（音戢。《别录》下品）
【释名】菹菜（恭）、鱼腥草。
时珍曰∶蕺字，段公路《北户录》作蕊，音戢。秦人谓之菹子。菹、蕺音相近也。其叶
腥气，故俗呼为鱼腥草。
【集解】恭曰∶蕺菜生湿地山谷阴处，亦能蔓生。叶似荞麦而肥，茎紫赤色。山南、江
左人好生食之。关中谓之菹菜。
保升曰∶茎、叶俱紫，赤英，有臭气。
时珍曰∶案∶赵叔文《医方》云∶鱼腥草即紫蕺。叶似荇，其状三角，一边红，一边青。
可以养猪。又有五蕺（即五毒草），花、叶相似，但根似狗脊。
见草部。
叶
【气味】辛，微温，有小毒。
《别录》曰∶多食，令人气喘。
弘景曰∶俗传食蕺不利人脚，恐由闭气故也。今小儿食之，便觉脚痛。
诜曰∶小儿食之，三岁不行。久食，发虚弱，损阳气，消精髓。
思邈曰∶素有香港脚人食之，一世不愈。
【主治】蠼 尿疮（《别录》）。淡竹筒内煨熟，捣敷恶疮、白秃（大明）。散热毒痈肿，
疮痔脱肛，断 疾，解 毒（时珍）。
【附方】旧一，新七。
背疮热肿∶蕺菜捣汁涂之，留孔以泄热毒，冷即易之。（《经验方》）。
痔疮肿痛∶鱼腥草一握，煎汤熏洗，仍以草挹痔即愈。一方∶洗后以枯矾入片脑少许，
敷之。（《救急方》）。疔疮作痛∶鱼腥草捣烂敷之。痛一、二时，不可去草，痛后一、二日
即愈。徽人所传方也。（陆氏《积德堂方》）小儿脱肛∶鱼腥草擂如泥，先以朴硝水洗过，用
芭蕉叶托住药坐之，自入也。（《永类方》）虫牙作痛∶鱼腥草、花椒、菜子油等分，捣匀，
入泥少许，和作小丸如豆大。随牙左右塞耳内，两边轮换，不可一齐用，恐闭耳气。塞一日
夜，取看有细虫为效。（《简便方》）断截疟疾∶紫蕺一握。捣烂绢包，周身摩擦，得睡有汗
即愈。临发前一时作之。（《救急易方》）恶蛇虫伤∶鱼腥草、皱面草、槐树叶、草决明，一
处杵烂，敷之甚效。（同上）
（读音为“戢”。收录于《名医别录》下品。）
【释名】菹菜（陶弘景注）、鱼腥草。
李时珍说：蕺字，在段公路的《北户录》中写作“蕊”，读音为“戢”。秦地人称之为“菹子”。“菹”和“蕺”读音相近。它的叶子有腥味，所以俗称“鱼腥草”。
【集解】陶弘景说：蕺菜生长在湿地、山谷阴处，也能蔓生。叶子像荞麦叶但更肥厚，茎呈紫红色。山南、江左一带的人喜欢生吃它。关中地区称之为“菹菜”。
苏保升说：茎、叶都是紫色的，花是红色的，有臭味。
李时珍说：据赵叔文《医方》记载：鱼腥草就是紫蕺。叶子像荇菜，形状呈三角形，一边红，一边青。可以用来喂猪。还有一种“五蕺”（即五毒草），花、叶相似，但根像狗脊。见草部。
叶
【气味】辛味，微温，有小毒。
《名医别录》说：多吃会让人气喘。
陶弘景说：民间传说吃蕺菜对脚不利，恐怕是因为闭气的原因。现在小孩吃了，就觉得脚痛。
陈藏器说：小孩吃了，三岁不能行走。长期食用，会导致身体虚弱，损伤阳气，消耗精髓。
孙思邈说：素有香港脚（足癣或下肢水肿）的人吃了，一辈子都好不了。
【主治】蠼蛄尿疮（《名医别录》）。放在淡竹筒内煨熟，捣烂敷治恶疮、白秃（孟诜）。散热毒痈肿，治疗疮痔脱肛，截断疟疾，解毒（李时珍）。
【附方】旧方一个，新方七个。
背疮热肿：将蕺菜捣汁涂抹患处，留出孔洞以泄出热毒，冷了就要更换。（《经验方》）。
痔疮肿痛：取一把鱼腥草，煎汤熏洗，仍用草药擦拭痔疮即可痊愈。另一法：洗后用枯矾加入少许冰片，敷在患处。（《救急方》）。
疔疮作痛：将鱼腥草捣烂敷在患处。疼痛一两个时辰内，不要去掉草药，疼痛后一两天即可痊愈。这是徽州人流传的方子。（陆氏《积德堂方》）。
小儿脱肛：将鱼腥草擂成泥状，先用朴硝水洗过肛门，用芭蕉叶托住药坐浴，脱出的直肠自然回纳。（《永类方》）。
虫牙作痛：鱼腥草、花椒、菜子油各等分，捣匀，加入少许泥土，调和做成如豆大小的小丸。根据牙齿疼痛的位置，塞入左右耳内，两边轮换使用，不可同时使用，恐闭塞耳气。塞一天一夜，取出查看若有细虫出现即为有效。（《简便方》）。
截断疟疾：取一把紫蕺。捣烂用绢布包好，在周身摩擦，睡着并出汗后即可痊愈。在发作前一小时进行。（《救急易方》）。
恶蛇虫伤：将鱼腥草、皱面草、槐树叶、草决明放在一起捣烂，敷在患处非常有效。（同上）
(Ji [Zi, sound "ji"]. Listed in the Lower Grade of *Bie Lu*.)
