Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms: Plants and Trees

Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms, Volume 6: Herbs and Trees

Page Four

Lush Red Herb

original: "Hongmaocao" (紅茂草)

The Lush Red Herb grows in ShizhouA historical administrative region located in the mountainous area of modern-day Enshi, Hubei Province, known for its rich biodiversity.. It is also known as "Earth Myrrh" original: "Dimoyao" (地没藥); the name suggests it serves as a local, earth-grown substitute for imported myrrh resin and is also called the "Longevity Herb" original: "Changshengcao" (長生草). Because its branches and leaves remain lush and flourishing throughout all four seasons, it has earned the name "Longevity."

In terms of medicinal classification, it is greatly cooling in nature and bitter in taste. In the spring, the roots and leaves should be harvested, roasted until dry, and then ground into a fine powder. This powder is mixed with cold water and applied topically to treat abscesses, ulcers, and swellingsoriginal: "Yongju chuangzhong" (癰疽瘡腫). In traditional medicine, these terms describe various stages of inflammatory skin infections, from simple sores to deep-seated carbuncles..