Compendium of Materia Medica

Volume Two

Ghost Bird Guhuo Bird original: "Guhuoniao," a mythical bird said to steal children. Ghost Carriage Bird original: "Guicheniao," a legendary bird with nine heads.
Sweet Spring The name of an auspicious water source; Saliva in the human mouth In traditional medicine, saliva is considered a vital "internal juice" that supports health.
Heartless Fern-leaf Hedge Parsley original: "Weixian." Rat-wing Grass

Flower that opens in the morning and falls at dusk Hibiscus; Dog-piss Terrace A coarse folk name for the Hibiscus, contrasting its short-lived beauty with a common street-side location.

Hidden Names by Comparison

This section lists "aliases"—descriptive names that might lead a practitioner to confuse a common plant with a more famous medicinal one.

Earth Aristolochia Birthwort original: "Madouling," a plant used for respiratory issues.
Wild Gastrodia Motherwort specifically the seeds, original: "Chongwei."

Ghost Sesame Globe Thistle original: "Loulu."
Sweet Platycodon Ladybell original: "Qini," often confused with the more bitter Platycodon/Balloon Flower.
Mountain Burdock Japanese Thistle original: "Daji."

Herbal Teasel Water-dragon Grass original: "Shilongchu," a type of rush.
Wild Achyranthes Common Carpesium original: "Tianmingjing."
Wild Sesame Figwort original: "Xuanshen."

Sweet Draba Pepperweed original: "Jiming."
Water Sheep's Milk Red Sage original: "Danshen," a vital herb for blood circulation.
Heavenly Turnip Common Carpesium original: "Tianmingjing."

Herbal Euphorbia Paris Herb original: "Zaoxiu."
Yellow Ginger Flower Lilac Daphne original: "Yuanhua."
Apricot-leaf Ladybell Ladybell original: "Qini."

Wild Cockscomb Feather Cockscomb seeds original: "Qingxiangzi."
Mountain Amaranth Ox-knee Root original: "Niuxi."
Yellow Euphorbia Lilac Daphne original: "Yuanhua."