Shennong Bencao Jing · The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica

Herbs · Upper Grade

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Qingzhi · Blue-Green Zhi Sour, neutral. Listed for brightening eyes, supplementing Liver qi, settling essence and hun soul, and fostering benevolence and forbearance. Prolonged eating is claimed to lighten the body, prevent aging, extend years and confer immortality. Also Longzhi. Grows in mountain valleys. Chizhi · Red Zhi Bitter, neutral. Listed for chest binding, benefiting Heart qi, supplementing the center, increasing wisdom and preventing forgetfulness. Prolonged eating is claimed to lighten the body, prevent aging, extend years and confer immortality. Also Danzhi. Grows in mountain valleys. Huangzhi · Yellow Zhi Sweet, neutral. Listed for the five malign influences in heart and abdomen, benefiting Spleen qi, settling spirit, and fostering loyalty, trust, harmony and joy. Prolonged eating is claimed to lighten the body, prevent aging, extend years and confer immortality. Also Jinzhi. Grows in mountain valleys. Baizhi · White Zhi Pungent, neutral. Listed for counterflow cough with upward qi, benefiting Lung qi, freeing mouth and nose, strengthening resolve and boldness, and settling the po soul. Prolonged eating is claimed to lighten the body, prevent aging, extend years and confer immortality. Also Yuzhi. Grows in mountain valleys. Heizhi · Black Zhi Salty, neutral. Listed for urinary obstruction, freeing the waterways, benefiting Kidney qi and the nine openings, and sharpening perception. Prolonged eating is claimed to lighten the body, prevent aging, extend years and confer immortality. Also Xuanzhi. Grows in mountain valleys. Zizhi · Purple Zhi Sweet, warm. Listed for deafness, freeing joints, preserving spirit, benefiting essence and qi, firming sinews and bones, and improving complexion. Prolonged eating is claimed to lighten the body, prevent aging, extend years and confer immortality. Also Muzhi. Grows in mountain valleys. Tianmendong Bitter, neutral. Listed for sudden wind-damp disorders and one-sided impediment; strengthening bones and marrow, killing the Three Worms, and removing the hidden-corpse influence. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body, benefit qi and extend years. Also Dianle. Grows in mountain valleys. Zhu Bitter, warm. Listed for damp impediment, dead flesh, spasms and jaundice; stopping sweat, removing heat, digesting food and preparing decocted medicinal foods. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body, extend years and remove hunger. Also Shanji. Grows in Zhengshan's mountain valleys. Weiwei Sweet, neutral. Listed for wind-strike with sudden heat and inability to move, injured sinews and bound flesh, and various deficiencies. Prolonged use is claimed to remove facial dark spots, give a moist, pleasing complexion, lighten the body and prevent aging. Grows in river valleys. Gan Dihuang · Dried Dihuang Sweet, cold. Listed for fractures, falls, severed sinews and internal injury; expelling blood impediment, filling marrow and increasing flesh. In decoction, it removes cold-and-heat accumulations and impediment. The fresh form is called especially good. Also Disui. Grows in waterways and marshes. Changpu Pungent, warm. Listed for wind-cold-damp impediment, counterflow cough and upward qi; opening the Heart's apertures, supplementing the five zang, freeing nine openings, sharpening hearing and sight and bringing out the voice. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body, prevent forgetfulness and confusion, and extend years. Also Changyang. Grows in ponds and marshes. Yuanzhi Bitter, warm. Listed for counterflow cough and internal injury, supplementing insufficiency, removing pathogenic qi, freeing nine openings, increasing wisdom, sharpening hearing and sight, preventing forgetfulness, strengthening intelligence and doubling strength. