气味苦温，无毒，主治温疟，狂 寒热，症瘕积聚，瘿气，逐血，止腹痛，疗金
疮。
（白头翁高山田野处处有之，正月生苗，叶如杏叶，上有细白毛，茎头着花紫色，如木
槿花
，近根有白茸，根紫色深，如蔓菁，其苗有风则静，无风而摇，与赤箭，独活同也。陶隐居
曰∶近根处有白茸，状如白头老翁，故以为名。寇宗 曰∶白头翁生河南洛阳界，于新安山
野中，屡尝见之。山中人卖白头翁丸，言服之寿考。不失古人命名之义。）
白头翁，无风而摇者，禀东方甲乙之气，风动之象也。有风则静者，得西方庚辛之气，
金能
制风也。主治温疟者，温疟之邪，藏于肾脏，禀木气则能透发母邪也。狂 寒热，温疟病也
。治症瘕积聚，瘿气，逐血者，禀金气则能破积聚而行瘀也。止腹痛，乃腹中之痛，有由于
积滞者，积滞去，故痛止也。疗金疮，是和血行瘀之效。
气味苦寒，有毒。主治大腹，疝瘕，腹满，面目浮肿，留饮宿食，破症坚积聚，利水
谷道。
（甘遂始出太山及代郡，今陕西、江东、京口皆有。苗似泽漆，茎短小而叶有汁，根皮
色赤，肉色白，作连珠状，
大如指头，实重者良。）
土味曰甘，径直曰遂。甘遂味苦，以其泄土气而行隧道，故名甘遂。土气不和，则大腹。
隧
道不利，则疝瘕。大腹则腹满，由于土不胜水，外则面目浮肿，内则留饮宿食。甘遂治之，
泄土气也。为疝为瘕则症坚积聚。甘遂破之，行隧道也。水道利则水气散，谷道利则宿积除
，甘遂行水气而通宿积，故利水谷道。
（《乘雅》论∶甘遂其为方也，为大，为急。其于剂也，为通，为泄。但气味苦寒，偏
于热
[Bai Tou Weng / Pulsatilla Radix]
Flavor and Nature: Bitter, Warm. Non-toxic.
Indications: Warm malaria (Wen Nue), mania with alternating chills and fever, fixed masses and accumulations (Zheng Jia Ji Ju), goiter (Ying Qi), invigorating blood and resolving stasis, relieving abdominal pain, treating metal wounds (Jin Chuang).
(Bai Tou Weng is found everywhere in high mountains and fields. It sprouts in the first lunar month; its leaves resemble apricot leaves, covered with fine white hairs; the stem tip bears purple flowers, similar to Hibiscus mutabilis; near the root, there are white downy hairs; the root skin is deep purple, resembling turnip (Brassica rapa var. rapa). Its seedlings remain still when there is wind but sway when there is no wind, a characteristic shared with Chijian (Cordyceps sinensis) and Duhuo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix). Tao Hongjing stated: "The area near the root has white down, resembling an old man with white hair, hence the name." Kou Zongshi stated: "Bai Tou Weng grows in the wild mountains of Xin'an, on the border of Luoyang, Henan; I have seen it many times. Mountain people sell Bai Tou Weng pills, claiming that taking them prolongs life. This does not contradict the original meaning behind the ancient naming."
The swaying of Bai Tou Weng in the absence of wind indicates it has inherited the Qi of the East, Jia-Yi (Wood element), symbolizing the movement of wind. Its stillness in the presence of wind indicates it has received the Qi of the West, Geng-Xin (Metal element), as Metal controls Wind. It treats warm malaria because the pathogen of warm malaria hides in the Kidney; inheriting Wood Qi allows it to vent the pathogen from the mother organ (Kidney belongs to Water, Liver to Wood; Water generates Wood, thus Kidney is the mother of Liver). Mania with alternating chills and fever is a symptom of warm malaria. Treating fixed masses, accumulations, goiter, and invigorating blood resolves stasis because inheriting Metal Qi enables the breaking up of accumulations and the movement of blood stasis. Relieving abdominal pain occurs because if the pain is caused by stagnation, removing the stagnation stops the pain. Treating metal wounds demonstrates its efficacy in harmonizing blood and moving stasis.
[Gan Sui / Kansui Radix]
Flavor and Nature: Bitter, Cold. Toxic.
Indications: Abdominal distension and edema (Da Fu), hernia and mass formations (Shan Jia), abdominal fullness, edema of the face and eyes, retained fluid and undigested food (Liu Yin Su Shi), breaking hard masses and accumulations, promoting urination and defecation.
(Gan Sui originally came from Mount Tai and Dai Commandery; currently, it is produced in Shaanxi, Jiangdong, and Jingkou. The herb resembles Zeqi (Euphorbia lathyris); the stem is short and small, and the leaves contain juice. The root skin is reddish, the flesh is white, shaped like beads in a string, about the thickness of a finger; those that are solid and heavy are of superior quality.)
The flavor of Earth is called "Gan" (Sweet), and straight-through passage is called "Sui". Gan Sui is bitter because it drains Earth Qi and unblocks the tunnels (referring to water pathways or meridians), hence the name Gan Sui. When Earth Qi is disharmonious, it leads to abdominal swelling. When the tunnels are obstructed, hernias and masses form. Abdominal swelling leads to fullness, caused by Earth failing to control Water; externally, this manifests as edema of the face and eyes, and internally as retained fluids and stagnant food. Gan Sui treats these conditions by draining Earth Qi. For hernias and masses causing hard accumulations, Gan Sui breaks them by unblocking the tunnels. When the water pathway is clear, water Qi dissipates; when the grain pathway (intestines) is clear, stagnant accumulation is removed. Gan Sui moves water Qi and clears stagnant accumulation, thereby promoting the free flow of water and grain passages.
(The 'Cheng Ya' discusses: As a prescription, Gan Sui is grand and urgent. In terms of dosage form, it is penetrating and purgative. However, due to its bitter and cold nature, it leans towards clearing heat...)