52 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



ARTEMISIA STELIvERIANA VESICULOSA, — ^ "j^ 

 (Pai-hao), Classical names, ^ (Fan) and i^ (Lii). It is 

 considered by some ancient authors to be amphil)ions in its 

 habits, but it is probable that there are two distinct but 

 closely related species. Indeed Su Sung (nth century ) says : 

 " In ancient times the people used the leaves of the Pai-hao for 

 food. Now they employ for this purpose the ^ j:^' (Lii-hao), 

 which some authors have erroneously identified with the 

 Pai-hao." Faber calls this Lii-hao A7'teniisia giloescens. It 

 shoots up in the second month, and the very tender leaves and 

 the crisp white or reddish roots are used as food by the people, 

 being eaten raw or cooked. This plant is regarded as useful 

 in flatulence, colds, as a stomachic, to promote the growth of 

 hair, and as a nervine and promoter of the mental faculties. 

 Externally, a decoction is used as a wash in ulcerous skin 

 a£fections. It is probably indigenous to China, being found 

 in most parts of the empire, and it may be the same as the 

 Arabic Artemisia Jierba-alba. That form which grows on 

 uplands is not used as food, and but rarely in medicine. 



ARTEMISIA VULGARIS.— 3^ % (Ai-hao), or simply ^ 

 (Ai). Also called Ariejuisia indica^ Ai'teinisia cJiincnsis^ zxi^ 

 Artemisia moxa. This plant is tlie common mugzvort^ and 

 is found in most parts of China ; the trade supply of the drug 

 coming from Hupeh, Anhui, and Fukien. The best quality, 

 known ^s ^ ^ (Ch'i-ai), comes from Ch'i-chou (^ ]\\\ in 

 Huang-chou-fu ',w jij ifj^), in Plupeh. Bretschneider says that 

 this is the same as ^ ^ >^ (Ch'ien-nien-ai), and is Tanacctinn 

 chinense. Faber calls the Ch'ien-nien-ai Artemisia viclgarisy 

 and Ai (^) he calls Artemisia indica. But from a medical stand- 

 point, these distinctions are unimportant. Another variety,^ 

 known as ^ ^^ (Tzu-ai), reddish in color, comes from L'ung- 

 yang-fu, in Anhui. Common names by which the Artemisia is 

 known are ^ '^ (I-ts'ao, " vulnerary herb "), ^ ]^ (Chih-ts'ao, 

 " burning herb "), and i^ I^ (Chiu-ts^ao, " cauterizing herb "). 

 In commerce thi? article appears principally in four forms. 

 Ai-yeh C^ ^), 7, is the dried leaves of the plant, while Ai- 

 t'iao C^c ^,^)., 6, is the dried twigs done up in bundles. Ai- 

 jung (>c Wi'h 3) is made by taking the best leaves and grinding 



