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Bai Doukou (Amomi Fructus Rotundus) is influenced by the seasonal command of autumn dryness, and acquires the nature of fire and metal from the earth. Its taste is extremely pungent, its qi is extremely warm, and it is non-toxic. The taste is thin while the qi is dense; it is light, clear, ascending, yang, and floating.

Bai Doukou enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. It possesses a uniquely pure and lofty qi, disperses cold stagnation in the chest, benefits the primal yang above the diaphragm, warms the spleen earth to relieve pain, clears visual obscurations (cataracts), stops regurgitation and vomiting, and resolves food accumulation causing distension. However, it should be avoided in cases of vomiting due to rising fire, abdominal pain caused by heat, or cough with phlegm due to lung fire.

Cao Doukou (Arecae Semen Preparatum / Areca Seed) acquires the fire qi of the earth's second phase along with metal, and is further generated by the seasonal influence of late summer and early autumn. Therefore, it is extremely pungent, hot, and non-toxic; it is yang and floating.

Cao Doukou primarily circulates through the Spleen and Stomach meridians. It removes cold below the diaphragm, stops cholera-like vomiting and regurgitation; drives away pain above the navel, expels external pathogenic influences; particularly eliminates alcohol toxicity, and immediately relieves bad breath; breaks stagnation, disperses depression, digests food, transforms phlegm, dispels cold, and dries dampness. Long-term or excessive consumption consumes yin and damages the lungs. It is strictly contraindicated for those with blood disorders and insufficient yin.

Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma), also known as Sha Cao Gen, inherits the damp and dry qi of heaven and earth, and combines the flavors of earth and metal. Thus, its taste is bitter-sweet and bitter-pungent, its nature is slightly warm, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Qi aspect of the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian and also the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Its qi is denser than its taste; it is yin within yang, and descending. It is a qi-moving herb within the blood aspect, capable of circulating the qi of the twelve regular meridians and eight extraordinary vessels. When used with blood-cooling herbs, it should be soaked thoroughly in urine from an uncircumcised boy and stir-fried until black; when used with herbs that promote blood and qi circulation, it should be soaked in wine and stir-fried; when used with herbs that regulate and astringe qi and blood, it should be soaked in vinegar and stir-fried until black; when used with herbs that digest food and remove stagnation, it need not be specially processed, but simply stir-fried until yellow and crushed.

Xiangfu rapidly moves qi, opens depression, expels stasis, regulates menstruation, treats cholera vomiting, soothes the liver, and promotes spleen function. It can resolve retained food and consolidate stools in diarrhea. Processed Xiangfu regulates blood heat and menstrual stasis; when stir-fried until black, it stops metrorrhagia and bleeding, making it a commonly used herb in gynecological formulas regulating qi and blood. It is effective in opening depression and dissipating stagnation, but contraindicated in cases of dried-up essence and blood obstruction. It is strictly forbidden for women with early menstruation due to blood deficiency and internal heat. Li Shizhen stated: Raw Xiangfu ascends to the chest and diaphragm and reaches the skin externally; cooked Xiangfu descends to the liver and kidneys and reaches the waist and feet externally; stir-fried until black, it stops bleeding; soaked in boy's urine and stir-fried, it enters the blood aspect and tonifies deficiency; soaked in salt water and stir-fried, it enters the blood aspect and moistens dryness; stir-fried with green salt, it tonifies kidney qi; soaked in wine and stir-fried, it unblocks meridians; soaked in vinegar and stir-fried, it resolves accumulations; stir-fried with ginger juice, it transforms phlegm-fluids. Combined with Ginseng and Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome, it tonifies qi; combined with Angelica Sinensis Root and Rehmannia Root, it tonifies blood; combined with Aucklandiae Radix, it vents stagnation and harmonizes the middle jiao; combined with Sandalwood, it regulates qi and awakens the spleen; combined with Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum, it regulates the ascending and descending of all qi; combined with Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome and Atractylodes Lancea Rhizome, it resolves various depressions; combined with Gardeniae Fructus and Coptidis Rhizome, it reduces fire-heat; combined with Poria, it connects the heart and kidneys; combined with Fennel Fruit and Psoraleae Fructus, it guides qi back to its origin; combined with Bupleuri Radix and Curcumae Zedoariae Rhizome, it dissolves masses; combined with Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex and Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum, it resolves obstruction and reduces distension; combined with Perillae Folium and Allii Fistulosi Bulbus, it releases pathogenic factors; combined with Artemisiae Argyi Folium, it warms the uterus. It is the general commander for treating qi diseases. The common belief that it depletes qi and is suitable only for women but not men is incorrect.

Indications (Integrated with Smallpox/Chickenpox references): Opens depression, moves stagnation, digests food, assists the stomach, regulates menstruation, and simultaneously expels coagulated blood. When stir-fried until black, it stops bleeding and guides blood-invigorating herbs into the qi aspect to generate blood. It is essential in all qi and blood formulas and is a key herb for women. However, its nature is dry and aromatic, and its taste is pungent and bitter. Used alone or for a long time, it can easily stir up fire and consume blood, which must be noted.

Commentary: Xiangfu is relied upon as a principal herb in gynecology because women are prone to depression and stagnation. However, since it is pungent and dry, excessive or long-term use will inevitably damage qi and blood. If used in menstruation-regulating formulas, it should be soaked in boy's urine and stir-fried to moderate its harshness, and combined with Angelica Sinensis Root and Rehmannia Root, so that there is no cause for concern.