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Chapter 31 of 33
神农本草经
The original text is divided into two parts: the first covers two vegetables of the lower grade — bitter gourd (Ku Hu) and water celery (Shui Jin); the latter appends Bi Zi (Pi Zi), which originally belonged to a drug demoted in the Tang Dynasty Materia Medica and was not among the two vegetables of the lower grade.
Bitter in taste, cold in nature. Ancient physicians held that it primarily treats severe edema due to water-qì retention (swelling caused by accumulation of bodily fluids), and can direct water downward to relieve swelling of the face, eyes, and extremities. However, taking it tends to induce vomiting. It grows mainly in riverine and marshy areas. Later commentators noted that it was produced in the Jin region. Ancient dictionaries and commentaries largely regarded "Hu," "Pao," and "Hulu" as variant names of the same plant.
Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. Ancient physicians held that it primarily treats women's red discharge (roughly referring to abnormal blood-tinged vaginal discharge or dribbling menstrual bleeding), stops bleeding, nourishes essence, protects the blood vessels, and replenishes qì and blood, causing the body to become full and robust, with an increased appetite. It is also known as Shui Ying and grows in ponds and marshes. Later commentators noted that it was also produced in the South Sea region. Ancient dictionaries regarded it as belonging to the same category as celery and Chu Qin — that is, the aquatic celery known today.
Sweet in taste, warm in nature. Ancient physicians held that it primarily treats pathogenic qì in the abdomen, expels the three worms (an ancient collective term for various parasites), and treats snake bites, gu toxins, and what were anciently called ghost afflictions and latent corpses (roughly referring to lingering illnesses as if pathogenetic qì remained lodged within). It grows in mountain valleys. The Tang Dynasty Materia Medica once demoted it to the appendix. Later commentators said it was produced in Yongchang. Tao Hongjing noted that practitioners of his time no longer used this substance, and physicians and pharmacists of both ancient and modern times largely did not recognize it. It was also known by the alias "Xiongzi," though its form was unclear. Zhang Yuxi speculated that the tree resembled the fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) and the fruit resembled betel nut. Ancient dictionaries suggested the character "彼" might alternatively be written as "棑."
Although this section is nominally about "vegetables," their placement in the lower grade indicates that ancient physicians regarded these plants not as ordinary mild vegetables, but as herbs with relatively pronounced properties, mostly used for attacking pathogens. Bitter gourd is bitter-cold and drives water downward; water celery is sweet-neutral and nourishes the blood vessels; Bi Zi is sweet-warm and kills parasites while dispelling filth. The three differ completely in nature and directional action, precisely embodying the materia medica principle of "correcting the body's imbalance with the herb's deviation."
Bitter gourd is bitter-cold, and the ancients used it to treat "severe edema" and "swelling of the face and extremities," indicating that it belongs to the category of promoting diuresis and expelling dampness. When dampness stagnates within the body, the ancients either directed it downward or dispersed it upward through induced vomiting. The original text specifically notes that it "causes vomiting" — this is both a manifestation of its harsh medicinal nature and evidence that ancient physicians had observed that the emetic method could disperse water-qì. This dual description of "expelling water—inducing vomiting" reflects the early understanding of a drug's directional actions in materia medica.
Water celery is sweet and neutral in nature, in marked contrast to the bitter-cold attacking property of bitter gourd. Its inclusion among vegetables, along with the recorded effects of "stopping bleeding, nourishing essence, protecting the blood vessels, supplementing qì, causing the body to become plump and robust, and increasing appetite," reflects the ancient concept that "medicine and food share the same origin": certain plants suitable for daily consumption, when mild in nature and flavor, can serve to nourish qì and blood and build up the body through the diet. This also subtly implies the idea that "the spleen and stomach are the foundation of acquired constitution" — "increased appetite" and "plump and robust" both emphasize the importance of appetite and the generation of qì and blood.
The indications of Bi Zi — "pathogenic qì in the abdomen," "three worms," "snake bites," "gu toxins," "ghost afflictions," and "latent corpses" — all class insects, snake venom, gu toxins, and certain protracted illnesses under the category of "pathogenic qì." This reflects the simplistic classification of disease causes in early medicine: anything that entered from without, remained lodged within, and was difficult to expel quickly could be called "pathogenic." The record of "expelling the three worms" indicates that ancient physicians had already recognized that certain abdominal diseases were related to parasites and attempted to eliminate them with medications.
Modern botanical and food safety research has established that bitter gourd fruits contain cucurbitacin-type bitter compounds with strong irritant properties. Ingestion can cause severe vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, and in severe cases may even lead to poisoning. This is highly consistent with the Classic's statement that it "causes vomiting." Although the ancients observed its diuretic action, modern people must absolutely not consume it as an ordinary vegetable, nor should it be self-administered for "reducing swelling." Its purported effect of "expelling water" should be regarded as a historical description in ancient texts, not equivalent to modern medical diuretic therapy.
Water celery belongs to the same category as water parsley (Oenanthe javanica). Modern nutritional science considers it rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, and various phytochemicals, and it is beneficial to health as a daily vegetable. The effects recorded in ancient texts — "stopping bleeding, nourishing essence, protecting the blood vessels, supplementing qì" — are primarily generalized characterizations of medicinal properties in traditional theory, lacking rigorous clinical evidence in modern times, and should be viewed rationally.
By Tao Hongjing's era, Bi Zi was already described as "never used by medical families" and "no longer recognized," indicating that confusion over its identity had persisted for at least a thousand years. Although later scholars speculated that it might be related to the Torreya nut, this remains unconfirmed. Therefore, modern readers should treat it as a "questionable entry" in the history of materia medica literature, rather than directly applying its purported effects to modern pharmacology. As for terms such as "ghost afflictions" and "latent corpses," one should recognize that they embody the mystification of unexplained chronic diseases in ancient times and should not be understood literally.
This content is based on classical Chinese medical works and is provided solely for the study of traditional culture. It does not constitute any medical diagnosis, medication, or treatment advice. If you feel unwell, please seek medical attention promptly.