Shu original: 朮, Shù; referring to the medicinal root of the Atractylodes plant

Shu was categorized as a substance of the "Superior Grade" in the Classic of Materia Medica original: 本經, Běnjīng; the Shénnóng Běncǎo Jīng, which lists non-toxic herbs that promote longevity. The Erya the oldest Chinese dictionary, dating back to the 3rd century BCE refers to Shu as "Mountain Thistle" original: 山薊, Shānjì or "Yangbao Thistle" original: 楊枹薊, Yángbāojì. The Classic of Illustrated Materia Medica a Song dynasty work by Su Song identifies the "Yangbao" variety as White Atractylodes original: 白朮, Báishù. It was only from the Song Dynasty onward that practitioners began to distinguish between the two varieties—Black Cangzhu: Atractylodes lancea, typically used for drying dampness and digestive issues and White Baishu: Atractylodes macrocephala, used for tonifying the Spleen and Qi—and apply them to different medicinal purposes.

The Farmer of Yulou the pen name of Wú Qíjùn (1789–1847), a Qing dynasty botanist and scholar-official states: The commentary on "Yangbao Thistle" identifies it as the "Horse Thistle." Fan Wang a physician of the Jin Dynasty believed that the "Horse Thistle" was actually Xuduan Xuduan: Dipsacus, or "Teasel Root," used for bone and tendon health. Li Shizhen author of the Compendium of Materia Medica considered "Horse Thistle" to be the "Large Thistle," yet he also identified it as White Atractylodes. Since Shu is named "Mountain Thistle," how can one simply equate the common Thistle with Shu?

In ancient times, the regions producing Shu included Nanzheng in Hanzhong, Mount Jiang, Mount Mao, as well as the provinces of Zhejiang, Shexian, Mount Mufu, Changhua, and Chizhou. Su Dongpo the famous Song dynasty poet and polymath once remarked: "In Huangzhou, a pound of Shu costs only a few coins; this is truly a medicine for longevity." The variety from Shuzhou has purple flowers and is difficult to find.

When I served as an official in Jiangxi, I found that both Raozhou and Jiujiang produced it. When I was stationed in southern Hunan, the variety produced at Mount Mufu was quite large, and its medicinal potency was not inferior to others. The Shu produced in Hulu Valley, Shanxi, is extremely robust and stout; however, the local people there only use it as Black Atractylodes. Southern herbs...