Ben Cao Gang Mu, Volume 4: Marshland & Poisonous Herbs in Traditional Medicine

The Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica), written by Li Shizhen (1518–1593), remains the most complete medical encyclopedia in the history of traditional Chinese medicine. Volume 4 translates Chapters 15–17, focusing on marshland herbs and poisonous herbs. This section captures the duality of plants as both medicine and toxin — showing how Ming-era physicians identified, classified, and applied herbs that demanded careful knowledge and respect.

Why It’s Tough Enough for Tough Kraut
• Exploring Marshland Species: This volume documents herbs thriving in wetlands, many of which were valued for their cooling or purifying effects in traditional practice.
• The Power of Poisons: Li Shizhen did not shy away from recording toxic plants, instead detailing how they could both harm and heal, depending on use and dosage.
• UNESCO-Registered Wisdom: Part of the Ben Cao Gang Mu, listed by UNESCO in 2011 as one of the world’s great documentary heritages.
• Practical & Cautionary: For modern readers, it is both a botanical record and a reminder of the delicate balance between remedy and risk in herbal medicine.

Proven Finishing Touches
• Respected Translation: Paul Unschuld’s edition pairs the Chinese text with annotated English commentary for accuracy and depth.
• Rare Perspective: Few works document poisonous herbs with such rigor, highlighting the nuanced understanding of TCM.
• Widely Praised: Readers value the accessibility of these volumes for both academic study and practical herbal reference.

Why We Love It
At Tough Kraut, we admire how Volume 4 embraces the complexity of nature — showing that healing and harm can spring from the same root. Just as we observe in our own homestead ecosystem, the plants that demand the most caution often hold the greatest power. This book encourages respect, responsibility, and curiosity when working with the natural world.

Get Yours Now
Ready to explore the double-edged world of marshland and poisonous herbs? Ben Cao Gang Mu, Volume 4 is available through University of California Press and on Amazon in your region.

Specifications
• Title: Ben Cao Gang Mu, Volume 4: Marshland Herbs, Poisonous Herbs
• Author: Li Shizhen (1518–1593)
• Translator/Editor: Paul Unschuld
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Series: Ben Cao Gang Mu (9 volumes, 10 books)
• First Draft Completed: 1578 (Ming Dynasty)
• UNESCO Registration Year: 2011
• ISBN: 978-0520385030