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body and prevent aging. Leaves are Xiaocao; also Yaorao and Xicao. Grows in river valleys. Zexie Sweet, cold. Listed for wind-cold-damp impediment and ru difficulties; removing water, nourishing the five zang, increasing qi and strength, and making the body robust. Prolonged use is claimed to sharpen hearing and sight, remove hunger, extend years, lighten the body, illuminate the face and permit walking on water. Also Shuixie, Mangyu, Huxie. Grows in ponds and marshes. Shuyu Sweet, slightly warm. Listed for internal injury, supplementing deficiency and emaciation, removing cold, heat and pathogenic qi, supplementing the center and strength, and increasing flesh. Prolonged use is claimed to sharpen hearing and sight, lighten the body, remove hunger and extend years. Also Shanyu. Grows in mountain valleys. Juhua · Ju Flowers Bitter, neutral. Listed for wind affecting the head, dizziness, swelling and pain, eyes seeming about to protrude, tears, dead skin and flesh, aversion to wind and damp impediment. Prolonged use is claimed to free blood and qi, lighten the body, resist aging and extend years. Also Jiehua. Grows by waterways and marshes. Gancao Sweet, neutral. Listed for cold, heat and pathogenic qi of the five zang and six fu; firming sinews and bones, increasing flesh and strength; metal wounds, swelling and counteracting poisons. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body and extend years. Grows in river valleys. Renshen · Ginseng Sweet, slightly cold. Listed for supplementing the five zang, calming essence and spirit, settling hun and po, stopping fright and palpitations, removing pathogenic qi, brightening eyes, opening the Heart and increasing wisdom. Also Renxian and Guigai. Grows in mountain valleys. Shihu Sweet, neutral. Listed for internal injury, removing impediment, descending qi, supplementing exhaustion and emaciation of the five zang, and strengthening the yin. Prolonged use is claimed to strengthen intestines and stomach, lighten the body and extend years. Also Linlan. Grows in mountain valleys. Shilongrui Bitter, neutral. Listed for wind-cold-damp impediment and pathogenic qi of heart and abdomen; freeing joints and stopping vexation and fullness. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body, brighten eyes and prevent aging. Also Luguoneng and Dishen. Grows by waterways and marshes. Niuxi Bitter, with sour also given in parentheses; neutral. Listed for cold-damp wilting and impediment, contracted limbs, knee pain preventing bending or stretching, expelling blood and qi, injury from heat and burning, and fetal loss. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body and resist aging. Also Shibei. Grows in river valleys. Duhuo Bitter, neutral; classified non-toxic. Listed for disorders arising from wind and cold, metal wounds and pain; bentun upsurge, seizure and spasm, and women's shan/jia masses. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body and resist aging. Also Qianghuo, Qiangqing, Huqiangshizhe. Grows in river valleys. Shengma Sweet, neutral. Listed for countering the hundred poisons, killing uncanny spirits, ancient beings and calamity ghosts, and warding off warm epidemics, miasmic influences and gu poison. Prolonged use is claimed to prevent early death, lighten the body and lengthen years. Also Zhoushengma. Grows in mountain valleys. Zihu Bitter, neutral. Listed for bound qi in heart, abdomen, intestines and stomach, food accumulations, cold, heat and pathogenic qi; removing the old and bringing in the new. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body, brighten eyes and increase essence. Also Dixun. Grows in river valleys. Fangkui Pungent, cold. Listed for shan/jia masses, intestinal diarrhea, heat binding in the bladder with blocked urine, counterflow cough, warm-nue fever, dian/xian seizures, fright and malign influences with frantic running. Prolonged use is claimed to firm bones and marrow, benefit qi and lighten the body. Also Ligai. Grows in river valleys. Zhushi Bitter, neutral. Listed for genital impotence, benefiting qi, filling flesh and skin, brightening eyes, intelligence and foreknowledge. Prolonged use is claimed to remove hunger, prevent aging and lighten the body. Grows in river valleys. Note: The name follows the supplied Zhushi graphs without replacing them with a guessed modern plant. Yanlüzi Bitter, slightly warm; classified non-toxic. Listed for stagnant blood in the five zang, abdominal water qi, abdominal distention and retained heat, wind-cold-damp impediment and bodily pains. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body, extend years and prevent aging. Grows in river valleys. Yiyiren Sweet, slightly cold. Listed for tight, contracted sinews preventing bending or stretching, wind-damp impediment and descending qi. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body and benefit qi. Its root expels the Three Worms. Also Jieli. Grows in level marshland. Cheqianzi Sweet, cold; classified non-toxic. Listed for qi-related urinary obstruction, stopping pain, freeing waterways and urine, and removing damp impediment. