气味苦甘辛，无毒。主风寒所击，金疮止痛，奔豚、痫痉，女人疝瘕。久服轻身耐老
。（甘辛旧本作甘平，误，今改正。）
（羌活始出壅州川谷及陇西南安，今以蜀汉、西羌所出者为佳。《本经》只言独活，不
言羌
活，说者谓其生苗，一茎直上，有风不动，无风自摇，故名独活。后人以独活而出于西羌者
，名羌活。出于中国，处处有者，名独活。羌活色紫赤，节密轻虚。羌活之中复分优劣，西
蜀产者，性优。江淮近道产者，性劣。独活出土黄白，晒干褐黑，紧实无节，其气香烈，
其味辛腥。）
羌活初出土时，苦中有甘，曝干则气味苦辛，故《本经》言气味苦甘辛，其色黄紫，气
甚芳
香，生于西蜀，禀手足太阴金土之气化。风寒所击，如客在门而扣击之，从皮毛而入肌腠也
。羌活禀太阴肺金之气，则御皮毛之风寒。禀太阴脾土之气，则御肌腠之风寒，故主治风寒
所击。金疮止痛，禀土气而长肌肉也。奔豚乃水气上奔，土能御水逆，金能益子虚，故治奔
豚。痫痉、风痫、风痉也。金能制风，故治痫痉。肝木为病，疝气，瘕聚。金能平木，
故治女子疝瘕。久服则土金相生，故轻身耐老。
气味甘温，无毒。主大风头眩痛，恶风风邪，目盲无所见，风行周身，骨节疼痛烦满
。久服轻身。
（防风始出沙苑川泽及邯郸、琅琊、上蔡，皆属中州之地。春初发嫩芽，红紫色，三月
茎叶俱青，五月开细白花，六月结实黑色，九月、十月采根，色黄空通。）
防风茎、叶、花、实，兼备五色，其味甘，其质黄，其臭香，禀土运之专精，治周身之
风证
。盖土气浓，则风可屏，故名防风。风淫于头，则大风头眩痛。申明大风者，乃恶风之风邪
，眩痛不已，必至目盲无所见，而防风能治之。又，风邪行于周身，甚至骨节疼痛，而防风
亦能治之，久服则土气盛，故轻身。
元人王好古曰∶病头痛、肢节痛、一身尽痛，非羌活不能除，乃却乱反正之主君药也。
李东垣曰∶防风治一身尽痛，随所引而至，乃卒伍卑贱之职也。
愚按∶《神农》以上品为君，羌活、防风皆列上品，俱散风治病，何以贵贱回别若是。
后人发明药性，多有如此谬妄之论，虽曰无关治法，学人遵而信之，陋习何由得洗乎。
[Flavor and Nature] Bitter, sweet, and acrid; non-toxic. It treats attacks by wind-cold pathogenic factors, relieves pain from metal wounds (injuries caused by sharp metal objects), Ben Tun (a condition characterized by gas rushing upward from the lower abdomen to the chest and heart), epilepsy and spasms, and shan jia (abdominal masses) in women. Long-term use makes the body feel light and delays aging. (Note: The characters "sweet and acrid" were recorded as "sweet and neutral" in old editions, which is an error; this has been corrected.)
(Qiang Huo [Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix] first appeared in the valleys of Yongzhou and Nan'an in Longnan. Currently, those produced in Shu-Han and Western Qiang are considered superior. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* only mentions Du Huo [Aucklandiae Radix], not Qiang Huo. Commentators state that when it first sprouts, it has a single straight stem; it does not move when there is wind, but sways when there is no wind, hence the name "Du Huo" (Solitary Life). Later generations named the Du Huo produced in Western Qiang as "Qiang Huo," while the variety found everywhere in China was named "Du Huo." Qiang Huo is purple-red in color, with dense nodes and a light, spongy texture. Among Qiang Huo varieties, those from Western Shu are of superior quality, while those near the Jianghuai roads are inferior. Du Huo is yellow-white when unearthed, turning dark brown-black after sun-drying; it is tight, solid, without nodes, has a strong aromatic odor, and tastes acrid and fishy.)
When Qiang Huo first emerges from the soil, its flavor is bitter with a hint of sweetness; after drying, its flavor becomes bitter and acrid. Thus, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* records its flavor as bitter, sweet, and acrid. Its color is yellow-purple, and its aroma is very fragrant. Produced in Western Shu, it inherits the Qi transformation of the Foot-Taiyin Lung Metal and Hand-Taiyin Spleen Earth. An attack by wind-cold is like a guest knocking at the door, entering from the skin and hair into the muscle interstices. Qiang Huo inherits the Qi of Taiyin Lung Metal, thus resisting wind-cold at the skin and hair level; it inherits the Qi of Taiyin Spleen Earth, thus resisting wind-cold at the muscle interstice level. Therefore, it primarily treats attacks by wind-cold. Relieving pain from metal wounds is due to inheriting Earth Qi, which promotes muscle growth. Ben Tun is water Qi rushing upward; Earth can control water counterflow, and Metal can benefit the deficiency of its child organ (Kidney), so it treats Ben Tun. Xian Jing refers to Feng Xian (wind epilepsy) and Feng Jing (wind spasms). Metal can restrain Wind, so it treats Xian Jing. When Liver Wood is diseased, it causes Shan Qi (hernia/qi stagnation) and Jia Ju (masses). Metal can pacify Wood, so it treats shan jia in women. Long-term use generates a mutual production relationship between Earth and Metal, resulting in a light body and delayed aging.
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet and warm; non-toxic. It treats severe wind causing dizziness and headache, aversion to wind and wind pathogens, blindness where one cannot see anything, wind pathogens circulating throughout the body, and painful fullness in bone joints. Long-term use makes the body feel light.
(Fang Feng [Saposhnikoviae Radix] first appeared in the marshes of Shayuan and in Handan, Langya, and Shangcai, all belonging to the Central Plains region. In early spring, tender buds emerge, red-purple in color; in March, stems and leaves turn green; in May, small white flowers bloom; in June, black fruits form; roots are harvested in September and October, appearing yellow and hollow inside.)
The stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits of Fang Feng possess five colors; its flavor is sweet, its substance is yellow, and its odor is fragrant. It inherits the essence of Earth's movement and treats wind syndromes throughout the body. Because Earth Qi is thick, it can screen out wind, hence the name "Fang Feng" (Wind Blocker). When wind pathogens overflow into the head, they cause severe wind-induced dizziness and headache. Here, "severe wind" refers to the wind pathogen that causes aversion to wind. If dizziness and pain persist, they inevitably lead to blindness, which Fang Feng can treat. Furthermore, when wind pathogens circulate throughout the body, causing even painful bone joints, Fang Feng can also treat them. Long-term use strengthens Earth Qi, making the body light.
Wang Haogu of the Yuan Dynasty said: "For conditions involving headache, limb and joint pain, and whole-body pain, only Qiang Huo can eliminate them; it is the sovereign herb that restores order."
Li Dongyuan said: "Fang Feng treats whole-body pain, following wherever guided by other herbs; it serves the humble role of a foot soldier."
My commentary: The *Shennong Bencao Jing* designates top-grade herbs as sovereigns. Both Qiang Huo and Fang Feng are listed as top-grade herbs and both disperse wind to treat disease. Why is there such a stark distinction between their nobility and baseness? Later scholars expounding on drug properties have many such absurd arguments. Although these may seem unrelated to treatment methods, if students follow and believe them, how can such vulgar habits be eradicated?