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Tonifies Qi, consolidates the exterior, and drains fire.
Sweet and warm in nature. Raw use consolidates the exterior; it can induce sweating when there is no sweat, and stop sweating when there is sweat (Zhu Zhenheng stated: Huangqi significantly tonifies Yang deficiency causing spontaneous sweating. If there is exterior deficiency with pathogenic factors, leading to an inability to sweat, taking this herb can again induce spontaneous sweating. Zhu Zhenheng, courtesy name Danxi, authored *Bencao Buyi*). It warms the muscles, solidifies the cou li (pores and interstices), drains Yin fire, and resolves muscle heat. Honey-fried use tonifies the middle Jiao, benefits Yuan Qi, warms the Triple Burner, and strengthens the Spleen and Stomach (If the Spleen and Stomach are deficient, Earth fails to generate Metal, causing Lung Qi to fail first. When the Spleen and Stomach function harmoniously, Lung Qi becomes robust and the muscular exterior becomes solid. Tonifying the middle is equivalent to consolidating the exterior). It generates blood and promotes tissue growth (Qi generates blood; when blood is abundant, flesh grows. The classics state: Blood generates flesh). It expels pus and provides internal support for sores, making it a supreme remedy for carbuncles and ulcers (Toxic heat transforms into pus; tonifying Qi enables internal support. If a carbuncle or ulcer cannot form pus, it is a fatal condition difficult to cure, due to excessive toxic heat and depleted Yuan Qi; the same applies to smallpox). It is suitable for cases where smallpox lesions do not erupt, characterized by Yang deficiency without heat (Wang Ji from Xin'an treated smallpox cases of deficiency-cold with non-erupting lesions using Sizijunzi Tang [Four Gentlemen Decoction] added with Huangqi and Zicao [Arnebiae Radix et Rhizoma], achieving many effective results. Occasionally, patients withered and died, and he blamed himself for imprecise prescription, thinking so hard he forgot sleep and food. He suddenly realized: Baizhu dries dampness, Fuling leaches out water, which hinders the formation of smallpox fluid. Thus, he removed these two herbs, adding Guirou [Cinnamomi Ramulus] and Nuomi [Oryza Sativa Germis] to assist its power, naming it Baoyuan Tang [Preserve Origin Decoction]. Renshen, Baizhu, Fuling, and Gancao constitute Sizijunzi Tang [Four Gentlemen Decoction]. Wang Haogu stated: Huangqi solidifies Wei Qi, acting as an exterior-resolving drug; it benefits the Spleen and Stomach, acting as a Middle Jiao drug; it treats absent Chi pulse in Shanghan [Cold Damage], tonifying Kidney Yuan, acting as an interior drug. Zhen Quan said: Its ability to tonify the Kidney lies in the fact that Qi is the mother of Water. Ri Hua Zi said: Its ability to stop metrorrhagia and leukorrhea lies in the fact that abundant Qi eliminates the worry of sinking. *Bencao Mengquan* states: There are many Qi-tonifying drugs, and Blood-nourishing drugs also benefit Qi; there are many Blood-nourishing drugs, and Qi-tonifying drugs also benefit Blood. Yiqi Tang adds Danggui, but due to its small dosage, its effect is overshadowed by Renshen and Huangqi; in Buxue Tang, Danggui's dosage is several times greater, yet it still follows Danggui's guidance to nourish blood. Huangqi 1 qian and Danggui 2 qian constitute Buxue Tang [Blood-Nourishing Decoction]. Although called Blood-nourishing despite being mostly Qi-tonifying, it is because Qi generates Blood, and Danggui serves as a guiding herb. It should not be used when the exterior is hyperactive; those with Yin deficiency should use it sparingly, lest it raise Qi to the exterior and further deplete the interior. Wang Ji, courtesy name Shishan, authored *Bencao Huibian*. Wang Haogu, courtesy name Haicang, authored *Tangye Bencao*. Zhen Quan authored *Yaoxing Lun*. Ri Hua Zi authored *Daming Bencao*. Chen Jiamo authored *Bencao Mengquan*). As the leader among tonifying drugs, it is named "Qi" (commonly written as "Qi").
The bark is yellow and the flesh is white; those that are firm and solid are superior. For inclusion in tonifying prescriptions, it is pounded flat and honey-fried. To reach the exterior, use raw (Some say that for tonifying the Kidney and treating metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, stranguria, and turbidity, it should be stir-fried after soaking in salt water. My note: This view is incorrect. In the aforementioned conditions, Huangqi is used not to suppress it into the Kidney channel, but to take advantage of its ability to tonify the middle and raise Qi, thereby benefiting the Kidney through influence, causing leukorrhea, turbidity, and metrorrhagia to stop naturally. As Ri Hua Zi said: Abundant Qi eliminates the worry of sinking. Treating disease involves taking the lower to treat the upper, and the upper to treat the lower; tonifying one channel to benefit another is of this category). Fuling [Poria] is used as an envoy. It is incompatible with Guijia [Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum] and Baixianpi [Dictamni Cortex]. It fears Fangfeng [Saposhnikoviae Radix] (Li Dongyuan stated: When Huangqi meets Fangfeng, its efficacy increases greatly; this is a relationship of mutual inhibition yet mutual assistance. Li Dongyuan authored *Yong Yao Fa Zhuan*).