（《本经》中品）
【释名】赤节（《别录》）、百枝（《吴普》）、竹木（《炮炙论》）、白菝 。
时珍曰∶萆 名义未详。《日华本草》言∶时人呼为白菝 ，象形也。赤节、百枝，与
狗脊同名。
【集解】《别录》曰∶萆 生真定山谷。二月、八月采根，曝干。
弘景曰∶今处处有之。根似菝 而小异，根大，不甚有角节，色小浅。
恭曰∶此有二种∶茎有刺者根白实；无刺者根虚软，软者为胜。蔓生，叶似薯蓣。
颂曰∶今河、陕、汴东、荆、蜀诸郡皆有之。作蔓生，苗叶俱青。叶作三叉，似山薯，
又似绿豆叶。花有黄、红、白数种，亦有无花结白子者。根黄白色，多节，三指许大。春秋
采根，曝干。今成德军所产者，根亦如山薯而体硬，其苗引蔓，叶似荞麦，子三棱，不拘时
月采根，利刀切片，曝干用。
时珍曰∶萆 蔓生，叶似菝 而大如碗，其根长硬，大者如商陆而坚。今人皆以土茯苓
为萆 ，误矣。茎、叶、根、苗皆不同。《吴普本草》又以萆 为狗脊，亦误矣。详狗脊下。
《
根
【气味】苦，平，无毒。《别录》曰∶甘。
之才曰∶薏苡为之使。畏葵根、大黄、柴胡、前胡、牡蛎。
【主治】腰背痛强，骨节风寒湿周痹，恶疮不瘳，热气（《本经》）。
伤中恚怒，阴痿失溺，老人五缓，关节老血（《别录》）。冷气 痹，腰脚瘫缓不遂，手
足惊
掣，男子 腰痛，久冷，肾间有膀胱宿水（甄权）。
中风失音（大明）。补肝虚
【发明】时珍曰∶萆 ，足阳明、厥阴经药也。厥阴主筋属风，阳明主肉属湿。萆 之
功，长于去风湿，所以能治缓弱 痹、遗浊恶疮诸病之属风湿者。萆 、菝 、土茯苓三物，
形虽不同，而主治之功不相远，岂亦一类数种乎？雷 《炮炙论》序云∶囊皱漩多，夜煎竹
木。竹木，萆 也。漩多白浊，皆是湿气下流。萆 能除阳明之湿而固下焦，故能去浊厘清。
杨《家藏方》，治真元不足，下
又杨子建《万全护命方》云∶凡人小便频数，不计度
腑秘热不通，水液只就小肠，大腑愈加干竭，甚则浑身热，心躁思凉水，如此即重证也。此
疾本因贪酒色，积有热毒、腐物、瘀血之类，随虚水入于小肠，故便时作痛也。不饮酒者，
必平生过食辛热荤腻之物，又因色伤而然。此乃小便频数而痛，与淋证涩而痛者不同也。宜
用萆 一两，水浸少时，以盐半两同炒，去盐为末。每服二钱，水一盏，煎八分，和滓服之，
使水道转入大肠。仍以葱汤频洗谷道，令气得通，则小便
【附方】旧二，新三。
温酒服三钱匕。禁牛肉。（唐德宗《贞元广利方》）
子大。每盐酒下七十丸。（《集玄方》）
虚寒。萆 厘清饮∶用萆 、石菖蒲、益智仁、乌药等分。每服四钱，水一盏，入盐一捻，
煎七分，食前温服，日一服，效乃止。
肠风痔漏∶如圣散∶用萆 、贯众（去土）等分。为末。每服三钱，温酒空心服之。（孙
尚药
头痛发汗∶萆 、旋复花、虎头骨（酥炙）等分，为散。欲发时，以温酒服二钱，暖卧
取汗，
（收录于《神农本草经》中品）
【释名】赤节（出自《名医别录》）、百枝（出自《吴普本草》）、竹木（出自《雷公炮炙论》）、白菝葜。
李时珍说：萆薢的名称由来不详。《日华子本草》记载：当时的人叫它白菝葜，是取象形之意。赤节、百枝，与狗脊同名。
【集解】《名医别录》记载：萆薢生长于真定山谷。二月和八月采集根部，晒干。
陶弘景说：现在到处都有。根像菝葜但略有不同，根较大，角节不明显，颜色较浅。
苏恭说：这有两种：茎有刺的，根白色坚实；无刺的，根虚软，以软的为优。蔓生，叶子像薯蓣。
苏颂说：现在河、陕、汴东、荆、蜀各郡都有。呈蔓生状，苗叶都是青色。叶子分三叉，像山药，又像绿豆叶。花有黄、红、白几种，也有不开花结白子的。根黄白色，多节，直径约三指粗。春秋两季采根，晒干。现在成德军出产的，根也像山药但质地硬，其苗牵引成蔓，叶像荞麦，子呈三棱形，不拘时节采根，用利刀切片，晒干使用。
李时珍说：萆薢蔓生，叶子像菝葜但大如碗口，其根长而硬，大的像商陆且坚硬。现在的人都把土茯苓当作萆薢，这是错误的。茎、叶、根、苗都不同。《吴普本草》又把萆薢当作狗脊，也是错误的。详见狗脊条下。
【气味】苦，平，无毒。《名医别录》记载：甘。
张元素说：薏苡仁为其引药。畏葵根、大黄、柴胡、前胡、牡蛎。
【主治】腰背强痛，骨节风寒湿周痹，恶疮不愈，热气（出自《神农本草经》）。
伤中恚怒，阳痿失禁，老人五缓，关节陈旧瘀血（出自《名医别录》）。冷气痹阻，腰脚瘫痪无力，手足抽搐，男子腰痛，久冷，肾间有膀胱留水（甄权）。
中风失音（孙思邈）。补肝虚
【发明】李时珍说：萆薢是足阳明胃经、足厥阴肝经的药。厥阴主筋属风，阳明主肉属湿。萆薢的功效，擅长去除风湿，所以能治疗缓弱痹证、遗浊、恶疮等属于风湿的疾病。萆薢、菝葜、土茯苓这三味药，形状虽然不同，但主治功效不相上下，难道它们是一类中的几个品种吗？雷斅《雷公炮炙论》序言中说：“囊皱漩多，夜煎竹木。”竹木，就是萆薢。“漩多白浊”，都是湿气下流所致。萆薢能清除阳明之湿并固摄下焦，所以能去浊分清。杨氏《家藏方》，治疗真元不足，小便频数。
