（《本经》下品）
【释名】野葛（《本经》）、毒根（《吴普》）、胡蔓草（《图经》）、断肠草（《纲目》）、
黄藤（《
弘景曰∶言其入口则钩人喉吻也。或言∶吻当作挽字，牵挽人肠而绝之也。
时珍曰∶此草虽名野葛，非葛根之野者也。或作冶葛。王充《论衡》云∶冶，地名也，
在东南。其说甚通。广人谓之胡蔓草，亦曰断肠草。入人畜腹内，即粘肠上，半日则黑烂，
又名烂肠草。滇人谓之火把花，因其花红而性热如火也。岳州谓之黄藤。
【集解】《别录》曰∶钩吻生敷高山谷及会稽东野。折之青烟出者，名固活。二月、八
月采。
普曰∶秦钩吻一名除辛，生南越山及寒石山，或益州。叶如葛，赤茎大如箭而方，根黄
色，正月采之。
恭曰∶野葛，生桂州以南，村墟闾巷间皆有。彼人通名钩吻，亦谓苗为钩吻，根名野葛。
蔓生。其叶如柿。其根新采者，皮白骨黄。宿根似地骨，嫩根如汉防己，皮节断者良。正与
白花藤相类。不深别者，颇亦惑之。新者折之无尘气。经年以后则有尘起，从骨之细孔中出。
今折枸杞根亦然。《本草》言折之青烟起者名固活为良，亦不达之言也。人误食其叶者致死，
而羊食其苗大肥，物有相伏如此。《博物志》云∶钩吻蔓生，叶似凫葵，是也。
时珍曰∶嵇含《南方草木状》云∶野葛蔓生，叶如罗勒，光而浓，一名胡蔓草。人以杂
生蔬中毒人，半日辄死。段成式《酉阳杂俎》云∶胡蔓草生邕州、容州之间。丛生。花扁如
栀子而稍大，不成朵，色黄白。其叶稍黑。又按《岭南卫生方》云∶胡蔓草叶如茶，其花
黄而小。一叶入口，百窍溃血，人无复生也。时珍又访之南人云∶钩吻即胡蔓草，今人谓
之断肠草是也。蔓生，叶圆而光。春夏嫩苗毒甚，秋冬枯老稍缓。五、六月开花似榉柳花，
数十朵作穗。生岭南者花黄；生滇南者花红，呼为火把花。此数说皆与吴普、苏恭说相合
。陶弘景等别生分辨，并正于下。
【正误】弘景曰∶《五符经》亦言钩吻是野葛。核事而言，似是两物。野葛是根，状如
牡丹，所生处亦有毒，飞鸟不得集，今人用合膏服之无嫌。钩吻别是一物，叶似黄精而茎紫，
当心抽花，黄色，初生极类黄精，故人采多惑之，遂致死生之反。或云钩吻是毛茛，参错不
同，未详云何？
曰∶凡使黄精勿用钩吻，真似黄精，只是叶有毛钩子二个。黄精，叶似竹叶。又曰∶
凡使钩吻，勿用地精，茎苗相同。钩吻治人身上恶毒疮，其地精杀人也。
恭曰∶钩吻蔓生，叶如柿。陶言飞鸟不集者，妄也。黄精直生，叶似柳及龙胆草，殊非
比类。毛茛，乃有毛石龙芮，与钩吻何干？
颂曰∶江南人说黄精茎苗稍类钩吻。但钩吻叶头极尖而根细，与苏恭所说不同，恐南北
之产异也。
禹锡曰∶陶说钩吻似黄精者，当是。苏说似柿叶者，别是一物也。又言苗名钩吻，根名
野葛者，亦非通论。
时珍曰∶《神农本草》钩吻，一名野葛，一句已明。《草木状》又名胡蔓草，显是藤生。
吴普、苏恭所说
说。诸家遂无定见，不辨其蔓生、小草，相去远也。然陶、雷所说亦是一种有毒小草，但不
得指为钩吻尔。昔天姥对黄帝言∶黄精益寿，钩吻杀人。乃是以二草善恶匹配而言。陶氏不
审，疑是相似，遂有此说也。余见黄精下。
【气味】辛，温，大有毒。普曰∶神农∶辛；雷公∶有毒杀人。
时珍曰∶其性大热。本草毒药止云有大毒，此独变文曰大有毒，可见其毒之异常也。之
才曰∶半夏为之使，恶黄芩。
【主治】金疮乳 ，中恶风，咳逆上气，水肿，杀鬼疰蛊毒（《本经》）。
膝痹痛，四肢拘挛，恶疮疥虫，杀鸟兽。捣汁入膏中，不
声音变（保升）。
