升热酒，调和一方寸匕的药散，空腹服用，每天服两次。逐渐增加至两个方寸匕，以痊愈为限度。如果是五岁以下的小儿，就用半个杏子大小的药量，配合酒服用。忌食生冷食物和陈仓米等物。（出自《天宝单方》）
(Sound same as "Qin". From Song Dynasty *Tu Jing Ben Cao* [Illustrated Materia Medica])
[Names] Chi Qin (Red Celery) (*Ben Cao Gang Mu* [Compendium of Materia Medica]), Shu Qin (Sichuan Celery) (*Tu Jing*), Chu Kui (Chu Basil), Tai Cai (Moss Vegetable) (ibid.), Shui Bu Cai.
Li Shizhen said: The characters Jin, Qi, Qin, and are semantically identical. See below for details.
[Collected Explanations] Su Song said: Zi Jin (Corydalis decumbens) grows in Wuxing Commandery, Jiangnan. In Huainan it is called Chu Kui; in Yichun Commandery it is called Shu Qin; in Yuzhang Commandery it is called Tai Cai; in Jinling Commandery it is called Shui Bu Cai.
Li Shizhen said: Su Song's statement originates from the *Tian Bao Dan Fang* [Single Prescriptions of Tianbao Era] during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, but does not fully describe the morphology of Zi Jin. Current investigation: Xuanyuan stated in *Bao Zang Lun* [Treatise on Precious Treasures]: Chi Qin is the same as Zi Qin (Purple Celery), growing by the water. The leaf shape resembles Chi Shaoyao (Red Peony Root), green in color, about three cun long, with yellow spots on the leaves, tasting bitter and astringent. Its juice can be used to process Fumini (Realgar), refine Mercury, settle Zhusha (Cinnabar), and control San Huang (Three Yellows), known as the herb that alleviates poverty. Additionally, *Tu Su Zhen Jun Ben Cao* states: Chi Qin grows in shady cliffs, ponds, and marshes near stones by the water, resembling Chi Shaoyao in form. Its leaves are dark green with very red undersides; the stems and leaves resemble Qiaomai (Buckwheat); the flowers are lovely red; the fruit also resembles Buckwheat. Its root resembles a spider; when chewed, it is extremely sour, bitter, and astringent. People in the Jianghuai region harvest the seedlings in March and April to eat as vegetables. It is scarce in the South but most abundant in the Taihang Mountains, Wangwu Mountains, and other ranges.
[Seedling]
[Flavor and Nature] Sour, neutral, slightly toxic.
[Flower]
[Flavor and Nature] Sour, slightly warm, non-toxic.
[Indications] Treats prolapse of the rectum in adults and children (recorded by Su Song).
[Attached Prescriptions] One old prescription.
Rectal Prolapse: For any case of adult or pediatric rectal prolapse, where sudden dysentery occurs due to cold weather or consumption of cold food, leading to persistent prolapse unresponsive to long-term treatment: Collect two jin of Zi Jin flowers in spring, dry them thoroughly, and grind into powder. Add seven liang of pulverized magnetic hair (from lodestone), mix and grind finely. Apply to the anus and insert manually, while simultaneously pouring cold water on the person's face, which will cause the intestine to retract. Apply this medicine once daily; no more than six or seven applications are needed for recovery. Alternatively, take half a sheng of hot wine mixed with one fangcun bi [unit of measure, approx. 2-3 grams] of the powder, taken on an empty stomach, twice daily. Gradually increase to two fangcun bi, stopping when cured. For children under five years old, administer an amount equivalent to half an apricot kernel mixed with wine. Avoid raw/cold foods and aged grain rice. (*Tian Bao Dan Fang*)