宣，行气
辛苦而温。三焦气分之药，能升降诸气，泄肺气，疏肝气，和脾气（怒则肝气上，肺气
调，则金能制木而肝平，木不克土而脾和）。
治一切气痛，九种心痛（皆属胃脘，曰寒痛、热痛、气痛、血痛、湿痛、痰痛、食痛、
蛔痛、悸痛。盖君心不易受邪，真心痛者，手足冷过腕节，朝发夕死），呕逆反胃，霍乱泻
痢，后重（同槟榔用。刘河间曰∶痢疾行血则脓血自愈，调气则后重自除）癃闭，痰壅气结，
癖症块，肿毒虫毒，冲脉为病，气逆里急。杀鬼物，御瘴雾，去腋臭，宽大肠，消食安胎
（气逆则胎不安）。过服损真气（丹溪曰∶味辛气升，若阴火冲上者，反助火邪，当用黄柏
知母，少以木香佐之。王好古曰∶《本草》主气劣、气不足，补也；通壅导气，破也；安胎
健脾胃，补也；除痰癖症块，破也，不同如此。汪机曰∶与补药为佐则补，与泻药为君则泻。
李时珍曰∶诸气 郁，皆属于肺，上焦气滞用之者，金郁泄之也；中气不运，皆属于脾，中
焦气滞用之者，脾胃喜芳香也；大肠气滞则后重，膀胱气不化则癃闭，肝气郁则为痛，下焦
气滞用之者，塞者通之也）。
番舶上耒，形如枯骨，味苦粘舌者良，名青木香（今所用者，皆广木香、土木香）。磨
汁用。东垣用黄连制，亦有蒸用，面裹煨用者（煨用实肠止泻）。畏火。
Xuan (Dispersing), acts to move Qi.
Pungent, bitter, and warm. It is a herb for the San Jiao (Triple Burner) Qi aspect, capable of regulating the ascending and descending of all Qi, draining Lung Qi, soothing Liver Qi, and harmonizing Spleen Qi. (When one is angry, Liver Qi ascends; if Lung Qi is regulated, Metal can control Wood, thereby calming the Liver; if Wood does not overact on Earth, the Spleen is harmonized).
It treats all types of Qi-stagnation pain, and the nine types of Heart pain (all these pains are located in the epigastrium, categorized as Cold pain, Heat pain, Qi pain, Blood pain, Dampness pain, Phlegm pain, Food stagnation pain, Ascaris pain, and Palpitation pain. Since the Heart Monarch is difficult to be invaded by pathogens, "True Heart Pain" refers to cold extremities extending past the wrists, where onset in the morning leads to death by evening). It treats vomiting and regurgitation, reverse flow of food, cholera, diarrhea and dysentery, tenesmus (used together with Areca Seed, Binglang. Liu Hejian stated: In dysentery, invigorating blood heals pus and blood, while regulating Qi eliminates tenesmus). It treats urinary retention (Longbi), phlegm obstruction with Qi knotting, fixed masses (Pixing), swelling and toxic sores, insect venom, diseases of the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) characterized by Qi rebellion and abdominal urgency. It repels evil spirits, wards off miasma and fog, removes axillary odor, relaxes the Large Intestine, promotes digestion, and calms the fetus (when Qi rebels, the fetus is unsettled).
Overconsumption damages True Qi. (Zhu Danxi said: Its pungent flavor and ascending nature mean that if Yin Fire rushes upward, it will instead assist the Fire pathogen; one should use Anemarrhena Rhizome (Huangbai) and Phellodendron Bark (Zhimu), adding a small amount of Costus Root (Muxiang) as an assistant. Wang Haogu said: The *Bencao* states it treats weak or insufficient Qi, which is tonification; unblocking congestion and guiding Qi is purgation; calming the fetus and strengthening the Spleen and Stomach is tonification; eliminating phlegm and masses is purgation—it is not so simple. Wang Ji said: When used as an assistant with tonifying herbs, it tonifies; when used as the sovereign with purgative herbs, it purges. Li Shizhen said: Various Qi depressions belong to the Lung; using it for Upper Jiao Qi stagnation follows the principle of "draining Metal depression"; mid-Qi failure to transport belongs to the Spleen; using it for Middle Jiao Qi stagnation works because the Spleen and Stomach favor aromatic scents; Large Intestine Qi stagnation causes tenesmus, Bladder Qi failing to transform causes urinary retention, Liver Qi depression causes pain; using it for Lower Jiao Qi stagnation follows the principle of "unblocking obstructions").
Imported via foreign ships, those resembling dried bones, with a bitter taste that sticks to the tongue, are considered superior and are named Qing Muxiang (Green Costus Root). (What is currently used are Guang Muxiang and Tu Muxiang).
Grind into juice for use. Li Dongyuan processed it with Coptis Rhizome (Huanglian); some are steamed, or wrapped in dough and baked (baking solidifies the intestines and stops diarrhea). It fears fire.