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Xuan: Release the exterior and harmonize the interior, reduce fever and raise yang, resolve depression and regulate menstruation.
Bitter, slightly cold. The flavor is thin and the qi ascends, constituting Yang. It primarily treats sinking of Yang Qi. It can guide clear Qi to ascend upward, thereby pacifying the pathogenic heat of Shaoyang (Lesser Yang) and Jueyin (Terminal Yin). (The Liver, Gallbladder, Pericardium, and Sanjiao (Triple Burner) ministerial fire; Shizhen said: When acting on Shaoyang, Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin) serves as an assistant; when acting on Jueyin, Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian) serves as an assistant; it promotes the free flow of Qi and Blood, dissipates nodules, and regulates menstruation. People only know that Chaihu can release the exterior, but do not know that Chaihu is best at harmonizing the interior.) It is a surface drug for the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. (The Gallbladder is a pure and clear organ, with no exit or entry; its meridian is located half-exterior and half-interior, so the method should be harmonization, such as in Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction). If the disease is in Taiyang (Greater Yang), taking it too early will lead the thief into the house; if the disease has entered the Yin meridians, taking Chaihu again will severely deficiency the exterior; utmost caution is required.) It treats pathogenic heat from Cold Damage (Shanghan), phlegm-heat accumulation, vexing heat in the epigastrium, and various malaria chills and fever. (Dongyuan said: For all types of malaria, Chaihu serves as the sovereign drug, assisted by drugs that guide the action to the affected meridian. Yu Jiayan's Medical Laws stated: Malaria attacks must involve both chills and fever. This is because external pathogens lie hidden in the half-exterior, half-interior region, which falls within the domain governed by Shaoyang. When entering and fighting with Yin, Yang prevails causing fever; when exiting and fighting with Yang, Yin prevails causing chills. Pure heat without chills constitutes Dan Malaria (Febrile Malaria) or Wen Malaria (Warm Malaria); more chills than heat constitutes Pin Malaria (Yin Malaria). All these originate from Shaoyang reaching their extreme deviation. To correct this deviation and save the detriment, one must return to the boundary of Shaoyang. While Shaoyang may combine with other meridians, if other meridals are involved without touching Shaoyang, it cannot constitute malaria. Although the pulse may shift frequently, the character "Wiry" (Xian) truly permeates it all.) Dizziness and vomiting. (When pathogens are in the half-exterior, half-interior region, vomiting is common.) Red eyes, chest oppression, and hypochondriac pain. (Most hypochondriac diseases are due to excess Liver Wood; Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) added with Qingpi (Aurantii Fructus), Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong), and Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao) is suitable.) Bitter taste in the mouth and deafness. (All are pathogens of the Liver and Gallbladder.) Heat entering the Blood Chamber. (Chong is the Sea of Blood, also known as the Blood Chamber; both men and women possess it. Chaihu governs Blood in the Zang organs and Qi in the Jing meridians.) Various fevers before and after childbirth. Pediatric smallpox/rash conditions. It can dissipate blood stasis and Qi stagnation in carbuncles and sores across the twelve meridians. Its efficacy is similar to Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructum). (Lianqiao treats Blood heat, while Chaihu treats Qi heat, which is a slight difference.) Contraindicated for those with Yin deficiency and flaming fire with ascending Qi. Produced in Gucheng Mountain, Jiangnan. Those named Qijie are excellent. (Those produced in Dingyuan County are also good.) For external contraction, use raw. For internal injury to raise Qi, stir-fry with wine. For treating the Middle Jiao and descending actions, use the root tips. For those with sweating and cough, stir-fry mixed with honey water. Peucedani Radix (Qianhu) and Pinelliae Rhizoma (Banxia) serve as guides. Averse to Gleditsiae Sinensis Fruit (Zaojiao). Note that Chaihu is used extensively. Currently, herb merchants enter the mountains to purchase it, mixing in Pulsatillae Radix (Baitouweng), Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix (Danshen), minor Peucedani Radix (Xiao Qianhu), and Polygalae Seedling (Yuanzhi Miao), etc., together. This is called Tong Chaihu (General Chaihu). In herbal shops, they are all sliced into decoction pieces. In reality, there are very few genuine Chaihu. One must select and remove other species, using pure Chaihu. The seedling primarily treats sudden deafness. Crush and extract juice, drip frequently.

Yinzhou Chaihu (Xuan, treats consumptive fever.) Treats consumptive muscle heat, bone-steaming consumptive malaria, heat emanating from the marrow, and pediatric five-type malnutrition with emaciation and fever. The root is over a chi long, slightly white.