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Bai Zhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix) possesses the properties of dispersing, releasing the exterior, expelling wind, and dissipating dampness. Its pungent flavor disperses wind pathogens, its warm nature removes dampness, and its aromatic fragrance opens orifices and induces sweating. It enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, and also enters the Foot-Taiyin Lung Meridian (as white color and pungent flavor correspond to the Lung), making it a principal herb for the Yangming meridians (since the Yangming meridians circulate around the face, it treats various diseases of the head and face).

It treats dizziness and pain in the head and eyes caused by Yangming meridian disorders (Prescription by Yang Jilao: Soak Bai Zhi in decoction four or five times, form into honey pills the size of a bullet, named Duliang Wan. Take one pill per dose, chew with Jingjie [Schizonepetae Herba] dipped in vinegar-tea. Yang Jilao, whose name was Jie, created this prescription while treating Wang Dingguo's illness in Duliang, hence naming the pill after the place). It treats pain in the supraorbital ridge (caused by wind-heat and phlegm; mix Huangqin [Scutellariae Radix] soaked in wine into powder, take with tea). It treats toothache (the upper gum belongs to the Foot-Yangming Meridian, the lower gum to the Hand-Yangming Meridian; both are affected by wind-heat). It treats Bi Yuan (Nasal Polyps/Chronic Rhinitis) (The Lung governs the nose; wind-heat invading the Lung steams upward to the brain, causing profuse turbid nasal discharge. The Classics state: "Brain fluid seeps out as nasal mucus"; treat with Xixin [Asari Radix et Rhizoma] and Xinyi [Magnoliae Flos]). It treats itchy eyes with tearing, dark complexion (Mian Hei Qi), and facial blemishes (can be used as facial cream). These are conditions of wind-heat affecting the three meridians (Hand-Yangming, Foot-Yangming, and Lung).

Furthermore, it treats sudden uterine bleeding (Xue Beng) and amenorrhea (Xue Bi), intestinal wind with hemorrhoids (Chang Feng Zhi Lou), carbuncles, sores, and ulcers, which are conditions of damp-heat in the three meridians.

It invigorates blood and drains pus (when putrid blood and pus accumulate in the intestines, dripping foul-smelling fluids causing cold pain in the umbilical and abdominal regions, this herb is required to drain them); promotes tissue regeneration and relieves pain; resolves arsenic poisoning and snake bites (first tie a rope tightly around the wound site, then take 5 qian of Bai Zhi powder mixed with wine. Planting Bai Zhi can repel snakes). It also treats postpartum wind-stroke and headache due to blood deficiency (pain attacks from the outer corner of the eye upwards, usually occurring in the late afternoon; use Siwu Tang [Four Substances Decoction] plus Chuanxiong [Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma] and Bai Zhi. If the headache is due to Qi deficiency, it usually occurs in the early morning; use Chuanxiong and Danggui [Angelicae Sinensis Radix] with doubled Renshen [Ginseng Radix] and Huangqi [Astragali Radix]. Baoshou Hall treats frontal and lateral headaches by mixing 3 qian each of Bai Zhi and Chuanxiong, applying them to cow brain, cooking with wine until done, eating hot until drunk, resulting in complete cure. "Yuwei" refers to the upper outer corner of the eye).

However, since its nature is ascending and dispersing, it is contraindicated for patients with blood-heat and deficient fire.

Those that are white in color and fragrant in aroma are superior; they may be slightly stir-fried before use. Danggui [Angelicae Sinensis Radix] serves as an guiding herb. It is incompatible with Xuanfuhua [Inulae Flos].