又杨子建《万全护命方》说：凡是人小便频数，不论度数，若腑气秘结热不通，水液只流向小肠，大肠更加干竭，甚至浑身发热，心中烦躁想喝凉水，这就是重证了。此病本因贪恋酒色，积聚了热毒、腐物、瘀血之类，随着虚水进入小肠，所以排尿时作痛。不喝酒的人，一定是平生过食辛辣热性荤腻之物，又因色欲损伤所致。这是小便频数而痛，与淋证涩而痛的不同。宜用萆薢一两，用水浸泡片刻，与半两盐同炒，去掉盐后研为末。每次服二钱，水一盏，煎至八分，连同药渣一起服用，使水道转入大肠。仍常用葱汤频繁清洗肛门，令气机通畅，则小便……
【附方】旧方二首，新方三首。
温酒送服三钱匕。禁食牛肉。（唐德宗《贞元广利方》）
子大。每用盐酒送下七十丸。（《集玄方》）
虚寒。萆薢分清饮：用萆薢、石菖蒲、益智仁、乌药等分。每次服四钱，水一盏，加入一捻盐，煎至七分，饭前温服，每日一服，见效为止。
肠风痔漏：如圣散：用萆薢、贯众（去土）等分。研为末。每次服三钱，空腹温酒送服。（孙尚药
头痛发汗：萆薢、旋复花、虎头骨（酥炙）等分，研为散。欲发作时，用温酒服二钱，保暖卧床取汗，
(Recorded in the Middle Category of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
**[Names]** Chijie (from *Mingyi Bielu*), Baizhi (from *Wu Pu Bencao*), Zhumu (from *Leigong Paozhi Lun*), Bai Baji.
Li Shizhen said: The origin of the name "Bixie" is unknown. *Rihua Bencao* states that people at the time called it Bai Baji, due to its shape resemblance. Chijie and Baizhi share names with Gouji.
**[Collection and Explanation]** *Mingyi Bielu* records: Bixie grows in the valleys of Zhending. The roots are harvested in February and August and dried in the sun.
Tao Hongjing said: It is now found everywhere. The root resembles Baji but differs slightly; it is larger, has less distinct nodes, and is lighter in color.
Su Gong said: There are two types: those with thorny stems have white, solid roots; those without thorns have hollow, soft roots, with the soft ones being superior. It climbs as a vine, and the leaves resemble those of Dioscorea.
Su Song said: It is now present in various prefectures such as He, Shan, Bian East, Jing, and Shu. It grows as a vine, with both shoots and leaves green. The leaves are trifoliate, resembling Chinese yam or mung bean leaves. Flowers come in yellow, red, and white varieties, and some produce white seeds without flowering. The roots are yellowish-white, nodular, about three fingers thick. Roots are harvested in spring and autumn and dried. Those produced in Chengde Jun resemble Chinese yam but are harder; their vines climb, leaves resemble buckwheat, and seeds are triangular. Roots can be harvested anytime, sliced thinly with a sharp knife, and dried for use.
