宣，活血，利气
辛苦而温。入手足太阴（肺、脾）、厥阴（心包、肝）经。能行血中气滞，气中血滞，
通小便，除风痹。
治气凝血结，上下内外诸痛（通则不痛），症瘕崩淋，月候不调（气血不和，因而凝滞，
不以时至），产后血晕，暴血上冲，折伤积血，疝气危急，为活血、利气第一药。然辛温走
而不守（独用力迅，宜兼补气血药），通经坠胎，血热、气虚者禁用。
根如半夏。肉黄、小而坚者良。酒炒行血，醋炒止血，生用破血，炒用调血。
古名红兰花
通，行血，润燥
辛苦甘温。入肺经而破瘀血、活血（瘀行则血活。有热结于中、暴吐紫黑血者，吐出为
好。吐未尽，加桃仁、红花行之。大抵鲜血宜止，瘀血宜行），润燥，消肿止痛（凡血热血
瘀，则作肿作痛）。
治经闭便难，血运口噤，胎死腹中（非活血行血不能下），痘疮血热（本草不言治痘），
喉痹不通。又能入心经，生新血（须兼补益药为佐使）。俗用染红，并作胭脂（胭脂活血解
毒。痘疔挑破，以油胭脂敷之良）。少用养血，多则行血，过用能使血行不止而毙（血生于
心包，藏于肝，属于冲、任。红花汁与相类，故治血病。有产妇血闷而死，名医陆氏以红花
敷十斤煮汤，寝妇于上而熏之，汤冷再加，半日而苏。《金匮》有红兰花酒，云治妇人六十
二种风）。
Xuan (Yanhusuo), possesses the functions of invigorating blood and promoting qi movement.
Pungent, bitter, and warm in nature. Enters the Hand and Foot Taiyin (Lung, Spleen) meridians, as well as the Jueyin (Pericardium, Liver) meridians. It can move qi stagnation within blood and blood stagnation within qi, promote urination, and dispel wind-bi syndrome.
It treats qi-blood coagulation and knotting, various pains in the upper and lower, interior and exterior (pain ceases when flow is unobstructed), zheng jia (abdominal masses), metrorrhagia and strangury, irregular menstruation (due to disharmony of qi and blood leading to stagnation, causing menses not to arrive on time), postpartum blood fainting, sudden rushing up of massive blood, traumatic accumulation of blood, critical hernia conditions, being the premier herb for invigorating blood and promoting qi movement. However, due to its pungent-warm dispersing nature that moves without staying put (its force is swift and intense, so it should be combined with herbs that tonify qi and blood), it promotes menstruation and causes abortion; it is contraindicated for those with blood-heat or qi-deficiency.
The root resembles Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma). The flesh that is yellow, small, and firm is of good quality. Stir-fried with wine to move blood, stir-fried with vinegar to stop bleeding, used raw to break blood, stir-fried to regulate blood.
Ancient name: Honglan Hua (Safflower Flower)
Tong, possesses the functions of moving blood and moistening dryness.
Pungent, bitter, sweet, and warm in nature. Enters the Lung meridian to break stasis, invigorate blood (when stasis moves, blood flows freely. If there is heat knotting in the middle, causing sudden vomiting of purple-black blood, it is beneficial to vomit it out. If vomiting is incomplete, add Taoren (Persicae Semen) and Honghua (Carthami Flos) to promote expulsion. Generally, fresh bleeding should be stopped, while stasis should be moved), moisten dryness, reduce swelling and relieve pain (whenever there is blood-heat and blood-stasis, swelling and pain occur).
It treats amenorrhea, difficult defecation, blood-dizziness with jaw-locking, fetus dead in the womb (without moving blood and invigorating blood, the dead fetus cannot be expelled), acne vulgaris with blood-heat (the Materia Medica does not mention treating acne), and throat obstruction with blockage. It can also enter the Heart meridian to generate new blood (must be accompanied by tonifying herbs as assistants). Commonly used for dyeing red and making rouge (rouge invigorates blood and resolves toxicity. For acne carbuncles that have been pricked open, applying oil-mixed rouge is effective). Used in small amounts to nourish blood, in large amounts to move blood; excessive use can cause uncontrollable bleeding leading to death (blood is generated by the Pericardium, stored in the Liver, and belongs to the Chong and Ren vessels. Honghua juice has similar properties, thus it treats blood diseases. There was a case where a woman died from blood闷 [stagnation/fainting]; the famous physician Mr. Lu boiled ten jin of Honghua in water, had the woman lie above it to fumigate, adding hot water as it cooled, and she revived after half a day. The *Jin Gui Yao Lue* contains Honglan Hua Wine, stating it treats sixty-two types of wind disorders in women).