【发明】藏器曰∶钩吻食叶，饮冷水即死，冷水发其毒也。彼土毒死人悬尸树上，汁滴
地上生菌子，收之名菌药，烈于野葛也。蕹菜捣汁，解野葛毒。取汁
先食蕹菜，后食野葛，二物相伏，自然无苦。魏武帝啖野葛至尺，先食
时珍曰∶按李石《续博物志》云∶胡蔓草出二广。广人负债急，每食此草而死，以诬人
。以急水吞即死急，慢水吞死稍缓。或取毒蛇杀之，覆以此草，浇水生菌，为毒药害人。葛
洪《肘后方》云∶凡中野葛毒口不可开者。取大竹筒洞节，以头拄其两胁及脐中。灌冷水
入筒中，数易水。须臾口开，乃可下药解之。惟多饮甘草汁、人屎汁；白鸭或白鹅断头沥血，
入口中；或羊血灌之。《岭南卫生方》云∶即时取鸡卵抱未成雏者，研烂和麻油灌之。吐出
毒物乃生，稍迟即死也。
【释名】野葛（出自《神农本草经》）、毒根（出自《吴普本草》）、胡蔓草（出自《图经本草》）、断肠草（出自《本草纲目》）、黄藤（出自《本草拾遗》）。
陶弘景说：说是它入口后钩住人的喉咙。另一种说法是：“吻”字应当作“挽”字，意思是牵拉人的肠道使其断裂。
李时珍说：这种草虽然名叫野葛，但不是野生的葛根。有的写作“冶葛”。王充在《论衡》中说：“冶”，是地名，位于东南方。这种说法很通顺。广东人叫它胡蔓草，也叫断肠草。进入人和牲畜的腹内，就会粘附在肠子上，半天时间就会变黑腐烂，所以又名烂肠草。云南人叫它火把花，因为花朵红色且药性热如火。岳州地区叫它黄藤。
【集解】《名医别录》说：钩吻生长在敷高山谷以及会稽东面的野外。折断时有青烟冒出的，叫做固活。二月和八月采集。
吴普说：秦地的钩吻一名除辛，生长在南越的山上及寒石山，或者益州。叶子像葛叶，茎赤色，粗如箭杆且方形，根黄色，正月采集。
苏恭说：野葛生长在桂州以南，村庄街巷间都有。那里的人统称它为钩吻，也说苗叫钩吻，根叫野葛。它是蔓生植物。它的叶子像柿子叶。新采的根，皮白肉黄。陈年的根像地骨皮，嫩根像汉防己，皮节断裂的是好药。这与白花藤非常相似。不仔细分辨的人，很容易混淆它。新鲜的折断时没有灰尘气味。经过一年以上就会有灰尘从根的细孔中冒出。现在折断枸杞根也是这样。《本草》中说折断时有青烟冒出的是良材，这也是不通达的说法。人误食它的叶子会导致死亡，而羊吃了它的苗却长得肥壮，万物相生相克就是这样。《博物志》说：钩吻蔓生，叶子像凫葵，这是对的。
李时珍说：嵇含在《南方草木状》中说：野葛蔓生，叶子像罗勒，光亮浓绿，一名胡蔓草。人如果在蔬菜中混入它来毒害人，半天就死。段成式在《酉阳杂俎》中说：胡蔓草生长在邕州、容州之间。丛生。花扁如栀子但稍大，不成簇，颜色黄白。它的叶子稍黑。又查考《岭南卫生方》说：胡蔓草叶子像茶，花黄而小。一片叶子入口，百窍出血，人就没有再生希望了。李时珍又访问南方人说：钩吻就是胡蔓草，现在人叫它断肠草。它是蔓生植物，叶子圆而光亮。春夏季节嫩苗毒性很大，秋冬枯萎老熟后毒性稍缓。五、六月开花像榉柳花，几十朵聚成穗状。生长在岭南的花是黄色的；生长在滇南的花是红色的，称为火把花。这几种说法都与吴普、苏恭的说法相符合。陶弘景等人另外进行分辨，并在下面予以纠正。
【正误】陶弘景说：《五符经》也说钩吻是野葛。核实事情来说，好像是两种东西。野葛是根，形状像牡丹，生长的地方也有毒，飞鸟不能栖息，现在人用它合膏服用没有忌讳。钩吻是另一种东西，叶子像黄精但茎是紫色的，从中心抽出花，黄色，刚生长时极像黄精，所以人们采摘时多被迷惑，导致生死相反的结果。有人说钩吻是毛茛，说法参差错落不同，不详知是什么？