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body and resist aging. Also Dangtong. Grows in level marshland. Ximingzi Pungent, sour, warm; classified non-toxic. Listed for brightening eyes, eye pain and tears, removing impediment, supplementing the five zang and benefiting essence and radiance. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body and prevent aging. Also Miexi, Daji, Maxin. Grows in mountains and marshes. Chongweizi Pungent, slightly cold. Listed for brightening eyes, “benefiting fright” and removing water qi. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body. The stem treats itchy raised eruptions and may form a bathing decoction. Also Yimu, Yiming, Dazha. Grows in ponds and marshes. Note: The supplied text writes jing, “fright,” in the benefiting clause; its uncertainty is disclosed rather than silently replaced with “essence.” Muxiang Pungent, warm. Listed for pathogenic qi, warding off toxic epidemics and warm-disease ghosts, strengthening resolve, and lin/lou urinary or leaking disorders. Prolonged use is claimed to prevent disturbing dreams and nightmare sleep. Grows in mountain valleys. Longdan Bitter, astringent. Listed for cold and heat between bones, fright seizures and pathogenic qi; reconnecting injured breaks, settling the five zang and countering gu poison. Prolonged use is claimed to increase intelligence, prevent forgetfulness, lighten the body and resist aging. Also Lingyou. Grows in mountain valleys. Tusizi Pungent, neutral. Listed for reconnecting injuries, supplementing insufficiency, increasing qi and strength and making the body robust. Its juice removes facial dark spots. Prolonged use is claimed to brighten eyes, lighten the body and extend years. Also Tulu. Grows in mountain valleys. Bajitian Pungent, slightly warm. Listed for great-wind pathogenic qi and impotence with failure to rise; strengthening sinews and bones, settling the five zang, supplementing the center, increasing resolve and benefiting qi. Grows in mountain valleys. Baimo Sweet, cold. Listed for cold and heat, the eight jaundices and wasting-thirst; supplementing the center and benefiting qi. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body and extend years. Also Gucai. Baihao Sweet, neutral. Listed for pathogenic qi of the five zang and wind-cold-damp impediment; supplementing the center and qi, growing and darkening hair, treating a suspended-heart sensation, little food with constant hunger. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body, sharpen hearing and sight and prevent aging. Grows by waterways and marshes. Difuzi Bitter, cold. Listed for bladder heat, promoting urine, supplementing the center and benefiting essence and qi. Prolonged use is claimed to sharpen hearing and sight, lighten the body and resist aging. Also Dikui. Grows in level marshland. Shilongchu Bitter, slightly cold. Listed for pathogenic qi of heart and abdomen, difficult urine and painful urinary blockage, wind-damp, ghost infestation and malign poisons. Prolonged use is claimed to supplement deficiency and emaciation, lighten the body, sharpen hearing and sight and extend years. Also Longxu and Cao Xuduan. Grows in mountain valleys. Luoshi Bitter, warm. Listed for wind-heat with dead flesh, abscess injuries, dry mouth and scorched tongue, persistent abscess swelling, swollen throat and tongue preventing swallowing liquids. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body, brighten eyes, give a moist, pleasing complexion, prevent aging and extend years. Also Shiling. Grows in river valleys. Huanglian Bitter; classified non-toxic. Listed for heat qi, painful eyes and injured corners with tears, brightening vision, intestinal pi with abdominal pain and diarrhea, and women's genital swelling and pain. Prolonged use is claimed to prevent forgetfulness. Also Wanglian. Grows in river valleys. A parenthetical source note also places it attached to trees or walls. Wangbuliuxing Bitter, neutral. Listed for metal wounds, stopping blood, expelling pain, bringing out embedded splinters and removing wind impediment and internal cold. