\r恶实\pj158.bmp\r
（即牛蒡子） 味辛、苦，气平。无毒。原产邓州，（属河南。）今生各处。叶如茵芋，
叶
长大；实似葡萄，核褐黄。壳类粟稗，小而多刺。鼠过之则缀惹不落，故又名曰鼠粘子也。
秋后采取，制宜酒蒸。止牙齿蚀疼，散面目浮肿。退风热咽喉不利，及腰膝风凝；驱风湿瘾
疹盈肌，并疮疡毒盛。生吞一粒，即出疮头。明目补中，润肺散气。
\r败酱\pj159.bmp\r
味苦、咸，气平，微寒。无毒。俗呼苦 菜，多生深谷中。入剂用之，夏初收采。因
似败豆酱气，故以败酱为名。入足少阴肾经，及手厥阴包络。除肿痈排脓散血，破痈结催产
落胎。去疽痔疥瘙，却毒风痿痹。鼻洪吐血能止，腹痛疑血可推。
\r白薇\pj160.bmp\r
味苦、咸，气平，大寒。无毒。近道处处俱生，根类牛膝短小。三月三日，收采阴干
。恶黄耆、大黄、干姜，及干漆、山茱、大枣。主中风身热支满，忽忽人事不知。疗温疟寒
热酸疼，洗洗有时发作。狂惑鬼邪堪却，伤中淋露可除。利气益精，下水渗湿。
\r成州白前\pj161.bmp\r
\r舒州白前\pj162.bmp\r
味甘、辛，气微温。无毒。出江浙蜀川，生洲渚砂碛。叶如柳树叶，苗似芫花苗。根
粗长与牛膝颇同，但坚脆（音翠）而柔软鲜有。凡资入药，秋后采根。甘草汤浸一宵，折去
傍
须焙用。咳嗽上气能降，胸胁逆气堪驱。气壅膈，倒睡不得者殊功；气冲喉，呼吸欲绝者立
效。仍治气塞咽嗌，时作水鸡声鸣。故古人气嗽方中，每每用之不遗，亦以其善主一切气
也。又能保定肺气，温药佐使尤奇。
（谟）按∶白薇、白前，近道俱有。苗茎根叶，形色颇同。倘误采收，杀人顷刻，必辨
认的实
，方入药拯 。白前似牛膝，粗长坚脆易断。白薇似牛膝，短小柔软能弯。仍噬汁味相参，
庶不失于差误。此医家大关键，匪特一药为然。凡相类者，俱不可不细察尔。
【恶实】（即牛蒡子）味辛、苦，气平。无毒。原产于邓州（属河南），如今各地都有生长。叶子像茵芋，长得很大；果实像葡萄，核是褐黄色的。外壳像粟米和稗草的种子，小而多刺。老鼠经过时会被粘住掉不下来，所以又名叫鼠粘子。秋后采收，适宜用酒蒸制。能止牙齿腐蚀疼痛，消散面目浮肿。退除风热导致的咽喉不利，以及腰膝部的风邪凝滞；驱散风湿引起的瘾疹布满肌肤，以及疮疡毒气旺盛。生吞一粒，就能使疮头排出。明目补中气，润肺散气。
【败酱】味苦、咸，气平，微寒。无毒。俗称苦菜，多生长在深谷中。入药方使用，夏初采收。因为气味像败坏的豆酱，所以叫败酱。入足少阴肾经，及手厥阴心包络。消除肿痈、排脓散血，破除痈结、催产落胎。去除疽痔疥瘙，驱除毒风痿痹。鼻出血吐血能止住，腹痛疑似瘀血可推散。
【白薇】味苦、咸，气平，大寒。无毒。近处道路处处都有生长，根像牛膝但短小。三月三日采收，阴干。厌恶黄耆、大黄、干姜，以及干漆、山茱萸、大枣。主治中风身热支满，忽然人事不知。治疗温疟寒热酸疼，洗洗有时发作。狂惑鬼邪可以驱却，伤中淋露可以除去。利气益精，下水渗湿。
【成州白前】【舒州白前】味甘、辛，气微温。无毒。出产于江浙蜀川，生长在洲渚砂碛。叶子像柳树叶，苗像芫花苗。根粗长与牛膝颇同，但坚脆（音翠）而柔软鲜有。凡资入药，秋后采根。甘草汤浸一宵，折去傍须焙用。咳嗽上气能降，胸胁逆气堪驱。气壅膈，倒睡不得者殊功；气冲喉，呼吸欲绝者立效。仍治气塞咽嗌，时作水鸡声鸣。故古人气嗽方中，每每用之不遗，亦以其善主一切气也。又能保定肺气，温药佐使尤奇。
（谟）按∶白薇、白前，近道俱有。苗茎根叶，形色颇同。倘误采收，杀人顷刻，必辨 认的实 ，方入药拯 。白前似牛膝，粗长坚脆易断。白薇似牛膝，短小柔软能弯。仍噬汁味相参 ，庶不失于差误。此医家大关键，匪特一药为然。凡相类者，俱不可不细察尔。
[Arctii Fructus] (i.e., Niu Bang Zi) Taste: pungent, bitter. Nature: neutral. Non-toxic. Originally produced in Dengzhou (belonging to Henan), now grown everywhere. Leaves resemble those of *Aconitum coreanum* (Yin Yu), large and long; fruits resemble grapes, with brownish-yellow seeds. The husk resembles millet and barnyard grass seeds, small and thorny. When rats pass by, they get stuck and cannot shake it off, hence also called Shu Nian Zi (Mouse-stick Seed). Harvested after autumn, suitable for steaming with wine. Stops tooth decay pain, disperses facial and ocular edema. Resolves wind-heat causing throat obstruction, and wind stagnation in waist and knees; expels wind-dampness causing urticaria covering the skin, and severe toxicity in sores and ulcers. Swallowing one raw fruit can induce the discharge of pus from a sore. Brightens eyes, tonifies the middle, moistens the lungs, and dissipates qi.
[Patriniae Radix] Taste: bitter, salty. Nature: neutral, slightly cold. Non-toxic. Commonly known as Ku Cai (Bitter Vegetable), mostly growing in deep valleys. Collected in early summer for medicinal use. Named Patrinia because its odor resembles spoiled bean paste. Enters the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian. Eliminates swelling and carbuncles, drains pus, disperses blood, breaks abscess nodules, induces labor, and causes abortion. Removes carbuncles, hemorrhoids, scabies, and pruritus; repels toxic wind, flaccidity, and bi-syndrome. Stops epistaxis and hematemesis; dispels abdominal pain suspected to be caused by blood stasis.
