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(Recorded in the Middle Category of the *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
[Flavor and Nature] Bitter, warm, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats cough with rebellious Qi (Ke Ni Shang Qi), cold-heat alternations of Warm Malaria (Wen Nue) with a sensation as if cold water is sprinkled within the skin, uterine bleeding leading to infertility (Lou Xia Jue Zi), and various malignant sores/ulcers and metal weapon injuries (Jin Chuang).
[Verification] It is said: Danggui grows in the river valleys of Longxi. Currently, it is widely cultivated in Dangzhou, Dangzhou, Yizhou, Songzhou, Qinzhou, and Wenzhou. In mid-spring, shoots and leaves emerge; the leaves resemble those of Peony (Mudan Ye), tender green and tripartite. Flowers bloom in July and August, resembling Dill flowers, delicate red and pleasing to the eye. The root is blackish-yellow; those with thick flesh that do not dry out are superior. Danggui from Qinzhou has a round head and many tails, purple color, fragrant aroma, plump, moist, and oily, named "Horse-tail Danggui" (Ma Wei Gui); this variety is the best. Those from other places have large heads and coarse tails, white color, and dry texture, named "Head Danggui" (Tou Gui), which are unsuitable for use. Generally speaking, Danggui produced in Sichuan has strong potency and excels at attacking pathogens, while that produced in Qin (Shaanxi) has mild potency and excels at tonifying. Lei Gong stated: Remove the radicle (Lu Tou), soak in wine overnight. For stopping bleeding and breaking blood stasis, the effects of the head and tail differ. Breaking stasis should use the head, stopping bleeding should use the tail; mixing them renders them ineffective, whereas using them separately is precious. Li Yuan Su stated: The head stops bleeding, the tail breaks blood stasis, the body harmonizes blood; using the whole plant results in both breaking and stopping. Li Gao stated: The head stops bleeding and moves upward, the body nourishes blood and stays central, the tail breaks blood stasis and moves downward, and the whole plant invigorates blood without dispersing. Li Shizhen stated: The theories of Lei Gong and Zhang Yuansu differ in efficacy. Generally, the upper half of the root and body, where Qi and meridians ascend, follow the pattern of Heaven; the lower half, where Qi and meridians descend, follow the pattern of Earth. Since the human body mirrors Heaven and Earth, treating the upper part requires the head, the middle part requires the body, and the lower part requires the tail; comprehensive treatment requires the whole plant. This is a fixed principle. Zhang's view should be preferred, but according to my (Lu Zhiyi's) discussion, Lei's view is more appropriate. The Classic states: The Zang True Qi resides above the Lung to circulate Ying and Wei and Yin-Yang. The Zang True Qi resides below in the Kidney, which stores the Qi of bone marrow. Only what resides above can circulate, and only what resides below can stop/retain. This is the principle that one must press down before lifting up, and lift up before pressing down. Movement contains stillness, and stillness contains movement; this is the subtlety of mutual interaction between upper and lower. After harvest, it must be dried in the sun, wrapped in paper while hot, and sealed in an urn to prevent insect damage.
[Elucidation] It is said: Ancients used "Wen Wu" to summon each other. "Wen Wu" refers to Danggui, likely named after its function. Its flavor is bitter, nature is warm, odor is fragrant, and color is purple. It should enter the Heart Meridian, acting as the Envoy Herb of the Heart, and regulating both the Blood aspect and Qi aspect of the Heart. If judged solely as entering the Blood aspect, it loses its original essence. Why? Without Qi, Blood cannot circulate through the collaterals and irrigate the entire body; they rely on each other and form key interconnections. The Classic states: The Zang True Qi connects to the Heart, which stores the Qi of blood vessels. For instance, cough with rebellious Qi indicates that Qi fails to return to its origin. Within the skin lies the residence of Ying Qi. Cold-heat alternations of Warm Malaria do not occur outside the skin or inside the muscle, but rather feel like cold water sprinkled in the skin; this indicates pathogenic factors fail to return, and Ying Qi lacks direction. Uterine bleeding implies Blood does not return far (to its source). Infertility implies Blood lacks a place to rest/settle. Metal weapon injuries imply Blood fails to return to circulation. Sores/ulcers imply Qi fails to retain/control. Danggui assists the function of Qi and benefits the substance of Blood, enabling Qi, Blood, and Pathogenic Factors to return to their respective proper locations. Boiling it into juice and drinking it serves to promote the movement of the Commander Qi (Shuai Qi). A Tang poem says: "Sesame is good to plant, yet no one plants it; just when it is time to return, it does not return." This is indeed meaningful.