494 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



places in China, but has not yet been identified by its Chinese 

 name. The kernel is used in medicine, and is said to be 

 nourishing, cooling, and sedative. It is used in the treatment 

 of eye diseases, epiphora, nasal polypus, nose-bleed, and con- 

 stipation. Identifications suggested are Berberis or a Pruniis. 



^ 5fij (Luan-ching), also called ^ ^ij (Wan-ching), is prob- 

 ably either Vitex or Rhododendroji. The trunk and branches 

 are light colored and the leaves are small and evergreen. There 

 are two kinds, one bearing white flowers and the other bearing 

 purple. The seeds are used in medicine, and are slightly 

 deleterious. They are used in nervous and epileptoid diffi- 

 culties, and are regarded as sedative and parasiticide. 



/t* 5c ^ (Mu-t*ien-liao). The Pentsao describes three 

 forms of this, a tree about twenty feet tall, a creeper, and a 

 small shrub. They all grow in the mountain valleys of 

 central China, have evergreen leaves, and agree in having a 

 peppery taste like that of smartweed. The branches and 

 leaves of the larger tree are slightly deleterious, and are 

 recommended in colds and wasting diseases. The twigs and 

 leaves of the smaller shrub are not considered poisonous, and 

 are thought to relieve all forms of numbness and rheumatism, 

 "the disease coming out of the skin as though it were a worm 

 crawling out." The seeds are also tonic and corrective, and 

 the root is used in decayed and aching teeth. 



(5 ^ (Chan-ssu). Also called /f; fi ^ (Mu-chan-ssu), ^ 

 j^ (T'an-pi), and K ^ ^ (Liaug-wu-chi). Some say that this 

 is an epiphyte growing on the camphor tree ; others that it is 

 the bark of a tree resembling the Magnolia hypoleiica, found 

 growing in Shensi and Shantung. The fleshy hull of the 

 walnut is also sometimes called Chan-ssH. It is counter- 

 poisonous, antimalarial, eliminative, and healing to wounds. 

 Its use is thought to promote fecundity, and to cure menstrual 

 difficulties. Locally, it is applied to chapped feet and hands 

 due to the action of water. 



^ '^ (Chu-ling), 214. These are tuberiform bodies of an 

 irregular size, and compared by the Chinese to pig's dung, 

 ^ ^ M (Chia-chu-shih). Other names are Hc ^ (Shih-t'o) 

 and i& ,^ ^ (Ti-wu-t'ao). They are said to grow plentifully 

 on the roots of Liqiudambar formosana and other trees. They 



