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[Dispersing, Releasing the Exterior, Overcoming Dampness]
Pungent and bitter in flavor, warm in nature, ascending and floating in action, belonging to Yang. It disperses Liver Qi and clears Lung heat, dissipates stagnant Qi in the head and eyes, and removes retained dampness in the meridians.

It primarily treats bleeding from the upper body (used as a guiding herb, it can also treat metrorrhagia), wind-pathogens in the Upper Jiao, headache and vertigo, pain in the spine and stiffness in the neck, generalized body pain, and syndromes of the Taiyang (Bladder) Meridian (Xu Zhicai stated: when combined with scallion white, it can circulate through the entire body). It also enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians, serving as a key herb for dispelling wind and overcoming dampness (All wind-dispelling herbs can overcome dampness. Li Dongyuan said: It holds a humble position, following the guidance of other herbs to reach the site of disease; it is the moistening agent among wind-dispelling herbs. If tonifying the Spleen and Stomach, its guiding function is indispensable). It also dissipates redness of the eyes and sores/ulcers. However, it is strictly contraindicated in cases of spasms and tension due to Blood deficiency, headaches not caused by wind-cold (internal injury headaches), diarrhea not caused by cold-dampness, coughs due to flaming fire rising, night sweats due to Yin deficiency, and spontaneous sweating due to Yang deficiency (When combined with Huangqi [Astragali Radix] and Shaoyao [Paeoniae Radix], it can consolidate the exterior and stop sweating; when combined with Huangqi [Astragali Radix] and Baizhu [Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma], it forms Yupingfeng San [Jade Windscreen Powder], a sacred medicine for consolidating the exterior. Huangqi [Astragali Radix] achieves greater efficacy when paired with Fangfeng, taking advantage of their mutual inhibition and mutual enhancement).

Those that are yellow and moist are superior. Use the root body for treating upper body conditions, and the root tips for treating lower body conditions. It is inhibited by Bibi [Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma]. It is incompatible with Ganjiang [Zingiberis Rhizoma], Bailian [Ilicifolii Rhizoma], and Yuanhua [Genkwa Flos]. It neutralizes the toxicity of Fuzi [Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata].

[Dispersing, Removing Wind-Cold-Dampness]
Pungent and warm in nature, potent in action, it is a wind-dispelling herb for the Taiyang (Bladder) Meridian. It is essential for conditions where cold pathogens stagnate in this meridian, causing headaches radiating to the brain (For headaches at the vertex, Gaoben [Ligustici Chuanxiong Hort. Rhizoma], Fangfeng [Saposhnikoviae Radix], Jiuchao Shengma [Bupleuri Radix processed with wine], and Jiuchao Chaihu [Bupleuri Radix processed with wine] are suitable). It treats diseases of the Du Mai (Governing Vessel), characterized by rigidity of the spine and cold limbs (The Du Mai runs along the spine together with the Taiyang Meridian); it can also descend to remove dampness, treating women's hernia masses (Shan Jia), cold painful swelling in the genital region, and acute abdominal pain (all caused by Cold-Dampness of the Taiyang Meridian), and Wei Feng diarrhea (Xia Yinggong suffered from diarrhea; physicians failed to cure him by treating it as deficiency. Huo Weng said: This is wind lodging in the Stomach. He was cured after drinking Gaoben Decoction. Essentially, Gaoben can eliminate wind-dampness). It is also used for acne rosacea (mixed with Baizhu [Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma] to make facial cream).

The root is purple, resembling Xiong [Ligustici Chuanxiong Hort. Rhizoma] but lighter and more porous. It has a fragrant odor and a numbing taste.