Compendium of Materia Medica

Volume 22: Vining Plants

White Dragon Whiskers original: 白龍鬚, Bái Lóng Xū

Vining Plants, Volume Twenty-Two original: 蔓草卷之二十二, Màncǎo Juàn zhī èrshí'èr

The woodcut illustration depicts the "White Dragon Whiskers." It shows a slender, climbing stem with lanceolate tapering to a point like a spearhead leaves. The most prominent feature is the base, which displays a dense, spray-like cluster of fibrous roots, resembling the flowing whiskers of a dragon.

White Dragon Whiskers

The White Dragon Whiskers original: 白龍鬚, Bái Lóng Xū is a climbing herb found within the Vining Plants original: 蔓草, Màncǎo category.

Description:
This plant is recognized by its trailing growth habit and its elongated leaves. Its primary identifying feature, as noted in historical texts, is the root system. These roots are numerous, white, and fine, spreading out from the base of the stem in a manner that traditional observers compared to the whiskers of a celestial dragon.

Medicinal Context:
In the tradition of the Compendium, vining plants of this nature are often valued for their ability to "dispel wind" 祛風 (qū fēng): a therapeutic action aimed at treating conditions like joint pain, tremors, or numbness believed to be caused by 'wind' pathogens and to clear heat from the body. Because it belongs to the same volume as the "Hanging Vine," it is often studied for its complementary effects on circulation and the "meridians" 經絡 (jīngluò): the network of channels through which vital energy (Qi) and blood are said to flow.