一名莎草根、宣、调气解郁。
气香。味辛能散，微苦能降，微甘能和。乃血中气药。通行十二经八脉气分。主一切气。
（
人身以气为主、气盛则强、虚则衰、顺则平、逆则病、绝则死矣、经曰∶怒则气上、恐则气
下、喜则气缓、悲则气消、惊则气乱、思则气结、劳则气耗、又曰∶寒则气收、热则气泄、
名九气、以香附为君、随证而加升降消补之药。）利三焦。解六郁。（痰郁、火郁、气郁、血
郁、湿郁、食郁。）治多怒多忧。痰饮积聚。痞满腹胀。霍乱吐泻。痈疽疮疡。血凝气滞所
致、香附末服、名独胜丸、治痈疽由郁怒而得者、如疮初作、以此代茶、大凡疮疽喜服香药、
触之、康祖左乳病痈、又臆间生核、痛楚半载、祷张王、梦授以方
、姜汁制香附为末、每服二钱、米饮下遂愈。）吐血便血。崩中带下。月候不调。（气为血配、
血因气行、成块者气之凝、
将行而痛气之滞、行后作痛、气血俱虚也、色淡亦虚也、色紫气之热、色黑则热之甚也、错
经者气之乱、肥人痰多而经
阻、气不运也、香附阴中快气之药、气顺则血和畅、然须辅以凉血补气之药、丹溪曰∶能引
血药至气分而生血、
气血药同用。）诸种气痛。胎产百病。（时珍曰∶得参术则补气、得归地则补血、得木香
滞和中、得檀香则理气醒脾、
得沉香则升降诸气、得芎 苍术、则总解诸郁、得栀子黄
连、则清降火热、得茯神则交济心肾、得茴香破故纸、则引气归元、得浓朴半夏、则决壅消
胀、得紫苏葱白、则发汗散邪、得三棱莪术、则消积磨块、得艾叶则治血气暖子宫、凡气血
未亏而多滞者、最宜用之也、妇人多郁、气行则郁解、故服之尤效、非宜于妇人不宜于男子
也、又曰∶凡人病则气滞而馁、香附为气分君药、臣以参 、佐以甘草、治气滞甚速也。）
苦燥而能耗血散气。（士材曰∶乃治标之品、唯气实血未大虚者宜之、不然、恐损气而耗血
、愈致其疾矣、世俗泥于女科仙药之一语、惜未有发明及此者。）产金华者良。生则上行胸
膈。外达皮肤。熟则下走肝肾。旁彻腰膝。童便浸炒。盐水浸炒。则入血分。青盐炒则入肾
。酒浸炒则行经络。醋浸炒则消积聚。且敛其散。蜜水炒。制其燥性。姜汁炒则化痰饮。炒
黑
耳
出汁、香附为末、以绵杖送入。）
Xiangfu (Cyperus Rotundus Rhizome), also known as Shacaogen (Sedge Root) or Xuan. It has the effects of regulating Qi and resolving depression.
It has an aromatic odor. Its pungent taste can disperse, its slightly bitter taste can descend, and its slightly sweet taste can harmonize. It is a Qi-moving herb within the Blood level. It circulates through the Qi aspect of the Twelve Regular Meridians and the Eight Extraordinary Vessels. It primarily treats all types of Qi disorders.
(The human body relies on Qi as its master; when Qi is abundant, the body is strong; when deficient, it declines; when smooth, it is peaceful; when rebellious, disease arises; when exhausted, death occurs. The Classics state: Anger causes Qi to ascend upward; fear causes Qi to sink downward; joy causes Qi to relax; grief causes Qi to dissipate; shock causes Qi to become chaotic; overthinking causes Qi to knot; fatigue causes Qi to consume. It also states: Cold causes Qi to contract; heat causes Qi to leak. These are called the "Nine Qi" patterns. Using Xiangfu as the Sovereign herb, one adds herbs for ascending/descending, reducing/tonifying according to the syndrome.) It benefits the Sanjiao (Triple Burner). It resolves the Six Depressions (Phlegm Depression, Fire Depression, Qi Depression, Blood Depression, Dampness Depression, Food Depression). It treats irritability and excessive worry. Phlegm-fluid retention and accumulation. Chest and abdominal fullness and distension. Cholera with vomiting and diarrhea. Carbuncles, sores, and ulcers. Conditions caused by blood coagulation and Qi stagnation. Taking Xiangfu powder is named Dusheng Wan (Single Victory Pill), used to treat carbuncles and sores resulting from depression and anger. If sores have just begun, this can be taken instead of tea. Generally, patients with carbuncles and sores prefer taking aromatic Qi-regulating herbs. For example, Kang Zu suffered from a breast carbuncle and had a mass in his chest that caused pain for half a year. After praying to Zhang Wang, he received a prescription in a dream: Processed Xiangfu with ginger juice, ground into powder, two qian per dose, taken with rice water, and he was cured.