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body, resist aging and increase lifespan. Grows in mountain valleys. Lanshi Bitter, cold. Listed for countering poisons, killing worms and crawling influences, ghost infestation and venomous stings. Prolonged use is claimed to prevent whitening of the hair and lighten the body. Grows in level marshland. A source parenthesis calls it Dianhua, identified there with Qingdai. Jingtian Bitter, sour, neutral. Listed for great heat, fire sores, bodily heat and vexation, and malign pathogenic qi. Flowers treat women's red and white leaking discharge and are said to lighten the body and brighten eyes. Also Jiehuo and Shenhuo. Grows in river valleys. Tianmingjing Sweet, cold. Listed for stagnant blood and blood masses approaching death; expelling and stopping blood, promoting urine, removing small worms and impediment, clearing bound chest heat and stopping vexation and thirst. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body and resist aging. Also Maijujiang, Hamalan, Shishou. Grows by waterways and marshes. A parenthesis adds Disong; seeds are Heshi and root Tu Niuxi. Puhuang Sweet, neutral. Listed for cold and heat in heart, abdomen and bladder, promoting urine, stopping bleeding and dispersing stagnant blood. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body, increase qi and strength, extend years and confer immortality. Grows in ponds and marshes. Xiangpu Sweet, neutral. Listed for pathogenic qi in the five zang and below the heart, foul ulceration in the mouth, firming teeth, brightening eyes and sharpening hearing. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body and endure labor. Also Ju. Grows in ponds and marshes. Lancao Pungent, neutral. Listed for freeing waterways, countering gu poison and warding off inauspicious influences. Prolonged use is claimed to benefit qi, lighten the body, prevent aging and communicate with numinous powers. Also Shuixiang. Grows in ponds and marshes. Juemingzi Salty, neutral. Listed for qingmang blindness, abnormal surface growth and red or white eye films, red painful eyes and tears. Prolonged use is claimed to enhance essence and visual radiance and lighten the body. Grows by waterways and marshes. Yunshi Pungent, slightly warm. Listed for diarrhea and intestinal pi, killing worms and gu poison, removing malign bound qi, stopping pain and removing cold and heat. Flowers are listed for seeing ghosts and uncanny beings. Eating much is said to cause frantic running; prolonged use, bodily lightness and numinous communication. Grows in river valleys. Also Yuanshi, Tiandou, Yunying in a source parenthesis. Huangqi Sweet, slightly warm. Listed for abscesses and longstanding decayed sores, discharging pus and stopping pain, great-wind lai disease, five hemorrhoidal disorders and rat fistulas, supplementing deficiency and children's hundred illnesses. Also Daishen. Grows in mountain valleys. Shechuangzi Bitter, neutral. Listed for women's genital swelling and pain, men's genital leaking, damp itching, removing impediment qi, freeing joints, dian/xian seizures and harmful sores. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body. Also Shesu and Shemi. Grows in river valleys. Loulu Bitter, salty, cold. Listed for skin heat, harmful sores, deep abscesses, hemorrhoids, damp impediment and bringing down breast milk. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body, benefit qi, sharpen hearing and sight, prevent aging and extend years. Also Yelan. Grows in mountain valleys. Qiangen Bitter, cold. Listed for cold-damp wind impediment and jaundice, and supplementing the center. Grows in mountain valleys. Xuanhua Sweet, warm. Listed for benefiting qi, removing facial dark spots and dark coloring, and making the appearance pleasing. Root treats abdominal cold, heat and pathogenic qi and promotes urine. Prolonged use is claimed to remove hunger and lighten the body. Also Jingenhua and Jinfei. Grows in level marshland. Baitu Huo Bitter, neutral. Listed for snakes, vipers, bees, scorpions, rabid dogs, vegetable and meat poisons, gu poison and ghost infestation. Also Baige. Grows in mountain valleys. Qingrang Sweet, cold. Listed for pathogenic qi of the five zang and wind-cold-damp impediment; benefiting qi, supplementing brain and marrow, firming sinews and bones. Prolonged use is claimed to sharpen hearing and sight, remove hunger, prevent aging and increase lifespan. It is the shoot of Jusheng, glossed as Huma's shoot. Grows in river valleys. Danggui Sweet, warm; classified non-toxic. Listed for counterflow cough and upward qi, warm-nue with shivering heat in the skin, women's leaking discharge and inability to conceive, harmful sores and ulcers, and metal wounds. The source specifies drinking it. Also Gangui. Grows in river valleys.

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