李时珍说：凡是使用黄精不要用钩吻，真的像黄精，只是叶子上有两个毛钩子。黄精的叶子像竹叶。又说：凡是使用钩吻，不要用“地精”（指某种类似植物），茎苗相同。钩吻能治疗人身上的恶毒疮，而“地精”杀人。
苏恭说：钩吻蔓生，叶子像柿子叶。陶弘景说飞鸟不栖息，是妄言。黄精直立生长，叶子像柳叶及龙胆草，完全不同类。毛茛，是有毛的石龙芮，与钩吻有什么关系？
苏颂说：江南人说黄精的茎苗稍微像钩吻。但钩吻叶头极尖且根细，与苏恭所说的不同，恐怕是南北产地不同所致。
禹锡说：陶弘景说钩吻像黄精，应当是对的。苏恭说像柿叶，是另一种东西。又说苗叫钩吻，根叫野葛的，也不是通达的论述。
李时珍说：《神农本草经》中钩吻，一名野葛，一句话已经说明白了。《南方草木状》又名胡蔓草，明显是藤生植物。吴普、苏恭所说的……（原文此处似有脱漏或语意未完，依上下文理解为对前人观点的辨析）诸家于是没有定见，不分辨它是蔓生还是小草，相差很远。然而陶弘景、雷敩所说的也是一种有毒的小草，只是不能指认为钩吻罢了。昔日天姥对黄帝说：黄精益寿，钩吻杀人。这是以两种植物的善恶相匹配而言。陶氏不审慎，怀疑它们相似，于是有了这种说法。我在黄精条目下见过相关记载。
【气味】辛，温，大有毒。吴普引神农说：辛；雷公说：有毒杀人。
李时珍说：它的性质大热。本草书中毒药只说有大毒，这里唯独变文说“大有毒”，可见其毒性异常。之才说：半夏是它的使药，厌恶黄芩。
【主治】金疮乳痈，中恶风，咳逆上气，水肿，杀鬼疰蛊毒（出自《神农本草经》）。膝痹痛，四肢拘挛，恶疮疥虫，杀鸟兽。捣汁加入膏药中，可治声音变哑（出自保升）。
【发明】藏器说：钩吻吃叶子，喝冷水就死，冷水激发它的毒性。当地毒死人把尸体挂在树上，汁水滴在地上长出菌子，收集起来名叫菌药，比野葛更猛烈。蕹菜捣汁，可以解野葛毒。取汁……先吃蕹菜，后吃野葛，两物相克，自然无苦。魏武帝吃野葛长达一尺，先吃……
李时珍说：按李石《续博物志》说：胡蔓草出产于两广。广东人欠债急迫，常常吃这种草而死，以此诬陷他人。用急水吞服死得快，慢水吞服死得稍慢。或者取毒蛇杀死，覆盖在这种草上，浇水生出菌子，作为毒药害人。葛洪《肘后方》说：凡是中了野葛毒嘴巴张不开的。取大竹筒打通节，用一头抵住病人的两胁及脐中。灌冷水入筒中，多次换水。一会儿嘴张开，才可以下药解毒。只有多喝甘草汁、人屎汁；或者取白鸭或白鹅断头沥血，滴入口中；或者用羊血灌之。《岭南卫生方》说：即时取孵育未成雏的鸡蛋，研烂混合麻油灌服。吐出毒物就能活，稍迟就死了。
(Recorded in the Lower Grade of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
**[Names]** Yege (Wild Kudzu, from *Shennong Bencao Jing*), Dugen (Poisonous Root, from *Wu Pu Bencao*), Humancacao (Hu Man Grass, from *Tujing Bencao*), Duanchangcao (Intestine-Cutting Grass, from *Bencao Gangmu*), Huangteng (Yellow Vine, from *Bencao Shiyi*).
