Compendium of Materia Medica, Vol. 8

Emperor Liu Jinu’s Herb Liu Jinu: Artemisia anomala, named after the childhood name of Emperor Wu of the Song dynasty half a tael, roasted Earthworm Dilong: "Earth Dragon," refers to dried pheretima one fen fen: a traditional unit of weight, about 0.37 grams, and Licorice for imbalances of the Yin and Yang, whether the discharge is red or white. Use Liu Jinu’s Herb, Smoked Plum, and White Ginger in equal parts.
Boil in one inch of water and administer a small amount. General Record of Divine Assistance original: "Shengji Zonglu," a massive medical encyclopedia commissioned by Emperor Huizong of the Song. Red Zhuoli Red beans, red and white Peony. Red and White Li Shizhen says: This herb is cold in nature and dispersing... Ai Yuanqi’s appropriate formulas.

Collect in the fifth and sixth months. Dry the leaves in the shade.

Crooked Joint Herb

From the Song Dynasty's Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica
Names: June Ice Li Shizhen’s contemporary name, June Frost from the Systematic Materia Medica, Twin-Green from the Illustrated Classic.
Shizhen says: This herb is cold in nature and has a dispersing effect. Collected Explanations Su Song a famous Song dynasty scholar says: Crooked Joint Herb likely a species of Polygonum or similar knotted herb grows in Junzhou. In the fourth month, it sprouts square stems that are green in color. Every node has leaves.
The leaves are like
depiction of a plant with small nodes and pairs of leaves
Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica: June Frost from the Systematic Materia Medica, Twin-Green from the Illustrated Classic.
For standby use It resembles Liu Jinu’s Herb but is green and soft. In the seventh or eighth month, it produces flowers similar to mint; the seeds are not used.

Beautiful Spring Herb

From the Song Dynasty's Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica
Names: Fairy Mugwort from the Illustrated Classic, Fixed Ginseng Herb.
Su Song says: Beautiful Spring Herb grows in the valleys and mountains of Tanshan. Tanshan is located on the borders of Gaomi. In Henan, Huaiyang Prefecture, Yingchuan, and Qiao Prefecture, the locals call it "Dragon-Ram Herb." In the northern mountain prefectures and Naqi Prefecture, it is called "Clumping Orchid." Additionally, on Zituanyuan Mountain in Shangdang, it is known as Fixed Ginseng Herb or Fairy Mugwort. It is currently found in many places and is very effective at treating scrofulous sores scrofula: swollen lymph nodes, often on the neck, though many people do not recognize it. Shizhen says: This herb has extraordinary merit, yet its physical description is not well-documented. Today’s physicians also call it
Beautiful Spring Herb or "Nine Immortals." Since "Fairy Mugwort" shares a name with another plant, I fear they may not be the same thing. This requires further investigation.

Stems and Leaves

Flavor and Nature: Sweet, neutral, and non-toxic. Primary Uses: For sores on the back, carbuncles, reducing swelling, and scrofula. Take together with Licorice, ground into a powder and mixed with juice. Su Song

Flowers and Roots

Flavor and Nature: Sweet one source says slightly bitter. Primary Uses: Swelling, carbuncles, and "Yellow Ferment" Su Song referring to jaundice or yellowing of the skin.
Su Song says: During the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty, Yang Zhengjian of Yingchuan Prefecture recorded a formula that famous doctors found effective. The formula states: Beautiful Spring Herb treats severe cases of cold-damage fever that has knotted into scrofulous sores. If there are openings in the neck that pass through the body, intense fever, yellow-red urine, golden color in the eyes, a dark or bluish face, stabbing pains near the heart, dizziness, and sores below the abdomen or jaundice, this medicine is proven to work. For the medicine: collect the flowers in the third month of spring, dry them in the shade. Take one liter and grind into powder. Every morning on an empty stomach, take three square-inch spoonfuls mixed with one cup of raw sesame oil. Take it all at once, once a day. After five days, take it again until you feel a change. The roots treat scrofulous sores; crush them for a cup of juice and drink on an empty stomach to induce several bowel movements, which will immediately remove the illness. If one dose does not fully cure it, take another after seven days for a permanent cure. Avoid alcohol, wheat noodles, pork, fish, garlic, and dairy.

Inula Flower

Top Grade in the Divine Farmer’s Classic
Names: Golden Boiling Herb from the Classic, Golden Coin Flower from the Systematic Materia Medica, Dipping Gold from the Illustrated Classic, Summer Chrysanthemum or Yue-bie.
Shizhen says: Its flowers have lush green leaves and are round, facing downwards, hence the name "Xuanfu" meaning "Revolving Cover". Shizhen says: All these names are based on
its appearance. The Erya the oldest surviving Chinese dictionary says: it "steals the Geng." "Geng" represents the element of Metal. This means its yellow flowers bloom by "stealing" the energy of Metal. The Miscellany of the West Yang says: Golden Coin Flower is also called "Carrying and Lifting." Collected Explanations The Supplementary Records say: Inula grows in flat marshes and river valleys. Collect the flowers in the fifth month and dry in the sun; they will be ready in twenty days. Tao Hongjing says: It grows in nearby damp lowlands. It looks like a chrysanthemum but is larger...
Su Song says: The roots come from Henan. The northern regions also have it. It looks like Sow-thistle. Only the herb itself should be used for Inula preparations; the roots of similar-looking plants are not the true Inula flower roots. Su Baosheng says: The leaves look like water mint, and it is yellow like a chrysanthemum. Collect the flowers from the sixth to the ninth month. Kou Zongshi says: It is found everywhere now. After the second month, it sprouts near water. It greatly resembles safflower but lacks thorns, growing one to two feet tall. Its stems are thin like willow. In the sixth month, it blooms like a chrysanthemum, the size of a copper coin, and deep yellow. People in the fields call it Golden Coin Flower. Collect the flowers in the seventh and eighth months. Nowadays, people plant it in their gardens; the flowers and leaves are identical and it spreads very easily. I suspect this is indeed the Inula. Kou Zongshi says: Inula leaves
are like large chrysanthemums or mugwort. In autumn, it blooms with pale yellow flowers like the seeds of the Firmiana tree. Its fragrance is stronger than the chrysanthemum. There is another "Revolving Flower" Xuanhua which is the Bindweed flower; it is not this flower. See that entry. Shizhen says: The flower looks like
a Golden Coin Chrysanthemum. Those growing by the water have small, single-petaled flowers. Those cultivated by people have larger flowers and stems. People say it grows wherever dewdrops fall, which is why it spreads so easily, but this is not actually true.