[Cynanchi Atrati Radix] Taste: bitter, salty. Nature: neutral, very cold. Non-toxic. Grows everywhere near roads. Roots resemble those of Achyranthes bidentata (Niu Xi) but are shorter and smaller. Collected on the third day of the third lunar month, dried in shade. Adverse interactions with Astragali Radix (Huang Qi), Rheismi Radix et Rhizoma (Da Huang), Zingiberis Radix Preparata (Gan Jiang), Dried Lacca (Gan Qi), Corni Fructus (Shan Zhu), and Jujubae Fructus (Da Zao). Mainly treats wind-stroke with body heat, distension and fullness, sudden loss of consciousness. Treats warm malaria with alternating chills and fever, body aches, occurring intermittently. Repels madness, delirium, and evil spirits; removes internal injury with dripping discharge. Promotes qi circulation, benefits essence, promotes urination, and leaches out dampness.
[Bai Qian from Chengzhou] [Bai Qian from Shuzhou] Taste: sweet, pungent. Nature: slightly warm. Non-toxic. Produced in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Sichuan, and Chuan regions, growing on sandbars and gravel banks. Leaves resemble willow leaves, shoots resemble those of Genkwa Flos (Yuan Hua). Roots are thick and long, somewhat similar to Achyranthes bidentata (Niu Xi), but hard and brittle (pronounced 'cui') and rarely soft. For medicinal use, roots are harvested after autumn. Soaked in Licorice Decoction overnight, side whiskers broken off, then baked for use. Reduces cough with rebellious qi, drives away rebellious qi in chest and hypochondrium. Excellent for qi congestion in the diaphragm preventing lying flat; immediate effect for qi rushing to the throat causing breathing difficulty. Also treats qi obstruction in the pharynx producing sounds like a water frog. Therefore, ancient formulas for qi-type coughs often include it without omission, due to its ability to govern all types of qi disorders. It can also stabilize lung qi, especially when used as an assistant with warming herbs.
(Mo) Commentary: Cynanchi Atrati Radix (Bai Wei) and Veronicae Radix (Bai Qian) are both available locally. Their shoots, stems, roots, and leaves look very similar in color and shape. If mistakenly collected, death can occur instantly. One must accurately identify them before using them to save lives. Bai Qian resembles Niu Xi, being thick, long, hard, brittle, and easily broken. Bai Wei resembles Niu Xi, being short, small, soft, and bendable. Comparing their juice tastes helps avoid errors. This is a critical point for physicians, not just for this single herb. All similar-looking herbs must be carefully examined.