即马兜铃之藤叶也。味苦，性偏温。入脾、肝二经。
流气活血，利水除风。化湿止痛，郁滞宣通。经遂畅达、络道和融。腿膝酸疼，妊娠水
肿。
此药功用虽多、不出宣通气血四字。《成方切用》谓其“能解血中之风气”。对奇经八脉
之
阳维、阴维、阳跷、阴跷有强健及疗治之功。
味苦、甘，性平，无毒。入小肠、膀胱、肝、肾四经。
风寒湿痹，筋骨挛疼。头旋掉眩、颈项难伸。
本入手足太阳表里引经，又入足少阴、厥阴。小无不入，大无不通。故既散八风之邪，
兼利
百节之痛。时珍曰∶“独活、羌活乃一类二种。中土产者为独活，色黄气细，可理伏风。西
羌出者为羌活，色紫气雄，可理游风。”
独活、羌活，皆主风疾，若血虚之头痛及遍身肢节痛，误用风药，反致增剧。
味苦，性温，无毒。入膀胱经。忌茶茗、面。
宣五脏而疗痛风，去冷滞而行痰水。
此风药之善走者也。威者，言其猛烈，灵者，言其效验。
威灵仙，大走真气，兼耗人血，不得已而后用之，可也。
味苦、辛，性寒，无毒。入膀胱经。恶细辛。畏萆 、女菀、卤碱。
止痹痛，利关节。祛下焦之湿，泻血分之热。理水肿香港脚，通二便闭结。
防己分木汉二种。木者专风，汉者专水。
东垣云，防己大苦大寒，泻血中湿热，亦瞑眩之药也。服之使人身心烦乱，饮食减
少，
惟湿热壅遏，及香港脚病，非此不效。若虚人用防己，其害有三∶谷食已亏，复泄大便，
重亡
其血，一也；渴在上焦气分，而防己乃下焦血分，二也；伤寒邪传肺经气分，湿热而小
便黄
赤，禁用血药，三也。
This is the vine and leaf of Aristolochia Manshuriensis (Ma Dou Ling). It tastes bitter, and its nature is slightly warm. It enters the Spleen and Liver meridians.
It circulates Qi and invigorates Blood, promotes urination to remove edema, and dispels Wind-Dampness. It transforms Dampness and alleviates pain, and unblocks stagnation. It ensures the smooth flow of collaterals and harmonizes the network vessels. It is indicated for soreness and pain in the legs and knees, and edema during pregnancy.
Although this herb has many functions, they do not go beyond the four characters "unblocking and circulating Qi and Blood." *Cheng Fang Qie Yong* states that it "can resolve Wind-Qi within the Blood." It has strengthening and therapeutic effects on the Yang Wei Vessel, Yin Wei Vessel, Yang Qiao Vessel, and Yin Qiao Vessel among the Eight Extraordinary Vessels.
It tastes bitter and sweet, its nature is neutral, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Small Intestine, Bladder, Liver, and Kidney meridians.
It treats Bi syndrome caused by Wind-Cold-Dampness, and spasmodic pain in the sinews and bones. It addresses dizziness and vertigo, and stiffness making extension of the neck and nape difficult.
This herb serves as a guiding agent for the Taiyang and Shaoyang meridities of the hands and feet (exterior-interior relationship), and also enters the Shaoyin and Jueyin meridities of the foot. It penetrates everywhere, from the smallest to the largest pathways. Therefore, it can disperse Wind pathogens from all directions and simultaneously alleviate pain in all joints. Li Shizhen said: "Du Huo and Qiang Huo are two varieties of the same species. Those produced in the central plains are called Du Huo; they are yellow in color with a subtle aroma, and can treat latent Wind. Those produced in Western Qiang are called Qiang Huo; they are purple in color with a vigorous aroma, and can treat wandering Wind."
Both Du Huo and Qiang Huo primarily treat Wind diseases. However, if headache due to Blood deficiency or generalized joint and limb pain is mistakenly treated with Wind-dispelling herbs, the condition may worsen.
It tastes bitter, its nature is warm, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Bladder meridian. Tea and wheat products should be avoided.
It unblocks the Five Zang organs to treat gouty arthritis, removes cold stagnation, and promotes the movement of phlegm-fluids.
This is a Wind-dispelling herb that excels at penetrating and moving through the body. "Wei" implies its potency and fierceness, while "Ling" implies its efficacy.
Wei Ling Xian greatly depletes True Qi and consumes Body Fluids/Blood; it should only be used when absolutely necessary.
It tastes bitter and pungent, its nature is cold, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Bladder meridian. It is incompatible with Asarum (Xi Xin). It is adverse to Dioscorea Hypoglauca (Bi Xie), Polygala Tenuifolia (Nuan Wan), and Halite (Lu Jian).
It alleviates Bi pain and benefits the joints. It dispels Dampness from the Lower Jiao and drains Heat from the Blood level. It regulates edema and beriberi (Hong Jiao), and unblocks constipation of both stool and urine.
Fang Ji is divided into two types: Mu Fang Ji (Caulis Aristolochiae) and Han Fang Ji (Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae). The former specializes in treating Wind syndromes, while the latter specializes in treating Water syndromes.
Li Dongyuan stated that Fang Ji is extremely bitter and cold, draining Damp-Heat from the Blood, and is also a drug that induces Mingxuan reactions (severe adverse reactions leading to relief). After ingestion, it causes mental restlessness and reduced appetite. It is effective only for conditions where Damp-Heat is obstructive and severe, such as beriberi. If used in deficient patients, there are three harms: First, if the Spleen/Stomach Qi is already depleted, purging the bowels further causes additional loss of Blood; Second, thirst located in the Upper Jiao Qi level is treated incorrectly by an herb acting on the Lower Jiao Blood level; Third, in Cold Damage where pathogenic factors have transmitted to the Lung Qi level, presenting with Damp-Heat and yellow-red urine, Blood-level herbs are contraindicated.