Compendium of Materia Medica, Vol. 8

Leaves, Roots, and Seeds

Flavor and Scent: Bitter, Cold, Non-toxic. Shizhen says: It subdues sulfur original: "fu liuhuang," an alchemical property believed to stabilize or alter sulfur during processing.
Main Indications Scabies and itching, crusted sores, and malignant ulcers. It kills lice and treats jaundice caused by heat or miasmic vapors. It opens the stomach improves appetite and brightens the eyes.
Classic of Materia Medica: Treats searching a type of parasitic or abdominal mass, malaria, chronic "dwelling" illnesses original: "zhu," referring to stubborn, lingering infections, blood-and-qi disorders in women, abdominal fullness, and chronic dysentery caused by cold or heat. Use the seeds in autumn and winter, and the sprouts in spring and summer; in both cases, pound them for their juice to drink. They may also be sun-dried and ground into powder to be taken with wine.
Zangqi: Supplements the "middle" the digestive system and benefits the qi vital energy. It lightens the body, treats exhaustion, maintains a youthful complexion, and makes hair grow long and black to prevent aging. It also removes heat, helps the hair, and dispels wind and toxins. For heart pain caused by heat: pound the yellowed leaves to extract juice for drinking and apply externally as a poultice.
Da Ming: Treats the alternating chills and fever of malaria.
Shizhen: Pounded fresh and applied to metal wounds cuts from blades, it stops bleeding and relieves pain. It is highly effective.
Su Song: For inflammation that spreads, urinary blockages, and internal or external abscesses: decoct the juice with lime.
Wang Yaojian: Su Song stated that Sweet Wormwood is the premier herb for treating "bone heat" chronic low-grade fever associated with consumption and exhaustion. Ancient formulas often used it on its own.
Shizhen says: Sweet Wormwood is the earliest to receive the qi of the Spring Wood the elemental energy of growth and the liver/gallbladder system. Therefore, the conditions it treats are all related to the "Minor Yang" and "Terminal Yin" blood systems. According to the Comprehensive Collection of Monthly Ordinances: On the first "Geng" day of the mid-summer heat, if one picks Sweet Wormwood and hangs it inside the gateway or courtyard, it can ward off evil spirits. Drying it in the shade and grinding it to a powder to take two qian approx. 7.5 grams on the Winter Solstice and New Year’s Day is also beneficial. Observing this, we see the herb’s power to treat "ghost-dwelling" diseases likely tuberculosis or contagious wasting diseases and "hidden corpses" lingering toxins is well-founded.
Attached Formulas4 old, 13 new

Wasting and Thinness: Finely chop Sweet Wormwood. Take three sheng approx. 600ml of water and five sheng of child's urine. Decoct together until only one and a half sheng remains. Strain, place in a vessel, and simmer into a thick paste. Form into pills the size of a parasol tree seed. Take 20 pills with warm wine on an empty stomach and before bed. From Doumen's Formulas

Consumption with Chills and Fever: For limb fatigue and pain in men or women. In the ninth month, when the seeds have formed, pick the plant, remove the stems, and soak in child's urine for three days. Sun-dry and grind into powder. For each dose, use two qian with one smoked plum, decocted into a soup. From Lingyuan Formulas

Bone-steaming and Ghost-qi: Refers to chronic consumptive heat/tuberculosis. Take five large dou approx. 50 liters of clarified child's urine. Take five dou of Sweet Wormwood (the kind with seeds picked in the 8th or 9th month is best), chop finely, and combine in a large cauldron. Boil over a fierce fire until reduced to three large dou. Strain the residue until perfectly clean. Simmer again over a low fire until reduced to two dou. Add one pig’s gall. Simmer together until reduced to one and a half dou. Remove from heat and let cool. Store in a ceramic vessel. When ready to use, take three liang approx. 110g of licorice, roast it, and grind to powder. Mix with the prepared paste and pound. Form into pills. Take 20 pills on an empty stomach with rice water. Gradually increase to 30 pills. From Cui Yuanliang's Highly Effective Sea Formulas