Tao Hongjing stated: It is said that upon entering the mouth, it hooks the human throat. Another interpretation suggests that "wen" (kiss/throat) should be read as "wan" (pull), meaning it pulls and severs the human intestines.
Li Shizhen stated: Although this herb is named Yege (Wild Kudzu), it is not the wild variety of Puerariae Radix (Kudzu Root). Some write it as "Yege". Wang Chong in *Lunheng* stated: "Ye" is a place name located in the southeast. This explanation is quite logical. People in Guangdong call it Humancacao (Hu Man Grass), also known as Duanchangcao (Intestine-Cutting Grass). Once ingested by humans or livestock, it adheres to the intestines and causes blackening and rotting within half a day, hence also called Lanchangcao (Rotting Intestine Grass). In Yunnan, it is called Huobahua (Torch Flower) because its flowers are red and its nature is hot like fire. In Yuezhou, it is called Huangteng (Yellow Vine).
**[Collection and Description]** *Bielu* stated: Gouwen grows in the valleys of Fugao Mountain and in the eastern wilds of Kuaiji. The variety that emits blue smoke when broken is called Guhuo. It is harvested in February and August.
Wu Pu stated: In Qin region, Gouwen is also known as Chuxin. It grows in the mountains of Nanyue and Hanshi Mountain, or in Yizhou. Its leaves resemble those of kudzu; the stem is red, thick as an arrow shaft and square-shaped; the root is yellow. It is harvested in January.
Su Gong stated: Yege grows south of Guizhou and is found in villages and alleys. Locals generally call it Gouwen, referring to the vine as Gouwen and the root as Yege. It is a climbing plant. Its leaves resemble persimmon leaves. Newly harvested roots have white bark and yellow flesh. Old roots resemble Cornus officinalis Cortex (Diguopi); tender roots resemble Stephaniae Tetrandrae Rhizoma (Han Fangji). Those with broken nodes at the skin joints are of good quality. It closely resembles Baihuateng (White Flower Vine). Those who do not distinguish carefully are often confused by it. Fresh stems break without dust odor. After more than a year, dust emerges from the fine pores of the root. Breaking Goji root today yields similar results. The *Bencao* statement that emitting blue smoke upon breaking indicates superior quality is also an ignorant assertion. Humans die if they mistakenly ingest its leaves, yet sheep grow fat after eating its shoots; such is the mutual suppression among things. *Bowuzhi* states: Gouwen climbs, and its leaves resemble *Nymphoides peltata* (Fukui). This is correct.
Li Shizhen stated: Ji Han in *Nanfang Caomu Zhuang* wrote: Yege climbs, leaves resemble basil (*Ocimum basilicum*), shiny and dense green, also named Humancacao. If mixed into vegetables to poison people, death occurs within half a day. Duan Chengshi in *Youyang Zazu* wrote: Humancacao grows between Yongzhou and Rongzhou. It grows in clumps. Flowers are flat like Gardenia jasminoides flowers but slightly larger, not clustered, yellowish-white. Its leaves are slightly dark. Furthermore, according to *Lingnan Weisheng Fang*: Humancacao leaves resemble tea leaves, flowers are yellow and small. One leaf entering the mouth causes bleeding from all orifices, and there is no hope of survival. Li Shizhen further asked southern people: Gouwen is indeed Humancacao, which people now call Duanchangcao. It climbs, leaves are round and shiny. Tender shoots in spring and summer are highly toxic; dried old plants in autumn and winter have slightly reduced toxicity. It flowers in May and June, resembling Zelkova schneideriana flowers, dozens forming spikes. Plants in Lingnan have yellow flowers; those in southern Yunnan have red flowers, called Huobahua (Torch Flower). These descriptions align with Wu Pu and Su Gong. Tao Hongjing and others differentiated them separately, corrected below.
**[Correction of Errors]** Tao Hongjing stated: *Wufu Jing* also says Gouwen is Yege. Upon verification, they seem to be two different substances. Yege refers to the root, shaped like Peony root, growing in toxic areas where birds cannot perch; currently used in medicinal plasters without objection. Gouwen is a different substance, leaves resemble Polygonatum Sibiricum (Huangjing) but with purple stems, flowering from the center, yellow. Young growth looks very much like Huangjing, leading to confusion during harvesting and resulting in fatal errors. Some claim Gouwen is Ranunculus japonicus (Maolü), but these accounts vary and remain unclear.
