A Study on the Drugs “Kuangkui”, “Fangkui” and “Yue” Recorded in Tianhui Medical Slips

Based on a comprehensive investigation of relevant literature and medical theory, this article argues that the materia medica “kuangkui (狂楑)” in the prescription for “body sores” recorded in the manuscript Zhi liushi bing heji tangfa (治六十病和齐汤法, Blending Decoctions to Treat 60 Ailments) is Alcea rosea, and “fangkui (方葵)” in the prescription for “treating bi syndromes of the tendons” actually refers to Oreo linum. The drug “yue ()” in the Liaoma shu·Maqian (疗马书·马䞿, Book of Horse Therapy: Horse Lameness) is Zanthoxylum ailanthoides, and the disease treated by zanthoxylum ailanthoides should be the “mashui qian (马水䞿, horse lameness caused by wind pathogen syndrome)”. The article further points out that “kao ()”, which belongs to the zhuyu (茱萸) category in the Guangya (广雅, Expanded Erya), can be read as it stands, not “manjiao (蔓椒, Manchurian pepper)” as proposed by Wang Niansun (王念孙). The reasoning for the name “zhuyu” is also discussed. It is believed that “zhu (茱)” refers to the ripening color of fruit, and “yu (萸)” refers to the seeds clustered together, just like the shape of a pot.