Paris Polyphylla

original: 蚤休 (Zao Xiu); also known as "Seven Leaves, One Flower" (七葉一枝花, Qiye Yizhihua)

The name "Zao Xiu" (literally "Fleas Rest") historically refers to the plant's use in treating skin irritations and its folklore as a plant that could repel or stop insects. The alternative name "Seven Leaves, One Flower" is a direct description of its unique botanical form: a single whorl of leaves—typically seven in number—topped by a single central flower.

This page is dominated by a woodcut illustration original: 繪圖 (Huitu) that serves as a visual guide for practitioners. It depicts the plant's characteristic thick, segmented rhizome (the part used in medicine), its whorled leaves, and the terminal flower on a central stalk. In the Materia Medica original: 本草 (Bencao) tradition, this plant is categorized as a "cold" herb used to clear heat, detoxify the body, and reduce swelling, particularly for snakebites and inflammatory sores.