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Silver Bupleuri Radix (Yin Chai Hu): Sweet, slightly cold, non-toxic. The best quality comes from Yinzhou. Those produced in Wuyuan City, Yan'an Prefecture today, are over a chi long, plump, white, and soft. Those produced in the northern regions resemble Qian Hu but are softer; people nowadays call them Bei Chai Hu (Northern Bupleuri Radix). Do not let it touch fire, as processing with fire renders it ineffective.

Invention (Pharmacological Elaboration): Yin Chai Hu acts on the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Its nature and flavor are not very different from Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis); it not only clears heat but also cools blood. In the *Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang* (Formulas of Benefit for the People), used to treat various bleeding conditions above and below, it is included in Longnao Jisu Wan (Borneol and Chicken-Su Pill). Whenever entering formulas for treating consumptive diseases (Xu Lao), only Yin Chai Hu from Yinzhou is suitable. If Bei Chai Hu is used, it will ascend and agitate deficient Yang, causing fever, wheezing, and coughing to have no respite. How can one fail to distinguish between them and use them interchangeably? Note: Under the entry for Chai Hu, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) mentions "pushing out the old and bringing forth the new," improving vision, and benefiting essence; these refer specifically to Yin Chai Hu from the Yin and Xia regions, which Bei Chai Hu cannot achieve.

Peucedani Radix (Qian Hu): Bitter, slightly cold, non-toxic. Zhen Quan stated: Sweet and pungent, neutral, non-toxic. The white ones are superior. Use after removing the tail end.

Invention (Pharmacological Elaboration): Qian Hu enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. Its efficacy lies primarily in descending Qi; therefore, it can treat wheezing and cough caused by phlegm-heat, as well as various disorders such as fullness and obstruction in the chest and diaphragm. When Qi descends, Fire descends, and Phlegm also descends. It is an essential herb for treating phlegm-Qi disorders. It treats chills and fever due to Shanghan (Cold Damage) and internal and external heat due to seasonal epidemics. Note: Both types of Chai Hu are generally classified as wind-dispelling herbs, but Chai Hu mainly ascends, while Qian Hu mainly descends; this is their difference. Furthermore, Qian Hu treats Wind-Phlegm with excess Qi. For Phlegm generated by Yin deficiency with hyperactive Fire, and for cases with phlegmal sounds not caused by external contraction, its use is contraindicated.

Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng): Sweet and pungent, warm, non-toxic. Those with forked heads cause irritability and wheezing; those with forked tails induce chronic diseases.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it treats severe wind-induced dizziness and headache, aversion to wind and wind pathogens, blindness where nothing can be seen, and pain in the joints throughout the body due to wind movement.

Invention (Pharmacological Elaboration): Fang Feng is floating and ascending, belonging to Yang. It enters the Hand-Taiyin Small Intestine Meridian, Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian, and also connects with the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. It is a miraculous herb for treating wind and eliminating dampness, because wind can overcome dampness. It treats disorders such as severe wind-induced dizziness and headache, aversion to wind, and wind pathogens. Due to its ascending nature, it treats excess wind pathogens in the upper body, drains lung excess causing wheezing and fullness, and addresses generalized bi-syndrome pain, limb contracture and urgency, blindness, and cold tears from wind eyes. All these indications fall within the scope of the *Shennong Bencao Jing*. Fang Feng treats generalized body pain; it serves a humble role like a common soldier, following guiding herbs to the affected area, and is a moistening agent among wind-dispelling herbs. To tonify the Spleen and Stomach, it must be used as a guiding herb to take effect, acting as a method to drain water within the Earth element. For cases of spinal pain, neck stiffness preventing turning back, waist feeling like breaking, and neck feeling like being pulled, which are syndromes of the Hand and Foot Taiyang meridians, Fang Feng is appropriate. For sores located above the chest and diaphragm, even without Hand and Foot Taiyang syndrome, Fang Feng should be used because it can dissipate nodules and remove wind-heat from the upper part. The *Jingyan Fang* (Experienced Formulas) treats women whose wind pathogen has entered the uterus (Baomen), causing continuous metrorrhagia (Bengzhong), using Dusheng San consisting solely of Fang Feng, prepared into pills with flour paste and wine. However, it is suitable only when the blood color is clear and thin, and the pulse is floating and wiry. If the blood color is dark red and the pulse is rapid, it belongs to the syndrome treated by Yiwei Ziqin Wan (Single-Herb Scutellaria Pill), and they must not be confused. It is forbidden for those with Lung deficiency accompanied by sweating, asthenic wheezing, Qi rebelling causing vomiting, Fire rising causing cough, Yin deficiency with night sweats, and Yang deficiency with spontaneous sweating. It is strictly contraindicated for postpartum women with blood deficiency leading to spasms, and infants with spleen deficiency leading to convulsions after diarrhea.