Corrections to the Illustrated Compendium of Materia Medica

I have personally observed the Arrowhead original: Cigu (慈姑). Usually refers to Sagittaria trifolia. flower for some time. Its flowers are white, appearing much like the flowers of the Spider Lily original: Shisuan (石蒜). Lycoris radiata, known for its striking, spindly petals.. According to the locals in that region, there are no red or yellow varieties. These flowers bloom in the third lunar month.

However, in Zhang Shiwan’sZhang Lu (1617–1700), a famous Qing dynasty physician of the early Jing dynasty. Classic of Materia Medica Encountered at its Source (Benjing Fengyuan), the note under the Arrowhead entry states it "blooms in the ninth lunar month." This indicates that he has mistaken the Spider Lily for the Arrowhead.

BinhuThe literary name of Li Shizhen (1518–1593), the most famous pharmacologist in Chinese history., in the entry for Arrowhead, includes a supplementary formula from Sun Tianren’s Collection of Effective Formulas that calls for "Red Lantern Grass." This is actually the Chinese Lantern Plant original: Hong guniang cao (紅姑娘草). Physalis alkekengi, identifiable by its bright orange, paper-like husks., which is specifically used to treat ailments of the throat, mouth, and teeth.

This is the same as the Winter Cherry original: Suanjiang cao (酸漿草). Another name for the Physalis plant. that Binhu included elsewhere in his work. Why was it not listed under its own proper entry but placed here instead? Could it be because the Arrowhead is also known by the name "Ghost Lantern Stand" original: Guidengqing (鬼燈檠). and he was misled by the similarity of the names? While the Arrowhead does possess detoxifying properties, it does not act upon the throat, mouth, or teeth; how could it have been so conflated?

Furthermore, he cites the Formulas of Miraculous Effect (Qixiao Fang), which suggests using "Golden Lamp Flower root" to induce the vomiting of wind-phlegmA traditional medical term for phlegm associated with dizziness, numbness, or seizures, thought to be caused by internal "wind.". He seems unaware that the Spider Lily is also called the Golden Lamp Flower. Consuming the root of the Mountain Arrowhead original: Shan ci gu (山慈姑). Often refers to the orchid Cremastra appendiculata. does not induce vomiting, whereas consuming the Spider Lily certainly causes a person to vomit. Therefore, the ingredient used in the Formulas of Miraculous Effect must be the Spider Lily and not the Arrowhead.