半夏为之使。畏藜芦。恶皂荚。
辛、苦、微寒。入手足太阴、阳明、足厥阴经气分。功端下气降火，清肺热，散风邪。
化痰
热，定喘嗽，止呕逆，除烦闷，治小儿疳热。得桔梗，治热痰咳逆。去皮及髭丫，甜竹沥浸
润，晒干用。气虚逆满，病
非外邪实热者，禁用。
畏萆 。恶干姜、藜芦、白蔹、芫花。制黄 。杀附子毒。
辛、甘，性温。太阳经本药，又入手足太阴、阳明经，又随诸经之药所引而入。治风去
湿之
要药，此为润剂。散风，治一身尽痛，目赤冷泪，肠风下血。去湿，除四肢瘫痪，遍体湿疮
。能解诸药毒。得白术、牡蛎，治虚风自汗。得黄 、白芍，止自汗。配白芷、细茶，治偏
正头风。配浮小麦，止自汗。配炒黑蒲黄，治崩中下血。配南星末、童便，治破伤风。配白
芨、柏子仁，等分为末，人乳调，涂小儿解颅。（一日一换。）佐阳起石、禹余粮，治妇人胞
冷。
产青州者良。上部病，用身。下部病，用梢。止汗，麸炒。叉头者，令人发狂。叉尾者，
发
人痼疾。元气虚，病不因风湿者，禁用。
子 疗风更优。
蠡实为之使。
辛、苦、微温。入足少阴经气分。治本经伏风，头痛喘逆，目眩齿痛，下焦寒湿，两足
痛痹
，腰腹疼痛，奔豚疝瘕。君地黄，治风热齿痛。使细辛，疗少阴头疼。
切片，拌淫羊藿蒸，晒干用，或去皮焙用。阴虚者禁用。（为补血之使，亦能舒筋活络，
但
不宜久用。）盛夏不宜轻用。
羌活治游风，独活理伏风。羌活散营卫之邪，独活温营卫之气。羌活有发表之功，独活
有助
表之力。
Pinelliae Rhizoma serves as its guiding herb. It is incompatible with Veratrum nigrum (Lilu). It clashes with Gleditsia sinensis (Zaojiao).
Pungent, bitter, slightly cold. Enters the Qi aspect of the Taiyin Lung and Spleen meridians of the hand and foot, the Yangming Large Intestine and Stomach meridians of the hand and foot, and the Jueyin Liver meridian of the foot. Its efficacy primarily lies in directing Qi downward and descending Fire, clearing Lung Heat, and dispersing Wind pathogenic factors.
Transforming Phlegm
For heat conditions, it calms wheezing and coughing, stops vomiting and rebellious Qi, eliminates irritability and oppression, and treats infantile malnutrition fever. Combined with Platycodonis Radix (Jiegeng), it treats coughing and rebellious Qi caused by hot phlegm. Remove the outer skin and rootlets, soak in sweet bamboo sap until moist, then dry in the sun for use. Strictly contraindicated for cases of Qi deficiency leading to rebellious Qi and fullness, where the disease is not due to exogenous pathogens or excess heat.
It fears Dioscorea hypoglauca (Bixie). It clashes with Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Ganjiang), Veratrum nigrum (Lilu), Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata (Fuzi) toxicity, Puerariae Lobatae Radix (Bailian), and Genkwa Flos (Yuanhua). It can neutralize the toxicity of Smilax glabra (Huangbo).
Pungent, sweet, warm nature. It is the principal herb of the Taiyang Bladder meridian, also enters the Taiyin Lung and Spleen, and Yangming Large Intestine and Stomach meridians of the hand and foot, and can enter various meridians guided by other herbs. It is a crucial herb for treating Wind and removing Dampness, belonging to the category of moistening agents. It disperses Wind, treating generalized body pain, red eyes with cold tears, intestinal wind with bloody stool. It removes Dampness, eliminating limb paralysis and widespread damp sores. It can resolve the toxicity of various drugs. Combined with Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu) and Ostrea Concha (Muli), it treats spontaneous sweating due to deficient Wind. Combined with Astragali Radix (Huangqi) and Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao), it stops spontaneous sweating. Paired with Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (Baizhi) and fine tea, it treats migratory and frontal headaches. Paired with Triticum aestivum (Fuxiaomai), it stops spontaneous sweating. Paired with stir-fried black Polygoni Multiflori Caulis (Puhuang), it treats metrorrhagia and bleeding. Paired with Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum (Nanxing) powder and child's urine, it treats tetanus. Paired with Bletillae Rhizoma (Baiji) and Platycodeonis Semen (Baiziren), ground into equal parts powder, mixed with human milk, applied topically to treat delayed closure of fontanelles in infants (change once daily). Assisted by Psoraleae Fructus (Yangqishi) and Haematitum (Yuyuliang), it treats cold uterus in women.
Those produced in Qingzhou are of superior quality. For diseases of the upper body, use the root; for diseases of the lower body, use the tip. To stop sweating, stir-fry with bran. The forked head causes madness. The forked tail induces chronic stubborn diseases. Strictly contraindicated for those with deficient Yuan Qi, where the disease is not caused by Wind-Dampness.
The seed of Fangfeng is superior for treating Wind.
Vicia faba (Lishi) serves as its guiding herb.
Pungent, bitter, slightly warm. Enters the Qi aspect of the Shaoyin Kidney meridian of the foot. Treats latent Wind within this meridian, headache with wheezing and rebellious Qi, dizziness and blurred vision, toothache, lower Jiao Cold-Dampness, painful obstruction in both feet, pain in the waist and abdomen, Ben Tun (running piglet) syndrome, and hernia masses. With Rehmanniae Radix (Dihuang) as the sovereign herb, it treats toothache caused by Wind-Heat. With Asari Radix et Rhizoma (Xixin) as the assistant herb, it treats Shaoyin headache.
Slice, mix with Epimedii Folium (Yinyanghuo), steam, dry in the sun for use, or remove skin and bake for use. Strictly contraindicated for Yin deficiency. (It serves as a guiding herb for nourishing Blood and can also relax tendons and activate collaterals, but should not be used for long periods.) It is not advisable to use lightly during midsummer.
Qianghuo treats wandering Wind, while Duhuo regulates latent Wind. Qianghuo disperses pathogenic factors from Ying and Wei, while Duhuo warms the Qi of Ying and Wei. Qianghuo has the function of releasing the exterior, while Duhuo assists in supporting the exterior.