Bone-steaming with Irritability and Heat: One handful of Sweet Wormwood. One pig’s gall. Forty apricot kernels (peeled and blanched). One large cup of child's urine. Decoct until half remains and take warm on an empty stomach. From Shiben's Reliable Formulas

Excessive Sweating from Deficiency: For irritability and dry mouth. Use one pound of Sweet Wormwood, extract the juice, and simmer into a paste. Add one liang each of powdered Ginseng and Ophiopogon. Simmer until it can be formed into pills the size of parasol tree seeds. Take 20 pills after meals with rice water. This is called "Sweet Wormwood Decoction." From General Records of Holy Benefaction

Malaria with Chills and Fever: From the Handbook of Formulas for Emergencies: Use one handful of Sweet Wormwood and two sheng of water; pound for juice and drink. From Cunren Formulas: Pick on the 5th day of the 5th month before dawn. Dry in the shade. Use four liang with one liang of cinnamon heart. Grind to powder. Take two qian with wine before the onset of symptoms. From Tested Formulas: Pick leaves on the Dragon Boat Festival, dry in the shade, and mix with cinnamon heart. Grind to powder. Take one qian per dose. If chills come first, use hot wine; if heat comes first, use cold wine. Take at the fifth watch dawn on the day of onset. Strictly avoid "trigger foods" foods thought to worsen illness, like shellfish or heavy meats.

Severe Warm Malaria: Heat without chills. Use two liang of Sweet Wormwood soaked in child's urine and roasted. Add half a liang of red lead original: "huangdan," lead tetroxide, used cautiously in ancient medicine. Grind to powder. Take two qian stirred into plain hot water. From Cunren Formulas

Red and White Dysentery: On the 5th day of the 5th month, pick equal parts Sweet Wormwood and Mugwort. Pound together with fermented black beans to make cakes. Dry in the sun. These are called "Wormwood-Bean Cakes." Use one cake per dose, decocted in one and a half cups of water. From General Records of Holy Benefaction

Nosebleed: Pound Sweet Wormwood for juice and drink it. Also, plug the nostrils with the herb. From Western Formulas

Hemorrhoids with Blood in Stool: Use the leaves without the stems, or the stems without the leaves. Grind to powder. Before a bowel movement, take with cold water; after a bowel movement, take with a mixture of water and wine. From Yonglei's Collected Formulas

Metal Wounds and Falls: From the Handbook of Formulas for Emergencies: Pound Sweet Wormwood and apply as a seal. It heals once the bleeding stops. Another formula: Use equal parts Sweet Wormwood, hemp leaves, and lime. Pound together on the 5th day of the 5th month and sun-dry. When needed, grind into a fine powder and rub on the wound.

Toothache and Swelling: One handful of Sweet Wormwood decocted in water. Use as a mouthwash. From Formulas for Urgent Relief

Poisonous Bee Stings: Chew Sweet Wormwood and apply to the sting. Relief is immediate. From the Handbook of Formulas for Emergencies

Pus Discharge from the Ear: Powdered Sweet Wormwood wrapped in silk or cotton and inserted into the ear. From Holy Benevolence Formulas

Nasal Polyps: Sweet Wormwood ash and lime in equal parts. Boil with water into a paste and apply to the spot. From General Records of Holy Benefaction

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Seeds

Flavor and Scent: Sweet, Cold, Non-toxic.
Main Indications To brighten the eyes and open the stomach. Use roasted. Treats thinness from exhaustion and makes a person strong and healthy. If soaked in child's urine and used, it treats malignant sores, scabies, ringworm, and wind-rashes. Decoct in water to wash the affected area.
Shizhen says: To treat "ghost-qi," grind into powder and take one "square-inch-spoon" with wine. Its functions are the same as the leaves. Shizhen