It treats hematemesis (vomiting blood) and hematochezia (blood in stool). Metrorrhagia and leukorrhea. Irregular menstruation. (Qi is the companion of Blood; Blood moves with Qi. Clots form due to Qi condensation; pain before menstruation is due to Qi stagnation; pain after menstruation is due to deficiency of both Qi and Blood; pale color indicates deficiency; purple color indicates Heat in Qi; black color indicates severe Heat. Menstrual irregularities are due to chaotic Qi; obese individuals often have obstructed menstruation due to excess phlegm and lack of Qi movement. Xiangfu is a Qi-quickening herb within the Yin level; when Qi is smooth, Blood flows harmoniously. However, it must be assisted by herbs that cool Blood and tonify Qi. Zhu Danxi said: It can guide Blood herbs to the Qi level to generate Blood; therefore, it should be used together with Qi and Blood herbs.) It treats various types of Qi-related pain. Disorders related to pregnancy and childbirth. (Li Shizhen said: When combined with Renshen (Ginseng) and Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome), it tonifies Qi; when combined with Danggui (Angelica Sinensis Root) and Dihuang (Rehmannia Root), it tonifies Blood; when combined with Muxiang (Vladimiria Root), it regulates Qi and harmonizes the Middle Jiao; when combined with Tanxiang (Sandalwood), it regulates Qi and awakens the Spleen; when combined with Chenxiang (Aquilaria Wood), it ascends and descends all Qi; when combined with Chuanxiong (Ligusticum Wallichii Rhizome) and Cangzhu (Atractylodes Lancea Rhizome), it resolves all depressions; when combined with Zhizi (Gardenia Fruit) and Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome), it clears and descends Fire and Heat; when combined with Fushen (Poria with Pine Root), it harmonizes the Heart and Kidney; when combined with Huixiang (Fennel Fruit) and Pogu Zhi (Cibotium Barometz Stipe), it guides Qi back to its origin; when combined with Houpo (Magnolia Bark) and Banxia (Pinellia Tuber), it resolves obstruction and reduces distension; when combined with Zisu (Perilla Leaf) and Congbai (Scallion White), it induces sweating and disperses pathogens; when combined with Sanleng (Sparganium Rhizome) and Ezhu (Curcuma Rhizome), it eliminates accumulations and breaks up masses; when combined with Aye (Mugwort Leaf), it treats Blood and Qi disorders and warms the Uterus. It is most suitable for those whose Qi and Blood are not yet depleted but have many stagnations. Women are prone to depression; when Qi moves, depression resolves, so this herb is particularly effective for them. It is not that it is unsuitable for men, but rather that it is especially suited for women. He also said: When people fall ill, Qi becomes stagnant and weak. Xiangfu serves as the Sovereign herb for the Qi level; with Renshen as the Minister and Gancao (Licorice Root) as the Assistant, it treats severe Qi stagnation very rapidly.)
Its bitter nature is drying and can consume Blood and scatter Qi. (Miao Xiyong said: This is a herb for treating symptoms (Biao); it is only suitable for those with excess Qi and no significant Blood deficiency. Otherwise, it may damage Qi and exhaust Blood, worsening the disease. The secular world clings to the phrase "Immortal Herb of Gynecology," but unfortunately, few have elucidated this point.) Xiangfu produced in Jinhua is of good quality. Raw Xiangfu acts upward to the chest and diaphragm, and outward to the skin. Processed (cooked) Xiangfu acts downward to the Liver and Kidneys, and laterally to the waist and knees. Soaking in child's urine and stir-frying, or soaking in salt water and stir-frying, directs it into the Blood level. Stir-frying with green salt directs it to the Kidney. Soaking in wine and stir-frying promotes circulation through the meridians. Soaking in vinegar and stir-frying eliminates accumulations and astringes its dispersing action. Stir-frying with honey water restricts its dryness. Stir-frying with ginger juice transforms phlegm-fluids. Stir-frying until charred... (The original text here is incomplete, implying hemostasis or entering the Blood level. Another method: Extract juice, grind Xiangfu into powder, and insert using a cotton swab...)