Bencao yuanshi(Origins of Materia Medica) by Li Zhongli is a herbal in 12 volumes, containing 379 illustrations. It was first published in 1612. This illustration ofpuhuang(pollen of the cattail rush, typha angustata) is taken from the revised edition of Ge Ding, engraved in 1638 (11th year of the Chongwen reign period of the Ming dynasty, Wu Yi year).Li Zhongli writes:Puhuanggrows in water. It produces tender leaves in early spring. In the summer it grows a pedicel, the tip of which is calledpuchuiorpu'ehua. The pollen from this, referred to aspuhuang, is sweet in sapor, neutral in thermostatic character, and non-poisonous. It has the medicinal properties of cooling the blood and arresting bleeding, promoting the movement of the blood and relieving stagnation. It is used to treat miscellaneous blood disorders, menstrual irregularities, bleeding during pregnancy and stagnation and pain following childbirth.
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