Shennong Bencao Jing · The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica

Herbs · Middle Grade

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Chijian Pungent, warm. Listed for killing ghosts and uncanny beings, gu poison and malign qi. Prolonged use is claimed to increase qi and strength, enlarge the genitals, make the body robust and light, and add years. Also Limu and Gui Duyou. Grows in river valleys. Maimendong Sweet, neutral. Listed for bound qi of heart and abdomen, internal injury and injury from overeating, severed Stomach-network vessels, emaciation and shortness of qi. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body, prevent aging and remove hunger. Grows in river valleys. Juanbai Pungent, neutral. Listed for pathogenic qi of five zang, women's genital cold, heat and pain, masses, blocked blood and inability to conceive. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body and harmonize complexion. Also Wansui. Grows in mountain valleys. Rousongrong Salty. Listed for five exhaustions and seven injuries, supplementing the center, removing cold, heat and pain within the penis, nourishing five zang, strengthening yin, benefiting essence and qi, producing many children, and women's masses. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body. Grows in mountain valleys. Jilizi Bitter, warm. Listed for harmful blood, breaking hard masses, accumulations and throat impediment, and ru difficulties. Prolonged use is claimed to increase flesh, brighten eyes and lighten the body. Also Pangtong, Quren, Zhixing, Chaiyu, Shengtui. Grows in level marshland. Fangfeng Sweet, warm; classified non-toxic. Listed for great-wind dizziness and pain, aversion to wind and wind influences, blindness, wind traveling throughout the body, bone-joint pain, vexation and fullness. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body. Also Tongyun. Grows by waterways and marshes. Shashen Bitter, slightly cold; classified non-toxic. Listed for blood accumulation and fright qi, removing cold and heat, supplementing the center and benefiting Lung qi. Prolonged use is called beneficial. Also Zhimu. Grows in river valleys. Note: The Zhimu alias is the source's own; it is not used here to equate modern medicinal identities. Xiongqiong Pungent, warm; classified non-toxic. Listed for wind-strike entering the brain with headache, cold impediment and tight or slack sinews, metal wounds, and women's blocked blood and childlessness. Grows in river valleys. Miwu Pungent, warm. Listed for counterflow cough, settling fright qi, warding off malign influences, removing gu poison and ghost infestation, and expelling the Three Worms. Prolonged use is claimed to communicate with spirits. Also Weiwu. Xuduan Bitter, slightly warm. Listed for cold damage, supplementing insufficiency, metal wounds, abscess injuries, fractures and falls, reconnecting sinews and bones, and women's ru difficulties. Prolonged use is claimed to increase qi and strength. Also Longdou and Zhuzhe. Grows in mountain valleys. Yinchenhao Bitter; classified non-toxic. Listed for wind-damp cold, heat and pathogenic qi, and heat binding with jaundice. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body, benefit qi and resist aging. Grows on Taishan and hillsides and banks. Wuwei Sour, warm. Listed for benefiting qi, counterflow cough and upward qi, exhaustion and injury with emaciation, supplementing insufficiency, strengthening yin and benefiting men's essence. Grows in mountain valleys. Qinjiao Bitter, neutral. Listed for cold, heat and pathogenic qi, cold-damp wind impediment and limb-joint pain, draining water and promoting urine. Grows in mountain valleys. Huangqin Bitter, neutral. Listed for heat disorders and jaundice, intestinal pi and diarrhea, expelling water and blocked blood, harmful sores and erosive deep abscesses, and fire ulcers. Also Fuchang. Grows in river valleys. Shaoyao Bitter. Listed for pathogenic qi and abdominal pain, removing blood impediment, breaking hard accumulations and cold-and-heat shan/jia masses, stopping pain, promoting urine and benefiting qi. Grows in river valleys. Ganjiang · Dried Ginger Pungent, warm. Listed for chest fullness, counterflow cough and upward qi, warming the center, stopping blood and bringing sweat, expelling wind-damp impediment and intestinal pi with diarrhea. The fresh form is called especially good. Prolonged use is claimed to remove foul qi and bring numinous understanding. Grows in river valleys. Haoben Pungent, slightly warm. Listed for women's shan/jia masses, genital cold, swelling and pain, urgent abdominal tension, removing wind headache, increasing skin and flesh and improving complexion. Also Guiqing and Dixin. Grows in mountain valleys. Mahuang Bitter, warm; classified non-toxic. Listed for wind-strike, cold damage and headache, warm-nue fever, releasing the exterior and bringing sweat, removing pathogenic heat qi, stopping counterflow cough and upward qi, removing cold and heat and breaking hard masses and accumulations. Also Longsha. Grows in mountain valleys. Gegen Sweet, neutral. Listed for wasting-thirst, great bodily heat, vomiting, impediments, raising yin qi and countering poisons. Ge