Li Shizhen said: Bixie grows as a vine, with leaves resembling Baji but as large as a bowl. Its roots are long and hard, with large ones resembling Phytolacca acinosa but firmer. Nowadays, people mistakenly identify Tu Fuling (Smilax glabra rhizome) as Bixie. This is incorrect, as the stems, leaves, roots, and shoots are all different. *Wu Pu Bencao* also mistakenly identifies Bixie as Gouji; see the entry for Gouji for details.
**[Properties and Flavor]** Bitter, neutral, non-toxic. *Mingyi Bielu* records: Sweet.
Zhang Yuansu said: Coix Seed (Yiyiren) acts as an assistant. It is incompatible with Sunflower Root (Kuigen), Rhubarb (Dahuang), Bupleurum (Chaihu), Peucedanum (Qianhu), and Oyster Shell (Muli).
**[Indications]** Stiffness and pain in the lower back, wind-cold-damp bi syndrome affecting bone joints, malignant sores that do not heal, and heat sensation (from *Shennong Bencao Jing*).
Internal injury with anger, impotence, urinary incontinence, the five slackness conditions in the elderly, and old blood stasis in joints (from *Mingyi Bielu*). Cold qi bi obstruction, paralysis and weakness of waist and legs, convulsions of hands and feet, lower back pain in men, chronic cold, and retained water in the bladder within the kidney region (Zhen Quan).
Loss of voice due to stroke (Sun Simiao). Tonifies liver deficiency.
**[Elucidation]** Li Shizhen said: Bixie enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach and Foot-Jueyin Liver meridians. Jueyin governs tendons and is associated with wind; Yangming governs flesh and is associated with dampness. The efficacy of Bixie lies in dispelling wind-dampness, thus it can treat conditions belonging to wind-dampness such as flaccid bi syndrome, turbid urination, and malignant sores. Although Bixie, Baji, and Tu Fuling differ in appearance, their therapeutic effects are similar; could they be several species within one category? Lei Xiao's preface to *Leigong Paozhi Lun* states: "For wrinkled scrotum and excessive turbid urine, boil Zhumu at night." Zhumu refers to Bixie. Excessive turbid urine is caused by dampness flowing downward. Bixue clears dampness from the Yangming meridian and secures the Lower Jiao, thereby separating the clear from the turbid. Yang Shi's *Jiacang Fang* treats insufficiency of true yuan and frequent urination.
Furthermore, Yang Zijian's *Wanquan Huming Fang* states: For anyone with frequent urination, if the fu organs are constipated with heat blockage, fluids only flow into the Small Intestine, causing the Large Intestine to become increasingly dry. Severe cases involve whole-body heat, mental restlessness, and craving for cold water; this is a critical condition. This disease originates from indulgence in alcohol and sex, accumulating heat toxins, putrefied matter, and blood stasis, which enter the Small Intestine with deficient fluids, causing pain during urination. Non-drinkers likely consumed excessive spicy, hot, and greasy animal products in life and suffered sexual damage. This presents as frequent painful urination, differing from strangury which is涩 (astringent/stinging) and painful. Use one liang of Bixie, soak briefly in water, stir-fry with half a liang of salt, remove the salt, and grind into powder. Take two qian each time with one sheng of water, decoct to eight fen, and take with the dregs. This directs the water pathway into the Large Intestine. Frequently wash the anus with scallion water to promote qi circulation, then urination...
**[Attached Prescriptions]** Two old prescriptions, three new ones.
Take three qianbi with warm wine. Avoid beef. (*Zhenyuan Guangli Fang*, Emperor Dezong of Tang)
Large seeds. Take seventy pills with salt wine each time. (*Jixuan Fang*)
Deficiency-cold. Bixie Qingfen Yin: Equal parts Bixie, Acorus tatarinowii Rhizome (Shi Changpu), Alpinia oxyphylla Fruit (Yizhiren), and Lindera Root (Wuyao). Take four qian each time with one sheng of water, add a pinch of salt, decoct to seven fen, take warm before meals, once daily, stop when effective.
Intestinal wind and hemorrhoids/fistula: Rusheng San: Equal parts Bixie and Cyperus Root (Guanzhong, cleaned of soil). Grind into powder. Take three qian each time on an empty stomach with warm wine. (Sun Shangyao)
Headache inducing sweating: Equal parts Bixie, Inula Flower (Xuanjinhua), and Tiger Skull Bone (prepared with butter). Grind into powder. When symptoms are about to appear, take two qian with warm wine, keep warm in bed to induce sweating,