Complete Book on Pox and Rashes, Volume 4

Its stems resemble those of a willow. In the spring they are green, but by late summer and early autumn they turn red. The stalks grow straight upward without branching. By autumn, it bears faint red flowers. In any case where the pox original: dou (痘). Specifically referring here to the pustules caused by smallpox. appear scorched purple and dried out, washing them with this herb will immediately make them look bright and lustrous. The serum original: jiangshui (漿水). The clear or milky fluid within a pox pustule; in traditional Chinese medicine, the "ripening" and filling of these pustules with fluid was a critical sign of a patient's recovery. will begin to flow at once; its efficacy is like that of the gods.

After the washing, if one looks at the patient, the difference between the treated and untreated areas—between the bright, moist skin and the scorched, dark spots—is strikingly clear. What could be faster than this for drawing out the fluid and promoting the serum? One must simply use a cloth dipped in the medicinal decoction to wipe the area frequently, stopping only when the fluid is sufficient. If the leaves have fallen in autumn or winter, use the root instead.

◯ The Compendium of Materia Medica original: Gangmu (綱目), referring to the Bencao Gangmu, the definitive pharmaceutical encyclopedia completed in 1578. by Binhu The style name of Li Shizhen (1518–1593), the most famous pharmacologist in Chinese history. includes an entry for Water Willow in the "Wood" section, noting that it also treats pox toxins. He cites the pox-bathing methods of Wei Zhi from the Mirror of Universal Love original: Boai Xinjian (博愛心鑑), a specialized Ming dynasty text on internal medicine and pediatrics., but the physical description recorded there is entirely different from this plant. However, in the "Collected Commentaries" section, there is a note regarding the Red Willow that aligns closely with what Zhang Yan A celebrated Qing dynasty physician and author of the Douzhen Chuanxin Lu, a primary text for smallpox treatment. describes. Since that entry lacked specific clinical applications, I have supplemented them here.