grain is listed for diarrhea of ten years or longer. Also Jiqigen. Grows in river valleys. Zhimu Bitter, cold; classified non-toxic. Listed for wasting-thirst and internal heat, removing pathogenic qi, swelling of limbs and body, draining water, supplementing insufficiency and benefiting qi. Also Muchi, Lianmu, Yeliao, Dishen, Shuishen, Shuijun, Huomu. Grows in river valleys. Beimu Pungent, neutral. Listed for cold damage with vexing heat, dribbling urine, pathogenic qi, shan/jia masses, throat impediment, ru difficulties, metal wounds and wind spasms. Also Kongcao. Gualou Bitter, cold. Listed for wasting-thirst, bodily heat with vexation and fullness, and great heat; supplementing deficiency, settling the center and reconnecting injuries. Also Dilou. Grows in river valleys and on mountain shade sides. Danshen Bitter, slightly cold; classified non-toxic. Listed for pathogenic qi of heart and abdomen, deep intestinal rumbling like flowing water, cold-and-heat accumulations, breaking and removing masses, stopping vexation and fullness and benefiting qi. Also Quechancao. Grows in mountain valleys. Xuanshen Bitter, slightly cold; classified non-toxic. Listed for abdominal cold-and-heat accumulations and women's lingering disorders after childbirth; supplementing Kidney qi and brightening eyes. Also Chongtai. Grows in river valleys. Kushen Bitter, cold. Listed for bound qi of heart and abdomen, shan/jia masses and accumulations, jaundice and residual urinary dribbling, expelling water and removing abscess swelling; supplementing the center, brightening eyes and stopping tears. Also Shuihuai and Kujia. Grows in mountain valleys and fields. Gouji Bitter, neutral. Listed for stiff lumbar region and back, slackness or tightness of the joint mechanisms, pervasive impediment and cold-damp knee pain. Called particularly beneficial for old people. Also Baizhi. Grows in river valleys. Bixie Bitter, neutral. Listed for lumbar and back pain and stiffness, wind-cold-damp pervasive impediment in joints, persistent harmful sores and heat qi. Grows in mountain valleys. Tongcao Pungent, neutral. Listed for expelling harmful worms, removing cold and heat of Spleen and Stomach, freeing the nine openings, blood vessels and joints, and preventing forgetfulness. Also Fuzhi. Grows in mountain valleys. Qumai Bitter, cold. Listed for guan/ge blockage and urinary binding, absent urine, bringing out embedded splinters, opening abscess swellings, brightening eyes and removing films, breaking the fetus and causing fetal loss, and expelling blocked blood. Also Juqumai. Grows in river valleys. Baijiang Bitter, neutral. Listed for sudden heat and fire sores, red qi, scabies and itching, deep sores and hemorrhoids, saddle-related sores and heat qi. Also Luchang. Grows in river valleys. Note: The source simply says “horse saddle” in its list; a saddle-related sore is the contextual reading, not a newly added indication. Baizhi Pungent, warm. Listed for women's red and white vaginal leakage, blocked blood, genital swelling, cold and heat, wind headache, and influences invading the eyes with tearing. It is said to grow and moisten the skin and may be made into face ointment. Also Fangxiang. Grows in river valleys. Duruo Pungent, slightly warm. Listed for counterflow qi beneath the chest and ribs, warming the center, wind entering the brain portal, swollen and painful head, and excessive nasal discharge and tears. Prolonged use is claimed to benefit essence, brighten eyes and lighten the body. Also Duheng. Grows by waterways and marshes. Zicao Bitter, cold. Listed for pathogenic qi of heart and abdomen and the five jaundices; supplementing the center and benefiting qi, freeing the nine openings and opening the waterways. Also Zidan, Zifu and Dixue. Grows in mountain valleys. Ziwan Bitter, warm. Listed for counterflow cough and upward qi, cold, heat and bound qi in the chest; removing gu poison and withering weakness with reversal, and settling the five zang. Grows in mountain valleys. Baixian Bitter, cold. Listed for head wind, jaundice, counterflow cough, dribbling lin urinary disorders, women's genital swelling and pain, damp impediment and deadened flesh, inability to bend or extend, and difficulty rising, stopping and walking. Grows in river valleys. Weixian Bitter, neutral. Listed for wind-damp impediment, pain passing through the joints, fright seizures with the tongue protruding, palpitating qi and harmful wind, and rat fistulas and abscess swellings. Also Mixian. Grows by waterways and marshes. Baiwei Bitter, neutral. Listed for sudden wind-strike with bodily heat, fullness of the limbs, a dazed state that fails to recognize people, frenzy and delusion attributed to pathogenic qi, cold and heat with aching pain, and warm-nue fever with shivering attacks at set times. Grows by waterways and marshes. Xi'ershi Sweet, warm. Listed for wind headache with cold pain, wind-damp pervasive impediment, contracted and painful limbs, and harmful or deadened flesh. Prolonged use is claimed to benefit qi, sharpen hearing and sight, strengthen resolve and lighten the body. Also Huxi and Dikui. Grows in river valleys. Maogen Sweet, cold. Listed for exhaustion and