Li Shizhen stated: When using Huangjing, do not use Gouwen. They look similar, but Gouwen has two hairy hooks on the leaf tips. Huangjing leaves resemble bamboo leaves. Also: When using Gouwen, do not use "Dijing" (a local name for a similar-looking plant), as stems and shoots are identical. Gouwen treats malignant sores on the body, whereas Dijing is lethal.
Su Gong stated: Gouwen climbs, leaves resemble persimmon leaves. Tao's claim that birds do not perch is false. Huangjing grows upright, leaves resemble willow and Gentian root, completely different classes. Ranunculus involves hairy Stone Clover, unrelated to Gouwen.
Su Song stated: Jiangnan people say Huangjing stems and shoots slightly resemble Gouwen. However, Gouwen has extremely sharp leaf tips and thin roots, differing from Su Gong's description, likely due to geographical variations.
Yu Xi stated: Tao's view that Gouwen resembles Huangjing is likely correct. Su's view that it resembles persimmon leaves refers to a different object. Also, distinguishing shoot as Gouwen and root as Yege is not a comprehensive theory.
Li Shizhen stated: *Shennong Bencao Jing* clearly states Gouwen is also named Yege in one sentence. *Nanfang Caomu Zhuang* names it Humancacao, clearly indicating it is a climbing vine. Wu Pu and Su Gong's descriptions... [Text fragment] Various schools lack a definitive view, failing to distinguish between climbing vines and small herbs, a significant difference. However, Tao and Lei's descriptions refer to another type of toxic small herb, just not identifiable as Gouwen. Previously, Tianmu told the Yellow Emperor: Huangjing prolongs life, Gouwen kills. This was a comparison of the beneficial and harmful natures of two herbs. Tao did not examine carefully, suspecting similarity, thus generating this theory. See entry under Huangjing.
**[Properties and Flavor]** Acrid, Warm, Highly Toxic. Wu Pu cited Shennong: Acrid; Lei Gong: Toxic, lethal.
Li Shizhen stated: Its nature is extremely hot. Herbals usually state "Highly Toxic," but here it specifically varies the text to "Extremely/Very Highly Toxic," indicating its exceptional potency. Zhang Zhicai stated: Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum (Banxia) acts as its guide drug; it is incompatible with Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin).
**[Indications]** Golden wounds, breast abscesses, sudden onset of evil wind, coughing with upward rushing qi, edema, killing Gui-zhu (wandering pestilence) and Gu-poison (from *Shennong Bencao Jing*). Knee bi-pain, limb spasms and contractures, malignant sores and scabies mites, killing birds and beasts. Juice applied in plasters can treat hoarseness (from Baosheng).
**[Elucidation]** Zang Qi stated: Ingesting Gouwen leaves followed by cold water causes death, as cold water activates its toxicity. In that region, poisoned corpses were hung on trees; juice dripping onto the ground grew mushrooms, collected as Junyao (Mushroom Medicine), more potent than Yege. Ipomoea aquatica (Wengcai) juice resolves Yege poison. Taking juice... Eat Wengcai first, then Yege; the two counteract each other naturally, eliminating bitterness. Emperor Wu of Wei ate Yege up to a chi length, eating first...
Li Shizhen stated: According to Li Shi's *Xu Bowuzhi*: Humancacao originates from Liangguang. Desperate debtors in Guangdong would eat this herb to commit suicide, framing others. Swallowing with fast-flowing water causes rapid death; slow water causes slower death. Or, kill a venomous snake, cover it with this herb, add water to grow mushrooms, creating poison to harm others. Ge Hong's *Zhouhou Beifang* states: For those poisoned by Yege whose mouths cannot open, take a large bamboo tube with nodes removed, press one end against the patient's flanks and umbilicus. Pour cold water into the tube, changing water frequently. Soon the mouth opens, allowing administration of antidotes. Best to drink copious amounts of Licorice juice or human fecal juice; or drip blood from decapitated white ducks or geese into the mouth; or灌 (irrigate) with sheep blood. *Lingnan Weisheng Fang* states: Immediately take eggs incubated but not hatched, mash them, mix with sesame oil, and administer. Vomiting the toxin leads to survival; delay means death.