[Names] Zu Cai (Tao Hongjing's note), Yuxingcao (Houttuynia).
Li Shizhen says: The character "Ji" is written as "Rui" in Duan Gonglu's *Buhu Lu*, pronounced "ji". People in Qin call it "Zu Zi". "Zu" and "Ji" have similar pronunciations. Its leaves have a fishy odor, hence the common name "Yuxingcao" (Fishy Smell Grass).
[Collection of Explanations] Tao Hongjing says: Ji Cai grows in wetlands and shady places in valleys, and can also grow as a vine. The leaves resemble buckwheat leaves but are fatter, and the stem is purple-red. People in Shannan and Jiangzuo like to eat it raw. In Guanzhong, it is called "Zu Cai".
Su Baosheng says: Both stems and leaves are purple, flowers are red, and it has an offensive odor.
Li Shizhen says: According to Zhao Shuwen's *Yi Fang*: Yuxingcao is exactly Zijí (Purple Houttuynia). The leaves resemble *Nymphoides peltata* (Xing), triangular in shape, red on one side and green on the other. It can be used to feed pigs. There is also a type called "Wu Ji" (i.e., Wudu Cao/Five Poison Grass), with similar flowers and leaves, but the root resembles *Polypodi Rhizoma* (Gouji). See Herb Section.
Leaves
[Properties and Flavor] Acrid, slightly warm, slightly toxic.
*Bie Lu* says: Excessive consumption causes asthma/wheezing.
Tao Hongjing says: Folk tradition holds that eating Ji Cai is detrimental to the feet, likely due to obstructing Qi. Now, children who eat it feel foot pain.
Chen Cangqi says: Children who eat it cannot walk for three years. Long-term consumption leads to physical weakness, damages Yang Qi, and depletes essence and marrow.
Sun Simiao says: Those who already suffer from Hongxiangjiao (Hongxiangjiao, referring to podagra or lower limb edema/athlete's foot) will not recover for a lifetime if they eat it.
[Indications] Qu Gulu Niao Chuang (Qu Gulu Niao Sores) (*Bie Lu*). Roasted inside a bamboo tube, mashed and applied to treat malignant sores and white tinea capitis (Meng Shen). Clears heat and resolves toxicity, treats carbuncles and swellings, hemorrhoids, rectal prolapse, interrupts malaria, and detoxifies (Li Shizhen).
[Attached Prescriptions] One old prescription, seven new prescriptions.
Back sore with hot swelling: Mash Yuxingcao into juice and apply. Leave holes to vent heat and toxins; change when cool. (*Jingyan Fang*).
Hemorrhoids with swelling and pain: Take a handful of Yuxingcao, decoct in water for fumigation and washing. Still use the herb to wipe the hemorrhoids until healed. Another method: After washing, apply dried alum mixed with a little Bingpian (Borneolum Syntheticum) to the area. (*Jiuji Fang*).
Carbuncle sore with pain: Mash Yuxingcao and apply. Do not remove the herb within one to two shichen (2-4 hours) of pain; it heals within one to two days after pain subsides. This is a formula passed down in Huizhou. (Lu Shi's *Jide Tang Fang*).
Pediatric rectal prolapse: Mash Yuxingcao into paste. Wash the anus with Poxiao (Natrii Sulfas) water first, then sit on the herb paste supported by a banana leaf; the prolapsed rectum will retract naturally. (*Yonglei Fang*).
Toothache caused by worms: Equal parts Yuxingcao, Huajiao (Zanthoxyli Pericarpium), and Caiziyou (Rapeseed Oil). Mash evenly, add a little mud, and mix into small pills the size of beans. Insert into the ear on the side corresponding to the painful tooth, alternating sides. Do not use both ears simultaneously to avoid blocking ear Qi. Insert for one day and night; check for fine worms upon removal as efficacy. (*Jianbian Fang*).
Interrupting malaria: Take a handful of Zijí. Mash, wrap in silk cloth, and rub over the whole body. Recovery occurs with sleep and sweating. Perform this one hour before the attack. (*Jiuji Yi Fang*).
Malignant snake or insect bites: Mash Yuxingcao, Zhoumiancao, Huaishuye (Sophorae Leaf), and Caojueming (Cassiae Semen) together and apply. Very effective. (Same source)