injury, deficiency and emaciation; supplementing the center and benefiting qi, removing stagnant blood, blocked blood with cold and heat, and promoting urine. Its shoots are listed for draining water. Also Langen and Rugen. Grows in mountain valleys. Suanjiang Sour, neutral. Listed for heat, vexation and fullness, settling resolve, benefiting qi, opening the waterways and difficult childbirth. The text claims that swallowing its fruit brings immediate delivery. Also Cujiang. Grows by waterways and marshes. Yinyanghuo Pungent, cold. Listed for genital impotence, severing injuries and pain within the penis, and promoting urine; increasing qi and strength and strengthening resolve. Also Gangqian. Grows in mountain valleys. Lishi Sweet, neutral. Listed for cold and heat of the skin, heat qi in the Stomach, and wind-cold-damp impediment. It is said to strengthen sinews and bones and give an appetite. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body. The flowers and leaves are listed for expelling white worms. Also Jucao, Sanjian and Shishou. Grows in river valleys. Kuandong Pungent, warm. Listed for counterflow cough and upward qi, frequent panting, throat impediment, the various fright seizures, and cold, heat and pathogenic qi. Also Tuowu, Kedong, Huxu and Tuxi. Grows in mountain valleys. Fangji Pungent, neutral. Listed for wind-cold, warm-nue fever and heat qi, and the various seizures; removing pathogenic influences and promoting both stool and urine. Also Jieli. Grows in river valleys. Nüwan Pungent, warm. Listed for wind-cold with shivering, sudden vomiting and diarrhea, diarrhea and dysentery, intestinal rumbling that moves above and below without a fixed place, fright seizures, cold and heat, and the hundred disorders. Grows in river valleys. Zelan Sour; classified non-toxic. Listed for nosebleed in nursing women, lingering disorders after wind-strike, abdominal enlargement with water swelling, puffiness of the body, face and four limbs, water in the joints, metal wounds, abscess swellings and suppurating sores. Also Hulan and Longzao. Grows beside marshes. Diyu Bitter, slightly cold. Listed for women's breast pain, the seven injuries and vaginal discharge disorders; stopping pain, removing harmful flesh, stopping sweat and treating metal wounds. Grows in mountain valleys. Wangsun Bitter, neutral; classified non-toxic. Listed for pathogenic qi of the five zang, cold-damp impediment, aching pain of the four limbs, and cold, painful knees. Grows in river valleys. Juechuang Salty, cold. Listed for lumbar and spinal pain that prevents lying on a bed, difficulty bending forward or backward, and removing heat. It may be made into a bathing decoction. Grows in mountain valleys. Maxianhao Bitter, neutral. Listed for cold and heat attributed to ghost infestation, wind-strike and damp impediment, women's vaginal discharge disorders and childlessness. Also Mashihao. Grows by waterways and marshes. Shuyangquan Bitter, slightly cold. Listed for scalp baldness and harmful sores, heat qi, scabies, itching, scabs, ringworm and worms, and treating tooth decay. Grows in river valleys. Jixuecao Bitter, cold. Listed for great heat, harmful sores, abscesses and deep ulcers, spreading red eruptions, reddened skin and bodily heat. Grows in river valleys. Yuanyi Sour; classified non-toxic. Listed for jaundice, vexation of the heart, counterflow cough, blood and qi disorders, sudden heat in the intestines and Stomach, and internal cold associated with metal wounds. Prolonged use is claimed to supplement the center, benefit qi, grow flesh and improve complexion. Also Xixie, Wujiu, Yuanying, Tianjiu and Shujiu. Grows on the shaded sides of old walls or on roofs. Shuiping Pungent, cold. Listed for sudden heat and bodily itching, draining water qi, overcoming the effects of wine, growing beard and hair, and stopping wasting-thirst. Prolonged use is claimed to lighten the body. Also Shuihua. Grows in pools and marshes. Haizao Bitter, cold. Listed for goiter and tumor qi and nodules beneath the neck; breaking and dispersing bound qi, abscess swellings and hard qi of zheng/jia masses, rumbling above and below in the abdomen, and draining the twelve water swellings. Also Luoshou. Grows in pools and marshes. Jiegeng Bitter; classified non-toxic. Listed for chest and rib-side pain like knife stabs, abdominal fullness and deep intestinal rumbling, fright, fear and palpitating qi. Grows in mountain valleys. Xuanfuhua Salty, warm. Listed for bound qi, fullness beneath the ribs and fright palpitations; removing water and cold and heat among the five zang, supplementing the center and bringing qi downward. Also Jinfeicao and Shengzhan. Grows in river valleys. Shequan Bitter, slightly cold. Listed for fright seizures, cold, heat and pathogenic qi; removing heat, metal wounds, deep ulcers, hemorrhoids, rat fistulas, harmful sores and head ulcers. Also Shexian. Grows in mountain valleys. Jiasu Pungent, warm. Listed for cold and heat, rat fistulas, scrofulous swellings and sores; breaking accumulated and bound qi, draining stagnant blood and removing damp impediment. Also Shuming. Grows by waterways and marshes.

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