宣，行气，祛风
辛泄气，咸泄水（《本草》苦，元素甘），气温属木。其性善走，能宣疏五脏，通行十二
经络。
治中风痛风，头风顽痹（湿热流于肢节之间，肿属湿，痛属热，汗多属风，麻属气虚，
木属湿痰死血。十指麻木，亦是胃中有湿痰死血，脾主四肢故也。痛风当分新久，新痛属寒
，宜辛温药；久痛属热，宜清凉药。河间所谓暴病非热，久病非寒是也。大法宜顺气、清痰
、搜风、散湿、养血、去瘀为要。威灵仙传曰∶一人手足不遂数十年，遇新罗僧曰，得一药
可治，入山求之，乃威灵仙也，服之而愈），症瘕积聚，痰水宿脓，黄胆浮肿，大小肠秘，
风湿痰气，一切冷痛。性极快利，积 不痊者，服之有捷效。然疏泄真气，弱者慎用。和砂
仁、沙糖、醋煎，治诸骨哽。
根丛须数百条，长者二尺余，色深黑，俗名铁脚威灵仙。忌茗、面汤。
宣，除风热，定惊
甘微苦寒。除心热，平肝风。
治大人头旋目眩，小儿惊啼螈 （音炽纵。筋急而缩为螈，筋缓而弛为 ，伸缩不已为
螈，俗谓之搐搦是也），客忤胎风，发斑疹。主肝风相火之病，风静火息，则诸证自除（相
火散行于胆、三焦、心包）。
有刺，类钓钩。藤细多钩者良（纯用钩，其功加倍）。久煎则无力。
Xuan (Dispersing), moving Qi, dispelling wind.
Pungent flavor disperses Qi, salty flavor drains water (The *Bencao* records it as bitter, Li Dongyuan considers it sweet). The medicinal nature is warm, belonging to Wood in the Five Elements. Its nature is good at moving and traversing; it can disperse and unblock the five Zang organs, and circulate through the twelve meridians.
It treats stroke, gout, head wind, and stubborn bi-syndrome (Damp-heat flows into the joints of limbs; swelling belongs to dampness, pain belongs to heat, excessive sweating belongs to wind, numbness belongs to Qi deficiency, and stiffness/woodiness belongs to damp-phlegm and dead blood. Numbness in all ten fingers is also due to damp-phlegm and dead blood in the stomach, because the Spleen governs the four limbs. Gout should be distinguished by new or old onset: new pain belongs to cold, suitable for pungent-warm herbs; old pain belongs to heat, suitable for cool-cold herbs. This is what Hejian referred to as "acute diseases are not necessarily heat, chronic diseases are not necessarily cold." The general principle emphasizes regulating Qi, clearing phlegm, searching out wind, dispersing dampness, nourishing blood, and removing stasis. The biography of Weilingxian says: A person suffered from hemiplegia for decades. A monk from Silla said there was a herb that could cure it. He went into the mountains to find it, which was Weilingxian. After taking it, he recovered.) It treats zheng zha (masses) and ji ju (accumulations), retained phlegm-water and old pus, jaundice with edema, constipation of the large and small intestines, wind-dampness phlegm-qi, and all kinds of cold pain. Its nature is extremely rapid and purgative; for accumulations that have not healed after long treatment, taking it yields swift effects. However, it disperses and drains true Qi, so those who are weak should use it with caution. Decocted with Sharen (Amomi Fructus Rotundus), rock sugar, and vinegar, it treats various bone obstructions.
The root has hundreds of clustered fibrous roots, some over two chi long, dark black in color, commonly known as Tieji Weilingxian (Iron-foot Silverweed). Avoid tea and wheat-based soups.
Diaotenggou (Uncaria Rhynchophylla Hook), dispels wind-heat, calms fright.
Sweet and slightly bitter, slightly cold. Clears heart heat, pacifies liver wind.
Treats dizziness and vertigo in adults, infantile convulsive crying and spasms (pronounced 'chi zong'. Tendon tension causing contraction is called 'yuan', tendon relaxation is called 'huan', continuous extension and flexion is called 'yuan', commonly known as twitching/spasms), external evil invasion, fetal wind, and eruption of macules and papules. It governs diseases of liver wind and ministerial fire. When wind is still and fire subsides, all symptoms naturally disappear (ministerial fire scatters through the Gallbladder, Sanjiao, and Pericardium).
It has thorns, resembling a fishing hook. Vines that are thin and have many hooks are of good quality (using only the hooks doubles its efficacy). Long decoction reduces potency.