味辛、咸，性温，有小毒。入肺、肝、胃三经。柏子为使。恶麦门冬。畏人参、苦参。
刮去
粗皮及弦与子，酥炙用。
宣壅导滞，开窍通关。驱邪辟疫，搜风逐疫。 之治噤口中风，濯之则除湿去垢，涂之
而散
肿消毒，焚之可辟疫除瘟。
性极尖利，无闭不开，无坚不破，中风伤寒门，赖为济急之神丹。若类中风、由于阴虚
者，
禁之。孕妇亦禁。
子∶去皮，水浸软，煮糖渍食之，治大肠虚秘，瘰 恶疮。
刺∶另见外科类。
味辛、甘，性热，有毒。入脾、肾二经。畏防风、黑豆、甘草、黄 、人参、童便、犀
角。
稀者佳。童便浸一日，去皮，切作四片，童便及浓甘草汤同煮，汁尽为度，烘干。（冬采为
附子、主寒疾。春采为乌头，
主风疾。）
补元阳，益气力，堕胎孕，坚筋骨。心腹冷疼，寒湿 。足膝瘫软，坚瘕症癖。
主治繁众，皆由风、寒、湿三气所致。邪客上焦，咳逆心痛。邪客中焦，腹痛积聚。邪
客下
焦，腰膝脚痛。附子热而善走，诸证自瘥也。虞抟曰∶“禀雄壮之质，有斩关之能，引补气
药，以追散失之元阳；引补血药，以养不足之真阴；引发散药，以驱在表之风邪；引温暖药
，以除在里之寒湿。”吴绶曰∶“伤寒传变三阴，及中寒夹阴，身虽大热，而脉沉者，必用
之。厥冷腹痛，脉沉而细，唇青囊缩者，急用之。近世往往不敢用，直至阴极阳竭，而后议
用，晚矣。”
附子，退阴益阳，祛寒湿之要药也。若非阴寒寒湿，阳虚气弱之病，而误用于阴虚
内热
，祸不旋踵。
[Background Information]
Book: Bencao Zhengyao (Essentials of Materia Medica)
Author: Li Zhongzi
Dynasty: Ming
Chapter: (III) Expelling Phlegm / Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root)
Category: Materia Medica
[Original Text Processing]
Taste: Pungent, Salty. Nature: Warm. Toxicity: Slightly toxic.
Meridian Tropism: Enters the Lung, Liver, and Stomach meridians.
Guiding Herb: Baizi (Biota Seed).
Incompatibilities: Hostile to Maidong (Ophiopogon Tuber); fearful of Renshen (Ginseng Root), Kushen (Sophora Root Bark).
Processing: Scrape off the rough skin, tendons, and seeds; fry with butter before use.
Actions: Unblocks congestion and guides stagnation; opens orifices and unblocks passages. Drives out pathogens and wards off epidemics; searches for wind and expels epidemic pathogens. [Note: The original text contains fragmented sentences here, likely referring to different parts or preparations of the plant, but strictly translating the visible text:] It treats lockjaw due to wind-stroke; washing it removes dampness and dirt; applying it dissipates swelling and detoxifies; burning it wards off epidemics and eliminates plagues.
Characteristics: Its nature is extremely sharp and potent; there is no blockage it cannot open, no hardness it cannot break. In cases of wind-stroke and cold damage, it relies on this as a miraculous pill for emergency relief. However, it is contraindicated in stroke-like conditions caused by Yin deficiency. It is also contraindicated in pregnant women.
Seeds: Remove the skin, soak in water until soft, boil with sugar and preserve/eat them. Treats deficiency-type constipation of the large intestine, scrofula, and malignant sores.
Thorns: See separately under the Surgery category.
Taste: Pungent, Sweet. Nature: Hot. Toxicity: Toxic.
Meridian Tropism: Enters the Spleen and Kidney meridians.
Incompatibilities: Fearful of Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root), Heidou (Black Soybean), Gancao (Licorice Root), Huangqi (Astragalus Root - *inferred from context 'Huang '*, usually Huangqi or Huanglian, but given Fuzi's pairing, Huangqi is common, though text says 'Huang ', likely missing character*), Renshen (Ginseng Root), Tongbian (Child's Urine), Xijiao (Rhinoceros Horn).
Quality: Those that are sparse/plump are better. Soak in child's urine for one day, remove skin, cut into four pieces, decoct together with strong Licorice Decoction until the liquid is exhausted, then dry. (Harvested in winter, it is called Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root), treating cold diseases. Harvested in spring, it is called Wutou (Aconite Root), treating wind diseases.)
Actions: Tonifies Primordial Yang; boosts Qi and strength; induces abortion; strengthens sinews and bones. Treats cold pain in the heart and abdomen, cold-dampness [obstruction]. Treats flaccidity and weakness of feet and knees, hard masses and growths.
Indications: Numerous indications, all caused by the three pathogenic factors of Wind, Cold, and Dampness. When pathogens lodge in the Upper Jiao, they cause cough, counterflow qi, and heart pain. When pathogens lodge in the Middle Jiao, they cause abdominal pain and accumulation/masses. When pathogens lodge in the Lower Jiao, they cause waist, knee, and foot pain. Fuzi is hot and moves vigorously; these symptoms will naturally heal.
Yu Tun said: "Endowed with a heroic and robust quality, it has the ability to cut through barriers. It guides Qi-tonifying herbs to pursue lost Primordial Yang; guides Blood-tonifying herbs to nourish deficient True Yin; guides dispersing herbs to drive out Wind-pathogens on the exterior; guides warming herbs to eliminate Cold-Dampness within."
Wu Shou said: "When Cold Damage transmits to the Three Yin meridians, or when there is Cold injury with Yin involvement, even if the body has high fever, if the pulse is deep, it must be used. For cold extremities, abdominal pain, deep and fine pulse, blue lips, and retracted scrotum, it must be used urgently. In recent times, people often dare not use it, only discussing its use after Yin is extreme and Yang is exhausted, which is too late."
Fuzi is an essential herb for retreating Yin and benefiting Yang, and dispelling Cold-Dampness. If mistakenly used for conditions of Yin deficiency with internal heat, rather than Yin-Cold and Cold-Dampness with Yang deficiency and Qi weakness, disaster will follow immediately.